The Tippingback of Rania's World
Episode 24 - The Curse of the Past

Tuk. tuk... Rania tapped the tip of her pencil on the table. His eyes looked out the window. A group of first-class children were marching on the field wearing sports clothes.

The students are divided into rows and perform different activities. There are those who practice marching lines, paskibra, and others. Ah, surely they are practicing the ceremony for the upcoming National Education Day activities.

All these scenes made Rania remember the words of Mr. Salamun earlier, "The last camp was held a year ago. After that we temporarily stop activities outside. You know, there's a student of ours who disappeared in the lake?" said Mr. Salamun during the break.

However, all the other teachers said it was only implemented last week.

Where is that right? Did Mr Salamun deliberately hide it from Rania? Or is he telling the truth?

As far as Rania, last year Mr. Salamun was taking a study permit to continue his master's program. Why is he more aware of the events of the past year than of the recent ones?

Rania could clearly see her portrait in full scout uniform standing inside the female squad. But if observed clearly, the color of the eyes of the girl in the photo, brown. Same with family photos at home.

"Rania, are you less scary than Atun's mother?" said Mr. Rayhan. Atun's mother was the super killer chemistry teacher and the most courageous in the entire international school.

"Rania.." whispered Anjani as she touched the seventeen-year-old girl's arm.

"Eh... Oh..." Rania woke up from her daydream. Mr. Rayhan had been standing right next to his desk while carrying the legendary wooden ruler. His teeth were gritting in anger.

"Do you have to put on Hitler's face first so you're afraid? Or is the history lesson in IPA class boring you?" ask Mr. Rayhan. His face is now even more sinister than Hitler and Gengis Khan.

Rania lowered her head. He felt guilty and ashamed, "No, sir. I'm sorry," said Rania.

"Rania, I've heard from other teachers about you. Lately you often daydream in class. You do not know what you have problems, but try to stay focused during the lesson," said Mr. Rayhan.

"Well, sir," said Rania Lirih.

"Not because of a breakup, is it?" ask Mr. Rayhan.

"No, sir," answered Rania with red cheeks.

"Yes, now we go back to the lesson" said Mr. Rayhan.

"The cause of the first world war lasted a very long time, covering the imperialist foreign policy of the great powers of Europe, including the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, the British Empire, the French Republic, and Italy. Assassination on 28 June 1914 of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne..." Rayhan sir began his explanation.

"Shhh... Rania... What are you, anyway? That break hour also suddenly disappeared?" whispered Anjani.

"That's the one whispering in the back... You can hear his voice, yes." said Mr. Rayhan. Anjani immediately silenced her mouth.

"Anjani, explain the main reason behind the first world war" said Mr. Rayhan with a sharp look.

"Umm.. that..." Anjani feels her brain is completely blank at the moment. He was very sorry because the history lesson was not his interest.

"If you twice can't answer a question from your father, then you'll be punished later. Understand?," continued Mr. Rayhan.

"Understand, sir," Anjani said in embarrassment.

In the corner of the room, Qiandra smiled sinisterly looking at the two classmates, "Basic lowly people. Rania must have thought too much about what I said this morning," Qiandra murmured inwardly.

"Alright, we're going through the material today. Write down your email address, and collect it to the class president. I will send my self-directed duties. Remember, each student will have a different task. So you can't cheat" Rayhan said, ending his class.

"Okay, sir," replied the entire student.

"Oh yes. Rania, come to the office to accept your punishment. Don't think you've forgotten your mistakes, just like that" said Mr. Rayhan.

"Rania, write down your email address" asked Anggit the class president, handing him a piece of paper.

...🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺...

"Excuse me, Mum. History book for third grade on which shelf next door, huh?" ask Rania.

"For Mr. Rayhan's class, huh?" Bu Beva asked back.

"Yes, right," replied Rania.

"There's in block G4, the most edge shelf. Later on note on the computer, yes," said Bu Beva.

"Thank you, ma'am" replied Rania. The beautiful girl pushed a trolley into the hallway that the librarian had pointed to. He must bring thirty books of history, according to the punishment of Mr. Rayhan.

Rania's eyeballs looked around in amazement. He loved to read from childhood, but he rarely read history books. Looks interesting too.

"Ah, that's it," Rania stood in front of the edge ping rack, G4 block.

Rows of XII class IPS history guidebooks lined up neatly on each shelf. The cover is maroon, with the main image of Napoleon Bonaparte. At Mr. Rayhan's request, he took thirty books.

On the next shelf, there are a variety of history books, both national and world history. Rania looked at him one by one.

Pluck up! A book measuring 17 x 22 cm fell from the sidelines of the history book. Rania picked it up to be returned to the shelf.

"Complete history of Romania?" Rania muttered as she read the title of the book she was holding. It seems pretty complete. Smaller than other books, but very thick.

Rania opened the book whose color of the paper began to turn brown. It looks like an old book. Ah, deservedly, it turned out to be a 1993 issue. Rania was not born at the time.

Increasingly lulled with curiosity, Rania returned to flip the page of the book. It caught the attention of Rania.

All this time, he only knew his mother was of Romanian descent. But Rania never knew the ins and outs of her Grandmother's family in detail. He only knows that the country located in Central and Southeast Europe has a very stunning natural beauty, unique culture and long history.

"I borrowed it to take it home, ah," Rania's inner. He was more interested in reading it.

The tluk! A black and white photograph fell from the book. Rania took it and watched it.

The photo captured a beautiful foreign woman. Highlight her eyes were sharp, her eyebrows were curved firmly, her lips were tiny, and she wore traditional European clothes. Real pretty. But who is he? There's no evidence of anything in that photo.

"Eh?" Rania suddenly shuddered in horror. The woman's eyeballs in the photo seem to move following Rania's movements.

"But neither will be able to live, one must die, one must sacrifice himself so that the balance of life is not disturbed."

Zru... Huh... Huh...

Rania's chest was very tight, her head felt spinning when she heard the terrible foreign whisper.

Submit...!!!

"God! Help u! Someone hit the bookshelf." Ms. Beva ran out of the library, looking for help. Somehow, the bookshelf near Rania suddenly collapsed.

(Connected)

Thank you for reading. See you around.