Chapter 101: The Third Request

It had been weeks since I last exchanged greetings with Kenn. More precisely, Kenn always seemed to be distancing himself from me. Not only in class, but outside as well, he behaved the same way.

Every time we passed each other in the school corridor, he acted as if he didn’t know me at all. Every time I tried to get closer, whether it was just my feeling or not, he always avoided me before I could stand right in front of him.

I once asked Tomi directly about Kenn’s change in attitude. Instead of answering, he turned the question back on me. “You still haven’t realized it?”

Good grief, this kid. If I knew the reason, how could I possibly be asking?

“You’d better think again about who the guy in your heart really is right now,” Tomi continued.

He then left me alone with a new question whose meaning I didn’t understand.

Now, I don’t even know how many times I’ve seen Kenn together with Gita. By chance, I saw the two of them in the music room.

Just like before, I could only watch them from afar without any intention of disturbing their time together. Fortunately, the door was slightly open, so I could observe the situation inside the room more freely.

I saw Kenn playing the piano, while Gita was holding a guitar. They combined the two instruments to create a melody that was so beautiful. While plucking the strings, Gita smiled at Kenn, who was seriously pressing the piano keys in front of him.

Why can Gita play the guitar? Why not me? And why isn’t it me who knows just how amazing Kenn’s piano playing is?

I banged on the door panel to vent my frustration.

“Frel, what are you doing there?”

I was startled. I was caught red-handed by Gita.

Argh, damn it!

Wasn’t my knocking just now quiet enough? How could she notice it?

“Huh? Me, uh, well, I’m wiping the door, Gita. It’s such a pity that it’s dirty because no one cleans it.” I tried to chuckle while rubbing and blowing on the surface of the door.

Gita smiled in amusement. “Come here, Frel, I want to talk.”

I began walking as casually as possible. I glanced at Kenn, who was now closing the piano. He slipped both hands into his pants pockets, then looked at me. Instantly, I shifted my gaze toward Gita.

“What is it, Gita?” I asked when I was standing in front of her.

“Thank you, Frel. Thanks to your advice, Kenn was willing to be honest about Hendra.”

My brow furrowed. I fell silent, waiting for her to continue. Gita smiled faintly, then spoke again.

“I didn’t expect that the boy who once cried after falling off a motorcycle was Hendra,” Gita said. She then lowered her head while taking a gray handkerchief out of her uniform pocket. “This is a handkerchief from Hendra for me. He said it’s a replacement because my handkerchief was once used to bandage Hendra’s wound back then.”

So Kenn had already told her everything?

I nodded slowly with a sincere smile. “You’re welcome, Gita. I’m sure Hendra there must be at peace now, especially after his feelings were conveyed to you.”

Slowly, I turned my face to look at Kenn. The boy was still silently watching me. I reflexively smiled at him. It felt good to see Kenn finally willing to follow my advice.

However, there was another part of me that resisted that sense of happiness every time I saw him close to Gita.

“You know, Frel.” I jolted and refocused on Gita. “From childhood until now, my appearance has never changed. Always identical with braided hair and thick glasses like this. I thought no boy would ever be interested in me, but I was wrong.”

Gita smiled again while tightly gripping her handkerchief. “It turns out there was someone who loved me without looking at my physical appearance, like Hendra. Even though he’s already gone, at least I once felt loved by someone as good as him.”

I think she was feeling sad right now, recalling memories with little Hendra.

“Be patient, Gita. You also shouldn’t belittle yourself anymore. The proof is that Hendra loved you without considering your appearance at all. I believe there’s something very special within you that made a boy as good as Hendra fall in love. That’s true, isn’t it?” I said, trying to encourage her.

“Ah, you’re too much, Frel.” Gita lowered her head shyly. “By the way, thank you as well, because thanks to your advice, I can now be close to Kenn. I—”

“I’m leaving first, Gita,” Kenn cut in suddenly.

He walked past me without turning around even once.

I was stunned.

Since when did Kenn call Gita by her name directly?

He had never even called my name like that. Once again, that pain struck my chest.

I stared blankly at Kenn’s retreating figure. I knew he would avoid me again. But sorry, Kenn, this time I won’t give up so easily.

I immediately ran after him and grabbed his arm.

“I want to talk to you. Please, don’t avoid me anymore.”

“What do you want to talk about with Kenn, Frel?” Gita asked in confusion.

“Gita, may I talk to Kenn privately?” I asked, still staring intently at Kenn.

“Oh, of course. In that case, I’ll be the one to leave. You two settle your matter first.”

After Gita walked away, I looked at Kenn again. “I don’t know the reason why you’ve been avoiding me lately, but I hope you still remember the third request you haven’t fulfilled.”

Kenn seemed to frown. Maybe he had forgotten.

“Do you still remember the three requests we agreed on before you went to Germany?” I pressed.

Kenn appeared to think for a moment, then not long after, he looked at me sharply. “I hope you also remember that now Gita already knows who Hendra really is.”

Damn. That’s true.

I instantly released my grip. I panicked, searching for another reason. “But as a guy, you still have to keep your own promise. Come on, Kenn, my request isn’t difficult. Really.”

Kenn looked at me hesitantly.

“I just want you to take me to the orphanage. I miss Abel and Reno.”

“If that’s all, you can ask your own boyfriend to take you,” Kenn said curtly. He started walking toward the exit again.

“But I want to go with you, Kenn!”

I turned to him. Kenn’s steps stopped after hearing my words. Somehow, that sentence slipped out just like that.

“I mean, after school Kevan has a student council meeting. I’m confused about who to ask for a ride.” I lowered my head, not knowing what else I could do to persuade him. “Besides, don’t you miss the two of them as well?”

I could hear him let out a heavy sigh. “After school, I’ll wait in the parking lot,” Kenn replied, before finally walking away without waiting for my response.

I reflexively smiled brightly when I heard that.

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