Chapter 10

The initiation went smoothly at first. Although I had heard about it before, I couldn’t help but felt exhausted and annoyed at the same time. People said that the initiation in Engineering Faculty was no kidding. It was crazy and I felt it since the first day. We were asked to bring strange and weird things to the initiation. Really, it drove me crazy.

One thing that I noticed during the initiation was the treatment I got from the seniors. They were hungry and dangerous hyenas in front of the other students, but friendly towards me. What’s wrong? It was strange. But then I remembered that it might be one of their tricks. They would be really nice in the beginning, but in the end, I would be their dessert.

On the fifth day, I finally snapped. I hated when the other students avoided me and whispered bad things about me just because I got a seriously nice and better but suspicious treatment from all the seniors. It was not like I asked for it!

I didn’t even know why they did so!

“Senior, may I talk to you for a second?” I asked Senior Rizal after I approached him after the initiation was over.

“Ah, Jane. Of course...” We moved away from the other seniors. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry, but I smell something suspicious.” I told him, half whispering.

.....

“Suspicious?” He frowned and looked at me with confused face.

“To be honest, I am confused. Why am I feeling like all the seniors are treating me really good? While the others were getting a hard time, I got spoiled by all the seniors. I don’t like the negative response they gave to me. I feel like I’m being isolated.” I said to him.

He didn’t say anything. It was as if he really was hiding something. But, what was it?

“Look, all of us, the seniors, was visited by Senior Tom in our dreams before the initiation.” Senior Rizal said slowly. My eyes started widening as I heard Tom’s name was mentioned. “He asked us to treat you well, not to harm you, to keep you safe. That’s why we treated you different. We all owed something to him, that’s why, we...” He didn’t continue his explanation, but I didn’t need to ask him the rest of the story. I could get the rest of the story.

“So, you want to pay him by doing this?” I unconsciously glared at him.

“No, it’s not like that. But, we all respect him.” He said hastily.

I didn’t say anything anymore. It was useless and wasting time to try to talk to them. I thought they were all afraid of him as a ghost more than their respect to him.

Just wait you, Tom. I’ll be home right away!

...

“I’m home...” I kicked my shoes off as I walked into my room in hurry. “Senior Tom...” Yes, I called him ‘Senior’ since calling him as ‘senior’ was just my way to mock him or to show my displeasure.

Tom appeared with smile on his face. He still looked good-looking and everything, but no, now was not the time to admire his face.

“You’re back...” He greeted me. “What will you bring for tomorrow?” He asked innocently without any suspicions to me.

“Senior...” I called him, this time I put on my upset face as I stood in front of him.

He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Why did you ask my seniors to treat me better?” I couldn’t hide the annoyance in my voice.

“What do you mean?” He sounded confused by my question.

“You are the one who asked them to treat me well, right? Don’t you know what have you done to me? I don’t have any friend. Huh!” I let out all my stress to him.

“Fine. If you don’t want it, I’ll tell them to stop.” He spat, sounded hurt and upset with my outburst.

After that, we didn’t talk at all. I was still upset and he had gone. But, what he said was true. On the last day, I really became their dessert. It was like all their stress for being nice to me for five days was finally unleashed. I got the most attention and this time, it was not a good treatment.

I must admit I was really tired. I was covered in mud; smelly and dirty. I was upset! But, I couldn’t protest it any longer. Tom really did what he said. He even was there to mock me and annoyed me more.

“You’re the one who asked for it.” He said calmly as we walked home. I glared at him.

“Yeah, thank you. Happy now?” I replied in sarcastic tone. “Look! I hit a stone.” I pointed out my leg which covered in mud.

“Lie!” He said quickly.

I pouted and walked again. When I got to my dorm, I quickly got into the second floor after I promised them to clean the floor. I didn’t waste my time and went straight away to the bathroom. After cleaning myself, I lied on my bed, wearing my warmest pajamas. I felt my body temperature slowly raised. My eyelids started to feel heavy. I forced myself to get up and went downstairs to clean up the mud I caused. After that, I had dinner -just a little bit because I didn’t have any appetite and then I went back to bed. It didn’t take too long before I finally fell asleep.