Chapter 37: Chapter 37

"You better shut up, Ghe. How many times have I told and emphasized to you that I won't like Rian? No matter how long it takes."

Ghea tried to be patient, she took a deep breath and shook her head slowly. "I'm not pressuring you, Nez, I'm just saying that you should think about it carefully," Ghea said calmly. Closing her eyes for a moment, Ghea continued with a lower volume than before. "I just want you to think about this carefully, Nez. Is Rian's struggle not enough for you?"

Inez laughed blandly while waving her hand. "It's his own fault, I already told him that what Rian is doing is just going to be a waste of his time. But what? He doesn't even want to listen to me. I'm not the one at fault here." Inez smiled broadly as she shrugged her shoulders. "Shouldn't Rian be smart enough to analyze my rejection? He should understand that I don't like him at all times."

"But what's wrong with you giving him hope, Nez? Just a little, nothing more. At least make Rian happy. Even if it's not for long." Ghea stuck to her position, defending Rian.

Inez shook her head slowly. "Again, heart problems, I can't force my heart." Inez said nothing, then picked up her backpack and put it on. Then she stood up from her seat and lightly patted Ghea's shoulder. "I'll be back first, bye! I'll see you tomorrow, Ghe."

Ghea pressed her lips together and looked down at the table. Her breath came out heavily, through her mouth and nostrils simultaneously. Her words went completely unheard by Inez. With a limp body, Ghea left the classroom.

The girl who always wore glasses walked down the stairs, moving slowly towards the basketball court. Usually, Rian was there. Playing basketball by himself.

And what Ghea guessed turned out to be the truth, the corners of her lips twitched, creating a faintly sweet smile.

"Rian is so handsome," Ghea muttered while watching Rian, who was focused on throwing the orange ball into the basketball hoop.

Rian looked very charming in Ghea's eyes. Rian dribbled the basketball skillfully again. His face and neck were drenched in sweat. His hands were, too. He looked even more attractive. Not to mention his strong arm muscles that were visible because Rian was currently wearing a sleeveless maroon basketball outfit.

She doesn't know when she admired Rian so much, but the girl herself didn't know. Maybe because Rian often met Inez, Ghea indirectly met the boy.

Realizing every rejection that Inez gave to Rian made her feel sorry for her older sister. In her opinion, Inez herself was too much. Rian is not that bad.

If Inez continues to reject Rian like that, is it okay if Ghea takes Inez's place?

Continuing to think about Rian made Ghea unaware that the distance to the field was in sight. She had been daydreaming for too long.

"WATCH OUT!"

The sudden shout made Ghea startle, her eyes blinked. She stared ahead, glaring as a ball flew towards her. Ghea didn't have time to dodge, so she closed her eyes tightly while screaming loudly.

Thump!

The orange ball slammed hard into Ghea, making her stagger and then fall with both hands landing first. Ghea squealed loudly, groaning in pain. A sudden stinging sensation lined her palm, and when she looked at it, fresh blood was emerging from her torn skin. Not to mention her head, which was tingling.

"Ouch ...." Ghea whimpered. She grimaced repeatedly. Her vision seemed to blur for a few seconds. At the same time, Ghea vaguely saw Rian, who was running towards her.

"Ghea?" From Rian's tone of voice, there was a tone of surprise. The boy squatted right in front of Ghea. "Are you okay?"

Ghea was still sitting, her hands hidden behind her body. Luckily, she could now see clearly. The dizziness that she had felt for a few seconds had disappeared, replaced by the crazy pounding of her heart.

Being near Rian was like an electric shock to Ghea's body. The girl tried to calm down, and her smile spread perfectly.

"I'm fine," Ghea replied softly, grimacing. She was still a bit dizzy, but the pain in her palms could not be avoided.

Guilt definitely struck Rian hard. He immediately voiced his guilt to Ghea. "I'm sorry, Ghe, I didn't do it on purpose just now. I was going to throw the ball to the ring, but I missed the throw, and the ball ran to you. I really didn't mean it, Ghe."

Ghea waved her hand in front of her face. "Take it easy, I'm fine. I don't have a headache either."

"Your hand—"

Ghea glared in surprise, she forgot to hide her hand. Ghea hurriedly hid her hands behind her body again. She shook her head firmly.

"I'm fine, just relax."

"Let me see."

"It's okay." Ghea continued to reject him with an even louder shake.

