Kringgggg… kringgggg… kringgggg…
The school bell rang loudly, signaling the start of the first lesson.
At the front gate, Mr. Eko, the ever-disciplined school security guard, swung the fence shut with a firm clang. No exceptions. Anyone still outside would have to face the consequences.
Inside Class 10A, students were already seated at their desks. The first lesson of the day? Math. And it wasn't just any math class it was with Mr. Surya, their homeroom teacher and the most feared figure in the school.
Mr. Surya rarely smiled. His sharp eyes seemed to pierce straight through any student harboring thoughts of cheating. Though well into his forties, his presence alone was enough to command total silence.
The moment he stepped into the classroom, the chatter died instantly. Standing at the front, he scanned the room before finally speaking.
"Good morning, everyone," he greeted, his voice flat.
"Good morning, sir…" the students answered in unison.
Mr. Surya gave a small nod. "As I mentioned yesterday, today we're having a quiz."
A ripple of panic spread through the room. Some students groaned under their breath, while others slumped in resignation.
Ridho looked especially tense. Sweat trickled down his forehead as he stared at the blank sheet in front of him.
Seeing that, Arya, who was sitting beside him, gave a small smile and whispered,
"Relax, Do. You got this. We studied at Nadia's place yesterday, remember?"
Ridho shot Arya an awkward grin, but his anxious expression didn't fade.
From the desk in front of them, Nadia, who was sitting with Sinta, overheard their conversation. She turned around and whispered,
"Ridho, if you actually paid attention yesterday, you wouldn't be this nervous now."
Sinta, busy arranging her stationery, chuckled.
"Or maybe he was more focused on you than the material?" she teased with a playful wink.
Nadia shot her a glare, while Ridho scratched his head, looking even more flustered.
Mr. Surya, catching the slight commotion, tapped his fingers on the desk.
"I hope you all studied well. No cheating."
His gaze swept across the room before he added,
"If anyone tries, I won't hesitate to hand out punishment."
A heavy silence settled over the classroom.
"Do you understand?" Mr. Surya asked.
"Yes, sir…" the students droned in unison.
"Good. Put away your books and notes. The test starts now."
The class hurriedly stuffed their books into their bags. Within moments, Mr. Surya began handing out the test papers. As the sheets landed on each desk, an eerie stillness filled the room. The only sounds were the rustling of paper and the nervous breathing of the students.
The test had begun…
***
Forty minutes passed, and the exam was finally over.
"Alright, time's up," Mr. Surya announced in his usual stern tone. "I hope no one is still writing."
At those words, the students simultaneously put down their pencils. The tension in the room lingered, their anxious expressions still visible especially on Ridho, who looked downright worried.
Mr. Surya shifted his gaze to the class leader. "Rian, collect everyone's exam papers."
"Yes, sir," Rian responded promptly.
He quickly stood up, making his way around the room, gathering each student's test sheet before handing the neatly stacked pile to Mr. Surya at the front. Taking the papers, Mr. Surya scanned the class.
"I'll be grading these now. In the meantime, open your math books to page ten and start studying the next topic. Later, I'll be calling on some of you to answer questions."
A collective groan rippled through the class.
"Yes, sir…" they muttered in tired, defeated tones.
With no other option, they flipped open their books and started reading, though most of them were still drained from the exam.
In the far corner, Ridho, who had been staring blankly at his desk, let out a quiet sigh. He leaned slightly toward Arya and whispered,
"I swear, Mr. Surya enjoys torturing us."
Arya raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"
"Think about it. We just finished a test, and now he wants us to study again? I bet he's going to start grilling us next," Ridho grumbled.
Hearing that, Nadia and Sinta turned around from the desk in front of them. Sinta smirked, clearly amused.
"Maybe you're the only one who feels tortured, Do," she teased, flashing him a mocking grin.
"Come on, stop complaining," Nadia added, closing her book briefly. "Just do what Mr. Surya says. You know how strict he is."
"No helping. If he doesn't know the answer, he'll have to face the consequences."
The entire class fell silent. Ridho gulped, feeling even more nervous under Mr. Surya's intense gaze.
"I-I…" he stammered, his mind racing but coming up empty. His hands grew clammy, and his legs felt like they were rooted to the spot.
