A Score

In the dark morning, there was a girl named Vlora Ghasanni Blade, commonly called Vlora or Vlo. Vlora was still sound asleep in her bed. 

Kring

Kring 

Kring

An alarm sound disturbed Vlora's peace. Vlora woke up from her bed. She got ready for school.

Vlora is currently in grade 12. She attends SMAN 28 Jakarta. She is a member of the arts section. And she is currently busy organizing a big event which is the last agenda during her time as a student council member. 

Vlora is the only child of Robert Delwyn Blade and Kirania Shakila Fahima. Vlora's mother and father have been divorced since 8 years ago, currently living with her mother. 

"Vlora... it took you so long" Vlora's mother's voice called out, Vlora hurriedly grabbed her bag.

A woman was sitting waiting for Vlora to have breakfast, and Vlora quickly approached her mother. They ate their breakfast in silence.

"Remember your score has to be above 90 and you can't go down and you can't date, do you understand?" said the mother.  

"Oh yes, you also stop that student council activity, whatever it is, it will only lower your grades," added the mother.

Vlora let out a rough breath. "Yes, Mom..."

After breakfast, they were ready to leave. 

Ting-tong

The house bell rang. Vlora and her mother came out of the house.

"Eh... Melanie, be careful on the busway. Vlo, remember what mom said earlier!" Her mother ordered. Kirania left for work in her car. 

Vlora and Melanie also took the busway. 

A few minutes later they arrived at the bus stop near the school.

"Vlo, you'll go home by yourself! I want to play with my other friends." Melanie said.

Vlora nodded her head and separated from Melanie from the school gate. Because they were in different classes. Vlora walked alone to her class. 

Vlora was a quiet child. During her almost three years as a high school student, she didn't have many friends including her classmates. She was a child who always felt inferior. She felt that no one wanted to be friends with her because she was fat and not pretty. It was her mother and Melanie who said that. Those words also made her feel inferior to herself.

Arriving in class, she put down her bag and went straight to the field to see how the school art event was progressing. She also saw Andrew, the student council president, Lisa, the vice president of the student council, and others who took care of the art event. Vlora immediately took care of part of the event activities.

The school bell rang at 7:30 am.

The students immediately flocked to their respective classes including Vlora too. When Vlora entered her class, she sat down and took out a book on her desk. The teacher came in and started her lesson.

The break bell rang. The teachers came out of their classrooms.

Vlora quickly tidied up the school supplies on her desk and put some of her books in the locker outside the classroom. As she was about to enter some of her books, she noticed chocolates and a letter for her. 

I am a stalker and I am your secret admirer. 

AHA

The words were written on the paper. Vlora felt confused about this and chose to ignore it.

And immediately went to the student council room to check some documents for the art event.

While checking to make sure nothing was missing. She immediately reported the documents to Andrew regarding the event.

While giving the documents, "Andrew, here are the documents for the art event. Please check if there is anything missing!"

"Okay, just a moment." Andrew said.

A few minutes later, Andrew gave the documents back to Vlora. 

"Oh yes, later in the second break, please share the activities with the head of each art extracurricular activity," said Andrew.

Vlora nodded her head. And immediately left the student council room to go to her class. And entered the class for the next lesson after the first break bell was over.

The second break bell rang.

Vlora hurriedly packed her books into her bag and brought the documents for her art event. 

First of all, she would give the documents to the extracurricular dance leader first. Arriving at the extracurricular dance room, she saw Melanie who looked familiar with her friends. Vlora felt jealous because Melanie was rarely close to her when she was in the school environment. However, Vlora shook off those feelings and immediately gave the documents to the dance leader. And immediately left the extracurricular room, then gave the activity documents to the next extracurricular. After a while, there was only the band extracurricular that had not yet been given.

Vlora hurried to the band room because the second break bell was about to expire. When she got there, she gave the document to the band leader Aleen, the drummer. She saw only Aleen and the guitarist, Aidan. She gave a smile to both of them after Vlora gave her the document and left the room.

Vlora rushed to her class for the next lesson after the second bell rang. Upon entering the classroom, she noticed a carton of milk and a piece of paper. Vlora asked her neighbor if it was hers. Her friend nodded. Vlora read the paper while drinking the milk.

You look tired while delivering documents. I hope you get excited again while drinking this carton of milk.

AHA

Vlora frowned at the paper. She began to wonder who this secret admirer was. Looking at the initials on the paper, Vlora was sure that the initials couldn't have come from her classmates. Because there was no one with those initials.

The school day was coming to an end. Vlora hurried to tidy up the things on the table and immediately went to the field to help tidy up the stage, chairs, and others because in 2 days the event would begin.

After Vlora tidied up everything she immediately prepared to go home, because it was getting late.

