[July 2012 – First Day of the New Semester | Gravia Asteria High School]
The morning sky was still gray—
as if it wasn't ready to welcome the thousands of hurried footsteps rushing into the school grounds.
The gates of Gravia Asteria High stood wide open.
The sound of shoes hitting the pavement, friends calling out to each other, and laughter that was just a little too loud filled the air.
Everyone seemed excited.
Everyone… except one.
Saka Ardhananta Wiratama walked down the corridor.
A black hoodie was tucked under his uniform, its hood hanging down like a shield from the school's overly bright chaos.
The same black backpack clung to his shoulder—its corners fraying, zipper sometimes stuck. Never replaced.
His shoes were white, but clearly not new.
Some parts had faded, just like his calm, expressionless face.
He stopped in front of the announcement board.
The surrounding noise was nothing more than static he tuned out.
Several students crowded around the board.
Some squealed in excitement, some groaned in disappointment.
Saka waited—never in a hurry.
When the crowd thinned, he stepped forward, scanning the list with a quick glance.
He already knew he'd probably end up in Science Class 1 again, but still—confirmation was necessary.
Saka Ardhananta W. – XI Science 1
Just as predicted.
Before he could turn away, a girl's high-pitched voice rang out from just behind him.
"I got into Science 1!"
Saka froze.
That voice was… familiar.
He slowly turned his head.
A girl stood near the board. Shoulder-length hair neatly styled, a small pink hair clip on the left side.
A beige sling bag with a tiny plush keychain hung from the zipper.
Peak 2000s teen trend.
Cayra Ayudhia Astagina.
Caca—that's what everyone called her.
Saka wasn't surprised.
He knew the name, the way she spoke, even the way she walked.
But he had never openly paid attention.
Still… hearing her name out loud, seeing her up close—it felt… noticeable.
"No way, seriously?" her friend beside her gasped, her long hair smooth like a shampoo commercial.
"Here, see for yourself," Cayra said, pointing at her name on the list.
"Wow, that's amazing. You're in the top class!"
"Of course. It's me, Caca," she replied with a small laugh.
Saka blinked slowly, eyes fixed on the board, though his ears caught every word.
This was the same girl who had caught his attention since their first year… and never given it back.
Then, another voice joined in.
"I'm in Science 1 too."
A ponytailed girl approached, voice a bit louder, steps confident—more tomboyish.
"Oh please, Zira. You can't stand to see me happy," Cayra replied dramatically.
"You're so over the top. Why does Science 1 matter so much to you?"
"Papa promised me a gift, and Science 1 is the top class. I'd be crazy not to get in," Cayra answered proudly.
"So you're doing all this just for a prize?"
"Hey, it's called motivation. Nothing wrong with being ambitious."
"No wonder you were so motivated during exams. Turns out you had a hidden agenda," her long-haired friend teased.
Cayra chuckled, lightly touching her friend's shoulder.
Her hair clip shifted, adding to the sweetness in her face.
Saka stayed rooted in place—not because of curiosity anymore, but because it felt… awkward to walk away when they were chatting right behind him.
Besides, no one seemed to notice him.
Or so he thought.
"Oh, right. What class are you in, Vey?" Cayra asked, turning to her friend.
"Science 2. We're not in the same class," Vey replied, hugging Cayra from the side.
"Aww, that's too bad. But hey, our classrooms are still next to each other," Cayra smiled, hugging back.
"Want me to hug you too?" she offered to Zira, who only rolled her eyes.
"What the heck. You guys are so dramatic. It's just a different class," Zira scoffed.
Cayra laughed, then pulled both of them into a group hug.
The kind of warm, over-the-top teenage drama hug you'd see in an old TV show.
A few minutes later, they finally noticed the bulletin area was empty.
"Let's go to class," Cayra said, letting go.
She turned—
and her eyes landed on someone.
Saka.
They stared at each other.
No words.
No movement.
Silence… like a slow-motion scene in a movie.
Saka didn't move, his gaze locked in place.
His heartbeat quickened.
Cayra smiled—small, light, yet enough to make his whole world tilt.
Then she walked away, flanked by her two friends, leaving Saka standing frozen.
He watched them go.
His chest still trembled.
It was the first time Cayra had ever smiled at him.
In their first year, they'd barely interacted at all—two worlds that never crossed.
