The Evening Primrose
Chapter 1 - A Bully

What makes me think that being alone is better than hanging out with other people? The reason is quite simple, which is that I do not want to fall into bad relationships in modern times.

Many people I know have an indifferent nature, so often attach great importance to their own ego. That is why either outside or within the school environment, I prefer to be quiet and talk to myself.

My name is Emma Anggraini, a Junior High school student who has just graduated after 3 years in the same school. If I'm being honest, I'm actually not being completely honest with what I said just now.

Even though I don't hang out with a lot of people, at least I still have good friends at school and social media. In addition, I played several console and computer games that had a lot of friends list even though most of them were just displays. It's the same as lying to myself.

This morning, I walked out of school with my backpack. And finally, I have obtained my report after waiting for a few hours. Everyone seemed happy after hearing that everyone had graduated, and planned to celebrate in a fancy restaurant.

Very wasteful, can't the money be used for more useful? Well, it's their money anyway, so I don't have the right to run any of their affairs.

On this roadside highway, I walk while playing my mobile phone. There are many people who visit here to enjoy the cool atmosphere of the air in the mountains.

I just remembered that tomorrow a long holiday will begin, then the visitors who come here are increasing. In addition, my mother also opened a bakery, and there will be many people coming to our shop from tomorrow.

A little story about the past, before I went to primary school, my father left Mom alone at home and went somewhere without giving any news after his departure. The thing I remember most about that time was when my dad stabbed Mom in the wrist with a kitchen knife.

Kling!

Beautiful bells rang when opening the front door of the store with the smell of bread smelled directly by my nose.

"I'm home!" my spoken.

"Welcome home." I saw Mom serving customers.

"Mom, I graduated. Let me help you during the holidays."

"Thank you, quickly change your clothes."

I don't seem to care about my report. I ran straight to the room on the second floor. I opened the window to let the outside air into the room.

After changing, I went straight to Mom's place to help her. Even so, today not many buyers come to the store.

That's because the location of the shop is a little far from the tourist spot. But there are also a lot of stalls and angkringans lined up on the side of the road, so I think it will be crowded at night.

"Thank you for buying our bakery."

Finally the last customer of the day came out of the store with his smile. Today was exhausting, I spent my time helping Mom until 9 p.m.

I let out a very long sigh after sitting on the bench while turning my arm in exhaustion. Mother who was also finished with her task immediately took out a cigarette from her pack.

"Mother, please don't smoke in the store."

"It's my shop, so what's your business?"

As usual, he always said something that irritated me. This has been his nature ever since he separated from his father. Until now, I can still see the scar covered by a flower-shaped bracelet. I was so amazed by her for not giving up on her perseverance despite having received such a deep wound.

"What?" tanyanya.

"No, I was just thinking something."

As much as possible I don't want to talk about it in front of him. I immediately stood up and planned to change clothes. However, Mom pulled my arm with such a serious look.

"There's something I want to talk to you about right now. So, sit down." I followed his words.

I don't know why the atmosphere is so serious. Mom took off a bracelet she was wearing and lifted it right in front of my face. The gold bracelet is so beautiful and shining when viewed closer.

"What color is this bracelet?" What I asked her was a little strange.

"Golden yellow, maybe?"

Mother was silent for a moment after staring at the bracelet for a while. I don't know what He's thinking right now, or maybe it's just that the bracelet made Mom think of a memory in her past with someone.

"What do you mean?"

Mother pulled my arm back and gave me the bracelet and said, "Wear this bracelet, this is the one your grandfather gave me back in school."

Grandpa? My mother's father, right? Wasn't my father the one who left my mother? Maybe if I put it on in the school environment, the teacher will definitely confiscate this bracelet because it is made of gold.

"Mom?"

"Maybe the late grandfather would have loved it if his granddaughter wore it."

So Mom's dad, huh? I took the bracelet you gave me and put it on. This bracelet is indeed very beautiful, it is even difficult for me to take my eyes off the bracelet.

"Thank you, Mom. I'll take care of him."

"Good, now quickly change your clothes and rest. Tomorrow we're off because I have business at my friend's house. So please take care of the house while Mom's not around."

"Good, Mom."

After such a serious conversation, I headed straight to the room to change clothes. I forgot to close my window. Fortunately my window was facing towards the back where there were only trees and ravines there.

As I was about to close the window, I seemed to see the silhouette of someone running from one tree to another.

Then I yelled at him and asked, "Hey, who's there!?"

But there was no response from him. Maybe I'm just a little tired from my job that made my imagination run wild. Forget about it, if indeed he was a real person, then it would be impossible for him to climb up here since the stairs connecting to the place were very far away.

I closed the window and locked it. I opened my phone and the time showed at 9:10. It's a good time for me to get some fresh air at night.

Before going out, I said goodbye to Mom who is currently smoking in the store. It feels like I'm interacting with an NPC whose mom is just fine if invited to chat.

Finally relieved, the night air was so cool. I pulled my arms up to stretch my body with my eyes closed. Night is the right time for me to get rid of fatigue after work.

People who come on vacation are so impatient to see the sky view from the mountain at night. Everyone can see the stars shining very clearly, therefore I really like going out at night.

For now, I'm going to the park. Both young children and adults, they are so enjoying their holidays together with their families.

What do I have? It's just Mom and the memories of our past with dad. If you hadn't parted with Mom back then, maybe I'd never have been this fragile.

Forget about the past, I entered the park with the arm I put in the hoodie pocket, and what happened after that?

I saw a group of women walking towards the back of one of the empty shops. I will never know what will happen to them if I let them. Are they going to drink liquor? Or just a cult of heretics?

Out of curiosity, I came to them secretly. Although a little far away, I can hear a little of their chatter and who they are all.

Four women, one of them is a woman with glasses with black hair shoulder to shoulder. If it can be concluded, this is just the usual bullying that happens everywhere.

While the other three I do not know who they are because when viewed from his clothes, they are all rich people. But clearly, the glasses woman is a generation with me despite the different classes.

I never knew his name, but I often saw him spending time in the school library, as if he were the guardian of the place. I feel sorry for him, but I can't do anything about them.

As time passed, their conversation began to lead to serious problems. Sorry if I eavesdrop on your conversation, this is just to anticipate if something unwanted happens.

And it is true, after the nerd yelled against the statement of the rich woman, they pushed her against the wall so hard that she fell. One of them then pulled out a knife and planned to stab the nerd.

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...(.(.Illustration for Emma Anggraini)...