In Loving Memory

Little by little the busy crowd began to look neatly forming a line. Their appearance did look a bit chaotic and conspicuous, with the old uniforms they wore from their previous school. It was approaching 07:00 in the morning, it was time for the new student admission ceremony to begin.

“Most of them are the old faces we know, huh.” turned around to the left-right direction, he to observe the group of students in the line.

"At most students from our school are in this class, guys!" Said a friend who wore a name tag on chest that read 'Dirly team-3'.

"Since earlier, why haven't I seen Alfred?" Harry asked surprised, even though he was looking for Alfred's figure he couldn't find in sight. In his heart he wondered if it was because of his friend's small figure that it was difficult to find him in this crowd.

"Well, Alfred doesn't line up here, but There!” Grace replied, reminding Harry who forgot what Alfred said before parting with the group.

"Oh yeah, that's right." Harry ended the observation activities that he had been doing for a while. Maybe because he couldn't wait to get to know his new friends. Also because he is the hyperactive type, extrovert and really likes to socialize with as many people as possible.

The atmosphere became quiet, a sign that the ceremony had begun. a series of events unfolded, as the ceremony felt as wise as the calm before a storm came.

"Kyaa!!" A few girl in line scream.

A small drama occurred in one of the rows of students, which made a girl scream hysterically, attracting the attention of those around. The school official who was giving a speech in front of the pulpit had time to stop observing what was happening.

“Please… Someone fainted!” Said the student panicked watching the friend standing next to her collapse suddenly.

Quickly the red-cross officer who was always on guard behind the line of ceremony participants helped the fainted student and carried her out of the line. The ceremony resumed as if there had never been a little chaos a moment ago. The sound of the mic containing the welcome was back on the air smoothly. Yes, perhaps something similar is common wherever the ceremony takes place.

“Oh my... What the hell. Luckily it wasn't serious." comments from Dirly, other comments were also heard from various places. No wonder the little incident earlier happened right in the row of the class next to them.

The atmosphere soon returned to control. What the new students have been waiting for, especially the students of class 10-6, has arrived. This is the moment where the new student representatives with the best grades come up to podium to give a speech. The two people who were crowned with honorary status were students named Alfred and Nora. But only Alfred who got the opportunity to make a speech in front of the pulpit. Meanwhile, Nora stood beside him as a set pair.

The loudest applause, cheers came from classmates and close friends who had been waiting for Alfred's appearance for a long time.

"Is he nervous?" Grace said curiously mixed with anxiety, trying to read the look on his old friend Alfred's face.

"Hahaha." Harry laughed amused at Grace's question. "I don't think so at all." Because Alfred's self-confidence clearly radiates in every word in his speech that slides like snowball, very natural. In fact, Harry is sure that Alfred is very enthusiastic and also a little proud standing there to be the center of attention at this time.

***

Alfred's confidence that radiated from the top of his head to the tip of his loafers, not only Harry who could see that. Ivy, who was even standing in a fairly backward row, didn't take her eyes off for a second. Listening with an attentive attitude the person standing in front of the pulpit still continued to speak in one direction.

"Alfred Faris..." With a low voice Ivy kept repeating that one name like a spell, trying to carve it in the recesses of memory.

"What? Did you say something?” Asked her friend who was worried about Ivy muttering to herself.

"I― I think this is what is called love at first sight!" Ivy was still bewitched looking at the figure of Alfred.

"Huh!" Adele failed to understand Ivy's question.

“This feeling… It's the first time I've experienced this. But I'm sure that I'm not wrong!" Ivy seemed to gather all the energy to accept her destiny. "If love at first sight does exist, maybe this is what it means." with sparkling eyes stared at Adele's eyes without hesitation.

For a moment Adele was a little afraid that something was wrong with her friend, before digesting it. "Uh. What do you mean..." Adele pointed at Alfred up the podium then pointed at Ivy, then again pointed at Alfred. Her actions got a nod and a big smile from Ivy. “OMG! That so fast?" Adele could not understand and was horrified by Ivy's excessive attitude. 

This is just their first day at school and Ivy is very sure of it. It was clear that Adele doubted it and thought that Ivy's belief would not last long, because... It was clear that they didn't know each other at all.

"What class is he in? You want to help me find out about him. Right? hm? Hmm?” Ivy whined. 

Adele was silent in response give the cold whining of her friend. They have been busy enough as new students to face this orientation week, should the love story have to start now?

"Can't you wait another week after orientation ends," thought Adele.

Or after they were quite used to changes and adapted to their new environment.

In the school's health unit, the student who had caused such an uproar was curious and impatient to wait for the ceremony to end. She was only unconscious for a few minutes but had to be stuck in the healt unit for quite a while until the ceremony was over. Oh, the main reason why she fainted in the middle of the ceremony was anemia, weak from lack of energy because  missed breakfast before going to school.

“Looks like the ceremony is over.” The news that the health teacher read the curiosity of the student who he was treating. “You can go back to your group―” His eyes fell on the familiar name tag seen everywhere these days. “Debbie, group-8. Can you find your group mates?”

"Yes ma'am." Debbie answered in a small voice, a mixture of shame and embarrassment because of the incident earlier.

“All the new students must gather in the field. Or if you don't feel up to today's orientation, you can stay here.” The teacher offered a choice so that Debbie would not force herself. so that it would not cause another incident.

"No ma'am I can participate now. Thank you for taking care of me ma'am." Debbie said goodbye from there.

Outside met a friend who was worried about her, someone rushed to the UKS to check on Debbie's condition. 

"Oh my god! out of all thing can happen there, you're fainting! Don't make people worry, will you?"

"Sorry-sorry, but I'm fine! It was just that I was dizzy and it was dark, and so―” Debbie was too embarrassed to bring up the dramatic scene of her fainting.

"So, if you feel unwell, don't force it. I feel responsible for taking care of you because aunty ask me to take care of you.” Uya is a little annoyed with Debbie who is sometimes slow.

"Oh my gosh... You still remember it! Your promise is that we were in elementary school long ago." Debbie was touched, she recall had forgotten the same incident that happened in the past. she fainted during the ceremony, but at that time Debbie was not feeling well than sent home.

"Promises are promises. Also, not many of our school friends come, not many people you know here." 

What Uya said is true. In Debbie's class alone, there are no classmates from old school.

"Thank you. I'm so touched because you concern for me..." Debbie rubbed the corners of her eyes as if there were tears drop.

Uya was not deceived and found it not funny at all. Yes, Debbie is not being funny. "Enough with nonsense! If you're okay, I'll just go back to the group then."

Debbie nodded in agreement. "Right. I also want to join my group. But I guess I need to go to the toilet first." Nobody asked and it was TMI.

Uya, who was about to leave, looked back at Debbie. "Don't take too long, hurry find your team, got it! Also watch out for the schedule.”

"Yeah-yeah... If anything else happens then my life is so dramatic for sure!” 

"Are you just realized now, huh?" Uya immediately replied.

And yes, something else happened. Not long ago, just a moment ago Debbie said that to Uya. But now she is again involved in a ridiculous situation. A situation that looks and sounds like joke and comedy drama to anyone. Debbie and several of her group's friends were locked in the bathroom together.

"Actually, what's wrong with me today..." Debbie lamented, unable to understand.