Arya, Nadia, and Sinta held their breath. They wanted to help, but they knew better than to go against Mr. Surya.
"Well?" Mr. Surya prompted, crossing his arms.
"If you can't answer, I'll have to give you an additional assignment."
Ridho's heart sank. He clenched his fists, trying to remember something, anything from their study session the night before.
Then, out of nowhere, he blurted, "Exponents are… numbers multiplied by themselves several times! And logarithms are… uh, the inverse of exponents?"
A heavy silence followed.
Mr. Surya studied Ridho for a moment before nodding slightly.
"That's the general idea. But your explanation is too vague. You'll need to review this again."
Ridho exhaled in relief, even though he knew he barely scraped by.
"Go back to your seat," Mr. Surya instructed.
"Next time, be better prepared."
"Yes, sir…" Ridho mumbled, trudging back to his desk.
As soon as he sat down, Arya patted his back lightly.
"At least you survived."
Sinta chuckled. "Yeah, you didn't completely embarrass yourself."
Nadia simply smiled. "See? You knew more than you thought."
Ridho sighed, slumping over his desk.
"I swear, math is going to be the death of me."
The entire class remained silent, no one daring to utter a single word. Arya, Sinta, and Nadia exchanged glances, feeling sorry for Ridho but knowing there was nothing they could do.
From the corridor, Ridho sighed heavily. His legs were already starting to ache, but more than that, the humiliation of being punished in front of everyone weighed on him.
Inside the classroom, Mr. Surya continued,
"Now, let's move on. Sinta, your turn. Come forward."
Sinta's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly composed herself and stood up. As she walked to the front, she whispered to Nadia, "Wish me luck."
Nadia gave a small nod, while Arya could only watch with concern.
Outside, Ridho shifted his weight, trying to endure the punishment. His thoughts wandered. Why am I always like this? I studied, didn't I? But why do I always freeze up when it's time to answer?
The class went on, with one student after another being called to answer Mr. Surya's questions. Each time someone hesitated, Ridho winced, feeling their struggle as if it were his own.
Minutes felt like hours. His raised leg was getting sore, and sweat trickled down his forehead. He stole a glance inside, hoping Mr. Surya would finally let him back in.
Then, at long last, Mr. Surya looked toward the door.
"Ridho, come back in."
Ridho nearly lost his balance in relief. He quickly steadied himself and limped slightly as he entered the classroom, returning to his seat.
Arya leaned over. "You okay, Do?"
"Yeah… just great," Ridho muttered, rubbing his sore leg.
Sinta grinned. "At least now you're a legend. The first one to be punished this semester."
Nadia chuckled. "Maybe next time, you'll study even harder."
Ridho let out a dramatic sigh.
"Or maybe I should just disappear every time Mr. Surya has a lesson."
The four of them laughed quietly, even as Mr. Surya continued teaching.
The students could only nod slowly, dreading their next turn.
The lesson continued. One by one, students were called upon to answer questions. Most managed to respond correctly, but the tension in the room never eased. Then, at last, the break bell rang.
Mr. Surya closed his book and glanced at the class. Before leaving, he turned to Ridho, who was still standing outside.
"Ridho, come back in," he said.
With relief, Ridho lowered his foot and stepped back into the classroom, his body feeling heavy with exhaustion.
"Next time, I expect you to take your studies more seriously," Mr. Surya advised.
"Yes, sir... I will..." Ridho murmured.
With a small nod, Mr. Surya turned and walked out. The moment he disappeared down the hall, Ridho collapsed into his chair with a deep sigh.
Sinta wasted no time turning toward him, a teasing grin on her face.
"So, Do, how was your time standing outside?" she taunted.
Ridho shot her an irritated glare.
"Hush, Sinta! Don't be mean," Nadia scolded, nudging Sinta's arm.
"Come on, Do. Just make sure you study harder next time," she added, her voice softer.
"I'll help you until you really understand."
Ridho exhaled slowly. "Yeah, yeah... I get it... My bad."
Arya clapped a hand on Ridho's shoulder.
"Alright, bro. Let's hit the cafeteria. You must be starving by now."
"I'll treat you, Do!" Sinta suddenly chimed in.
Ridho's eyes widened with excitement. "Wait, seriously, Sin?!"
Sinta nodded. "Yep. Consider it my apology for making fun of you earlier."
