That morning, Alvian arrived earlier than usual.
6:28 a.m.
His black Chopper came to a stop in the student parking area.
Alvian got off, removed his helmet, and looked at the school building.
But this time, his thoughts weren't about his motorcycle.
Not about homework.
Not even about school.
One thing had been running through his mind since last night.
“Because I want to tell you something.”
Alvian put his helmet under the seat.
“What does she want to tell me?”
“If you're curious, ask her yourself.”
Alvian turned around.
Raka was standing a few steps behind him.
“Where'd you come from?”
“Home.”
Raka walked closer.
“You texted Grace last night?”
Alvian raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“Instinct.”
“What kind of instinct?”
“The instinct of a best friend who knows when his buddy's falling in love.”
Alvian sighed.
“You're annoying.”
Raka laughed.
“Come on, let's go in.”
They walked toward their classroom.
But after only a few steps, Alvian stopped.
His eyes fell on someone at the end of the corridor.
Grace.
The girl was standing alone, holding her bag.
When she saw Alvian, Grace gave him a small smile.
Alvian automatically smiled back.
Raka watched the two of them.
Then he grinned.
“I'll go on ahead.”
Alvian turned to him.
“Why?”
“Giving you some space.”
“Raka.”
“Yeah?”
“Go.”
Raka laughed as he walked ahead.
XI IPS 2
Grace sat at her desk.
Alvian walked over.
“Morning.”
Grace turned to him.
“Morning.”
Alvian sat in his chair.
“So...”
Grace immediately knew what he meant.
“You're curious?”
“A little.”
Grace smiled.
“A little?”
“Okay. A lot.”
Grace let out a soft laugh.
“I'll tell you later.”
“Why later?”
“Because I'm not ready yet.”
Alvian nodded.
“Okay.”
He didn't pressure her.
Grace watched Alvian for a few seconds.
“You're not that curious?”
“I am.”
“Then?”
“If you're not ready to talk, I'll wait.”
Grace fell silent.
Then she smiled.
“Thank you.”
Alvian returned her smile.
“You're welcome.”
The bell rang.
Mr. Arman entered the classroom.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, sir.”
Mr. Arman placed several books on the desk.
“Today, we'll be covering some new material.”
The lesson began.
But several times, Alvian glanced toward Grace.
Not because he wanted to force her to talk.
He just wanted to make sure she was okay.
Meanwhile, Grace seemed quieter than usual.
Keisha, who sat beside her, noticed several times.
“Grace.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you okay?”
Grace nodded.
“Yeah.”
Keisha didn't ask anything else.
But she knew her best friend was thinking about something.
Lunch Break
Grace and Keisha went to the cafeteria.
Alvian was sitting with Raka and Dimas.
Dimas was busy finishing his food.
“Bro.”
Alvian turned to him.
“What?”
“Why have you been staring at that table this whole time?”
Alvian looked at Dimas.
“I'm not looking at anyone.”
Raka laughed.
“He's waiting for Grace.”
Dimas immediately nodded.
“Oh.”
Then he smiled.
“So it's true.”
Alvian shook his head.
“What part is true?”
“That you like her.”
Alvian hadn't had a chance to answer when someone stopped beside their table.
“Salsa.”
Alvian turned to her.
“Salsa?”
Salsa smiled.
“Are you alone?”
“No.”
He pointed at Raka and Dimas.
Salsa let out a small laugh.
“I mean, after school.”
Alvian furrowed his brow.
“Why?”
“Come with me to the music room.”
Raka immediately looked at Alvian.
Dimas fell silent too.
Alvian thought for a moment.
“What for?”
“I want to pick up a few things.”
Alvian nodded.
“Okay.”
Salsa smiled.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks.”
Salsa left.
Raka immediately nudged Alvian's arm.
“You sure about this?”
“About what?”
“Grace.”
Alvian fell silent.
He looked toward the cafeteria.
Grace was sitting with Keisha.
By chance, Grace looked his way too.
Their eyes met.
Grace smiled.
But when she saw Salsa, who had just left Alvian's table, her smile changed slightly.
Alvian noticed.
After Lunch
Grace returned to class.
She sat down and opened her book.
But her thoughts weren't really there.
Keisha sat beside her.
“Grace.”
“Yeah?”
“Did you see Salsa earlier?”
Grace was silent for a moment.
“Yeah.”
“She was talking to Alvian.”
Grace nodded.
“They looked close.”
Keisha looked at her.
“Are you jealous?”
Grace immediately shook her head.
“No.”
Keisha smiled.
“Same answer as yesterday.”
Grace adjusted her glasses.
“I'm not jealous.”
“Then why have you been so quiet?”
Grace didn't answer.
Keisha finally said softly,
“If you like Alvian, that's okay.”
Grace looked at her.
“I don't know.”
“Is it your feelings you don't understand, or your courage?”
Grace fell silent.
Keisha gave her a small smile.
“If you're not sure yet, don't force it.”
Grace lowered her head.
She knew Keisha was right.
Something had begun to grow inside her.
But there was a reason she was afraid to let it develop.
After School
The dismissal bell rang.
Students began leaving the classroom.
Alvian put his books into his bag.
Raka walked over to him.
“So you're going with Salsa?”
Alvian nodded.
“Yeah. It won't take long.”
Raka looked at him.
“Grace hasn't left yet.”
Alvian stopped.
He looked toward Grace's desk.
It was empty.
“Where'd she go?”
“She said she was going to the back of the school.”
Alvian immediately grabbed his bag.
“Why?”
“Going to look for her?”
Alvian was silent.
Raka smiled.
“Just go.”
Alvian walked out of the classroom.
Behind the School
The area behind the school was much quieter.
Grace stood near a bench.
She was holding an old photograph.
