Him.

That boy is sitting in the corner of the dark side,
sort of hiding in the darkness,
sort of running away from the reality.
No,
he is not captivating.
He looks divergent though.
And no,
he is not expressing any discontent.
He looks eager though.
He's staring at God knows what,
that I don't really know what.
Assuming he's waiting for someone does hurt me.
I somehow kinda want him to notice me,
the stranger one who's initially don't give a dang about him.
'Til he starts to stare at me instead of staring at nothing.
He smiles,
and time suddenly stands still.--ets120614

My Soul?

"There's nothing to think about. There's nothing to debate about. Just run!" --Anonymous.

And here I am, running as fast as I can until I feel my feet dumb and I feel the blood rushing so fast in my veins. I keep running and yet don't know where I'm heading. Seriously, I don't even know where I am. Where is this? Trees, silence, darkness... and a 5'9 tall boy with hairstyle like James Dean's (you know, which has some natural wave in it, my girlfriend sait if effortlessly looks cool) and with pale skin running. Me.

And there's only me.

No, I don't really know what happened. I was chilling with some friends and my girlfriend in a cafe as usual, because I'm always free on Saturday. No school. No fake bitches. No annoying teachers. No mounting homeworks. And no fricking tests. We were so much having fun, we told some jokes, we laughed until our laughter echoed the room we were in, we kissed, we hugged, but then something whispered in my ears. Something which was like my own voice.

It's the time... Just run as fast as you can, don't give a damn on every freaking body who beg you to help them. If you help, you'll die.

I was scared, and I am actully still scared. It was a very eerie sensation when whatever that was whispering in my ears. However I didn't really care about it. Initially, I didn't really care about it.

Until that happened.

I heard people screaming so loudly. They ran... they ran while shivering. Their eyes stared at nothing. They started to bleed, from nose, ears, and mouths. All people, but me.

What's wrong with me? What's wrong with people?

And out of sudden everything stopped. Everything stopped in only a second. It's hard to believe that the previous second they were somewhat like zombies.

And now they stared at me deadly in the eyes.

I knew that I had to run, but I just sat with my trembling hands. "Why are you guys looking at me like that?" I asked. I know it was such a silly question, but whatever.

They kept walking towards me.

My mind worked hard and I asked to myself what should I do?

"Help... H-he-lp..." Her voice was so familiar. But, who? "Help..."

I tried to find the one who just asked for my help: Callysta. My girlfriend.

She no longer is your girlfriend. She's not Callysta... Again, that frickin' something whose voice was so much like mine whispered in my ears.

"Shut the fuck up. She is my girlfriend. I should help her no matter what! I believe the actual Lis is still there!"

And after that, she tried to hurt my wrist when I hugged her.

Run.

Everyone in the cafe became much crazier as ever.

Run.

Everyone in the cafe became more uncontrollable as ever.

RUN!

I ran as fast as I could without even looking back. What the hell is happening right now?! I asked to whatever that thing is but nothing came as an answer. I know you heard me, you dickhead! Tell me what's exactly going on here?!

That-whatever-thing chuckled. Keep running otherwise they will find you, Jared.

I still don't get it why "my own" voice chuckled in such this situation. I mean, fuck it. Doesn't it understand how scared I am? Nah, I don't dread it actually, I dread those people in the cafe insted. Well if only I still can call 'em "people".

The night is when I'm alive, Jared. I hide in the darkness, between moonlight and starlight. I walk without even knowing where I am heading because of you. I have been following you since forever but I can't posess you, ever. I don't know why. I'm so much like your shadow instead of your soul.

What?

I can't reason this.

Tell me, how the hell can you reason such this confusing thing, which was said by your soul, as you're running to avoid people who'd like to kill you?

BAMMM!!!

"Help... h-he-lp..."

I stop running. I'm gasping for oxygen. I look around, trying to find that bloody zombie.

Goodness, why.

It was my Mom. --ets110614

Colors Literally Can Speak!

PARTICIPATING IN NSO 2012

"WHAT?!"

I was very surprised when my Junior High School English teacher asked me to join National Science Olympiad for English subject in the middle of February 2012, while that day was actually the end of January already. Yep, so I only had about 2 weeks left to prepare for it. Well, actually I didn't know how I felt back then, either I felt in the pink or felt blue due to the sudden invitation. The problem was I had been in the 3rd grade of JHS already, I fckn should focus on National Examination, you know. However, since I'm not one of those who have a yellow streak, I just accepted it. Aside from that, I didn't want to make my beloved English teacher see red.

