His steps carried him deeper into the magnificent library building. Inside, the atmosphere was quiet and reverent. Dozens of students seemed absorbed in their own worlds; some were buried in stacks of thick books, some were taking notes with serious concentration, and others were discussing things in low voices. This atmosphere always managed to make Arsenio's thoughts clearer and more focused.
Without wasting time, the young man began making his way through the aisles of towering bookshelves. His hand deftly skimmed along the spines, searching for the required references he needed to master during his third semester. Unlike the previous semester, when he had still spent much of his time reading introductory theory, he now needed more technical and analytical material to support the increasingly complex coursework.
He managed to pick out several books, titles that served as essential foundations for third-year students.
To Arsenio, knowledge was the most important provision, and data was the sharpest weapon a specialist could have in his field.
After gathering the books, he looked for the most comfortable and secluded corner, then sat up straight.
With a relaxed yet elegant motion, he took his reading glasses from his bag. The thin frames settled perfectly on his well-defined nose, as if they were the finishing touch that completed his appearance. His intellectual aura and natural good looks shone even more strongly, making anyone who saw him praise him endlessly in their thoughts.
Arsenio began turning the pages. His eyes moved quickly but carefully, filtering information, marking crucial points, and absorbing every concept written there. He did not merely read. He understood, connected one theory to another, and built a strong framework of thought in his mind.
Time passed unnoticed among the rows of bookshelves. Quiet. Peaceful. Full of meaning.
Until, at last, a soft rumbling from his stomach brought him back to reality. Arsenio smiled faintly and closed the last book he had been reading. His mental exhaustion was fully repaid by the hunger that had begun to call.
He neatly straightened the arrangement of his books, then stood and walked out of the library building. The midday sunlight welcomed him back, and now he had only one destination: the campus cafeteria, where he could replenish the energy he had spent pursuing knowledge.
The cafeteria doors opened as Arsenio stepped inside. The atmosphere there was beginning to grow lively and noisy, so different from the silence of the library he had just left. Waves of students were arriving, most of them faces that had just fulfilled their sacred obligation, looking refreshed and peaceful after performing the Dhuhr prayer.
Arsenio walked to the food counter, ordered the meal he usually ate, then headed for a table in his regular corner. It was a strategic spot—not too noisy, yet it allowed him to observe his surroundings freely.
He had just set down his tray of food and was about to sit when he suddenly felt a heavy yet familiar touch on his right shoulder.
Hey, bro!
Before he could turn around, a bright, hoarse laugh greeted his ears.
"Whoa, sitting all by yourself, Nio? Weren't you waiting for us?"
Arsenio turned around, and a broad smile immediately spread across his face. Standing there were two people he already considered brothers.
One had a thick, iconic crown of curly, wavy hair, a distinctive feature strongly associated with the Eastern heritage running through his veins. That was Iting, his familiar nickname. Beside him stood Anggara, a young man with a neat appearance and an intelligent gaze.
The three of them were a complete package of uniquely forged friendship. Of the three, only Anggara was Muslim. Arsenio and Iting, meanwhile, were brothers in faith despite following different religions. Yet their differences had never once become a wall between them. On the contrary, that diversity was what made their bond so strong and colorful.
"Hey, where have you guys been? Did you just get here too?" Arsenio greeted them warmly, inviting his two friends to pull up chairs and sit across from him.
"We just finished organizing some books in the faculty building, Nio. I'm starving, I swear," Iting replied as he ruffled his slightly disheveled curls, making his appearance look even more relaxed and charismatic.
Anggara merely smiled as he took a seat beside Iting. "I stopped by the mosque to pray first, so I was a little late catching up with you. Good thing I still made it before Nio's food was gone," he joked lightly, easing the atmosphere.
The table was now beginning to fill. Three people from different backgrounds sat side by side in a bond of sincere brotherhood, ready to fill their stomachs and share stories between classes.
