6. Who is This?

"So? You want to join with us?"

"May I? Of course I will!" Alice answered enthusiastically.

She was offered by Jessy to join their study group. Its members are five teenagers who are often together. Britney, Hoover, Jessy, Christie, and Clarence. Even though there are different classes, it is not an obstacle or a prohibition.

"How is Ney?" Jessy asked Britney to be sure.

Alice look at Britney expectantly. She was glad someone offered her to join a study group without bothering to look for her. The hope now is to be allowe to join them.

"If you want to join then you have to do the work together. Tomorrow morning meet at the library to do some work." said Britney giving orders and conditions for joining Alice.

"Okay, I'll come tomorrow. Thank you." Alice answered happily.

Hoover, who had just finished taking a shower, approached her three friends. "Hey, I don't like the library. Let's change places!"

"Why? The library atmosphere is more relaxing. We can be comfortable there." Alice thought.

"Yeah, that's what you think. But I don't like the library. It's not fun." Hoover pleaded with Britney. "How about in the dorm lobby? We often get errands done there."

"Good idea. I agree."

Britney, Hoover and Jessy looked at Alice. Their gazes made Alice feel a little intimidated. Such as asking for approval or threatening to agree.

"Ah, yes. Not bad." Alice nodded as she reached for her bag.

"Of course. My choices are always good." Hoover also reached for her bag. "Let's go girls!"

The four of them walked together to school. As they walking they talk about their assignments and occasionally joking. Alice joins the chat quite often but when they are joking she only laughs with them when they laughed.

Arriving at the third floor where their class is located, Jessy separated because of different classes. Alice is in the same class as Britney and Hoover while Jessy is in the same class as Christie and Clarence.

Hoover glanced at Alice. When Alice noticed this, Hoover hastily looked away. In fact, Alice had already known twice that Hoover had stolen glances at her on the way to the school building.

Intrigued by that, Alice venture to ask.

"What is it Ver? You want to say something?"

"I?" Hoover pointed to herself and laugh awkwardly. "There is no."

"Why do you keep glancing at me?"

"Nothing. Maybe that's your feeling."

"Ah yes, maybe." said Alice ending the conversation.

Not long then, Hoover speak again. "How's your bruise? Has it healed? I didn't get to see it yesterday."

"Yes."

Hoover cleared her throat in response.

Alice looked down. "Sorry to push you back then. I was really surprised--"

"It's okay. As you say, it's your reflex."

"Thank you for your attention." said Alice, glad that Hoover didn't mind.

Hoover cleared her throat again. After that she go forward to follow Britney who was approaching class.

Alice frowned at Hoover. She felt a slight change from Hoover's demeanor. Even though on the first day of moving, she was the most enthusiastic about Alice. But today is different. Hoover didn't talk to her much. She didn't even seem to want to linger with her.

Alice shook her head to dispel any thoughts. The final conclusion, perhaps Hoover is testing how she would react if Hoover behaved like that.

"Hi." said Kimberley who accidentally met Alice in front of the classroom door.

"Hi, Kim. Where are you going?"

"To the toilet. I can't stand it anymore. I have to go now." Kimberley is half running towards the toilet with her face holding back urine.

Behind her, Alice chuckled at her run then sit down in her chair. Looking to the right, Carlos the class president smile as he handed her a piece of paper.

"I was asked to register you by the principal. Please fill in according to your facts."

"Okay, thank you Carlos." Alice accept the paper and smile back at Carlos.

"What? Are you serious? Is band teacher already there?"

"Yeah. I got information from Felice. You know she's in a band that a lot of teachers like. It's possible that her information is correct."

Alice's ears that overheard the conversation seem to widen in order to hear more clearly. Hearing signs that his extracurricular choice is about to begin is both exciting and impatient.

"Woah finally! This is really good news!"

"Are you guys going back to join the band?"

"If Britney join, I'll join. You're join, aren't you, Ney?"

"Don't ask again. Of course I'm join."

"Dance clubs will be deserted if more people return to the band."

"Relax, our team will be faithful to dance."

Alice finished overhearing their conversation. She tucked her hair back with a smile, thinking what if the activity would be carried out. It was not an easy decision for her to choose a band. After considering every spare time, she finally convinced herself to go back to liking the band as before.

Her attention turned to the paper on the table. She began to fill in the data. During filling her concentration was slightly disturbed due to pain in the stomach. Since morning dhe has felt it but the peak is now.

Her eyes stopped moving when she was asked about her disease history. One of the biggest things that kept her from expanding her friendship is that. Tears would fall in her eyes if she don't push those thoughts away.

She was annoyed by the question on the paper. Why should ask about that? Should she answer honestly? Is there anything bad if she answers according to facts? For example, belittled.

At that moment, she felt something strange flowing from the female area.

"Oh no!" Alice panics.

Preventing the thought from happening, Alice hurriedly left the classroom and ran to the toilet clutching a sanitary napkin. Ignoring the question from Carlos about the data paper.

While running through the number of students blocking the corridor, Alice held back tears. Memories of the past come back to haunt her. Memories that made Alice more depressed, more lonely and weaker.

She has some kind of trauma to blood.

***

"Thank you, Angel."

A boy and a girl smile at each other then passed each other. The girl walk to class and the boy walk in the opposite direction, to the men's restroom.

After urinating, the boy wash his hands in the sink. His wet hands touch his hair then styled it until he felt the appearance of his hair can make anyone fall in love.

"Ugh so cool, man!" Finished praising himself, he let out a smirk. Holding a smile for a long time then ended it when a friend entered the toilet.

"Bro wait for me!"

"I am busy." reject it.

"Don't be so busy bro."

"I was asked to register students who want to join the band."

"The point is wait for me!"

The boy ignored his friend's pleas. He kept walking out of the toilet without any intention of waiting. He was walking while playing with his cell phone.

"So as long as I live I love you, will have and hold you"

Tak

A melodious singing voice managed to distract him. A soft and passionate voice.

"You look so beautiful in white"

"Who's singing?" His head looked here and there looking for the owner of the voice.

Following his hearing, he stop in front of the women's restroom which was not far from the men's. Silent there listening to the song until the one who sings comes out and makes eye contact with him. After that he will ask to join the band. If the person does not want to, he will continue to look for him to persuade.

"Who's this? Who's she?"

Waiting for a long time, he started to get annoyed. Soon the lesson would start and he had to arrive in class before the teacher entered.

The sound of singing is still audible but not as loud as before. Even so, that voice still managed to touch the boy's heart.

"Woah you waited for me! But why in front of the women's restroom? You make me suspicious." His friend came out and put his arm around him while his eyes glanced into the women's restroom.

"Stt! You're the one I should suspect." he replied.

"Haha just kidding! Let's go to class, Thomas!" invite his friend.

Thomas didn't answer. He was silent for a few seconds before being hit by his friend.

"Let's go!"

Not hearing the sound of singing anymore, Thomas finally complied with his friend's invitation. As he walke, he glance back several times, to see if anyone have come out of the women's restroom and who it is. He will come over and make sure she was singing.

***