Chapter 34: A Form of Protest

After Mrs. Sari entered the classroom and greeted us, she immediately distributed the test for Chapter I that we had discussed yesterday.

“Put all your notebooks into your bags. On your desks, there should only be blank paper and writing tools,” Mrs. Sari said while sweeping her gaze across the entire class. “Today we have a test.”

BAM!

The classroom instantly erupted with protests and disappointed complaints.

“No arguing!”

“But, Ma’am, there should have been a notice if there was going to be a test,” Adam protested, his tone indignant.

“That’s right, Ma’am. We should have been informed first so we could prepare,” Udin chimed in, agreeing.

“What really happened is that Udin didn’t have time to prepare his cheat sheet,” Daniel cut in, Udin’s former desk mate. Because of his dark skin and protruding belly, we often nicknamed him the Hippopotamus.

“Well, that’s true too, Ma’am,” Udin added reflexively, then immediately clamped his mouth shut with both hands after realizing what he had said.

The whole class burst into laughter. Meanwhile, Tomi responded by smacking Udin’s head several times with the rolled-up book he was holding.

“Hey, Tom, if you like me, don’t hit my head. Just hit my lips instead,” Udin said in an affected manner. “Eww, Tomi, you’re such a perfect match. I’m so into you.”

“Damn it. You’re disgusting, Din,” Tomi cursed, thrusting his clenched fist forward, greeted by Udin’s increasingly raucous laughter.

At once, the classroom was once again filled with peals of laughter.

“Hey, Din, you said you were going to enter an Islamic boarding school. Changing direction now, huh?” Andika shouted.

Spontaneously, Udin raised both hands. “Oh God, forgive Your servant’s sins. Your servant has erred.”

Laughter thundered again at his antics.

I briefly glanced at Dara, but she remained completely silent. For some reason, Udin was usually only afraid of and obedient to Dara. A single sharp look from her was enough to make him shrink back immediately.

Ah, my thoughts drifted back to Dara. What was really going on with her? Why did she have to change seats?

My reverie was shattered when Mrs. Sari’s voice boomed loudly. “SILENCE!”

“Yes, Ma’am, I haven’t even studied yet. How about postponing it until tomorrow, Ma’am?” Maya pleaded.

“Ah, pretending you want to study,” Riko cut in. “Don’t believe her, Ma’am. Maya only cares about powder and lipstick.”

Riko was indeed known as Maya’s sworn enemy. According to him, he was always disgusted by Maya, who never went anywhere without the small mirror in her pocket.

“Just leave me alone. You’re jealous, aren’t you?” Maya snapped back.

“I’m not on the same level. Go compare yourself with Udin,” Riko retorted.

Hearing his name mentioned, Udin immediately nodded his head enthusiastically. It was only natural, since from the very beginning he had openly proclaimed Maya as the girl of his dreams. According to him, Maya looked very much like Elvy Sukaesih, his favorite dangdut singer.

As if he had struck gold, Udin stood up and spread both arms wide while puckering his lips. Seeing that, Maya immediately shuddered and pretended she was about to throw up on the spot.

The classroom, which had briefly fallen silent because of Mrs. Sari’s shout, now erupted again like a marketplace. Applause, jeers, whistles, curses, and loud laughter came from all directions, all aimed at Udin.

Suddenly, Mrs. Sari grabbed a wooden ruler about one meter long and slammed it onto the desk several times until a loud sound rang out. The ruler even snapped into three pieces.

We all stared in shock at the same time, instantly falling silent. Fear, dread, and nervousness blended into one.

Mrs. Sari fixed us with a glare that made the hair on the back of our necks stand on end. “Do you still want to cause trouble?”

We all shook our heads in unison.

“Are you done joking around?” she asked again.

Reflexively, we nodded like people who had just been hypnotized.

Mrs. Sari then put on a smile that felt anything but reassuring.

A moment later, she shouted, “WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? PREPARE YOUR BLANK PAPER AND WRITING TOOLS. NOW!”

Mrs. Sari’s voice sounded terrifying and ear-splitting. We moved at lightning speed, scrambling to take out everything she demanded without the slightest resistance.

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