Twenty Two

That morning, Velly was still busy surfing the virtual world just to check the hottest gossip of domestic and foreign artists, the latest skincare recommendations by famous YouTubers, to laughing at Farah Quinn's insta story with her child, when she found Eshika coming and sitting with took a deep breath along memory lane. The girl immediately put her phone on the table. Welcoming Eshika's arrival who immediately landed her face on the table. His face looked disheveled and powerless. Like having gone through hard days without eating and drinking.

"Why are you tired?" asked Velly curiously as he smoothed Eshika's long hair which she had untied today. "Looks like you're in a bad mood. Why? What is the problem?"

Again, Eshika let out a long breath. Without moving her head, she only glanced at Velly through the corner of her eye. She said.

"Last night..."

"Ah!" Velly immediately cut off Eshika's words. "After walking with Alex, right?" asked Velly teasingly. "Tired? That's why you look so lethargic?" Velly giggled. "Where have you been? What are you doing? What time are you going?"

For the umpteenth time, Eshika let out a long breath. Feeling tired. However, her head moved slightly. Nodding in a motion that is too slow, almost imperceptible.

"I'm really tired, Vel," he said softly. "Tired physically and mentally." Eshika exhaled deeply.

"Eh?" Velly was stunned. "Tired physically and mentally?" She rubbed his temples. "If you're tired of being born, it can make sense to me. Maybe you've been around everywhere, right? But what if you're tired?" Velly's brow furrowed. "So what?"

Eshika's eyes closed. Her long breath returned. She really didn't know what to say to Velly. She didn't want to embarrass herself in front of her best friend because of what happened last night.

"Esh...."

One sound made Eshika's eyes that were closed suddenly burst open. She doesn't know why, but suddenly she felt goosebumps all over her body. Unknowingly, her body rose and stiffened.

"Alex..."

Alex pulled out an empty chair to sit near Eshika's desk. His face had a look of concern.

"How was yesterday? You're mom was not mad, was she?"

Velly looked at Eshika and Alex alternately. "Ehm ... ma ... d?" Velly asked stuttering. Then, her eyes bulged. "What time are you coming back, Esh?"

"Eshika came back so late that I got scolded by Mami!"

The three faces immediately looked at the source of the voice. Tama seemed to appear while showing his cellphone screen. There was a history of calls from Popi for ten minutes, after six missed calls.

The three of them fell silent. Only Tama looked intently at Eshika. He threatens.

"Esh..., don't forget what your mom said yesterday, okay? You can't go anywhere without me."

Velly's eyes flickered. "Th-this… what is it?"

Tama turned to Alex. "You're having fun taking the girls out for the night," said Tama fiercely. "But, it was me who got scolded."

Alex seemed to be gnashing his jaw. "I can speak nicely to her mom."

"You should," Tama hissed. "Should have been before asking Eshika to go. Not after she and I got scolded until these ears were about to fall out."

Alex nodded. He smiled as he got up from his seat. He said.

"Just calm down. Next time I will go to her mom first. You don't have to worry."

Eshika bit her lip.

"The thing is, there's no need next time," said Tama grinning. "If you want to go, just tell me. Then I'll come along."

Alex's face changed, while Tama just nodded with a face that seemed full of sympathy. The boy tapped Alex on the shoulder once.

"Be patient, ok?"

After saying that, Tama left from there. Goes to his seat and gets excited with his friends.

"What did that mean?" asked Alex.

Velly shook Eshika's hand. "Why is this, Esh? Tama will come if you and Alex go out?" asked Velly confused.

And Eshika could only nod once. "Yes, as Tama said," said Eshika while looking at Alex and Velly in turn. Her lips smiled sadly. "Mommy didn't tell me to go anywhere, except with Tama. And actually, it doesn't just apply to Alex. But, for everyone."

"Eh?"

"Anyway, Mami ordered me not to disappear from Tama's eyes," said Eshika. "Well, you can presume that now my life is really in that guy's hands."

Eshika couldn't imagine how her life would go on. To be sure, she thought that Tama would of course take the opportunity to prank him.

"My life and death are completely in Tama's hands."

*

"Hear what happened in class 12 IPA 2 this morning?"

"Ah! Really!"

"It turns out that Eshika can also stay out until late at night."

Eshika shook her head. Inside he screamed.

Of course! Last night I came home almost half past ten at night to the apartment.

And for some reason, because of that he became annoyed with Alex and Tama. Because of those two people, she had succeeded in becoming a source of gossip that people had been talking about for the past two days. But, actually Eshika was even more annoyed with herself. If only he wasn't so emotional that she went too far. But now. For some reason, because of what happened in class earlier, Eshika found Alex who was desperately trying to apologize to her.

"I'm really sorry, Esh. I didn't know it would turn out like this."

Eshika smiled. "The same. I didn't know it was going to be like this either."

Alex was stunned. Still next to Eshika when they circled the school cafeteria which was already clean because yesterday Eshika helped clean it with Tama and Laura.

"I'll treat," Alex said later. "What do you want to eat?"

Eshika took a deep breath. "Thanks, but you don't have to, Lex. I'll just eat it myself."

"Are you mad at me?"

Out of Eshika's estimation, it turned out that Alex was still following her who went to order dumplings. She turned and nodded.

"I'm not angry."

"Usually a girl when she says she's not angry means she's actually angry."

Eshika's shoulders rose slightly. "Not including me," said Eshika. "But I'm not really angry. Just annoyed."

"With me?"

This time, Eshika looked away for a long time. She said. "Yes."

Alex opened his mouth, but suddenly Eshika spoke again.

"But I'm more annoyed with myself anyway. There's no need to worry." Eshika handed her a bill worth ten thousand rupiah and started looking around for an empty table.

Alex pulled up a chair at the same table where Velly was waiting for them. The girl was enjoying a plate of hodgepodge.

She saw Alex. "What did you order, Lex?" asked Velly.

Alex shook his head. "I'm not hungry," he said just as Eshika's order arrived.

Eshika unceremoniously enjoyed the dumplings she ordered, when she felt her phone vibrate. She immediately checked and found a message from Tama.

[ Tama ]

[ Ouch, poor guy you just watch you eat. ]

[Don't tell me he ran out of money because he asked you out yesterday. ]

Immediately Eshika turned her head, looking for Tama's whereabouts. It didn't take long for her to find it. Tama sits in the corner of the cafeteria, where he and his friends usually gather. Holding back anger, Eshika replied to the message.

[ Tama ]

[ I didn't spend his money huh. ]

[ And an important one. ]

[He's not my guy. ]

[ Just in case you missed the gossip. ]

[There isn't a single boy in this school who has managed to become my girlfriend. ]

[ Am I like you? ]

[The guy who's the victim of all the girls here? ]

Eshika put her phone back on the table. Then, he looked back at Tama. Soon she found Tama who was looking at her furiously. Eshika sneered.

*

tbc ....