Chapter 6
What Jovan Couldn't Control
Jovan didn't come to school.
Keira knew even before the first bell rang.
She knew because Jovan's desk in the class next door was empty.
Because Bima showed up alone.
Because Dito's voice wasn't shouting his name from the end of the hallway.
And because Jovan's last message, sent at 6:12 that morning, said only:
Jovan: I'm not coming in today.
Keira read the message for what had to be the tenth time.
There was no explanation.
She had replied.
Keira: Why?
Sent.
Unread.
Almost an hour already.
"Kei."
Tasya snapped her fingers in front of Keira's face.
Keira immediately locked her phone.
"What?"
"The teacher isn't even here, and you've opened the same chat eight times."
"It wasn't eight."
"Nine?"
Keira shot her a sharp look.
Tasya pulled out a chair and sat across from her.
"He still hasn't replied?"
"No."
"His dad has a checkup today, right?"
Keira fell silent.
Jovan had said that yesterday.
This afternoon.
A checkup.
But if it was just a routine appointment, why wasn't Jovan at school since morning?
"Maybe he's accompanying him," Tasya said.
"Maybe."
"Then why do you look like you're about to take a math test without studying?"
Keira slipped her phone into her pocket.
"I'm fine."
Tasya gave her a flat look.
"The biggest lie in the world."
Keira didn't respond.
Celine arrived a few seconds later carrying two packages of food.
"News."
Keira immediately looked at her.
Tasya clicked her tongue.
"Why do I get scared every time you show up with the word 'news'?"
Celine sat down.
"It's not gossip."
"Are you sure?"
"Eighty percent."
Farah, who had just entered the classroom, heard the last part.
"So it's still gossip."
Celine ignored her.
She looked at Keira.
"Jovan isn't here, right?"
Keira frowned.
"How do you know?"
"The futsal guys were talking."
"And?"
Celine hesitated.
That alone made Keira uncomfortable.
"Celine."
"I heard someone say his dad was admitted to the hospital."
Keira's heart seemed to stop for one second.
"What?"
Tasya turned to her.
"Celine, don't just make things up."
"I'm not. That's why I said eighty percent."
"From who?"
"A senior who knows Dito's older brother."
Farah sighed.
"That source has gone through way too many people."
"But—"
Keira's phone vibrated.
Everyone fell silent.
Keira hurriedly picked it up.
It wasn't Jovan.
It was Bima.
Bima: Kei, can you come out for a minute during break?
Keira read it twice.
Keira: Why?
Bima's reply came.
Bima: It's about Jovan.
Keira's throat immediately went dry.
The first break felt impossibly far away.
As soon as the bell rang, Keira left the classroom.
Bima was already standing on the side stairwell.
The place where, a few days ago, someone had taken a photo of her and Jovan.
Today it was quiet.
No one was paying attention.
At least, Keira hoped not.
"Bim."
Bima turned.
He didn't look like himself.
No smile.
No jokes.
Keira immediately knew something had really happened.
"What's wrong with Jovan?"
Bima rubbed the back of his neck.
"His dad was admitted to the hospital last night."
Keira froze.
"But yesterday he said there was a checkup today."
"Yeah."
"Then?"
"His condition suddenly got worse."
Keira didn't realize she was gripping her bag strap too tightly.
"How bad is it?"
Bima shook his head.
"I don't know the details."
"Is Jovan at the hospital?"
"Yeah."
"By himself?"
"With his mom and little sister."
Keira lowered her head for a moment.
Her thoughts moved too quickly.
Yesterday afternoon.
Jovan had still been joking.
Still commenting on the anonymous account.
Still promising her bread.
There hadn't been any sign.
Or maybe no one ever knew when something would suddenly get worse.
"Why are you telling me?"
Bima looked at her.
"Because you would've found out anyway."
Keira fell silent.
"And rather than hearing it through gossip..."
Bima sighed.
"...I figured it was better coming from me."
Keira gave a small nod.
"Thanks."
Bima didn't leave.
There was something else.
Keira could see it.
"What?"
Bima hesitated.
"This part is kind of complicated."
Keira waited.
"Jovan might get mad if he finds out I told you."
"About his dad?"
"Not just that."
Keira frowned.
"Bim."
Bima looked toward the end of the stairwell, making sure no one was around.
Then he said quietly,
"Do you know why almost no one has known his dad was sick all this time?"