But Rian was not to be outdone. It was all his fault, it wasn't fair that he let Ghea get hurt. However, Rian had to take responsibility.

"Don't do that, Ghe," Rian squeaked. His voice sounded hoarse, and his sweat was still dripping down his temples. "Try your hand here, let me see."

"But."

"Come here."

Ghea snorted softly, ignoring her racing heart, and carefully and hesitantly extended her hand forward.

Seeing the cut on Ghea's palm made Rian grimace. The wound wasn't wide open, but there was quite a lot of blood. Rian shook his head slowly, his gaze returning towards Ghea, making Ghea bite her lip. Rian's face was too close, making Ghea's heart beat.

Gue swallowed her saliva roughly.

"Are you saying this kind of wound is okay?" Rian let out a short breath as he shook his head. "Wait here for a while, okay?"

With fairly fast movements, Rian ran to the school medical center, which was located not far from the basketball court. Fortunately, the room was not yet closed, and Rian returned with red medicine, cotton, and bandages.

"Give me your hand, Ghe, let me treat it for a while."

"No need, it'll be all right—"

Before Ghea could finish her sentence, Rian silenced her mouth by placing his index finger on her lips.

Ghea was transfixed, staring deeper into Rian's face. For the umpteenth time, the boy's treatment made the pounding inside her chest tighten even more. Ghea even held her breath. Her body trembled, and something in her stomach was tingling. She had really fallen under the charm of the boy in front of her, her senior, named Rian.

Ghea gulped her saliva with difficulty. Hesitating for a moment, Ghea finally agreed to be treated by Rian. During that time, her heart could not cooperate.

Five minutes later, Rian had finished treating the wound on Ghea's palm.

Ghea smiled too widely, her white and neatly arranged teeth were even visible. "Thanks."

"No thanks, you have every right to be angry with me. But I really didn't mean it, Ghe."

"Relax, I'm fine." Ghea then tried to stand up, and Rian took the initiative to help her. Such a sensitive person, the more Ghea fell in love with that boy.

"You're not coming home, Ghe, where's Inez?"

"I'm going home," Ghea replied. "And Inez already went home first."

"Then why don't you go home with me?" Rian asked.

It was an invitation that most girls would readily agree to. And so did Ghea. Isn't it rare to go home with a handsome guy? But for some reason, Ghea didn't accept the invitation, she refused it subtly. She didn't want to trouble Rian.

"No."

"Well, I'm sorry again. Be careful on your way home, okay?"

If only Rian didn't like anyone right now, maybe Ghea would have put more hope in that boy. But unfortunately, there was only Inez in Rian's heart. Burying Inez's name in that boy's heart was impossible, a girl like Ghea would never enter Rian's heart.

***

"Cakra seems angry with me, Ghe, but he doesn't want me to be embarrassed either. The proof is that he didn't paste the paper he wrote on the wall, right?"

"And that means..." Ghea dangled her words while narrowing her eyes, staring intently at Inez. Making Inez curious about her. "It means... Cakra wants to be your boyfriend, Nez."

Inez tried to hold back her smile, but her cheeks suddenly felt warm. She then cleared her throat. "You can do it, Ghe." Inez gently nudged Ghea's shoulder. She chuckled softly. "I'd love to, but would I?"

Ghea nodded. "Yes, it could be. Isn't the answer logically obvious? He threw the paper into the trash can, meaning he agreed to you boys going out."

"No, I don't want to expect more." Inez shook her head slowly. "I need to calm down and not get my hopes up. I'll fall off a cliff if I don't. It hurts."

"Yes, just make sure you go and meet Cakra." Ghea offered a suggestion. "The details of your relationship with Cakra are still being discussed."

"You're so wise, Ghe." Inez looked surprised at her best friend. "What did you eat at home? I want some too!"

"Eat hotdog!" Ghea snapped, picked up a book from under her desk, and got up. Making Inez immediately prevented her.

Inez looked up. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to the library to return a book," Ghea replied while showing a thickly printed book in her hand. "Why, do you want to come too?"

If anyone asked why Ghea didn't ask Inez first, the answer would have been obvious. Inez would have openly refused. That's why Ghea didn't ask Inez whether she wanted to come or not.

Inez grimaced and shook her head. "I'm not coming, I'm too lazy to meet books." The girl grinned widely. Showing off her row of white and neatly arranged teeth.

Ghea nodded. "I'll go first. Call me later if a teacher comes in." Ghea said. "Okay?"

