That morning, the grounds of Arunika High School were once again filled with the sounds of vehicles.
But among all those sounds, the rumble of Alvian's black Chopper remained one of the easiest to recognize.
Vroom... vroom...
Alvian entered the student parking area, then turned off the engine.
Several students walking by immediately turned to look.
As usual.
Quiet whispers began to spread.
"That's Alvian."
"His Chopper is so cool."
"He's here again."
Alvian was used to it.
He got off the motorcycle, removed his helmet, then opened the seat to put away his gloves.
But this time, Alvian's attention was drawn to someone standing near the school gate.
Grace.
The girl was holding a book against her chest.
When she saw Alvian, Grace raised her hand in a small wave.
Alvian smiled.
Then he walked over.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Grace smiled.
"You're not late."
"I promised."
"Promised?"
"You said not to be late."
Grace let out a small laugh.
"Oh."
Alvian watched her for a few moments.
"Why do you look so happy?"
Grace shook her head.
"I'm not."
"You look happy."
Grace lowered her head.
"Yeah... maybe a little."
Alvian smiled.
For some reason, that simple answer made his morning feel much more enjoyable.
XI Social Studies 2
As soon as they entered the classroom, Raka immediately looked up.
His gaze moved from Alvian to Grace.
Then back to Alvian.
"Seriously?"
Alvian furrowed his brow.
"What?"
"You came together?"
Grace immediately walked toward her seat.
Alvian pulled out a chair.
"No."
Raka grinned.
"Not yet."
Alvian tossed a small eraser at him.
"Shut up."
Dimas, who was sitting behind them, immediately laughed.
"Whoa, now you're throwing things at each other."
Raka caught the eraser.
"Looks like their relationship is developing."
Alvian glanced at him.
"What relationship?"
Raka shrugged.
"No idea yet."
Dimas chimed in,
"But if this keeps up, I'm ready to be the photographer."
Alvian stared at the two of them.
"Why don't you find something else to do?"
Raka smiled.
"Because your love life is more interesting."
Grace, who heard the conversation, immediately lowered her head.
Her face turned slightly red.
Keisha, sitting beside her, nudged her arm.
"Grace."
"Hm?"
"Are you embarrassed?"
"No."
Keisha flashed a wide smile.
"Then why are you blushing?"
Grace immediately adjusted her glasses.
"Shut up."
Keisha let out a small laugh.
First Period
Mr. Arman entered carrying several sheets of paper.
"All right, everyone. Today, we won't just be learning from the textbook."
Several students immediately groaned.
"Don't tell us we have another assignment, Mr. Arman."
Mr. Arman laughed.
"Relax. It's not a difficult assignment."
He handed the papers out to the students.
"Today, you'll be making a group presentation."
The classroom immediately grew noisy.
"Groups?"
"How many people, Mr. Arman?"
"Four people."
Mr. Arman wrote several topics on the board.
"I'll decide the groups."
Dimas immediately whispered to Raka,
"If I'm in the same group as you, I'm transferring schools."
Raka laughed.
"Relax. I don't want that either."
Mr. Arman began calling out names.
"Raka, Dimas, Maya, and Salsa."
Dimas immediately slapped his desk.
"Yes!"
Raka stared at him.
"Why are you so happy?"
"Because it's not just me and you."
Mr. Arman continued.
"Grace, Nathaniel, Keisha, and..."
He looked at the list.
"Alvian."
The classroom immediately erupted.
"Ooooh..."
Alvian covered his face for a moment.
Raka immediately laughed.
"Destiny."
Alvian glanced at him.
"Shut up."
Grace only smiled faintly.
Nathaniel, who was sitting on the other side of the classroom, also turned toward them.
His gaze was calm.
But something had changed in his expression.
He wasn't angry.
He was simply paying much closer attention.
Group Work
The four of them sat around a table.
Grace opened her book.
"Should we choose the environment theme?"
Keisha nodded.
"Sure."
Nathaniel opened his laptop.
"I can look for the data."
Alvian leaned back in his chair.
"What should I do?"
Grace looked at him.
"You can help design the presentation."
Alvian raised an eyebrow.
"Why me?"
Grace smiled.
"You seem creative."
"Seem?"
Grace let out a small laugh.
"I don't know."
Alvian smiled too.
"Okay."
Nathaniel watched their interaction.
Then he said,
"In that case, Grace and I will look for the data."
Alvian turned toward him.
"Why Grace?"
Nathaniel answered casually,
"Because she's the one with the book."
"Oh."
Keisha looked at the two of them.
She immediately sensed the mood change.
But before things could get awkward, she said,
"Then Alvian and I will work on the design."
Alvian nodded.
"Okay."
Grace went back to reading.
But every now and then, she glanced at Alvian.
And Alvian did the same.
Neither of them said anything.
But Keisha could see it.
