1.2 A HOPE

The teacher glares sharply, and Matahari flinches, like he realizes what he did.

  “I’m sorry, Ma’am…!” He immediately bows deeply and apologizes.

  “How dare you call me a demon?! Get out!” She says, standing with her hands on her hips, an aura of dominance surrounding her.

  “But, Ma’am… I just—” He tries to defend himself.

  “Get out. Now!” She points firmly toward the door.

  Matahari stands up from his seat, picks up his books and stationery, and drags himself out of the classroom. His head is lowered, shoulders slumped as he walks.

  I feel sorry for him, honestly… but I have no choice. There’s no other way.

  “Sorry…,” I murmur, then walk after him as he quickly sits by the classroom doorway, writing down notes.

  I approach and stop in front of him.

  “Mata…,” I call, watching him write. “Please, don’t ignore me… I’m begging you. I need to talk seriously.”

  His hand stops.

  He sets the pen down on the notebook, then slowly lifts his face. A quiet sigh leaves him.

  “…Hhh, alright.”

  A smile spreads across my face at his answer, like flowers blooming all around me.

  He stands up and walks to the side of the classroom, then leans against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

  “Speak clearly. What do you want?” he says, without any hesitation.

  “I’m sorry for talking without explaining myself first…,” I say, standing in front of him with my head slightly lowered. “I just… I want to talk to Langit one last time.” My hands clench. “He... he's my very best friend. Things have been complicated between us these past few months. There was a misunderstanding… I want to clear it up so he stops blaming himself.” My voice rises slightly at the end as I look back at him.

  I can feel my eyes tearing up.

  “…Do I have to care?” He replies coldly.

  “I know you don’t have to care, I know that! But…” My lips tremble. Something starts to gather at the corners of my eyes. “I don’t have much time…” Tears begin to fall down my cheeks. Warm and wet.

  I shake my head slowly, then take a step back from him.

  “You’re right… this is my problem. I should’ve handled it myself. Sorry if it felt like I was forcing you…”

  I decide to leave.

  Disappointed? Of course. But I get it. Maybe he feels uncomfortable with me showing up out of nowhere, and I’m already dragging him into trouble just because of my own selfishness…

  “Hey, Senja—wait!”

  His voice stops me mid-step even though I’m already walking away.

  “I’ll help you,” he says.

  “I don’t want to see you wandering around school with that long face… it throws me off, you know.” He clicks his tongue, giving it as an excuse. It sounds sharp, but I think he actually cares. Right?

  "Hah... we’ll continue this at break, okay? Now I’m getting back to my notes. Don’t disturb me this time.”

  I nod.

  Matahari sits back down near the classroom doorway and goes back to writing, focused on the board.

  It’s better if I leave him alone for now and come back later.

  “I want to see Langit….” I think to myself.

  Slowly, I walk away….

  My steps carry me back toward where Langit is.

  “What is he doing right now… in class? Can he even focus on studying…?”

  My thoughts grow restless thinking about Langit’s upcoming exams. There is not much time left.

  “If this keeps going… he might fail….”

  I keep talking to myself along the way, thinking about Langit—and what about his future if he keeps going like this.

  “Langit…,” I whisper as I stop in front of his classroom again, right at the door.

  “Can you hear me… Langit…?”

  It hurts to see him like that—completely unfocused. His eyes look empty as he just stares down at his open notebook, while the rest of the class listens to the teacher and writes down key points.

  This isn’t Langit. Not the friend I used to know.

  He’s changed… like he’s slowly sinking, losing himself little by little.

  Bring him back. Bring my Langit back—the one who always laughed so brightly. The one whose eyes would light up every time he talked about the future and his dreams.

  "Sobs....”

  I can’t hold it in anymore. My hand grips my chest, tight and painful.

  I can't do anything right now. Langit can’t see me or hear me, and no matter how much I try, I can’t even touch him.

  My hand only reaches through empty air…

  And I only have 30 days left.

  Matahari…

  I’m hoping he’s the answer to all of this. A way for me to reach Langit…

  “…Please…”

  I’m still standing in front of his classroom, watching him. Or rather, my soul is—since I don’t have a body anymore.

  “Langit… what are you even doing? Didn’t you say you wanted to graduate early so you could go to a big city for college?” I look at him, feeling exasperated.

  I really want to walk up to him and scold him. If only I could.

  A sudden breeze sweeps through, strong and fragrant, carrying small white feathers with it.

  This isn’t an ordinary wind. I know who it is.

  Luz....