Vlora walked to the bus stop near her school. When the busway came she immediately looked for an empty seat to sit on. When she sat down, she saw a guy sitting next to the seat Vlora was sitting on. The guy was wearing a hoodie and a hat on his head. Vlora couldn't see his face because he was wearing a hoodie on his head. Then, Vlora ignored him. At the next stop, the boy got out of the busway and went down to the bus stop. While the busway was running, Vlora saw a box of milk with a piece of paper. After realizing this, Vlora rushed to see the boy at the window but he was nowhere to be seen. Vlora read and drank the milk box.

Keep the spirit, dear

AHA

Vlora began to think that the boy might be from the same batch as her. She also believed that he might be from one of the extracurriculars that she went to when she gave the documents.

Arriving home, Vlora saw her mother in the living room. She was about to enter her room. 

"You, when you come home at this hour, when do you study?" Her mother said.

Vlora, who felt tired, immediately entered her room and chose to ignore her mother's words.

Vlora hurried to take a shower and put on her nightgown. After feeling refreshed after taking a shower, Vlora started thinking about the initials of the secret admirer's name. She immediately fell asleep while thinking about who the secret admirer guy was.

The next day, Vlora woke up and hurried to take a shower. And straight to the dining room she saw that her mother and Melanie were having breakfast. And immediately joined to eat his breakfast.

"Vlora, you have to be like Melanie. Even she, who is more tired, still got a 95 on her daily test, you can't get above 90. "Vlora's mother glanced at her daughter sarcastically.

Vlora looked at her mother annoyed. "I can do it, it's just the questions that are difficult, mom. These days, skills are more important than high grades. "

"Yes, that's why you set up more study time! You can't do that. Besides, skills are not enough. Grades are more important, you know. "

Vlora sighed harshly. "Yes, I've also learned from school, how can I add more study time, mom. I'm tired, mom. I study school all day too. Don't push me too much, mom."

"Bye, I'm leaving. Come on, Melanie, let's go." Vlora quickly stood up and left the house with Melanie.

"You should really divide your time properly, Vlora! All you do is take care of this and that." Melanie teased.

Vlora, who heard that, chose to listen to music through her headphones. And ignored Melanie's words.

Arriving at school Vlora went straight to class. And she saw a box of milk and a piece of paper.

Hey beautiful, I like you. Even though right now you don't know who I am. Believe me, only I can make your heart beat someday.

AHA

Vlora immediately smiled at the word beautiful. She immediately rushed to the field to make sure the stage for tomorrow's event was running smoothly.

The class bell rang.

Vlora immediately entered the classroom and sat in her seat. She tidied up to make sure that she remembered the material well. Because the first lesson will be a daily test. 

After the teacher entered, the test started immediately after the teacher gave the questions.

1 hour later. All students immediately collected their answer sheets. The teacher said that they were free to do anything as long as it was not noisy. Because the teacher immediately checked the answers of each student assisted by 2 students. 

A few moments later the teacher finished checking each student's answer. And immediately called him to take the results of student exam answers. When it was Vlora's turn, Vlora immediately approached the teacher and went back to her seat. When she was sitting in her seat. Vlora checked the results, it turned out that she got a score of 87. Which would make her mother nag her again.

It was time for school to end. Vlora who felt tired immediately rushed back home.

Arriving home, Vlora saw her mother waiting for her in the living room. And called Vlora.

"Mama, I heard you had a test today. Where are the results, give them to me!" Her mother said sarcastically.

Vlora who heard that felt tired. And immediately gave the answer.

Seeing the results given by the child. Kirania immediately nagged her that her score was not as high as she expected.

"You are, huh. I told you to increase your study time at home." Upset the mother.

Hearing this, Vlora immediately left her mother and entered her room. Vlora, who was tired, cried for a while. 

After feeling better, she immediately took a shower to feel more refreshed. Then, Vlora who had just finished bathing felt thirsty and wanted to drink. She went straight to the kitchen. When she wanted to go to the kitchen she heard her mother on the phone with Melanie. And heard something surprising. 

"Thank you, Melanie. You already wanted to report on Vlora's activities today. And tell you that Vlora is having her daily test. I'd like to buy you something sometime because you've already bothered to help me," said her mother.

Hearing the conversation between her mother and Melanie made her feel disappointed with Melanie. 

The next day, Vlora rushed out of bed. And left early because of the art event. Besides leaving early for the event, Vlora avoided her mother and Melanie. Melanie went straight to the dining room and made bread for her to eat on the way. 

Dan left his house in a hurry and headed for the busway. Once she was seated on the busway bench, Vlora ate her bread and looked out the window without paying attention to her surroundings. The busway arrived at the bus stop near the school. When she stood up from her seat, she saw two milk boxes and a piece of paper. 

