The Forgotten Pier

By Jody Suryatna

Mark Viator is a traveller. He tends to travel -- a lot. A Lot. Whether it be to the little cookie shop at the end of his suburb, or a whole other parallel world where everything is at the same time alike and different. Not so much because he likes it, more so, because he wants to go away. He wanders, moving from world to world without any hope or dream for a better future. High school doesn't help with that fact either.
Then, like that lost little pencil for that homework you have to really do, hope finally finds Mark when he isn't looking for it, and like that same lost little pencil, he loses her again when he needs hope.
This is the story of Mark Viator and how he sought hope in the forgotten pier.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781304832474

Book preview

The Forgotten Pier

THE FORGOTTEN PIER

A novel by

Jody Suryatna

THE GREATEST MYSTERY OF ALL

Nothing but an ordinary morning in school; sitting down in my usual seat in front of class. It doesn't feel right; sure everything looks relatively normal to the naked eye. But I can feel something, something wrong about this place. I feel as if I don't really belong here. Only a single other group dominates this class. Early morning and nobody cares enough about their eyesight enough to turn on the lights. Only light's coming from the open blinds; so that's a plus, I guess? Woo! Nature, green, eco-friendly. Woo! The late winter snow is gliding around outside, It’s pretty...

Ha! Got you! Screams a little boy with bright green eyes. A fresh snowball rests in his hand. A boy in beanie is lying on the ground with snow caking his face.

I'll get you for that. He reveals his secret snowball and launches it at the other. His bright green eyes are now poking under a layer of snow. They laugh heartily. The beanie boy gets up and begins chasing around, both of them laughing all the way. I remember when I was still young and was carefree enough to be running around in the snow like that. I also remember my need for a warm bath afterwards just to thaw out the frozen ass I got from playing around in the snow. The nostalgia… Those were the days where I could just care less about anything in the world, when the only things important in life were sleep and food. I’m approaching high school now, a year just filled with work and hopes. A point of no return; high school.

Is it really about all of that stuff and things no one really cares about. The door swings open; two chatting girls discussing some matter I have no interest on. One of them a blonde with striking blue eyes; the other a cute redhead. Not my type though.

Not really. Her hand moves across the wall and a sharp blinding flash fills the entire room. The pain, the agony, the horror! I flop my head on the table; that little darkness left in the room. I could only see blotches for a while; weird blotches that look like Rorschach tests. School's begun, I suppose. The chatter grows louder, signalling the oncoming wave of students. Instead of the soothing darkness filled with mystery, I see a whiteboard on the same side of the wall as every single fucking class. Did I tell you there'd be cursing? I should probably tell you that there's cursing. Warning, this novel includes harsh languages and stupidity, reader's discretion is advised. The buzz of talking students engulfs the classroom. A chatter unconquerable by anything but the ringing bell. A tired looking figure walks by me and sits in his desk in front of everyone. No one else bother notice him come in.

Mark! John calls out from the other side of class waving me to his laptop. John Keener. He ruffles his shirt uncomfortably before smoothing it out again. His blue eyes never looking into anyone else's. He rubs his finger through his recently grown peach fuzz. My God, I could create an energy enterprise from the oil on his pale face. Nice enough guy though. That and the fact that he's smarter than everyone else in this room. But he can't speak for shit; his self-esteem is lower than anything I've ever seen. He's like an instant morale booster for everyone. Shy, timid, afraid. Wouldn't stand much in a fight. But he’ll always be that guy who your parents will keep bugging you to become; how do I know? My mom bugs me a lot. A Lot. Can you give me ideas for the letter? Looke here, the Great John finally asks for help. It’s the end of the world! Run for your life! Never expected to see this happening in my lifetime.

Just talk about how you feel about her. Besides, making letters are stupid in this day and age; just send her an email or just Skype her. It’s much easier. Short back-story; socially awkward friend asks for help from the school's poet to ask his crush out. Doesn't understand the beauty of the internet. Sad. What’s wrong with asking her out now anyway? If she says yes then that’s good, but if she says no at least she will appreciate what you’re doing. Such hypocrisy, ha ha ha. I hate myself for saying that, guy with no girlfriend because he's too scared to ask anyone out. That's me for you; a short - skinny teen with no hope of ever finding anything out there. I gave up hope quite some time ago. I'm just here trying to enjoy life. Then I look into his eyes, eyes filled with so much hope for that piece of paper in his hands. Maybe it wouldn't be as easy as I thought. Oh well.

But -- but what if she says no? Then what am I going to do? And what if can’t tell her? And -- and in Skype I have to add her and -- and -- and she’ll ask why and then I have to explain and lie to her and then do things I don’t want to do, so please ... Just help me finish this goddamn letter and then leave the rest to me ... This is going to take a while. Letter's are really stupid though, just a tip; want to ask someone out? Talk to her in person, so much more gentlemen - ly.

What have you written so far? Silence. Some scribbling. Puts the pencil back in his ear. Smiles.

