The classroom buzzed like a marketplace, students talking over one another, trading stories, jokes, and gossip within their cliques and little groups.
"Fa, you're not joining our PUBG push rank today? You're usually the most hyped one," Dika asked, nudging Alfa with a hopeful grin.
"I'm not in the mood," Alfa replied flatly, his tone void of energy.
He'd been waiting for Tata since she left earlier. He thought she'd be back after asking for permission during the first period. Tata had some business with the student organization she planned to resign from—after all, they were already in the final year of high school. The bell had rung ten minutes ago, yet Tata hadn't returned.
"You know what? I might as well skip class," Alfa muttered, standing up and walking toward the door. But just as he was about to turn left, Tata arrived—grabbing his ear in a twist and dragging him back into the classroom. Alfa didn't resist. He just let her pull him along.
"Trying to skip class in the morning? Don't you remember we have a test first period?" Tata asked, exasperated.
Alfa just nodded and took his seat, slumping into his chair like a scolded child.
Five minutes later, Bu Rina walked in, followed by someone Alfa recognized all too well—the same boy who'd busted his lip the night before. Bagaskara.
Alfa didn't expect to see Bagas here, looking so different from the bookish, broke kid he used to know back in junior high. Last night, Bagas had the nerve to confront him—even if fear still clung to his face like a shadow. Still, Alfa had to admit, the guts were real.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Bagaskara, but you can call me Bagas. I transferred from SMA XXX," Bagas said confidently after Bu Rina welcomed him.
"No way," Tata whispered, grinning. "That's Bagas—the same Bagas you used to bully in junior high? He's in our class now? And... he actually looks cool."
"Hm," Alfa responded indifferently, eyes on Bagas as he made his way to an empty seat next to Dika—one row over from Alfa.
"Alright, class," said Bu Rina. "This morning, we're having a test. Bagas, you can join in to see how much physics you remember from your last school."
The room grew quiet almost instantly. Whispered voices flickered here and there, but most students focused on their papers. Both Bagas and Alfa worked silently. Dika kept nudging Alfa for answers, which Alfa casually whispered under his breath. Bagas noticed and frowned—clearly annoyed at Dika for disturbing the peace.
Tata, meanwhile, was fidgeting nonstop, scratching her head every other second. Alfa shot her a glance now and then but kept his irritation to himself. That is, until he couldn't anymore.
"What are you doing, Ta? You've been moving nonstop," Alfa muttered under his breath.
"Hehe, I didn't study last night. I reviewed this morning, but now I've forgotten one last formula!" Tata grumbled, frustrated.
Without saying a word, Alfa passed her his answer sheet. It was no surprise—he'd finished long ago. He laid his head on his folded arms on the desk, ready to escape into a short nap.
"Smart people don't need to study anymore," Tata thought sarcastically. Still, she didn't copy Alfa's answers. That wasn't her style. If she failed, she failed. That was her own doing.
Tata looked up just in time to see Bagas walk to the front and hand his paper to Bu Rina—done already. Impressive.
Back in junior high, Tata had a soft spot for Bagas. He was smart, kind, and used to rank first in their year—until 9th grade. But now, she wasn't so sure. Something about Bagas had changed. He looked sharper, cooler even, but... different.
She'd run into him this morning in the hallway and felt something strange. The vibe around Bagas had shifted—intense and heavy, like Alfa's. Something about both of them made them stand out, unlike the other guys at school. Maybe that's why girls were already crushing on Bagas on his first day, while Alfa had captured hearts since the very first MOS week.
"My friends are too cool," Tata mused internally.
Nearly a week had passed since Bagas joined their school. Yet something still felt... off. At least to Tata. It bugged her more than she cared to admit.
After school, Alfa and Tata joined the basketball extracurricular. Sheila waited for them in the cafeteria with another friend who had plans to stay late. But today, Tata couldn't focus. Bagas was in basketball too.
"Since when did Bagas like basketball?" Tata thought, internally screaming.
Back in junior high, Bagas had hated basketball. But now? He played like a pro—agile, confident, skilled. And somehow, wherever Tata went, Bagas seemed to appear. The cafeteria, the classroom, the library... even the student council room. And now here.
"If it's Alfa, of course, he helps me. But Bagas? Why is he always there?" Tata wondered, increasingly unsettled.
"Why do I keep noticing him? Ugh. Who even am I right now?"
"Pass it here, Fan!" Alfa called to a junior. Fani tossed him the ball effortlessly. Alfa didn't even need to jump. He just flicked his wrist and—
SRANG!
The ball sailed clean through the hoop. Another perfect shot.
Practice wrapped up soon after. Alfa jogged toward Tata and Sheila, wiping his face with a towel slung around his neck.
"Man, that was exhausting. But fun," Alfa said between breaths.
"Alfa, don't you realize Bagas has been watching you for a whole week now?" Tata said, narrowing her eyes. "I've seen him shadowing you, even joining activities he never liked before."
Sheila wasn't paying attention. She was too absorbed in watching her favorite celebrity's live Instagram stream.
Alfa followed Tata's gaze. Bagas was indeed looking their way. Alfa turned back and shrugged.
"That's stupid. Not even worth talking about," he said flatly.
"By the way, you've got permission from your mom, right? You're still coming to Uncle Rehan's restaurant opening with Sheila?" Alfa asked.
"Yeah, chill. Let's just go home," Tata replied.
Alfa tapped Sheila on the head lightly to snap her out of her trance. She grumbled but got up, still glued to her phone. Alfa looped an arm around her shoulder protectively, guiding her over rocks and uneven pavement so she wouldn't trip.
Sweet, wasn't he?