“What do you mean, ‘what if’? There, you’re definitely making things up again.”
“What if Kak Alan just went out with Kak Rev?” Prita said as she ran away.
“Hey, no way! You little brat! Don’t just make stuff up. Just wait, Ta!” Alan only cursed under his breath. He was still far too lazy and tired to want to waste even more energy chasing Prita.
Alan suddenly found himself thinking about Revina again. Damn it... If Prita hadn’t mentioned that girl’s name, maybe Alan wouldn’t be feeling so conflicted again. His mind replayed the memory of what had happened in the bathroom, when he and Revina had been together, so close.
Alan thought again about Revina’s touch that day. He instinctively pressed a hand to his chest, the place where Revina had touched him. Was Alan really missing his ex-girlfriend now?
Alan sank deeper into his reverie, becoming more trapped in the past as he remembered his time with Revina before they had agreed to start a long-distance relationship (LDR) because he was leaving the country.
“Revina,” Alan said unconsciously.
“Kak, Prita’s the only one here. Kak Rev isn’t here. Ooh... Kak’s missing Kak Rev, huh?”
Alan immediately snapped out of his reverie. “Prita? You...” He shot her an irritated look.
“Hey, hey, take it easy, Kak! Chill out! So you really do miss her?”
“No, I don’t. No way. Stop making things up.”
“Then why are you so worked up?”
“You’re seriously so annoying!”
“Come on, Kak. I’ve been watching you sit there spacing out this whole time. And then you even called Kak Rev’s name. Kak, if you still love her, fight for her! I support you a hundred—even a thousand—percent. Kak Alan only belongs with Kak Rev!”
“What are you talking about? Whatever, Kak Alan’s going to his room. Don’t bother me! If you want dinner, cook it yourself or order delivery yourself. Whatever you want.”
“Jeez, Kak Alan, you’re so sensitive! What a lovesick idiot!”
Alan went to his room. He truly didn’t understand how Prita had ruined his mood this time. But why? Could what Prita had said be true? The love was still there. His love for Revina. How was that possible? Even if it was, it certainly wouldn’t be easy, because Revina wasn’t alone anymore.
Revina was still wavering. She was confused about whether she should move forward or back away. Yes or no. She had arranged her words as politely as possible. All she had to do was press “send,” and her intention would surely get across. For some reason, it felt so difficult.
All Revina wanted was to make an appointment with Alan to consult about her thesis tomorrow. Yet she was so hesitant. Should she message Alan? Was that the right thing to do? Truthfully, Revina still felt upset whenever she remembered her argument with Alan, during which he had always blamed her and accused her of being the sole reason their relationship had ended.
A second later, her thoughts changed. Revina figured that if there was really nothing left between her and Alan, why should she be acting so awkward? Besides, this concerned official business with Alan. She only wanted to schedule a consultation, not ask him to meet up for a reunion and reminisce about their memories.
She pressed “send.” Her message to Alan was sent.
＞＞ Revina
[ Good evening, Professor. I’m sorry to bother you. This is Revina, one of your advisees.
I’m contacting you because I’d like to schedule a thesis consultation with you. I’ve revised the opening chapter according to your instructions from before.
Do you have any time tomorrow, Professor? Thank you in advance. ]
Alan was still lying on his bed, staring at his bedroom ceiling, when he was startled by the notification of an incoming message on his phone. When he checked it, he saw the sender’s name.
Alan read Revina’s message and muttered to himself.
“Revina, this is the first time you’ve ever texted me this formally...”
Meanwhile, Revina was still waiting for Alan’s reply. Yeah... She had to wait again. Waiting was what she hated most. After once having waited for years, she now had to wait for a single response. And she was waiting for the same person.
Revina knew Alan had read her message. She wondered why he still hadn’t replied. She was only waiting for one word: could he or couldn’t he? Revina wondered if Alan was deliberately refusing to answer. Maybe he wanted to make her even more annoyed.
Revina was almost desperate waiting for Alan’s reply. She decided to resign herself to it and planned to go straight to Alan tomorrow when he was in his office. Apparently, messaging Alan really hadn’t been the right decision.
Just as Revina lay down in bed and was about to close her eyes, the notification tone for an incoming message suddenly sounded on her phone.
＞＞ Kak Alan
[ Sorry for the late reply,
I’m free tomorrow. You can meet me in my office around ten. ]
“Finally, that arrogant professor decided to reply. But why ten? I can’t make it then,” Revina muttered to herself.
At first, Revina had thought she didn’t want to message Alan again, but she felt it was necessary this time.
＞＞ Revina
[ I’m sorry, Professor, but I have class tomorrow at ten. Would another time work for you? ]
They continued exchanging messages.
＞＞ Kak Alan
[ Then what time do you want? ]
＞＞ Revina
[ How about around one in the afternoon, after lunch, Professor? ]
＞＞ Kak Alan
[ Okay. Whatever works for you. ]
＞＞ Revina
[ All right, then. Thank you, Kak! ]
Alan found it strange when he read Revina’s last message. She still called him “Kak,” even though her messages had been formal from the start and she had only written “Professor.” Had Revina done it by accident?
Yes... She had. Revina hadn’t meant to. Why had she typed “Kak” when the word in her mind had been “Professor”? Her brain and fingers had somehow fallen out of sync. She didn’t know why.
Revina finally resent her message to correct it. She even just realized that Alan’s contact name in her phone still said “Kak Alan.” She changed it immediately.
＞＞ Revina
[ *Sorry... I meant, thank you, Professor! ]
＞＞ Professor Alan
[ You’re welcome. You really didn’t need to send another message. I liked your previous message better. I didn’t mind. ]
Revina was startled when she read Alan’s message. She wondered what he meant. Did Alan prefer Revina to call him “Kak” like she used to instead of “Professor”? But why?
Whatever. Revina didn’t want to overthink something so trivial. She hurried to sleep and forgot about everything.
The next day, Revina went to campus. After class ended, she still had time for lunch before meeting her thesis adviser for a consultation.
Revina was in the cafeteria now. She wasn’t alone; Irsyad was with her.
“Let’s eat! I’m so hungry. It’s not often we get to eat together in the campus cafeteria like this,” Irsyad said.
“Who told you to keep being busy with meetings?”
“Baby, meetings aren’t all I do. I also have to finish my thesis. I’m really almost done. And... after that, I can defend it. Finally... after all this time.”
“Hmm, yeah, yeah, look at you, graduating soon. But, Ir, we’re not the only two people here. There are a lot of people in this cafeteria.”
“Yeah. But our world belongs only to the two of us, right? And the most important thing is that I’m the only one in your heart.”
“Whatever you say!”
Irsyad pinched Revina’s chubby cheek.
“Ow, Irsyad, stop! That hurts! Stop it!” Revina complained.
“Okay, baby. My baby is just so adorable I can’t help myself! Sorry!”
“Hmm, okay. Let’s just keep eating.”
They continued eating. Then Irsyad started talking to Revina again.
“Do you still have class after this, baby?”
“No. Today I only had class from this morning until before lunch.”
“Then are you going straight home after this? I’ll take you!”
“No, Ir. I’m not going straight home. I have a thesis consultation scheduled for one. I just finished the opening chapter.”
“With Alan?”
“Of course. He’s my thesis adviser. Who else would it be?”
“You must be nervous right now, huh?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because you’re meeting your ex.”