OUR YOUTH

An Unexpected Meeting

-In 2022-

Instantly Lucas's eyes were immediately startled, waking up from his sleep breathless Lucas woke up after a bad dream. Dreams that have been so real and so scary have been haunting him for the past year. Trying to calm him down because the dream was still attached to him. Turns out he was awakened by the sound of an alarm clock. Soon Lucas shut it down. It's morning, he has to hurry to go to her new school.

Standing in front of the glass, looking at his face, feeling so unfamiliar. The trace of the dream is still shadowed in his mind. It's been about five months that he's been living a long silence after the storm. Lucas's tired of the life he's living, it's just that he wants to complain.

Wearing a black jacket, taking his bag and his phone. Lucas walked off to school. Lucas walked after getting off the bus. The first day of school but it feels like he's tired of having to get through today.

TENG NENG … TENG NENG … TENG TENG TENG!!!

The sound of school entrance bell has been ringing. All the students rushed into their respective classes making the previously full hallway quiet. The hallway that Lucas is currently passing through is following his homeroom teacher's footsteps.

The class was originally noisy and immediately rushed back to their seats as Mr. Steven walked in. Lucas's presence immediately became the center of attention, especially the female students who were fascinated by his handsome face. They started whispering to ask Lucas.

Even now Lucas has no expression at all and doesn't want to be friendly to anyone.

"All attention!! Today, we have a new student," said Mr. Steven.

"Wahh !" they all cheered.

"New student?" asked Karina in her heart who was busy copying Clara's notes, curiosity made her slowly look at her face towards the front. It's true, a new student who somehow feels familiar to her face, Karina thinks.

"Please introduce yourself,"

"My name is Lucas," said Lucas briefly, solidly, and clearly.

The atmosphere became quiet immediately when Lucas just mentioned his name and then fell silent. All seemed confused and the atmosphere became absurd and awkward.

"That's it? There's nothing more to tell?" asked Mr. Steven.

"Nope," Lucas replied briefly.

"Okay, and then, you're sitting on an empty chair, okay?"

Lucas just nodded his head — walking toward an empty table in the back row by the window. The place he liked the most. Accidentally both eyes ran across a female student staring at her. But why does it feel a little weird when it passes through her?

"We started studying. What page was yesterday?"

"Page 25, sir!"

"Okay, let's study page 25!" he said.

***

TENG NENG … TENG NENG … TENG TENG TENG!!!

The sound of the school bell asking for lunchtime.

The students went straight out of their class to make the classroom very full. When everyone is flocking to get lunch, not Lucas who prefers to sleep in class.

It's not just Lucas who's in class. But there is also Karina who seems so focused on writing notes with her face so focused. Two people who don't know each other, but nature brings them together as naturally as possible or as startling.

Karina began to realize that she wasn't herself in class. The new kid who's in deep sleep right now. Having nothing to do with her, Karina resumed her focus on writing before Clara and her friends asked.

There are only 10 minutes left for break time to end, so the job is done. Karina immediately put the book on Clara's desk and her three friends. Otherwise, they'll be back to bug him. But when those people pass it, it does feel strange, Karina thinks.

Absolutely. Just now he thought, those people who came after filling their bellies. Karina, who had given up if they were going to punish her, has now shifted her course. They start calling and trying to talk to Lucas, the new kid who's not asleep. There's nothing wrong with returning their greetings.

Karina felt grateful, because thanks to the student named Lucas, Clara did not bother herself this time. Karina ran as fast as she could before the bell rang.

***

On the roof of a quiet school. Lucas chose to leave the class because there were too many who bothered him. With only a used piece of cardboard under the roof of the school roof, Lucas was seen enjoying his nap. He's not skipping class, it's just that there's an empty hour.

The feeling is still in the shadows of the past, even though he has moved to school, the fear of the past remains very deep. One name he must not forget and the biggest reason for himself must not be re-engaged in a matter.

But suddenly her calmness was interrupted by something that sounded like the sound of someone crying. Lucas sighed heavily, trying to keep his emotions steady. The sound of crying until it gets louder — disturbing his ears. Lucas awoke from his sleep, staring at him — looking for a sound source that disturbed him.

Both eyes Lucas was wide-eyed when they saw the figure of a student sitting on the periphery of the barrier without fear of heights. The long straight-haired student was crying. It's troublesome and annoying. Isn't there anywhere else to cry, the girl is testing her patience.

"Oi!!!!!"

But no response at all.

Lucas breathes again.

"WOI!!!!!" Lucas raised his voice.

The crying student immediately fell silent and stopped crying.

"If you want to cry, please don't make a sound! Okay!" said Lucas.

The student nodded his head three times quickly. Lucas was satisfied that he could go back to sleep.

Karina immediately fell silent like a statue after hearing the male voice on the roof of the school. When she came here, there was no one. It sounded so loud that it couldn't move. What if the guy's one of Clara's kids? Her crying stopped immediately and now it's turning into fear. It's like there's no place in the world for her to shed her sorrows.