That morning, Alya Kirana arrived late at school. Her habit of watching K-dramas had made her sleep in a little.
Not just five minutes late.
Not even ten minutes late.
She was almost twenty minutes late.
Alya ran down the school hallway, clutching several textbooks to her chest. Her long hair, which she had carefully fixed earlier, was now messy again from the wind.
“Oh my God...”
She looked at her watch.
It was getting later and later. And she was sure the teacher had already entered the classroom.
Alya quickened her pace.
“Excuse me...”
She passed several students who were getting ready for exercise.
She was almost at her classroom.
But when she turned at the end of the hallway, someone suddenly appeared from the opposite direction.
Alya didn't have time to stop.
Thud!
Her body collided with someone's chest, sending the books in her arms tumbling to the floor.
“Ow!”
Alya nearly fell. Fortunately, a hand quickly caught her.
“Careful.”
It was a boy's voice.
Calm.
Alya looked up.
For a few seconds, she could only stare. The boy in front of her was tall.
His gym uniform sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his slightly messy hair somehow made his face look even more handsome.
He looked at Alya with an unreadable expression.
“Are you okay?” he asked. A smile appeared on his lips.
Alya immediately pulled her hand away and gently rubbed it.
“No,” she answered, sounding a little prickly.
Then she looked at her books scattered across the floor.
“Oh, come on.”
She crouched down to pick up her textbooks.
“Sorry.”
The boy crouched down too and picked up one of Alya's books.
“It's okay,” Alya replied.
“I really didn't see you,” Arka said again.
“Yeah.”
Alya stopped picking up the books.
“Yeah?” Arka echoed.
He handed one of the books to her.
“You really didn't see me,” Arka said again.
That made Alya look at him. Then she narrowed her eyes.
“Are you teasing me?”
The boy smiled faintly.
“A little.”
Alya snorted. “Sorry, okay?”
“You already said that.”
“Then I'll say it again,” Alya replied.
“In that case, I'll count,” Arka answered.
Alya stared at him in confusion.
“Count what?” she asked.
“How many times you apologize today,” Arka replied casually.
Alya almost laughed. The prickly look on her face began to fade.
For the first time, Alya smiled.
The boy smiled too.
Not for long.
Just for a moment.
But it was enough to make the atmosphere, which had initially been awkward, feel lighter.
They finished gathering the books.
Alya stood and hugged her books to her chest again.
“Thank you,” Alya said.
“You're welcome.”
Alya was about to leave.
But after taking only two steps, she turned back.
“What’s your name?” the girl asked.
The boy looked slightly surprised. However, he quickly composed his expression again.
“Why?” Instead of answering, the boy asked her a question in return.
“So if we run into each other again, I won't have to call you ‘Hey,’” Alya said casually.
Arka smiled and held out his hand. “Arka.”
“I’m Alya.” Alya accepted the young man's hand.
“I know,” Arka replied.
Alya frowned.
“You know?” she asked in surprise.
Arka let go of her hand. Then he pointed to one of the books in Alya's arms. Her name was written on the cover.
Alya looked at it. A sigh escaped her lips.
“Oh.”
Arka chuckled.
Alya shook her head.
“I thought you already knew from the beginning.”
“Not yet,” Arka replied.
“Whatever.”
Alya ran off again. But this time, before leaving, she managed to glance back once more.
Arka was still standing there.
Their eyes met.
Alya smiled faintly.
Then she disappeared behind the classroom door.
Arka gazed toward the door for a few moments.
Then he looked at his watch and sighed.
“I'm late too.”
But for some reason, he smiled. It was a smile whose meaning even he didn't understand.