Dug dug dug!
The beating of my heart was increasingly in sync with my footsteps. The faster my footsteps tread the earth, the faster the beating. All the new students of Dian Nusantara University were running towards the 6th-floor auditorium of the campus. Some used the elevator and the rest had to climb the emergency stairs. My friend Ajeng and I were among the students who had to climb the stairs to the 6th-floor auditorium. We had to be there on time at 7 am. "Let's walk a little faster if necessary run"! Said the organizing committee of the new student opening ceremony.
"Fyuh, (in my heart) I was already dressed up pretty, I was forced to run fast as if I was being chased by the devil". (I thought to myself because I heard the cheers from the committee who could only give orders). Our seats had been arranged by the committee and determined according to the majors we took. I and my close friend Ajeng majored in English literature, previously we had been acquainted while registering for the first time during a campus visit, the experience of our mouths exchanged reasons, why we were in the middle of the sea of English literature. But unfortunately, our seats during the event were fairly far away. I was in the right corner of the second row and Ajeng was in the left corner of the third row. My hands were shaking, my cold sweat was pouring out, and the beating of my heart that was in sync with my footsteps and she had stopped was increasingly heard. Of course, it was because I was scared and didn't know the people sitting next to me. The woman with two hair ties looked cold without even turning her head who sat right beside me on my left. Even though I wanted to try to get acquainted with her. Because I saw Ajeng she was very friendly and also seemed to have many friends at the right end of the third row. I felt jealous seeing that.
The event began. The rhythmic music of the national anthem and also the campus hymn were the opening for the beginning of the event. Shortly after 2 pm, the event was over. We were allowed to leave the auditorium and before that, there were several announcements for the next day's event. I rushed over to Ajeng who was sitting at the end. But she seemed to ignore me. Previously we had made plans to go home and eat together at Kito's stall near campus. But I think she forgot our plan last night. She seemed to be busy joking with her new friend and missed me and ignored my call. I felt sad and betrayed. Because of course, we had an earlier appointment.
I was transfixed and just watched her walk slowly while chatting with her new friend. My heart was troubled, these tears wanted to fall heavily, but I didn't dare to let them out while wiping them so that I looked okay. Until I didn't realize I couldn't see her back anymore. I stared at that back with my eyes while wiping as I left the auditorium. While sighing. My footsteps are increasingly tracing the classroom hallway. While descending the stairs, I saw her from the height of the glass that was already in front of the campus yard while chatting. My feet stopped and did not want to continue stomping down the stairs. I let her go until she was no longer visible from the campus gate.
Drrrt dddrt..,
My cell phone vibrated. "Where are you?" Ajeng asked through her text message. I ignored her text message and I immediately ordered an online motorcycle to go home. I can't get along with new friends and it all takes a process. I had told Ajeng this before. But all the same, I thought we would become best friends later on campus. It was just the first day of opening that she was already reluctant to turn her head and even ignore our previous plans. I couldn't stem the flow of these tears. My tears kept falling even though I tried to wipe them away. I said I wasn't good at words, but your actions made me stammer. I felt disappointed because of her decision which suddenly made me question. Silence is the key to everything. There is only me and myself who know the arc of her life.
The sky looked gloomy today, it was the second day of the event to welcome new students. Raindrops begin to wet the streets. My feet rushed down from the motorcycle taxi to the terrace of the campus yard. I saw a woman standing with her hands around her waist watching me. The voice was familiar to me. She asked me various kinds of questions and I ignored her ramblings. It was as if the waves were crashing through the coral, the sand was getting lost in the waves, and the sky was also crashing with the roar of the sound accompanied by her babbling which was getting more melodious like a bird that was forced to be locked up in its cage. Finally, I couldn't deny it, so I answered. The essence of her rambling was 'What was wrong with me? Why did I seem silent and even ignorant to her?' And I explained that 'I was fine'. She was again evasive and asked for a real answer. Finally, my tissue-thin patience was divided in two. I, too, explained with a little anger. "You should introspect yourself Ajeng!" You were the one who left me yesterday and ignored me because you got a new friend. Do I look trivial in front of you? Ajeng was silent for a thousand languages hearing the rampant thunder. The committee also told us to enter the auditorium. I was just venting because before I could only keep quiet. And now on the contrary she looks silent and I don't know whether she will think of apologizing to me or not. For now, I just focus on the event that is being held. My little heart said, "I don't care about her".
