Chapter 16: Introduction

The first day of school was filled with casual explanations from the teachers, without a single assignment. Some subjects were even limited to taking attendance, after which we were free to chat and joke around.

Like history class right now. Instead of discussing the material, the class was filled with an introduction session between the teacher and the students. Each student was asked to come to the front to introduce themselves, while also showing their abilities or unique traits.

According to Mr. Joko, our history teacher, this introduction could also be categorized as part of history in the future. The condition was that the event had to hold important meaning for the person involved, have a major influence on the present and the future, and be eternal and unique. Eternal, if the event never changes and continues to be remembered throughout time. Unique, if the event happens only once and is never repeated.

All students took turns coming to the front of the class.

Some were overly confident, some tried to appear as beautiful as possible, as handsome as possible, as rich as possible, or as cute as possible. Some spoke in an explosive manner, some tried to be graceful, while others were sparing with words and appeared as they were. Some were nerdy, arrogant, shy, and some were downright embarrassing.

Some made people feel envious, some made eyes hurt, and others made people want to let out a long sigh. Some were annoying, some left people gawking, and quite a few invited laughter.

A few of them were truly hard to forget.

“Let me introduce myself, my name is Maya. If you want, you can add Estianty after my name,” said a female student with a confident smile. “My hobby is shopping. My mom says I have to spend ten million a day. If I don’t finish it, I’m told to stay overnight at a hotel.”

Ten million. And she called it a small amount.

Then there was another girl who appeared much more simple. “My name is Santi Safitri. I want to keep studying so that I can become a doctor like my father.”

Finally, there was a student who sounded sane and down-to-earth.

Next, a male student stepped forward with a relaxed stride. “My name is Adam. I’m an only child. I’m not arrogant. I have many cars and houses, and my parents’ companies are spread across several cities.”

Not arrogant, he said.

He continued with a satisfied smile. “I don’t need a dream. My life is already perfect. Right now, I’m just looking for a beautiful and sexy girl. Anyone who wants to be with me, please line up.”

I almost slapped my own forehead.

The next student was no less unique. “My name is Udin. Not Udin on the street, not Udin in the room, and certainly not Udin worldwide. My full name is Sabarudin, Udin who doesn’t like to get angry.” He cleared his throat briefly. “My dream is to study at an Islamic boarding school and preach in front of all of you so you’ll repent.” He then continued with a snippet of a sermon about fasting.

The class suddenly fell silent, then broke into suppressed laughter.

After that, another student stepped forward. “My name is Dwi Andika. You can call me Andika, or you don’t have to call me at all, that’s fine too.” He smiled casually. “I’m not Andika from Kangen Band, but I hope I can get a girlfriend as beautiful as Bang Andika’s luck.”

This time, the laughter truly erupted.

And now, it was my turn to step to the front of the class.

“My name is Frel. My dream is…” I paused for a moment, then continued in a steady voice. “I don’t know. Up to now, I just want to be myself.”

“What’s your name?” Mr. Joko suddenly cut in.

“My name is Frel, Sir.”

Mr. Joko lowered his head back to the attendance book. He adjusted his glasses that had slipped slightly, then read carefully.

“It says here that your name is Frela Lidiana Putri,” he said, as if making sure.

“No, Sir,” I replied briefly but firmly.

Mr. Joko looked up. “If this isn’t your name, then whose name is it? Is there anyone in this class named Frela Lidiana Putri?”

No one answered. The atmosphere suddenly went silent.

“You still don’t want to admit it?” Mr. Joko asked again.

I stayed silent. My hands clenched tightly. Every time that name was mentioned, my chest felt tight, as if my breath were being forcibly taken away.

“I don’t like that name, Sir,” I finally said.

Some students began to whisper. Mr. Joko raised his hand, asking the class to calm down again.

“Are you sure? It’s a nice name. Aren’t you afraid your parents will be angry seeing your attitude like this?”

“Just let it be, Sir. If the lioness gets angry later, it’ll be even more troublesome to handle,” Tomi cut in with a grin.

The class grew noisy again.

Mr. Joko sighed. “Why don’t you like the name your parents gave you?”

I looked at him for a moment, then said, “Sir, do you like soto or bakso? Or maybe vegetable soup?”

Mr. Joko frowned. A few seconds later, he smiled without suspicion. “I like soto. Especially Soto Lamongan. It’s very delicious.”

The whole class burst out laughing.

When he realized he had been trapped, Mr. Joko stared at me sharply. “What do you mean?”

“Relax, Sir. I don’t mean anything by it,” I replied calmly. “That question is related to what you asked earlier.”

Mr. Joko looked at me in confusion.

“It’s like this—Sir doesn’t like bakso or vegetable soup, but prefers Soto Lamongan. It’s the same with me. I prefer the name Frel over the name you mentioned.”

“But that’s different.”

“Just tell her to take care of getting a new birth certificate, Sir. It would be even better if she added kacang atom to the end of her name,” Kenn cut in casually.

I immediately turned and shot him a sharp look. “Who knows, after changing her name, the monkey inside her body might come out,” he continued without any sense of guilt.

The class exploded with laughter. Tomi and Dara laughed the loudest. Mr. Joko merely shook his head and let out a long sigh.

My anger shot through the roof.

I stood up and strode quickly toward Kenn. My hand slammed hard onto his desk. Pain shot through me, but I didn’t care. Dozens of pairs of eyes stared at me, yet I had already lost control.

“Do you want me to kill you, huh?” I shouted wildly.

Kenn just burst out laughing.

At that moment, shame swallowed me whole. I wanted to disappear, vanish from this world.

Maybe Mr. Joko was right. Someday, this incident would become part of history. A history we would never forget.

Especially for me.

A very embarrassing history.

And one thing was now crystal clear—Kenn and Tomi truly were a perfect match. Two cousins with the same level of insanity.

The entire class was no less crazy.

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