Chapter 39: Chapter 39

"Ouch, I told you what. There's no need to go all out to join basketball, especially since Rian is the chairman. You'll end up in his hands." Zidan ranted at length as usual shortly after Cakra managed to tell everything about his first experience in extracurricular basketball yesterday afternoon.

Cakra chuckled softly. "The proof is that I'm okay now. Rian was deliberately trying to get me to give up and not participate. But I didn't want to lose, I just jumped in, even though I was really tired. Honestly Dan, I'm more tired than I am working."

"That's why you should quit, you're tired of working to earn money, you're tired of participating in basketball, and you don't get anything." Zidan waved his hand in front of his face. "Here you go, Kra, you're so weird that you don't suddenly want to join basketball."

"What's weird?" While writing in his book, Cakra replied indifferently.

Zidan leaned forward, then spoke with a lower volume than before. "Now be honest with me, what's wrong with you suddenly insisting on joining the basketball club?"

Cakra hung up his hand, which was holding a pen. Then he looked up, watching Zidan's face, which was closer to him. His thick eyebrows almost touched.

"Yes, I just wanted to. What's weird?" With a furrowed brow, indicating that he was confused, Cakra sighed softly as he shook his head. "You're the weird one, Dan."

"No, I'm sure you have something to hide." Zidan was still suspicious.

"Let's not talk about anything, let's do your part now. Time's up soon, hurry up." Cakra warned. Making Zidan roll his eyes while snorting in annoyance.

Currently, both of them are in the library working on a group assignment consisting of two people. The assignment was given because the teaching teacher was absent. Therefore, Cakra and Zidan agreed to work in the library. Because he thinks this place is so quiet and not noisy, it makes them more able to focus.

"You're diverting the conversation, it's not wrong if I'm suspicious of you."

Putting his pen on the table, he clucked in exasperation. "And, you need to focus, let's not talk about this issue. The time is up soon, I'll tell you everything."

"There's nothing to it." Zidan narrowed his eyes. Then he smiled mischievously. "Promise me you have to tell me. I'll ask you later."

"Yes, yes, do it first."

"Ready captain!" Zidan saluted Cakra solemnly, and a moment later he chuckled softly. Cakra just gave a small sneer. The two of them then began working on the task together.

The situation returned to silence as before. No one made a sound, other students who happened to be in the library were also focused on their respective activities.

Not long after that, Cakra was surprised by something beyond his expectations. Making him surprised and a little jerked, as well as Zidan, who sat in front of him.

"Hello, my boyfriend, who is handsome and good at playing basketball." Inez suddenly appeared beside Cakra with a big smile. The girl then took a seat next to Cakra.

"I'm not your boyfriend."

"Oh, wrong?" Inez pretended to be surprised, she closed her mouth dramatically. "I'll repeat it from the beginning."

The girl got up from her seat. A moment after that, she snuck back in, right next to Cakra's face.

"Hello, my handsome, basketball-playing boyfriend-to-be." Inez chuckled softly. While Cakra just snorted in annoyance. In front of him, Zidan only held back his laughter from gushing out.

"What are you doing here?"

Inez shook her hair. "What else do you want if not to find me?"

"I'm busy."

"You know," Inez replied quickly. "You're always busy. I like busy men, especially hardworking ones like you. So when we get married, our children won't go hungry because they have a father who is diligent and hardworking."

"Why are you suddenly thinking about that?" Cakra looked at Inez and couldn't stop thinking. Then he glanced at Zidan, who seemed to be desperately holding back his laughter. Cakra glared at his best friend.

Cakra exhaled a long breath. "Nez, I'm really busy. Better leave me and Zidan alone for now. We're working on an assignment."

"Yeah, it's okay, just do it, I'm not bothering you. I'm just here watching you. While my class is free too."

"I feel uncomfortable being watched," Cakra replied honestly, feeling uncomfortable with Inez's sudden presence like this.

Inez chuckled. "You should be happy to be stared at by a beautiful girl like me. How come you don't want to?"

Cakra rolled his eyes lazily. "Nez, I'm serious."

"I'm serious too!" Inez was not to be outdone. "I'm not bothering you, just relax." Inez's gaze then shifted to Zidan. Both of them looked at each other and smiled. "Is it okay if I'm here?" she asked Zidan.

"It's okay, just relax."

Cakra widened his eyes at Zidan's response. Meanwhile, Zidan, who was stared at in horror by his best friend, just grinned.

"After all, your friend doesn't mind if I'm here. Who would want to bother you anyway?"

"How did you know I was here?"

