That afternoon, the campus cafeteria was busier than usual. Alya stood at the entrance, looking over the tables, almost all of which were already occupied. Her stomach felt empty.
She sighed. “I hope there’s still a seat.”
She held a tray with chicken and rice and iced tea in both hands. Alya walked slowly, searching for an empty chair. Then someone waved. “Alya!” a male voice called.
Alya turned.
Raka.
The young man was sitting at one of the tables near the window. In front of him was a plate of rice and a glass of something to drink.
“Over here,” he called. Alya immediately nodded.
Alya walked over to him.
“Alone?” Alya asked.
Raka nodded. “Arka hasn’t arrived yet.” Alya stopped immediately.
“Arka?” she repeated.
“Yeah. Why? You look kind of surprised,” Raka asked, puzzled.
That name reminded Alya of what had happened yesterday—the guy she had accidentally run into, the guy she had seen again in the park yesterday and this morning. Without realizing it, Alya smiled faintly.
Raka watched her.
“What?” One of his eyebrows rose.
“Nothing,” Alya lied.
“You know Arka?” Raka asked.
“I just met someone named Arka. But I don’t know if he’s the same Arka or not.”
“Just met him?” Raka asked to confirm.
“I accidentally ran into him yesterday,” Alya answered honestly.
Raka immediately burst out laughing. “Seriously?”
Alya pursed her lips. “Why does everyone keep laughing about that?” the girl complained.
“Because that’s just like you,” Raka said.
“Like me how?”
“Always rushing,” Arka answered.
Alya was about to retort, but suddenly someone appeared behind Raka.
“Who’s always rushing?” the young man asked.
Alya looked up. Her heart seemed to stop for a moment. Arka.
He stood there carrying a tray of food. His gaze shifted from Raka to Alya.
Then he smiled. “You again.”
Alya nodded. “Yeah.” She smiled back.
Raka looked back and forth between them. “You two already know each other?” he asked, surprised.
Arka pulled out the chair beside Raka. “We do,” Arka said.
Alya quickly added, “We’ve only met twice.”
“The first time, you ran into me,” Arka said. Alya shot him an annoyed look.
“And the second time?” Raka asked curiously.
“We met in the park,” Arka answered.
Raka raised an eyebrow. “Wait, you’ve already met twice? So she’s the one?” Raka pointed at Arka.
Alya shrugged.
“Just a coincidence,” Alya snorted. “It does seem like a coincidence,” Arka replied.
Raka smiled. “Good.”
Alya started eating. But without realizing it, she glanced at Arka from time to time.
He was talking to Raka. There was something different about Arka when he was with Raka.
He looked more relaxed. He laughed more. Alya was only just realizing how close they really seemed.
“Have you two been friends for a long time?” she asked.
Raka nodded. “Pretty much since we were babies.”
Arka chimed in, “Too long.”
Raka laughed. “He’s always the one causing trouble.”
“Who’s causing trouble?” Arka gave him a lazy glance. He already knew what Raka was going to say.
“You.” Arka shook his head. There, what did I tell you?
“You used to ask me for answers all the time,” Arka grumbled.
Alya chuckled. “So you two really are like brothers.”
“More or less,” Raka replied. Arka nodded.
“We’ve been through a lot together,” Arka said.
Alya watched the two of them. For some reason, she liked the way they talked to each other. There was no distance between them. No small talk.
They seemed to understand each other without needing to explain much.
“Alya.” Arka’s voice brought her back to reality.
“Hm?” Alya looked up.
“Why do you keep looking at us?” Arka asked, making Raka turn to look at her too.
Alya immediately became flustered.
“Me?” She pointed at herself.
“Yeah.”
“No,” Alya answered.
Arka smiled faintly. “You sure?” Alya lowered her head and pretended to be busy with her food.
Raka laughed at her reaction. “Leave her alone, Ka.”
Arka shrugged. “Fine.”
A few moments later, the conversation at the table picked up again.
Raka did most of the talking. Arka interrupted from time to time, while Alya mostly listened.
But as time passed, she started laughing along too. For the first time, the three of them sat at the same table. Nothing about that moment seemed special. No one could have guessed that their simple meeting would become the beginning of a long story. Alya only knew Raka as a good friend.
Arka only knew her as the girl who had run into him. And Raka only saw them as two people who happened to know each other already.
There were no feelings yet. No jealousy. No choices. Just three people enjoying lunch together.
Yet from that little table, a relationship slowly began to grow. Raka and Arka were best friends. Alya was someone who had just entered their circle.