  The wind gathers beside me like drifting smoke, slowly taking shape—forming a human silhouette.

  A woman.

  Elegant, with fair skin tinged with a soft blush, and long, glossy hair braided to the side, falling all the way to her waist.

  She wears a white robe that flows down to her feet.

  And the most striking part of all—massive wings behind her back, glowing with a soft light.

  “Have you decided, Senja...? Are you ready to leave...?”

  Her voice rings softly and faintly.

  “I still haven’t been able to talk to him..,.” I let out a breath, like my last bit of strength is slipping away.

  “Don’t take too long, Senja... you only have 30 days left before your divine light fades,” she says gently, her tone flowing and calming.

  But I know she is giving me a warning. That is the risk if I cross the limit.

  “I understand, Luz. Don’t worry… I think I’ve found a way,” I reply, though I’m not fully sure.

  “Alright... I trust you. I’ll wait. And if there’s still no way, I have no choice but to take you away with me....”

  “Thank you, Luz....”

  Her figure fades away into a gust of wind, drifting through the air, leaving behind a faint trace of katsuri.

  At the same time, the first bell rings. It’s already 9:00 in the morning.

  The quiet classroom changes after the teacher leaves. Louder now—some students move between desks, chatting with each other.

  Langit stays still. Lost in thought, his gaze shifts to the window across from the door.

  “I want to see him more closely....”

  I move closer. Slow, focused. Circling his desk until I stop right in front of him—gazing off, arms folded, cheek resting on one hand.

  My eyes widen when I see him up close.

  “Langit... what happened to you?!” I almost shout. Barely a sound.

  If only he could hear me....

  Not just pale—thinner. Drained. Dark circles under the eyes that used to shine so brightly.

  “Senja... are you happy there...?” He murmurs, gaze drifting far away.

  Degh...!

  My whole body trembles. Something cold settles deep in my chest.

  So... he’s been thinking about me....

  “I can’t... I can’t see him like this....”

  In the end, I run. Away from him. Out of the classroom—passing right through a man who’s just coming in, making him glance back for a split second.

  I keep running. No direction. Nowhere in mind.

  Down the stairs. Through the hallway. Across the wide yard. Until I end up behind the school.

  Until my legs finally give in. Not from exhaustion—just... nowhere left to go.

  “Back there... I didn’t see it wrong, right...? Langit... that was him... my Langit...?” I mutter, bent over, hands on my knees.

  The question keeps spinning. I want to deny it, but it’s too real.

  Tight... hard to breathe....

  How could someone who was always laughing, always full of ideas... change that fast?

  The way he used to look fills my mind.

  I remember the way he used to talk—so expressive.

  How he loved running, basking in the sunlight.

  The way he was at school. Playing around. Joking—even when he was annoyed....

  And then—

  That moment from a few minutes ago comes rushing back. When I saw him.

  “No....” I shake my head. “I can’t just leave it like this! I need to find Mata—now!” My voice rises as I straighten up again.

  “So noisy. You’re disturbing my sleep, you know.”

  The voice comes from a girl inside an empty room—something like a storage room. Dark.

  I turn to the side.

  And see her—slowly floating toward me.

  She steps out of the room. Closer. Then lands right in front of me—barely a foot away. I instinctively take a step back.

  “New ghost, huh?” She says, tone sharp. Standing there, staring straight at me. Eyes scanning from head to toe, arms crossed.

  “Uh... I—guess...?” I answer, awkward.

  “Hmmm....” She rubs her chin, then leans in closer.

  She sniffs me....

  “Still fresh...,” she murmurs, eyes closing like she’s taking in the scent. “Did you die recently?” A blunt glance.

  My mood drops instantly. I slump forward, half-bent.

  Why bring that up...?

  It all comes back again.

  Bitter.

  The pain—still there. Still clear.

  “Hey, why so quiet? I’m right, aren’t I?”

  Huh. Instead of caring, she’s smirking.

  “Yeah... about a week,” I mutter, not really in the mood.

  “No wonder... still smells nice....” She nods to herself.

  Hah? Nice?? What kind of smell is that?

  lift my hand, trying to catch my own scent.

  “What...? There’s nothing,” I think, catching no trace of anything.

  “You can’t smell it yourself, but... other things around you can....” Her gaze drifts elsewhere—where a few silhouettes are moving about.

  I turn, watching them. One... two... three.

  Three figures. Just silhouettes. Moving back and forth across from us.

  My brows knit. Something about it feels... off.

  “What... are they...?”

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