Meanwhile, Devan’s three friends watched them from not too far away. Rena’s face grew hot when she saw Devan paying attention to another girl.
‘Why have you never treated me that way, Van? What’s so special about her that you’re willing to accept that bet? Are you interested in her too?’ Rena wondered, turning her head away. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.
“I don’t know what’s going on in your head, Ren. You like Devan, but you’re the one who opened the door for him to approach another girl!” Rendra said, glancing at Rena with a meaningful smile.
Rena snorted softly. “Shut up, Rendra. What do you know about how I feel?” she snapped.
Rendra giggled. “Ah, so we’re only realizing this now? You really did get close to us because you liked Devan. We were the idiots for agreeing when he begged to join our group, huh, Jun?” Rendra continued, needling her.
Annoyed, Rena immediately left the two of them. Rendra merely shrugged.
“Typical Rena. She made a bet, but she’s the one suffering!” Rendra sneered.
Arjuna, who heard the jab, let out a rough sigh. “Well, what else can we do? You can’t force feelings, Rend. I’m sure Devan isn’t interested in Rena. It looks like he really does like that girl!” Arjuna replied, watching the interaction between Devan and Davina.
“Yeah, Devan’s only close to Rena because he sees her as a friend, nothing more. Too bad Rena’s so emotional!”
Meanwhile, Devan smiled when Davina questioned why he had suddenly brought her a drink.
“For you. Just consider it a tax for getting close to you!” Devan replied.
“Who said I wanted to get close to you?” Davina quipped.
Devan laughed, revealing his dimples. “I don’t know. Maybe your two twin friends. Do you want some?” Devan offered the drinks to the twin duo.
“Hey, this is for me. You said it was for me, so what’s with the inconsistency?” Davina protested, shyly pulling the drink toward herself.
Devan gave her a faint smile. “So?” he asked, raising one eyebrow.
“Friends only for now, so don’t get too excited!” Davina replied firmly.
“Thanks, beautiful!” Devan replied, satisfied with Davina’s answer. Slowly but surely, Devan was sure he could win her heart!
“In that case, I’ll head back to my seat!” Devan said before leaving the three girls.
Davina’s cheeks flushed. “Ooh, someone’s blushing!” the twin duo teased.
“What are you talking about? Stop messing with me!” Davina snapped, glaring at them.
The first step had worked. Now, for the second step, Devan deliberately waited until the classroom emptied out.
“Want to go home together?” Devan offered as he approached Davina’s desk.
“Huh? What?” Davina suddenly stared blankly.
“Vin, oh my gosh, why was that such an un-cute response when Devan asked you to go home with him?” Amira scolded, smacking her forehead as she watched Davina’s stiff reaction.
“What’s wrong with it? I was just surprised. This is the second time he’s asked me to go home with him, and I thought he wouldn’t ask again after I turned him down yesterday!” Davina whispered into Amira’s ear.
“Typical, Vin. You acted all high and mighty rejecting him, but you were hoping he’d ask again, weren’t you?” Rena sneered, suddenly standing behind them.
Davina’s face turned red as she tried to contain her embarrassment. “No, I wasn’t! I was just surprised!” Davina protested as she stood up. “Come on, Mina, Mir, let’s go home!” she urged the twin duo.
“Why did you ruin my chance to get closer to her, Ren?” Devan asked sharply.
“I didn’t mean to ruin anything. She’s the one who’s too emotional!” Rena defended herself.
Devan pouted and left Rena just like that. Rendra and Arjuna could only shake their heads at Rena’s behavior, especially when they noticed the corner of her mouth curve into a smile as Davina walked away.
“What’s with you two!”
Davina and the twin duo walked along the road through their neighborhood.
“Why did you turn down Devan’s invitation, Dav? All the other girls are lining up for him, and you’re deliberately acting all aloof!” Amira said.
“I just felt bad because his female friend seems not to like me. Besides, I don’t really have the right to accept his invitation anyway. It’s not like he and I are especially close!” Davina replied.
Amira smiled teasingly. “So if you and he were especially close, you wouldn’t have turned him down?”
“What are you talking about, Mir? Enough. Don’t tease me like that!”
“Who is Davina close to? Isn’t it just us? We’re the twin duo who can’t stay away from her!” Amina said, wondering aloud to the other two.
“Ugh, Mina’s slow-on-the-uptake routine is starting again!”
“Instead of talking about something pointless, why don’t we go to your house? I want to mooch a meal off you. Maybe your mom will have some free tahu gejrot for us later!” Davina said, linking arms with the twin duo and pulling them along. She deliberately changed the subject so the twins wouldn’t start bickering just because Amina was slow on the uptake.
“Assalamualaikum, Twin Duo’s Mom!” Davina called when they reached the front of the twins’ house. The simple home had silently witnessed the three friends growing up together.
“Waalaikumsalam. Well, look who’s here—Mama’s daughter! Come in, come in. I just finished cooking lunch for us. There’s tahu gejrot with god-level spice!” Their mother, Ningsih, welcomed them.
“Ah, Mama, you always know when your daughter is craving your tahu gejrot. I’m going to sit down, okay, Ma?” Davina rushed forward, hugged and kissed Mama Ningsih, then sat in one of the dining chairs. Her eyes sparkled at the spread of food prepared by the twins’ mother.
“Go ahead and sit down. Eat with us. I’m free right now anyway,” Mama Ningsih replied.
“Ugh, the drama’s over. I feel like a stepchild whenever Davina comes over!” Amira complained as she sat down without being invited.
“What a truly nauseating performance!” Amina added, gobbling down her tahu gejrot without permission.
“You two!” Mama Ningsih glared at them while Davina grinned. As usual, their drama was only just beginning!