"Because Jovan didn't tell them."
"That's not the only reason."
Keira looked at him.
Bima exhaled.
"Jovan's family is having problems."
Keira immediately remembered the last thing Nadine had said during their conversation.
The real reason his dad's condition had been kept secret.
"What kind of problems?"
"Problems with his dad's company."
Keira said nothing.
Bima continued,
"There was a case at the office over the past few months."
"What kind of case?"
"I don't understand business details."
He lowered his voice.
"Apparently, some company money went missing."
Keira knitted her brows.
"What does that have to do with Jovan's dad?"
"His name got dragged into it."
Keira's heart began racing again.
"How?"
"A lot of people accused him of being involved."
Keira stared at Bima.
"Accused?"
"That doesn't mean it's true."
Bima quickly added,
"I'm serious. Jovan himself said his dad couldn't have done it."
Keira didn't answer.
"The case even made the local news for a while."
Bima rubbed his face.
"That's why his family deliberately kept his dad's health condition quiet. They didn't want more attention."
Keira tried to put all the information together.
"Does Jovan know everything?"
"Some of it."
"Since when?"
"For a few months."
A few months.
That meant while they were still dating.
While Jovan had started to change.
While he had often looked exhausted.
Keira swallowed.
"Why didn't he ever tell me?"
Bima looked at her for a long moment.
Then he gave a small, bitter smile.
"Because Jovan is the most annoying person in the world when he thinks he has to protect everyone."
Keira didn't respond.
"He protected his mom."
"His little sister."
"You too."
Bima leaned against the wall.
"The problem is, he forgot he isn't a wall."
Keira lowered her head.
The words felt painfully accurate.
"Did he tell you?"
"A little."
"When?"
"After you broke up."
Keira looked straight at him.
Bima nodded.
"That night."
Keira's heart pounded.
"He came to my house."
Keira didn't know whether she wanted to hear this.
But she didn't stop Bima.
"He just sat there for almost an hour."
"What did he say?"
"At first, nothing."
Bima gave a small laugh.
"Then I asked him what happened between you two."
Keira waited.
"He said everything was a mess."
Bima looked at Keira.
"His home, his dad, you."
Keira bit the inside of her lip.
"Then he said..."
Bima stopped.
"What?"
"...at least if you weren't with him, you wouldn't get dragged into his family's problems."
Keira froze.
"What?"
"That's why, when you broke up with him, he didn't chase after you."
All the sounds outside the stairwell seemed to disappear.
Keira stared at Bima in disbelief.
"So he did it on purpose?"
"No."
Bima immediately shook his head.
"Don't misunderstand. He didn't deliberately make you break up."
"But he let me go."
"Yeah."
The answer hurt.
More than Keira had expected.
"Why?"
"Because he's an idiot."
Bima smiled faintly.
"And scared."
Keira looked away.
Anger slowly rose inside her.
Not because of his family's case.
Not because Jovan had hidden everything.
But because he'd made a decision for Keira without ever asking her.
He'd decided she'd be better off far away from him.
He'd decided his problems were too heavy to share.
He'd decided their relationship could end for something Keira hadn't even been given the chance to understand.
"Bim."
"Hm?"
"Which hospital?"
Bima immediately looked wary.
"Kei."
"Which hospital?"
"Jovan might get mad."
"Let him."
"Seriously."
"I'm mad too."
Bima fell silent.
Keira looked straight at him.
"But I still want to know if he's okay."
Bima let out a long breath.
Finally, he told her the hospital's name.
Keira heard nothing during the next class.
The teacher explained.
She took notes.
At least, her hand did.
Her mind was somewhere else.
At 11:20, Keira's message was finally read.
Keira: Why?
There was no reply.
Keira waited.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Then a message appeared.
Jovan: Dad's in the hospital.
Keira immediately typed.
Keira: I know.
The typing indicator appeared.
Stopped.
Appeared again.
Jovan: Who told you?
Keira didn't want to drag Bima into it.
Keira: Someone told me.
Jovan replied quickly.
Jovan: Who?
Keira: Does it matter?
There was no answer for a long time.
Then:
Jovan: No.
Keira stared at the screen.
Keira: How is he?
Several minutes passed.
Jovan: They're still examining him.
Keira: Have you eaten?
The message was read.
There was no immediate reply.
Keira could almost picture Jovan's expression.
Finally:
Jovan: No.
