That morning, Alvian arrived really early.
Not because he wanted to look diligent.
And not because he had business with Mr. Arman.
He just wanted to enjoy the school grounds before they filled up with students.
His black Chopper came to a stop in the student parking area.
Alvian got off, removed his helmet, then checked the time on his phone.
6:32 a.m.
He sighed.
“Why did I come this early?”
He knew the answer.
Grace.
Yesterday, the girl had asked him to come early for presentation practice.
But really, if it was only for an assignment, Alvian could have shown up fifteen minutes before class started.
There was no need to come more than an hour early.
Alvian shook his head.
“Seriously.”
He walked toward the classroom.
XI IPS 2
The classroom was still empty.
Only a few seats were occupied.
Alvian sat in his usual spot and took out a book.
He tried to read.
Five minutes.
He couldn't focus.
He fiddled with his pen.
Ten minutes.
He still couldn't focus.
Finally, he leaned back in his chair.
“Why am I waiting for someone?”
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Alvian turned.
Grace appeared in the classroom doorway.
The girl looked a little surprised to see that Alvian was already there.
“You're here already?”
Alvian nodded.
“Yeah.”
Grace checked the time.
“It's really early.”
“What about you?”
“I wanted to practice.”
Alvian smiled faintly.
“That's why I came.”
Grace smiled.
“Thank you.”
For some reason, those two simple words made Alvian feel happy again.
Grace walked to her desk and set down her bag.
Then she took out several sheets of paper.
“I finished the opening section.”
Alvian took the papers.
“Looks good.”
Grace smiled.
“You haven't read it yet.”
Alvian stopped.
“Oh.”
Grace let out a small laugh.
“That's why you should read it first.”
Alvian laughed too.
“Whatever.”
He read the papers.
A few seconds later, he nodded.
“Looks good.”
Grace looked at him.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“What if something's missing?”
“I don't think anything is.”
Grace smiled.
“You say everything's good so easily.”
Alvian turned to her.
“Why?”
“I'm worried you're only saying that to make me happy.”
Alvian fell silent.
Then he smiled.
“If it's bad, I'll say it's bad.”
Grace let out a small laugh.
“Okay.”
They began practicing.
It was a little awkward at first.
Grace read her part.
Alvian listened.
Then it was Alvian's turn.
But when Alvian began speaking, Grace watched him instead.
Not because Alvian was popular.
Not because of his looks.
But because he looked different when he was serious about something.
After he finished, Grace said,
“You're actually really good at speaking.”
Alvian raised an eyebrow.
“You thought I could only ride a motorcycle?”
Grace immediately realized what he meant.
“I didn't say that.”
Alvian laughed.
“But you thought it.”
“No, I didn't.”
“Are you sure?”
Grace smiled.
“I'm sure.”
Silence fell for a moment.
Then Grace said,
“Your motorcycle is cool.”
Alvian looked at her.
“There it is.”
Grace looked confused.
“There what is?”
“That's the first time you've said it.”
Grace let out a small laugh.
“What's wrong with that?”
“Nothing.”
Alvian leaned back.
“Usually, the first thing people say when they see my motorcycle is that it's cool.”
Grace nodded.
“It is cool.”
Alvian smiled.
“But?”
Grace thought about it.
“But I like the person riding it more.”
Alvian fell silent.
Grace immediately realized that her words sounded strange.
“I mean...”
Her face turned slightly red.
“Because the motorcycle is just an object.”
Alvian looked at her.
Grace continued in a soft voice.
“But you can talk to the person riding it.”
Alvian didn't answer.
For some reason, that simple sentence felt far more meaningful than all the compliments he'd ever heard about himself.
Grace lowered her head.
“That sounded weird, didn't it?”
Alvian smiled.
“No.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
He looked at Grace.
“I actually like your answer.”
Grace fell silent.
They looked at each other for several seconds.
Until footsteps sounded outside.
“HEY!”
Raka appeared in the doorway.
“Whoa.”
Alvian immediately looked away.
Raka looked at Alvian.
Then Grace.
Then back at Alvian.
“You two are already hanging out alone this early?”
Grace stood up immediately.
“We're practicing for the assignment.”
Raka laughed.
“Yeah, I know.”
Alvian shot him a sharp look.
“Don't start.”
Raka raised his hands.
“Got it, boss.”
Dimas arrived not long afterward.
He took in the classroom.
“Why's it so empty?”
Raka answered immediately.
