If heaven had a branch on earth specifically designed for the hungry and the wealthy, then the Rajawali High School canteen—officially designated by a polished marble plaque as the "Student Gastronomy Lounge"—was a primary candidate.
Forget the stereotypical image of a high school cafeteria. There were no linoleum floors sticky with spilled sweet tea, no pervasive scent of recycled frying oil, and certainly no plastic trays chipped at the edges. Here, the ceramic tiles were polished to a mirror sheen, reflecting the recessed LED lighting like a five-star hotel lobby.
The air didn't smell of teenage sweat or gym socks; instead, it was a sophisticated olfactory tapestry of freshly ground Arabica beans, French pastries cooling on racks, and the faint, expensive whisper of lavender-scented air purifiers.
Salim sat at a circular table made of heavy tempered glass, staring blankly at the digital menu displayed on a massive 4K LCD screen above the ordering counter.
Wagyu Beef Fried Rice: Rp 65,000.
Spaghetti Aglio Olio with Truffle Oil: Rp 75,000.
Jasmine-Infused Iced Tea: Rp 15,000.
"Insane," Salim muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the soft jazz playing in the background. "Fifteen thousand for a glass of iced tea. Is the tea picked by celestial fairies or something?"
"It's premium tea, Lim. Hand-picked young leaves harvested exactly during the full moon," joked Dani as he arrived, carrying a tray laden with enough food to feed a small family. He slumped into the plush, ergonomic chair beside Salim with a heavy thud.
Dani's tray was a monument to excess: a towering burger with thick patties, parmesan-dusted truffle fries, and a large strawberry milkshake topped with a mountain of whipped cream.
"Are you planning to eat that or are you running an obesity simulation, Dan?" Salim asked, his eyes tracking the sheer height of the burger.
"Shh! This is my reward," Dani said, running a hand through his perfectly pomaded hair. "My brain needs glucose after watching you dismantle Nadia yesterday. Seriously, that was epic! The look on her face when she stormed out of the library was like she'd just swallowed a whole durian pit."
Rizki followed shortly after, carrying a tray that was far more 'aesthetic' and health-conscious. A Caesar salad with grilled chicken breast and a bottle of premium alkaline water. He sat down with a composed, rhythmic grace.
"Don't celebrate too early, Dan," Rizki said, twisting the cap off his water. "Nadia is the vindictive type. Just watch; she'll try to get back at Salim during the semester finals."
"Let her," Salim replied as he finally pulled his own lunch from his backpack: two packages of white bread filled with chocolate jam, bought from a minimarket across from the school for five thousand rupiah, and a bottle of tap water he'd refilled from the mosque's dispenser.
The contrast on the glass table was staggering—the chocolate-smeared plastic wrapper looked like a piece of debris in a sea of luxury porcelain.
"I don't care about Nadia. I'm more concerned about the structural integrity of my wallet."
Dani began to devour his burger with primal enthusiasm, a smudge of mayo appearing at the corner of his lips. "Speaking of wallets, you have to see the interior of my new Mustang, Lim. The 'Yellow Menace.' Man... the dashboard looks like a fighter jet cockpit. There are so many buttons I honestly don't know which one turns on the AC and which one might eject my seat into the stratosphere."
"Does your car actually have an ejection seat?" Salim asked flatly, taking a bite of his dry bread.
"I wish! I'm just saying it's that high-tech," Dani swallowed a massive bite. "I tried the Sport Mode on the toll road this morning. Whoosh! The G-force literally pinned me to the leather. And the exhaust... vroom vroom! That wasn't an engine sound, man. That was the Angel of Death performing a rock concert."
Salim nodded along, his face a mask of mock-amazement. "Impressive. And the fuel consumption?"
Dani's face instantly soured. "Don't ask. I filled it for a million rupiah earlier and only got half a tank. I suspect the fuel tank has a leak directly into another dimension."
Rizki chuckled softly, the sound elegant and restrained. "That's the risk of muscle cars, Dan. You buy the prestige, you pay for the gas. You should take a leaf out of Salim's book. His Supra is terrifyingly efficient. One full tank probably lasts him three trips around Sukabumi."
"It's not efficiency, Ki," Salim corrected. "The fuel gauge is broken. I never actually know if I'm out of gas or not. My life on that bike is a constant thrill ride, a bet against fate. Every time I twist the throttle, I'm gambling with destiny."
