Chapter 34: Chapter 34

"I don't want to fight with you anymore," said Cakra quietly while throwing a flat look towards the front, more precisely towards Rian's two eyeballs, who looked at him unfriendly, fierce, and like a wild animal ready to pounce on its prey at any time.

"I don't want to talk to you anymore, I want you to stay away from Inez from this very second!" Rian spoke insistently, his voice firm, like he didn't want to be contradicted. The boy strode closer to Cakra, his eyes getting wider and wider.

Cakra was not afraid of Rian. He was still calm and didn't care what Rian said. Cakra let out a rough breath while throwing his gaze in any direction.

"Just want to say that?"

"I'm not messing around," Rian said firmly. His index finger repeatedly pressed against Cakra's chest. "Until I see you with Inez again, I will finish you that very second." Rian glared fiercely as he gritted his teeth, seemingly holding back his frustration.

After finishing warning Cakra, Rian turned around to go back to his class. However, after only three steps, Cakra's words succeeded in making him turn around again.

"What right do you have to forbid it?" asked Cakra. As soon as Rian looked at him again sharply, Cakra added. "Inez doesn't belong to anyone, you're not her boyfriend."

Rian was already starting to get angry. "Who said she doesn't belong to anyone, huh?" Rian ruffled his waist while laughing. "He's mine, until whenever it is. And you're just a new kid who's too proud to date Inez."

Cakra's face still looked calm. He smiled slightly. "If Inez is dating you, then can you explain why Inez always asks me out? Besides, if Inez really loved you, she wouldn't have offered to be my girlfriend."

Rian became even more furious with Cakra's piercing words. With the rhythm of his breathing moving faster than usual, Rian's hands were clenched tightly. He was already burning with emotion.

Meanwhile, Cakra, who felt threatened, was already preparing himself. He glanced at Rian's hand, which was already preparing a punch. Rian's movements were easy to read, and Cakra was happy about that.

"Shut that awful crap up!" Rian immediately raised his clenched hand, but when he was about to punch Cakra's jaw, Cakra had already dodged first.

Cakra smiled wryly. "Just control and improve yourself first, if you keep threatening, it's a sign that you feel threatened and rivaled."

"Inez got me asshole!"

Cakra shrugged his shoulders. "If Inez doesn't want to admit it, what can you do?"

Rian was getting bolder, and his body tensed up. But unfortunately, when he was about to launch his punch, Cakra again managed to dodge.

"Leave everything to Inez," he pleaded almost in a whisper. "We can only do what's best for her. Whether she wants to choose me or you, she'll decide for herself. Understand?"

"You—"

"One more thing, there's nothing wrong with healthy competition, right?" As a final touch, Cakra approached Rian, tapped his half-brother on the shoulder, then whispered something in Rian's ear again. "If you keep threatening me like this, it means you admit defeat before fighting."

Cakra turned his body around, stepping away from Rian, who was peaking with his emotions. Rian threw various oaths at Cakra, but Cakra didn't care. He continued to walk away.

***

"Nez, are you crazy for making this?" Ghea squealed in disbelief while watching Inez, who was focused on doing something.

Without looking at Ghea, Inez replied simply. "Hm, you'll help me later, don't forget."

Ghea glared. "What are you saying? I'm participating too?" Ghea pointed at herself, and a second later she shook her head firmly, which meant that she didn't want to do what Inez said. "I really don't want to, I'm so embarrassed."

"Say that again?" This time, Inez turned her face to look at Ghea sharply. "Are you like that now with me?"

"Not really, Nez, but!" Ghea clucked her tongue, her legs jerking irritably under the table.

"Do me a favor, there's no refusal at all," Inez said firmly, sounding completely irrefutable.

"Why do you insist?"

"Why don't you want to?" Inez mimicked Ghea's tone. As Ghea rolled her eyes and chuckled in exasperation, Inez continued. "I have a present for you later."

"A present?"  Suddenly, Ghea became very excited, and the bespectacled girl moved her chair closer to Inez. Her face looked very bright. "Do you really have something for me, Nez?" she asked excitedly.

Inez sneered, "It's your turn to be bribed, you're really good at this." Inez looked at Ghea, then shook her head in disbelief. She took a deep breath.

Ghea grinned at the horse. "Okay, I agree then. As long as there's something you give me, I'm fine with it."

"I'll give you chicken taii to see how you taste."

Ghea pinned Inez's head quite hard, making Inez, who was focused on her work, cry out in pain. "I'll slit your throat if you really give me chicken taii."

"You're a psychopath," said Inez angrily. "My head hurts!"

"So do the right thing, give me things that you think I'll like. See what I mean, Nez?"

"Why are you telling me what to do?" Inez looked at Ghea's face with annoyance. "It's up to me what I want to give you. Besides, Ghe, it all depends on your hard work. If you're really willing to help me, I'll be happier with you. Then I have nothing to lose by giving you fancy gifts."

"You really want to give me something fancy? What is it, Nez?" Ghea's face looked enthusiastic. She rubbed her hands together repeatedly. She couldn't wait to receive the luxurious gift from Inez.

"You kid, you haven't worked yet, and you're already expecting a reward from me," Inez said irritably. "Hurry up and take it with me, and come with me out."

"Okay, captain, Ghea is on duty!" The bespectacled girl saluted Inez, before finally doing what her best friend said. This was all for the sake of a fancy gift!

Inez smiled amusedly at Ghea's behavior, to her, it seemed like her best friend was entertaining her. Inez shook her head again, then walked out of the classroom, followed by Ghea from behind.

