[memory] What: Memory Will characters be viewing the memory or experiencing it?: Experiencing it Warning, this memory contains: Nothing bad
You have your head down, buried against your arms. An earbud is hidden from sight. Kings of Leon sing in your ear but you can still hear the lecture around you. You know it is close to an end. You've timed this. Only twenty minutes before, you went through the motions, giving a performance of 'falling' asleep in the chair. You know the Professor will be annoyed. It's worth the risk for what comes next.
'Sex on Fire' starts up. Chairs scrape back. You can tell class is over. Others are leaving. A hand comes down, resting on your shoulder. There's a shake and a voice. "Hey, class is over," is the concerned voice. You fake a grunt, jerking your shoulder, giving the illusion of deep sleep. The would-be do-gooder doesn't persist and you can hear their footsteps walking away.
Other students shuffle in as the prior class leaves. It is all going as planned. You just need a few minutes, just a few minutes, with a plausible alibi. The hope fills you. You know this could go sideways. The next Professor could notice and could force you up and out. That would derail the plan. You hope they don't give a damn and ignore your presence. You just need a few minutes.
Footsteps begin to dissipate. You know twenty or so students are all around you now. You nuzzle against your arm to purposefully push the earbud out of the way. Any second now and they'll have to start, won't they? Any second...
"Selamat tengah hari," you hear and you smirk wide against your arm. This was what you were waiting for. And those initial words bare no meaning for you but that's not the point. You wait. The Professor doesn't stick to the language past the greeting, instead beginning to speak in English, reminding the class of the intent to read translated passages. Excitement fills you to the point where you are almost impatient. 'Come on, come on,' cycles through your mind and you resist the urge to bounce your knee up and down, the bad habit you have of doing when you are eager. The Professor clears his throat and begins reading.
All you can think is simply, 'yes,' as the smile grows against your arms.
"Tiga sekawan bergandeng tangan, Penguasa darat dan lautan, Menari berputaran dalam lingkaran."
It sounds unknown to you but with each new syllable, you begin to process it more. The words still sound the same but an understanding is growing. You recognize now the reference to sisters and to magic and your memories of prior literature courses kick in to remind you of Macbeth. You grin widely, like a you just won a prize. You keep listening. "Stop! The magic circle’s done now."
You know now it is enough.
You take a breath. You shift, faking a dazed expression. The lecture grinds to a halt. You spot annoyed eyes on you from the front. You pretend to cringe, raise a hand in apology, "Sorry, sorry," is repeated as you shift to snatch your bag, slinging it around your shoulder. You snatch your iPod in your fist. You stand and feign embarrassment, shielding the side of your face with your free hand. Soon you are out the door.
And once it shuts, you bolt for the stairs, yanking that door open. In the stairwell, both hands thrust into the air, and you holler at your achievement. With it out your system, you burst for the exit, emerging out into the sunlit day to rush back to your dorm.