That morning, Arunika High School felt busier than usual.
Alvian had just parked his black Chopper when someone's voice came from behind him.
"Vi."
Alvian turned around.
Raka walked over with both hands in his pants pockets.
"What?"
Raka nodded toward the school building.
"You remember your promise from yesterday?"
Alvian furrowed his brow.
"What promise?"
"Lunch."
Alvian immediately broke into a small smile.
"Oh."
Raka laughed.
"There it is. You smiled right away."
"You're loud."
"Grace, right?"
Alvian put his helmet in the seat compartment.
"Yeah."
Raka stared at him for a few seconds.
"You don't even feel embarrassed admitting it anymore."
"Why would I be embarrassed?"
"So you're serious."
Alvian closed the seat compartment.
"I don't know yet."
"Don't know what?"
"How serious I am."
Raka shook his head, laughing.
"Man, you're hopeless."
They walked toward class.
But when they had just reached the hallway, Alvian saw Grace.
The girl was standing by the window, reading a book.
When she saw Alvian, Grace closed her book.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Alvian stopped in front of her.
"So?"
Grace looked confused.
"So what?"
"You said we'd have lunch."
Grace immediately smiled.
"Oh, that."
"Yeah."
Grace nodded.
"It's on."
Alvian smiled.
"Okay."
Raka, standing a few steps behind them, could only shake his head.
"It's barely morning, and you're already making me feel like a background character."
Grace let out a small laugh.
Alvian looked at Raka.
"You can leave now."
"On it."
Raka raised both hands.
"I'm going."
Raka walked away laughing.
XI IPS 2
The first class began.
Mr. Arman stood at the front of the classroom, explaining the lesson.
Meanwhile, Alvian glanced toward Grace every now and then.
Not because there was anything he wanted to ask her.
He was simply happy knowing they would be having lunch together later.
But that small happiness didn't escape someone's notice.
Salsa.
From her seat, Salsa watched Alvian several times.
She knew that look.
The look of someone thinking about another person.
And she also knew who that person was.
Grace.
Salsa drew a slow breath.
Then she looked back down at her book.
She didn't hate Grace.
She didn't even have a reason to hate her.
Grace wasn't the problem.
The problem was Salsa's own heart, which still couldn't truly let go of Alvian.
First break.
Alvian had just left the classroom when Dimas came up to him.
"Bro!"
Alvian turned around.
"What now?"
"Cafeteria."
"Why?"
"To eat."
"Then go eat."
Dimas stared at him in confusion.
"You're not coming?"
"Nope."
"Why not?"
Alvian pointed into the classroom.
"I'm waiting for Grace."
Dimas fell silent.
Then he looked at Raka, who had just come out.
"He's getting worse."
Raka nodded.
"Advanced stage."
Alvian sighed.
"So dramatic."
Dimas patted Alvian on the shoulder.
"When you have a kid, just name them Grace Junior."
"Go."
Dimas laughed and ran off.
"Don't forget to invite me!"
Raka laughed too.
"You're really patient."
"I'm used to it."
A little while later, Grace came out of the classroom.
Keisha walked beside her.
Keisha spotted Alvian right away.
Then she looked at Grace.
"Ah."
Grace immediately knew what she meant.
"Don't."
"I haven't said anything."
"But I know."
Keisha smiled.
"Enjoy your lunch."
Grace lowered her head shyly.
Alvian only let out a small laugh.
"Where are you going?"
"Weren't we going to eat?"
"Yeah."
Grace nodded.
"Let's go."
They walked off together.
Keisha watched them from behind.
Raka stood beside her.
"They seem like a good match."
Keisha turned to him.
"You're Raka?"
"Yeah."
"Alvian's friend?"
"Yeah."
Keisha smiled.
"Then we have the same job."
Raka furrowed his brow.
"What job?"
"Making sure they don't act too stupid about their feelings."
Raka laughed.
"Agreed."
Cafeteria
The school cafeteria was pretty crowded.
Almost every table was occupied.
Alvian looked around.
"That one's empty."
He pointed to a table by the window.
Grace nodded.
They sat across from each other.
Grace set down her food.
Alvian smiled.
"You usually eat this?"
Grace nodded.
"Yeah."
"Every day?"
"Not every day."
"That's what I thought."
Grace smiled.
"What about you?"
Alvian pointed at his food.
"This."
Grace looked at it.
"You eat spicy food a lot?"
"Yeah."
"Don't eat it too often."
Alvian laughed.
"Why not?"
"You'll get sick."
"You worried about me?"
Grace immediately fell silent.
