“So, life is simple. You ought to obey the God’s will and stay away from God’s prohibition. If you do a mistake to your friends, you just should ask apologize to them. If you have been helped by someone, just say ‘thank you’ to him or her. If you think you have many troubles, you can share it all to your mother. Your mother would know everything about you.” Explained Mrs. Annie.
“So, who agree with my opinion? Just raise your right hand please.” Wondered Mrs. Annie.
All students in that room raised their right hand, except Diana. Mrs. Annie then walked to Diana’s bench. She would ask her about the reason.
“All students agree about my opinion and except you, Diana. May I know why you didn’t agree?” Asked Mrs. Annie.
“Mmm… I don’t know, Ma’Am.” Answered Diana. Spontaneously all her friends laughed at her after listening to her answer, but Damar and some friends did not do it. Damar wanted to help Diana, but he had not any courage enough to stop his friends laughing.
“Stop it all!” Exclaimed Mrs. Annie.
“Maybe, I think life is so complicated. I mean… there’s no easy way to achieve our dreams. We need a sacrifice, but… there’s no chance for silent girl like me even to get a friend.” Stated Diana to Mrs. Annie with her low voice.
“Don’t be sad, Girl. Everything’s going to be OK. Take heart.” Said Mrs. Annie. Then she walked back to in the front of the class.
“Alright Class, don’t be too ignorant to your friends. That’s not good. We should respect other people although they don’t have a good sympathy to you. I know it’s hard. Try to understand, this world is temporary. You just stay awhile here. Remember? I said that life was simple in order to make you all be more patient to face this life. You will face the real life after you dead. So, be careful of what you do. Make Indonesia as the country that always keeps the civility and the honesty. Be a good citizen. Indonesia’s future depends on you. Ok, time is over. I should go now. I hope you think back of what I’ve said. Good morning.” Said Mrs. Annie.
“Good morning, Ma’Am.” Answered all students. After Mrs. Annie left the class, suddenly the leader of the class, Taufik, walked to in the front of the class and spoke to his all friends.
“I want to talk about something. Please pay attention to me.” Said him.
“What are you talking about? It’s time for a break. Don’t hold us.” Said Chira, one of his friends in the class. She was very fussy.
“You want to go? Please… Just you and I’ll keep hold them.” Said Taufik pointing to Chira’s close friends.
“Hey… okay, I’ll stay here!” Exclaimed Chira with her anger. Chira did not go.
“I don’t care. Well, I ask you to stay here to talking about us. Before I start to tell you, I want to ask some people here. Who is your friend here, Diana?” Asked Taufik to Diana.
“I don’t know. I feel have no friend here.” Answered Diana.
“Okay, and then… Damar. Who’s your friend here?” Asked Taufik to Damar.
“All people in this class are my friends even in this school.” Answered Damar.
“It’s very contrary to Diana’s answer. However, Diana doesn’t think that you are her friend. What about it, Damar?” Asked Taufik to Damar again.
“Because she thinks that she is Damar’s girlfriend. Hahaha.” Suddenly Chira interrupted their conversation and almost all students laughed at Diana and Damar.
“Stop it!!! Don’t f*ck around with me!” Exclaimed Taufik hitting the table. “Enough Chira, you may go out if you really do not enjoy this moment.” Taufik was evicting Chira.
“Upsss… sorry, Leader. I enjoy this moment so much.” Said Chira.
“Okay, I don’t want to ask it again to Damar. Now, who’s your friend here, Chira?” Asked Taufik to Chira.
“Of course they are Nera, Fanny, and Lusi. We are friends, forever.” Answered Chira.
“From your answers I can make conclusion that Diana has no world, Damar has the entire world, and you Chira just has your own world as another five groups in this class. I know you all!” Said Taufik.
“Why you are talking like that? Am I wrong if I become their friend?” Asked Chira.
“After all, who’s created a group in this class?” Asked Robi, another Taufik’s friend.
“Oh… you really haven’t known yet, Robi? Need I mention one by one?” Asked Taufik to Robi.
“No, that’s not necessary. I begin understand.” Answered Robi.
“Actually, we all begin separated. We are not one. Please realize it. Don’t act like your close friends are the only your world! We all are friends here. Don’t you know? Please respect the differences. We cannot live just with two or three people. We need all people here. I’m sure there’s no useless person in this world. Can we respect each other from now on?” Asked Taufik seriously. Damar raised his right hand.
“Yes Damar, speak please.” Commanded Taufik.
“I agree with your statement. I just want to add it. Guys, you know God not only created talkative and active persons, right? We all created here to manage this world. Can we build this world with our togetherness? I believe we all that have talkative character just know little information about silent people…” Said Damar.
“You mean Diana?” Interrupted Chira.
“It’s not just about Diana!” Exclaimed Damar.
“Be patient, Damar.” Said Taufik.
“Don’t interrupt my words before I complete it. I believe silent people need more attention from us who have talkative character. I invite you to begin mingle with silent people. Please don’t ignore them. They also need friend. Help them to be active like us. That’s one of the usefulness of active people. Thank you for the time, Taufik.” Said Damar. All Damar’s friends in the classroom clapped their hands after listening to Damar’s words.