The atmosphere at the table grew warmer with the arrival of Arsenio's two close friends. Anggara, sitting casually as he took bites of his food, suddenly spoke with an expectant look in his eyes.
"How about I stop by your place this afternoon? It feels like it's been a long time since we've gotten together and had a chance to share stories properly," he said, shifting his gaze between Arsenio and Iting.
Without needing to think for long, Arsenio immediately answered with a broad smile. "Of course. How could we possibly refuse or kick out a friend of our own? Our boarding-house door is always wide open for you, Gar."
Iting, who had been listening all along, chimed in as well, nodding enthusiastically. "Nio's right. Come on over. We could use some company to fill our free time."
Anggara smiled in relief, though a little uncertainty still lingered. "Hehe, thanks. I just wanted to make sure first. I was worried I'd get all the way there only to find that you guys had other plans or had gone out. That would be a waste of the trip."
"Don't worry, that won't happen," Iting replied in his usual joking tone. His curly hair shifted as he slowly shook his head. "We can work out together this afternoon while we're at it. It'll keep our bodies fit and our minds fresh!"
Anggara chuckled softly at the suggestion, then shook his head firmly but casually. "Whoa, morning exercise is more than enough for me. By midday and afternoon, my body's already tired from carrying the weight of all these assignments. Afternoon is for recharging, fooling around a little, and unwinding—not wearing ourselves out all over again."
Arsenio smiled too, then stepped in with a soothing tone. "Yeah, we'll take it easy this afternoon. No need to worry about anything strenuous. The important thing is that we can sit together, talk, and enjoy some time as friends. Don't worry, neither of us is going anywhere this afternoon. We'll be at the boarding house waiting for you."
Their conversation flowed pleasantly until their attention was suddenly drawn by a commotion from across the room. Peals of carefree, cheerful laughter rang out, breaking through the bustle of the cafeteria.
All three turned at once, and there they saw three female college students sitting together in warm conversation. Two of them were highly expressive, speaking fairly loudly and laughing freely as if they had not a care in the world. But amid all the commotion, one figure stood apart.
Adiba.
The girl merely smiled sweetly and laughed softly, restraining herself so she would not be too loud. Her cute face glowed, revealing a pair of distinctive dimples.
Arsenio curved his lips into a faint smile. Of course he recognized her. They had met a few days earlier, and they had even exchanged contact information.
"That laugh sure carries. We can hear it clearly from all the way over here," Iting remarked, glancing toward his friends. "Are they freshmen? How come they weren't on our radar before?"
"Yeah, that's right. They're new students who just set foot on this campus," Arsenio replied calmly, his eyes still flicking toward the group from time to time. "And I've gotten to know one of them fairly well."
"Seriously? Which one?" Anggara immediately grew curious and leaned forward a little.
"That one, sitting in the middle. Her name is Adiba," Arsenio said, indicating her with a slight nod of his chin. "See the one wearing the black headscarf, with the sweet, cute face and those dimples?"
Hearing such a detailed description, Anggara held back what he actually wanted to say. I know Adiba too, he thought. But he decided against it. Maybe the girl did not know him yet, or perhaps she only remembered his face without knowing his name.
Meanwhile, Iting, with his humorous and perceptive nature, immediately nudged Arsenio's arm lightly with his elbow.
"Well, this is unusual. You usually don't pay much attention to women, so how did you end up knowing a freshman—and noticing her in such detail?" Iting teased. "What's this? Don't tell me... you've got feelings for her!"
Arsenio only chuckled softly and shook his head at his friend's antics.
"We just happened to meet. She asked me for directions on her first day here. That's all," he explained casually, trying to dispel all their suspicions.
But his two friends merely exchanged glances, then cried out together in drawn-out voices.
"Oh...."
Note:
For all my friends...
Be sure to check out the author's second novel, titled The Page That Hasn't Been Opened Yet. It's written for high school readers. Hope you enjoy it!