Meet Gilang

"Wow, what are you doing here?" said Bambang which immediately surprised me.

It sucks because their class is empty at the moment. It's my fault, I shouldn't have been here during recess like this.

Bambang, who was standing behind me, immediately cast a probing gaze at me.

His eyes narrowed, and his mouth was tightly shut.

"You're not looking for me anymore? So, who are you looking for? Gepeng? Ah, it can't be Paijo, right?" Bambang spoke slowly.

"Bams, do you want to come with me tomorrow?" I asked resignedly. It seems that I really can't ask Paijo for help, so it's better to just ask Bambang.

"Where to?"

"Contest, at Harapan High School! I'm Via's model. Well, the problem is that the teacher asked me to gather there tomorrow morning, so we don't go there together!"

Bambang nodded slowly, it seemed he immediately understood what I meant.

"Sorry, tomorrow I have remedial with Gepeng, and other guys too! So... you just go there and ask for a driver!"

I immediately went limp to hear Bambang's answer.

That's not what I wanted. I just need a friend who will accompany me there.

What if they bullied me again?

I need a friend who can protect me.

"Please, ask the other Roulette guys, if anyone wants to accompany me! Please ..."

"You are very spoiled! Be independent!" said Bambang in a flat tone.

Honestly, I'm disappointed. How can Bambang call me spoiled when I need him?

I smiled sadly, then hurriedly left Bambang, and ignored the call from the man.

Friends, as well as relatives, should be there and strengthen each other, not bring them down.

Damn bastard!

Bruck!

I fell bouncing to the floor when I collided with Paijo.

"Walk with your eyes, Mel!" Paijo grumbled while shaking his head slowly.

The man held out his hand to help me, but I brushed it off and I stood alone.

I straightened my skirt before finally leaving without responding to the man's words.

I ran to the School's Health Clinic.

I called mom's driver, to ask him to pick me up. I feel messed up right now.

***

Last night I couldn't sleep. I'm really scared, what will happen next?

Will they recognize me? Are they going to run right up to me and bully me again?

I keep remembering what they did to me. This might not be a big deal for some people, but for a victim of bullying like me, it's really scary.

"Mel, why are your eyes so droopy? You've been watching dramas all night, haven't you?" Mother screamed as soon as she put a plate of fried rice in front of me.

"Mom, did I ever tell you that I was bullied in the past?" I asked quietly.

Mother sat next to me and held my hand gently.

"Why do you ask that? Don't think about it, Mel!"

I nodded slowly.

"My school is at the competition, at My old school!"

Mother was quite surprised to hear my story.

"In that case, you just cancel it! Let mother talk to your teacher!" cried Mother panicked.

"I have made a promise to my friend, that promise cannot be broken!"

"In that case, I will accompany you, will you?!"

"Well, you have an important meeting right?!"

"Yes, but you are more important, than the meeting!"

I was touched by my mother's words. God is so good that he brought me to my mother.

But no, Mom said it was a very important meeting, I didn't want to be childish and trouble.

"No need, there's Bambang. I will go with him," I lie.

I had no other choice because Mother trusted Bambang so much. The name is always effective in gaining Mother's trust.

"Are you sure, you will go with Bambang?"

"Yeah, want to ask him?"

"No, it's okay if you're with Bambang! I'm so relieved!"

I gave a big smile, a fake smile that at least put Mom at ease.

"Are you waiting for Bambang or are you going with Mr. Mamat?"

"Just with Mr. Mamat, just meet him there directly with Bambang!"

Mother smiled sweetly, then nodded slowly.

We also had breakfast quickly, because Mother had to go to the office. She looks really busy.

"If something happens there, call mom right away! Got it?!"

I nodded slowly in agreement with Mom's words. She kissed my forehead, before leaving me.

With heavy steps, I got into the car and told the driver where we were going.

I took out a small mirror from my bag and saw my reflection there. Mom is right, my eyes look very sad. I'd better take a nap to get back refreshed, anyway, Jakarta is very congested right now, so it will take a long time to get there.

***

"Miss, wake up,"

I was startled when the driver woke me up. Maybe we have arrived at Harapan High School.

But, wait!

It's in the workshop?

"The car broke down," said the Driver after I woke up.

Half-consciously, I got out of the car and saw the obstacle.

Unlucky! I could be late.

I stood in front of the open hood of the car with Mr. Mamat.

"Just order a taxi, okay?" he bargained.

At first, I nodded, until a motorbike stopped not far from us because it was blocked by a helmet, I couldn't see the man's face. However, from his uniform, it looks like he goes to the same school as Naca.

