Sinta was a simple girl who lived in a small town with her mother. Every day, she rode to school on an old blue bicycle that had been repaired several times. Although life wasn't always easy, Sinta was known as a friendly girl who always tried to make other people smile.
At school, there was someone who often watched her in secret. His name was Raka, Sinta's classmate, who was known for helping anyone who needed it. Raka wasn't the smartest or most popular kid, but he had a personality that made people feel comfortable around him.
One morning, Sinta arrived late because her bicycle chain broke on the way.
"Why are you running like that?" Raka asked when he saw Sinta enter the classroom, breathing heavily.
"My bike broke down again. I swear, it asks to be repaired more often than it gets ridden," Sinta replied with a little laugh.
Raka laughed too. "Then I'll take a look at it when we head home. Maybe it can still be saved."
Sinta was slightly surprised. "Seriously? You know how to fix bikes?"
"A little. I often help my dad at his repair shop."
From that day on, Sinta and Raka grew closer. They often studied together, shared stories, and helped each other whenever there was a problem. To Sinta, Raka was the first person who made her feel valued.
However, there was one small thing that often embarrassed Sinta. She was always running out of phone credit because she used her phone so often to look up material for assignments and contact her friends. Since she didn't have an income of her own yet, Sinta sometimes asked her mother to buy her phone credit, but she knew her family's finances weren't always good.
One day, while they were sitting in the cafeteria, Raka saw Sinta staring at her phone screen with a confused look on her face.
"What's wrong?" Raka asked.
"I'm out of phone credit again. And I have a group project that needs to be sent through chat."
Raka took out his phone and smiled. "I'll buy you some for now."
Sinta immediately shook her head. "Don't, Raka. I don't want to trouble you."
"Just consider it a loan. You can pay me back when you have the money."
Sinta finally accepted his help. She promised to pay him back soon.
A few days later, Raka joked with Sinta.
"Don't forget—you've got phone credit installments to pay."
Sinta laughed. "Phone credit installments? That's the first time I've heard of someone owing phone credit."
"Yep, phone credit installments. You can pay a little at a time."
"Then I'll pay you right now."
Sinta took some money from her pocket and handed part of it to Raka.
Raka looked at the money and smiled. "You don't have to rush."
"I need to learn to be responsible. No matter how small it is, a debt is still a debt and has to be paid."
As time went on, the phrase "phone credit installments" became a private joke between them. Whenever they met, Raka would ask whether Sinta had paid her installments yet, and Sinta would always answer with an annoyed expression and a smile.
However, the feelings growing between them turned out to be more than just a joke.
At the school's farewell event, Raka invited Sinta to talk in the schoolyard out back.
"Sinta, there's something I want to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I'm glad I got to know you. I've always liked seeing how you keep trying, even when you're facing so many difficulties."
Sinta fell silent. Her heart began to beat faster.
"I'm glad to have a friend like you too, Raka."
Raka gave her a small smile. "A friend?"
Sinta lowered her head shyly. "I mean... maybe more than a friend."
They both laughed softly. There were no grand words or excessive promises, only simple happiness because they had finally admitted their feelings for each other.
A few months after graduating, Sinta started working part-time at a small shop. She saved money little by little to help her mother and cover her own needs.
One day, Raka came over with his phone in hand.
"What's up?" Sinta asked.
Raka flashed a mischievous smile. "I'm here to collect your phone credit installments."
Sinta pretended to panic. "Oh my gosh, you still remember that?"
"Of course. That's the most historic debt I've ever had."
Sinta laughed. "It's paid off, right?"
Raka nodded. "It is. But I still have one request."
"What is it?"
"Never stop being the Sinta I know. Simple, honest, and always trying your best."
Sinta smiled as she listened to his words.
Their first love didn't begin with expensive gifts or some extraordinary event. It all started with a broken bicycle, a small act of help, and phone credit installments that were initially nothing more than a joke.
To Sinta, Raka was the person who taught her that small acts of care could have great meaning. And to Raka, Sinta was the reason the simple things in life could feel so precious.
Years passed, but the story of their first love remained a memory that never faded. It was a simple story about two people who found happiness in something small called caring.