The sun beat down on the earth as several motorcycles entered SMA Merpati. They belonged to several students from smaneke who had been assigned to Merpati School.
“Is this really the school we’re going to attend?” Rena asked, staring at the school building, which wasn’t particularly large. Still, it looked spacious, with several rooms lined up in a row, along with a field and a small garden behind the school.
“What’s wrong with this school?” Arjuna asked, sweeping his gaze around.
“Nothing, I guess, but it’s so far below our school. I mean, it’s a whole different class from us! I’m sure this place doesn’t have the facilities our old school had. That one was elite and famous!” Rena sneered, as if mocking Merpati School for not being as spacious as smaneke.
Who didn’t know smaneke?
“If you want a school on smaneke’s level, then build one yourself. Seriously, you’re so ungrateful. We’re lucky there’s still a school willing to take us in!” Rendra shot back.
Rena clapped a hand over Rendra’s mouth, annoyed by her friend’s words. “My world would be a safer place if you didn’t comment, Rendra. All you ever do is make people mad!” Rena snapped.
Rendra snorted irritably, grabbed Devan and Arjuna by the hands, and pulled them away from Rena. If she kept arguing with Rena, her ears would swell up!
“You two are always fighting!” Arjuna teased, lightly punching Rendra’s shoulder.
“Whose fault is it that this girl loves sticking to us so much?”
“Careful, you two might end up together!” Devan said with a quiet laugh.
“Ugh, no way! She likes you, Dev. As for me, God forbid I ever end up with her. She’s a tomboy, and her mouth is loaded with chili peppers!” Rendra declared, shuddering at the thought of Rena, who really was a tomboy and sometimes blurted out whatever came to mind.
“Rendra, what did you just say?” Rena shouted from not far away.
Rendra, Devan, and Arjuna glanced at Rena, who stood there with her arms crossed, glaring at Rendra like a horror-movie monster.
“Look out, the kuntilanak is on a rampage!” Rendra yelled, sprinting away before the trash can beside Rena could go flying into his handsome face.
The atmosphere in Class XII Social Sciences was lively, with music echoing through the room. Several boys pounded on their desks, turning them into musical instruments while a twin singing duo performed at the front of the class.
“Ayaya, the power’s out, baby, oh no, the power’s out!” Amina sang Nassar’s song “Power Outage” with a clownish expression, making the entire class burst out laughing.
Amira continued the tune in her wild style, singing so off-key that everyone’s ears practically begged to be detached.
“Oh my gosh, Amira, please don’t keep going!” Davina said, smacking her forehead as she watched the twin duo’s antics. But the two only got even more carried away.
The twins sang while gleefully doing somersaults, making Davina cringe.
“Let’s welcome our very own star, Davina Larasati!” Amira announced, pointing at Davina so her friend could join them at the front. Davina firmly refused.
“Come on, Davina! When else will our class star get to perform, while the distinguished teachers are busy welcoming those elite students?” Amira coaxed, making her face look cute.
“Wait, is our class going to have a celebrity from another school visiting? Oh, no, my charm is going to spread everywhere, and I’ll definitely go viral throughout their whole school when they hear my one-of-a-kind golden voice!” Amina said, clutching both cheeks and showing off an adorable smile.
Smack! Amira flicked Amina on the head. “Stop running your mouth. You’re better off being a loyal audience member!” Amira snapped, making her twin immediately pout.
“Are we continuing or not? My hands still have ninety percent battery left for drumming!” Polong said, getting ready to pound on his desk again.
“Keep showing off your charm, Long!” Amina cheered. But the loudspeaker cut off the chaos before it could start all over again.
“All twelfth-grade class presidents, please report to the teachers’ room!”
“Vin, that’s you! Maybe they’ve got gift baskets for us—it was just after Eid!” Polong said once the announcement ended.
“What kind of gift basket, Long? A cookie tin filled with rice crackers?” Amina asked, once again being slow on the uptake.
“Amina, shut your mouth. Stop running it!” Amira pressed a finger to Amina’s lips to make her quiet.
Amina brushed her twin’s finger away. “Geez, what’s your problem, Mir?”
“Stop fighting. Be good and stay quiet in class today. Don’t cause any more chaos, or our class might set a new record because of you two!” Davina warned.
“Fine. We’ll be your obedient little minions today!” Amira replied with a grin.
Davina left after getting the twin duo under control so they wouldn’t lose it and put on a second concert. She sometimes did crazy things in class too, but only when she wasn’t the one in charge. Davina did her best to keep the classroom quiet and free of trouble. As class president, she was responsible for her class’s well-being—as long as she wasn’t causing trouble herself.
Davina walked toward the teachers’ room with several other class presidents from her grade.
“Ugh, I think I need to use the bathroom first. You guys go ahead!” Davina said, turning toward the restroom. She had suddenly needed to go the moment she spotted the school bathroom.
“That Davina is something else!” one of the others said, shaking her head at their slightly eccentric friend.
Davina entered the bathroom and relieved herself. She looked in the mirror and fixed her appearance, then applied the lip balm she always carried in her pocket.
“There we go. Looking fabulous. Time to spread my charm!” Davina murmured, smiling proudly at her pretty, adorable face.
Davina left the restroom, humming happily. Her steps carried her closer and closer to the teachers’ room, and her petite body was just about to enter when someone suddenly cut in front of her, sending her tumbling to the floor. What would happen next?