The day of the table manners practical exam finally arrived, and Karin was assigned to bring the dessert—pudding—as well as the utensils.
This practical exam was divided into two sessions to keep things orderly. Each session had two or three students taking the test. Karin and Dika would go first, followed by Ninda, Lena, and Mada in the next session.
The first session went smoothly, and Karin had no trouble because they had been taught the material since tenth grade. Afterward, the students from the first session waited in front of the classroom. Karin sat there while Dika had already disappeared to the cafeteria with his friends. As she waited for the second session, Karin happened to spot Jidan. Jidan smiled, and Karin smiled back.
"You're doing the practical exam?" Jidan asked when he reached Karin.
"Yeah, table manners," Karin replied.
"Here..." Jidan said, handing her a canned drink.
Confused, Karin accepted it.
"What for?" she asked.
"I bought it at the Indomaret out front. Turns out, it was buy one, get one free," Jidan answered.
"Oh, thanks," Karin said.
"Yeah, no problem. I'm going back to class," Jidan said as he walked away.
"Okay," Karin replied, opening the drink Jidan had given her.
"Who was that, Rin?" asked the friend sitting beside Karin. Her name was Sasa, and she was Lena's deskmate.
"A friend from the student council," Karin answered.
"Oh. Hey, you're not with Mada anymore?" Sasa suddenly asked.
Karin was startled and nearly choked before turning to her.
"Mada and I are just friends. He already has a girlfriend, too," Karin replied, wiping her chin, which had been splashed by the drink.
"Huh? I thought you were his girlfriend," Sasa said in confusion.
"No way. We're just close," Karin answered.
"Whoa, I thought you two were dating. You're together every day."
"A lot of people think that, but we're not."
Sasa could only go, "Ohhh."
Not long afterward, Ninda called out, "Rin, where's Dika?"
"He went to the cafeteria. Wait, you're done already?" Karin asked, surprised to see Ninda leaving the classroom.
"Yeah, we're done. Bu Mimi told us to come back in."
"Hang on, I'll call him," Karin said, dialing Dika.
"Where are you? We have to go back in... Yeah, okay, hurry up," Karin said when Dika answered.
The classroom soon filled up again.
"Everyone's finished with the practical exam. You all did a great job, but there's one thing I find puzzling," Bu Mimi said, opening the discussion.
"What is it, ma'am?" some of the class asked.
"Where did you get these napkins?" Bu Mimi asked.
"At Saturn, ma'am," one student answered. Saturn was the store with the most complete selection of stationery and school supplies in Karin's city.
"Who told you this was a napkin?" Bu Mimi asked again.
"The store clerk, ma'am," another student answered.
"This isn't a napkin. It's a rag for a workshop," Bu Mimi said with a laugh.
"What? Hahaha!" The whole class burst out laughing.
"It's my fault for not showing you an example of a napkin," Bu Mimi said, choosing not to fault them for using the cloth for their table manners exam.
Class ended when the break bell rang.
"Rin, let's go buy some iced drinks," Ninda, Karin's deskmate, said.
"I'll come with you. I still have this drink," Karin replied.
"Huh? Did you bring it from home?" Ninda asked, confused, since she hadn't seen Karin carrying a drink all morning.
"No, Jidan gave it to me earlier," Karin answered casually.
"Jidan? Ooh, someone's got a crush!" Ninda teased.
"What's your deal? He just gave me a drink."
"Why are you getting worked up? I only said you had a crush," Ninda said, and they both laughed as they headed to the cafeteria.
Karin and Ninda returned to class, with Ninda carrying her iced drink in one hand.
"Hey, does Bu Indah's class have homework?" Ninda asked as soon as they sat down.
"I think so. Why? Do you want to look at mine?" Karin offered, since Ninda didn't really understand Bu Indah's math lessons.
"Hehe, you know me so well," Ninda said, trying to hug Karin.
Before she could, Mada arrived and handed Karin a bottle of water.
Confused, Karin asked, "Huh? What for?"
"So your throat doesn't feel dry after the table manners exam," Mada replied.
Ninda reacted dramatically.
"Ooh, someone's jealous, Rin, because Jidan gave you a drink earlier! Hahaha," Ninda teased offhandedly.
Before Karin could answer, Jidan had already left, and the next teacher had entered.