Reflections
The Winner

It's a shame, just because I had a little chat yesterday, I couldn't sleep all night. It felt like ants were running around inside my head and my eyes felt like they were being forcefully opened with iron plates.

Nothing could replace a good night's sleep, and right now, I'm so sleepy. I looked at the wall clock, and my mind started to drift on the idea of not going to school today.

“Ciee, ngehalu..yang again kasmaran..” said the ghost, teasing with his annoying smile.

I shook my head, trying not to smile.

"But more importantly, always calm down before a storm right? It's just my feeling, but it looks like something bad is going to happen" he continued, this time with a much more serious expression.

I looked up, a little surprised by his statement. "Huh? You're doing it again?"

The ghost just smiled, "You're the one who shits."

I felt something squeezing my chest, a feeling of anxiety suddenly struck. Ouch, duh.

"Ok-ok," I tried to stay calm. "You know, it's an abuse of your power."

The ghost just smiled wider, as if enjoying my confusion. "Shut up."

At that time, I shouldn't have gone to school.

Today, the morning looked so bleak when I entered the classroom. Looking at the table where I used to be, my heart suddenly thumped. It's obvious, my desk is gone. I tried to look around, looking for signs of the table, but without success.

"It seems like today will also be a bad day," I murmured inwardly.

Suddenly, Katherine appeared with a table. With her distinctive smile, she said, "Ah, good morning! Haha, I just asked for a new bench. After all, your desk has also started to break, right?"

Unintentionally, I gasped a little as he spoke. I replied softly, barely audible to him, "Thank you."

"Liet-relaxed." replied Katherine with a seyum painted on her face.

"Here, I help you" I said a little louder, nodding at the table he was carrying. Maybe today won't be as bad as I thought.

The same park as before became a silent witness to the events that occurred. I sat in a row with the other victims, not expecting that the happy smile on the face of one of Rico's gangs would soon turn into fear. Adit, one of the victims, was feeling a little nervous. He saw Rico's partner reach into something in his bag and pull out his keychain. However, Rico's colleague, Dani Setyawan, was visibly cheering, "Haha, you guys check this out."

Bambang Suparno, who I know from his nametag, casually connect, "Haha, you already lo High School."

Adit looked surprised, trembling as he said, "I-itukan..."

Adit seemed to be trying to defuse the situation, "Haha, you're right, I'm very childish huh, haha."

Rico, who is now present, sees Adit and requests that the doll-shaped keychain be given to him. He said cynically, "Here, give it."

"Why don't you say you have stuff like this?" ask Rico, condescending.

I could see the confusion and discomfort on Adit's face, and my feelings felt awkward.

"I'll be envious" Rico continued with scorn.

"Hey, you got a match?" ask him to Dani.

Adit looked nervous, and as it became clear that he was under pressure, he said tremblingly, “P-plis..."

Rico smiled, and with cold hands, he lit a match. Adit looked terrified, "J-don't, plis."

Rico sarcastically said, "Don't say that, dong, I'll look bad."

He brought the match closer to the key, and I could feel the tension in the air.

"Who's your mother's name?" rico asked, his voice sounding sharper.

Adit fell silent, as if struggling to find the right words. Bambang, who seemed to be enjoying the situation, exclaimed, "Let's answer."

Adit finally replied, "My mother's name is Desi."

"Sip. Okay, follow me" Rico ordered, and I could see the tension in Adit's eyes.

"The bitch Desi is really xxxxxx," Rico continued with inappropriate words.

I saw a cold sweat on Adit's forehead, I hated this atmosphere. However, I knew I couldn't do much, couldn't risk it any further.

Accompanied by his small laugh, Dani exclaimed, “Come fast!”

In a low tone, Adit follows the sentence Rico, “Si ***** Desi it is true xxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx.”

Truth be told, they are endless. You guys really kidding? I murmured inwardly, feeling angry and frustrated at what was happening before my eyes.

"This ungodly child must be punished, right?" rico continued with a face that was getting raised high.

The keychain caught fire, then dropped on the ground. While trying to extinguish the fire that started raging, Adit started crying. However, before he could stop it, it seemed that fate had taken control. Bambang started beating him.

"Whisper, don't bacot" Bambang said in a harsh tone.

