Chapter 29: Chapter 29

"I'm ashamed to call myself your best friend." Zidan looked up at the ceiling of his classroom with a tasteless laugh. A split second later, he looked at Cakra. "I'm so stupid, I don't know myself. But why didn't you say that from the beginning, Kra?"

He smiled slightly. "It's okay, let's not talk about it anymore."

"You always say it's okay, don't you get bored?" Zidan snorted softly. "I feel bad for you, Kra, you're wrong too, not just me. Try to be honest from the beginning about this, so I can think before talking to you."

Cakra chuckled. "I already told you, let's not talk about it anymore."

"How can I not discuss it, I just feel really guilty about you," said Zidan.

When Cakra said the phrase 'as long as there is a grandmother, I will be fine,' a few minutes ago, at that time Zidan also demanded an explanation. Inevitably, Cakra is also explained in outline. That he currently lives with his grandmother, while his parents are no longer here. Not only that, Zidan continued to ask this and that, until finally Cakra said that he had to work to fulfill the needs of the house.

From there, Zidan felt very guilty for bragging that his father had just bought the latest laptop for him. Zidan thought Cakra's life was like his, where any request could be fulfilled by his parents. Of course, Zidan felt embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, Kra, I didn't mean it," Zidan said for the umpteenth time.

"It's okay," replied Cakra.

Zidan sneered. "Just keep saying that, don't you have any other words?"

"Don't apologize too, I'm the one who feels bad."

Zidan sighed in despair, choosing not to discuss the matter anymore. "I'm curious about your grandmother, where do you live? After school, I can stop by, right?"

"What do you want to do?"

"Why, can't you visit your grandmother?" asked Zidan, looking Cakra straight in the eye.

Cakra was awkward, he scratched his thick eyebrows. Feeling bad with Zidan. "That's not what I meant, how do I explain it? Confused."

"What are you confused about? I'm coming home with you today, how could you not let me stop by your house? You said we're friends."

"No, Dan, I'm afraid you'll be uncomfortable there," said Cakra with a clumsy smile. "Grandma's house is small, I'm afraid you'll be uncomfortable. Maybe next time?"

Zidan gave Cakra an annoyed look, his breath coming in harsh gasps. "I don't care if your house is big or small, or where you live. What do you want me to do there, Kra? I don't mind things like that. Even though my family is well-off, that doesn't mean I'm picky about themes, Kra."

Cakra was silent. "It's not that I can't let you stop," said Cakra, trying to give Zidan an understanding. "But I..."

Zidan raised his hand, making Cakra's words hang in the air. Then Zidan leaned his body towards Cakra and held both of his friend's shoulders with a fairly strong grip.

"Listen to me, Kra," Zidan pleaded, his round eyes boring into Cakra's eyes. "Don't be shy with me, I'm happy to be friends with you. I'm not picky when it comes to making friends. You're nice, that's what makes me comfortable with you."

Throwing his gaze in any direction, Cakra exhaled slowly. He nodded. "Yes, you can come home," he finally replied.

Zidan immediately wore a wide smile. "Seriously?"

Cakra nodded slowly.

"You're not forced to, are you?" Zidan asked.

"Forced anyway," Cakra replied quietly, making Zidan's face immediately turn cloudy. Before his friend could respond to his words, Cakra hurriedly chuckled while shaking his head. He also corrected him, "No, no, just kidding."

"I thought." Zidan chuckled. "I almost slit your throat."

Both of them laughed simultaneously for a long time.

After calming down his laughter, Zidan said, "You say you work after school? Didn't you go today?"

"Because I'm still in school, I don't have Sunday off," Cakra explained.

Zidan nodded in understanding, "Instead of going to work on Sunday, you go to work?"

"Yes," said Cakra while nodding weakly. "Especially on Saturday and Sunday, I go from morning to night."

Zidan stared at Cakra for a long time, making Cakra, who was being stared at in such a way, feel very confused and strange.

"Why are you staring like that?" asked Cakra, expressing his discomfort.

Zidan laughed, and the boy smiled slightly as he shook his head. "No, I just salute you. You're already working, you must be really tired because you have to divide your time. You're not yet at home, you must also be very busy taking care of your grandmother. Aren't you tired, Kra?"