The three of them laughed, a brief moment of camaraderie. In the middle of their laughter, a soft, floral scent drifted toward them, far more pleasant than the smell of Dani's greasy burger.
Maya had arrived.
She stood beside their table, holding a tray with two bowls of Japanese Beef Teriyaki, the steam still rising in appetizing swirls. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, revealing her elegant neckline. Her uniform fit her perfectly—not tight, but tailored with a precision that radiated "old money."
"May I join you?" Maya asked, her eyes immediately finding Salim's, as if Dani and Rizki were merely NPCs in the background of her world.
"Take a seat, Princess. We've been holding this spot just for you," Dani said, sliding his tray over to make room.
Maya sat directly next to Salim. The distance was small enough that their uniform sleeves brushed against each other. Salim reflexively shifted an inch away, maintaining a polite perimeter. Maya noticed, but she didn't retreat.
"Lim, are you just eating bread?" Maya asked, looking at the crumpled plastic in Salim's hand with a look of genuine, unmasked concern.
"It's enough. Complex carbohydrates. Good for brain function," Salim reasoned, though his stomach gave an untimely growl.
Maya shook her head softly. She pushed one of the Beef Teriyaki bowls from her tray toward him. The bowl was a masterpiece of Japanese fast-food: fluffy rice, thinly sliced beef glazed in a savory-sweet sauce, a side of cabbage salad, and a steaming bowl of miso soup.
"Here," Maya said.
Salim narrowed his eyes. "What's this?"
"Lunch," Maya replied innocently. "I... um... made a mistake at the ordering kiosk. I meant to order one, but I accidentally pressed the '2' button. The attendant said it couldn't be canceled. It would be a waste to throw it away. You'll eat it, right?"
Dani nearly choked on his milkshake. He broke into a fit of dramatic coughing, thumping his chest for effect. Rizki merely smiled, shaking his head at Maya's incredibly unconvincing acting.
"Accidentally pressed two?" Salim asked, his gaze suspicious. "The buttons on those kiosks are massive, Maya. Did your fingers suddenly grow to the size of thumbs?"
Maya's face flushed a deep, vibrant crimson. She bit her lower lip, looking panicked as her lie crumbled under the weight of Salim's relentless logic. "I-it was a system error, Salim! Or maybe my hand slipped! Just eat it! It's a sin to reject a blessing."
"Listen to her, Lim. It's a sin," Dani chimed in, having recovered from his choking fit. "Just eat it, man. It's a gift from the canteen angel."
Salim looked at the steaming bowl, then at his pathetic chocolate bread. His stomach roared in agreement with Maya.
"Are you sure you don't want it?" Salim asked.
"I have my own, Salim," Maya pointed to her second bowl. "My stomach is small; I can't finish two portions."
"Fine. Thank you. I'll pay you back once I get paid for tutoring my neighbor's kid," Salim said as he pulled the bowl toward him.
"No need!" Maya countered quickly. "Consider it... a treat. You were amazing in the library yesterday. The whole school is talking about it."
Salim began to eat. The savory explosion of the teriyaki sauce was heavenly, a world away from dry bread and cheap jam. "Amazing? I just solved a problem."
"It's the way you solved it," Maya said softly, starting her own meal. She stole occasional glances at him, a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes as she watched him eat heartily.
"Slow down, Lim. You have a grain of rice on your cheek," Maya said suddenly.
Before Salim could react, Maya reached out. With a gentle, deliberate motion of her thumb, she brushed a stray grain of rice from the corner of his lips.
The action was so natural, so intimate, that the world seemed to lurch to a halt for three long seconds.
Salim froze, spoon halfway to his mouth.
Dani dropped the fry he was about to eat.
Rizki stopped chewing his salad.
Maya withdrew her hand as if she'd suddenly realized what she had done. Her face, which had been a soft pink, turned the color of a ripe tomato.
"Uh... sorry. It was just... bothering me," she whispered, quickly lowering her head to focus intently on her miso soup.
Salim cleared his throat loudly, trying to disperse the thick, awkward tension that had suddenly materialized in the air. "Ahem. Thanks. I was out of tissues."
Dani kicked Salim's leg under the table. Salim winced, shooting Dani a sharp look. Dani responded with a frantic eye signal that clearly meant: GET A CLUE, YOU IDIOT!
