Naira looked straight at him.
“I have feelings for Arshaka.”
At first, Arshaka had only meant to make sure Naira was all right from behind the tree.
He hadn’t expected to hear his name mentioned.
Arshaka didn’t move.
He didn’t go in.
He didn’t leave, either.
His gaze remained blank, fixed straight ahead.
Meanwhile, Ken was still staring at Naira as if he’d just heard something he had never prepared himself for.
“Are you serious?”
Naira gave a small nod.
“I’m serious.”
“Since when?”
“I don’t know.”
Naira lowered her face.
“Maybe since I started feeling comfortable whenever he was around.”
Ken slowly shook his head.
“He just came into your life.”
“Yeah, but he has a different role in my life.”
Naira lifted her face.
“He’s never forced me to explain anything. He’s never asked me to become someone I’m not.”
Ken fell silent.
“And every time I need something...” Naira paused for a moment. “He’s always there.”
Behind the tree, Arshaka had never imagined that Naira had noticed the small things he’d been doing all this time.
Taking her home without asking too many questions. Even just making sure she’d eaten. To him, none of it was worth talking about.
But now he knew... Naira had seen everything.
“So I really don’t have a chance?”
Ken’s voice brought Arshaka back to reality.
Naira shook her head.
“I’m sorry.”
Ken smiled faintly. It was a smile that showed no relief at all.
“I don’t like the word sorry.”
“I know.”
“And I’m not used to losing, either.”
Naira looked at him calmly.
“This isn’t a competition, Ken.”
Ken fell silent. The sentence was simple, but it was enough to stop all his arguments.
Naira then glanced at her watch.
“Your five minutes are up.”
She turned to leave. But after only a few steps, Naira stopped.
For some reason, she felt as if someone was behind the tree not far from her.
Naira turned around.
Arshaka was the only person standing a few yards away.
Their eyes met.
Arshaka walked over to Naira. “All done, huh?”
Naira nodded, embarrassed by what she had just confessed.
“You... have you been here this whole time?”
Arshaka slipped one hand into his pants pocket.
“Just got here.”
His answer was brief. But the look in his eyes made Naira certain... Maybe Arshaka hadn’t arrived as recently as he claimed.
Today, they officially began their community service program.
After a fairly long journey, the group of students finally arrived in Desa Wanasari, a remote village tucked behind the hills. The road leading to the village was fairly winding, with lush trees lining both sides and the simple homes of local residents scattered along the way.
Cell service was practically nonexistent.
Yet that was exactly what made some of the students excited.
To Naira, the place felt different. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city and the sound of vehicles that never stopped.
And for some reason, she liked it.
“Group three, you’ll be in charge of activities for the village children!”
Naira nodded as their supervising professor read out the assignments.
She then looked over the list of members in her group.
Her eyes stopped on one name.
Arshaka.
The man was standing not far from her, slipping his phone into his pants pocket.
When their eyes met, Shaka merely raised one eyebrow.
Naira smiled.
“We’re in the same group again.”
“Seems like we’re always in the same group,” Shaka replied casually.
Naira let out a small laugh. “Don’t tell me the professor did that on purpose.”
“Could be.”
They began walking toward the village hall, where the children had gathered.