Cayra was like the evening sky—beautiful, bright, popular, and always drawing people's eyes.
And him? Top of the grade, frequent competition winner… yet never the center of attention.
Sometimes they'd cross paths—in the teacher's office.
He'd be discussing a competition, she'd be visiting her mother, who was a teacher at the school.
No greetings. Not even eye contact.
But today, Cayra had said she was in Science 1.
Which meant… they'd be in the same class?
Saka placed a hand on his chest.
His heartbeat hadn't calmed.
If just being classmates made him this nervous…
what would happen if they ended up sitting next to each other?
~~~
Saka walked slowly toward his new classroom.
Deep down, he hoped Cayra wouldn't notice him—though he knew it was a hopeless wish.
When he reached the doorway, his steps faltered.
Inside, the room buzzed with chatter. His new classmates were already catching up with friends.
And there she was.
Cayra sat in the second row by the window, chatting easily with a girl Saka recognized—Zira. They looked close.
For a moment, he hesitated. His heartbeat was unreasonably fast. This wasn't his first time switching classes, but somehow… her presence made it feel different.
A tap on the shoulder snapped him out of it.
A boy stood beside him, wearing a smirk that Saka found vaguely annoying.
"Planning to just stand here all day, bro?" the boy asked casually.
Saka remembered him—an old classmate from tenth grade, and a rival in grades back then.
"Come on. The teacher's about to walk in," he added before heading to the front row.
Saka exhaled slowly and stepped inside.
He walked past Cayra's row without meeting her eyes and slipped into the farthest corner—next to a boy slumped over his desk, clearly asleep.
Saka sat down quietly.
He knew him. Revan. Lazy-looking but annoyingly smart. They'd once tried out for a school competition together—Saka got picked and eventually won.
A moment later, a woman in her forties entered the classroom. Short hair, neat attire, warm smile. She stood at the front.
Saka nudged Revan's arm.
"Teacher's here. Sit up."
Revan cracked an eye open, gave Saka a confused look, and muttered something unintelligible before reluctantly sitting up.
"Good morning, everyone. How are you today?" the teacher greeted.
"Good, Miss," the class replied in unison.
"Before we start, let's have a quick introduction. But first—does anyone here know my name?"
"Miss Maya," Cayra answered confidently, flashing a smile.
"That's right. This one's the daughter of a friend of mine," Miss Maya chuckled.
Laughter rippled through the room, breaking the ice.
"Alright, let's settle the seating arrangements," Miss Maya continued. "In this box are slips of paper with numbers on them. You'll each take one. If someone has the same number as you, you'll be seat partners."
"Sound good?"
"Yes, Miss," the students chorused.
"Good. Let's start from the front row."
One by one, they took their numbers.
When everyone was holding a slip, Miss Maya raised her hand.
"Wait—open them together."
At her cue, the room erupted into noise as students searched for their matching partners.
Saka glanced at his paper. 14.
He stayed in his seat. Next to him, Revan looked equally uninterested in moving.
"What number you got?" Revan asked lazily.
"Fourteen."
"You're not gonna look for your partner?"
Saka shook his head. "You?"
"Seventeen."
Suddenly, a sharp female voice cut through the chatter.
"What? You're seventeen?!"
Both Saka and Revan turned.
Zira stood there, holding her slip—also seventeen—staring at Revan like she'd just stepped on something unpleasant.
"So?" Revan replied flatly.
"So, unlucky me. Why do I have to sit with you again?"
"You think I'm happy about it?"
"Don't tell me you rigged it."
"In your dreams."
Zira gave him a look like she was staring at rotten rice. "Seriously, the universe must be joking."
Revan yawned. "If the universe is joking, maybe it should just ship you to Mars."
Saka decided that was his cue to quietly stand up and find his own partner. But before he could take two steps, someone tapped his shoulder.
He turned—and froze.
Cayra stood there, her bright smile lighting up the room.
"Hi. What number did you get?" she asked.
Saka's mind went blank.
"Hello?" She waved her hand in front of his face, teasingly.
"Fourteen," he finally managed, his voice just slightly unsteady.
Her smile widened. She held up her slip. 14.
"Looks like we're seatmates."
The world seemed to still for a moment.
"Oh, right—I'm Cayra. You're… Saka, right?" she said, offering her hand.
Saka's body locked up.