Arya and Nadia exchanged amused smiles as they watched their friend's antics.
"Well then, let's head to the cafeteria!" Arya said, pushing back his chair as he stood up.
"Let's go!" they chimed in unison.
With newfound energy, the group left the classroom, stepping into the hallway. For now, they left behind the tension of the lesson, eager to enjoy a well-earned break at the school cafeteria.
***
"Mrs. Siti, four iced teas, please," Sinta said with a smile.
"Alright, dear. Aren't you all eating too?" Mrs. Siti asked kindly.
"Yes, four bowls of meatballs, just like usual," Sinta added.
"Got it," Mrs. Siti replied as she started preparing their order.
Mrs. Siti was one of the school canteen vendors. The forty-year-old woman was well-known for her warm personality and playful banter with students, especially with Sinta and her friends. Aside from her friendly nature, her cooking was also famous for being delicious.
Sinta, Arya, Ridho, and Nadia sat at one of the cafeteria tables, waiting for their food while chatting casually.
"Hey, tomorrow's a holiday. Any plans?" Sinta asked.
"Nope. I'll just help my mom at the shop," Ridho replied casually. He always made time to help out on his days off.
"I'll probably just lounge around at home," Arya said.
"What about you, Nadia?" Sinta turned to her.
"Pretty much the same as Arya. After cleaning up, I'll just relax in my room," Nadia answered.
A mischievous grin spread across Sinta's face.
"In that case, how about we go to the beach tomorrow?"
Ridho frowned. "The beach? Are you sure about that?"
"That sounds amazing!" Nadia's eyes lit up with excitement.
Arya paused for a moment. There was something about seeing Nadia this happy it sent a strange warmth through his chest. His heartbeat quickened, though he wasn't sure why.
"What about you, Arya? Are you in?" Nadia turned to him with a hopeful look.
Arya let out a small sigh, then smiled. "Yeah, I'll come."
"Nice! What about you, Do?" Sinta asked Ridho.
"Uhh..." Ridho hesitated. "I'll have to ask my mom first."
"Alright! Let's meet at the city park at 7:30 AM then," Sinta said excitedly.
Arya, Ridho, and Nadia all nodded in agreement.
Not long after, Mrs. Siti arrived with their order.
"Here you go, dears. Enjoy," she said as she placed a tray filled with steaming bowls of meatballs and glasses of iced tea on the table.
"Thank you, ma'am!" they replied in unison.
Without wasting any time, they dug into their meals, savoring the delicious flavors.
As they walked back to class after eating, a girl suddenly approached Arya.
"Arya, can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked softly.
Arya turned his head and saw Viona, a student from Class 10B.
Class 10B was right next to theirs.
Arya nodded, then stepped aside to talk to her. Sinta, Nadia, and Ridho watched from a distance.
"What's going on?" Nadia murmured.
Ridho chuckled. "Maybe they're dating!"
Sinta joined in, giggling. "Ooh, Arya's got a girlfriend now!" she teased.
Hearing that, an odd feeling crept into Nadia's heart. A slight discomfort. She couldn't quite place it, but it almost felt like… jealousy. She quickly brushed it off, keeping her expression neutral.
A moment later, Arya returned.
"What was that about, Arya?" Nadia asked casually.
"Are you dating Viona?" Ridho teased again.
Arya scoffed. "What the hell, no."
"Then why was she looking for you?" Sinta pressed.
Arya hesitated for a second before answering,
"She asked me to go out tomorrow, but I said no. We already made plans to go to the beach."
Nadia fell silent. Sinta and Ridho snickered again.
"Ooooh, Arya's got a crush too!" Ridho teased.
Arya just shook his head, unwilling to entertain them. Just then, the bell rang, signaling the end of recess. They headed back to class, leaving the conversation behind for now.
***
That morning, Sinta, Arya, and Nadia arrived at the city park, just as planned. Only Ridho was missing.
"Where is Ridho?" Sinta asked, a hint of impatience in her voice.
"Maybe his mom didn't let him come?" she added.
"Let's wait a little longer," Nadia suggested, trying to keep the mood calm.
"Arya, have you tried calling him?" she asked, glancing at him.
"I did several times. He's not picking up," Arya replied, holding his phone to his ear.
