The Unusual Highschool Days
Suicidal

The car drove away from the apartment where Elvira lived far behind. From the rearview mirror, Regina Gildereich can see Eric sitting in the back. His eyes were staring at the streets blankly.

“mama has heard his situation from Mr. Nathanael, earlier he called mama” Regina tried to open the conversation. Eric didn't show any reaction, he was still staring out the window. “Eric, mom doesn't know much

about your condition because it's beyond your understanding. But if there's anything you can help, you have to tell me, okay?” regina Pinta.

“Mama never told me about the state of Elvira..” Eric finally open voice.

“Eric... mama did not tell because the time was not right.”.

“so, when is the right time?”

            Silent

Regina knew where this conversation was going and she was reluctant to continue.

“ma.. until when did you think Eric was a child?”

Regina gulps. All this time he kept Elvira's background a secret, because he knew that Eric still felt guilty about the incident. It happened eight years ago when a group of mobsters broke into the mansion that Eric lived in. At that time, he and Alex were traveling abroad for business. The police came when a group of mobsters had managed to finish off all the guards and body guards that were guarding the mansion. Even the helpers and gardeners were victims. At that time, Mr. Artha protected Eric by hiding him in a closet. Mr. Artha was killed of course, because he protected the closet even until his last moment. Eric was really hit by the incident. Perhaps that was also the reason, why Eric grew up to be a very obedient child, never once he said his wishes if it was against the wishes of his parents.

            However, Regina can't hide Elvira's background forever. The woman let out a long sigh, preparing to tell Eric the truth.

“oke... This might scratch your old wounds.but, do you want to pack Artha?” Eric nodded. Man in suit

the white protected her. It happened eight years ago.

“wait.. don't don't”.

“right, Elvira is the son of Mr. Artha”

 Eric's breath was choked. He really did not think that Elvira was connected to someone who he deeply regretted his death.

“after the incident, Mr. Artha's wife was severely depressed. And from the news that circulated, he died of suicide.”

Now it all makes sense. The image he saw when entering Elvira's memory turned out to be the source of the incident.

“After that, Elvira was adopted by one of her closest relatives. But other problems are starting to arise. Elvira often gets violence from her new family, especially from the family's son who does not like the presence of Elvira.”

Eric saw it all. The image of a girl with a body full of wounds and bruises who was crying.

“one of the neighbors reported the incident to the police, the family's son underwent legal proceedings, while Elvira was transferred to an orphanage. And it was there that Mama met Elvira, with a less stable mental state due to the trauma she had received. We're all too late to save him. That's why mama tried to make up for everything by adopting Elvira, and keep Elvira's background from you. lest you feel burdened by the problem”

            Eric heard the explanation carefully, so that no little detail escaped his understanding. The guilt in him increased many times. Not only did he reopen the girl's old wounds, he was also indirectly the cause of Elvira's father's death, making her an orphan.

“mama knows, you will feel very guilty. That's why my mom doesn't want to tell stories. Mama was afraid that every time she saw Elvira, you would remember the incident”

            Eric could hear his mother sobbing, but he could not give any consolation, not when his own thoughts were in a state of chaos.

“what does Elvira know about this?” ask Eric. Her mother nodded slowly.

Eric leaned his head against the car window. Damnit. So all this time only he didn't know what. I don't know what kind of shadow reflected in Elvira's eyes when she saw it. He wouldn't be surprised if Elvira really hated him.

***

 Second day of orientation at Santana senior high school.

All students undergoing Orientation are required to collect the signatures of the school residents. Especially the signatures of class mates and upperclassmen. No one dared to prank Eric during the orientation period, instead many girls willingly sought signatures for him, and of course Eric accepted the help gladly.

He could not live this Orientation with all his heart, his mind was constantly on Elvira who was not there.

“so, have you met Elvira?” asked Alfian who arrived at the school, who was beside Eric who was sitting relaxed in the school yard.

“no, he absolutely does not want to open his door” replied eric.

“do not open the door for you, open the door for me never at all. The only person who ever entered the room Elvira ya this creature”

Alfian pointed at the invisible silver-haired youth in front of the commoner. He was sitting right next to Eric.

