Sometimes distance isn't measured by how far apart we sit.
But by how many words were left unsaid.
Beneath the clear sky, a heart was quietly clouded.
The school atmosphere was different that day.
Since morning, the yard had been filled with laughter and the sound of footsteps. All the students lined up toward the buses already parked at the front gate, carrying their small bags and packed lunches.
Ratna stood among the crowd, holding Rey's dry, gray umbrella. For some reason, she'd intentionally brought it today, even though she knew she might not get a chance to return it. The umbrella felt like a small reminder that there was still someone who cared.
"Ratna, you're on bus number two," said Ms. Lilis, the chaperone teacher, while marking names on her clipboard.
Ratna nodded and followed the line of her friends toward the bus.
Inside the bus, the atmosphere was lively.
Kids scrambled to find seats with their respective friends. There were no special rules; first come, first served. Helen was already seated with Julia, Tim with Aryo. Ratna walked slowly down the narrow aisle, looking for an empty bench.
Finally, she found one near the window. She sat down, hugged her small bag, and looked out. The morning air felt fresh. In her heart, Ratna hoped Rey would board soon and sit next to her.
They weren't anything—not a couple, not even close friends. But since that rainy day, Ratna felt something had changed. Maybe a small hope, or just a quiet comfort that had started to grow.
However, Rey was nowhere to be seen.
Some students had already put their bags on the overhead rack; others were busy taking photos with their cameras. The bus was starting to fill up. Ratna craned her neck. The seat beside her was still empty.
And that's when Harold boarded.
His uniform was neat, his hair slightly messy, but still handsome. He looked around, then his eyes stopped on Ratna. Without a second thought, Harold walked quickly and sat down next to her.
Ratna turned, startled.
"Harold! That seat is for Rey!"
Harold gave a small smile.
"The seat is empty, isn't it? I sat first. There's no rule about who sits with whom."
"But—"
"Forget it," he said softly but firmly, "the bus is about to leave. Besides, Rey is late. He might not even show up."
Ratna bit her lip, annoyed. She knew Harold was doing it on purpose. Her heart started to heat up, but she didn't want to cause a scene in front of everyone.
But Harold wasn't the type to back down easily. He leaned back casually, his hand gripping the back of the seat in front.
"You look tense. Just relax, we're only sitting, not going to outer space."
Ratna let out a small huff.
"If you don't move, I will."
She stood up, intending to pass Harold and move to another seat. But the aisle was narrow, and the bus started to slightly shake as the driver turned on the engine. As Ratna took a step, Harold instinctively grabbed her arm to stop her from falling.
Ratna wasn't ready for the touch—her body swayed, and in an instant, she lost her balance. Harold quickly stabilized her shoulder to prevent her from falling. But because of the tight space, Ratna actually stumbled into him.
A few friends nearby immediately cheered softly.
"Wow, how romantic!"
"Ugh, like a drama!"
Ratna's face immediately flushed red.
"Harold! Let go! I can manage myself!"
Harold hurriedly released her, but it was too late—at that very moment, Rey just stepped onto the bus.
His gaze instantly fixed on their seat.
He froze, seeing Ratna just rising from a stumbled position while Harold was still holding her arm. From Rey's perspective, everything looked like an intimate scene—something that made his chest constrict.
Rey's eyes sharpened, but he held back.
He knew that if he spoke now, it would only cause a disturbance in front of the teacher.
"Rey..." Ratna whispered softly, her face pale. But Rey had already turned away. He walked down the bus aisle without looking at them again, then sat two rows behind.
Ratna looked down. Her hands trembled with frustration and embarrassment. She knew Rey must have misunderstood, but what could she explain now?
Harold looked at Rey through the small rearview mirror, then smiled faintly—not a malicious smile, but one full of confidence that he had just made a bold move.
"Come on, don't be angry. I just didn't want you to sit alone," he said softly.
Ratna looked out the window, not answering.
Her heart was a mess—a mix of anger, sadness, and disappointment. She didn't know whether she wanted to cry or scream.
The bus began to move, leaving the school behind. The city streets slowly changed into views of rice fields and trees.
Other kids laughed, played guessing games, or sang loudly. But Ratna remained silent. She leaned against the window, her eyes gazing far away.
After a while, the feeling of tiredness and sadness made her fall asleep.
Her head slowly tilted until it rested unknowingly on Harold's shoulder.
Harold looked at Ratna for a moment.
On his face, there was no triumphant smile—only a complicated gaze.
Then, his eyes were drawn to the front window, where Rey's reflection was visible in the distance.
Rey wasn't singing, wasn't joining the jokes.
He just stared out the window with red eyes and a clenched jaw.
Outside, the sky was clear—
but inside the bus, two hearts were silently apart under the same cloud.