Ratna walked quickly, leaving the cafeteria behind. Her voice trembled, fighting back tears. She didn't know who she should be angry at — Harold, who had suddenly acted sweet, or Rey, who had abruptly protected her as if he had the right.
The afternoon sky looked gray, as if sharing her sorrow. Ratna stopped at the school's back garden, sitting on a bench near the Terminalia tree. Her breathing was still ragged.
"Why has everything become like this..." she muttered.
Her hand was still holding the chocolate from Harold. The wrapper was shiny, but to her, it felt like something poisonous.
"He thinks I'm going to believe him? After everything he did?"
Ratna stared at the chocolate with tear-filled eyes, then tossed it into the trash can.
Her tears began to fall, one by one.
She wasn't sad because she felt fought over — but because everyone treated her as if she had no control over her own life.
Harold played her with cheap sweetness. Rey acted without thinking, embarrassing her in front of everyone.
Yet, all she wanted was peace, to be an ordinary student.
Meanwhile, Rey walked quickly toward the garden. His face was still hot with emotion, but his heart was starting to feel regret.
"I went too far," he thought. "I shouldn't have said that."
He found Ratna sitting with her back to him.
"Ratna..." he called softly.
Ratna didn't turn around.
"Go away, Rey. I don't want to talk."
"But I just want to explain—"
"Explain what?" Ratna stood up quickly, staring at him with red eyes. "That you can casually call me your girl in front of everyone? I'm nothing to you, Rey. We're not even dating."
Rey fell silent. The words felt like a slap.
"I just... I was afraid Harold would hurt you again," he finally managed.
Ratna shook her head. "I know how to take care of myself. You don't need to be a hero. Sometimes 'protecting' can hurt too."
Rey looked down, unable to argue.
Ratna took a deep breath. "I'm tired, Rey. I don't want to be anyone's drama."
She then turned and walked away, not looking back.
Rey could only watch Ratna's back disappearing among the trees. The evening breeze blew gently, making the chocolate wrapper in the trash can sway slowly — a symbol of sweetness turned into suspicion and hurt.
☔️ Quiet NightThat night, the rain poured without a break. In her small room, Ratna sat in front of her study desk. The desk lamp glowed dimly, casting shadows on the wall. Books lay open, but her eyes weren't really reading.
Her mind was still stuck in the cafeteria that afternoon.
Rey's shout. Harold's cold stare.
And herself, standing between the two — confused, scared, and embarrassed.
She closed the book slowly, then looked at the fogged-up window. Raindrops trickled down slowly, as if following the rhythm of her heart.
"Why does it always have to be like this..." she whispered.
Ratna took a long breath. She knew Rey was angry because he was jealous. But Rey also didn't understand; Ratna never intended to make anyone misunderstand. She just wanted everything to go back to the way it was, before the trouble, before the heartache.
Yet, what bothered her the most was Harold's face.
The face that used to be so annoying — full of mockery and cunning smiles. But this afternoon... something was different.
His gaze was no longer challenging. There was a flicker of sadness, even regret.
Ratna rubbed her eyes, trying to erase the image. "What's wrong with me? Am I actually pitying him?" she muttered, annoyed at herself.
But her heart couldn't lie.
Something in Harold had changed.
She didn't know what, but somehow, Ratna felt... scared yet curious.
The sound of thunder rumbled far away outside. Ratna hugged a small pillow in her lap, staring out the window. The rain danced on the roof, making the night feel even quieter.
In the silence, her heart whispered,
If only everything could be as simple as an ordinary friendship.
But life, Ratna thought, was never that simple.