“lo really same with ghosts? Not afraid of being mistaken for a lunatic?” asked Eric in surprise.

“gue will not answer unless you join Esperia..” again Alfian brings the name of his club.

“so, Elvira can squirm lo?” this time Eric asked the ghost beside him.

“can dong, he said he metmenan same me when I was alive. I don't want it anyway..” said the ghost is not sure.

“what do you kill yourself?” this time Eric changed the topic of conversation. “gue stretched lo and Alfian made a pinky promise with Elvira. Make a suicide together, so you don't die alone. Am I wrong?” eric asked in a serious tone.

Plakkkp!

Alfian hit Eric's back hard.

“astaga is very serious nanya... Rich again detective aja” Alfian trying to melt the atmosphere. “dia amnesia, he did not want at all why he could die, but all he knows is the fact that he's been with me. Then he followed me on.”.

“how did Alfian's own sister? Have you ever attempted suicide with Elvira?”

Alfian's expression suddenly changed. From the former cheerful, to being rather grim. As if there was something very heavy to say.

“for me..” Alfian takes a moment's pause.

“gue...” Alfian again mengmabil pause before continuing his conversation.

“gue new want to tell you if you join Esperia”

 Had Alfian not been the upperclassman and not kept much much needed information, Eric would have already tied the boy up, rolled him up, and drowned him in a nearby river.

***

            After school, Eric returns to the apartment where Elvira lives. This time, he could see the car of the officer of the apartment parked in the apartment yard. The young man guessed, could there be a new occupant who was about to live in this apartment?

            Eric climbed the stairs to the seventh floor where the apartment Elvira lived was located. Once there, he found that the door of the apartment was wide open. And how surprised he was when he saw the whole apartment of Elvira from the doorway that opened.

            The room looked really messy, with shards of glass and shards strewn about where. Broken dressing table, plants in pots that are not in place, mattress sheets that are torn off, standing lamps that break.whether what happened in this place before him, he said, the first thing Eric was worried about was Elvira. Where did the girl go?

            Eric stepped into the now uninhabited room. There was blood on the floor. What really happened?

“excuse me mas, what need to come here?” ask the janitor who is now in the room while carrying some clean tools.

“ini.. where my friend lives sir. When I came here, the person was not there..kira guess, what happened in this place yes sir?” eric asked the janitor.

“oh his friends mbak Elvira who lives here ya.” The janitor thought for a moment. “I do not know the mas, but this morning I was called by Regina ma'am to clean this place. I met Regina's mom in the parking lot. He said he wanted to take his daughter to the hospital” the officer explained.

            From the janitor's explanation, Eric can conclude that something happened to Elvira. Eric reached into the pocket of his school suit, picked up his cell phone and called his mother Regina. A few times the ringtone was heard, Regina answered the call.

“halo, ma?” Eric was trying to make sure that the phone was connected.

“iya, Eric... What's wrong?” ask Regina across the phone.

“Eric is again in Elvira Apartment, but..” Eric stopped his word. Even without needing to be explained, like Regina can guess what Eric wants to say. “ma, what happened the same Elvira” said eric finally.

“Tadi mornin', when mama came to her apartment. So Mama immediately took him to the hospital to treat his wounds. He has also been taken to a psychiatrist and will begin counseling sessions again this afternoon. You don't come here, talk to Elvira later if she's a bit better.” Regina explained.

Eric remained silent. The shadow of Elvira doing self harm by slicing her own hand back appeared in her mind.

“Eric, mom knows you feel guilty. But please do not think too much about it. thought continuously will not produce anything. If Elvira is a bit better later, you can talk directly and straighten out everything okay?”

“oke..” Eric originally agreed before the phone connection was completely disconnected.

“mas, can you come out first? We want to start cleaning this place” pinta one of the janitors.

“oh yes sir...” said Eric while leaving the apartment.

            The janitor started hauling out the Standing lamp, and the broken mirror. The shard also began to be removed. The dislodged curtain is re-installed, and the blood on the floor in the mop is left unnoticed. Before the janitor finished cleaning the Elvira Apartment, Eric had left the place.