Scramble Game

Two weeks ago...

"Knock. knock." There was a sound on the door. Someone was standing in front of the Principal room, waiting for the owner of the room to return the greeting. 

"Yes, come in." The headmaster's voice echoed, followed by the door to the room opening. 

A male teacher entered the room facing the principal who had now moved from behind his desk. Looking dignified with a serious look in  eyes and face walked towards the teacher, who was now nervously standing stiffly.

"You want to meet me, Sir?" asked the teacher, feeling confused. He was asked to come to the principal room, although still didn't know for what reason.

"Come, take a seat. I have something to tell you." Invite the school leader as well as the principal, intending to make the atmosphere more relaxed. 

The teacher just nodded following his boss's orders, still shrouded in question. An envelope that had been in the principal's hand, landed on the table. Without being asked, the teacher understands that the sheet of paper in front of him must be accepted. So he opens the envelope and sees what is inside right away. There is a document of somebody's data listed there clearly and in detail. Starting with name, origin, date of birth, gender, address and so on.

"Transfer student?" Ryan muttered. While working at the school, he had never handled the case of a transfer student from another school before. Why? The school where he worked never accepted transfer students from outside. At least that's what happened during his 3.5-year career working there. Why is that, because this school is an elite school that only contains children from the upper social classes. Students who attend school here are only those who have attended school there since playgroup and continue to study there at a higher level after that.

"I hope you can give the attention and support needed to a new member of the big family of our beloved school, Mr.Ryan." Message the principal with a faint smile.

Now Ryan is increasingly curious about the figure of the new student in his class. Who is it, choosing to move in the middle of the semester? What's more, can be accepted into a school here, which is famous for being strict on the selection of student candidates. There were only two possibilities, this transfer student was really a super rich or was a super brained student. It is more likely that both answers are correct.

"What's wrong, Mr. Ryan?" Asked the principal, seeing that one of the trusted teachers at his school did not show any reaction or response after seeing the document.

"Ah! It's okay Sir, it's just… This is the first time I've handled a transfer student." 

The principal smiled, nodding his head weakly. 

There were many things Ryan wanted to ask, but it took him a long time to decide. "Does this child come from a family with a special background, Sir?" 

But the principal was silent at the question. 

"Or does she have outstanding academic achievements?" Ryan's two questions went unanswered.

The situation became awkward for Ryan, nervously waiting for his superior's response. At the same time feeling anxious because it seemed that he had asked the wrong two questions earlier. Everything was read from the time lag and the silence before the principal saying. 

"You just need to remember that this student transfer issue is a direct request from our school's main donor, Mr. Ryan. So I hope you behave well and without any errors." 

The look in the principal's eyes full of charisma was enough to intimidate Ryan so that his neck felt cold, coupled with such emphasis. "Y-yes, Sir, I understand." 

All of Ryan's curiosity immediately vanished about the new member who would join his class. Whoever it is, what he needs to do is continue to work as he has always done without causing any problems.

"You can go back now." The principal orders Ryan to leave his room.

"Then, excuse me..." Without wasting time Ryan left with the transfer documents for the new student who would become his protege. 

There will be another uproar at the school when the new student joins the school's big family. Ryan can predict that clearly and he must prepare himself for anything that happens from now on.

***

One day before school starts.

During the day, when the sun is really hot. The process of moving the house went through without any problems or obstacles. This is the first time a mother and her daughter have moved house and not only that, their new home environment is a completely unfamiliar city. Although only consisting of two of them, this small family decides to live in another city. For the sake of starting a new chapter of their life journey, as a second chance that comes.

"Have you checked everything? Nothing left?" The mother checked the progress of her daughter who was unpacking things in the room.

Some boxes are open, and chaos in the room can be seen in various directions. "No mom." The girl looked around to confirm one by one the contents of the box that had been scrambled by herself. "I guess..." She faltered at the end, unsure if her memory might be wrong.

"I'm sorry for not being able to take care of your school transfer properly, Mom still has a lot of work to do at our shop, Elyn." With tenderness, Belinda touched her daughter's cheek trying to present support for each other's existence. At the same time feeling very guilty for not being able to pay more attention, leaving her daughter to take care of the school transfer process alone.

"I know, Mom, it's all because you want the business to be back to normal as soon as possible." 

Their family business is engaged in F&B, there is also a new branch of the pastry shop that has just been developed. Belinda tried to dive into the world that used to be her educational career path when she was at school which is management business.

"Thank you for understanding me, honey..." Belinda smiled proudly at her only daughter― Evelyn, who remained strong in life's hardships under any circumstances. 

