It was ten in the morning when the students of Merpati High School were dismissed. The teachers were holding their monthly meeting today, so the students were sent home early.
“Where should we go? Come on, let’s take a ride and get some fresh air. Maybe we’ll snag a handsome guy!” Amira suggested as she rode her electric scooter out through the school gate, her face lighting up.
“Let’s go home first, Mir. It feels weird walking around in our uniforms like this!” Davina refused, waving a hand in front of her face. The late-morning sun was blazing, making the air unbearably hot.
“We’re wearing sweaters, so we’re covered! Besides, if we go home first, Mom will definitely stop us. ‘Mir, Mina, come help Mom cook!’” Amira mimicked with a soft click of her tongue, remembering how her mother always asked her to help after school even though she felt exhausted and just wanted to rest.
“I’ll tell Mom Sari on you!” Davina teased with a smile.
“Seriously? Don’t push your luck, Dav. Keep it up and I’ll flick you in the kidney!” Amira grumbled, thrusting out her lower lip.
Davina giggled. “Fine, then let’s just go to my house. You two can change there!” Davina gave in.
The three friends climbed onto their respective scooters. Davina rode by herself, while Amira shared a ride with Amina, her twin sister.
After they reached the house and changed clothes, the three of them headed to the city park for a walk. It was still late morning, so they decided to take a little break and refresh themselves.
“Are you guys hungry? Let’s eat first. Maybe our usual soto lamongan vendor will have wandered over here!” Amina suggested, scanning the city park for their favorite soto lamongan.
“I don’t think he’s selling today. Look, the place is closed!” Davina replied, staring at their usual stall with its shutters down.
“Ugh, where did Pak Kumis go? Why is he taking the day off? I’ve been craving his soto so badly!” Amina said, her face falling.
“You’re so dramatic, Min. Let’s go to that viral café instead. We can sip coffee and snack while looking cute. My eyes are so dry—I haven’t seen a single handsome guy yet!” Amira suggested, pointing her chin toward the café, which wasn’t too crowded because it was still school hours.
“You really only ever think about guys, Mir. But your idea of calming down with a cup of coffee isn’t bad.” Davina nodded in agreement.
“Let’s go! When else are we going to get to scope out all the handsome guys who happen to wander in here?” Amira replied enthusiastically.
They drew closer to the coffee shop. It was the perfect place for young people to hang out, especially with its cozy atmosphere and the music echoing from local musicians.
“You two wait here. I’ll order. Your coffee orders are the usual, right?” Davina told the twins to wait at an empty table while she headed straight to the barista counter to order coffee and snacks for them.
At that very moment, Davina brushed shoulders with a guy, and the bracelet she was wearing suddenly caught on his hand, making it fall to the floor. Davina didn’t notice and kept walking without looking back, while the guy immediately turned around and stared at her back.
He watched Davina’s back as she walked farther away. When he turned around to leave, his foot accidentally stepped on something.
“What’s this?” the guy muttered, furrowing his brow. He picked up the bracelet he had stepped on and read the name engraved on it. “Davina Larasati!”
The guy looked back at Davina, who was chatting at the barista counter.
“Devan!” Someone slapped the guy on the shoulder, making him jump.
“Ren, what is it? You scared me!” Devan said, turning toward Rena, his friend.
Rena shook her head. “Nothing, really. You’re just being weird. Why are you standing here staring into space? You didn’t get possessed by some debt-ghost haunting this place, did you?” she joked, studying Devan’s handsome face.
“Ugh, what are you talking about? There’s no such thing as a debt-ghost. We should head back. The others are probably waiting for us!” Devan retorted, setting off.
“Devan, wait for me!” Rena shouted, chasing after Devan as he moved a little farther ahead.
After finishing her order, Davina watched the teenage pair. She shrugged, assuming they were a romantic couple.
“Devan, why’d you leave me behind?” Rena whined, pushing her lips out a full five centimeters.
Rendra, standing beside Devan, immediately pinched Rena’s lips, making the girl scowl.
“What was that for, Rend? Stop bothering me!” Rena snapped.
“You don’t look right when you get sulky like that, Reen. You’re a tomboy, remember? It’s seriously cringe to watch!” Rendra sneered casually.
Rena stomped on Rendra’s foot, making the crooked-toothed boy wince. “Holy crap, you’ve got the strength of a sumo wrestler, Ren!”
“Who told you to annoy me?”
Devan could only shake his head as he watched his two friends argue. He saw this every day. The two of them were just like Tom and Jerry, constantly at each other’s throats.
Devan climbed onto his scooter, and Rena suddenly hopped onto the back. Devan let out a quiet sigh and set down the helmet he had been about to put on.
“Ren, sorry, but you should ride with Rendra today. I want to go back by myself,” Devan said gently.
Rena pouted. “Why, Van?”
“Please, Ren. I want to go back alone,” Devan pleaded.
Rena reluctantly got off, her face sour. ‘Why is that guy always so cold to me? I’m his friend too!’ Rena thought bitterly, cursing Devan’s cold attitude.
And there was Rendra, the first one to laugh as he enjoyed Rena’s sour expression after Devan rejected her. Devan hated flirty girls, and Rena knew that—yet she still acted that way!