Inez propped up her chin while watching Cakra's face from the side, the distance was quite close, making Cakra misbehave himself. Not to mention his heart, which was somehow beating very fast.

"Really want to know, huh?" Inez lowered her eyebrows, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.

"No."

"I went to your class, but you weren't there, then someone told me you were here. I just came straight here."

Now, Cakra couldn't focus on his assignment because of Inez's distracting presence. Even though there was only a little bit left of the assignment. But in vain, Cakra couldn't focus.

"I'm done." Zidan closed his book. "Are you done, Kra?"

"Not yet, just a little." Cakra answered with a shake of his head.

"I'll finish this, you can talk to Inez." Zidan stood up from his seat, taking Cakra's book without permission. "I'll go out first, maybe you both need some privacy." Before walking away, Zidan smiled mischievously at Cakra.

"Uh Dan, but—"

"I'm rarely this nice, you don't need to protest." Zidan immediately cut in, then walked out of the library, leaving Inez with Cakra.

"Your friend is pretty cute too."

"Why? Interest? You might want to take him, he's still single, he hasn't found a girlfriend yet."

Inez shook her head. "I'm not interested, you're more handsome everywhere." Inez grinned, showing a row of neatly arranged white teeth. "By the way, what's your friend's name?"

"Zidan," said Cakra without interest.

"I think he's rich, his watch looks expensive."

Without looking at Inez's face, Cakra said quietly. "Zidan's family is rich." Cakra sighed again, then looked flatly at Inez. "What do you really want to do here?"

"Just wanted to ask, are you ready for—"

"No!" he snapped, flatly refusing. Even though Inez's words had not been resolved, he knew what she was going to say.

Inez clicked her tongue. "I haven't finished talking yet."

"No."

"How annoying are you!" Inez grumbled.

"Nez, if it's not important, you should just leave. I'm busy, and I feel bad for Zidan. We've divided the tasks to do together, it's not fair if he does my part."

"It doesn't matter, he offered it to you himself."

"But I feel bad."

"Don't think about it, your friend has no right to be angry because he himself offered it. Better talk to me, accompany me."

"Waste of time, Nez."

Inez chuckled. "How are we going to date if you're already saying it's a waste of time? It's nothing yet."

"I don't care." Cakra shrugged his shoulders. "We're not dating."

"But soon."

"No."

Inez sneered, "It's very hard to persuade you."

"I'm not a kid."

"Oh yeah, yesterday you were really cool when you played basketball. I was on picket duty at the time. Crazy, you're also good at basketball. You know that one of my ideal boys can play basketball. And you? Perfect! You're really the right target to be my boyfriend, Kra. And after I look around, you seem to be better than Rian."

"Just normal." Cakra replied flatly.

"I swear, you're really cool! I'm not lying. I thought you couldn't play basketball, but I was wrong. I'm sorry for implying myself."

"I'm going out."

"Why are you leaving? I haven't told you enough. It's a fight." Inez scowled.

"Sitting with you is a waste of time, Nez, I'm leaving." Without hearing Inez's ramblings anymore, Cakra immediately got up from his seat and walked quickly out of the library.

Not wanting to be left alone, Inez followed. She ran a little to catch up with him.

"Cakra, wait for me!"

***

Sensing that Rian had come to her class to approach her, Inez snorted rudely while rolling her eyes lazily. Her sharp gaze went straight to Rian, who was standing next to her desk this time.

"What the hell are you doing, Yan!" Inez spoke with an accent in her voice that was thick with sarcasm. Her face looked up slightly as she was sitting down. "You just go away, you bother me every day. Do you know how bored I am?"

Rian frowned, watching Inez, who suddenly exploded when she was here. Rian shook his head slowly. Inez had the wrong idea.

"I'm not looking for you, Nez," Rian said, returning Inez's gaze. He sighed softly. "I'm not here to talk to you."

"Then who are you talking to, Ghea?" Inez guessed randomly. But the response given by Rian made Inez widen her eyes wide. Rian nodded slowly, meaning what Inez said was the truth.

"Are you really looking for Ghea?" Inez asked, this time looking at Ghea, who smiled shyly at her. A second later, Inez's gaze turned back to Rian with narrowed eyes.

"Why am I looking for Ghea? There's no prohibition, right?"

"No!" Inez replied firmly. Then she stood up from her seat, standing opposite Rian, her chin raised as if she were challenging him. "What business do you have meeting my best friend?"

"You have no right to know." Rian said casually while glancing at Ghea, who had also stood up.