Keira sighed.
Keira: Eat.
Jovan: Later.
Keira: Now.
Jovan: Kei.
Keira: What?
The typing indicator appeared.
For a long time.
Jovan: I don't have the energy to argue.
Keira immediately regretted it.
She typed more slowly.
Keira: I don't want to argue either.
Keira: I just don't want you getting sick too.
No reply.
One minute.
Two.
Then:
Jovan: Yeah.
Keira stared at the one word.
Then typed:
Keira: Can I come there?
This time, Jovan didn't read it for almost five minutes.
When he finally did, there was no reply.
Keira waited.
Ten minutes.
Then:
Jovan: Don't bother.
Her chest immediately felt heavy.
Keira: Why?
Jovan: You don't need to.
Keira: That's not an answer.
Jovan: Kei.
Keira: I just want to see you.
The message was read.
Jovan didn't reply.
The class-change bell rang.
Keira was still staring at the screen.
Finally, one message appeared.
Jovan: Don't come here.
Keira read the sentence for a long time.
Then she locked her screen.
Tasya, sitting beside her, saw Keira's face.
"He doesn't want you to come?"
Keira nodded.
Tasya fell silent.
"What are you going to do?"
Keira put her phone in her bag.
"Go."
Tasya raised an eyebrow.
"He just told you not to."
"I know."
"Then?"
Keira stood and picked up the textbook for the next class.
"I wasn't asking for permission."
Keira left after school.
Alone.
She didn't tell Jovan.
She didn't tell Bima either.
Only Tasya knew.
The hospital was about twenty-five minutes from school.
On the way, Keira began to doubt herself.
Maybe Jovan was right.
Maybe she shouldn't go.
Maybe Jovan's family needed space.
Maybe her presence would only create more problems.
But every time Keira almost asked the driver to turn around, she remembered one sentence.
At least if you weren't with him, you wouldn't get dragged into his family's problems.
Keira was angry.
Very angry.
Because it meant Jovan was still doing the same thing.
Deciding for himself what Keira could handle.
The car stopped in front of the hospital.
Keira got out.
Her hands felt cold.
She entered through the main lobby.
Bima had already told her the floor and waiting room.
Keira took the elevator.
The closer she got, the more nervous she became.
The elevator doors opened.
The fourth-floor hallway was quieter.
Keira walked slowly.
Then she saw someone sitting alone at the end of the waiting room.
Jovan.
He was still wearing a black T-shirt and pants.
His hair was messy.
Both elbows rested on his knees.
His head was lowered.
His phone was in his hand, but the screen was dark.
Keira stopped.
For a few seconds, she only watched him.
The Jovan she knew was always moving.
Always talking.
Always had enough energy to joke, even when he was annoyed.
The person in front of her looked different.
Small.
Tired.
Alone.
Keira walked closer.
Her footsteps were soft against the floor.
Jovan lifted his head.
Their eyes met.
His expression changed instantly.
"Kei?"
Keira stood a few feet away.
Jovan rose.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came."
"I know you came."
His voice began to rise.
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to."
"I already told you not to."
"And I already told you I wanted to see you."
Jovan rubbed his face.
"Keira."
"What?"
"This isn't the place—"
"The place for me?"
Jovan fell silent.
Keira moved closer.
"Not the place for me?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
Jovan looked toward the treatment-room door.
"I don't want you in the middle of all this."
Keira gave a short, humorless laugh.
"There it is."
Jovan looked at her.
"What?"
"You're doing it again. Making decisions for me."
Jovan's jaw tightened.
"I'm not deciding anything."
"You told me I didn't need to come."
"Because you don't."
"According to who?"
"Me."
"That's the problem."
Keira stared at him.
"I should be allowed to choose."
Jovan said nothing.
"I should be allowed to choose whether I stay or leave."
"Kei—"
"Including when we were still dating."
Jovan went silent.
Keira knew she'd hit the right spot.
"Nadine told me about your dad last night."
Jovan lowered his head.
"Today Bima told me about your family's problems."
His head snapped up.
"Bima?"
Keira ignored him.
"And now I know one more thing."
"What?"
"You let me go because you thought it was better for me."
Jovan fell silent.
Keira looked at him, her eyes beginning to burn.
"Is that true?"
Jovan didn't answer.
"Van."
"Yeah."
That one word made Keira even angrier.
"Are you insane?"
Jovan closed his eyes.