"Need help?" asked the man, taking off his helmet.

Oh, my! Handsome! I remember, he was one of the alliance members of the GPS gang.

"No," I said flatly.

"Where are you going, let me accompany you!"

I looked up at the man I guess was 180 cm tall.

"Why do you want to go?"

"Because I know you're a Roulette guy! You can't know me, right?!"

Bingo! I don't know him! I've only seen him a few times when delivering food with Naya in the past.

I took a deep breath. Yeah, considering I could be late. When I saw the name tag I just knew that his name was Gilang.

"Where are you going? This is not the road to your school!" asked the man as soon as we moved away from Mr. Mamat.

"I'm going to Harapan High School!"

"Oh yeah? I happen to be there too,"

"What are you doing?" I asked reflexively.

"A friend of mine is taking part in the competition, he asked me to come to be a hurray team! It's really bad!"

I laughed at Gilang's words. Does he want to go all the way there just to cheer up his friend? That's a very sweet thing!

"Why aren't you with Bambang?" the man asked, glancing at me in the rearview mirror.

I know, because I was looking in the mirror too.

"He doesn't want to accompany me, instead he says I'm spoiled!" my rant.

"Stupid, he has a beautiful sister, he must be taken care of! This is even left alone, he must have no brain! He doesn't know that Harapan High School is full of an alligator!"

I smiled widely behind the man's back. Not only alligators but there are also many terrible monsters roaming around.

"Paijo will be there too!" I called softly.

"Is he there too?"

"Yes, he became a model for a traditional wedding dress demonstration, together with me!"

The man laughed at my words, although I don't know what he was laughing at.

Seriously, what part of what I said was funny enough to make him laugh like that?

Not long after, we entered the gates of Harapan High School.

My heart was beating fast, and cold sweat immediately ran down my face.

I just kept looking down without daring to lift my head.

Gilang parked his motorbike in one of the parking lots not far from the cafeteria.

"Why? Why is your face so pale?" shouted the man as he got off the motorbike and faced me.

I just nodded slowly.

What should I do now?

"Mel?" call him slowly.

I looked up at the man in front of me.

"You're all right, right?" he asked quietly.

I wanted to ask how he knew my name, but my tongue went numb.

"Don't scare me, you!" the man started to panic.

Why is he panicking? Is my face that pale?

"Can you accompany me to find a teacher or my friends, can't you?" I asked doubtfully.

"If you want, I'll just call Paijo!"

I shook my head quickly. That Paijo will only get angry and think I'm a troublesome spoiled girl.

"You don't want to accompany me? Well, I'll find it myself. Thanks for the ride."

After saying that, I turned around and was about to leave the parking lot, but the man stopped me.

"I'm with you! I told you, didn't I? There is a lot of alligators here!"

I smiled in relief at his words.

"So, your name is Gilang?"

"Yeah!"

"The one who is angry like someone in a trance?" I mumbled softly.

"That's good, you!" he protested.

We laughed together. I remember him, he was one of the leaders of the GPS alliance, which Roulette highly respected, besides Alif and Naca.

I walked slowly, and Gilang continued to hold my steps.

"I heard what happened to you, thank God you're okay!" Gilang said without looking at me.

"Ah, because of the incident with Blackstone, or because they were attacked at your school, by Naca?"

Gilang even chuckled amused to hear my question, he immediately turned around and pinched my cheek affectionately.

It may look cute, but the pinch hurts! It felt like a hand used to fight.

"I'm happy, you're okay! You're even relaxed when you mention what happened that night! Aren't you scared, traumatized, or anything? That, you almost died, you know?!"

Yeah, Gilang is right. I should be scared, traumatized, and reluctant to talk about it.

But, at that moment, I saw Gepeng and Naca struggling to save me. I don't feel alone. I feel like I have friends who are willing to risk their lives for me. So, I'm not too afraid to remember the incident. After all, it wasn't the first time I nearly died.

"I've had something worse than that, so I just take it as my bad luck."

Gilang smiled at my answer.

"If only she was as strong as you," Gilang muttered quietly.

From his voice, he could feel the pain he was hiding.

"Who is she?" I asked doubtfully.

I don't want to be presumptuous by continuing to ask questions, but my curiosity can't be contained anymore.

"My girlfriend. She died after being mugged and raped by Blackstone!"

I froze to hear Gilang's answer. He must be very hurt. Truly cruel, that Blackstone.

"Well, don't worry about it! Let's just say you're lucky because you're still fine!" exclaimed Gilang, smiling so broadly.

"Sorry, I didn't know..."