In front of them stood a large building, many of them actually, but it looked dirty and covered with moss and graffiti.
Mr. Fani rolled down his car window, "This is the fate of schools here! It might be different from where you come from, but welcome to Srengseng High School!!"
"So this is a school? I've seen places like this in the forest before!" Aswa said.
"I have some business to attend to, so I have to go. Sorry I can't guide you!" Mr. Fani said.
He then pressed the gas pedal hard, making the tires screech loudly on the hot asphalt, while the car spun around releasing thick black smoke from the exhaust.
*SWOSHH*
"Here? The place of a king?" Arca walked closer to the school.
"Uhuk-uhuk... That guy can't be slow, huh?" Mondy said.
Aswa followed Arca and walked inside.
When Arca reached the gate, he saw a sign that read "Welcome to Hell!" He then stepped inside. But just as one of his feet was about to step on the ground—
"Stop!!" Someone stopped him.
It was a teenager wearing a school uniform but with a face painted like the Joker.
"How rude you are in someone else's place!"
That person stared sharply at Aswa, "I thought you were something else, but it turns out you're a beggar, huss huss, beggars aren't allowed here, can't you read?" He pointed to a plank that said "Beggars are prohibited!"
Arca instantly flared with anger. "Who are you calling a beggar?!!" Arca shouted.
They assumed Aswa was a beggar because of his clothes.
"Wait, I understand now!" He stepped closer to Arca. His hand was in his pocket, as if he was about to take something.
He then pulled out a pen, and—
"What the hell is this?! Damn you!" Arca shouted as the guy scribbled red marks on Arca's tank top with the pen.
"That's my signature!" said the boy proudly.
Arca roughly grabbed the boy's tank top. "You think I care?! Don't blame me if you die!"
The boy's friends behind him looked ready; their attitude turned aggressive.
"W-wait!!!" the boy suddenly yelled, trying to stop the situation. "Don't you know who I am? I'm Jemi Klooun, a rising star! HAHAHA!!" His laughter echoed, full of confidence although it sounded exaggerated.
Suddenly, his eyes caught something. "Hey, you there! What do you want to do?" Jemi looked toward a figure behind the fence.
It was Aswa trying to climb the fence. He looked indifferent even though Jemi caught him and just kept going.
"Hey...! Don't climb that fence, damn it!" Jemi shouted, trying to stop him.
But Aswa ignored it.
"It's haunted there, you know?! If you enter that way, you'll be cursed!"
Aswa paused for a moment, listening. But soon after, he continued climbing.
Jemi grew more panicked. "It's not just cursed—you'll be punished by the gods!!" He kept trying to stop him, but Aswa seemed unshaken.
Just as he was about to lose ideas, suddenly—
*BRUKKK!*
A stone flew from Jemi's direction and hit Aswa's head.
"Where did you get that stone?!" Arca was puzzled how Jemi could throw a stone while it was still in his hand.
Aswa then got down, frowning, rubbing his aching head. His innocent eyes looked around like a confused child.
"I told you, right? You'll be cursed by the gods!" said Jemi.
"What kind of god threw that sto—"
Jemi quickly covered Arca's mouth with his hand, then released his grip.
"Listen, if you want to enter someone's place, shouldn't you obey the rules?" Jemi said.
"What rules?" Mondy asked.
Jemi then smiled. *Clap-clap-clap.*
He clapped his hands, and a group of people appeared. They were dressed in sportswear like athletes—some wore headbands, others gloves.
"You have to win the game of life and life."
"Isn't it usually 'life and death'?" Arca said.
"We're in the Now era, and you still want to use old-fashioned terms?" Jemi replied.
"I think he's right, Arca. We live in the present age; how can you still use old language like that?" Mondy patted Arca's shoulder.
-TO BE CONTINUED-