"Kei, keep your voice down."
"I don't care."
"This is a hospital."
Keira took a long breath and lowered her voice.
But not her emotions.
"What right did you have to decide I'd be better off without you?"
Jovan looked at her.
"Because my life is a mess right now."
"So?"
"You don't understand."
"Of course I don't, because you never told me!"
Jovan was silent.
Keira felt tears gathering.
"I don't need your life to be perfect to stay with you."
"I know that now."
"No."
Keira shook her head.
"If you knew that, you wouldn't have told me not to come today."
Jovan had no answer.
Keira wiped away the tear that was almost falling.
"I'm not a child."
"I never said you were."
"But you treated me like I couldn't handle knowing something bad."
Jovan looked at the floor.
"If I'd known back then, maybe I would've been scared."
Keira continued.
"Maybe I would've been confused."
"Maybe I wouldn't have known how to help."
"But at least I would've been there."
Keira's voice finally trembled.
"And you never gave me the chance."
Jovan didn't move.
A few seconds later, he said quietly,
"I was afraid you'd leave if you knew everything."
Keira froze.
Jovan gave a small, bitter laugh.
"Ironic, right?"
He sat down again.
Keira remained standing.
"I was afraid you'd find out my family was falling apart."
Jovan stared at his hands.
"Afraid you'd read the news about Dad."
"Afraid people would start talking."
"Afraid you'd get dragged into it."
Keira slowly sat in the chair beside him.
Not too close.
Jovan continued.
"Then I thought if I kept everything hidden, at least our relationship could stay normal."
He sighed.
"Instead, I just made you suspicious."
Keira said nothing.
"And when you said it was over..."
Jovan swallowed.
"...I wanted to chase after you."
Keira turned to him.
Jovan didn't look at her.
"I even made it to the front of your house that night."
Keira froze.
"What?"
"I went there."
"When?"
"A little after eleven."
Keira stared at him in disbelief.
"You never told me."
"I didn't get off my motorcycle."
"Why?"
"Because I saw the light in your bedroom was still on."
He smiled bitterly.
"And I thought if I entered your life again, all my problems would come in with me."
Keira didn't know whether to get angry or cry.
"I went home that night."
Jovan rubbed both hands together.
"Then I went to Bima's house."
Keira stared straight ahead.
The room felt too quiet.
"You're an idiot."
"Yeah."
"A terrible one."
"Yeah."
"I'm still mad."
"Fair."
Keira let out a long breath.
Then asked,
"How's your dad?"
Jovan turned to her.
The change of subject softened his expression.
"The doctor said he's stable."
Keira nodded.
"Does he still have to stay here?"
"Yeah."
"How long?"
"We don't know yet."
Keira fell silent.
"Your sister?"
"She's inside with Mom."
Keira lowered her head.
"What's her name?"
Jovan looked surprised.
"My sister?"
"Yeah."
"Melia."
"How old is she?"
"Thirteen."
Keira gave a small nod.
Jovan looked at her.
"Why are you asking?"
"Because in almost two years of dating you, I've only seen her once."
"She's shy."
"Or you never told me anything about her."
Jovan gave a small laugh.
"That too."
For the first time since Keira arrived, the tension eased a little.
Then the treatment-room door opened.
A woman stepped out.
Keira recognized her immediately from Jovan's family photos.
His mother.
Laras.
Her face looked exhausted.
When she saw Jovan, she walked over.
"Van."
Jovan stood immediately.
"How is he, Mom?"
"Dad's asleep."
Only then did Laras notice Keira.
Her gaze stopped.
Keira stood at once.
Her heart began pounding.
"Hi, Auntie."
Laras studied Keira for a few seconds.
Then her expression softened.
"Keira?"
Keira was slightly startled.
"Yes."
"You're Keira?"
Keira nodded.
Laras smiled faintly instead.
"Jovan talks about you a lot."
Keira immediately glanced at Jovan.
He was staring at the ceiling.
"Mom."
"What?"
"Don't."
Laras ignored him.
"Are you the one who likes hot chocolate?"
Keira held back a smile.
"Yes, Auntie."
"And doesn't like vanilla?"
Keira looked at Jovan again.
Jovan covered his face.
"Mom, please."
Keira finally laughed softly.
Laras laughed too.
But her smile slowly faded.
"You two..."
She stopped.
Jovan looked tense.