Cakra turned his eyes, he was silent for a long time, thinking of the right sentence to answer Zidan's question. After that, she began to open his mouth. "I'm just an ordinary person who is familiar with being tired, but what can I do, Dan? If I don't work, what will my grandmother and I eat?"

"But you're great, Kra." Zidan smiled. "You're really strong, I'm happy to be friends with you."

Cakra only carved a smile.

"Can I not be jealous of you?" asked Zidan suddenly, making Cakra turn his head with bated breath.

He blinked his eyes. "I didn't hear it wrong, did I?"

"Really, I feel nothing compared to you, Kra," said Zidan.

Cakra patted Zidan's shoulder. "I should be jealous of you, Dan. You still have a complete family, your mom and dad love you. You don't have to work too hard to eat, they're always there for you." Cakra paused to catch his breath. "Just be grateful for your life right now."

Zidan looked at Cakra without blinking. His eyes had begun to blur, then he looked up and winked repeatedly.

Cakra chuckled. "Don't think about problems like this, just discuss something else."

Zidan agreed, moving his head up and down with a warm smile. "What do you plan to do after you graduate from here, Kra?"

"I don't know, maybe I'll work or get a scholarship. I haven't really thought about it, but if I want to pursue a scholarship, I don't want to study far from home. I don't want to be separated from my grandmother. There will be no one to look after my grandmother."

"You really love your grandmother?"

"She's the only family I have right now," Cakra replied. "Where do you want to continue, Dan?"

"I'm still confused about this. My dad told me to study abroad, but my mom doesn't want to be away from me. She wants me to study here, I'm afraid I'll miss her." Zidan chuckled for a few seconds. "I don't know, I'll think about it later, we still have one more year, so let's take it slow, okay?"

Cakra smiled, then the two of them began to tell stories, from funny, strange, and random things, to things that led to the future. They also often exchange ideas. Cakra, who is a typical boy and doesn't easily get along with new people, gets along easily with Zidan.

***

"But what about my bike if I ride home with you?" asked Cakra while looking at Zidan, who was walking slowly beside him. Cakra just thought of a question like that.

Zidan returned Cakra's look with a frowning forehead. "Well yes, how come I just thought of that?"

"Well, right, then how is it good? Do you have any suggestions?" Cakra asked while thinking too. "There's no way I'm leaving my bike here, Dan. What am I going to ride to work tomorrow morning?"

Zidan stared ahead while racking his brain. He was thinking of the best way out.

Not getting a response from Zidan, Cakra said again. "Next time, how about Dan?"

"No!" Zidan pleaded while shaking his head strongly. "I want it today, if I keep postponing it, it won't happen. I want it to be today." Zidan was not to be denied.

Cakra sighed just before breaking up. "What about Dan?"

"Hold on, I'll think about it first," Zidan said while returning his attention to the road in front of him. A split second later, he turned to face Cakra while widening his eyes after the light bulb in his head lit up. "I have an idea!"

"What?" Cakra was no less enthusiastic.

"Let's see, I go home with you by bike, then leave my bike here or leave it at the front security guard. Then after returning from your house, I'll come back here to get the bike."

"I disagree," said Cakra, shaking his head. "It's a pity you have to go back and forth."

"That's an easy problem, I can also take a motorcycle taxi back here. Besides, the security guards close the school gate at six in the afternoon. I still have time to take the motorcycle. Unless I'm at your house until night."

"I'm not sure, Dan," Cakra replied. "I don't feel comfortable taking you on the bike."

"Who am I that you feel bad about me?" Zidan smacked his lips. "I'm not a celebrity, a king, or a prince who has to be given nice things and extra understanding. I'm just like you, I used to ride a bicycle."

"Ouch..." Cakra grimaced. Really, he felt very bad. Zidan was a rich boy. Being friends with Zidan, Cakra was actually a bit afraid of other people's opinions. He didn't want bad and undue things to be said about him.

"Already, don't think about it!" said Zidan, as he lightly patted Cakra's shoulder. "Let's hurry up before it gets late."

There was no way out that Cakra could get, and Zidan could not be denied either. Cakra finally sighed in despair. He walked with a frown on his face.

