Every bricks they threw at me, I used to stand on.
High school that’s what everybody thinks will be a memorable moment in life. But there are some who feel differently.
White Scarlet was a girl who didn’t feel happy about her achievement and life. She always felt lonely even when she had her friends. Deep in heart, she wanted to be everyone's friends but somehow she felt like everybody stayed away from her. This feeling came since her junior highschool and become worse in senior highschool. She tries to solve it by consulting the school’s psychologist and psychiatrist. However it didn't really help her at all.
"I don't know why, but these two years feel so tough and tiring. As you know, I have told you the truth and this doesn't really help. I’m still sensitive and can't even make friends," she texted.
"I know Scarlet, but you have to face them up and don't hide."
"Yeah, but I’ll graduate next year and as you see, this was not the first time it happens! Everybody just thinks about themelves. However, there are also some others who are like me, who are too shy to make friends. It makes me sick!" she texted her teacher, Xandra then went offline.
Xandra is still focus on her phone, so she doesn’t hear her brother entering the house.
"Hi, Jaac! Did you just come home?" she greeted her brother.
Without saying anything, Jaac walks away and sits opposite of her, reading his book.
"Jaac, am I doing something wrong?" she asked without being noticed by Jaac. "Jaac! Can you say something?"
Jaac still doesn't reply and keep reading until Xandra pulls his book.
“You hear what I say, don't you?"
"Yeah. But what kind of reply do you want me to say?"
"Jaac! Don't be like that, please. I’ve had enough problem today, don’t you add more."
"What’s the problem?" asked him. "You can tell me!" he persuaded.
"Huft," she sighed. "I know a young girl who is in the same age with you. But now I will leave her, so I really worried about her," she expressed.
"Who is she?" asked Jaac.
"Hmm.... Wait let me look for her photos," Xandra said while she's looking for it in her phone. "There's nothing here.... I think you know her. Do you still have your elementary's year book?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Can you show me the book?"
"Just to show me her photo?"
"Come on! Just take it and give it to me. Okay?"
"Okay then."
Jaac then goes to take the book lazily.
"Here’s the book!" he threw the book then sit. "Who are you looking for?"
"Scarlet!" Xandra was flipping through the pages quickly.
"Relax!" Jaac held her sister. " She should be in 6A."
"How do you know?" Xandra was flipping the page to the page marked with 6A.
"She's quite popular when we were still in the school. Is her name White Scarlet?"
"Yes. Here, she."
"As I guess."
"Were you both close back then?" she moved closer to her brother.
Jaac noded his head and gestured his fingers to say a little.
"What did you usually talk about?" she moved even closer. "Were you sitting next to her?" she moved even closer and closer. "Did you date her?" she moved even closer and closer and closer.
Jaac stood up and said, "Stop it! I'm not in that kind of relationship, Sister! You know me right? Especially you are a psychologist, aren't you?" asked Jaac then he left her alone.
"Jaac....," she called her brother.
The door closed.
***
These weeks were the final exam. Scarlet came to school and took the exam in a different room, accompanied by her mom. It was always like that until the end of the exam.
One day during the lunch break, she went to the balcony and stood in the corner to hide herself from the others.
"What are you doing there?" asked someone.
Scarlet looked and scanned him from top to toe and realised that he's not wearing the uniform.
"You aren't a student. Why are you here?"
" Is it wrong then to be here?"
"Nevermind. But you shouldn't be here if you are a visitor."
"Yeah, I know. But I'm not a stranger."
"How can I know that?" asked her without glancing at him. The guy then held her wrist and said, "We're friends before. Don't you remember me?"
She shocked her hand off and said, "Are we? If you don't have something important to say then I'll go." she walked passed him.
"We still have a chat a few weeks ago. You should know who I am." he said loudly.
Those sentences made her stopped her steps and turned around. "Are you Jaager Jaac?"
"Yes, I am."
"Are you kidding?" She hit the guy's shoulder. "What are you doing here? Do you skip the school just to meet me?" she hit him again.
"Of course not." he said. "I have just met one of my friend here. As you can see, I have something from him." Jaac showed what he has to Scarlet. "Beside that, I have already graduated, so I can go here."
"Oh I see. Are you gonna leave now?"
"Hmm... I can wait for you. Since you will be home in about 45 minutes then we will talk." he said then continued his words before she can say anything.
"Don't worry, I’ve already told your mom.” he left and waved his hand to Scarlet.
"Hei!" shout Scarlet.
Scarlet then left the balcony and went to class. Once the class over, she decided to meet him.
"So you really wait for me." Scarlet came closer and sit next to Jaac.
"Your school is very big! It also has a lot of facilities. You must be enjoy studying here, don’t you?" Jaac said while he was looking around.
