🌤️ The Awkward Morning
Now Ratna was confused. Deep down, she liked Rey, but she was truly disappointed and felt insulted because Rey only wanted to be her friend out of pity. She didn't feel there was anything strange about herself. True, she wasn't as appealing as the other kids, but she didn't feel the need to be pitied.
—
The air that morning felt damp, the remnants of the night's rain still clinging to the leaves of the large trees in the schoolyard.
Ratna walked slowly across the schoolyard, her bag slung across her back. The head bowed, she walked leisurely. The empty Yakult bottle was still in her bag pocket; she hadn't had the heart to throw it away yet for some reason.
A few students had started to arrive, some joking, others rushing.
From another direction, Rey walked out of his class. As soon as he saw Ratna, his pace immediately slowed.
His heart beat a little faster.
"Now," he whispered to himself.
"Now I have to apologize."
He swallowed, trying to manage a normal smile. But for some reason, every time he saw Ratna, his tongue always felt tied.
"Morning," he greeted softly.
Ratna paused, then slowly turned her head.
"Morning."
Her voice was calm, but flat—like someone trying to be polite, not intimate.
Rey wanted to say more, but before he could, another voice cut in.
"Well, well… the two most diligent people are here first."
Harold appeared, slinging his bag over his shoulder, his smile wide as usual. But his gaze wasn't on Rey—it was on Ratna.
"Ratna, have you eaten breakfast yet? Don't just read books, you'll get gastritis later," he said lightly.
His tone sounded like a joke, but in Ratna's ear, it sounded strange.
Ratna was just frozen in surprise, not responding.
Rey glanced at Harold, feeling a slight discomfort he couldn't explain.
Harold chuckled, then patted Rey's shoulder.
"Hey, Rey. You manage to show up everywhere, huh? The cafeteria, and now early in the morning here. Who are you guarding, man?" he said, half-laughing.
Some passing students turned their heads.
Rey fell silent. His face wasn't angry, but the look in his eyes tightened slightly.
"Not everything has to be a joke, Harold," he said sharply.
The atmosphere suddenly went quiet.
Harold blinked, a little surprised.
Ratna looked between the two, unsure what to do.
Finally, Harold just gave a wry smile, trying to cover his awkwardness.
"Fine, just kidding, bro. Relax."
But as Rey walked away, Harold briefly glanced at Ratna again—his gaze was different than usual.
There was something there: a mixture of curiosity, and something Harold himself couldn't yet explain.
Ratna took a deep breath.
That atmosphere—cold, strange, but also… warm in an unexplainable corner.
She just hoped everything wouldn't change too quickly.
Yet that morning, neither Rey nor Harold knew that small words and brief glances could begin to change everything.
☁️ "Between Silence and a Stare"
The cafeteria at noon was as crowded as usual. The sound of trays clanging, friends' laughter echoing, and the aroma of warm fried food mixed with fried rice from the kitchen corner.
Ratna sat in the same spot—the corner table near the window, a place that always felt safe.
In front of her was a heat-resistant plastic container with rice, an egg, soy sauce, and shallots. The metal spoon from home was ready in her hand.
But today, for some reason, it felt slightly different.
Several gazes felt like they had been following her since earlier—not malicious stares, but unusual ones too.
"Alone again, Na?" Rey's voice emerged softly from behind.
Ratna looked up, a little startled. Rey stood there, carrying his packed lunch from home. His face was awkward, but his smile was gentle—a smile that seemed to be trying to fix something.
"Can I sit?" he asked carefully.
Ratna hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod.
Rey sat across from her, opening his lunch box.
The atmosphere was silent for a few seconds—only the sound of spoons and the splattering oil from the kitchen.
"Ratna…"
Rey's voice was almost swallowed by the crowd.
"That time, I was—"
"Hey, are you two eating together now?"
The voice suddenly interrupted.
Harold came from the right, looking bright and carefree as usual.
