Highschool Sweetheart

The students in class XI MIPA 2 were starting to get restless and looked at the clock on the wall that was displayed in the corner of the classroom. They hoped that the bell for recess would soon ring and math class would end soon. It can be seen that most of them are getting lethargic but trying to stay focused facing the blackboard because they don't want to be hit by an eraser.

Teng… Teng… Teng…

"Okay, I think that's enough for today's Algebra material. For homework, please do the exercise book on page 34 and collect it on my desk next week before 07.00, if it's more than that I will give you a score of 0 for daily assignments," said the Mathematics teacher then walked out of the class.

The bell finally rang, and all the students breathed a sigh of relief. They immediately rushed out of the classroom to the canteen to fill their empty stomachs after two hours of struggling with Algebra material. Another case with Rindi who is still busy cleaning up her books. Suddenly Cheryn, Gina and Laila approached Rindi's table and kicked it so that Rindi was surprised.

"Hey kiddo, don't you have another uniform? Your clothes really smell real," Cheryn said while covering her nose.

"You know, I'm just uncomfortable looking at it, why don't you wear soaked clothes like this to go to school," said Gina, looking disgusted at Rindi.

"Understandably poor people, how can you afford to buy new uniforms, having just one uniform is already lucky," said Laila.

Today Rindi had to go to school with a wet uniform because this morning she got caught in the rain on her way to school. He forgot to bring an umbrella and didn't have time to take shelter for fear that he would be late. Rindi only looked down when the Cruvella Gang bullied her because the classroom smelled musty because of Rindi's wet clothes.

"Ma... Sorry if you guys are distracted," Rindi said, looking down.

"Eh, do you know that this classroom smells musty because of you! Already poor, bring bad luck again!” Cheryl snapped.

"Just pull him out instead of smelling the classroom," said Laila, who actually provoked him.

Cheryn, who was affected by Laila's words, then forcibly pulled Rindi's hand and dragged her out of the classroom. The Cruvella gang pushed Rindi's body until she fell to the ground which injured her legs and elbows. Rindi winced in pain holding her elbow while staring intently at the Cruvela Gang and not daring to fight back. He didn't want to cause trouble at the school, because he was self-aware that he could go to Pelita Bangsa High School because he got a scholarship.

"You're just a trashy kid who doesn't deserve to go to school with the rich kids at this school! What's there, you're just making a mess here!” Cheryn said.

"Why are you so mean to me? I have something wrong with you, "said Rindi in a low voice.

Cheryn only looked cynically at Rindi, there was not the slightest sense of compassion in Cheryn for the poor girl in front of her. Instantly it occurred to him to order his friends to work on Rindi. Laila and Gina nodded in agreement with Cheryn's invitation. They then pulled Rindi and took her to the bathroom, they intended to trick Rindi by dousing her body with water.

"Don't! Please let me go," Rindi pleaded.

“Shut up Lo! Here, it's better for you to take a shower as well," said Laila.

"Let's all get wet, your body!" said Gina.

From the direction of the hall leading to the bathroom, Cintya, who was about to go to the canteen, heard a commotion from the bathroom and immediately became curious. He immediately looked for the source of the sound and found the Cruvella Gang who were about to wash Rindi with water. Cintya saw what happened and was immediately shocked. He finally ran over to Rindi and helped her. Cintya pushed Cheryn away from Rindi.

“Stop! What's wrong with you guys?" cried Cintya with emotion.

"Lo, it's better to just stay quiet and don't interfere in our affairs!" said Cheryn.

"Rindi is my friend, so anyone who bothers him will have to deal with me, do you understand?" Cintya snapped.

"You think we're scared?" said Laila.

Cintya doesn't run out of ideas, she threatens to report the Cruvella Gang to Teacher BK if she keeps bothering Rindi. Even Cintya would not hesitate to report Cheryn to the school's code of ethics board for bullying. However, Cheryn actually cornered Cintya even more because she preferred to be friends with Rindi, the poor child.

"Just imagine, if your parents, who are the chairmen of the school committee, know that their child is a bully at school, your parents' self-esteem will definitely drop," Cintya threatened.

"I'm not afraid of your threats! Why are you anyway, Cin, preferring the country bumpkin to us, Lo's friends," said Cheryn.

"That's true, you have chosen the wrong friend and there are no benefits for you to be friends with a poor child like him. You'd better join our gang again," said Gina.

Cintya flatly refused their invitation to rejoinwith the Cruvella Gang. He actually drove them away from Rindi. At first Cheryn didn't want to stop bullying Rindi, but because Cintya threatened to scream if she dared to touch Rindi, the Cruvella Gang finally decided to stay away from them.

Cheryn, Gina and Laila walked towards the cafeteria, snorting in annoyance because they failed to prank Rindi. Kevin and Brian were already in the cafeteria, who had apparently been waiting for them. Kevin and Brian looked at the three of them who came with a sour face.

"Well, it's been a really long time, Lo," said Kevin.

"Why are the three of you, really bored it seems?" asked Brian while enjoying a bowl of noodles.

"Because of that country bumpkin," Gina said with a snort of annoyance.

"Rinda? Why again son?" he asked.

"I can't stop thinking that Cintya would go all out to defend this village boy, even though we almost managed to do her earlier," said Cheryn.

"Yes, let's just do it again with the villager if Cintya isn't with him anymore," said Kevin.

Cheryn was silent for a moment, she agreed with Kevin's invitation because she was not satisfied with venting her frustration on Rindi. Kevin and Brian, who are members of the Cruvella Gang, finally came up with the idea to go back to pranking and teaching Rindi a lesson. They didn't like Rindi's presence at this school because they thought this school was inappropriate for a poor child like her.

"That's a great idea, just wait and see, I'm not going to let that country bumpkin live in peace as long as he's still studying here," said Cheryn.

