Our 30 Minute Sessions Novels & Stories

“Eh, bukan.... tiga kali.” “Tiga kali tiap tiap berapa lama?” “Seminggu lah.” “Sekali main berapa lama?”

Karena memang mereka sudah jago berbicara menggunakan bahasa inggris. Pembelajaran akan dimulai hari sabtu dan minggu. Hanya dilakukan dua kali pertemuan dalam satu minggu. Dengan durasi selama dua jam. Satu jam pertama pembelajaran, kemudian istirahat dan dilanjut lagi dengan pembelajaran. Selama tiga bulan.

“Ngobrol bae. Kalau konsul nanti saya charge biaya konsultasi.” Aku sadar, satu sesi pertemuan dengan dokter ini, minimal aku perlu merogoh kocek tujuh ratus ribu. “Tapi saya serius, Buk.” “Saya juga serius. Ngomonglah. Kek sama siapa bae.” Sesaat aku terdiam. Menatapnya sambil menyakinkan diri sendiri. “Ibuk ngajar jam berapa?” Dia menilik ponsel yang dipegangnya. “Satu jam lagi.”

I am definitely losing control of this session. " Mr Thorn, I do not know you. I cannot make such a judgment, but I am here to know your side of things. What do you think made your parents call me to come here " he frowns, " How the hell am I supposed to know what goes on in their heads. " This is going to be a long hour. I check my time it reads 07h30. " Okay Mr Thorn our session is beginning it will be for one hour, since it's 07h30 we will be finishing at 08h30. " I tell him. And avoid his eyes, his still gawking at me.

I always thought she was a patient one. “You think you are a smart ass. Ain’t you?” I chuckle. I love when she swears and shows her real character sometimes. I wonder if she swears in front of other students, too. I understand her frustration. Usually, sessions are supposed to last 15 minutes. It’s a freaking school, not some professional therapy clinic, for God’s sake. But we both are stuck with each other for 45 minutes every day. As if my coach and this counselor could power through my life towards a better good with these stupid sessions.

At four-fifteen the five of them go in. I know this because the group chat goes quiet, which is its own kind of signal. Phones put away. Full attention in the room. I get up and go to the kitchen. I make tea. Dominic is behind me. He puts the kettle on because he got there first then hovers around my face to give me a light morning kiss on the forehead. We stand in the kitchen in the four in the morning dark and we wait. The session lasts three hours. I know this in pieces, through texts between formal segments when phones are briefly permitted, through Margot who sends single words with the efficiency of someone who understands I need information and doesn't want to waste time on delivery.

"How long do we go?" "I set each 'turn' to last three minutes. If somebody has a climax or gets her off they can finish what they are doing then slap the timer, which resets it. This is a series of wind sprints, if we go longer than three minutes we will slow down at the end, but, a shorter period will not get us going."