The green public minivan, number 01, traveling from Baranangsiang to Ciawi, shook gently as it passed over the potholes. It was a gloomy afternoon in Bogor—the sky was gray, the air humid, and the windows covered in a thin layer of dew, a sign of impending rain. Dina sat calmly with Icha and Nia, her shoulder bag cradled in her lap, while the damp breeze from the minivan window gently brushed against her face.
"Gosh, my legs are so sore," Icha complained, patting her calf. "It's all because of Nia, forcing us to go around to the pirated CD kiosk. Are you still playing CDs, Ni?"
Nia smiled slightly. "No, I want to transfer the songs to my MP3 player and phone. The CDs are really cheap, you know? Only seven thousand rupiah."
"Yeah, it's cheap. It's pirated. If the original is valued that much, then that's great," Icha replied, rolling her eyes.
Dina didn't comment, just staring out the window. Outside, a row of trees swayed gently in the afternoon breeze. The minivan passed a small park where children were playing tag. She stared at them for a moment, then sighed.
"Din, why have you been so quiet?" Icha asked suddenly. "What are you thinking about? Don't tell me you're thinking about Ando."
Dina snorted softly. "That's nonsense. I'm just sleepy, Cha. I was already going to bed when you called."
"You're lying," Nia said mischievously. "Admit it, when you saw Ando with his girlfriend at the restaurant, you were jealous, weren't you?"
Dina immediately turned her head quickly. "No way! You're just making things up!"
Icha laughed, then leaned forward slightly, whispering gossipily. "But seriously, Ando's girlfriend doesn't seem happy, does she?"
Nia chimed in, looking serious. "Yeah. Is that a face or a math test?"
The three of them laughed.
"You guys don't have anything else to do, do you? You're always running other people's lives," Dina commented through the remaining laughter.
"But seriously, Din," Icha said, still laughing. "Clara seemed really annoyed earlier. Didn't you see? When Ando spoke, she pouted."
"Yeah, maybe she's just tired," Dina replied nonchalantly. But her heart? Oh my, it definitely wasn't. She clearly remembered Clara's expression at the restaurant earlier—her cold gaze, her half-hearted smile. And for some reason, the most selfish part of her was happy to see that.
"I don't know what Ando sees in Clara. She's pretty, but that's it," Nia said.
"Really. She's so princessy. Is she Syahrini?" Icha teased. Nia and Dina laughed again. "Have I told you? On Wednesday, I saw her ordering her friend to line up to buy dumplings in the cafeteria, while she sat gossiping with her other friends."
Dina started to get interested. "Are you serious?"
"Really. I heard her talking to her friend. Her tone was sweet and spoiled. 'Please, Dis,' like that," Icha imitated. "But her legs and arms are healthy. Why ask someone else to buy them? Just buy them yourself."
"Ewww, so spoiled, seriously," Nia said in disgust. "Our friend is better, right, Cha?" Nia teased, waggling her eyebrows at Dina.
Dina pointed at her friend softly. "Why are you bringing me in?"
Nia groaned before continuing. "Not as beautiful as Clara, but pretty enough. Smart, and kind. Especially when it comes to paying for our transportation."
Icha immediately jumped in. "Absolutely." She waggled her eyebrows like Nia had.
Dina shook her head at her friends' antics. "Okay, okay. Full service for you guys."
The two of them cheered and exchanged high-fives.
The minivan stopped briefly at a red light. A busker got on and sang Kuburan Band's "Lupa-lupa Ingat," which, unfortunately, was actually sung with a bit forgetfully. After the passenger give him money, the busker immediately got off the minivan.
The three of them laughed again.
"That little one really got into it. He even forgot the lyrics," Icha joked.
Dina sighed. "But poor thing. Still young and already struggling to make a living."
"Yeah," Nia replied, feeling sorry for him.
They were silent for a moment, each preoccupied with her own thoughts.
Dina glanced out the window again, staring at the still-overcast sky. Behind the laughter and chatter of her friends, she knew her heart still wasn't completely at ease every time Ando's name was mentioned.
But as usual, she chose to pretend not to care.
Only a fool would smile when someone else's guy's name was mentioned, she thought. And I was the fool.