Dear Olivia... Hesitating at his choice for words, John takes a deep breath. He looks around and finds Olivia in the back corner of the room. He begins murmuring those words under his breath. Olivia is quite decent in terms looks, I guess...Red long hair and a healthy skinny body. Nice eyes, really nice eyes. She's the only girl who can comfortably talk to John since I dragged him to play bowling with her during some random excursion so many years ago. Then a brilliant idea struck me. I began twisting my hands within each other; giggling to myself. This will most definitely work.

I’m sorry John, could you repeat that. My mind drifted for a bit.

Dear Olivia... He didn't like saying it more than once. His face flushed red and his voice even quieter than before. I couldn't help giggling at his misery.

Could you speak up just a bit more?

Mark! I know you heard it.

I seriously did not, so would you please... He's now rubbing his fingers on his oily forehead. Damn, he's stressed. Don't you want me to help?

Dear Olivia... Just a little louder this time. But it wasn’t good enough. I couldn’t just make him say it again since he knew I heard it; damn, I have to make him say something that would attract her attention. I wonder...

Okay...after that what? Even more silence.

Nothing... Oh, God that man's needs help. Why is it so annoying to have someone unable to do something you're really good at?

Maybe start with her name? I bluff.

How? By just saying Olivia? He rebuts.

Usually to help with writing I say something out loud. Somehow, it makes things easier when I say things aloud. Try it. Another bluff.

I don’t know... He wasn’t sure yet but I know and believe that love is a powerful enough force. As long as he wants it he'll get it. One final sigh, I knew right at that moment that this is going to be the one. Olivia.

Yes? Someone cries from the other corner of the room. All the colour then suddenly leaves his face. I couldn't help smiling on the outside, I can't help laughing on the inside. The way he said it was just so perfect. He looks at me with anger. You Bastard; he mouths. His look somewhere between punching me in the face or... punching me in the face. Note to self; buy-frozen meat. Olivia closing in on us. His body stiffens. I couldn't even nudge him to get closer. Olivia begins looking disappointed. John remains as still as a statue. Bloody Hell. I grab him and shove him towards Olivia. That at least worked.

Umm....... John reduced to a stuttering mess. Olivia; waiting patiently for his question. He turns back at me. Two Thumbs Up! He frowns. So uhh... His face much paler than usual. A twitch in his fingertips. He looks at me again. I just smile and laugh. People begin crowding in between John and Olivia, waiting for those magical words. Some of the girls cheer him on forward while most of the boys merely looked on waiting. Some ritual of growing up. I really envy him for not being hated by anyone. I have people who hate me. Would you um.... He's still struggling to find words, his mind deliberately browsing through his library of words. Trying to choose just the right ones. Umm... The great John famed for his counters and seemingly infinite knowledge, finally stumped by the greatest mystery of all. No mathematician will ever conquer the limitless possibilities, no genius can find the perfect word, and no artist can ever personify it into painting. Not even our most brilliant can seamlessly say it. Love is such a powerful and limitless idea and I know it will someday conquer the mightiest of cataclysms. If the world ends, love will live on. I still believe that. I couldn't help smiling at its beauty. A little tinge of hope brought from beneath my depths. I look away from my own pain.

Would you like to go out with me? Asks dear Olivia to the stuttering and helpless John. I completely forgot about her being there. Should've been easier to convince her than him. He simply nods back; awestruck by his incredible luck. Then the crowd goes wild! The boys are now patting John at the back as he had successfully pass that ritual. Some of them is even howling in delight. The girls are also cheering on for their friend. John and Olivia immediately held each other's hands and snuggled right beside each other. John still looks as stiff as ever. Olivia is just laughing with her friends and holding him tightly. They are perfect for each other; I merely clap on with the rest of the crowd.

Alright I think that’s enough everyone, now go back to your seats. Whoa, forgot he's even here. He smiles and takes charge of the class after that brief session. I settle back down in my seat. Then a different kind of pain shot through me; not the pain of forgotten hope. But of physical pain that is coming from my head. Everything around me freezes in a single point in time. People smiling around me, people in mid laughter, people in mid snore. For a moment, I'm in a different world; a world where things never were or never will. A world so different. Then the world resumes around me; I blame that on my sleep-deprived head. I couldn’t blame it. I barely could keep my thoughts together in this first session. My brain is lagging like hell to understand every single word on the board. The PowerPoint's all fuzz and pointless guff in my eyes. The bags under my eyes growing heavier every second I hear him talk. Every once and a while; my eye closes and I'm at bliss. A peaceful bliss that's shaken apart by my teacher talking. Sometimes I hate sitting in the front.

