After He's gone
twenty-four. hello, girlfriend

The days passed quickly. Today is Saturday, school is going on as usual. Alana studied in her class, though a little unfocused. Sometimes he would look at the window. Waiting anxiously for Ananta who left the Olympics this morning.

He's not usually like this. In the past even when Ananta came home with a trophy Alana did not seem too happy because it had happened very often until Alana stopped counting again.

But now, he was much more worried. Although a week had passed, the memory of Ananta shutting himself up was still vividly remembered in Alana's head. Makes her very protective of Ananta. Alana is afraid that if Ananta does not win it will make Ananta slump again.

Until the moment the car containing Ananta appears at the school gate, Alana observes Ananta from a distance. Ananta did not look happy, his flat face made his worry even more so. He wants to see Ananta right now.

"Excuse me. Can I get permission to go to the bathroom?" Alana who actually had not focused on the lesson, now looked at the teacher who was explaining something.

After being given a nod Alana immediately ran towards the hallway towards the front yard. Find Ananta.

"Ananta" called him, making Ananta who was walking towards the office turn his head towards Alana.

After stopping in front of Ananta, Alana observed Ananta's still-similar features. Not smiling, just a little surprised at his arrival.

"Ananta... " Call Alana again filled with worry.

"You lost nothing. You always win in Alana's heart." Alana hugs Ananta, trying to comfort the man before her, hoping her feelings will improve.

"Eh? Hmm" Reply Ananta secretly smiled then rubbed Alana's hair tied back.

The teacher who had walked in front of Ananta now turned around to hear Alana's statement, walking closer to his two students who hugged no place.

"Hey Alana." Rika's mom took off Alana's hand that still hugged Ananta until she was released.

"Ananta wins loh. Who said lose." He continued while pulling Alana back a few steps. Alana looked at Rika with a questioning look. Replied with a nod and a smile from his science teacher.

"And. It doesn't have to be that mode. Still students can't hug carelessly." Rika's mother said again pointing her index finger in front of Alana's eyes. Alana who heard him looked embarrassed.

"Sorry ma'am." he didn't expect to be reprimanded like this. He thought his teacher was gone.

After making sure the two would not hug again, Rika walked away back to the teacher's office.

"You win why his face is so" asked Alana to see Ananta who was now laughing at him. Ananta just shrugged his shoulders.

"Usually you don't have much fun if I win, either" Ananta replied honestly. In her innermost heart she wanted to see the proud smiling face of Alana whenever she won in any race. Because Alana's only response she cares about. Alana rarely expresses that.

"That's because you win. So no more fun. If this were different. This is the first victory in High School. You should have a big smile while showing off the trophy." Alana protested at length to cover up her embarrassment for looking down on Ananta.

"Oh that. Not exciting anymore." Ananta shows a disappointed look to tease Alana who is getting wrong.

"Should it be like this?" Ananta placed his hands on both of Alana's shoulders.

"alana. I want a report. I won today. You should be proud to be my girlfriend. Yep. Is that?" Said Ananta with a big smile while looking into Alana's eyes.

Alana felt her cheeks warm up, maybe a red pseudo had already appeared there without Alana knowing. Ah, Ananta managed to overturn his feelings today just by smiling.

"L-report received. I'll go to class first. I had permission to go to the bathroom. Can't take long." Alana's words mimicked the soldier's gesture nervously, her hand taking off Ananta's grip on her shoulder and then running in the opposite direction towards the classroom. Leaving Ananta who was still smiling stared anxiously at Alana's funny behavior.

"Thank you again, Alana." Ananta's whisper was silent for a while before walking back towards the teacher's office.

***

Ananta's embarrassed gaze still flashed across his head making him reflexively touch his warm cheek with the back of his hand.

"Hi Alana's. Tumben, we can meet at break." Call Gea who's sitting next to Alana. Next to her was Rara who was smiling suspiciously.

"Ge. Alana smiles like this there must be something sweet." Whisper Rara with a loud voice, as usual.

Gea who realized that now also smiled suspiciously at Alana who was reflexively shaking her hands and head in different directions.

"It's not sweet anymore, it's spicy... That's why it can't be described" Gea responded with a nosy smile on her face. He also wore a whispering gesture that was completely useless since Alana could hear him very clearly.

"Ih, not so" Alana said a little annoyed. These two new friends are indeed very smart to tempt others, especially in terms of gossip.

"It's not like this dong story." Gea again cornered Alana. His smile is still the same. Panicked Alana looked funny in her eyes.

"Ananta... Win the Olympics." Alana replied hesitatingly to continue her sentence.

"Udah. That aja?" Gea's question again put Alana in an uncomfortable position.

"Sweet where dong." Rara was still not satisfied with that answer.

"So she calls me her boyfriend." Said Alana again with a small voice so almost inaudible that Gea had to focus her ears on Alana.

"Ooh... Officially called girlfriend. There's a dong advance." Gea said in a loud enough voice to make Alana cover her face in embarrassment. He didn't expect that making friends at High School would make him this serepot. Delightful. But it's embarrassing too. Moreover, his two friends include a rare species that has a sweet face but a bar-bar.

"Congratulations to Alana..." Said Gea and Rara greeting Alana alternately as if Alana had just won the award, whereas Ananta who won today was not Alana.

"Hey what is it. I've got a gossip friend who's just calm" said the airman who suddenly came and immediately sat next to Alana.

"Heh don't" Gea said in a panic. Make the arkan not sit down.

"Don't sit next to her boyfriend Ananta dong. Step aside" Gea said with a laugh. Arkan who understood the meaning of Gea also obeyed and prepared to move before Alana pulled the air so as not to really move from her seat.

"No. Just sit down." Alana refused to be treated differently because of her statement.

"Heh. Ananta's girlfriend." Call arkan to tease Alana.

"Don't pull that dong. I have a boyfriend too." Arkan shifted his seat to leave a few inches between him and Alana.

Teasing Alana seems like it will be their hobby. Alana's response to being flushed from embarrassment was very funny. If only Ananta had come and seen it. Maybe he'll fall in love.

***

Not according to plan, but yes..

Thank you for reading ( ⁇ '-')╮\= ⁇ 💌