Lunch Break
They brought their work so far to the cafeteria.
Grace sat beside Keisha.
Alvian sat across from her.
Nathaniel was next to Alvian.
Dimas and Raka arrived carrying food.
"Mind if we join you?"
Dimas sat down immediately.
Raka sat down too.
"Are you working on your group project?"
"Yeah," Keisha answered.
Dimas looked at the papers on the table.
"Whose handwriting is this?"
"Grace's."
Dimas read it for a moment.
"It's so neat."
Grace smiled faintly.
"Thanks."
Dimas then looked at Alvian.
"Can you write like this?"
Alvian shook his head.
"No."
"Then you two are a perfect match."
Alvian furrowed his brow.
"A match for what?"
"Grace has neat handwriting, and you do the design."
Raka immediately laughed.
"He's not talking about the assignment."
Dimas laughed too.
Alvian sighed.
"Oh, God."
Grace held back a smile.
Nathaniel remained silent.
But a few seconds later, he said to Grace,
"When school is over, I can help you take the books to the library."
Grace nodded.
"Sure."
Alvian, who had been drinking, suddenly stopped.
Raka noticed.
Dimas noticed too.
Raka nudged Dimas's foot under the table.
Don't start.
But Dimas only smiled.
Alvian finally said,
"I can take them."
Nathaniel looked at him.
"Do you have somewhere to be?"
"No."
"Then?"
Alvian smiled faintly.
"I can help."
Nathaniel nodded.
"Go ahead."
Grace looked between the two of them.
"Why are you fighting over it?"
Alvian and Nathaniel both fell silent.
Keisha almost laughed.
"Because..."
She held back a smile.
"They're both too nice."
Raka immediately coughed to hold back his laughter.
After Class
Their group returned to the library to finish the presentation.
Grace stood in front of a bookshelf.
She tried to take a book down.
But it was too high up.
Before Alvian could move, Nathaniel had already grabbed it.
"This one?"
Grace smiled.
"Yes. Thank you."
Alvian, standing not far away, only watched.
Nathaniel handed her the book.
"If you need anything else, let me know."
Grace nodded.
"Okay."
Alvian finally walked over.
"Grace."
"Hm?"
"Are we still riding the Chopper tomorrow?"
Grace immediately smiled.
"We are."
Nathaniel fell silent.
He looked at Alvian.
"You're riding a motorcycle?"
Grace nodded.
"Yeah."
Nathaniel smiled faintly.
"Hope you have fun."
Alvian replied,
"Thanks."
The two boys looked at each other.
Only for a few seconds.
But it was enough to make the atmosphere feel different.
Grace looked back and forth between them.
"Why are you two so quiet?"
"Nothing," Alvian answered.
Nathaniel answered too,
"It's nothing."
From the table, Keisha muttered,
"It's obviously something."
Grace turned toward her.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Keisha smiled.
Afternoon
After they finished all their work, Grace left the library carrying several books.
Alvian walked beside her.
"I'll carry those."
"You don't have to."
"They're heavy."
"I can handle them."
Alvian took some of the books from her hands.
"It's fine."
Grace didn't resist.
"Thanks."
They walked through the corridor, which was beginning to empty.
The afternoon sunlight streamed in through the windows.
Grace suddenly said,
"Alvian."
"Hm?"
"What do you think..."
"What?"
"If I spend too much time with you, will people talk?"
Alvian stopped.
Grace stopped too.
"Maybe."
Grace lowered her head.
Alvian continued,
"But I don't really care."
Grace raised her head.
"Why not?"
"Because I'm the one living my life."
Grace fell silent.
Alvian smiled.
"And if you're comfortable too, that's enough."
Grace looked at him for a long moment.
Then she smiled.
"I'm comfortable."
Alvian returned her smile.
"Good."
They started walking again.
But this time, Grace's steps felt a little lighter.
The Parking Lot
The afternoon was drawing to a close.
Alvian stood beside the Chopper.
Grace arrived with Keisha.
Keisha immediately handed something to Grace.
"Here."
"What is it?"
"A helmet."
Grace stared at it.
"Why did you bring one?"
Keisha smiled.
"Because you're riding a motorcycle, right?"
Grace immediately looked at Alvian.
Alvian laughed.
"Your friend really prepared everything."
Keisha shrugged.
"I was just helping."
Grace put on the helmet.
Alvian then grabbed his own helmet.
"Ready?"
Grace nodded.
"Ready."
Alvian climbed onto the motorcycle.
He started the engine.
VROOMMM...
Grace flinched a little.
Alvian laughed.
"Scared?"
"No."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
Grace carefully climbed onto the back seat.
She sat with some distance between them.
Alvian turned his head slightly.
"Hold on."
Grace immediately stiffened.
"Hold on?"
"Yeah. So you don't lose your balance."
Grace hesitated for a few seconds.
