Chapter 4: Fighting Over the Job
"Rey, could you help with this month's records? Our secretary called in sick today," Nayla called as she approached the desks in the back row just as the first recess bell rang.
Rey, who was tidying up his stationery, immediately looked up. "Sure, Nay. Where's the record book?"
"Here. You just need to copy the names and payment amounts from yesterday's receipts," Nayla said, placing a blue-covered book on Rey's desk.
Before Rey's pen could touch the paper, a large shadow suddenly blocked the light coming through the window. Kevin barged in and stood between Rey's desk and Nayla's, his hands planted on his hips.
"Hold up! Why does it have to be him?" Kevin protested loudly. "I'm right here, Nay! I can record the class fund too!"
Nayla let out a soft sigh and gave Kevin a doubtful look. "Are you sure, Vin? Your handwriting looks like a bunch of chickens running in circles. It'll probably end up putting us in the red."
"Don't just say whatever you want! My handwriting is artistic!" Kevin protested indignantly. "I'm helping, period. It'll get done faster."
"Not necessary," Rey cut in calmly without looking away from the ledger. "One person is enough. You'll only create more work."
"Who’s creating more work?!" Kevin barked, immediately dragging over the chair in front of Rey and sitting in it without permission. "I'll prove I can record everything faster than you!"
"Vin, don't cause a scene," Nayla said, shaking her head.
"I'm not causing a scene, Nay! This is me showing concern as a model student," Kevin replied confidently. He snatched half the receipts from Nayla's hand. "Where's the pen? I'll write on the right side!"
Rey stopped moving his fingers and stared straight at Kevin. "There's only one ledger. If you write on the right and I write on the left, the paper will tear, Captain."
"I can hold the book so it won't tear! You just call out the numbers, and I'll write them down!" Kevin rattled off, refusing to back down.
Dimas, who had just returned from the cafeteria with two bags of chips, immediately joined Aris at his desk. "What kind of drama is this first thing in the morning?"
"An operation to show off that's highly likely to end in total failure," Aris replied flatly from behind his book.
"Rey, you should just let him have this one," Dimas called out between crunches. "When Kevin gets his itch to show off, he loves pretending to be busy in front of Nayla."
"Dimas! Shut up!" Kevin snapped, his face starting to turn red. He spun the pen around his finger, trying to look skilled. "Come on, Rey! Call out the numbers!"
Rey sighed in resignation. "Okay. First, Maya Indriani. Fifty thousand."
Kevin immediately scratched his pen across the ledger paper in quick, rough strokes. "Got it! Next!"
"Take it easy. Don't just scribble," Rey warned as he examined Kevin's writing. "Is that a five or the letter S? It's awful."
"It's a modern-style five!" Kevin shot back sharply. "You just focus on calling out the names. Don't criticize my art!"
"What part of that is modern? It looks more like a worm roasting in the sun," Rey replied coldly. "Nay, are you sure you want to let this bargain-bin supervisor destroy your ledger?"
"Kevin, write a little more carefully," Nayla coaxed, trying to hold back her laughter as the black lines grew more and more chaotic across the blank paper.
"See? Even Nayla isn't complaining! You're the only one making excuses!" Kevin pressed the tip of his pen harder into the paper. "Keep going!"
"Second, Aris Wijaya. Thirty thousand," Rey called out again.
"Great! Thirty thousand..." Kevin moved his hand with far too much force.
Screeek!
The tip of Kevin's pen pierced through the ledger page, tearing it open for three centimeters. The area around the desk instantly fell silent.
Dimas immediately spit out his chips. "You're screwed."
Aris pushed up his glasses. "The document damage has reached eighty percent."
Nayla's eyes went wide. "Kevin!"
Kevin froze, staring at the torn paper as his face instantly went pale. "Uh—this... this book is way too thin, Nay! It's not my fault!"
Rey leaned back against his chair, folding his arms across his chest with the most mocking smile Kevin had ever seen.
"Congratulations, Captain," Rey said smoothly, his sarcasm thick. "You managed to complete the secretary's job in two minutes. And you even got a bonus for damaging class property."
"Don't say another word!" Kevin pointed at Rey in a panic. "I can tape it! I can make a new one!"
"Nay, I should take the book home and copy it over," Rey cut in, turning to Nayla with a friendly expression. "Better than letting our 'supervisor' make it even worse."
Nayla pulled her ledger back with a resigned sigh. "All right, Rey. Please do. Kevin, get back to your seat before you destroy the classroom desk too."
"Nay! I can fix it!" Kevin called plaintively.
"Give it up, Vin. You're only embarrassing yourself more," Dimas laughed, tugging on Kevin's uniform collar to pull him out of the chair.
Rey picked up the remaining receipts from the desk, then glanced at Kevin as Dimas dragged him away. "Next time you want to help, use your brain, not your basketball strength."
"Reynald Putra! You'd better watch yourself!" Kevin shouted angrily, while Rey merely waved at him casually without bothering to look back.