Chapter 14: Déjà Vu

Today is the day I’ve been waiting for the most as a teenager. A new school, a new atmosphere, new friends, new teachers, and maybe even a new crush.

This is my first day wearing the uniform of SMA Bakti Airlangga. Since last night, I had prepared all my school supplies neatly. I even set my alarm clock two hours earlier than usual, as if I were afraid of losing even a single second of this important day.

Now I stand in front of the school gate, smiling widely while stretching out both arms and gazing at the SMA Bakti Airlangga logo with great pride. I don’t care about the puzzled looks from the students passing by. I just want to enjoy this feeling of happiness as much as I can.

I step inside and greet the security guard at the gate, a tall, big-built man with a small mustache that looks funny above his lips.

“Good morning, Sir,” I greet cheerfully.

“Good morning, Miss,” he replies with a friendly smile.

My steps feel light as I enter the school grounds. I even hum softly. But faintly, I hear the sound of hurried running footsteps.

Who would be running around this early in the morning? School doesn’t start for another half hour.

I slow my steps when the sound seems to be getting closer. Suddenly, a loud shout calls my name from behind.

“Freeeell.”

Before I can fully turn around, my body is already slammed into by someone with excessive enthusiasm.

Oh my God. Dara.

She grins widely while raising her index and middle fingers at the same time. “Peace, Frel.”

Before I can calm my racing heart, Dara bombards me with a string of questions without pause.

“How was yesterday, Frel? Kenn walked you home, right? Where did he take you on his motorcycle? He’s nice, isn’t he? Well, of course he is, why am I even asking? Oh, Frel, do you know how lucky you are to get a ride from Kenn? I want that too.”

I look at her in despair. Oh God, please heal my best friend. Her brain really needs some rest.

I roll my eyes, frustrated by her expression that grows more excessive by the day. This must all be because of Kenn.

“What do you mean nice? He’s unbearably annoying. When he talks, I feel like slapping him,” I complain.

“And then?” Dara grows even more excited.

Whether I like it or not, I tell her everything that happened yesterday while walking toward the classroom. Without exception. I know that if I don’t, Dara will keep chasing me until she gets her answers.

Even when Kenn’s motorcycle was blocked by a fallen tree, she still demanded the most detailed explanation possible.

“So we just took a detour, even though it was farther. What else could we do?” I explain.

“Wow, cool,” Dara says enthusiastically.

I stare at her in disbelief. Cool in what way?

This girl really doesn’t make sense. Someone runs into bad luck and she calls it cool.

I slap my forehead, unable to understand her way of thinking.

“Did Kenn take you all the way to your house?” Dara asks innocently.

“Obviously. What, should he have stopped in front of the village head’s house?” I reply irritably.

Dara just nods repeatedly.

“Then, did you ask him to come inside?”

“Of course not. I immediately closed the door before Grandma could find out who had come.”

We both laughed. We both knew how Grandma behaved whenever she met even a slightly handsome man. Tomi was often her victim.

If during orientation the seating arrangement was determined by the student council, now we were free to choose our own seats. However, even though the bell wouldn’t ring for another twenty minutes, the classroom was already as crowded as a market.

Most of the desks were already occupied. Dara and I looked around for empty seats, until a familiar voice came from the very back row.

Someone stood up and waved at us. Around him, several female students seemed to compete for his attention.

Tomi.

Dara and I were used to seeing scenes like this, so we didn’t make a big deal out of it.

I didn’t know what he said to them. What was clear was that after he flashed a sweet smile, the girls immediately dispersed to their respective seats.

What an obnoxious playboy.

Tomi dragged us to the second row from the back, near the window. He said many girls wanted to sit there, but he rejected them for our sake. Dara responded by giving him two thumbs up while laughing loudly.

Surely so it would be easier to cheat. I wasn’t stupid enough not to realize that. They really were in sync when it came to cheating.

The very back seat, right behind us, was undoubtedly Tomi’s. He had always been the best at finding a safe position.

However, something was strange. The seat next to Tomi was empty.

Where was its owner?

My brow furrowed. Just as I was about to ask, the classroom, which had been noisy moments ago, suddenly fell silent in an instant.

A strange feeling crept into my chest. This felt like déjà vu. I briefly glanced at Dara, who was frozen with her mouth slightly open. My head was still facing Tomi’s empty seat. My instinct told me that something bad was about to happen. I hoped my feeling was wrong.

Slowly, I turned around. My neck felt heavy. My eyes widened when I saw a male student who had just entered the classroom, walking casually with full confidence.

He walked closer and sat down right next to Tomi.

I swallowed hard.

Damn.

That guy was Kenn.

What kind of nightmare was following me all the way to school today?.

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