Keira had no idea what Laras knew.
In the end, Laras only said,
"Thank you for coming."
Keira nodded.
"You're welcome, Auntie."
Laras touched Jovan's shoulder.
"I'm going downstairs to get food for Melia."
"I'll go."
"No need. You stay here."
Laras looked at Keira again.
"Keep him company."
Jovan immediately said, "Mom."
Laras was already walking away.
Keira held back a smile.
"Keep him company."
"Shut up."
"Your mom said so."
"Keira."
Keira sat back down.
Jovan sat beside her.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Keira noticed an untouched lunch box on the next chair.
She pointed at it.
"What's that?"
Jovan followed her finger.
"Food."
"You haven't eaten it?"
Jovan said nothing.
Keira looked at him.
Jovan sighed.
"I haven't had a chance."
"Van."
"I'm not hungry."
Keira picked up the box and opened it.
Rice and chicken.
She handed it to Jovan.
"Eat."
Jovan looked at the box.
Then at Keira.
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
"I'm really not—"
"If you say you're not hungry, I'll call your mom."
Jovan immediately took the box.
"Weak threat."
"Effective."
Jovan began eating.
Keira sat beside him, looking at her phone.
They didn't talk.
It was strange.
But comfortable.
A few minutes later, Jovan said while eating,
"You don't have to stay long."
Keira didn't look at him.
"I know."
"You have school tomorrow."
"I know."
"It'll get late."
"I know."
Jovan fell silent.
Keira finally looked at him.
"I'll leave when I want to."
The corner of Jovan's mouth lifted.
"Okay."
Keira nodded.
"Good."
About half an hour later, a man in a suit came to the waiting room.
He was probably in his late forties.
He carried a briefcase.
When he saw Jovan, his steps slowed.
"Jovan."
Jovan immediately stopped eating.
His expression changed.
Keira noticed.
It wasn't fear.
More like irritation.
"Uncle."
The man glanced at Keira.
Then turned back to Jovan.
"Where's your mom?"
"Downstairs."
"Your dad?"
"Asleep."
The man nodded.
"I need to speak with your mom later."
"About what?"
"The company."
Jovan stood immediately.
"Not now."
His voice had turned cold.
The man sighed.
"Van, this is important."
"Dad just stabilized."
"I know."
"Then don't bring it up now."
Keira didn't know who the man was.
But one word put her on alert.
The company.
The man looked at Keira again.
Jovan noticed.
"Keira, can you wait—"
"I'm staying here."
Jovan looked at her.
The man gave a faint, humorless smile.
"A school friend?"
Jovan answered, "Yeah."
Keira didn't know why the word bothered her a little.
Friend.
It was true.
For now, they were friends.
The man pulled an envelope from his briefcase.
"Give this to your mom."
Jovan didn't take it.
"What is it?"
"A summons."
Jovan stiffened.
"From whom?"
"The investigators."
Keira froze.
Jovan stared at the envelope.
His face went pale.
"Why my mom?"
"Not your mom."
The man paused.
"Your dad."
Silence.
Keira could hear the wall clock ticking.
Jovan didn't move.
"You said Dad had already been questioned."
"This is a follow-up investigation."
"He's sick."
"I know."
"He can't even go home yet."
"That's why the timing can be discussed."
Jovan clenched his jaw.
"Dad didn't take that money."
The man didn't answer.
"You know he didn't."
"Van."
"You know Dad couldn't have."
"What I know isn't what determines this."
Jovan glared at him.
"Then what does?"
"The evidence."
One word changed the entire atmosphere.
Keira saw Jovan's hands ball into fists.
She stood.
Not to interfere.
Just to be ready.
The man finally placed the envelope on the chair.
"I didn't come here to accuse anyone."
Jovan gave a cold laugh.
"Looks different from where I'm standing."
"I just want your family to be prepared."
He took a breath.
"There's been a new development."
Jovan froze.
"What?"
The man hesitated.
Then said,
"The account that received part of the funds has been found."
Keira didn't understand all the context.
But Jovan's expression told her it was bad.
"Whose name is on it?"
The man didn't answer right away.
"Uncle."
Jovan stepped forward.
"Whose name?"
Finally, the man said,
"Your mom's."
Jovan froze.
So did Keira.
"That's impossible."
"Van—"
"That's impossible."
"I hope so too."
"My mom doesn't understand anything about the company."
"I know."