"Did you bring your phone?"

Ghea replied with a mumble as she patted her pocket. "Bye... I'll go first." Smiling sweetly, Ghea waved her hand. A second after that, she quickly walked out of the classroom.

Arriving at her destination, Ghea immediately handed over her borrowed book to the clerk, and after putting her signature on the loan book, she was allowed to put the book back on the appropriate shelf.

Ghea walked slowly towards the shelf. When she found it, she smiled and placed the book on the shelf.

It's done. Ghea sighed for a moment. She intended to go back to her class, but her tail accidentally found Rian at the end of the hallway. Ghea's trance paused, and the girl turned her body completely, confirming what she saw.

Ghea thought she just saw something wrong. Rian found it somehow impossible to be in a place like this. But, after she blinked her eyes repeatedly while positioning her glasses correctly, he was still there.

Everything was real, Ghea wasn't mistaken. And her heart was already beating hard. Just seeing Rian somehow made her cheeks heat up.

"What are you doing here?" Ghea mumbled softly, but then she realized. "Of course I'm reading a book, you dumb Ghea!" The girl with glasses cursed herself. She hissed. Then, when she focused all her attention back on Rian, he was also staring at her.

For a split second, they both looked at each other. Feeling that she had been caught, Ghea glared widely and hurriedly turned her body around.

She closed her eyes and tapped her forehead repeatedly. "Stupid!"

She cursed herself again.

She felt stupid and very embarrassed. Unwilling to bear this burden any longer, Ghea resolved to leave this place right now.

Having only taken one step, Ghea was forced to stop her body when her shoulder was touched by someone from behind, followed by a heavy voice that Ghea recognized without seeing his face.

"Ghe."

Ghea's whole body trembled as if she had been shocked by electricity. Especially her hands and feet. Ghea then had the courage to turn around, and as soon as she saw Rian's face staring at her with a frown, Ghea just grinned.

"Hi ..." Ghea greeted him clumsily. Her hand gave a small wave.

"What are you doing here, Ghe?"

"I'm returning my book," Ghea replied quietly. She moved restlessly, her palms already sweaty. The girl turned her face away, staring at Rian's face was not good for her heart. "What are you doing?"

Rian laughed softly. "Are you talking to me or to the bookshelf?" Rian shook his head, unable to think. "I'm here, in front of you."

"Oh yeah." Ghea smiled awkwardly.

"I'm cleaning the shelves, Ghe," Rian replied. "I'm usually punished for making noise during class." Rian then brought my face closer to Ghea's ear, making Ghea instantly dumbfounded. "The teacher is really boring, so I get sleepy easily," he continued, whispering softly. Rian developed a smile, then lowered his head.

"How's your hand, Ghe? Let me see."

Before Ghea could show her palm, Rian had already pulled it away. Ghea was again surprised by Rian's completely unexpected action. Oh my, her hand was now touched by the school's most wanted! Ghea felt like fainting right now.

Rian's hand felt warm when he touched her, and during that time Ghea held her breath. She didn't know how to respond, she was too surprised.

"It's better now, Ghe. "About yesterday, I apologized once again, right?" Rian said, looking straight at Ghea's eyeballs.

"Don't keep apologizing, I'm the one who feels bad." Ghea said kindly.

"If apologizing doesn't seem fair to you, what if I treat you at the cafeteria?"

What?!

Whoever it is, please tell Ghea how to breathe! Ghea felt like the air supply in her lungs had been depleted. The girl stared at Rian, dumbfounded, she didn't blink. Ghea seemed to be transformed into a statue at this moment. Don't ask me how Ghea felt at this moment, she wanted to scream as loud as she could!

"Ghe?"

Ghea didn't answer.

"Ghe?"

Rian repeated his call, this time adding a touch of waving to the girl's face. But there was no sign of movement from Ghea. The sweet girl looked at Rian straight on.

"Ghea?" For the third time, Rian called Ghea. Since Ghea didn't respond at all despite Rian waving his hand in front of her face, this time Rian tapped Ghea lightly on the shoulder.

Successfully, Ghea snapped out of her reverie. She laughed, widened her eyes, and blinked repeatedly. Her innocent face made Rian chuckle softly.

"Ghe, why are you daydreaming?"

"What?" Ghea misbehaved, her cheeks were already heating up. "What did you say?"

"I want to treat you, don't you?"