Chapter 7
Nine o'clock in the evening. I collapsed in the practice hall, my breath was already gasping, because I rarely exercise, I started to feel some pain from the practice these last few days. It's been seven days in a row I practiced at this place. In the morning I started running, starting from two kilometers on the first day until today it has been ten kilometers. Followed by breakfast with other library residents, soon after that, I continued with muscle training such as weightlifting and so on, then right before lunch I took a shower. After lunch, Mr. David gave me a private class to learn about various knowledge. That probably I might never get from any school. Apart from the others, they are learning independently. After I finish studying I helped out the library in the public area to tidy up books, clean the library, and help Vanilla at the table for borrowing books. Before dinner, I practiced martial arts with all the librarians. Accompanied by Vanilla, I learned to fight in pairs against Kara and Kiara. Alex taught single-hand combat, while Wulan taught me how to use weapons. At the end of every session Mr. David tests us to fight him, but no one has succeeded in beating him, the closest one is Alex, yet he is still losing, well it's not wrong Mr. David appointed him as his representative, and of course, I lose after two moves. After dinner, we were given free time. Alex often spends that time reading, unlike his very muscular and well-built appearance, he acts like a bookworm on a daily basis. In contrast to Alex, Wulan fills that time by playing games, reading comics, or watching pop culture stuff. The twins always do random activities together, the second day I was here they played chess for a few rounds, the next day they sparred in the practice hall, and so on, it's always various. Mr. David does activities like an adult in general, he watches local TV shows, such as news, comedy shows, or dramas. For me, I practice in the training hall at that time to catch up on my lack in my physical abilities, as well as my fighting skills, Vanilla always accompanied me to train in that spare time.
*****
“You don't have to accompany me practice in every free period, you have another activity to do, right? I feel bad that you always spare your time for me." With a body full of sweat and gasping for breath, I spoke to Vanilla.
"Sir, don't worry, it is my duty, to make sure you practice well."
"I told you there is no need to call me sir. Ah, nevermind. Then, now let's take a shower. ”
"What do you mean, sir? S-shower? " Vanilla's face flushed red.
"Yes, take a shower. What's wrong with that? "
"You inviting me to take a shower?" Vanilla averted her face from my gaze.
“No, that's not what I mean, I mean we'll take a shower. Ah, I mean you take a shower and I take a shower too. I mean later you and I take a shower. "
"Sir, you are too pervert." With her face already red she covered her face, leaving me in the practice hall.
"No wait, that's not what I meant." Idiot, why did I say that to a girl. Sastra you are so stupid.
“Hahahaha. That's great man, I like your style. How did you become that wild? " It turns out that Kara had been watching from a distance.
“Hey, this isn't what I meant. Ah nevermind." I tidy up the equipment I just used and then leave the training hall with Kara.
"You should teach me that trick sometime." Kara patted my shoulder.
"Oh, stop."
"Fine, I give up, lustful beast."
"Hey!"
"Ok, ok, hahahahaha." Kara left me and then went to his room with his signature laugh, like a kid at a birthday party.
*****
After I took a shower and getting dressed I lay down on the bed, lost in a daydream. While I rest my body that still feels pain here and there. Maybe this is one of the reasons my P.E scores were never good at school. I'm too lazy to do things like this. Usually, at times like this, I read books or watching comedy shows on tv. Maybe for some people, comedy shows at night are often considered inappropriate to watch, but in my opinion, it's different, sometimes I imagine the comedian's mindset while delivering their joke. Like a genius philosopher who often expresses wise words, so with comedians, somehow they can joke at the right time with the right joke, what a genius, right? But now it's different, I'm not doing those boring, fun activities anymore. Instead of relaxing with a body that doesn't exert much energy for a full day, at a time like this my body and mind are unable to rest, like a machine programmed to continue working until it is turned off.
Everything still feels strange to me, even though I've been here for a few days. Chat while eating, practice together, learn a lot of new knowledge, but I feel strange. Living in a community has become a strange thing for me since my father and mother left. Some may ask, how do I deal with people every time I work? Honestly, I often don't consider the existence of the people around me at times like that. I only do it to fill my daily needs, pay for electricity and water bills, fill the kitchens, to secondary things such as paying for internet services and telephone credit. It sounds mean, but what do you expect from someone like me? I tend to be inconspicuous at work. I rarely chat with other employees or interact with the boss where I work. Even if I start to get recognized by the employees around me, I will resign soon after that and find a new place to work. Why? I am scared. Since that tragedy, I have been afraid of the existence of other people. I became too scared to start a relationship or enter a community.
Then how did I get here, and trust all these people as if? I do not know. I don't know the exact reason why I can do these things. It was as if I was an animal following its instinct to survive. Ah, never mind maybe this is the second chance that was given to me. There is nothing better than surviving and being grateful for the situation I face now. I sank into my bed, my body became lighter, and my eyes felt heavier.
BAM!
A loud voice woke me up instantly. Reflexively I hurried to get up, put on a jacket and jeans, then hurried out of the room.