"Then why is her name on it?"
"That's what they're trying to find out."
Jovan stared at the envelope on the chair.
His breathing grew heavier.
Keira watched the color drain from his face.
"Van."
Jovan didn't respond.
The man picked up his briefcase.
"I'll come back tomorrow."
He walked away.
Jovan remained standing.
Keira moved closer.
"Van."
"No way."
His voice was almost a whisper.
"My mom couldn't have."
Keira didn't know what to say.
Jovan rubbed his face.
"Dad couldn't have either."
"Van."
"If the account is in Mom's name..."
He looked at Keira.
For the first time, Keira saw completely naked fear in Jovan's eyes.
"...then someone deliberately dragged my family into this."
Keira said nothing.
Jovan gave a short, broken laugh.
"Or I've been wrong about everything this whole time."
Keira immediately shook her head.
"Don't jump to conclusions now."
Jovan looked at her.
The sentence felt familiar.
Keira knew it.
Jovan knew it too.
Keira continued,
"We don't know everything yet."
"We?"
The word came out softly.
Keira was silent for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Yeah."
Jovan stared at her for a long time.
"Kei."
"What?"
"I don't want you getting dragged into this."
Keira immediately drew a breath.
"Don't start again."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
"This is different."
"Why?"
"Because this isn't school gossip."
Jovan pointed at the envelope.
"This could become a legal matter."
"I know."
"My family's name could end up in the news again."
"I know."
"People at school might find out."
"I know."
"They might talk about you too."
Keira looked straight at him.
"Jovan."
He stopped.
"The entire school talked about me just because I broke up with you."
The corner of Jovan's mouth moved slightly.
Keira continued,
"If I want to leave, I'll decide that myself."
Jovan fell silent.
"Don't keep pushing me away and then say you're afraid I'll leave."
That made Jovan completely silent.
Keira reached for his hand.
The movement was spontaneous.
Only after their fingers touched did Keira realize what she'd done.
Jovan realized it too.
Neither of them pulled away.
Keira gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
"I haven't said we're getting back together."
Jovan nodded.
"I know."
"I'm still mad."
"Yeah."
"There are still a lot of problems."
"Yeah."
"But today..."
Keira took a breath.
"...I'm here."
Jovan looked at their hands.
Then at Keira's face.
"Why?"
The question was very quiet.
Keira smiled faintly.
"Because I want to."
Jovan didn't say anything else.
He only squeezed Keira's hand back.
Not too tightly.
As if he were afraid that if he held on too hard, everything would disappear.
It was already night when Keira finally went home.
Laras had returned and forced Keira to take a box of bread with her.
Melia had also come out of the treatment room for a moment.
The girl had stared at Keira with unmistakable curiosity.
Then she'd whispered to Jovan, loudly enough to be heard,
"Is that Keira?"
Jovan answered, "Yeah."
Melia looked at Keira again.
"The girl in the picture on your desk?"
Jovan immediately covered his eyes.
Keira bit her lip to keep from laughing.
"Mel."
"What?"
"Go inside."
Melia laughed and went back into the room.
Keira was still smiling all the way to the elevator.
Jovan walked her there.
Just as the elevator doors were about to open, he said,
"Kei."
Keira turned.
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"For coming."
Keira nodded.
"You're welcome."
Jovan stopped.
"What?"
"For earlier."
Keira knew what he meant.
Holding hands.
She lowered her head for a moment.
"Don't make a big deal out of it."
Jovan smiled.
"I was thinking of making a certificate."
Keira glared at him.
"See? You're healthy enough to joke now."
"A little."
The elevator doors opened.
Keira stepped inside.
Before the doors closed, Jovan said,
"Let me know when you get home."
Keira nodded.
"Don't forget to eat again."
"Yes, ma'am."
The doors closed.
Keira smiled to herself.
But the problem at school had already moved faster than they had.
The next morning, Keira had barely gotten out of the car when Tasya ran over.
"Kei."
Keira immediately knew.
That tone.
That face.
"What?"
Tasya handed her phone over.
It wasn't @TheNextHallway.
It was a local news site.
The headline was huge.
Investigation Into Alleged Embezzlement at PT Madyantara Continues; Executives' Family Accounts Under Scrutiny
Keira read quickly.
Jovan's father's name was there.
Damar Dirgantara.
His mother's name was there too.
Laras Mahendra Dirgantara.
