Hatori Imas
Unexpected terror

Ridwan began to show a less pleasing attitude in my heart. She starts flirting and sometimes looks like she's showing interest in me. I tried to be honest with him that I already had a girlfriend in Indonesia.

"Ridwan, I want to be honest with you. I don't like it when we're close you're on a different side." I told Ridwan.

"meaning?" Ridwan replied by pretending not to understand.

"I feel that you are flirting and showing interest in me, even though I already have a boyfriend in Indonesia," I continued firmly.

Ridwan still looked a little confused, but I decided to explain further. "Your behavior sometimes gets too close and gives an ambiguous signal. It makes me uncomfortable and I want to keep the line between us."

Ridwan scrunched his forehead, but eventually admitted, "Sorry, Imas. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just want to have a good relationship with you."

I appreciate her efforts to explain herself, but I still feel the need to assert boundaries. "Thank you for the explanation, but I want to make sure that we keep the relationship as friends. I hope you respect my decision and understand my position."

Ridwan fell silent and his face seemed to be thinking hard. He then continued his sentence. "Ok, I'd be honest if I really like you, Imas."

I'm not surprised because I already know his behavior. "Yes, I know. That's why I insist here, if I already have a boyfriend." Ketus.

"But your boyfriend is far away, Imas. I know you're lonely here." Said Ridwan and that sentence really offended me.

I decided to remain calm but firm in my attitude. "Ridwan, I appreciate your feelings, but that doesn't mean you can ignore my decision or take my relationship with my boyfriend for granted. I expect you to respect my decision and understand that I don't want to go beyond boundaries as a friend."

Ridwan seemed somewhat touched by my words, yet he was still trying to influence my thoughts. "I just want to give you the attention and warmth you need here. I'm sure your boyfriend can't give you all that."

I was uncomfortable with his constant attempts to persuade me. "Ridwan, that's not a valid reason to break boundaries and disrupt my relationship. I don't want things like this to happen. I want us to keep our friendship in the absence of tension or inappropriate expectations."

Ridwan finally left me without a word. I feel increasingly uncomfortable in situations like this. I finally told Laura everything that happened.

Laura listened with great care and empathy. He understood my feelings and expressed his support. "Gold, I appreciate your honesty in dealing with this situation. You did your best by communicating your feelings to Ridwan. But it looks like he didn't respect your decision and tried to convince you to respond to his feelings."

I nodded in agreement, relieved that Laura understood my feelings. "Yes, right. I felt more uncomfortable with his attitude. I want to keep our relationship as friends, but I don't want to hurt her feelings either."

Laura gave me extra support. "Gold, you are not responsible for Ridwan's feelings. You have clearly and unequivocally revealed that you have a boyfriend and want to keep this relationship as a friend. If Ridwan can't respect that, maybe we need to consider keeping a distance with him."

I pondered over Laura's words and realized that it might indeed be best to keep some distance from Ridwan if he did not respect my decision. I thank him for his support and feel stronger in the face of this situation.

A few days later, things I didn't want happened. The locker where I was storing things on campus seems to have been damaged by someone. When I opened my locker, I saw so much disgusting trash being put in there.

"Astagfirullah, who would dare to keep the trash in my locker?" I said in my heart.

I quickly cleaned up the trash carefully, trying to maintain my composure. Then, I decided to inform the authorities of this incident on campus.

After reporting the incident, I also decided to share a story with Laura. I described the details of the incident and expressed my confusion about who might have done it. Laura listened to me with empathy and understood my feelings.

"Gold, that's really inappropriate behavior. I can't imagine who would do something like that to you. Do you have any idea who can do it?" asked Laura worriedly.

I shook my head. "I'm not sure, Laura. But this happened after I rejected Ridwan's interest in me. I hope it's not because of that, but it feels weird."

I'm nodding. "Yes, I've already reported it and mentioned that this might have something to do with the situation between me and Ridwan. They'll investigate it and give you the right course of action."

Laura placed her hand on my hand gently. "I hope they can find out who did it and take firm action. But I also want you to remain vigilant and keep your own security. If you feel uncomfortable or threatened, tell me or someone else who can help."

I smiled at Laura, feeling the support and love that radiated from her. "Thank you, Laura. I'm lucky to have you as a source of support in this situation. I'll stay alert and try to keep myself safe."

A few weeks passed, the terror to me grew. Now, my bag is getting very dirty because it is full of scribbles with very dirty words. "Astagfirullah, what else is this?"

Laura who saw immediately approached me and said to me, "Let's meet Ridwan!" Bring him full of anger.

Laura and I were looking for Ridwan around campus. And, after a long time of searching, we finally found Ridwan was playing basketball with his friends.

Laura and I approached Ridwan who was playing basketball with his friends. My face was full of resentment and despair, yet I tried to remain calm and take care of myself.

"Ridwan," called Laura in a stern voice. Ridwan and his friends stopped playing and turned their heads towards us.

Ridwan frowned, "What's up, Laura?"

"I and Imas found some inappropriate events happening to Imas. Do you know what happened?" asked Laura in a firm tone.

Ridwan smiled cynically, "Oh, so you think of me as a suspect? Did Imas tell you that?"

I stepped forward, trying to control my explosive emotions. "Ridwan, this has gone too far. I've respected your decision as a friend, but you continue to exceed your limits. Why are you doing all this?"

Ridwan shook his head, "You think I care about your relationship? I'm trying to make you realize that your boyfriend isn't here, and you can get my attention and warmth from me. But it turns out you chose to stay loyal to your distant boyfriend."

I felt even more angry and hurt with Ridwan's attitude. "Ridwan, that's not a valid reason to treat me like this. I have the right to maintain a relationship with my girlfriend and you have no right to interfere or intervene in my personal life. What you did was so inappropriate!"

Ridwan laughed cynically, "Unbecoming? I just showed you how important I am in your life. If you don't appreciate it, then you have to accept the consequences."

Laura stepped forward and stood beside me firmly. "Ridwan, what you're doing is unacceptable behavior. You have no right to impose your feelings on Imas or to injure him emotionally or physically. We won't let you continue this behavior."

Ridwan was offended by Laura's words. "What can you do? Only your friends will support you. But I'll make you regret."

I felt scared and angry at the same time. However, I also felt supported by Laura's courage and zeal to fight this unfair treatment. I looked at Ridwan sternly, "Ridwan, if you continue this behavior, we will report it to the campus authorities and take appropriate action. You can't just treat other people arbitrarily."

Ridwan looks surprised for a moment, but then he takes a stance throwing a cynical smile and saying, "Do what you want. I won't stop until I get what I want."

Laura held my hand tightly and gave me support. "We will face it together, Imas. You are not alone in dealing with this. We'll protect ourselves and make sure that Ridwan gets the consequences he deserves for his behavior."

We did not get back to class, suddenly spray paint hit my body accompanied by laughter happy from Ridwan and his friends.

"Ridwan, not funny at all! I said while crying about what had happened.

Ridwan and his friends laughed out loud. They seemed to enjoy me when I was offended.