Vio... Do you want to join Marching? There is an Open Recruitment for additional Marching members for this August 17th celebration. They said there is a shortage of members for pianica players. Maybe you want to join Marching again," asked Gita while they were sitting at the Bebek Garang intersection, waiting for her other friends. The atmosphere that afternoon was quite warm, with the sky starting to turn yellow and the sound of traffic occasionally interrupting their conversation. 
Gita is currently in class 2.A. For swimming sports lessons, classes 2.A, 2.B, and 2.C are indeed combined by their teachers. Therefore, Viona and Gita still often meet even though they are no longer in the same class as last year. 
"Okay, when is the registration until? Does the practice mean after school?" asked Viona while playing with the ends of her shoelaces. There was a little doubt in her tone, although her heart was actually starting to be interested, not only because of the Marching activity itself, but because there was something else that motivated her. 
"If you want, just join the practice tomorrow after school. Btw, are you in the same class as Hilda? "How does it feel to be in the same class as someone who once broke your heart?" Gita teased while gently elbowing Viona's arm. Gita knew almost everything about Viona's heartache, including about Dewa, whom Viona had once admired so much before finally turning to Hilda.
Viona shrugged and exhaled roughly. "I don't know, it feels weird, now she's sitting right behind me again. Actually, many people don't like her entering class 2.C, but what can you do," she said flatly. Her eyes didn't look at Gita, as if she was holding back many things that she didn't have time to say. 
"But so far she's been good, Git. Not like what people have told me all this time. But it's still weird... it feels like there's a barrier between me and Hilda. Stupid, huh, just because of a God I became like this," Viona added again, her eyes gazing far away, as if trying to chase away the old shadows that were still secretly haunting her. 
"Yeah, it makes sense, Vi. I heard Hilda was supposed to stay in the same class. That's why she didn't come since the first day of school, but a week after we started school she just showed up," said Gita trying to calm her down. 
Viona just nodded slowly, but in her heart, she knew, the wound hadn't really healed. Moreover, she was still secretly waiting for coincidental moments in the classroom hallway or library, where she might meet Dewa—although she would never admit it. She was too proud to look like she still had feelings.
"I heard Hilda wants to move, Git. She said she wants to follow her parents to move out of town," Viona continued quietly, as if only for herself. There was a faint note of loss in her voice.
A few minutes later, the Bebek Garang intersection began to be crowded with Viona's school friends. Among the crowd, Lina, Hilda, and Rini were seen joining in. They all then walked together, crossed the red light, then got on the bus to the location that had been determined by the gym teacher. 
Viona walked side by side with Gita and Lina. Every now and then she stole a glance at Hilda who was walking a little ahead. Her heart was still filled with question marks, even though she knew, there was no point in continuing to remember the past. 
Not wanting to get carried away by her feelings, Viona decided to divert her attention. She turned to Lina. 
"Do you want to join the Marching, Na? Gita said there's an Open Recruitment for the August 17th parade tomorrow, she said," Viona asked with the intention of having friends to join the activity. But behind her offer, there was a personal mission that had not been completed. 
"What are the requirements?" Lina asked, now looking at Gita who was walking on Viona's left side. 
"Nothing, you just have to have a pianica. If you want to join, you can come straight to practice tomorrow after school," explained Gita.
"I will, Na..." Viona coaxed again, a little more insistent. She hoped that Lina would join, so that she would not be alone. But more than that, Viona knew that by joining the Marching practice, she would have a reason to stay longer at school. That way, maybe she could meet Dewa more often—even if only briefly, even if only from afar, and even though the gaze might not be the same anymore. 
Prestige and hurt made her silent, but the small hope in her had not died. 
Viona walked slowly among the noisy children fighting for seats on the bus. The afternoon wind brushed her face through the half-open window. She chose to sit on the left side, near the window, then leaned her head while looking at the sky that was now starting to turn orange. The sound of her friends' laughter could be heard faintly, but her heart was far away, wandering to the past that was still scratching silently. 
Her thoughts returned to Dewa. That name alone was enough to make her chest feel tight. It was still clear in her memory how she used to wait for recess just to be able to see that guy pass in front of the class. How her heart fluttered every time they accidentally crossed paths in the hallway, or when Dewa—with his flat voice that somehow sounded warm to her ears when he reprimanded her.
At that time, it felt like the world was supporting all the little scenarios that could bring them together. But all of that just stopped, without explanation, without closure. Dewa was suddenly seen more often with Hilda. The smile that used to be only for Viona now changed direction, and what was more painful, Dewa never really said goodbye to the feelings he had built up.
On the next bench, Gita was still busy chatting with Lina, discussing the Marching practice plan tomorrow. But Viona remained silent, lost in her own thoughts. Outside the window, the sun began to slowly descend, sinking behind the city buildings. Just like her hopes—slowly fading, but not completely dead.
Because even though her pride was still high, and the wound had not healed, Viona knew... she was not ready to truly let go.