Her face turned slightly red.
"I was just saying."
Alvian smiled.
"Yeah."
Grace began to eat.
A few seconds later, Alvian said,
"Grace."
"Hmm?"
"Why did you ask me to eat with you?"
Grace stopped.
She looked down at her food.
"I..."
Alvian waited.
Grace took a breath.
"Because I feel comfortable when I'm with you."
Alvian smiled faintly.
"That's the same reason you gave yesterday."
Grace nodded.
"Yeah."
"So can I feel special?"
Grace immediately looked up.
"Don't get cocky."
Alvian laughed.
"Okay."
Grace smiled too.
But a few seconds later, she said softly,
"But..."
"Hmm?"
"I really am happy when you're around."
Alvian fell silent.
That sentence meant far more to him than Grace realized.
"In that case..."
Alvian smiled.
"I'm happy when you're around too."
Grace lowered her head.
For a while, they simply ate, occasionally talking about simple things.
Their classes.
Books.
Teachers.
The cafeteria food, which sometimes tasted impossible to predict.
There was no talk about popularity.
Nothing about the Chopper.
Nothing about anyone else.
Just the two of them.
And that was exactly what made Alvian even more certain.
He didn't need anything extravagant to be happy.
He only needed someone who made him feel comfortable being himself.
However, someone at another table was watching them.
Nathaniel.
He was eating with a few of his friends.
His gaze kept drifting toward Alvian and Grace.
One of his friends noticed.
"Nat."
"Hmm?"
"You know Grace?"
Nathaniel nodded.
"I know her."
"You like her?"
Nathaniel fell silent.
His friend laughed.
"It's obvious."
Nathaniel smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
"What about Alvian?"
Nathaniel looked toward them.
"Him too."
His friend raised an eyebrow.
"Rival?"
Nathaniel didn't answer right away.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Not necessarily."
After Lunch
Grace and Alvian walked back toward class.
Grace held a book against her chest.
Alvian walked beside her.
"The food was good."
Grace nodded.
"Yeah."
"Want to eat together again tomorrow?"
Grace turned to him.
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
Grace smiled.
"Sure."
Alvian smiled too.
"Okay."
But as they passed through the hallway, several female students began whispering.
"That's Alvian, right?"
"With Grace?"
"Seriously?"
"Since when?"
Grace heard all of it.
Her pace slowed slightly.
Alvian noticed.
"What's wrong?"
Grace shook her head.
"Nothing."
Alvian looked at her.
"You're not uncomfortable?"
Grace fell silent.
Just for a moment.
But she didn't want to cause trouble.
"What if they're talking about us?"
"Let them."
"But..."
Alvian stopped walking.
Grace stopped too.
Alvian looked at her.
"Grace."
"Hmm?"
"You don't have to be embarrassed to walk with me."
Grace fell silent.
"That's not it."
"Then what is it?"
"I'm just afraid you'll become the subject of gossip too."
Alvian let out a small laugh.
"Grace."
"Hmm?"
"I've been the subject of gossip since my first day here."
Grace smiled.
"You have a point."
"So just relax."
Grace nodded.
"Okay."
They started walking again.
But without realizing it, they had been overheard by Maya, who was standing near the classroom.
Maya looked at Grace.
Then at Alvian.
She smiled faintly.
"Wow..."
Inside the Classroom
Maya walked over to Grace.
"Grace."
Grace turned around.
"Yeah?"
"Did you eat with Alvian?"
Grace nodded.
"Yeah."
Maya smiled.
"Ooh."
Grace immediately became flustered.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Maya sat in the chair beside her.
"Look at you."
Grace furrowed her brow.
"Look at me?"
"Yeah."
Maya laughed.
"You usually hate getting close to guys."
Grace didn't answer.
Maya looked at her.
"Does he like you?"
Grace immediately shook her head.
"I don't know."
Maya smiled.
"If he didn't like you, there's no way he'd want to eat alone with you."
Grace fell silent.
Maya stood up.
"Good luck."
Grace looked at her.
"Maya."
"Hmm?"
"You're not making fun of me?"
Maya smiled.
"Why would I?"
Then she walked away.
Grace continued watching her.
For the first time, she realized something.
Not everyone who had teased her before truly hated her.
Maybe some of them simply didn't know how to act.
After School
The sky was clear that afternoon.
Alvian stood in the parking lot, wiping a little dirt off his Chopper.
Raka came over.
"You heading home?"
"Yeah."
Raka looked at the motorcycle.
"Your bike's always spotless."
"It has to be."
"You take better care of it than you do yourself."