The class was already quiet because it was already dismissal time, all the students had mostly left the class for their respective homes. Only a handful of animate beings can be counted with fingers in the classroom now.

Inez laughed as she turned her face away from Rian. Her hands were clasped around her waist.

"How funny are you?" Inez chuckled, refocusing all her attention on Rian's face. "I have the right to know because Ghea is my best friend."

"Nez."

"What do you want with Ghea?" Inez moved her body forward, her chin lifting even higher. Her sharp eyes glared at Rian fiercely. "Don't ever bother my best friend. Don't you get it!"

Rian sighed softly. "Nez, I'm not bothering Ghea."

"What?"

"Seriously." Rian's face still looked normal. "I have something to do with Ghea. It's important." Rian immediately shifted his position closer to Ghea, then took her hand and pulled her to his side. As before, Rian's actions were completely unexpected, leaving Ghea shocked and confused.

"I'll go first, Nez," Rian said, then glanced at Ghea and pulled a faint smile. Rian immediately dragged Ghea out of the classroom, his hand still holding Ghea's wrist.

"I'll explain everything to you later, Nez," Ghea said as she waved her hand, while Inez was still standing there with her forehead folded.

After Ghea and Rian's bodies disappeared behind the classroom door, Inez was still standing, lost in her own thoughts. What were they doing? And since when did Rian and Ghea become close?

Inez wondered to herself. She bit her lip, thinking about what could have made them close.

Dizzy from thinking about it, and her brain unable to find an answer that made sense and was easy to digest, Inez sighed loudly while shrugging her shoulders indifferently. Who cared if they were close or not? Isn't this good? Inez doesn't have to face Rian anymore, who is forcing her to be that boy's girlfriend.

Inez then picked up her backpack, carried it, and stomped out of the deserted classroom.

While in another position, Ghea insisted on being normal and careful when she was around Rian. They were currently walking into a cafe that is quite popular among young people today.

Again, Rian was holding Ghea's hand. Perhaps what Rian had in mind was that this action was normal and did not affect anything. But that was not the case, Ghea desperately resisted the urge not to squeal with joy and held back her smile. Her heart was always played with when she was near Rian, always swaying swiftly like she was at a discotheque. The effect of being near Rian was indeed intense. Ghea bit her lip as Rian's warm hands ran over her skin.

"Sit down, Ghe." Rian ordered in a low tone of voice, which Ghea immediately obeyed with a sweet smile and a nod of her head.

They sat facing each other. Ghea was getting nervous when she came face-to-face with Rian. Of course, Rian was a boy she admired.

"What do you want to order, Ghe?" asked Rian, who smiled sweetly. "Don't worry, I'll pay for it."

"Whatever you want. I'll follow."

"Don't do that, Ghe, I don't know what your taste is."

"It's okay, it's up to you."

Rian let out a short sigh before finally reaching out his hand, taking the paper on the table, and starting to look through the menu.

"Just ice cream, Ghe? And cake? Don't you like sweets?" Rian looked at Ghea with one eyebrow raised, waiting for an answer from the girl sitting in front of him.

"That's okay, I like sweets."

"Okay." Rian immediately called out to the waiter, then mentioned his order, before the waiter finally left.

"Actually, you don't have to treat me like this, I'm really not sorry about that incident. It was just an accident, you didn't mean to do it."

"Don't do that, Ghe, I'll feel bad later. Just accept it, okay? Just think of it as a normal conversation." Rian smiled. "Oh yeah, you don't have anything to do, right?"

Ghea shook her head. "Nothing, just relax."

"Good then."

"Yes."

No one spoke for a while, both of them kept their mouths shut. Both Rian and Ghea were busy with their own thoughts. After all, they weren't that close, so finding a suitable topic was a bit difficult.

Until finally, the arrival of a float carrying orders saved them from an awkward situation.

"Enjoy." The waiter smiled kindly, then turned to leave their table.

"I think it's delicious," said Rian. "I've never been here before, what about you?" Rian scooped a little ice cream, then directed it into his mouth.

Ghea said softly. "I'm new here too."

Rian nodded. "Then eat Ghe, it's really delicious."

"Okay." Ghea carried a gentle smile, starting to taste the cold and sweet food. "It's delicious, not too sweet."

"Yes, it's delicious."

Ghea once again only smiled at Rian.

"Oh yeah, Ghe, you and Inez are really close, aren't they?" Rian changed the subject. His gaze became more focused. For some reason, Ghea didn't like it when Rian talked about Inez. It's not that she doesn't like it, it's just that she's a little unwilling.