Their family's move to this city was fairly sudden. Never do they have any plans to move. Were it not for some very urgent reason, also circumstances that forced them to leave.

"So, when's the grand opening of the new store, Mom?" Elyn asked curiously. Because just like her mother,  Evelyn, who was too busy handling school transfers, couldn't help out at the shop opening.

"Soon dear... But if at that time you were busy with school, don't force yourself to come." Belinda felt worried that Elyn would force herself. Though Elyn also needs time to focus on adapting to her new school life.

"Uh, well... Since little, I have loved Mom's recipe for cakes, bread, and cookies. So that day I want to eat as much as I can!" Elyn thinks that instead of feeling lonely in the new school environment, she should hang out at the store to help her mother and get rid of the boredom of being at home alone.

"Haha... You don't plan on making our shop lose money on the first day it opens, do you, dear?" Belinda teases. 

Their little family may indeed feel lonely and cold with only the presence of mother and child. But Belinda and Elyn didn't want to make that excuse for their weakness. Precisely because there are only two of them at this time, both of them must be able to strengthen each other, complement each other, and take care of each other. For Elyn, there is no one else in this world, only a mother that she has.

***

The condition of the circuit runway today was hotter than the sauna room. But the situation is by no means an obstacle for ongoing motorcycle racing betting. Outside the bustling circuit, there were cheers of support, mostly from the audience. The remaining small parts of each team. One of them is the  Anthony team, which is attended by only part of the members of the moto gang.

On the other hand, Sihan looks worried, repeatedly staring at his smartphone screen. In addition, his eyes were also busy watching from a distance on the runway, closely observing a speeding motorbike leading the game. The cell phone in his hand vibrates, and the phone screen displays an incoming call. Immediately he received the call, the greeting voice sounded loud. 

"W-William!!" 

But then no more words were spoken.  His lips felt dry, as did his throat from the tension and anxiety still keeping an eye on the motorbike on the race circuit.

"Do not worry! Nothing will happen. You keep an eye on the situation, I'll try to get there asap." Said the person on the other end of the phone.  

Sihan nodded his head even though William on the phone would not see it. After receiving the call, the panic symptoms eased a bit.

The racing match is nearing the end, with only one left rag. Then he comes out of the VVIP glass room towards the circuit side to join the others. The image of the incident 3 months ago entered his mind with every swing of his steps. He tried to remain calm, holding on to what  William had said on the phone earlier. Before he could get outside the building, his footsteps took a turn. The person he was aiming for, walked inside a room with the team, without lacking anything as he worried. Sihan was calm enough and relieved that something he feared did not come true.

Loud cheers of victory filled the room where Anthony and the gang were, including Sihan who was there as well as joining in standing still near his pal, Anthony―the person he had been worried about the entire match. When everyone is drowning in euphoria. The door to the room was opened violently causing a loud banging sound that made the whole room silent, turning to look at the door. Someone walks with anger in gazing eyes. As soon as he arrived in front of Anthony, William immediately jerked violently. " ANTH!! What is all this? You promised not to race again."

Anthony immediately knew who the person on his back was reporting about his race to William.

Sihan had no choice, similar to what William was worried about, he also didn't want anything to happen to his pal again like an accident 3 months ago. If just alone, he wasn't sure he could stop  Anthony. That was what happened to his attempt at the last minute before the racing started some few minutes ago, he failed to prevent Anthony from betting on motorcycle racing.

"It's not just a simple race but a pride bet, Will. Do you want our school to be underestimated by other schools? Look what I won!" Said Anthony showing off a placard with the name of another school's motorcycle club that he managed to beat in the match just now. 

The content of their bet is that the motorcycle club that lost this time had to disband. 

"I'm also trying hard to maintain the honor of our school." He means taking care of school pride in own way. Dignity and prestige are everything in the competition between schools.

William knew Anthony had deliberately offended him by talking about the honor of school. He tried to calm down, catching his breath to control anger. Meanwhile, the gang who were in the room knew enough to remain silent, ever since William had entered by slamming the door. 

"I understand your disappointment... But it's the time for you to forget―"

Anthony raised his palm in front of  William's face as a warning sign, he was the only one who dared to do that to William, who has a high title of position at school. 

"You'll never understand, NEVER!!" wanted to show off that not only William could be angry, but he could also be even more furious than this. 

All this time he held back all anger, exerting all efforts in various ways. William doesn't know anything, if it other way wouldn't the word to forget come out, if he was in Anthony position.