Sinta crossed her arms. "Ugh, if he's not coming, he should at least let us know so we're not standing here waiting like this."
"Just give it a bit more time," Nadia reassured her.
Just then, the distant hum of a motorcycle grew louder, approaching them.
"There he is," Arya said, nodding toward Ridho, who pulled up on his old motorcycle.
Ridho parked quickly and jogged over, looking apologetic.
"Sorry, I'm late," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"You took forever!" Sinta huffed.
"Where were you? You didn't even answer my calls," Arya pressed.
"My bike broke down on the way. I had to stop at a repair shop to fix it," Ridho explained. "And my phone was in my bag I forgot it was on silent mode." He pulled it out as proof.
Nadia, always the peacemaker, smiled. "Well, we're all here now. Let's just go enjoy the day."
Ridho turned to Sinta, who was still frowning.
"I'm really sorry, Sin," he said sincerely. Then, with a hopeful grin, he added, "I'll buy you ice cream later, okay?"
Sinta's expression softened slightly.
"You better not be lying. You owe me that ice cream."
"Promise!" Ridho said, holding up a hand as if swearing an oath.
Arya and Nadia exchanged amused glances before quickly looking away, a sudden awkwardness settling between them.
"Alright, let's go!" Arya finally said, breaking the moment.
They got ready to leave together. Arya, who also brought his motorcycle, rode with Nadia, while Ridho took Sinta with him.
"Don't move too much, Sin! You'll fall," Ridho scolded.
"Yeah, yeah, you nag too much," Sinta replied with a chuckle.
Without thinking, she reached out and held onto Ridho's waist for balance. Ridho tensed up immediately. His heart pounded faster than usual, and he found himself sneaking glances at her through the rearview mirror.
Behind them, Arya and Nadia found themselves in a similar situation.
"Arya... is it okay if I hold on to you?" Nadia asked hesitantly.
"I'm a little scared of falling..." she added softly.
Arya glanced at her over his shoulder, then smiled slightly.
"It's okay, Nad. Just hold on tight. I don't want you to feel unsafe when you're riding with me," he said gently.
Hearing that, Nadia smiled. A warm, unfamiliar feeling spread in her chest.
Their journey to the beach began. The wind brushed against their faces as they rode, the air filled with the scent of the sea getting closer. It was just another trip with friends—but somehow, today, everything felt a little more special.
***
After another thirty minutes on the road, they finally arrived at the beach. The place wasn't too crowded, and a cool breeze drifted through the air. Rows of coconut trees lined the shore, offering natural shade that made the spot feel even more relaxing.
Arya, Nadia, Sinta, and Ridho picked a shaded spot under a coconut tree. They set down their backpacks before settling in to take in the view.
"Yesss! Finally, a break from all that studying!" Ridho cheered. He jumped up from his seat and dashed straight toward the water.
Arya, Sinta, and Nadia just smiled and shook their heads at his childish excitement.
"Wait up, Do!" Sinta called out before running after him.
Without hesitation, the two of them started splashing around in the water. Ridho playfully flicked water at Sinta's face, and she retaliated just as quickly. Their laughter blended with the crashing waves.
"You're not going in?" Nadia asked, turning to Arya.
Arya glanced at the ocean, then gave a small smile.
"I'd rather just sit and take it all in."
Nadia nodded. "Same here," she said, watching the waves roll onto the shore.
"Moments like this make me feel free free from school, free from responsibilities," she added, her voice soft but content.
Arya looked at her and smiled slightly.
"Yeah, I get that. If I could come here more often, I think life would feel a little lighter."
Nadia let out a small laugh.
"But if we came here every day, we'd probably never study," she teased.
Arya chuckled. "Yeah, true."
For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, letting the ocean breeze wash over them. The scent of saltwater and sand filled the air, and the rhythmic crashing of the waves made everything feel peaceful.
After a while, Arya turned to her. "Hey, wanna take a walk along the beach?"
Nadia nodded. "Yeah, that sounds nice."
They got up and strolled toward Ridho and Sinta, who were still busy splashing around in the water.
"Hey, let's take a walk along the beach!" Arya suggested.
"Yeah, let's go!" Ridho replied enthusiastically.
Sinta nodded, though she was still busy shaking the water off her clothes.
"Come on, before it gets too late!" Arya urged.
