Episode 3

A procession of cars and an ambulance escorted Julia to her final resting place.

"I can't accept this, there must be something wrong. It's impossible for our child to take her life without a reason!" exclaimed Ayu, seated beside her daughter's bier.

"Let me handle this matter, please calm down my dear. Think of our child," said Dimas.

The ambulance and the procession of family and friends' vehicles reached the cemetery.

Julia's casket was lowered and taken to the grave.

Tears accompanied the burial of Julia's body, Ayu, unable to bear seeing her daughter enter the grave, cried hysterically.

Dimas descended into the grave to solemnly offer prayers for his daughter for the last time.

Red soil was gradually filled into Julia's grave, flowers were scattered over the burial site, and the once lively Julia now slept peacefully in her own world.

Classmates and the class guardian Ms. Yasmin were also present to escort the bright student to her ultimate resting place.

Ms. Yasmi approached Ayu and Bagas with heavy steps.

"I am Julia's new class guardian, and I offer my deepest condolences for her passing. I knew Julia for a week; she was very polite and intelligent, although in the past few days she seemed unusually quiet and rarely spoke up," shared Ms. Yasmi about Julia's recent behavior at school.

"Yes, thank you Ms. Yasmi. Last night I called Mrs. Fitri, unaware she no longer was Julia's guardian. Indeed, Julia was a kind and smart child, but at home she was just as usual, so we, her parents, have no idea what really happened," replied Bagas.

"But it's unlike Julia to do something like this without something troubling her," Ayu suddenly cut in.

"I completely understand how you feel as Julia's parents, but in all my years of teaching and supervising students at Tunas Bangsa High School, never has such a case occurred. This is a wake-up call for the school. If this issue is magnified, the school's reputation might decline, and you both know that Tunas Bangsa is the best school around here. I'm just conveying the headmaster's message, hoping you understand," Ms. Yasmi relayed to Julia's parents what the headmaster had communicated.

"I do not appreciate your approach," Ayu snapped at Ms. Yasmi.

"Please, my love," Bagas gently consoled his wife, soothing her with a shoulder rub.

"Well then, Mr. Bagas, Mrs. Ayu, I must go; may you find the strength to get through this," said Ms. Yasmi as she departed from Julia's funeral.

Julia's classmates also began to leave.

"Uncle, auntie, we're going back to school now. We offer our deepest sympathies for Julia's passing," said Olivia.

"Yes, Via, Siska, Erin, and the rest, thank you for coming to Julia's funeral," Ayu replied, her eyes still brimming with tears.

"Uncle, auntie, we also wish to extend our condolences and now must leave," said Indra.

"Thank you, Indra, Kevin, and Roy," Bagas responded with a look of sadness.

Julia's classmates left the burial site to return to school.

Back in class, the rumor of Julia's death was the topic of heated discussion among all the students.

As Olivia, Erin, and Siska were walking into their classroom, they overheard other students talking about Julia.

"It's a pity about Julia. She was such a brilliant and accomplished student. It's tragic she did something like this," said a student discussing Julia.

Ignoring the comments, the trio walked into the classroom.

Olivia, on reaching her class, pulled Roy aside from his friends to speak privately outside the classroom.

"Hey Roy, what did you do to Julia that made her take her own life? Did you—did you assault her?" Olivia asked with urgency.

"I swear, I did no such thing to Julia," Roy insisted with conviction.

"What about Indra? And Kevin? Or anyone else?" Olivia pressed with a barrage of questions.

Roy called his friends over, and Olivia repeated her inquiries.

"Are you out of your mind, Via? Accusing me of that? I couldn't care less about a bookworm like her," Kevin defended himself.

"And you, Indra?" Olivia interrogated again.

"Ridiculous! Why would I do that? Siska, my girlfriend, means everything to me. What would she think if she heard these baseless allegations?" Indra was indignant at being questioned by Via.

"Well, I'm just puzzled. Once, I accidentally saw a pregnancy test in the bathroom right after Julia rushed out, crying. She saw me, quickly wiped her tears, and I found a used test on top of the toilet with two lines. I suspect that may have something to do with her decision," Via shared her suspicions about the circumstances surrounding Julia's death.

"What if Julia was pregnant? Who could be responsible?" Kevin speculated.

"I have no clue," Via admitted, confused.

Siska and Erin, noticing Via in serious discussion with the boys, approached them to find out what was happening.

"Hey, what's all this serious talk?" Siska inquired.

"We're just discussing Julia's death," said Indra casually.

"Let's not talk about it anymore, out of respect for Julia. Besides, there's this saying that before forty days pass, the soul still lingers in familiar places, and since Julia died by suicide, her spirit would roam," Erin chimed in superstitiously.

"Don't say weird things, Erin," Siska scolded, feeling frightened.

Minutes later, the school bell rang, signaling the end of break time, and everyone went back to class to continue with their lessons.

Hours passed, lessons concluded, and all students headed home.

***

The next day, Julia's death had hit the news, prompting the foundation's head to visit the school and convene a meeting with all the teachers and administrative staff.

"Look at this: 'Top student commits suicide at Tunas Bangsa.' I'm embarrassed to read this. I've built this school over many years without incident, and its reputation has been stellar. Now, because of this case, the name of the school is tarnished," Mr. Damar, the head of the foundation, complained, tossing a newspaper onto the meeting table.

"I apologize, sir. Perhaps this was an oversight on my part as the principal, but we will try to downplay this incident," the principal promised.

"I don't want excuses; I want results. You all must restore the school's good name. That is your duty and mission," Mr. Damar demanded sternly.

"Of course, sir," the staff collectively assured.

An hour passed, and the meeting ended. The teachers and staff resumed their duties, while Mr. Damar left the school grounds, his car disappearing into the distance.

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