“Because everyone else isn't here yet.”
Dimas nodded.
“Makes sense.”
Then he looked at Alvian and Grace.
“Oh.”
Alvian immediately pointed at him.
“Don't.”
Dimas laughed.
“I haven't even said anything!”
When Class Began
Mr. Arman came in right on time.
All the students returned to their seats.
That day, they went over the material before the presentations.
Mr. Arman then gave each group a chance to do a short practice run.
When it was Alvian's group's turn, Grace stood up first.
She looked a little nervous.
Her hand gripped the papers tightly.
Alvian noticed.
“Relax.”
Grace turned to him.
“You're here.”
Grace smiled faintly.
“Yeah.”
The presentation began.
Grace opened the presentation fairly well.
But when she reached the next section, she suddenly forgot a sentence.
She froze.
Several students began whispering.
Grace looked panicked.
Alvian immediately took over.
“As Grace explained earlier...”
He continued the presentation without making Grace look like she'd made a mistake.
Grace looked at him.
Alvian gave her a small nod.
Keep going.
Grace took a breath.
Then she continued.
Their presentation finally ended.
Mr. Arman smiled.
“Good job.”
Dimas let out a sigh of relief.
“Congratulations. We survived.”
The whole class laughed.
Grace laughed too.
After returning to their seats, Grace whispered to Alvian,
“Thank you.”
Alvian turned to her.
“For what?”
“For earlier.”
“Oh.”
Alvian smiled.
“Don't worry about it.”
Grace looked at him for several seconds.
Then she said,
“You're actually really nice.”
Alvian fell silent.
He'd often heard handsome.
Cool.
Popular.
Amazing.
But for some reason...
nice
felt far more meaningful.
Lunch Break
Alvian, Raka, and Dimas were sitting in the cafeteria.
Raka leaned back in his chair.
“I've got a question.”
Alvian ate casually.
“What?”
“Do you realize you've changed?”
Alvian raised an eyebrow.
“How?”
“Back then, whenever someone asked for help, you couldn't be bothered.”
Dimas chimed in.
“True.”
Raka continued.
“Now Grace just says she needs help, and you're right there.”
Alvian fell silent.
Dimas laughed.
“Bro, you're so busted.”
Alvian shook his head.
“She's my friend. That's all.”
Raka smiled.
“Your friend?”
“Yeah.”
“You sure?”
Alvian didn't answer.
But before the conversation could continue, someone approached their table.
Nathaniel.
“Alvian.”
Alvian turned.
“Yeah?”
Nathaniel stood there casually.
“Mr. Arman wants your group's presentation file sent to him.”
“Oh.”
Alvian nodded.
“I'll send it later.”
Nathaniel nodded.
But before leaving, his gaze accidentally fell on Grace, who was sitting with Keisha at another table.
Only for a moment.
But Alvian noticed.
Nathaniel then left.
Raka nudged Alvian's arm.
“What?”
“What about it?”
“You were watching Nathaniel.”
Alvian shook his head.
“No, I wasn't.”
Raka smiled faintly.
“Looks like someone might make this story complicated.”
Alvian frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
Raka just laughed.
“Nothing.”
Afternoon
After school ended, Grace walked toward the bicycle parking area.
She was about to leave when she saw Alvian standing near his Chopper.
Alvian was putting on his helmet.
Grace approached him.
“Alvian.”
Alvian turned.
“Oh.”
Grace smiled.
“Thanks for today.”
“Why do you keep thanking me?”
“Because you helped me so much.”
Alvian smiled.
“Then buy me something.”
Grace fell silent.
“Buy you something?”
“Yeah.”
Grace looked thoughtful.
“What?”
Alvian pointed to a small shop across the street.
“Iced tea.”
Grace laughed.
“Just iced tea?”
“The important thing is that you're treating me.”
Grace nodded.
“Okay.”
They walked together toward the small shop.
No one paid attention to them.
There were no cheers.
No one was talking about Alvian.
Just two students sitting across from each other and enjoying simple drinks.
And for the first time...
Alvian felt comfortable.
Not because he was the center of attention.
But because for a few minutes, he was nobody special.
He was just Alvian.
And Grace was sitting across from him.
The girl who had never seen him as anything special.
Alvian watched Grace smile faintly.
Then he realized something.
Maybe he hadn't needed someone who admired him all this time.
Maybe he had only needed someone who saw him for who he really was.
And maybe...
that person was Grace Chintia.