But suddenly, Cakra was surprised by the presence of his stepbrother, who stood in front of him with an unfriendly face. His eyes glared sharply as if implying he wanted to fight a war, his jaw was firmly set, then supported by clenched hands. That boy already looked scary. But Cakra didn't feel scared, instead he returned Rian's gaze flatly.

"Can I help you?" Cakra asked a question while raising one thick eyebrow.

But unfortunately, Rian took it the wrong way. He thought Cakra had challenged him. Immediately, without further ado, Cakra was pushed hard by Rian.

Zidan, who had walked ahead, looked back when he heard the noise. He also glared in disbelief at what he saw. Zidan moved quickly to Cakra and Rian, who had sent a battle signal.

"Hey, you two don't fight here," Zidan said, standing in the middle between Cakra and Rian. But Rian glared at Zidan sharply.

"Move aside, I don't have a problem with you," said Rian.

"But Cakra is my friend!" Zidan insisted.

Rian widened his eyes, and he smiled wryly as he stepped slowly closer to Zidan. "Do you dare to be with me?"

Zidan swallowed, he cringed, he was flea-bitten, to be more precise. Rian smiled lightly, then pushed Zidan aside. Then he went back to dealing with Cakra.

"Do you know what I want to talk to you about?" Rian asked Cakra firmly.

Cakra shrugged his shoulders indifferently. "How do I know? You didn't say anything," he replied indifferently.

"Are you challenging me?!" Rian's temper flared. His teeth chattered as he glared at Cakra angrily.

"Why are you angry?" Cakra was confused, unable to understand Rian, who suddenly came and got angry.

Rian was getting more and more fiery, hot steam seemed to be billowing through the top of his head and both ears. Immediately, the boy lunged at Cakra. He grabbed him firmly by the collar of his uniform. Cakra's face was still calm, showing no signs that he would rebel. Instead, it was Zidan who was flustered in his place.

"You can't have a normal face?" Rian commented, "Don't challenge me!" he said firmly.

Cakra turned his face while smiling lightly. But he didn't say anything. What did he do wrong? Did he not provoke Rian's anger?

"I'm warning you, don't go near Inez again. He belongs to me forever, you have no right to get her heart. Understand?"

Cakra gave Rian a sharp look back. For some reason, he started to get angry when he heard Inez's name being brought up. "On what basis are you telling me to stay away from Inez?"

Rian tightened his grip on Cakra's uniform collar. "Because she only belongs to me! It's useless for you to approach her because there's only me in her heart. Understand?"

"If there's only you in her heart, why are you angry with me? Aren't you indirectly suspecting that I'm the one in her heart?"

BUGH!

Rian had lost his temper. He managed to bring his fist out and strike Cakra's stomach with a strong blow. But Cakra didn't reply, he just smiled a little, which made Rian's emotions rise even more.

"Listen to me one more time, and don't go near Inez if you don't want to get more than this!"

Cakra didn't answer, making Rian's anger flare up even more. "Do you understand?"

Again, he locked his mouth.

"If you think you have a mouth, answer my damn question! You stay away from Inez from now on. I don't want to see you with her again. If you—"

"What right do you have to tell me this?" Cakra looked up, challenging Rian.

Rian, who was very emotional, especially with Cakra, immediately raised his hand to hit Cakra for the second time. But this time Cakra fought back, he held Rian's hand firmly while twisting it hard.

The look on Rian's face was already painful. But Cakra didn't care about that.

Complete with his increasingly serious face, Cakra said in a soft whisper. "Just so you know, Inez won't like you forever. She prefers me to you. Why are you bullying me like this? Instead of being scared, I feel sorry for you for putting yourself down. You think I'm someone who can get Inez anytime. It's obvious from this that you're losing badly."

Cakra held Rian's hand even tighter, causing Rian even more pain. After saying that sentence, Cakra let go of Rian's hand.

Rian immediately cursed in annoyance and held his arm, which was very painful. Cakra just smiled a little before walking back to the parking lot.

"DAMMIT! I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU DOG!"

He stopped walking and then turned his body around. He pointed at his flat face with his index finger. "Look at my face, do I look like I care!"

"WAIT FOR MY FUCKING REVENGE!"