They started strolling along the shoreline, their feet sinking slightly into the damp sand with each step. Every now and then, Sinta spotted a unique seashell and picked it up, adding it to her growing collection.
Ridho, being his usual mischievous self, kicked sand at Sinta's feet. She shot him a glare before pinching his arm lightly in retaliation.
After walking for a while, they reached a large rock formation that stretched out into the sea.
"Hey, since we're here, why don't we take a group photo as a keepsake?" Nadia suddenly suggested.
"Good idea!" Sinta chimed in without hesitation.
"Uh, whose phone are we using?" Ridho asked.
"Mine," Nadia said, pulling her phone from her small bag.
"Should we take a selfie or ask someone to take it for us?"
"Better to ask someone," Arya suggested.
"That way, we can all be in the picture."
Spotting a passing tourist, they asked for help. With the vast blue ocean and the golden hues of the setting sun behind them, the four of them grinned at the camera.
"One more, freestyle pose!" Sinta cheered, flashing a peace sign.
Ridho, of course, went for a goofy expression, making the others laugh.
After snapping a few more photos, they made their way back to the beach, settling down to watch the sunset. The sky had begun to shift into a deep shade of orange, signaling the end of the day.
"Let's head back before it gets too late," Arya said, glancing at her watch.
"Yeah, the folks at home might start worrying," Nadia added.
They gathered their belongings and made their way to the parking lot. Before leaving, they turned back for one last look at the beach, as if trying to etch this moment into their memories.
"We'll come back here again someday, right?" Sinta said with a smile.
"Of course," Arya replied.
With that, they hopped onto their motorcycles and rode home, leaving behind a trail of cherished memories that would stay with them forever.
***
Arya pulled up in front of Nadia's house. Before stepping inside, Nadia turned to him with a smile.
"Thank you, Arya. I had a really great time today," she said warmly.
Arya scratched his head though it wasn't itchy.
"Uh, yeah… no problem."
"Oh, and Nad, send me the pictures later," he added.
Nadia nodded. "Of course, I'll send them all."
Arya returned her smile, gave a small nod, then turned and walked toward his motorcycle. Nadia lingered at the door, watching his figure fade into the distance. A warmth spread in her chest subtle, yet unmistakable.
***
In her room, Arya lay on her bed, absently scrolling through her phone. Suddenly, a notification popped up a message from Nadia.
Nadia: "Arya, here are the pictures. I've sent them all. Have a good rest, Arya."
Without realizing it, a small smile formed on Arya's lips. She quickly typed a reply.
Arya: "Thanks, Nad. You too."
After sending the message, Arya sat up on the edge of her bed. She opened her gallery and started looking through the photos Nadia had just sent. One by one, he scrolled through them. There was a picture of the four of them laughing under the sun, another of Sinta and Ridho splashing water at each other, and then...
A photo of Nadia.....She was smiling by the beach, her hair tousled by the breeze, her eyes warm and bright. Arya stared at it for a long time, as if trying to etch the moment into his memory.
Then...
A strange heaviness settled in his chest. A feeling he couldn't quite place. Like something was missing. Suddenly…The photo seemed to blur.
The room felt quieter. Colder.
Arya frowned. She wiped her screen, thinking there might be fingerprints or smudges.
But when she looked again, something felt... off. The message from Nadia, the one she had just received, was gone. Her chest tightened as she hurriedly scrolled through the chat....Missing...
As if it had never existed in the first place.
Her phone suddenly vibrated, but there was no notification.
Arya's heartbeat quickened. And then,
BRAK!
Her phone slipped from her hand, crashing onto the floor. At that moment, the door to her room creaked open slowly.
"Arya..."
Her mother's voice was soft, filled with worry.
Arya didn't turn her head. Her eyes remained fixed on the phone lying on the floor. The screen that had once displayed photos of their day at the beach now only reflected her own face.
Her mother stepped closer, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Sweetheart... I know this is hard for you," she said softly.
"It must be painful to go through all of this..." she continued.
Arya clenched her fists. Her chest felt unbearably tight.
"You have to be strong, my dear," her mother whispered.
The tears Arya had been holding back finally fell, slipping silently down her cheeks. A quiet sob escaped her lips. Her mother said nothing more. She simply pulled Arya into a warm embrace, letting her daughter grieve in her arms.