Then she held on to the back of the seat.
Alvian let out a small laugh.
"Not there."
Grace looked at him in confusion.
"Then where?"
"Hold on somewhere safe."
Grace finally grasped the side of Alvian's jacket carefully.
Alvian smiled.
"Okay."
From a distance, Raka and Dimas watched them.
Dimas immediately shouted,
"Hey! Finally!"
Alvian turned around.
"Stop yelling!"
Raka laughed.
"Don't speed!"
Alvian raised a hand.
"Relax!"
The motorcycle slowly pulled away from the parking lot.
Grace looked at the road ahead.
At first, she was still tense.
But a few minutes later, her fear slowly faded.
The evening breeze brushed against her face.
For the first time, Grace didn't see Alvian as the popular guy everyone had been talking about.
She only saw a guy riding his beloved motorcycle.
Someone who made her feel safe.
And without realizing it, her hand gripped Alvian's jacket a little tighter.
Alvian noticed.
He smiled faintly.
On the Road
A red light made them stop.
Alvian turned his head slightly.
"Still scared?"
Grace shook her head.
"No."
"Comfortable?"
Grace smiled.
"Comfortable."
Alvian smiled too.
"Good."
The light turned green.
The motorcycle started moving again.
But a few yards later, Alvian said,
"Grace."
"Hm?"
"If you want, we don't have to go straight home."
Grace was a little surprised.
"Then where are we going?"
"Somewhere I usually go."
"Where?"
Alvian smiled.
"My favorite place."
Grace grew curious.
"Okay."
A Place Few People Knew About
A few minutes later, the Chopper stopped at a high point on the outskirts of the city.
From there, the city stretched out in a wide panorama.
The lights began to come on one by one.
Grace got off the motorcycle.
She removed her helmet.
Her eyes immediately widened.
"Wow..."
Alvian stood beside her.
"Pretty great, right?"
Grace nodded.
"It's beautiful."
"I come here a lot when I have a lot on my mind."
Grace looked at him.
"You have a lot on your mind often?"
Alvian let out a small laugh.
"Sometimes."
They sat on a bench.
For a while, neither of them said anything.
Grace looked up at the sky.
"Why did you bring me here?"
Alvian was silent.
Then he answered honestly.
"Because I wanted to share this place with someone."
Grace turned toward him.
"Someone?"
Alvian nodded.
"Yeah."
Grace looked at him for a few seconds.
"Why me?"
Alvian smiled.
"Because I feel comfortable with you."
Grace fell silent.
This time, there was no quick answer.
No jokes.
Only the sound of the evening breeze.
Grace finally smiled.
"In that case..."
"Hm?"
"I'm glad you brought me here."
Alvian smiled too.
"Thanks for coming with me."
Grace looked at the view before them.
"Alvian."
"Hm?"
"I'm still scared."
"Scared of what?"
"That someday, all of this will change."
Alvian fell silent.
Then he said,
"If it changes, we'll face it when the time comes."
Grace looked at him.
"We?"
Alvian nodded.
"Yeah."
A smile slowly appeared on Grace's face.
"Okay."
Somewhere Else
At a cafe near the school, Nathaniel sat alone.
His phone lit up.
A photo from a school activity appeared in the class group chat.
It showed Alvian and Grace working together.
Nathaniel stared at the screen for a long time.
Then he turned off his phone.
He wasn't angry.
But for the first time, he realized he was already several steps behind.
Meanwhile, Salsa, who was walking home, received the same photo.
She looked at it for a moment.
Then she smiled faintly.
"Alvian..."
She put her phone away.
"Maybe this time I need to stop chasing you."
Night
Alvian drove Grace to a spot near her house.
Grace got off the motorcycle.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Grace removed her helmet.
Then she handed it to Alvian.
"Tomorrow?"
Alvian smiled.
"Tomorrow."
Grace walked a few steps.
Then she stopped.
She turned around.
"Alvian."
"Hm?"
Grace smiled.
"Today was fun."
Alvian smiled back.
"I thought so too."
Grace nodded.
"Be careful."
"I will."
Grace went inside.
Alvian continued waiting until the girl had completely disappeared.
Only then did he put on his helmet.
The Chopper's engine roared to life again.
VROOMMM...
But this time, Alvian didn't leave right away.
He smiled to himself behind his helmet.
That day, he had taken Grace to a place he had only ever visited when he wanted to be alone.
And now...
that place had a new memory.
A memory with someone who was slowly becoming an important part of his life.
Without Alvian realizing it, one simple ride had changed something.
Not just their relationship.
But also the way they saw each other.
And from that day on...
Grace was no longer just the girl who made Alvian curious.
She was someone Alvian wanted to protect, spend time with, and see smile more often.
Meanwhile, Grace began to realize that behind the popular guy with the black Chopper...
there was an Alvian no one had ever truly known.