Suddenly, amidst the tension that was engulfing the air, Dani's hand reached into my pocket firmly. In an instant, he pulled out my phone that was recording the moment. The look in our eyes met, and I could see the scorn in his eyes.

"Come on, same trick?" the god sounds sharp. "Can you be more creative?"

Without blinking, he slammed my phone hard to the ground, leaving shards of glass strewn about. Oh, I understand, so he was the one who recorded it when I reported it to the teacher. His hand had already been lifted, and fear bubbled within me, preparing to receive his punch that might come.

But suddenly, Katherine's figure appears in their midst, trying to stop the increasingly uncontrollable events.

Idiot, what are you doing? I thought I was panicking to see Katherine get into this dangerous situation.

"Isn't this enough? Why don't you guys stop?" katherine said in a flat voice but full of decisiveness.

Didn't he himself say, never repay them? Don't fight them? I felt mixed feelings in me, not knowing what to do.

"Wait, what did you just say?" rico said in an angry voice, showing how angry he was at Katherine's interference.

"Well, you guys stop" Katherine said in a stern tone, trying to defuse the dangerous situation.

Rico frowned, looking at Katherine with an angry look. "What did you say?" his insistence.

"Hold him" Rico told Dani.

"Oh, right too. Didn't you want to make noodles?" rico asked Adit in a condescending tone.

"Love me," he continued, adding pressure on Adit.

The question in my mind is getting stronger. What are they planning? But before he could think further, suddenly the ghost appeared from the darkness.

"Hoi, what are you guys doing? Quickly stop them" he said, a loud and firm voice.

I felt as if my heart had stopped for a moment. Ah, why are you here-

"True, this is a good time to talk. Hurry, stop them" he ordered in a voice that could not be ignored.

Something squeezed my chest, as if all the energy within me was drained. I held onto my chest tightly, able to feel the sudden power coming from the ghost.

Damnit. I don't want to take any further risks, I don't want to be their victim anymore. "Is it really time for you to be selfish? Shit, what are they doing, are they really going to be criminals? Wanna go to jail?" said the ghost in a panicked voice, making me even more surprised.

I'm feeling nervous. D-don't overdo it, they can't possibly do something that bad. I said in my heart, trying to calm myself down.

"Originally you know, water is boiling water. If he gets hit by the water, at least he can get a second degree burn," continued the ghost, with cold sweat on his face.

Suddenly, those words kept me locked in fear. But I try to stay calm. Maybe the water isn't as hot as you might think. I try not to overdo it in thinking.

At that time I did not really remember how the expressions of the people at that time, but I could still hear clearly Katherine's screams.

The ghost sighed, "Slowly, they've done it."

Meanwhile, Dani let go of the curse, "Wrong, why is he so noisy?" Her voice sounded frustrated, in reaction to Katherine's unwanted interference.

Bambang, in an angry tone, tried to put a damper on the situation, "Let's go."

Rico, looking around with his sharp gaze, conveyed his threat clearly, "You guys, if anyone reports, I'll kill you with my own hands."

My head felt dizzy, and to be honest, I didn't really remember what Rico and his accomplice said at the time. There are too many thoughts running through my mind. They're right – did it right? Even they do it to a girl? Is this all my fault? What would happen if I tried to stop them? Will I replace Katherine? He's a smart kid, has a bright future. I felt more and more immersed in the immeasurable guilt. And what if, I take on this role? Is that supposed to be my role? Those dark thoughts filled my mind even more, suppressing my fear even more deeply.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense with the arrival of the teachers from a distance. Their faces emanated with a mixture of astonishment and uneasiness at the scene happening in the garden. We all ran away, before the teachers who heard the crowd came. Like disturbed ants, they spread out, leaving Katherine still silent and the teachers who approached her.

Amidst the crowd of teachers who had come to help Katherine, it started raining. Every drop of rain seemed to reflect my increasingly chaotic thoughts.

"Hoi, are you still here?"I looked up, and my eyes met the ghost.

"I'm still here" he replied in a soft voice.

“Help me," I asked, my low voice covered by the rumbling sound of rain.

The ghost smiled gently, "Okay." And in one gust, like the approaching wind, I felt a push.