The Mediums Help

08

Many teenagers come out of skyscrapers, they carry backpacks while chatting with friends. Walking across a large road which was quite busy, but fortunately there was a security guard who was willing to help them cross.

David took Dimas – his cousin to stop by the empty canteen. They ordered cold americano coffee with sweet pastries. They sat by the big window at the end, away from the classical music that David said would lull him to sleep.

"Up to this point, the material is getting more and more difficult. It should be according to the rules of the language, but the teacher wants it according to his wishes. Even though I read a book, how come I don't understand how to use character names in one paragraph?" complained Dimas. His facial expression was so sad when his left hand supported his chin.

“Yes, I also feel that way. Whereas in a novel or short story manuscript in one paragraph there are two or three mentions of the names of the characters. Then in the following paragraphs the names of more than one character are also used, but this teacher asks to use only a few mentions of names in one story. One story that has three to five paragraphs at a time." David sighed, he was grateful he still had so much patience.

"If it wasn't for the lowered grades, I would obviously be angry. If I could answer all of his sneers, I would still have the courage to do that."

David chuckled at his cousin's antics. Dimas, who has patience as thin as a tissue, must accept a teacher who always gives red marks on every task. Rarely do classmates get good grades. Mostly red because it is not to his liking,

"Isn't he very arrogant? Just because he studied up to his doctorate likes to make fun of us, saying we are stupid, lazy, this and that, even though we live in a very different era. Everything is expensive, land and buildings are expensive, vacancies work is hard to come by." Dimas sighed tiredly. It felt like cursing someone, and telling those who liked to sneer that his generation didn't deserve to be bullied.

Everyone has their own abilities, and Dimas really appreciates that sentence. He also realized what area his abilities lay in, and what he could not control. He always did everything he could control, but people always sneered. Dimas always forgets that sneer, and thinks they don't exist, but sometimes he also feels disgusted.

Today the teacher was more chatty than usual, Dimas' Indonesian assignment was still wrong. This was the umpteenth revision, and it managed to stress him out because he was confused about how to justify an assignment that wasn't that important. David is actually also in Dimas' position, but the difference is that David doesn't bring problems to the point of stress.

"Next month I want to climb the mountain, do you want to come or not?" said David in the stillness of the night.

"A moment!" Dimas said. He walked to the cashier, his order was made. But he and David didn't hear, they only heard when they heard the screams of the curly haired man. He smiled kindly before carrying his tray of orders. "What did you say?" asked Dimas as soon as he sat down.

"I want to climb Mount Salak with my friends, do you want to come or not? Next month is planned because there is a red date on Saturday."

"Saturday ride and then Sunday break like that?"

"Yes, it also depends. If you can go up one day, you can. But if you can't, you have to stay overnight. So, you do have permission to not enter on Monday to rest at home," explained David lightly. He never thought about the lessons, according to him all the twelfth grade material was very easy. He can take daily exams or semester exams without studying.

Dimas tried to think, but then shook his head. "No, I have a lot of things to do at school. I'm also already in twelfth grade, so I don't want to be stupid. I'm still like this at tutoring, especially at school."

"OM-goodness, just once in a while. I'm not going to climb a mountain often, once in a lifetime," David coaxed.

Dimas still shook his head, he knew the consequences he would get if he obeyed his cousin on this one. "You go there to climb the mountain, I just want to focus on studying. Just bring souvenirs later!”

"Hah, souvenirs are never absent from your head."

“Hahaha, local specialties are delicious, you know.”

***

Silva got off the 2012 Mio motorbike. She gave Supri an oversized helmet, and the man immediately put it on to be safe on the road. "Why is the house quiet, Miss?"

"Because mom and dad already asleep. What's wrong, Sir?" Silva raised her eyebrows in disbelief.

"I'm just asking. But if I may ask again, it seems there are two motorbikes and two cars, why didn't you use the motorbike to go to school?" Supri frowned too.

Silva smiled wryly remembering that not everyone knows about this. "I can't Sir, I often crash in the past. So I prefer to ride with the pillion. It's better to be like that than to hit someone who isn't wrong."

"That's true." Supri shifted his gaze to the motorbike. "Okay, I'll go home first. Miss, hurry up and get in so you won't be caught if you come home late!"

"Yes, be careful Sir!" said Silva before going in, she relocked the gate, and walked into the house slowly.

The light creeps in when the door to her room is opened wide enough, but not for long because Silva closes the door again. She sat down at the study table with an exhausted face, grateful that her parents didn't realize she wasn't home.

The notebook she had saved was now lying on the table. She had done her work with Mr. Supri, the man helped find answers on the internet because Silva didn't have any other notebooks with her. Luckily Mr. Supri is smart, he said when he was still in school he always won first place. All teachers like him because he is smart, always gets special things so that many are jealous.

Silva reopened her assignment book, she read while looking for the correct answer in the book. There were several incorrect answers, some of which she had to add complementary sentences so that the score would not decrease. A deep sigh escaped as she closed her book again. She turned off the light before sitting where she was supporting her chin.

The ghost of the red-eyed woman from earlier was still in her head. The long, tangled hair, the smell of blood that wasn't fresh, and the shabby clothes made her shiver a second time. Silva shuddered in horror, spirits with negative energy were terrifying.

"But why should there be negative spirits, and positive ones?" she muttered as she turned toward the window. The sprinkling of stars that look beautiful makes her feel more comfortable. "Why can't they go home if the energy is negative? God should have sent an angel to take them to the afterlife, maybe indigo children's lives won't be as hard as this."