That morning, Bisma almost arrived late for school.
“Bisma! Wake up!”
His mother’s voice came from outside his room.
Still lying facedown, Bisma immediately opened his eyes. His hand groped across the mattress, searching for the phone he had left somewhere carelessly the night before.
“What time is it, Mom?”
“It’s already quarter to seven!”
Bisma sat straight up.
“What?!”
He looked at his phone screen. Sure enough, it was 6:45 a.m.
“Why didn’t you wake me up sooner?”
His mother chuckled from outside.
“I’ve been calling you for a while. You were the one sleeping like you’d vanished off the face of the earth.”
Bisma jumped out of bed. The uniform he had prepared the night before was still hanging on the chair. He grabbed it and ran to the bathroom.
Fifteen minutes later, Bisma came out with his hair still slightly damp.
“You’re not eating breakfast first?” his mother asked.
“Later, Mom. I’m late.”
“At least take some bread.”
Bisma grabbed two slices of bread from the table, stuffed them into his mouth, then reached for his bag.
“Peace be upon you!”
“And upon you. Be careful!”
Bisma left the house, pedaling his bicycle as fast as he could.
The school really wasn’t that far away. If he left at a relaxed pace, it would take only about twenty minutes. The problem was that there were only a few minutes left before the school gate closed.
Halfway there, his phone vibrated inside his pocket.
Bisma stopped briefly on the side of the road.
He had three new messages.
From Dika.
Hurry up!
The second message:
Where are you?
The third:
Don’t tell me you’re still sleeping.
Bisma immediately replied.
I’m on my way.
Before he could put his phone away, another message came in.
If you’re not here in five minutes, I’m leaving you behind.
Bisma frowned.
“Like I wanted you to give me a ride.”
He started pedaling again.
A few minutes later, the school gate came into view. Standing in front of it was a teacher on duty who was infamous for being strict with late students.
Bisma slowed his bicycle.
Three people were waiting for him near the gate.
Dika stood with his arms folded across his chest. Beside him, Reno was eating fried snacks. Fajar sat on his motorcycle, playing with the keys.
“What took you so long?” Dika shouted.
Bisma got off his bicycle.
“I almost died on the way here.”
“Drama queen,” Reno said, biting into his snack.
Fajar glanced at his watch.
“We still have time.”
Bisma sighed in relief.
“Good thing you guys hadn’t gone in yet.”
Dika immediately pointed at Bisma’s bicycle.
“It’s not because we were waiting for you. My motorcycle’s tire is flat.”
Bisma looked at Fajar’s motorcycle.
“Then why are you sitting there?”
“I’m waiting for a miracle.”
Reno laughed.
“It hasn’t arrived yet.”
The four of them finally went in together.
The bell signaling first period rang just as they reached the front of the classroom.
“Run!” Dika said.
“Why run?” Reno replied casually.
“So we look hardworking.”
They laughed as they entered the classroom.
Their teacher, Ms. Rina, was already standing in front of the whiteboard.
“Where have you four been?”
The four of them stopped immediately.
Dika pointed at Bisma.
“Ma’am, this is all his fault.”
Bisma glared at him.
“Why me?”
Reno raised his hand too.
“It’s true, ma’am. Bisma overslept.”
Fajar nodded seriously.
“I’m a witness.”
Bisma looked at them one by one.
“What kind of friends are you?”
Ms. Rina just smiled.
“All right, sit down. Don’t make the class any noisier.”
They quickly took their seats.
Bisma sat in the back row with Dika. Reno and Fajar were two rows in front of them.
Class went on as usual. Some students took notes, some daydreamed, and others secretly drew in their notebooks.
Bisma was one of the ones trying to pay attention, even though his thoughts wandered several times.
As Ms. Rina wrote a problem on the board, someone nudged his desk from behind.
Bisma turned around.
A new student was standing near the door.
The boy carried a black bag and stood somewhat awkwardly.
“Excuse me, ma’am.”
Ms. Rina turned around.
“Oh, you’re here. Come on in.”
The boy walked to the front of the classroom.
“Everyone, this is Arga. Starting today, he’ll be studying with you.”
Several students immediately turned their attention to him.
Arga only gave them a faint smile.
“Sit in the empty seat next to Fajar.”
Fajar immediately moved his bag.
“Here.”
Arga sat down.