So, the next 2 weeks, on February 12, 2012, I went to Solo by train (actually with 2 teachers and 3 other students). It took us for about 9 hours from Bandung Station to Solo Balapan Station. Well, I bet it was a kind of white lies that I felt so cold (that I couldn't even omg it was like I was living in the coldest place ever) but I just said it's all good to my teacher next to me. I thought I was just caught red handed since she asked me such a question LMAO... I mean, hello, I only whitewashed the situation, pretended that I didn't feel cold, you know that.

The red letter day came eventually. It was on February 14, 2012. Yep, Valentine's Day, but I had to fight for winning the olympiad. I went to MTsN Surakarta 1, the place where the olympiad would be held, and guess what? The committees rolled out the red carpet when they saw me coming, LOL! I mean, I'm not queen for God's sake ROFL why should they have to do so?

Everything had not been blacklisted until the olympiad began. The fact that I have to tell you is that I am a person who is not really good at technology (aka I'm not a geek). I didn't check my laptop's volume before since I was fckn frickin nervous, I just started to do the olympiad.

But something wrong happened afterwards.

Its volume... or the back sound... or whatever, sounded VERY loudly!

I myself was very surprised that jumped a bit from my seat and I only talked to myself WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW DAMMIT while my hands busily pressed all buttons on my laptop's keyboard.

But still.

IT DIDN'T WORK, AT ALL.

Literally shucks.

You silly, Sa, literally silly. What the fck is this. What's happening.

I was blue in the face handling it all alone. No one helped me, just so you know.

I sighed. God damn it! How green I am! 

Out of the blue, a girl who sat in front of me turned around, stared at me (like I was the very weirdest girl alive, and omg she was such a creeper FFS), and then said something which actually should be red penciled. Goodness! She was somewhat--LITERALLY--browned off!

The next day, I went to Borobudur Temple. It was so much fun! It was a sunny day and I felt really in the pink. I saw a boy with his over the top posturing, some girls singing songs (fck their dissonant harmonies!), and... that boy. I turned green with envy seeing that boy, another contestant, buying a unique two-tone souvenir. I walked approaching the stand, giving the green light to buy the same souvenir. I intentionally brought more money in order not to end up in the red. Then I went happily... until I tripped over big stone and fell to the earth! I found myself black and blue all over when I looked at the reflection of me in the mirror.

Finally, the announcement of the winners was announced on February 16, 2012. Well, perhaps it was not my good luck since I was not the winner (someone who prayed for me may the odds be ever in your favor was probably no one, urgh). I only got the 95th rank from about 330 contestants.

Nevertheless, I had tried my best in this fckn competitive olympiad. What I need to do is believing that every cloud has a silver lining.

The Advantages of Taking A Tutorial Course

Education in this era becomes more challenging than it used to be. Why do I say so? Because students nowadays have higher demands to reach their realistic goals, and not to mention about the obstacles they should face. Let me take one obstacle as example which is technology. As we all know that technology has some benefits, but here I will focus on one of them which is as the entertain for people, such as games. That’s the reason why most students prefer technology to books and why most students’ academic performance become worse. Due to that, parents are sure to be worried, they will find the way how to make their children’s academic performance better. Based on the survey that I did, the first thing coming to most parents’ minds to overcome the problem is tutorial course, since it is very mushrooming nowadays, right? According to a web in internet, tutorial course is a class conducted by a tutor for one student or a small number of students and this way of study results in good effects. Taking a tutorial course causes the students to have scheduled study hours, improve their academic performance, and be goal-oriented.

            Having scheduled study hours is the first advantage of taking a tutorial course. Many students say that it is an utterly hard thing to study after school. They would play game or go to somewhere else before going home rather than study, review the lessons they just got that day, or do their homeworks. Consequently, they just study in school. However, with nowadays challenges and demands, studying only in school is not always effective, is it? Remembering how hard to get successful in the future when present education is challenging. Therefore, I can say that studying after school is needed, and tutorial course has the answer for it. Tutorial course makes the students have scheduled study hours. Having scheduled study hours definitely will make students easier to pursue their dreams. They have to get used to struggle and manage time well, which are the keys to success.

            The academic performance of students who take a tutorial course is different. It seems better indeed, proven by a research called “Private Supplementary Tutoring: Comparative Perspectives on Patterns and Implications” which was conducted by Professor Bray in Hong Kong University. The research says that “Students' academic results are improved after attending tutorial class.” Let me explain more about this. Students who take a tutorial course will get additional scores from teachers more often because they become more active in class ever since they take a tutorial course. They often raise hands to answer teacher’s questions since they have already learned the lessons first in the course. The lessons in class are understood fast by them, so when they have tests, their scores will be good and oftentimes, be the best in class. Most of the students who take a tutorial course then get the first rank and will be easier to be accepted in their favorite colleges. Therefore, improving their academic performance is the second advantage.