Alvian laughed.
"Whatever."
Raka then leaned against the motorcycle.
"So?"
"So what?"
"Lunch."
Alvian sighed.
"Why is everyone asking about that?"
"Because you've been smiling nonstop."
Alvian said nothing.
Raka laughed.
"I'm serious."
"What?"
"Are you happy?"
The question made Alvian stop cleaning the motorcycle.
He looked at the Chopper in front of him.
Then he smiled.
"Yeah."
Raka nodded.
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because I haven't seen you smile like that much before."
Alvian fell silent.
Raka patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't lose that just because you're afraid of what people will say."
Alvian nodded.
"I know."
Meanwhile
Grace stood in front of the school gate with Keisha.
Keisha was holding her phone.
"Grace."
"Hmm?"
"I want to ask you something."
"What?"
"Do you like Alvian?"
Grace fell silent.
She looked at the road in front of the school.
Several seconds passed.
"I..."
Keisha waited.
Grace finally smiled faintly.
"I think I do."
Keisha immediately broke into a huge smile.
"Yes!"
Grace quickly covered Keisha's mouth.
"Don't say it so loud!"
Keisha laughed.
"You finally admitted it!"
Grace took her hand away.
"But I'm scared."
"Scared of what?"
"That everything will change."
Keisha looked at her seriously.
"Grace."
"Hmm?"
"Feelings can change a lot of things."
Grace lowered her head.
"But that doesn't mean everything will turn out badly."
Grace said nothing.
Keisha smiled.
"If Alvian really likes you because you're you, then you don't need to change."
Grace nodded slowly.
"I hope so."
Parking Lot
Alvian had just put on his helmet when he saw Grace and Keisha near the school gate.
He walked over.
"Grace."
Grace turned around.
"Oh."
Alvian smiled.
"You haven't gone home yet?"
"Not yet."
Keisha immediately backed away a few steps.
"I'm heading out."
Grace looked at her.
"Keisha."
"What?"
"Why are you leaving?"
Keisha smiled.
"Giving you two some space."
Then she jogged toward the gate.
Grace could only sigh.
Alvian laughed.
"Your friend is weird."
"Very."
The two of them stood together.
Silence fell for a few seconds.
Then Alvian said,
"Lunch again tomorrow?"
Grace smiled.
"You pick the place tomorrow."
"Okay."
Grace nodded.
"Don't make it too expensive."
Alvian laughed.
"Don't worry."
Grace then looked at the Chopper.
"Alvian."
"Hmm?"
"Can I take a look?"
"Look at what?"
"Your motorcycle."
Alvian smiled.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
"Didn't you say you weren't interested in motorcycles?"
"I'm just curious."
Alvian handed her his spare helmet.
"Hold this."
Grace accepted it.
Alvian then showed her a few parts of the motorcycle.
Grace listened intently.
"Is this the part you said had a story?"
Alvian nodded.
"Yeah."
Grace carefully touched the handlebars.
"It's nice."
Alvian smiled.
"Want to ride it?"
Grace immediately looked at him.
"Ride it?"
"Yeah. If you want."
Grace looked hesitant.
"Maybe tomorrow."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not ready yet."
Alvian let out a small laugh.
"Okay."
Grace smiled.
"You're really patient."
Alvian looked at her.
"I can be patient with you."
Grace fell silent again.
This time, she couldn't hide her smile.
Across the courtyard, Nathaniel stood with his bag.
He saw Grace smiling beside Alvian.
But he didn't approach them.
He only watched for a moment.
Then he left.
Meanwhile, from the second floor of the school building, Salsa was watching them too.
She gripped the strap of her bag a little tighter.
But this time, she didn't feel like interfering.
She only said softly to herself,
"So that's who it is."
Salsa sighed.
"Maybe I really am too late."
Alvian started the Chopper.
The sound of the engine filled the parking lot.
Grace took a small step back.
"Don't be late tomorrow."
Alvian smiled behind his helmet.
"Got it."
Grace gave him a small wave.
"Be careful."
Alvian nodded.
Then the motorcycle slowly left the school grounds.
But all the way home, Alvian kept smiling.
Nothing extraordinary had happened that day.
There had been no major incident.
No confession of love.
Just a simple lunch.
A brief conversation.
And a smile that might not have meant anything to anyone else.
But to Alvian...
it was enough to make his day feel different.
Because now he knew one thing.
Grace was no longer just someone who made him curious.
She was someone he wanted to keep close.
And without either of them realizing it...
the feelings that had first grown quietly were becoming harder and harder to hide.