The final bell finally rang.
The sound of chairs scraping and footsteps filled the classroom. Some students headed straight out, while others were still chatting.
Alvian casually put his books into his bag.
His first day at Arunika High School hadn't turned out as badly as he'd imagined.
It was actually too crowded.
Since morning, almost everyone had wanted to get to know him.
But there was one thing still bothering him.
Grace Chintia.
Alvian didn't understand why he kept paying attention to her.
Even though they hadn't spoken yet.
"You not heading home yet?"
Raka's voice made Alvian turn.
"Not yet."
Raka stood beside the desk, putting his books into his bag.
"Don't tell me you're waiting for someone."
Alvian glanced at him.
"Nope."
"Grace?"
"Raka."
"Yeah?"
"Be quiet."
Raka laughed.
"You're already getting bossy after one day."
Alvian stood and slung his bag over his shoulder.
They walked out of the classroom.
But when they reached the hallway, Alvian saw someone walking several yards ahead of them.
Grace.
The girl was carrying two books against her chest.
Keisha walked beside her.
"Grace!"
A voice suddenly called from behind them.
Grace stopped.
A female student named Maya Anindita approached with two of her friends.
Maya gave a small smile.
"Back to the library again? You're really something."
Grace only nodded.
"Yeah."
Maya looked at the books Grace was carrying.
"Don't you ever get tired of reading every day?"
Grace gave a faint smile.
"No."
Maya then glanced at her glasses.
"If I were you, I'd be embarrassed to keep wearing glasses like those."
Keisha immediately looked annoyed.
"Maya, enough."
Maya raised both hands.
"I was just kidding."
Grace didn't look angry.
She only adjusted her glasses.
"I'll go ahead, okay?"
Grace then walked away.
Alvian, who happened to be nearby, saw everything.
He noticed how Grace didn't respond to Maya's words.
Not because she was afraid.
It was more like...
she didn't want to waste energy on something unimportant.
Alvian smiled faintly.
"Interesting."
Raka turned to him.
"What is?"
"Nothing."
Library
An hour later.
Alvian walked alone through the school hallway.
He was actually looking for the teachers' office to pick up a document Mr. Arman had asked for.
But when he passed the library, he stopped.
The library door was open.
Inside, Grace was sitting alone.
Alvian watched her for a moment.
Then he went in.
The library was fairly quiet.
Grace was reading so intently that she didn't notice Alvian sit at a table not too far from her.
Several minutes passed.
Alvian finally spoke.
"You come here often?"
Grace raised her head.
For the first time, they spoke.
"Yeah."
"Every day?"
Grace nodded.
"Almost."
Alvian glanced at the book in her hand.
"What are you reading?"
Grace showed him the cover.
"A novel."
"Oh."
Silence.
Grace went back to reading.
Alvian, on the other hand, felt awkward.
Strange.
He could talk to dozens of people without a problem.
But now, talking to a girl who didn't even seem interested in him left him completely confused.
"You..."
Grace raised her head again.
"Hm?"
Alvian pointed at her book.
"Is it good?"
Grace looked at her book.
"It's good."
"How good?"
Grace thought for a moment.
"Pretty good."
Alvian chuckled.
"Your answers are really short."
Grace smiled.
"So are your questions."
Alvian fell silent.
For the first time that day, someone had managed to leave him without an answer.
A little while later, Grace closed her book.
"You're the new student, right?"
Alvian nodded.
"Your name's Alvian?"
"Yeah."
"Agarta?"
"Yeah."
Grace nodded.
"Oh."
Alvian looked at her.
"Why?"
"Nothing."
"How do you know my name?"
Grace pointed toward the bulletin board outside.
"There was an announcement about the new students earlier."
"Oh."
Alvian leaned back in his chair.
"I thought you didn't know who I was."
Grace furrowed her brow.
"Why?"
"Because you've acted like you don't care this whole time."
Grace looked confused.
"Am I supposed to care?"
The question left Alvian speechless.
Grace opened her book again.
"I don't really like paying attention to people."
Alvian smiled.
"You're really honest."
Grace looked at him.
"Why?"
"Nothing."
Alvian stood.
"Then I'll get going."
Grace nodded.
"Take care."
Alvian stopped.
He turned around.
Grace was still reading her book.
"Take care?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Grace finally looked at him.
"Your motorcycle."
Alvian chuckled.
"Oh."
He walked out.
But this time, his steps felt a little different.
For some reason, those simple words kept echoing in his mind.
Take care.
Not praise.
Not admiration.
Not a question about his motorcycle.
Just simple concern.
Student Parking Area
Alvian reached the student parking area.
Raka and Dimas were already waiting for him.
Dimas whistled when he saw Alvian.
"Damn, where have you been?"
"The library."
Raka immediately looked at him.
"The library?"
Alvian picked up his helmet.
"Yeah."
Dimas laughed.
"Since when do you read?"
"I wasn't reading."
"Then what were you doing?"
Alvian put on his helmet.
"Talking."
Raka immediately narrowed his eyes.
"To who?"
Alvian started his motorcycle.
The Chopper's engine roared to life with a deep rumble.
Vroom...
Alvian smiled faintly.
"Grace."
Raka and Dimas immediately exchanged a look.
Dimas's mouth fell wide open.
"WHAT?"
Alvian immediately rode off.
Raka shouted after him.
"ALVIAN!"
Alvian raised one hand without looking back.
"Tomorrow!"
Raka could only laugh.
"This guy..."
But deep down, Alvian himself was beginning to realize something.
He wasn't interested in Grace because she was popular.
It was precisely because she didn't care about his popularity at all.
And maybe...
for the first time, Alvian wanted to get to know someone not because that person was interested in him.
But because he was the one who was curious.
Meanwhile, on the second floor of the school, Grace stood by the library window.
She watched a black Chopper leave the school grounds.
Keisha suddenly appeared beside her.
"Grace."
Grace turned.
"Hm?"
Keisha crossed her arms.
"You were talking to Alvian earlier?"
Grace nodded.
"Yeah."
"What did you talk about?"
Grace thought for a moment.
"Motorcycles."
Keisha narrowed her eyes.
"Are you sure?"
Grace nodded.
"Yeah."
Keisha gave her a teasing smile.
"Looks like someone is starting to catch your attention."
Grace immediately shook her head.
"No."
"Then what?"
Grace looked back at the road in front of the school.
"He's..."
She paused for a moment.
"He seems like a nice guy."
Keisha fell silent.
Then her smile widened.
"Oh..."
Grace immediately turned to her.
"Don't start."
Keisha laughed.
But without either of them realizing it, ever since that afternoon, the name Alvian Agarta had begun to occupy a small corner of Grace's thoughts.
And the name Grace Chintia had begun to occupy a much larger place in Alvian's mind.