Meanwhile, Cintya supported Rindi and took her to the UKS room because she saw her legs and arms were injured and were treating the wounds from the bullying earlier. Rindi was silent, didn't say much, her face looked pale with fear. Cintya feels sorry to see Rindi who continues to be a victim of bullying from the Cruvella Gang.

"Are you okay?" asked Cintya while supporting Rindi.

"I'm okay, thank you for helping me," said Rindi, smiling bitterly.

"Why are your clothes soaking wet like this? They were the ones who poured water on Lo?” asked Cintya.

“Eh… No, it's not because of them. This morning I went to school in the rain and didn't have time to take shelter because I was afraid I would be late, so I got wet like this," Rindi explained.

As soon as they arrived at the UKS room, Cintya immediately washed Rindi's wounds with antiseptic fluid. Rindi's face was pale from the pain. The wounds on Rindi's feet and elbows weren't too bad but they were enough to make Rindi wince in pain when Cintya treated her wounds.

"Hold on, Rin, it won't hurt," Cintya said while treating Rindi's wound with red medicinal liquid.

“Ouch…” Rindi shouted.

While Cintya was treating Rindi's wound, suddenly a UKS caretaker teacher came in. The teacher was a little surprised when he saw the many bruises on Rindi's accomplices. Cintya actually wanted to take advantage of the situation to complain to the teacher about what actually happened. But Rindi immediately grabbed Cintya's arm and prevented her from telling her about the bullying she had experienced.

"Rinda, what happened to you? Why are there so many bruises on your hands and feet?” asked the Master.

"Mom, Rindi was finished..." Cintya said but then cut off by Rindi.

"Ah, it's nothing, ma'am," said Rindi, smiling bitterly.

"What is it?" asked the teacher trying to push.

"No ma'am, I'm fine. I fell because I slipped in the rain," said Rindi lying.

Cintya suddenly glared at Rindi because she was surprised why Rindi had to lie and cover up the real incident. But Rindi gave Cintya a code to stay silent. Finally Cintya just nodded and the teacher helped Cintya to treat Rindi's wound. At first the teacher told Rindi to just rest in the UKS room because her face looked pale. However, Rindi refused and chose to return to class instead.

"Are you sure you don't want to rest here first?" said the UKS caretaker teacher.

"No ma'am, I'm fine," said Rindi.

"Rin, I think you should just rest at the UKS, your face looks really pale," said Cintya.

"It's already Cin, I'm fine, I just want to go back to class," said Rindi.

While supporting Rindi, Cintya realized that Rindi's clothes were soaked. He then took the initiative to buy new uniforms at the school cooperative because he was worried that Rindi would get sick. At first Rindi refused because she didn't want to be a bother, but Cintya kept forcing her until she finally agreed.

"Well, if you like this, you won't be cold anymore," said Cintya.

"Thank you Cin, I always make it difficult for you," said Rindi.

"Just relax," said Cintya.

Finally Cintya and Rindi returned to class, Rindi's steps faltered a little because suddenly her body felt weak. Cintya asked again to make sure that her best friend was all right, once again she even offered to go back to the UKS. Rindi smiled again and refused C's offerintya.

"Rin, just go back to the UKS, I'm worried that Lo will suddenly faint in class," Cintya said worriedly.

"No, it's okay, just calm down, don't worry too much about me, at least the bell will ring soon," said Rindi.

Rindi's guess was right, finally the bell for recess was over. All the students rushed into their respective classrooms. When they were about to return to class because recess was over, Cintya returned to discussing the incident earlier in the UKS room. Rindi was silent for a moment, actually she didn't want to talk about it anymore, but in the end gave an explanation why Rindi lied to the UKS officer.

"Rin, why did you have to lie to the UKS guard earlier? You should just tell the truth that the Cruvella Gang did all of this to you," said Cintya.

"Cin, there's no need to talk about it anymore, I've forgotten everything too," said Rindi.

“Forgot? Rin, what they did to Lo was evil. Just look at your feet and hands, they are injured like this, it's because of them," said Cintya.

Rindi stopped and was silent for a moment, she realized that what the Cruvella Gang was doing was evil. But there was nothing Rindi could do, she could only accept all those actions without being able to fight them. Cintya patted Rindi's shoulder, she seemed to understand what Rindi was feeling. However, Rindi always tries to look tough in front of everyone including her best friend.

"What can I do, Chin? It's useless, I'm nobody at this school, "said Rindi.

"But you have the right to fight Rin, what they are doing is bullying. I'm willing to be a witness if I really need it," said Cintya.

"Cin, there's no need to exaggerate the matter earlier. And you don't have to worry about them either. You know that Cheryn's parents are the heads of the school committee who contribute a lot to our school," said Rindi.

"Precisely because he is a member of the school committee, he should be able to maintain his attitude and behavior so that he can be an example for others," answered Cintya.

Rindi chose to remain silent and continued walking towards her class. He knew that Cintya's intentions were good, wanting to defend him, but on the one hand, Rindi also didn't want to get into trouble and make a fuss with Cheryn because she knew it would threaten her scholarship here. According to Rindi, as long as he can hold it all in, he chooses to keep quiet.

"Then, will you just stay silent forever?" asked Cintya.

“If silence can keep me safe, why not? Come on Cin, let's just forget about everything that happened today," Rindi said then walked towards the classroom.

The two of them walked towards the class in silence with each other. When she arrived at class, Rindi just looked down, not daring to look at the Cruvelle gang who looked at her with a sneer. Cintya felt sad and annoyed that her best friend had to experience this, without her being able to do anything about it. Cintya then turned to the backseat with a hateful gaze on Cheryn. He could have guessed from the start that Cheryn was the provocateur of his gang.