***

Cakra stood in front of the sink to wash his face. He felt sleepy during the English lesson earlier. And he didn't want this to happen in the next lesson. The boy was silent while staring at his reflection in the glass. He was pensive for a moment, before finally moving towards the tissue holder not far from him. Cakra wiped his face.

After finishing and feeling fresher than before, Cakra left the toilet. He walked casually back to his class.

But this time there was something strange, for some reason, Cakra felt noticed by the students around him. Is there something wrong with him? Cakra didn't know. The boy stopped for a moment and paid attention to his appearance. But, he didn't find anything wrong.

Cakra now realized that he was indeed being stared at in such a way by everyone who passed him. Some stared intensely at him, some whispered in small whispers while shining a spotlight on him, and some even stared at him openly. Cakra felt increasingly confused.

What's going on here?

Not wanting to think about it any further, Cakra shrugged his shoulders indifferently. He took another step, until finally a boy ran towards him.

Cakra paused his steps again, his gaze focused forward, and his eyes narrowed to more clearly see who the person who was running towards him was.

"Zidan?" Cakra muttered softly.

Zidan stopped in front of Cakra with a gasp. The boy held his knees for a moment, his breathing was trying to regulate in such a way as to return to normal, then he stood up straight again.

"Dan, what's wrong?" asked Cakra, his chest already rumbling. From the look on Zidan's face, Cakra had guessed that something was wrong. And definitely related to Cakra.

Zidan suddenly stammered. "Cakra, in ... there..." Zidan pointed his finger backward.

Cakra was getting panicked, he touched both of Zidan's shoulders. "Hey, what's going on? Slow down, okay?"

"That's ...."

"Breathe a lot first," Cakra ordered while taking a deep breath, followed by Zidan.

"Then exhale slowly," Cakra continued while exhaling little by little. Just like before, Zidan also obeyed Cakra's words.

"It's getting better, right? Now tell me what's wrong?"

Zidan gave a small sigh. "Come with me right now, Kra."

"Where to?" asked Cakra, complete with raised eyebrows and a furrowed brow.

"Hurry up and come with me!" Without waiting for an answer from Cakra, Zidan immediately pulled Cakra's hand away. Inevitably, Cakra was dragged forward.

"And, where are we going anyway?" In between his fast footsteps, Cakra took the time to ask the same question he had previously asked. "Don't make me panic like this, Dan."

"You should see."

"See what?"

Zidan didn't reply, he was busy running and focused on the road ahead. Ignored by Zidan, Cakra was resigned and did not ask this and that anymore. Sooner or later, he would also know what information Zidan would show him.

Although Cakra himself was sure that the information was not good.

A few minutes later, Zidan was no longer running, automatically, Cakra also walked. Zidan turned to look at Cakra, then instructed him to immediately walk forward.

"What are you doing?" Cakra whispered to Zidan. But Zidan shook his head slowly, giving Cakra the opportunity to see something directly ahead.

Cakra was increasingly confused about what exactly was wrong with him. Cakra knows that his current position is not far from the school board. And Zidan pointed himself out to see for himself what was there.

But the problem was that there were so many students crowding the place. Making Cakra even more nervous. Cakra took a deep breath, gathered courage, and then emphasized to himself that he should stay calm.

When he walked forward and the students who were crowding the school board saw him, they were immediately surprised and whispered softly while looking at him.

As if they understood what Cakra was going to do, they gave him space to easily see the information on the school board.

Cakra immediately looked at all the papers posted there. Until there was one that caught his attention. Cakra immediately read it.

FROM TODAY ONWARDS, I AND CAKRA ARE OFFICIALLY DATING.

SIGNED, INEZ.

"What?" Cakra opened his mouth. He pulled out one of the papers that had something similar written on it. He read it again, more carefully and slowly. But it was true, he couldn't have misspelled it.

No wonder everyone was staring at him. Cakra let out a long breath. He looked at several students who were still standing behind him. He wanted to say something and emphasize to them that the information was a lie and that there was no strong foundation for the writing on the paper. However, he remained silent. Talking to Inez first might be better.

Cakra immediately picked up the papers on the board, and after he finished removing them all, he threw them into the nearest trash can. He looked at the last piece of paper in his hand, but he didn't throw it away.

He turned around and ran from there to meet Inez in her class. But unfortunately, on the way, Cakra met Rian instead.

Cakra grumbled, he still didn't want to deal with his stepbrother further.

"I happened to meet you here," Rian said coldly. His gaze was still the same—piercing and sharp.

Cakra let out an exasperated breath. "I have business," he replied briefly.

"I also have business with you," Rian replied.

Cakra returned Rian's gaze no less sharply. "And my business is more important than yours."

Cakra did not want to linger with Rian, he stepped away from him. However, Rian's next words succeeded in making Cakra freeze in place.

"Is the information on this paper correct?" Rian asked while raising the paper in his hand high into the air. Cakra then turned his head. "Are you dating Inez now?"

"None of your business."

"I have the right to know!" said Rian. "Answer my question, are you really dating Inez?"

"There's no need to be afraid of that, I haven't done anything with Inez," said Cakra. He took a long breath. Then he turned around, leaving Rian still standing with his own thoughts.

Cakra wanted to immediately meet Inez and discuss this matter. Indirectly, Inez had humiliated him. Cakra didn't like being the center of attention like this, let alone the subject of gossip.

Inez had really gone too far.