"WHAT? YOU WANT TO GET MARRIED TO THE MAN OF YOUR FATHER'S CHOICE?" Nindi and Grisela shrieked in shock together.
"Are you sure, Rania?" Nindi continued.
"Yes, are you serious? You just graduated from junior high school and you want to get married?" Grisela was upset.
"That's the truth. But I didn't want to and chose to run away. I'm sorry I could only tell you about this. Especially to you Nindi. I didn't mean not to tell you, just... I need time to tell you this."
Nindi immediately hugged Rania, unexpectedly behind her struggles so far there were things that were like life and death for Rania. If Nindi were Rania, she would probably do the same thing, which is to run away as far as possible.
"I'm sorry Nin, I just don't want you to be burdened with my life problems that you might not want to know about." Rania said still in Nindi's arms.
"What the hell Rania! We're friends, if someone is in trouble we'll help." Nindi replied.
Grisela also hugged Rania and Nindi who had also become her best friends.
"We will definitely help and always be there for you, Ra." Grisela said.
"But anyway, why are you telling us this now?" Nindi asked as she released her hug.
"I don't know. I just felt like I had to tell you this. Hem... It's okay, right?" Rania asked.
"That's okay, it's a sign that you trust us." Nindi replied, supported by Grisela's nodding head.
"I won't let you marry young Rania. You have to be my friend until old age. Nindi too!"
"Hey... that sounds really scary, sounds like a threat." Nindi teased.
"Ih, you don't want the three of us to be friends forever and ever?" Grisela replied. "Ra, you want to, right?"
"Hahaha... yes, yes I do." Rania replied.
"Yes, I want it too. You're being taken seriously, I'm just joking." Nindi replied and they laughed together.
"Ahh... If this class increase was our graduation day, we would definitely be busy discussing college plans." Grisela said, diverting the sad topic.
"Discussing it now is also okay again. In Grade 3, we will have less time to play around." Nindi said. "Oh yeah, do you have plans for college, Ra? Where do you want to study?" Nindi asked.
"I want to try to get another scholarship. But there must be a fee that I have to pay. I need to ask Chandra about this first."
"So what's your plan?" Nindi continued to ask.
"Maybe I'll study while working." Steady Rania.
"How about I pay for it, Ra? My mom and dad won't mind either. I feel sorry for you, you're already in college and still working." Grisela replied lightly, which invited Nindi's emotions.
"Uhh... You're so rich. It's so good to talk about money." Nindi yelled at Grisela's arm which pushed her body. "You don't mind, but Rania definitely doesn't want to."
Rania just laughed at the reaction of her two friends.
"Yes, I will definitely refuse, Gi. I'm a nobody, I don't deserve to be paid by your parents." Rania replied.
"Iihhh... that's okay. I'll talk to my parents later."
"Grisela, I'm serious."
"What I said, Rania would refuse."
"Yes, okay. Oh by the way, it's fun if we can be on the same campus." Grisela said.
"Yes, you're right, it will be really exciting." Nindi added.
"Yes, but I can't follow you guys."
Grisela and Nindi immediately turned to Rania. Both understood what Rania meant. The only way for them to stay together was for Grisela and Nindi to follow where Rania was studying.
"Well, we'll follow you. Right, Gi?"
"Yes, so the three of us can be together. Hey, after we graduate, let's open a business together, a cafe or restaurant or something."
Grisela's ramblings made the three of them spend a long night looking into a future that no one could ever know.
There was a sense of relief after Rania told her the things she had kept tight. Her two friends were really sincere to her. Maybe Rania could leave a little relief in her future to them. They were good friends who would always help Rania in times of trouble.
Humans are indeed the place to plan, not unlike the three teenagers who hope that their friendship will continue to be maintained.
*
That morning Rania was ready to go to school. Today was the schedule for taking the report card. This time, it was Chandra who would take the report card for her sister. The previous time Rania's report card was taken by Mama Nindi, which was not allowed. But because Rania came from the village and argued that her parents were a little difficult to travel far even for a short time, she was allowed to take the report card with guardianship. After all, Rania had no problems, neither in behavior nor academic grades.
Rania told Nanta not to pick her up today, because she was going to school with her brother.
Rania was still waiting for her brother to come, Chandra should have arrived at her boarding house since dawn. But until the sun shone brightly he had not come.
Rania faintly heard a little commotion outside that was getting closer. Rania looked a little out the door which was indeed open. How surprised she was when she saw what the commotion was.
Rania reflexively closed the door and locked it. Her heart was beating wildly. Her mind was looking for a way to get out of there.
"Nanta."
Rania immediately contacted Nanta with her cell phone. Her hands continued to tremble making herself a little inhibited. The sound outside was getting noisier which made Rania panic even more.
'Hello dear, I was just about to rush to your boarding house. I still want to go to school with you, Chandra--'
"My father. My father is here. Please, help me Nanta, I don't want to go home."
Rania began to sob and cry.
"Please, you take me out of here, please."
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