Days passed. The three teenagers began spending more and more time together. Just like today.
Alya texted Raka to come pick her up. She had also texted Arka, asking him to come to the place they had agreed on earlier.
“Raka. Arka’s really coming, right?” Alya asked, making sure one more time. Arka’s reply had been far from reassuring.
“Yeah. He’s coming,” Raka answered with a chuckle.
Silence fell. Alya didn’t say anything else. She simply enjoyed the evening breeze brushing across her pretty face.
Raka smiled beneath his helmet. He watched Alya’s beautiful face in the rearview mirror.
“Beautiful,” he murmured softly.
Alya kept smiling as she gazed at the open streets in the late afternoon.
Raka’s motorcycle stopped in front of a minimalist house with a low fence. It was small, but looked incredibly cozy.
“Wowww. Whose house is this?” Alya asked, turning toward Raka.
“Careful. You’ll fall.” Without answering her question, he helped Alya off the motorcycle.
“Ugh. Answer me,” Alya complained.
“This is Arka’s house. His dad bought it for him when he graduated from middle school,” Raka answered honestly.
Alya turned around and fell silent, narrowing her eyes.
“He got a house when he was in middle school?” the girl repeated.
Raka nodded. “Yeah,” he replied briefly.
Alya stared at Raka in disbelief. “How is that even possible? I mean, why buy him a house? Why not a toy or a motorcycle, for example?” she asked, bewildered.
How could a kid who had just graduated from middle school receive a house as a gift?
“I still don’t under—”
The sound of a motorcycle cut her off.
Alya cheered excitedly. “There he is!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands.
Arka arrived and took off his helmet. His face looked confused as he stared at Alya’s expression.
“What’s wrong with her?” Arka asked Raka.
Raka shrugged. “How should I know?” he replied.
Alya was still staring intently at Arka’s face. “Was there something you wanted to talk about?” Arka asked her.
Alya nodded. “There is,” she answered.
“Then let’s go inside,” Arka said.
He walked ahead, followed by Raka and Alya, with Raka pulling her along by the hand.
“Ughhh. Can you slow down?” Alya complained.
“You’re taking too long. Hurry up and get inside!” Raka replied.
Alya merely snorted, but still tried to match Raka’s pace.
Arka casually unlocked the front door, making Alya even more certain that the house really belonged to him.
“Sit down,” Arka ordered his two best friends.
Raka immediately tugged Alya’s hand, making her sit beside him.
“Sit here,” he whispered.
Alya shot Raka an irritated look, but did as he told her.
“Arka,” Alya called.
Arka had been about to head to the kitchen, but stopped when Alya called out to him loudly.
“What is it, Al?” Arka asked, turning to look at her.
Alya hesitated. Still, she gathered the courage to ask so she wouldn’t remain consumed by curiosity.
“Is this house yours?” the girl asked.
“Yeah. Why?” Arka asked in return.
“Your dad bought this house for you after you graduated from middle school?” Alya asked again.
“Yeah,” Arka answered once more.
“How is that possible?” Alya’s face grew even more bewildered.
Arka sighed. “A while ago, I wanted to have a house—a place where I’d feel safe whenever I was playing. So Dad bought me this house,” Arka answered honestly.
Alya found his explanation even stranger. “I mean, how could a middle schooler get a house bought for him?”
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later, okay?” Arka replied with a sweet smile.
Beside him, Raka snorted softly. “You’re so nosy, Al!”
Alya rolled her eyes lazily. “I’ll be as nosy as I want.”
Arka slowly shook his head as he watched his two best friends constantly bicker. For some reason, seeing them like that always made him happy.