words of vengeance

The afternoon was calm at a vocational high school on the edge of a quiet village. From the classroom window, green rice fields stretched endlessly, while the faint chirping of crickets competed with the rattling of an old ceiling fan. In Class 12, the atmosphere was livelier than usual. Laughter and chatter filled the air, especially around six friends who had been together since kindergarten. They sat close, forming a small circle that rarely broke apart. Imel, the pretty girl with a sweet smile, had a habit of flipping her hair whenever she spoke—something that often caught the attention of boys from other classes. Vanny, the tomboyish but brilliant one, always had a notebook in her hand. Her sharp tone often made her seem like the "big sister" of the group. Susi, the talkative rich kid, never came without extra snacks—snacks that her friends would happily raid. Rehan, the class president, was known for his cold and serious demeanor. Ironically, that only made him more popular with the girls. Darma, childish yet cheerful, always brought laughter to the group. He was often teased, but everyone knew his heart was pure. And then there was Rizky, the quietest of them all. He rarely spoke, but whenever he did, his words left an impression. Their laughter stopped when the classroom door creaked open. A teacher entered, carrying a stack of white envelopes. The room immediately fell silent. All eyes were fixed on what he held. Sitting at the front desk, the teacher tapped the envelopes before calling out, "Rehan, please distribute these to your classmates." Rehan stood, collected the stack, and began handing them out. Some students accepted with curiosity, others just placed them on their desks without care. When the last envelope was delivered, the teacher cleared his throat. "Inside the envelope is a letter for your parents. It's about a three-day, two-night camping trip on the mountain for your graduation event." The class erupted instantly. Cheers, whispers, and excited chatter filled the air. The teacher raised a hand, silencing them again. "Make sure your parents read it carefully and check the box—agree or disagree. All forms must be returned by Monday. This is important so the school can prepare transportation and equipment. Don't let anyone be left behind." His gaze swept across the room before he left, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. The class was left buzzing with talk about the upcoming trip. Imel clapped Susi's hand in excitement. "This will be our last trip together! I can't wait!" Vanny only gave a faint smile, staring out the window. "I just hope nothing strange happens. A mountain isn't exactly a playground." Her words made Rizky glance up, his expression distant, as if his thoughts were wandering far away. No one noticed the cold look in his eyes. Outside the classroom, the wind blew harder than before, making the curtains sway gently—almost as if something unseen was listening in on their plans. --- (To be continued in Chapter 2…)