Chapter 10: The Incident at the Orphanage

When we arrived at Cinta Kasih Orphanage, we immediately got off the bus. For students who had collected fewer than twenty student council signatures—including me—a punishment was enforced: carrying all the donated items that would be given to the children at the orphanage.

Regardless of gender, everyone was required to help carry the items and quickly move them into the orphanage hall. The hall served not only as a meeting room and reception area, but also as a space for activities during visits from outside parties.

Once all the items had been unloaded from the three transport trucks, my eyes widened completely. This wasn’t just an ordinary donation—it was more like a luxury goods exhibition.

My mouth fell open in amazement at what lay before me. This was the first time I had ever seen donations this numerous and this extravagant.

I examined the items one by one as they were unloaded from the trucks. There were sofas, a fifty-inch flat-screen TV, radios, computers, laptops, guitars, wardrobes, large electric fans, rice cookers, juicers, refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and many other expensive items.

Oh my God. This is what happens when rich kids gather. Everyone competes to show off their wealth.

I kept staring at the items until my gaze landed on one object—a brand-new smartphone I often saw advertised on television. It cost tens of millions of rupiah. I picked up the box and nearly screamed in excitement, struggling to hold myself back so I wouldn’t look like some clueless country girl.

“Ehem.”

A guy cleared his throat right in front of me.

I snapped back to reality. Apparently, I’d been smiling to myself while holding the phone box, imagining it was mine and picturing myself showing it off endlessly to Dara.

I let out a long sigh. Reality was never as beautiful as imagination.

It was only around ten in the morning, but the sun already felt scorching and intense. I saw the guy standing there, lifting a large box and resting it on his shoulder. With something that big, he was carrying it alone, without any help. His shirt was soaked with sweat, clinging to his body so tightly that his muscles were clearly outlined. I even caught a brief glimpse of his broad, solid chest.

My thoughts immediately started to wander.

What if I could touch it? Feel it?

Were his abs muscular too? Would it be okay to look just a little?

The scent of sweat mixed with his cologne must—

I smiled to myself, embarrassed by how increasingly ridiculous my thoughts were becoming. My body swayed left and right with a foolish expression.

My gaze slowly drifted down toward his stomach. But before my eyes could fully land there, the same throat-clearing sound came again.

I jolted and quickly lifted my gaze to his face. My heart nearly leapt out of my chest when I realized who was standing in front of me.

His brow furrowed, one eyebrow lifting as he stared at me sharply. “You were having dirty daydreams, weren’t you?”

Oh my God. His mouth.

I froze, completely flustered, unable to say a word.

“N-no. I mean—no, not at all,” I stammered. I smacked my own lips. Why had my mouth suddenly stopped cooperating?

He clicked his tongue in annoyance. “Your words don’t match your expression at all.”

His stare grew sharper. My face burned. I was probably bright red by now, like a boiled crab. So embarrassing.

“How long are you going to stand there? Move.”

I quickly patted both my cheeks, hoping the redness would fade. This was the downside of having fair skin—every little change showed instantly.

“You don’t have to shout like that, you know! Why don’t you move? You’re the guy!” I snapped, planting my hands on my hips.

“No. And if I’m a guy, so what?” he shot back, challenging me.

Unbelievable. This was the first time I’d ever met a guy who refused to give in to a girl. I felt like slamming him to the ground, but my body was way too small compared to his. I had to crane my neck just to look up at him.

“Why?” I asked through clenched teeth, deliberately scanning him from head to toe. “Oh, I get it. You’re just a coward.” I emphasized the last word, hoping it would get under his skin.

“What did you say?” He finally reacted. “Can’t you see how big the thing I’m carrying is?”

Good. He took the bait.

Some of the students who were being punished stopped what they were doing to watch us. Even those who had already gone inside the hall came back out after hearing the commotion.

“No. And if I do see it, so what?” I replied, deliberately mimicking his tone.

His face flushed with restrained anger. He glared at me, let out a low growl, then finally shouted, “You perverted girl. Small body. Move!”

What? Perverted? Small body?

That did it.

“Y-you!” I pointed right at his face.

“What?” he challenged.

I rolled up the sleeves of my uniform, acting as if I were about to fight him. Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded stepping aside—if only he’d asked nicely. Not like this guy in front of me: rude and infuriating.

When I still refused to back down, he grew even angrier and was forced to lower the large box from his shoulder.

“Listen carefully!” I yelled, completely losing it. “You’re a coward, an annoying guy, arrogant, a know-it-all, and your mouth is as sharp as chili peppers!”

I hurled insults at him without restraint, as loudly as I could. I felt like grabbing an axe and chopping his head off right then and there.

He growled in frustration, closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. The veins at his temples stood out clearly—he was barely holding his anger in.

“You—”

“What?”

We stared each other down, shooting looks filled with pure hostility. Thankfully, several student council members—including Kevan—quickly arrived to break us apart. They separated us and forced us into the hall.

The remaining items that hadn’t been carried in were eventually handed over to the truck driver and helped in by several staff members from the orphanage.

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