Bab 3: Chapter 3: Unexpected Encounter
Another day, another chance to blend into the background. That's the life of an NPC like me. Wake up, go to school, survive the day, repeat.
I'm wandering through the school campus, trying not to bump into anyone. The hallways are alive with chatter, footsteps, and the occasional burst of laughter. It's the kind of noise that reminds me I'm just a nobody, unnoticed speck in a sea of people.
I reach my locker and start fiddling with the combination when I hear it—a voice, clear and nervous, cutting through the hallway's buzz.
"I like you."
The voice belongs to a girl. My hands freeze as my ears perk up. Who's confessing their love out here?
Peeking around the edge of my locker, I spot the scene. A girl is standing a few feet away, her hands clasped nervously in front of her. She's looking up at a tall, broad-shouldered guy—one of those effortlessly cool types. The kind of guy who probably doesn't even try to be popular but somehow has the entire school's attention.
Wait a second… that girl is my classmate, isn't she? What's her name again? I rack my brain but come up blank. Great, I really am bad with names.
The guy's face is unreadable, and for a moment, the hallway feels like it's holding its breath. Then he speaks, his tone as smooth and detached as ever.
"Sorry, but…"
That's all he says before walking away, leaving the girl standing there, her hands slowly falling to her sides.
Whoa. That's cold.
So even a girl like her—pretty, smart, well-liked—can get rejected, huh? Makes me feel slightly better about my seventy rejections. At least I'm not alone in my misery.
I shake my head. No, I shouldn't be thinking like this. I should get out of here before she notices me.
Too late.
Her eyes snap to mine, and I freeze like a deer caught in headlights. Oh damn it, this can't be happening.
She starts walking toward me, her expression unreadable.
"Hey, where do you think you're going?"
"Uhmm…" I let out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of my neck.
"You saw all of that, didn't you?" she asks, crossing her arms.
"Uh… yeah, maybe," I mumble, wishing I could disappear into my locker.
She lets out a long sigh, and for a moment, I think she's going to yell at me. But instead, she narrows her eyes and leans in.
"So, are you planning to spread that around the class?"
"What? No! I'm not going to do that!" I blurt out, waving my hands defensively.
She tilts her head, a sly smile forming on her lips. "Good. Because if you do, I'll let you… touch this."
She points to her chest, and my brain short-circuits.
"Huh?! What?! No! What are you even saying?!"
She bursts out laughing, holding her stomach as tears prick the corners of her eyes. "I'm just joking, calm down! You should've seen your face!"
Oh great. So not only did I get caught spying, but now I'm also the butt of her joke. Can this day get any worse?
"Don't tease me like that," I mumble, trying to regain what little dignity I have left.
She wipes a tear from her eye and sighs. "Sorry, sorry. I couldn't help it. Anyway, mind if I open up to you?"
"Huh? Oh, sure," I say, slightly caught off guard.
Wait. I'm talking to a girl. A real, living, breathing girl. This hasn't happened in… a very long time. My brain scrambles to figure out what's happening, but before I can overthink, she starts talking.
"Well… as you probably figured out, I just got rejected," she says, forcing a small, awkward smile.
"I noticed," I say before immediately kicking myself.
She chuckles softly. "It's my first time getting rejected, you know. And it wasn't just anyone—it was a friend. I confessed to someone I've known for a while. Guess that's what I get for catching feelings in the first place."
Her smile wavers, and suddenly, tears begin to well up in her eyes.
"Huh? It's weird… my tears are coming down."
"It's okay to cry sometimes," I say instinctively, pulling a tissue from my pocket and handing it to her.
She looks at me, surprised, before taking the tissue and blowing her nose loudly. The sound is so ridiculous it almost makes me laugh.
"Oh," she says, her voice muffled by the tissue.
"'Oh' what?"
"I didn't think you'd have a tissue ready. Are you one of those guys who carries them around to impress girls?" she teases.
"No! I just happened to have one! Don't make this weird!"
She laughs, a genuine laugh this time, and it feels oddly nice.
Before either of us can say more, the bell rings, signaling the start of class.
"Well, I guess I should go," she says, brushing away the last of her tears.
"Y-Yeah, me too," I say awkwardly.
We head in opposite directions without saying goodbye, but something about the encounter sticks with me.
Who is this girl? And why does it feel like this won't be the last time we talk?
Oh, wait.
Where am I going again? Our room is down there, you know.
Hadiah
-- Hadiah diterima Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone