That morning, Raka woke up feeling fairly calm. Unlike usual, when he reached for his phone the moment he opened his eyes, this time he simply sat on the edge of his bed for a while, remembering his conversation with Sinta the night before.
Sinta's last words were still lingering in his mind.
“Thanks for being such a fun friend.”
Raka smiled faintly.
He was happy to hear that, but at the same time, he felt a little curious. Did Sinta really see him as nothing more than a friend? Or was there actually something more between them?
The question kept spinning through his head until he arrived at school.
“Rak, why are you spacing out in front of the door?” Dimas asked when he saw Raka standing there motionless.
Raka snapped back to reality.
“Huh? It’s nothing.”
Dimas scrutinized his face.
“You’re thinking about Sinta again, aren’t you?”
Raka immediately sighed.
“How do you always know?”
“Because your face is easy to read.”
“Is it that bad?”
“Not bad. Just funny.”
Raka adjusted the bag on his shoulder.
“I was just thinking.”
“Thinking so hard you forgot how to walk?”
Raka chuckled.
“Whatever.”
Dimas walked into the classroom with a smile.
“I’m just wondering when you’re finally going to be brave enough to tell her.”
Raka didn’t answer. He wanted to know that himself—when would he finally find the courage?
When class began, Raka tried to focus. But several times, he glanced toward Sinta’s desk. She was seriously taking notes on the teacher’s explanation.
Sinta really was different from most people Raka knew. She never tried to be the center of attention, yet she always managed to make other people feel comfortable.
When break time arrived, Sinta approached Raka.
“Raka, are you busy after school today?”
Raka immediately turned to her.
“Why?”
“I need help picking up some supplies for the class event.”
“Sure. I’ll help.”
Sinta smiled.
“Thanks.”
Dimas, sitting not far from them, immediately put on a curious expression.
“Secret mission?”
Sinta laughed.
“It’s not a secret. I just asked Raka for help.”
Dimas nodded.
“All right. Got it.”
Raka knew Dimas was teasing him on purpose, but he chose to stay quiet.
After school, Raka and Sinta went to the school storage room to pick up decorations. They carried several boxes filled with colored paper, string, and various other supplies.
“Heavy?” Sinta asked.
“A little.”
“Tell me if it’s too heavy.”
“I can still handle it.”
Sinta smiled.
“You always want to look like you can do everything by yourself.”
Raka looked at her.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Sometimes you don’t have to push yourself so hard.”
Her words left Raka silent.
Sinta had a simple way of making him feel cared for.
They stopped for a moment in the school garden because they had to wait for the teacher in charge to bring the room key.
The afternoon was fairly quiet. The only sounds were a few students still out on the field.
“Sin,” Raka called.
“Yeah?”
“Are you really comfortable being friends with me?”
Sinta looked slightly surprised by the question.
“Why are you suddenly asking that?”
“I don’t know. I was just curious.”
Sinta smiled.
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Because you always make things feel relaxed.”
Raka chuckled.
“Even though I’m always forgetting my assignments?”
“That’s one example.”
They laughed together.
But then Sinta continued in a softer voice.
“Besides, you’re also a thoughtful person.”
Raka fell silent.
“Thoughtful?”
“Yeah. You might not realize it, but you often help other people.”
Raka hadn’t expected Sinta to notice something so small.
“I thought you didn’t notice.”
“I noticed.”
Her answer changed the mood between them.
Raka wanted to say something, but suddenly someone called out to them.
“Raka, Sinta, you two haven’t gone home yet?”
It was Aldi, the older cafeteria worker, who was carrying several items.
“Not yet. We’re helping prepare for the event.”
Aldi nodded.
“Good. It’s rare to see students willing to help after school.”
After Aldi left, Sinta smiled.
“He likes teasing you too.”
Raka was startled.
“He’s told you about me?”
“He said you buy phone credit all the time.”
Raka immediately covered his face.
“Oh, come on. Why does everyone know?”
Sinta laughed.
“I never knew phone credit could become such a famous story.”
“Don’t join in.”
“I’m not making fun of you.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“I just think it’s funny.”
Raka shook his head, laughing.
That night, Raka thought about everything that had happened that day. He felt himself growing closer to Sinta, but he was also increasingly afraid of losing the relationship they had built.
While looking through his contact list, he stopped at Sinta’s name.
His finger almost pressed the call button.
But he changed his mind.
“Not yet,” he murmured.
Not long afterward, his phone rang.
Sinta had sent him a message.
“Have you eaten?”
Raka smiled.
“Yeah. You?”
“Me too.”
“Tired today?”
“A little, but I’m happy.”
“Because of the event?”
“Yeah, and because someone helped me.”
Raka read the message with a faint smile.
“Who?”
“You.”
Raka felt his heart beat faster.
He tried to reply casually.
“I was just helping out.”
“But it still meant a lot.”
Raka fell silent.
For several minutes, they only exchanged short messages. There weren’t many grand words, but they both continued to enjoy the conversation.
Then Sinta sent another message.
“Rak, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Have you ever been afraid of losing someone?”
The question made Raka stop typing.
He thought about his answer.
“I have.”
“Who?”
Raka stared at the screen for a long while.
He wanted to type Sinta’s name, but he still didn’t have enough courage.
“Someone.”
“Someone important?”
“Yeah.”
Sinta didn’t reply right away.
Raka began wondering if his answer had made her curious.
A few moments later, another message came in.
“I hope that person knows how much they mean to you.”
Raka smiled.
“Maybe someday they will.”
The night grew later. After saying good night, Raka placed his phone on the table.
He realized that his feelings for Sinta were growing stronger.
But he also realized that love wasn’t just about confessing your feelings.
There was a time that had to be understood.
There was trust that had to be built.
And there was courage that had to be gathered.
Meanwhile, Sinta was also beginning to become an important part of his days.
Not just because of the messages that arrived every night.
Not just because of the calls that made his phone credit disappear so quickly.
But because her presence made Raka feel like he could truly be himself.
And without either of them realizing it, the simple relationship that had begun with a borrowed math notebook was starting to change into a story that meant so much more.