The next morning, Arunika High School was buzzing again.
As usual, the student parking area was filled with the sounds of vehicles.
But among all the vehicles arriving, there was one that always managed to draw attention.
Alvian's black Chopper.
Alvian parked it as usual.
He had just taken off his helmet when Raka came over.
"You're getting here earlier and earlier."
Alvian put his helmet under the seat.
"What's it to you?"
"Nothing."
Raka smiled.
"I'm just surprised."
"Surprised about what?"
"You used to be the last person who wanted to come in early."
Alvian closed the seat.
"Things changed."
Raka immediately laughed.
"Because of Grace?"
Alvian glanced at him.
"Can you go one day without talking?"
"So it's true."
Alvian sighed.
"You're annoying."
They walked toward class.
But before going in, Alvian saw Grace standing in front of the classroom with Keisha.
Grace saw him too.
Their eyes met.
Grace gave him a small smile.
"Morning."
Alvian returned the greeting.
"Morning."
Raka, walking beside him, immediately grinned.
Alvian noticed.
"Don't smile like that."
"Why not?"
"It's annoying."
Raka laughed.
Inside the classroom, Grace sat with her book open.
Keisha sat beside her.
"Grace."
"Hm?"
"You've been talking to Alvian a lot lately."
Grace stopped writing.
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing."
Keisha gave her a mischievous smile.
"I just think it's funny."
"What's funny?"
"You didn't even care about him before."
Grace lowered her head.
"He's my group partner."
"And?"
"He's... a friend."
Keisha nodded repeatedly.
"Okay."
Grace looked at her.
"Why'd you say it like that?"
"I didn't."
Keisha smiled.
"I'm just curious."
Grace went back to writing.
But without realizing it, the corners of her lips lifted slightly.
During lunch break.
Alvian was sitting with Raka and Dimas when another student suddenly came over.
"Alvian."
Alvian turned.
Nathaniel.
"What?"
Nathaniel pointed to the empty seat in front of them.
"Mind if I sit here?"
Raka immediately scooted his chair over a little.
"Go ahead."
Nathaniel sat down.
Dimas looked at him.
"You don't usually hang out here."
Nathaniel smiled.
"Am I not allowed?"
"Sure you are."
Dimas laughed.
They talked about school for a few minutes.
Then Nathaniel asked,
"You into motorcycles?"
Alvian nodded.
"Yeah."
"That Chopper yours?"
"Yeah."
Nathaniel nodded.
"Cool."
Alvian smiled.
"Thanks."
For the first time, their conversation felt fairly normal.
There was no competition.
No hostility.
But then Nathaniel looked toward another table.
Grace was talking with Keisha.
Nathaniel smiled faintly.
"Grace is your classmate, right?"
Alvian immediately turned.
"Yeah."
"She's nice."
Alvian fell silent.
Raka noticed the change in his expression.
Nathaniel continued,
"I was in the same group as her last semester."
"Oh."
Alvian tried to look casual.
But Raka knew.
He recognized that expression.
Alvian didn't like hearing Nathaniel talk about Grace.
Nathaniel stood up.
"Anyway, I'm heading out."
After Nathaniel left, Dimas immediately looked at Alvian.
"Bro."
"What?"
"Are you jealous?"
"No."
Raka laughed.
"Fastest answer I've ever heard."
Alvian shook his head.
"I'm just surprised."
"Surprised about what?"
"That he knows Grace."
Raka smiled.
"There it is."
Alvian picked up his drink.
"Drop it."
That afternoon, heavy rain began to fall.
Some students had already gone home.
The rest were still waiting for the rain to let up in front of the school.
Grace stood under the covered terrace, watching the rain.
Keisha had already been picked up.
"Looks like I'll have to wait."
A voice beside her made Grace turn.
Alvian.
He stood there holding his helmet.
"You haven't gone home yet?"
Grace shook her head.
"The rain."
Alvian looked up at the sky.
"Yeah."
Grace gave him a small smile.
"You haven't gone home either?"
"Not yet."
Alvian sat on the bench beside her.
For several minutes, they simply listened to the sound of the rain.
Then Grace said,
"Alvian."
"Hm?"
"Why do you like that motorcycle?"
Alvian smiled.
"Good question."
He looked at the Chopper parked in the distance.
"Because it has a story."
Grace looked at him.
"A story?"
"Yeah."
Alvian nodded.
"I've had this motorcycle for a long time."
"Since when?"
"Since before I moved here."
Grace smiled.
"So you really love it."
"A lot."
Grace fell silent.
Then she said,
"That's good."
Alvian turned to her.
"Good?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because you have something you take care of."
Alvian didn't answer right away.
The sentence was simple.
But once again, Grace had said something that made him think.
Alvian smiled faintly.
"Do you have something you take care of too?"
Grace fell silent.
She looked at the rain.
"I don't know."
"Why not?"
Grace shrugged.
"I guess I'm just trying to take care of myself."
Alvian looked at her.
For the first time, he felt there was something beneath Grace's usual attitude that he didn't know about.
But he didn't ask any further.
He only said,
"If you ever need help, tell me."
Grace turned to him.
"Why?"
"Because..."
Alvian paused for a moment.
"You're my friend."
Grace smiled.
"Thanks."
The rain continued to fall.
But this time, the atmosphere between them felt different.
Closer.
More comfortable.
A few minutes later, the rain began to let up.
Grace stood.
"I'm heading home."
Alvian stood too.
"Be careful."
Grace smiled.
"You too."
Grace walked toward her bicycle.
After only a few steps, she turned around.
"Alvian."
"Hm?"
"Tomorrow..."
Grace looked a little hesitant.
"If you're not busy, could you come with me to the library?"
Alvian smiled.
"Sure."
Grace nodded.
"Promise?"
Alvian looked at her.
"Promise."
Grace smiled.
Then she left.
Alvian stood where he was, watching Grace until she disappeared from sight.
Raka suddenly appeared behind him.
"Promise?"
Alvian turned around in surprise.
"Where'd you come from?"
"Just got here."
Raka grinned widely.
"I heard everything."
Alvian sighed.
"Don't start."
Raka patted him on the shoulder.
"I don't need to start anything."
He chuckled.
"Looks like Grace is starting to feel comfortable around you too."
Alvian fell silent.
He looked toward the road where Grace had left.
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Maybe."
But elsewhere, Nathaniel had just left the school building as well.
He saw Alvian.
Then he looked in the same direction.
The direction Grace had gone.
Nathaniel's expression shifted slightly.
For the first time, he realized something.
Alvian wasn't the only person who was starting to pay attention to Grace.
And maybe...
that rivalry would begin without either of them truly planning it.