Mom, I Want School
28. YOU'RE NOT IN SCHOOL

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I sat looking at the natural scenery, the usual place where we always spend the afternoon. We sat down to enjoy the view of the mountains with yellowed rice fields.

Paddy fields that were once filled with mud are now filled with rice plants whose seeds have yellowed. The smell of mud is now replaced with the scent of grasshoppers and some flying birds decorate the blue sky that stretches beautifully up there.

We sat in rows staring and sat facing the natural scenery.

"Ari this year you're going to school, right?

The question was immediately thrown from Ami's mouth made me turn my head then nodded quickly.

"Of course I'm going to school. I told you Ari's going to school this year."

"Ari will go to school and join you all" I continued.

Hearing that they nodded with a smile, as if they were also happy to hear that.

"Ri you don't know, tomorrow you can apply for school. You can apply for school tomorrow" Angga explained as he occasionally threw small stones down there..

"Is that true?"

"True, tomorrow is school registration day. I heard that from the teacher's mother this morning."

"I heard it too. Maybe tomorrow there are many who register," cut Ami.

"How about you just tell your mom that tomorrow's school registration has opened" Angga suggested.

I nodded then not long after I returned to talking while staring at my friends one by one.

"Well I'll let you know tomorrow that school registration is open."

"Good, then tomorrow I'll be waiting for you at school and when you enroll in school I'll take you around the school."

"really?" I didn't expect it when Angga said it.

"I will also introduce you to the library room" said Ami who did not want to lose.

"Wait on! Can people who are not in school enter the library?" asked Angga to Ami while I could only be silent looking at Angga and Ami alternately.

"It also seems that it can't. Hah, it's a pity that I can't wait to show you the books and crocodiles in the library."

"Wait a minute, Ami!" said Angga makes me and Ami turned to look towards Angga.

"It's just that you invite Ari into the library, he also can't read."

I scrunched up my forehead not agreeing with what Angga said

"No, I'm good at reading. I've already known the three letters A B and C."

Hearing that my friends laughed as well as myself who was made to laugh. I was wrong, right?

"A B and C don't make us good at reading. You only know three letters but you don't know that what we know before we read there are many."

"A through Z," he continued.

"A through Z?"

"Yes, after you go to school you'll know because the teacher's mother will teach you how to read well and correctly."

"really?"

"True, Angga only taught you A B and C while the teacher's mother would teach you A B C to the letter Z," explained Ami made me nod my head in understanding.

"Well then tonight I'll let you know that the school registration has been opened."

"Good!" shouted my friends, Angga, Ami, Cai and Ririn compactly while raising his thumb.

...***...

I was speechless, silent, a flat face with a pounding heart into a situation that was happening right now. I just silently looked at the mother who seemed to be breastfeeding the tiny baby named Rai.

I've seen her breastfeeding that baby who never stopped breastfeeding like she never drank milk for a month. I was a little upset, until when the baby would stop breastfeeding.

I had been tired of sitting for hours in front of mom like this while staring at her until I became sleepy myself.

I want to talk to my mom about the school and Ari can't postpone it because if it's too late then the registration will be closed soon. Although Ari honestly does not know when the last registration but I want if I am the first to enroll in school.

"Enak" I whispered slowly.

I looked at the mother who looked serious looking at the baby she was carrying, there was no answer from the woman. His attention was too focused on his new son who was in his arms.

I sipped my salivary for a moment taking a deep breath and exhaled slowly trying to give me some encouragement and confidence if I could say it. After gathering so much courage I now ventured to speak.

"Emak, Ari wants to talk" I said, raising my tone.

My mother looked at me with a smile.

"What?"

"Ari wants to talk."

"What's? Just talk!" she said, who then looked back down at the baby.

"Ari wants to talk but Ari wants you not to be angry."

Mother did not answer. He was silent with his face that kept looking down at the tiny baby. I don't understand why she was so focused on her baby and ignored my speech but I can't just give up.

"Emak, Ari wants to talk for a second."

Mom clicked her lips in annoyance and turned to look at me.

"Yes Ari just tell me Mom will hear it," I said making my mom look at me.

I breathed trying to gather my courage.

"I want to talk to you for a minute, mother."

She looked at me but didn't seem to have time to look at me for longer.

"Tomorrow is school registration. Ari wants to go to school, mom," I said with a face that was really so serious.

Instantly my mother turned to look at me making me hold my breath a little. I don't know why my mom's view is so sharp. Is mom angry? That was my current thought when I saw his face that looked tense with facial muscles that seemed to want to get angry.

I don't get it. The look on his face was mixed, there was a sense of confusion and also a little annoyed.

"Why, Mom?"

There's no answer.

"Mak said Ari's mother will go to school next year and next year is this year."

Mom is still silent. He didn't give an answer.

"If you don't have time today, tomorrow or tomorrow, there is still time. Ari it's okay to sign up if it's not tomorrow."

"If you're busy, that means tomorrow. Ari also can't wait to get around to school and also can't wait to get into the library room."

"Ami said that in school there are small books and crocodiles. If Ari's school Ari can enter the library room and Ari can read books."

"Ari can't wait to read a book but if you really don't have time tomorrow then it can be postponed to the next day again. Ari's okay, Mak-"

"You don't go to school" cut mom.

It was like being struck by lightning when I heard her saying that with a flat face and looking very relaxed when saying it made me so distrustful of what she was saying.

"A-a-what's mom?" ask me so nervous

Honestly, it felt like my heart was pounding right then and my heart seemed to be slashed after hearing it. My tears want to fall. Both of my eyes were heating up with my face that felt like it was also burning.

I wanted to cry but tried to hold it. I was embarrassed to cry in front of my mom.

"What Mak? What did mom say?" I asked while smiling a little.

I laughed a little trying to cover up the sadness I was experiencing right now. Although I heard it clearly but I pretended as if I did not hear it clearly when I heard it very clearly.

"You don't go to school" my mom came home relaxed and this time I actually heard it very, very clearly.

I thought my heart didn't feel the pain of having heard it twice but it turned out to be wrong. The pain was even more numerous than before.

"But why didn't Ari go to school?"

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