"Not really. My junior highschool is larger. You have visited that it before, don't you?"
"Yeah, you're right. So how was your day?"
"Quite good."
"Tell me then!"
Scarlet started her story by comparing her old school and the current. She said that studying there is really tiring and not really enjoying. She also said that she repeatedly wanted to quit school and had suicidal thoughts. She knew those aren't wise but it kept on apppearing over time, the lesson that are hard, she felt like on few of her friends who really care about her. She also mentioned that during these days her relationship with her father in not really good.
“I now know your problem. You feel like your friends are ignoring you, the lessons make you tired, your not-really-good relationship with the parents - these make you depressed with the situation. I think the best way is open yourself and set your thoughts straight. Don’t think about other’s opinion and things that haven’t happened yet! These will give good impacts for you and make you enjoy every moment in life.”
“I know. I’ll keep on trying. But, I don’t think I can make it.”
“You make the decision to study here, far from your home. I know you’re a determined girl. If you want to stay here, keep on fighting.”
“Yeah, that’s what my mom say. I know the problems are my thoughts and I want to be better. But...”
“Don’t overthink! You have to face it. Show it to everyone that you can. Don’t let them bring you down. Okay?” he comforted her. “I guess we have to go home, it’s already dark.”
“Yeah. My mom maybe is on her way here or she probably has arrived.”
“Ok then, we can continue our talks in the chat. Bye.”
Scarlet and Jaac left the school. Both of them had chat after that and kept on contacting each other. They got closer and often met up. On the other hand, both Jaac and Xandra were trying to help Scarlet, without letting her to know that they were actually siblings.
The principle anounced that he will move to the other branch and there will be also some staffs and teachers who will stop working or have their pension. Scarlet was surpised by the fact that one of her lovely teacher is one of them. She then looked for Xandra to ask about the reason why there are such announcement. But she saw Xandra and Jaac were together and were having a conversation. She stopped her steps and hid behind the wall.
"She must be shocked, I guess!" claimed Xandra.
"Absolutely!" Jaac was directing his face to his sister. "You haven’t told her?"
"Yeah."
"Everything?" Jaac says angrily "No wonder she doesn't know the truth. It will be bad!" Jaac left.
Xandra who couldn't say anything bowed her head and hugged herself, as she tidied up her stuffs. On the other hand, Scarlet now knew the truth and tried to calm herself by trying not to look at her phone during the class and the school holiday.
Both Jaac and Xandra have been trying to contact her and didn't receive any replies. Jaac and Xandra got so worried, so they came to Scarlet house to make sure she is fine.
'Knock... Knock..'
"Scarlet, this is mom. Open the door!"
"I know it's you mom. What happen mom?" said Scarlet as she opened the door
"Hi! It's us!" Xandra showed herself and Jaac. "We want to meet you. Would you like?"
"What's happening?"
"Everything fine. We just want to make sure you’re okay. You know.. you don't reply our chat. So, we are so worried. That's why we come today."
"Jaac!" Xandra shout and hit him to quite him. "We really care about you. So, we want to hear your story! How’s life going? Just tell us and don't keep it to yourself."
"There are no more stories. But, I would like you to tell me your story beside hearing mine."
Xandra and Jaac were looking at each other.
"Alright, like you say don't keep it to yourself. So why don't you tell me truth, that you both are siblings? Why don’t you tell me that you choose to study abroad?”
"We don't know it'll hurt you. It's my fault." Xandra say.
Scarlet tried to listen to their explaination. Xandra had always wanted to study abroad whenever she had the chance. She also had another secret that she had always wanted to be a singer, but her parents didn't support her. So, she decided to do it secretly, until she managed to be a famous digital singer. Her parents got mad after finding it out and had forbid her to learn anything involved with singing. As for Jaac, he never told Scarlet that he was on his gap year.
"If I were you Xandra, I would sing. Maybe it's hard to make your parents support you. You already took that decision. Why don't you keep doing it now?" said Scarlet.
"I want too. But as you see now I regret it,” replied Xandra.
"You are just same like me then. You want me to face my problems, but you, you run away from your problems. I think it'll be better if you do what you want first, before helping others. You make me disappointed," said Scarlet and then she walked away.
"Hei!" Jaac called her and tried to stop her. "I know my sister is wrong. We want to help you. We don’t want you to regret anything."
"You can only say that, if you have tried to help your sister.” said Scarlet angrily.
"Sorry. I just don't want people that I love getting hurt. So, I’ll chase my dream," said Xandra.
Xandra then hugged Scarlet and they both were crying. This, had made their friendship stronger. Until finally it was the time for Xandra to go to England to continue her study in psychology and chase her dream as a singer. As for Jaac, he took several part time jobs and courses for this year. While Scarlet, she kept going to school until she was graduated and make it to the university.
