As time went by.
A few months later, Indri changed.
Not drastically.
But enough to feel.
Her messages became less frequent.
They saw each other less and less.
And then, one night, Indri asked Andi to meet her.
“I want to tell you something.”
Andi smiled.
“Sounds serious.”
Indri fidgeted with her fingertips.
“I’m seeing someone.”
Andi’s smile slowly faded.
“Oh...”
“His name is Rudi.”
Andi tried to smile.
“That’s great.”
Indri nodded.
“He’s kind. I feel comfortable with him.”
Andi stared at the table.
Something collapsed inside his chest.
But he still said:
“Then I’m happy for you.”
Indri smiled with relief.
“Thank you for always being a good friend.”
Friend.
One word.
Just one word.
But that night, the word felt sharper than a thousand knives.
Andi went home alone.
It started raining along the way.
He stopped beneath a tree.
He looked up at the sky.
Then he let out a quiet laugh.
Not because he was happy.
But because it turned out...
all this time, he had been the only one who thought they were heading toward something.
Indri had only been walking.
And Andi...
had merely happened to be walking beside her.