From this moment on, they would be sitting side by side. Every single day. In the same classroom.
He shook her hand, feeling his pulse pound in his ears.
Looking at Cayra from a distance had always been enough to brighten his day.
Now? She'd be close enough for him to hear her laugh, see the curve of her smile, and catch the scent of her shampoo.
And that… might be far more dangerous than simply having a secret crush.
~~~
EPILOGUE ✨
The dismissal bell rang across Gravia Asteria High, echoing through every hallway.
Cheers erupted from classrooms, spilling out like birds released from a cage.
Among the hundreds of hurried footsteps, one walked the slowest.
Saka. Still in his signature black hoodie from this morning, his pace unhurried, his gaze calm. His face was unreadable, but his eyes carried a quiet stillness most people his age didn't have.
Today, he decided to walk home.
It wasn't far.
His family had a private driver, but Saka preferred the quiet company of his own footsteps. He didn't like inconveniencing others—and he liked the kind of silence that came only from walking alone.
He passed through the school gates as the crowd thinned, the sound of his shoes brushing against the pavement blending with the whisper of wind through the leaves.
And yet, something in the air shifted. Like a presence refusing to leave.
Saka slowed down.
He didn't turn right away. But when he finally did, his heartbeat stumbled.
Cayra stood a few meters behind him, her small smile carrying a trace of nervousness—like following someone home from school was the most natural thing in the world.
"Hi," she said softly.
Saka gave a slight nod. "Hi."
Without another word, Cayra held out a small dusty-blue envelope. The color was soft, almost shy, like its owner. Her hand trembled slightly.
"Open it later," she murmured. "But… don't throw it away."
Saka took it, puzzled. He didn't understand—but there was something in her eyes that made it impossible to refuse.
A thousand possibilities ran through his mind as he held the envelope.
Yet somehow, his racing heartbeat seemed to answer before his thoughts did.
"Sorry for suddenly showing up," Cayra added with a sheepish smile. "Just think of it as a welcome gift. We're seatmates now, after all."
Saka's lips curved faintly. "Thanks."
She nodded quickly, glancing around. "You walk home?"
"Yeah."
"You live nearby?"
"Close enough to make me too lazy to take a car."
Her smile grew a little. Something about that answer made her want to know him more.
After a few beats of silence, Saka spoke.
"Want to stop by my place?"
Her eyes widened, then softened into a small smile. She shook her head.
"Thanks, but my mom's waiting for me back at school."
Saka nodded slowly. "Maybe next time."
"Next time," Cayra repeated, stepping back with a small wave. "Don't forget to open it. I hope you like it."
He returned the wave, watching as she turned and walked away.
Even after she disappeared around the corner, he kept looking—like the warmth she left behind was something he didn't want to lose.
When Saka reached home, the security guard greeted him with a friendly nod. He replied with the same, slipping inside without a word.
In the living room, his sister Gita sat hunched over her laptop, deep in her psychology thesis.
Saka went straight upstairs, into his room, and closed the door quietly.
The silence inside was deep enough to hear the faint ticking of the clock.
His room was spacious and dark-toned. A tidy desk, a bathroom in the corner—everything ordinary.
Except today.
He sat down, dropped his bag, and looked at the small envelope in his hands.
Slowly, he opened it.
A single sticker slipped onto the desk.
A cartoon of a nerd—big glasses, braces, an awkward smile.
Funny… and oddly familiar.
Saka raised a brow, confused—then let out a small chuckle.
Before his mind could wander too far, he noticed a folded piece of paper inside. A letter.
He unfolded it.
***
Hi, Saka.
You're probably surprised. But I swear, this isn't meant to tease you.
I picked this sticker because it's cute… and yeah, kinda reminds me of you.
A quiet bookworm. Calm, but smart.
I've seen you around since tenth grade. Always from a distance.
Today I thought… why not just give you something?
Think of this as a welcome gift.
If you run out of stickers, you can always come to me for more.
I hope we can be seatmates who understand each other… and look out for each other.
Cayra.
***
Saka folded the letter slowly.
The sticker didn't feel silly anymore.
It felt… special.
Today, his quiet world had found a new sound—warm, gentle, and quietly filling a space he didn't know was empty.
And for the first time in his life, Saka received two things he'd never expected:
A first smile.
And a first gift.
From Cayra.