Bisma watched him for a moment. Something about him felt strange. Not because Arga looked scary or anything. Quite the opposite—he looked perfectly ordinary.
But ever since he had entered the classroom, Arga had mostly kept quiet.
When the lunch bell rang, Bisma, Dika, Reno, and Fajar gathered in the cafeteria.
Reno immediately grabbed three stuffed tofu snacks.
“You’re paying for those yourself, right?” Dika asked.
“Relax.”
“What if you run off later?”
Reno pointed at Bisma.
“Bisma can pay.”
“Yeah, right.”
They sat at a table in the corner of the cafeteria.
Not long afterward, Arga arrived carrying a drink.
“Mind if I join you?”
Fajar immediately moved his chair.
“Go ahead.”
Arga sat beside him.
“What school did you transfer from?” Dika asked.
“A school in the next town over.”
“Why’d you transfer?”
Arga was silent for a moment.
“We moved.”
His answer was brief.
Dika nodded and didn’t ask anything else.
Reno, on the other hand, offered Arga a stuffed tofu snack.
“Want one?”
Arga smiled.
“Sure.”
“Go ahead.”
Bisma watched Arga accept the food.
Their conversation then shifted to the school’s futsal tournament.
But in the middle of the conversation, Arga suddenly looked outside the cafeteria.
His expression changed.
Bisma followed his gaze.
Across the school courtyard stood a man Bisma had never seen before.
The man wore a dark jacket and stood near a tree.
“What’s wrong?” Bisma asked.
Arga quickly looked away.
“Nothing.”
“You know him?”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Dika looked over too.
“Who’s that?”
Arga immediately stood up.
“I’m going back to class.”
“Wait, you haven’t finished your drink,” Fajar said.
Arga didn’t answer. He walked away from the cafeteria.
Bisma continued watching the man in the courtyard.
A few seconds later, the man left through the school gate.
“Bis,” Dika called.
Bisma turned around.
“What?”
“Why were you staring at that guy?”
“I don’t know. I think Arga knows him.”
Reno chewed his food.
“Maybe he’s a relative.”
“If he’s family, why did Arga panic?”
The three of them looked at one another.
Fajar shrugged.
“Forget it. Don’t overthink it.”
The bell rang.
They returned to class.
As Bisma passed Arga’s desk, he saw something fall from underneath it.
A small piece of paper.
Bisma picked it up.
“Is this yours?”
Arga looked at the paper.
His expression immediately changed.
“Don’t open it.”
Bisma handed it over without reading it.
“Okay.”
Arga put the paper in his bag.
“Thanks.”
Bisma returned to his seat.
Class continued until noon. After the dismissal bell rang, Bisma and his three friends gathered in front of the classroom.
“Want to go to Mr. Darto’s food stall?” Dika asked.
“I’m in,” Reno replied.
Fajar nodded.
Bisma was just about to answer when he saw Arga leave the classroom.
The new student walked alone toward the gate.
“I’ll catch up with you guys,” Bisma said.
“Where are you going?” Dika asked.
“Just a second.”
Bisma grabbed his bag and followed Arga.
He didn’t know why, but ever since what happened in the cafeteria, he couldn’t shake his curiosity.
Arga stopped near the gate.
A man stood not far away.
It was the same man as before.
Bisma stopped behind a pillar.
Arga spoke quietly.
“Why did you come here?”
The man replied with something Bisma couldn’t hear clearly.
Arga looked annoyed.
“I already told you not to come looking for me again.”
Bisma held his breath.
Suddenly, Arga turned around.
Their eyes met.
Bisma immediately pretended to look at his phone.
Arga walked closer.
“What are you doing here?”
Bisma scratched his head.
“Just... heading home.”
Arga stared at him for several seconds.
“Bis, there’s something I can’t tell you yet.”
Bisma remained silent.
“If you can, stay out of it.”
After saying that, Arga left with the man.
Bisma stood alone near the gate.
From a distance, Dika shouted.
“BISMA! ARE YOU COMING TO THE FOOD STALL OR NOT?”
Bisma turned toward his three friends.
“Yeah! Hang on!”
He ran over to them.
But all the way to the food stall, his thoughts remained stuck on what had just happened.
A day that had started out perfectly ordinary had left him with one question.
Who was Arga, really?
And why had someone come all the way to the school just to meet him?