Keira's chest felt heavy.
"It just went up this morning," Tasya said.
Keira hadn't finished reading when she heard voices behind her.
Several students were talking about the same thing.
"Hey, isn't that Jovan's dad?"
"Seriously?"
"No wonder he didn't come yesterday."
"So does that mean his family—"
Keira turned around.
Their eyes immediately darted away.
Tasya grabbed her arm.
"Don't."
Keira exhaled.
Then her own phone vibrated.
A message from Jovan.
Jovan: Kei.
Jovan: Don't read any news yet.
Keira closed her eyes for a moment.
Too late.
She replied.
Keira: I already read it.
The typing indicator appeared immediately.
Jovan: Shit.
Then:
Jovan: I'm coming in today.
Keira was surprised.
Keira: Why?
Jovan: Because if I don't show up, they'll talk even more.
Keira stared at the message.
Then the screen lit up again.
Jovan: One thing.
Keira: What?
His reply came quickly.
Jovan: If anyone says anything weird about my family, don't get involved.
Keira stared at the sentence.
Then smiled faintly, without humor.
That boy really never learned.
Keira: No promises.
Jovan read it.
He didn't reply.
Ten minutes later, Keira saw him.
Jovan entered through the school gates.
His uniform was neat.
His bag hung from one shoulder.
His face was calm.
As if he hadn't just received news the night before that could shake his entire family.
Several students began whispering.
Jovan kept walking.
Bima and Galen approached him from the side of the field.
Dito followed.
Keira stood at the end of the hallway.
Jovan saw her.
His steps slowed.
Keira didn't smile.
She didn't wave, either.
She only looked at him.
Then gave him a small nod.
I'm here.
Jovan seemed to understand.
Because for the first time that morning, his shoulders lowered slightly.
But before he could approach Keira, a student from the next class spoke loudly enough to hear.
"Van, did your dad really embezzle money?"
The entire hallway suddenly went silent.
Bima immediately turned around.
Dito stopped.
Keira felt the blood rush to her head.
Jovan himself didn't move.
He stared at the student.
His face was expressionless.
"Nothing's been proven yet."
The kid shifted awkwardly.
"I was just asking."
"I answered you."
Jovan started to walk again.
Then another voice spoke.
"If they used your mom's account, how could she not know?"
Jovan stopped.
Bima immediately said, "Enough."
But Keira knew.
From the way Jovan's jaw tightened.
From his clenched fists.
He was nearly losing control.
Keira walked over.
She stopped beside him.
Jovan turned to her.
"Kei."
Keira didn't look at him.
She looked at the students in front of them.
"If you want to know about the case, read the news."
The hallway was silent.
"If you want to accuse someone without proof, find somewhere else."
Jovan looked at her.
Keira continued,
"And if you're only curious because they're the family of someone you go to school with, at least have enough shame not to ask in front of his face."
No one answered.
Tasya stood a few steps behind them.
Bima held back a small smile.
Jovan finally said quietly,
"I told you not to get involved."
Keira turned to him.
"I told you no promises."
For a fraction of a second, there was almost a smile on Jovan's face.
Then the bell rang.
The crowd slowly dispersed.
Keira was about to go to class when Jovan caught the end of her bag strap.
Not her hand.
Just the strap.
Keira turned.
"What?"
Jovan leaned slightly closer.
"You realize the entire school is going to talk about us even more now?"
Keira glanced around.
Several people were still watching them.
She looked back at Jovan.
"When have they ever stopped?"
Jovan laughed softly.
She had a point.
Keira turned away.
But before she left, Jovan said,
"Kei."
"Hm?"
"Thanks."
Keira nodded.
"Pay me in bread."
Jovan finally smiled.
"Deal."
They walked toward their respective classrooms.
Neither of them knew that, a few yards away, someone had just raised a phone.
Taken a picture of them standing side by side.
And an hour later, @TheNextHallway uploaded it.
But this time, the caption wasn't a joke.
It wasn't about exes.
It wasn't about getting back together.
It was just one anonymous post:
They say Jovan's family is caught up in a case.
Is Keira defending him because they're back together, or because she knows something?
For the first time, school gossip was more than just annoying.
This time, someone had started connecting Keira to Jovan's family problems.
And from the way the post was written, there was one thing they hadn't realized yet:
The admin of @TheNextHallway might not just like gossiping.
Maybe they knew far more than they should have.