The bell rang, signaling the start of third period. All the students entered their respective classrooms, including Davina and the twin duo.
“Is everyone back in class?” Davina asked, scanning the room as she looked at her classmates.
“Devan, Rendra, Arjuna, and Rena aren’t back yet!” one of the smaneke students answered, glancing at Devan and the others’ still-empty seats.
Davina snorted in annoyance. “Where are they? Are they trying to be rebellious students here? Are they always this badly behaved?”
“Yep, that’s how they are. But we don’t dare tell them off because, besides coming from rich families, they’re the rulers of smaneke!” the student replied fearfully. Their eyes kept darting toward the entrance, afraid Devan and the others might suddenly stick their heads through the door.
Davina rubbed her forehead. “Fine, I’ll wait by the entrance!” she declared.
Davina stood beside the door when she heard several approaching footsteps. The sound of laughter and joking outside made her fold her arms.
Davina clapped her hands, her face annoyed. “Wow, wonderful behavior from our little king. How many minutes has it been since the bell rang? Why are you only showing up now?” Davina scolded them, her expression stern.
Devan glanced at her and chose to sit in his seat, while his three friends grinned as if they had nothing to feel guilty about.
“We’re only five minutes late. Usually, we’re half an hour late and nobody complains. Don’t get all high and mighty just because you’re class president. You don’t have to boss us around!” Rena snapped, clearly unhappy with Davina’s attitude. It wasn’t really because she disliked Davina’s personality. Rena had noticed Devan frequently glancing at the girl, which made her jealous and unwilling to accept it. This was the first time Devan had ever acted this way toward a girl. Usually, Devan was indifferent and cold.
“You think you’re in charge here? Remember, this isn’t your school—the one that collapsed. This is Merpati High School, and as class president, I have every right to call you out!” Davina shot back.
“You!” Rena pointed at Davina for insulting her school. But Rendra immediately grabbed the girl’s arm.
“Sorry about Rena’s attitude. We were the ones in the wrong—we stopped by the restroom,” Rendra admitted.
“What are you doing, Rend? Why are you apologizing to her?” Rena protested, glaring at Rendra.
“Hey, don’t make a big deal out of it, Rena. This isn’t our school, where we can do whatever we want!” Rendra retorted.
“But!” Rena was still unwilling to let it go. She wanted nothing more than to chop Davina into pieces.
“Rena, sit down!” Devan ordered.
Rena turned toward him and pouted when Devan gave her an order. Annoyed, the ponytailed girl immediately walked to her seat. But before she got there, Rena deliberately slammed her shoulder into Davina’s.
“Sorry about Rena’s behavior. She’s still childish!” Rendra said.
Davina merely nodded and told the two boys to sit down. She sighed. It had only been one day since students from another school joined her class, and they were already making her blood boil. What was the rest of the year going to be like?
“Are you okay, Vin?” Amira whispered, worried about her friend.
“I’m fine. I’m still sane!” Davina replied with a faint smile.
Devan, sitting not far away, glanced over and smiled faintly when he saw how different Davina’s face was from the other girls’. Usually, every girl would try to get his attention. Davina, however, acted completely indifferent.
After school, Davina and the twin duo decided to walk home because their houses weren’t very far from school. The three of them chatted and joked as they walked, until the sound of motorcycle engines approaching reached their ears.
Three motorcycles stopped in front of them, making the girls exchange confused looks. Davina and the twins glanced at each other as if they were sharing the same thought.
Devan, Rendra, and Arjuna took off their helmets, while Rena, riding behind Rendra, wore a sour expression.
“They’re so handsome!” Amira murmured, mesmerized by the smaneke boys’ good looks.
Davina nudged Amira’s arm. “They’re nothing special. Don’t be so obvious!” Davina said.
“Who’s being obvious, Vin? I’m just showing my gratitude for getting to see handsome guys like them. Wait, wait—why are they coming over to me? Don’t tell me they’ve fallen in love with me!” Amira said, grinning to herself as the three handsome boys remained seated on their motorcycles.
“Why would they want you, Mir?” Amina teased.
“Why did we stop in front of them?” Rena asked irritably.
Devan only glanced at her before looking back at Davina. “Need a ride?” he asked.
Davina and the twin duo gaped at him.
“Hey, why are you just standing there?” Devan waved his hand at them.
“You’re asking me?” Davina said, pointing at herself.
“Yeah. Who else would I be asking—the twins?” Devan replied.
Davina turned to the twins, then looked back at Devan a few seconds later. “Why? It’s not like you and I are that close,” Davina said.
“Whoa, what kind of response is that? You should be grateful Devan even spoke to you!” Rena cut in.
“Nobody asked him to speak to me!” Davina shot back.
“Davina, right?” Devan asked, confirming the girl’s name.
Davina merely nodded lazily. “What do you want? Are you looking for a fight?”
“No. I’m just offering you a ride. I’ll take you home,” Devan offered.
Davina fell silent, trying to process Devan’s sudden offer.
Rena, on the other hand, glared when she heard Devan offer Davina a ride. “What’s with you, Dev? I wanted to ride with you earlier, and you said no. So why are you inviting her now?” Rena grumbled.
“Oh my gosh, you’re so lucky to get a personal offer from the handsome prince of smaneke, Davina! Take him up on it. Amira and I don’t mind walking home!” Amira exclaimed, thrilled that Devan had offered Davina a ride.
“Are our houses really that far apart? Why else would he offer Davina his motorcycle? And what is he going to ride if she takes his bike?” Amina remarked, looking back and forth between Davina and Devan.
Amira glared at Amina, silently telling her to stop talking.
“So, are you getting on behind me or not?” Devan asked again.
“I don’t need a ride! You should just go. Sorry, but we’re not close!” Davina replied, turning him down.
Davina simply walked away, leaving Devan gaping after her.
“Did I just get rejected?” Devan asked his friends. Rendra and Arjuna nodded in perfect unison.