The Poison: Stories Of The Number 27
What We Call A Friends

Antha looked worried this morning. He checked his cellphone many times, hoping his best friend immediately gave it to him so they can talk about this well. Bell had also rung a few minutes ago but the seat beside him was still empty. Only the blue bag that he guessed was just a textbook. Teacher came shortly. It's a little strange, Grandmother did not ask the reason why Xennora was not present in the classroom.

He. Worry.

If only Antha had asked Fadhil to keep their relationship a secret in the meantime. If only Antha had refused Fadhil's request to be his girlfriend. If only he and Fadhil were a little more at a distance so that their feelings never existed and grew. If only…..

Alright enough. All of those words are hypocritical. Antha likes Fadhil, that's true. He always tries to keep his distance from Fadhil, that's also true. But it was quite difficult because he and Fadhil were neighbors.

“Antha! It seems you are the best at paying attention to Mother's explanation. So, please answer this!”

Antha was aghast, she slowly stood up and advanced forward. On biology, Antha is grateful that it is about the analysis of disease. He mastered this lesson enough.

“Good answer. But please son, don't daydream in class. The patient will die quickly if his doctor mostly daydreams.” Hardik Bu Raya's.

“Iya, sorry bu.”

Anna sat back in her chair. Looking at Xennora's blue bag sadly. Hope the owner of Brunette's hair isn't mad at her.

Returning home from school, Antha thought she would meet Xennora who was back to pick up her bag. But nihil, only Leo came with his congratulations on the relationship of Antha and Fadhil. It seems she doesn't know that her sister likes Fadhil.

It is a certainty that a couple will enjoy their days together. Antha went home with Fadhil. He arrested Fadhil before the man proceeded to his house in front of Antha's house.

“Kak, who the hell is gossiping we are dating?”

“Technically it's not Antha gossip, it's a fact..”

“Iya whatever, now answer my question earlier.”

“Kakak less know anyway, like Agatha.”

“Oh... Admin the school's gossip account?”

“Iya. Why anyway? Do you feel uncomfortable?”

“Not that.. But you know what? Some like the same lo kak.”

“Tau. You right?” Said Fadhil while stroking the hair of Antha who then dodged.

“Not, but Xennora.” Antha immediately ran into her house and locked the door. The door was knocked several times until it finally calmed down. Before long Antha's phone rang, the phone came in from Fadhil.

“What do you mean?”

“Think of it yourself. I'm sure you understand, sis.” The reply then disconnected the call and went to his room. Antha then kept her bag on the mattress and fiddled with her cell phone to call someone.

“Please answer dong…. I can't if I'm like Ra...” Murmured Antha while continuing to listen to unanswered phone sounds as well.

Until the tenth call, Antha gave up. He threw his cell phone into the bed and lay on it. Her tears dropped, and now she was truly sorry.

...❄❄❄💙❄❄❄...

“Nak... Nak..” Call the library clerk to wake Xennora. The girl slowly opened her eyes.

“It's afternoon, son. I'm gonna lock this library in a minute. You done yet?”

“Ah yes, sir. Wait a minute, I'll clean up first.”

Jeez ran out of batteries. He kept his phone in his bag and walked out of the library. After the departure of Deandra and Reydevan, Xennora's life was rather quiet. His guilt towards Zenara was reduced bit by bit. He hopes Deandra has really left. He doesn't care about being stamped cruel or how, surely seeing Julian with blood on his shirt makes Xennora's feelings jumbled.

Let's throwback to a few years ago where Xennora still really disliked Julian. His trip home seems to be filled with memories this time. Xennora's on foot because the last bus must have been an hour ago. All right, let's get started. Xennora was once in an exam room with Julian, the Classroom Ascension Exam. But not sitting one table, Julian in the front row, while Xennora in the back. As Xennora was about to collect the answer sheet, Julian deliberately took out his leg, intending to make Xennora fall. But it could not, that there was Xennora who deliberately stomped her feet making Julian grimace in silence because there was still a supervisor.

Julian is a bitch.

Regarding the examination hall, this was what astonished Xennora. The exam room is always different from year to year, even the upperclassman or the upperclassman one room is always different. And just like the test table, it never occupies the same series and rows. But strangely enough, the mysterious blue rose was always on any table that Xennora occupied. Even in the early days Xennora got the flower, she was a little frightened at the feeling of being followed. Because, at the beginning of it his flowers really exist anywhere. Tucked in front of his house, a green tea latte seller in the park, on the piano of the school music room, even in the bus seat that he always rode every morning. Pretty scary.

And finally he told Antha all of those things. Since the girl was a horror lover, she instead looked very excited. But strangely enough, this is even stranger. After Xennora told Antha, slowly the existence of the flower diminished. And until now, Xennora only found the flower under the table. Weird right? It is also impossible if all this time Antha who sent the flowers.

Ah... Discussing Antha... Why didn't he just tell Xennora that he liked Fadhil too? Xennora quite often told Antha about some of the things she was going through.

“Dek? How did you just get home?” Edwin asked when Xennora had arrived home.

“So to the library first, uh overslept.” He sat down next to Edwin.

“Where is Try Out?”

“Pass. I can join UN next week.”

...❄❄❄💙❄❄❄...

Two sundays. Two weeks that drove Antha crazy. Antha had been looking for Xennora everywhere yet why had Antha never met the girl? Every day Antha checked the music room, library, even every time Antha visited her house, the house seemed empty. Now Antha seems to lose hope. Oh come on, Antha just wanted to apologize and give an explanation, why it feels impossible.

“Antha? You sick?” Ask Mr. Harto.

“Ah no sir, I gapapa.”

“You can change seats with Aira, keep sleeping there.”

“Iya Antha, let's exchange. If you're better, move again."

Antha followed Pak Harto's orders. He moved to the back seat, swapping seats with Aira. He dropped his head on a table with both hands folded. He stared at the window on his left. Suddenly his head became a little dizzy, but it was fine. True his father said, we will not realize that we are sick unless someone tells us.

With her eyes dimmed and almost closed, Antha could still see a brown haired old girl who had been picked up originally walking through the hallway of their classroom. Before long the door was knocked, and Antha was aware of something.

“Good day, sir. This is the case material that I have compiled.” His words sounded faint-sayup because Antha's head was getting dizzy. Spontaneously, Antha changed her position to sit up straight to see who the owner of the voice was.

“Good work. It's already completely structured?”

“I'm less sure, sir.”

“Let me check then, how about L—eh? You nosebleed?” Ask Mr. Harto when he saw the girl's nose was stuffed with a roll of tissue that had a small patch of blood. The girl looked a little surprised. He then removed the tissue from his nose.

“Sikit—“

“Xennora?” Antha asked quietly whose position was already standing from her desk. All attention was directed at him including Mr. Harto and Xennora himself.

Antha smiled, she cried a little with her pale face. “Gue... I'm very happy, finally can meet lo haha, I...”.

After that, Antha fainted. Making the people nearby reflex restrain his body. Some people gasp. Xennora was still sculpting, obviously he was surprised because all this time he had never seen Antha sick let alone to fall unconscious.