            The third, taking a tutorial course causes the students to be goal-oriented. Their self-confidences become higher since they know their academic potentials are good. Their frequent study and their study hours are enough to make them believe that they surely can be accepted in their favorite colleges. As a result, they enjoy studying and automatically will concentrate more while studying in order to pursue their realistic goals in the future. They focus their efforts on achieving them until they get what they want.

            All in all, taking a tutorial course has 3 advantages, which are having scheduled study hours, improving students’ academic performance, and being goal-oriented. When students’ study hours have been scheduled well, they can automatically improve their academic performance in class. At last, it can mold new good personality that is goal-oriented for students so that they can focus their efforts on achieving their realistic goals. If you want to get those advantages, then just take a tutorial course and I’ll make sure you will get them.

Created by Elsa Tamara Shalsabila

Movie Review: Wolverine

Wolverine tells us about a mutant names Logan who is immortal. He has lived many years and has powerful power to help people. His immunity is really strong, I mean he is bulletproof and his injury can be cured by itself so that he won't need any doctor to cure his injuries.
The story begins in Nagasaki, Japan, when America let atomic bomb fall to the area. There is one of Japanese soldiers names Yashida who is hiding inside something strong, and Logan protects him from the bomb. Yashida then thanks Logan for it. He gives samurai to Logan and teaches him how to hold the samurai well. Nonetheless, Logan ignores it and asks Yashida to keep it safe for him because he will come back someday. Yashida agrees.
Some years later, Logan lives in a forest with a bear which is actually his bestfriend. But then one day, the bear is killed and Logan searches for them who have killed it, until there is Yukio, a Japanese girl who is very good at using samurai. She asks Logan to go with her to Tokyo since her boss who is actually Yashida, asks her to do that. At first, Logan doesn't want to, but then he agrees. They go to Tokyo and Logan meets Yashida eventually.
Yashida is going to die, and his last wish is that he wants Logan to protect his granddaughter, Mariko, since he gives the throne to her. Mariko's father couldn't agree less about the idea because he really wants to be the next leader who can have the throne.
But when Logan protects Mariko from groups of criminals, slowly but sure, Logan becomes weak. He loses his power since there is something sticking to his heart. His injuries cannot be cured by itself anymore. One thing he knows that actually he is going to be human if he can't get that something sticking to his heart out. The problem is if he becomes a human, he surely will die. Someday.
And then Logan and Mariko escapes from Tokyo to Nagasaki, but then the groups of criminals kidnappes Mariko and then Logan tries to find her with Yukio's help. Before finding Mariko, Yukio says that she sees Logan will dia with much blood around (Yukio can foresee actually). Logan doesn't believe it. However, he tries to get that something sticking out of his heart and he successfully does it at last. He is still alive.
The ond of the movie tells us that actually Yashida hasn't died. He actually wants the immortality of Logan. He and his friend, Viper, makes a very powerful robot from metal to fight against Logan, and Yashida is inside of the robot. He cuts Logan's claws and tries to take power of Logan into his body. But fortunately, Marioko comes in the correct time, bringing the cut of Logan's claws and immediately sticks them to Yashida's neck and Yashida dies eventually. Logan is still and will always be alive.

Perihal Asa dan Kematian

Datu...
Bukankah 'tuk menggenggam asa,
dimensi dan detik hanyalah omong kosong belaka?
Lalu katakan padaku,
mengapa detik ini semakin terasa jua, Datu?
Jiwa ragaku 'kan berpisah tak lama lagi!
Bibirku pun takkan pernah mengulum senyum lagi!
Betapa penyakit ini seperti bisa, Datu...
Ia tak peduli akan peluhku.
Tak juga ia mengerti akan keluku.

Datu...
Gemeresik daun itu dulunya simfoniku.
Gemercik air itu pun dulunya simfoniku.
Sinar bulan temaram itu pun dulunya senantiasa menaungiku,
saat aku menulis.
Aku menorehkan segala asa dalam benak, Datu!
Namun kini aku hanya tepekur,
menunggu waktuku.
Tiada peduli, detik teruslah berpacu.
Tiada peduli, dimensi teruslah bisu.
Dan asa tiada jua bersua...
Yang memang takkan pernah.
Takkan pernah, Datu..
--ets070114

"Thrush Can Speak?!"

Hi. I’m Everest O'Neall, just call me Eve. Yes, that simple.