“I like your last statement, Damar. One of the usefulness of active people is to help silent people. So, can we make a deal from now on to respect and not to hurt each other?” Asked Taufik.
“Yes we can!” Said all Taufik’s friends.
It was time to go home. Since Taufik had talked in the front of the class, Chira and friends became kind to Diana. They began pay attention to her. What a significant changing of them.
Before went home, Diana took the time to look at the bulletin board. She got the information about TOEFL test at one of the famous company in Indonesia. The TOEFL scores would be acknowledged and students who could reach scores more than 600 would get the opportunity to be interviewed at the company to get a scholarship to UK. She then smiled and noted the requirements on her private book. Suddenly, there was a man patting her shoulder.
“Hey!” Greeted that man.
“Ah!” Diana was shocked and dropped her private book. “Oh my God, Damar. You make me shock.”
“Hahaha, sorry… I make your book dropped.” Damar took Diana’s book.
“Don’t touch my book!” Diana seized her book from Damar.
“Sorry. I think that book is so important for you.” Said Damar.
“Yes it is. I’m sorry too.”
“By the way, what are you doing here?” Asked Damar curiously.
“Ehm… I’m doing nothing. I just want to note something. Yes, that.” Said Diana nervously.
“What something?”
“It’s not your business.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Whatever. I’m going to back home now. Bye.” Diana began to leave Damar.
“Do you want to go to UK?” Asked Damar. Diana stopped her step to go.
“Why you’re suddenly asking about that?”
“I think you have just looked at the bulletin board about TOEFL test.” Said Damar. Diana kept silent. She could only bow her head.
“Is it true? Never mind if you don’t want to tell me about it. Sorry for disturbing you. Please continue to note the information.” Damar left Diana, but Diana then called him spontaneously.
“Damar!” Called Diana.
“Yes Diana?” Responded Damar.
“I’m sorry…”
“I know you always keep everything secret. It’s your privation. I have no rights to know it. Never mind if you still keep silent about your wishes. If unmentionable becomes your choice, I understand. Good luck. I keep my finger crossed for you.” Said Damar and then he walked leaving Diana.
Diana had been doing the TOEFL test. She felt unwell after that. Diana was thinking about the result of TOEFL test every day, even she forgot while final examination would be coming next week. Many of her friends that had been accepted in their favorite university included Damar. He had been accepted in University of Indonesia majoring in computer science. Diana had not registered to various universities yet. She still confused about what she wanted to be in the future. She had no talent except her passion in English. She wanted to sign with the major in English education, but she did not want to be a teacher. She wanted to sign with the major in English literature, but she doubted about that. She needed more time to think about it all.
Two weeks later after final examination, the result was announced. Diana had passed the final examination with the average scores, but she was very grateful of what she had got. Since the announcement of final examination result, Diana also had not registered to university yet. Her mother was worried so much about her. She confused about what her daughter wanted to be. Diana decided to stay at her house all time after the graduation. She was very curious about the result. After all, she didn’t know when the time would be come.
A month after graduation, Mr. Arifiawan got a call from Mrs. Annie. He should meet her at school to talk about Diana. So, Mr. Arifiawan made an appointment with Mrs. Annie for the next day.
At 8.00 a.m. Mr. Arifiawan went to Diana’s high school to fulfill the appointment.
“Good morning, Mrs. Annie!” Addressed Mr. Arifiawan.
“Morning. Oh Mr. Arifiawan? You’re Diana’s father, aren’t you?” Asked Mrs. Annie.
“Yes, I am. What’s the point, Madam?” Asked Mr. Arifiawan.
“Please sit down, Sir.”
“Thank you.”
“Mr. Arifiawan, I invite you here to ask for your permission.” Said Mrs. Annie
.
“Ask for permission about what?” Mr. Arifiawan was curious.
“Your daughter is very amazing, Sir. Don’t you know?”
“I haven’t got the point yet of what you said. Please make it right.”
“Diana got fantastic TOEFL scores, Sir. Her TOEFL scores are six hundred and twenty. She can be recommended to continue her education to London. This is the result.” Explained mrs. Annie and then she gave Diana’s TOEFL result to him.
“You mean that I should give her permission to register the scholarship to UK?”
“Yes Sir. She is worth to get it.”
“Are you crazy? She is the only daughter that I have and I should release her to UK that so far away from here. And what do you know about my family?” Mr. Arifiawan disagreed about Mrs. Annie recommendation.
“Please hold your emotion, Sir. I know it’s very hard for you and your wife, but I think you should know about what your daughter wants, Sir. She did it for your family happiness too. Please don’t be selfish.”
“I don’t give a damn. I disagree about it.” Said Mr. Arifiawan, stayed with his argument.
“Sir, please… that’s her dream. English is her thing. Don’t avoid it.” Mrs. Annie tried to understand him.
“So let her just study in Indonesia. Do you mind about it?
“Sir…”
“I don’t want to talk anymore. My decision is absolute. Please understand. Excuse me.”
Mr. Arifiawan left Mrs. Annie’s room with carried the result. He was very upset about Mrs. Annie recommendation. Mr. Arifiawan loves Diana very much. It’s hard for him to let Diana went so far from him.
Continue to part 3
By: Anna Amanda