Her eyes stayed on it for a long time.
“Grace.”
Alvian's voice startled her.
Grace quickly slipped the photo into her book.
“Oh.”
Alvian stood a few steps away from her.
“You're here?”
Grace nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Keisha said you wanted to tell me something.”
Grace fell silent.
“Yeah.”
Alvian sat on the bench.
“If you're not ready, that's okay.”
Grace stood there for a few seconds.
Then she finally sat down beside him.
“I just...”
She drew a breath.
“I'm tired.”
Alvian turned to her.
“Tired?”
Grace nodded.
“Tired of being treated like I'm weird.”
Alvian was silent.
Grace looked down at her hands.
“I've never really liked being noticed.”
“Why not?”
“Because every time people notice me...”
Grace gave a bitter smile.
“It usually isn't for anything good.”
Alvian didn't interrupt.
Grace continued.
“At my old school, I was always teased for the way I dressed, the way I talked, and even because I'd rather read books than hang out.”
Alvian slowly clenched his fists.
“Is that why you don't like popularity?”
Grace nodded.
“Maybe.”
She was quiet for a few moments.
“I used to think that if I changed, maybe people would stop making fun of me.”
“But?”
Grace gave a small smile.
“They didn't.”
Alvian looked at her.
“Grace.”
“Hmm?”
“You don't have to change just to make other people stop talking.”
Grace turned to him.
“What if they keep talking?”
“Let them.”
Alvian shook his head.
“But you don't have to face everything alone.”
Grace fell silent.
Alvian then gave her a small smile.
“If anyone messes with you, tell me.”
Grace looked at him.
“Why do you always say that?”
Alvian thought for a moment.
“Because I'm your friend.”
Grace smiled.
“You always use that excuse.”
“Then what excuse should I use?”
Grace didn't answer.
Silence stretched between them for a few seconds.
Then she said softly,
“Alvian...”
“Hmm?”
“I feel comfortable when I'm with you.”
Alvian fell silent.
Grace lowered her head.
“I don't know why.”
Alvian smiled.
“Maybe because I never pressure you.”
Grace nodded.
“Yeah.”
She looked at Alvian.
“And you never look at me the way they did.”
Alvian answered without hesitation.
“Because I don't look at you the way they did.”
Grace smiled.
“Thank you.”
Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind them.
They both turned.
Nathaniel stood several yards away.
He was carrying two books.
“Oh.”
Nathaniel looked a little surprised.
“Sorry. Am I interrupting?”
Grace shook her head.
“No.”
Nathaniel walked closer.
“I wanted to give you the math notes from yesterday.”
Grace accepted the books.
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
Nathaniel then looked at Alvian.
Their eyes met.
Neither of them said a word.
But they both understood the same thing.
They liked the same person.
Nathaniel finally said,
“Grace, if there's anything you don't understand later, let me know.”
Grace nodded.
“Okay.”
Nathaniel left.
Alvian watched him until he was far away.
Grace saw the expression on Alvian's face.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
“Are you sure?”
Alvian gave her a small smile.
“I'm sure.”
But deep down, he knew.
That discomfort was becoming clearer.
Nathaniel was no longer just a classmate.
He was becoming someone Alvian had to take seriously.
Music Room
Meanwhile, Salsa was waiting for Alvian.
A few minutes later, Alvian arrived.
“Sorry.”
Salsa smiled.
“It's okay.”
They entered the music room.
Salsa took a small box from the top of a cabinet.
“Here.”
Alvian raised an eyebrow.
“What is it?”
“Old stuff.”
Salsa opened the box.
Inside were several photographs and a few small items from the past.
Alvian looked at them.
“You still keep these?”
Salsa nodded.
“Yeah.”
She picked up one of the photographs.
It was a picture of the two of them from several years ago.
Alvian fell silent.
Salsa smiled.
“Do you still remember?”
Alvian nodded.
“I do.”
Salsa looked at the photograph.
“I thought everything would be over after you transferred.”
Alvian didn't answer.
Salsa then looked at him.
“Turns out I still can't let go.”
Alvian fell silent.
“Salsa...”
“I know.”
Salsa smiled.
“I'm not asking you to answer right now.”
She put the photograph back.
“I just wanted to be honest.”
Alvian nodded slowly.
“Thanks for being honest.”
Salsa smiled.
But there was a hint of sadness in her eyes.
She knew Alvian's heart was beginning to turn toward someone else.
And that person's name...
Grace.
Late Afternoon
Alvian left the school.
He saw Grace standing near her bicycle.
Grace turned to him.
“Are you done?”
“Yeah.”
Alvian walked closer.
“You were waiting for me?”
Grace nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
Grace gave him a small smile.
“I wanted to tell you something.”
Alvian looked at her.
“What?”
Grace drew a breath.
“Thank you.”
“Again?”
Grace let out a small laugh.
“Yeah.”
“For what?”
“For earlier.”
Alvian nodded.
“You're welcome.”
Grace then said,
“Tomorrow...”
“Hmm?”
“If you don't mind, can we have lunch together?”
Alvian smiled.
“Sure.”
Grace nodded.
“Promise?”
Alvian chuckled.
“Promise.”
Grace smiled.
Then they went their separate ways.
Alvian put on his helmet.
Before starting the engine, he looked at Grace one more time.
Something had changed.
Not just in him.
Grace was beginning to open her heart too.
But at the same time, Nathaniel was drawing closer.
Salsa still had feelings for him.
And without any of them realizing it...
the simple relationship between Alvian and Grace was slowly beginning to attract the attention of more and more people.
Alvian started the Chopper's engine.
Vroom...
The sound of its engine filled the school grounds.
But for the first time, that sound wasn't what filled his thoughts the most.
It was one name.
Grace.