Don't miss my band's performance, okay?

AHA

Vlora smiled and made sure she wouldn't miss her school band. Vlora immediately rushed out of the busway. Vlora immediately went to the field so that today's event would run smoothly without a hitch.

Before she knew it, the event was about to begin. Vlora immediately headed to the stage to see her secret admirer.

As the performance was about to begin she saw one of the band's boys staring at her. And gave her a smile.

Vlora who realized it, "Oh! It turns out that the secret admirer is him." Vlora smiled at the boy. She watched the band's performance until it was over. 

Vlora left the stage to walk around and make sure the event was running smoothly. After she checked everything was running smoothly Vlora returned to the stage to watch another performance.

While watching the performance, she felt someone approaching her. And seeing who it was, Vlora smiled when it turned out to be her secret admirer. The guy gave her bread and a carton of milk.

"Don't push yourself too hard! If you're tired, rest first. Later watch my band's performance again, at the closing." Aidan said while gently rubbing her head. Then, he left Vlora.

Vlora smiled mischievously at that.

There were only two performances left to end the art event.

Vlora saw Melanie's dance performance and felt sad and disappointed with her actions yesterday. She began to want to keep her distance from Melanie.

When the dance performance was over, finally the band's performance as well as the closing of the art event.

The art event went smoothly with a very lively closing.

Vlora, who still had to clean up the art event, forgot to tell her mother that she would be going home at night.

Arriving home, her mother was waiting at the door with a very angry face. Vlora, who realized the mistake of coming home at night, felt guilty and immediately apologized. However, she was shocked by her mother's actions.

Plak

Plak

Vlora was slapped twice on her cheek, leaving a red mark. Vlora was speechless.

"What kind of child do you want to be? Hah, you're crazy to come home at night. Melanie said you were invited to go home together but you refused. Because you wanted to stay out late. If you want to go home late, at least your test scores should be good like Melanie's yesterday." Said the mother angrily.

Hearing this, Vlora was disappointed with the lies told by Melanie. And sad when the mother still compared grades with Melanie and trusted her friend rather than without hearing her explanation. 

"If you can't stay with mom, tell me. Nih mama, stayin clothes, school uniforms, books, and other items that you need I have tidied up. Wherever you want to live, I don't care. So, stay in this house NOW!!!" 

"Raising a child, why don't you thank me. Where is my high expectations of him. Even yesterday's grades weren't as good as Melanie's." Added the mother.

Vlora was hurt by her mother's words. And did not expect the mother to kick her out without listening to her explanation.

Vlora left her mother's house and went to a quiet park because it was midnight. She cried and tried to call her father who was in Bandung. 2 times the phone did not pick up. The father finally picked up the phone three times.

She told her father what happened to Vlora that day. Without realizing it, Vlora was being watched by someone.

The person tapped her on the shoulder and Vlora saw who tapped her on the phone. It turned out that the person who tapped her on the shoulder was Aidan.

Vlora, who was still on the phone with her father, introduced herself that she was an acquaintance from school. Vlora also told him that she was going to Bandung by train. However, her father didn't allow her because it was already midnight. He asked her to leave in the morning, and told her to stay in a hotel for the day. 

But Vlora, who still needed support, asked to leave at midnight.

Aidan, who heard about Vlora's situation, intended to help Vlora drive to Bandung by car and of course with the permission of Vlora's father. Vlora's father who heard this was very grateful and asked for the phone to be transferred to a video call without turning off the connection to make sure Vlora was okay with Aidan.

Vlora took Aidan to the car and carried the luggage to the trunk. Vlora, who felt tired, slept in Aidan's car. He leaned his cellphone in front of the car dashboard and made sure his cellphone did not fall and his father's connection was cut off.

It didn't feel like the dawn call to prayer was echoing in one of the cities in Bandung. Vlora and Aidan arrived at Vlora's father's residence.

Vlora and Vlora's father were very grateful for the help they got from the boy. Vlora's father invited the boy to rest first and have breakfast so that he would be fit when he returned to Jakarta.

Aidan agreed and asked for permission.

In the afternoon, the boy returned to Jakarta.

Vlora's father also contacted Vlora's mother to fix the problem.

Vlora heard that her father was angry with her mother. And told her mother to apologize. However, Vlora chose not to continue listening to the phone call between her father and mother.

Vlora had already asked permission to go to school for 2 days. 

2 days later her mother came to Bandung to apologize to Vlora. And would listen to an explanation from her. After listening, Vlora's mother apologized many times for trusting Melaine more than her own child. She also promised not to compare Vlora's grades with Melaine's and would not insist on getting high grades. 

After her mother's visit to Bandung. Kirana will release Vlora as long as she graduates high school in Jakarta, after which she can stay with her father.