My Boyfriend Is An Alien
Episode 87: The Struggle

Alma POVs

A week went by, I had to take part in a meticulously intelligent race at the district level representing my school. Still on the math maple. Although my grades on the other maples were also high, but the principal was not sure to apply for another candidate on the math maple, he was so confident in me for the maple race that he said was horror.

And today I was at Budi Utomo High School, the place is not too far from Pelita Jaya High School, it only takes 20 minutes to travel. In our car there were only six. I, four participants in another maple, and Mr. Bayu my former homeroom teacher in 10th grade who drove us in a school car.

This time I left without Akio, because this time Akio was not proposed to be a contestant. The value is the same as my good grades in all maples, but from the consideration of Mr. Indra, Indonesian teacher as well as deputy principal in Pelita Jaya, Indonesia, he recommended other students and did not choose Akio.

At 8:20, we arrived at Budi Utomo High School, it turns out that most of the students are male. The students seemed to be joking in front of their class, maybe the teachers were busy preparing themselves as the host of a smart race so that they could not teach in class. As a result, the students were playing out of class and staring in amazement with some good looking contestants from other schools.

Me and the two girls who were participants in the race became uncomfortable to get out of the car.

" Nothing, will you be inter until the race room, will not be disturbed by students here".

Turns out Mr. Bayu understood what we were worried about. Budi Utomo High School is famous for its many students who are Badung and often participate in brawls between schools. And it made me and two other girlfriends afraid to get out of the car.

" Yes Al, there is also Bagas and me", Ronal and Bagas are participants in the Indonesian and English maples. The other four participants are indeed from the 11th grade, only I am from the 12th grade.

Do not be asked how Akio expression when he knew Bagas also became a participant of the race, but he did not. Akio initially wanted to protest so that I could be removed from the participants. But of course, the headmaster was clamorous and did not care about the protest from Akio.

Fortunately Ronal could be the mediator, he could persuade Akio to be calmer and think clearly. And here's the result, I'm still a race participant with the others.

We six got out of the car. Sure enough the atmosphere immediately boisterous, some whistling loudly, some shouting for acquaintances, some were shouting for HP numbers. What a school atmosphere that is very inversely proportional to Pelita Jaya High School, the students are neatly dressed, clean and fragrant, while here their uniforms are messy, coats and also the unpleasant smell that comes from the gutter.

Sometimes I am grateful to get an offer from Pelita Jaya High School which is famous as the favorite High School in this city. Not from another SMA whose condition is not comfortable as in this Budi Utomo High School.

I walked in the middle between two other female participants, Pak Bayu in front of me, while Bagas and Ronal walked behind me. The safest position was deliberately aimed at me, it was a decision arranged by Mr. Bayu when in the car earlier.

" Alma is brightest and attracts attention, you should place him in the middle so as not to cause too much noise when heading to the race room later", said Mr. Bayu, and all agree.

We got to the front of the room that will be used for the race. The room is still locked, and the participants wait in front of the room until the door opens and are allowed to enter by the committee.

" Alma ...!", there was someone who called my name out loud, he was wearing an OSIS uniform with a bad school Budi Utomo, I momentarily thought maybe he was a friend of Junior High School or my old Elementary School friend, because I also feel like I've seen it. It's just that I forgot to remember. It's always like this, I'm weak at memorizing someone's face. And it is easy to forget if long time no see.

" Right you are Alma, waaaah long time no see, how are you?".

" Good ", I answered briefly, still with a confused face, because I do not remember, the young man was a friend of SD or Junior High School.

" I'm sure I will definitely meet you at this race, I feel very happy when I find out my school is hosting a smart race meticulously, it's because for sure I will meet you".

" And fortunately again I was assigned to be a committee, because it was 12th class so it was not included in the race".

I read the boy's name in his school uniform. ' Leonardo Pratama' ', where I've met him, it seems I have no SD or Junior High friend named Leonardo.

Fortunately, there was a notification that the race would start immediately from the loudspeaker, so there was a reason for me to avoid the young man named Leonardo.

" I'm sorry I have to enter the room first" I said, cutting off the conversation.

" Oh yes please-please, good luck!", he cried while waving to me who was walking into the race room.

There are 2 hours to do 40 multiple choice questions and 10 essay questions. Everyone immediately looked seriously at the question sheet in front of each one. So do I. I have to bring back the 1st champion trophy, so as not to disappoint the principal. I'm not the only one hoping to be a champion, because I'm sure everyone here wants to be a hero to their school just like me.

The atmosphere of silence and gripping was very visible in the room where I was. Most of them are new faces that are deliberately submitted by their school. Because last year I was in the race a few times, often meeting the same people. But this time is different, maybe because the participants who used to be in the 12th grade, as Leonardo said to me.

For almost two hours I focused on the answer sheet, and with a few minutes left, there were already a few other participants coming out of the room.

I was still re-correcting my answers one by one, hoping for nothing to go wrong and getting perfect grades like before.

Teeeit.....

When working on the problem is finished, this is only the first session, there will be a second session, after some of the highest values are obtained, the second session is working on the problem with the fastest time, such as the struggle to answer questions.

We were given an hour to rest. Mr. Bayu invited the five of us to eat at a fast food restaurant that was not too far from Budi Utomo High School.

" Eat first, so that in the second session you can focus and be more excited".

Mr. Bayu ordered us a package of extra spicy beef chicken, because pak Bayu know if the sauce is separated in another container, and we can pour sambal according to our respective tastes.

It was 11pm when we finished eating. We deliberately stayed relaxed in the restaurant. From back to Budi Utomo High School where the place is not comfortable, besides crowded and hot, also the smell of sewers.

" How was Al?, are you sure you can win again?", Ronal looked at me.

" For the previous I have been working as closely as possible, just seen the second session later, hopefully smoothly, so can take the trophy home" I explained.

" How do you guys?, does anyone have a hard time?", I tried to ask other participants questions, because I only talked about me.

One by one of them also told about his struggle earlier in the race room, so it did not feel the time went so fast. We have to go back to continue the race in the second session. May everything remain vibrant.

We go into our own rooms to continue our fight to be champions. The spirit of my friends!.