⊕      ⊕      ⊕

Thank God the session ended quicker than what I thought. We all simultaneously pack our bags before being escorted out by our teacher. Our class is huddling together in a singular group. A band of misfits and perfect fits walking towards our large assembly hall in the floor above us. I've never had much regard for the style of our school. Three rather short towers connected together by floors upon floors of hallways. To its left is a small playground that I saw the children playing in. To its right a small forgotten garden surrounded by fences. The entirety of the tower designed and coloured in some unremarkable way. Just like this hall. I've always wanted the hall to be imposing and awe-inspiring every time a guest comes here. It just looks like a plain and boring gym with our school banners draped from the sides. Shameless self-promotion I believe. The doors swing open for our class and the groups began to separate, pushing and weaving their way to sit friends. I try to find an empty area, hopefully far away from everyone else. But all those little nooks and crannies were taken. Guess I just have to sit next to the new couple. I sit with them like usual, but everything feels so much more awkward now. Time's change and people move on. I feel sorry for the people stuck between the movements; namely, me.

Good Morning Students! I hated the way she said that. I could almost hear the lies whistling in between her teeth.

Good Morning! Replies the entire grade in a unanimous bored tone. Despite annoyingly creepy smile, I believe she's a nice enough person. Though I don't have the right to judge, considering I have never been under her supervision for anything before. But right now, she is nothing more than a woman with short-straight blonde hair with a relatively average height with splashes of horribly done make up on her face. Her blazer did the job to hide most of her weight. But skirt spilled it all over. The older they get the younger they try to look. I'm disturbed now… Welcome everyone to another semester in the school year. She waits for the cheers that would never come. Alright then, well we really have nothing to say to you today but just to announce a few things. Some chatter slowly built up from the back, she is not pleased. For brief second her eyes rolls and I could see a brief glimpse of humanity. She almost seemed like one of us; thinking about the stupidity of this assembly, then it disappeared behind that ridiculously creepy smile. Why is her lips so thin!? Well, so the first announcement is just to say how prom is coming soon. The crowd cheers and shouts. She almost jumped a little. I smile. I’m glad that you’re all excited but just remember to support the club that made it be. I stop smiling right here and there. I turn around and see some smug looking men and women trying to look humble in all the attention they're getting for planning the thing. The prefects are nothing but corrupt and useless people; they're just principal’s right hand. They used to be the voice of the people; an organization based on creating events that benefits the school; it then came into a hiatus without much info about what they were doing. The students waited anxiously for any announcement to the hope they promised us. The principal then became a supervisor of the club. Everything went downhill from that. They were all brainwashed; the president of the prefects was the first to change. Then the other members followed suit, disillusioned by the lies fed to them. Some made it out in time; other's were changed completely. We never got our events. We may even never get it. And the other announcement is just something we’ll do to introduce the new students. More crap; this session's dragging on for hours. I had Maths before this!

So let’s introduce them, there aren’t many but let’s get going anyway! Our first student is Daniel Acres! A cheer of applause came from the prefect group. A prefect stood up looking as smug and as lazy as the other ones. Trying to look neat with shirt and ties. But it failing miserably as he obviously did not know how to use a tie and asked his mom to do it. His shirt’s barely tucked in properly, with bits sticking out here and there.

Bastard. John whispers.

Couldn't agree with you more. Amazing what you can get into if, you know the principal; it was hard enough for the most promising people to get into the club, let alone this new kid.

Thank you, thank you everyone. His voice was deep and scruffy in a sort of late puberty way; nearly there but not quite yet. His voice reminded me of Scooby Doo for some reason. He likes to squint his eyes when talking in front of the audience, wonder what he's trying to see. His face just wasn't oily enough as he rubbed his sweaty palms all across his shirt. A plump kid with as much grace and poise as a Peking Duck trying to fly. I have a feeling I won't like him one bit. I can't imagine the honour I have for being accepted into this prestigious school. I also never expected that I'd be invited into the greatest club in the school; the Leaders Club who will continue to strive for a better future for this school. A school where students and teachers wi--. Bullshit! Sorry, I couldn't stand anymore of it. It's not that I don’t like the school; it’s just that everything he is saying is not by heart. It’s all being said by the lies fed into his little brain. I didn’t bother clapping after he went off the podium. He didn't deserve it. About two more people went in the podium after him, the first one to come up after him was another boy named Hale Withers; someone I believe to be dead with his tall stature, very thick and oily black hair and extremely gaunt face that reflected the deep monotone voice that kept looping throughout his welcome speech. I wait for an organ to play a funeral song in the distance. It could’ve very well been one for most of us. Julie Pound came up next after the zombie. The pound thing could've been her weight; my god she's skinny. Then again, the pound thing could also be the amount of make up she has on her face. Why do people think that a diet of a grain of rice and makeup makes you look pretty? I look at her and scream in my head; EAT WOMAN! I wait for the day she eats a pea and collapses from being too full. I reaaallly wait. Her squeaky prideful voice didn't really add anything good to the package either. She just sounds like an attention whore who feeds off the attention of men around her. My heart goes to the dumb and foolish members of our grade that immediately fell in love with her. I’m sorry; lust for her and considering what many are doing at this stage in their life I think I can appropriately call it that. Worst part is; she could've been pretty. The thick layer of foundation covers