Salim chose to ignore it. He wasn't blind. He could calculate complex compound probabilities; reading social cues like this wasn't beyond him. But Salim also calculated the other variables: Reality.
Maya was the daughter of a hotel empire mogul. Salim was the son of a widow whose bike had to be kickstarted five times before it roared to life. In the equation of his life, these variables didn't produce a balanced solution. So, he chose to play dumb. It was safer.
"So, how's everyone's preparation for the study tour?" Rizki asked, saving the situation with a neutral topic.
"I'm one hundred percent ready!" Dani exclaimed, grateful for the pivot. "I'm bringing my PS5. I heard the bus has power outlets. We can play FIFA all the way there, bro!"
"Is there even a TV?" Salim asked skeptically.
"I'm bringing a portable monitor! I've thought of everything," Dani patted his chest. "We're all on the same bus, right? The back row? That's our basecamp. The Boys plus Maya."
"I want the window seat," Maya requested. She looked at Salim. "You'll sit next to me, right, Lim? Just in case I get motion sickness... you can help me find a plastic bag."
"Nice move," Dani coughed again.
"Sure," Salim replied shortly. "But if you puke, try not to get it on my jacket. It's the only one I have without a hole in it."
"Salim!" Maya whined, playfully swatting his arm.
They laughed together, the warmth returning. Amidst the luxury of the canteen, their table felt like a small, unique island.
However, not everyone enjoyed the view.
From the entrance, Rinto walked in with his clique. He spotted Salim's table. His eyes narrowed as he saw the expensive bowl of beef in front of Salim—a menu item clearly bought by someone else—and the way Maya laughed so freely beside him.
Rinto made a point of walking past their table. As he reached the back of Salim's chair, he stopped.
"Must be nice, being a parasite," Rinto sneered, his voice loud enough for the surrounding tables to hear. "The school pays for your tuition with a scholarship, and now a girl pays for your food. What kind of man are you?"
The laughter at the table died instantly.
Dani stood up immediately, his playful face hardening into a snarl. "What did you say, Rinto? Watch your mouth."
Rizki set his fork down slowly, his gaze piercing. "Rinto, keep walking. Don't go looking for trouble."
Rinto chuckled sinisterly. He looked at Salim, who remained seated, calmly finishing his tea. "I'm just stating facts. Maya, why are you hanging around this beggar? Your place is at the VIP tables, not with a parking attendant like him."
Maya stood up, her beautiful face contorted with rage. "Rinto! That's enough! Salim is my friend. And he has far more class than you, who can only show off your parents' wealth!"
"Class?" Rinto spat on the floor. "Look at his shoes. Look at that junk heap of a bike. That's not class; that's trash."
Salim finally set his glass down. He took a long, slow breath and stood up. He turned to face Rinto. They were nearly the same height, but Salim's gaze was far more tranquil.
"Rinto," Salim said softly. "You're right."
Everyone was stunned. Dani looked at Salim in confusion. Rinto offered a triumphant smirk.
"I am poor. My bike is a wreck. My shoes are from a discount bin," Salim continued. He took a step forward, closing the distance. "But at least I'm sitting here because my friends want me here. Not because I'm paying for their meals."
Salim tapped Rinto's shoulder, brushing off an imaginary speck of dust. "And one more thing. You should worry more about your Calculus grade. Because if your father finds out you're failing, it's your credit card that will be treated like trash."
Rinto's face went pale. An academic threat—his Achilles' heel.
"Let's head out, guys," Salim said to his friends. "The air is getting thick with jealousy. It's ruining my appetite."
Salim grabbed his bag and walked away, followed by Dani, who pointedly bumped into Rinto's shoulder on the way out, and Rizki, who gave a pitying shake of his head. Maya shot Rinto a look of pure disgust before running to catch up with Salim, matching her stride to his.
"Are you okay, Lim?" Maya asked anxiously as they reached the corridor.
"Relax, Maya. Words don't leave scars," Salim replied with a faint smile. "Thanks for the food, by the way. It was delicious. Feel free to 'accidentally' order extra tomorrow."
Maya laughed, relief flooding her face. "You got it, Boss!"
Behind them, the school bell rang sharply.
Salim walked toward class with mixed emotions. The warmth of Maya's care clashed with the bitter reality of Rinto's words. He knew his place. He knew the world wasn't fair.
But as he looked at the 'brusik' bracelet on Maya's wrist, he wondered if equations could ever be truly balanced in a world as broken as this.