            I’m still 16. I am an easy-going person and I don’t feel stressed too much the way others feel due to tasks—well, at least I haven’t felt it for even once. And honestly I don’t know whether I am too stupid or… crazy or whatever, since I talked to a thrush and the thrush talked to me back!!! Yes, I myself still don’t believe this but I really experienced it! It happened when I was on my trip to Colorado, United States, some weeks ago. I went there when I was having my school vacation with some of my classmates. I mean, my crazy classmates. They always laugh everywhere at every little thing which is actually not funny at all, and they are sassy as well. And due to that, I turned to be kind of the personalities ever since I knew them. Ugh.

            We went to a mini beautiful forest in Colorado by bus. We left home at 9 o’clock in the morning and the trip took us for about an hour, until we arrived there. “WELCOME, MY TWINS!” with a picture of a smiling gorilla beside it, welcomed us warmly—well, it was annoying me actually. I’m too beautiful to be called “my twin” by gorilla, for God's sake.

After entering the forest, we saw various animals such as big elephants near a small pond, small ants which were standing in rows on big leaves, wild tigers in their cage, and many more. None of them hadn’t been taken their pictures by me.

I love taking picture indeed.

I’ll even do weird things only to take picture.

Yes, I have ever done.

And that time I did it again—the weird thing.

We were still a bit normal—I mean, not too crazy like laughing and sass—until Suzanna, one of my friends who’s a bit sassy said, “Hey Eve, I’d be very happy to buy you a new camera if you could draw the thrush’s attention and take a picture of it at the same second.” She appointed towards a very beautiful bird with combination of yellow, red, and orange feather which was perching on a high tree calmly.

I saw it.

But then I wondered, thrush should have black and white feather, shouldn’t it? Then why that thrush’s feather is yellow, orange, and red…?

“If you don’t want to, then you have a yellow streak, Eve.”

“Don’t underestimate me, Anna.” Then I walked arrogantly approaching the thrush (burung kutilang), but perhaps I walked so fast that made the thrush fly away. I heard my friends started laughing—again—and it made me really fed up. I followed the thrush immediately and left my friends behind with camera hung on my neck.

Haha, the thrush perched on a high tree eventually. I prepared to take a picture of it and stood underneath the tree, then 1… 2… 3…

Click.

My friends were walking towards me.

“Yeaaah, I succeeded, klutz! Remember you’ve to buy me a new camera, Anna, hahaha!” I laughed loudly, felt satisfied. “I don’t believe you’re that silly to ask me to do such a very easy thing, Anna.”

Anna sighed, then she said, “I wonder if you’re deaf, or you just forget, or you're very stupid, Eve. I said draw the thrush’s attention and take a picture of it at the same second, didn’t I?” She looked askance.

I looked aside and just realized that she really said that, but I forgot. “It means you have to make the thrush look at you while you're taking its picture. Got it?” Suzanna said.

Without answering Suzanna’s question, I reached for the thrush and found it still perching on the high tree.

No prior thought.

I climbed up the tree.

My friends laughed at me, but whatever. I didn’t give a damn.

I kept climbing up, climbing up, climbing up, until the beautiful thrush was right in front of me and fortunately, it didn’t fly away again and it looked right at me. I took my camera and said “Cheers!” to the thrush and… “Cheers.” Click.

“Wait, what?!” I asked to myself. “What?” I looked at it. I didn’t say cheers for twice.

“What?”

“Oh my God!?” I was very surprised when knowing the thrush could speak! Thrush just talked to me! I never heard that thrush could speak with humans before. “This is unbelievable, I want to run, I want to shout, oh my God you can speak, YOU JUST SPOKE TO ME, DIDN’T YOU, THRUSH?” Well, I forgot that I was still on top of the tree.

“I am not thrush.” The bird replied.

I was made really confused by it. “Not a thrush?”

“I am not thrush.” The bird replied the same answer. “I am not thrush. I am not thrush. I am myna (burung beo).”

“Myna? Oh your name is Myna?” Yes, to be honest, I was really stupid that time.

“No, you silly! Silly girl. I am myna. Myna.” The myna flew away and left me confused on top of the tree.

I still hadn’t noticed what the bird meant until I arrived home at 5 pm. I searched for Myna Birds in the internet immediately after arriving and… ugh.

“Why didn’t I think that myna is actually a kind of bird which is capable of speaking?! Of course it was not thrush, no thrush has ever been capable of speaking in this world!”

And now please don’t tell me I’m stupid or crazy or… what. The one who is so is actually Suzanna. She was the one who said first that it was thrush, not me. Heh. The end. --ets110913