He patted Rey's shoulder and immediately sat next to Ratna without being asked, saying it with a small laugh.
"Ratna, your notes, your friends say they're so neat, right? No wonder your grades are good. My handwriting is messy. I should study with you."
Ratna was surprised, she was confused. Was Harold intending to compliment her or was he mocking her as usual?
Rey was just silent, his eyes looking at Harold briefly before shifting to the rice in front of him.
"Want some fried food?" Harold pushed his plate toward Ratna.
Ratna shook her head.
"No, thank you."
Harold chuckled. "You reject everything, you know. In that case, I'll buy you Yakult again later, to cheer you up."
That remark made Ratna pause for a moment—just a split second, but long enough to make Rey look up slowly.
Their gazes met, accidentally.
There was something there—vague, but palpable.
Rey looked at her, and in his eyes was something that hadn't been said yet.
Harold looked too, but in a different way—light, but full of curiosity.
Ratna looked down.
Her hand gripped the spoon tightly.
"Why does everything feel so strange…" she whispered to herself.
—
Rain began to fall outside the window, slowly, but continuously.
And amidst the sounds of dripping water and lively chatter, three hearts sat in a difficult-to-explain silence—
between guilt, curiosity, and something that was beginning to grow slowly without a name.
🌥️ The Apology
That morning, Ratna had arrived early as usual. She took out a book and started reading. Helen, her seatmate, hadn't arrived yet. The class was still quiet.
Suddenly, a pair of eyes peeked into the classroom. Rey came and entered her class as if in a hurry. "Ratna," he called out. Ratna turned in surprise.
"I'm sorry, about what happened that time," Rey said again. "Maybe I pitied you, that's why I wanted to be your friend, but my intentions were good, I didn't mean any harm, Ratna…" His handsome face looked like an actor pleading in a scene.
"Why do I feel sorry for you now, Rey?" Ratna replied hesitantly. "Frankly, I've forgotten about yesterday's incident, it was a small matter to me, so why did you come to me so early this morning?"
From a pleading look, Rey's face changed into a smile. "So you forgive me?" Rey asked again.
"Yes," Ratna replied, smiling too. Her heart was relieved, her disappointment had faded a little, because… maybe Rey was sincere? Ratna was slightly unsure, confused as well, there was a handsome guy pursuing her like this, giving her extra attention.
"I want to visit your house," Rey's statement surprised Ratna even more. What? Did she hear correctly? Ratna thought to herself. This person is really weird! Ratna became even more confused about what he wanted…
"I want to visit your house," Rey's voice was louder again. Students who had started arriving were surprised and looked in their direction. "Give me your address, Ratna, please write it here." Rey said again, handing her a piece of paper.
Ratna stared at Rey in confusion. Was this handsome boy really going to visit her house? It felt like a dream.
"Write it down, Ratna," Rey pleaded again.
Ratna quickly wrote it down.
"What time and what day are you available?" Rey asked again.
"What for? If you want to say something, just say it now," Ratna replied hesitantly.
She liked Rey, but only liked him, nothing more. If Rey came to her house, it could get complicated, because Ratna's parents wouldn't allow their children to date; they were required to focus on studying to get into their dream university. Ratna regretted writing down her address just now.
"I want to know your house, I want to get to know you better," Rey replied, his face turning back to a pleading look.
"Okay, you come on a weekday, 8 PM onwards," Ratna answered. Ratna deliberately gave a time that would hopefully make Rey decide not to come to her house.
"Why not Saturday or Sunday?" Rey asked again.
"Um, no, because on Saturday and Sunday I go out with my parents," Ratna replied again.
Ratna was actually lying; usually, her activities on Saturday and Sunday were only at home. Her father and mother were the type of people who enjoyed, or were forced to be, at home.
The class bell rang. "Bye, Ratna," Rey said, turning around and leaving Ratna. His sweet smile adorned his face. Ratna was still in a state of confusion, trying to return Rey's smile hesitantly.