CHAPTER 5
The next day, Arga actually showed up at ten to five. I hadn't even finished putting my books in my bag when my phone buzzed. Arga: Come out.
I stared at the message for a few seconds.
That was fast.
I sent back a short reply.
Me: Yeah.
By the time I stepped out of the building, Arga was already standing beside his motorcycle.
"Took you long enough."
"It's only been five minutes."
"Five minutes is a long time."
I snorted.
"If you were in such a hurry, why'd you wait?"
"Because I said I'd pick you up."
I couldn't come up with an answer.
In the end, I put on the helmet he held out to me.
Everything felt normal.
Until someone called out from behind us.
"Arga!"
We both turned around.
A girl was walking toward us.
She had long hair and was wearing a white shirt with jeans. From the way she walked straight over to Arga, it looked like they were pretty close.
"You're still coming to our place, right?"
Arga looked at her.
"Our place?"
I had no idea why those words immediately bothered me.
The girl only just realized I was there.
"Oh."
Her gaze shifted from Arga to me.
"Your friend?"
Arga answered casually.
"Yeah."
For some reason, I was a little disappointed by his answer.
Even though it was true.
We were just friends.
"I'll go ahead," I said.
Arga immediately turned to me.
"Where are you going?"
"Home."
"I'm taking you home."
"You have something to do."
"I don't."
The girl laughed softly.
"I just wanted to ask about the assignment."
I gave her a faint smile.
"Oh, all right then. You two talk."
I was about to leave when Arga called out to me.
"Hey."
I stopped.
"What?"
He looked at me for a few seconds.
"Get on."
I frowned.
"But—"
"I can talk while we ride."
The girl looked a little confused.
"Seriously?"
Arga nodded.
"Yeah."
Then he turned to me.
"Get on."
I finally did as he said.
I was quiet the whole ride.
Usually, I'd still comment on the road, complain about the heat, or just bother Arga for no reason.
But this time, I chose to stay quiet.
Until finally, Arga asked,
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing."
"Liar."
"I'm not lying."
"You've been quiet this whole time."
"Do I have to keep talking?"
"Usually, yeah."
I rolled my eyes.
"I'm tired."
Arga didn't ask anything else.
But a few seconds later, he said,
"That girl was just a friend."
I went quiet.
"Who?"
"The girl from earlier."
"Oh."
"She's been my classmate since our first semester."
"I didn't ask."
"I know."
"Then why explain it?"
"So you wouldn't get the wrong idea."
I stared at his back.
"Who says I got the wrong idea?"
"No one."
"Then?"
Arga fell silent.
Then his voice grew quieter.
"I just don't want you thinking anything weird."
I lowered my head.
Even though I really shouldn't have been thinking anything weird.
We weren't anything to each other.
Even earlier, when he said I was just his friend, I couldn't object.
Because that's what we were.
But why did it still feel so awful?
The next few days went on as usual.
Arga kept picking me up. Sometimes we'd grab something to eat before heading home. Sometimes we'd just talk for a bit in front of my house.
And I started getting used to having him around.
Too used to it, maybe.
Until one afternoon, I saw the same girl again.
This time, they were sitting together in the cafeteria.
I stopped a few steps away from them.
The girl was laughing.
Arga was smiling too.
A smile I hardly ever got to see.
I didn't know why my feet stopped moving.
"What are you doing over here?"
I jumped.
My friend was standing beside me.
"Nothing."
They followed my gaze.
"Oh..."
I immediately tugged on their hand.
"Come on, let's go."
"Hey, isn't that Arga?"
"No."
"What? I can see him right there."
"Whatever."
I walked faster.
My friend just laughed.
"What's wrong with you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Are you jealous?"
I stopped immediately.
"No."
"I didn't even say who you were jealous of."
I shot them a sharp look.
"Don't start."
They laughed.
"Wow, so it's true."
"Oh, give me a break."
I kept walking.
But I couldn't focus for the rest of class.
For some reason, what I'd seen kept replaying in my head.
Arga laughing.
The girl laughing.
They looked good together.
And the thing that bothered me most was—
I felt like I shouldn't care.
But apparently, I did.
That afternoon, Arga showed up like usual.
But this time, I didn't go straight to him.
I pretended to be busy with my phone.
Arga eventually walked over.
"Heading home?"
"Later."
"Why?"
"I'm waiting for a friend."
"Which friend?"
"Just a friend."
Arga looked at me for a few seconds.
"Are you mad at me?"
"No."
"Then what's wrong?"
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine."
I put my phone in my bag.
"Arga, I'm tired. Just go home without me."
He fell silent.
A few seconds later, he asked,
"Because of earlier?"
I turned to him immediately.
"Because of what?"
"Because of me and her."
I didn't answer.
Arga sighed.
"She needed help with an assignment."
"Okay."
"There's nothing going on between us."
I let out a small laugh.
"Why do you have to explain that?"
"Because you've looked annoyed this whole time."
"I'm not annoyed."
"Jealous?"
I stared at him.
Arga gave me a faint smile.
"Why so quiet?"
"I'm not jealous."
"Okay."
"I mean it."
"Yeah."
"Don't smile like that."
"Why not?"
"It's annoying."
Arga chuckled softly.
Then he moved a little closer.
"If I get a girlfriend someday, would you be mad?"
I froze.
The question sounded simple.
But for some reason, the answer felt difficult.
In the end, I shrugged.
"None of my business."
The smile on Arga's face slowly faded.
He stared at me for a long time.
"Okay."
That was all.
He took the helmet from his hand.
"Then I'll head home."
I watched him walk away.
And for the first time since I'd met him—
I hoped Arga hadn't really listened to my answer.