The Trip

"You owe me one burger, Sho-chan," said Rasya handing a burger she just bought to Shona.

"You promised to treat me, so this is not a debt," replied Shona, which made Rasya squeak softly.

The first break arrived. Shona, who had just finished her biology class, now approached Rasya, who had promised to treat her because her breakfast was not finished earlier. The two of them are now enjoying different meals, Shona with her burger and Rasya with a sandwich that Sanjaya has prepared, her left hand attaching AirPods and turning on her cellphone. Both are now in the cafeteria.

Sanjaya is quite strict when it comes to eating, even though they live in a western country where most of them is junk food. And don't let Sanjaya know that Rasya bought Shona burgers. The two kids might not get any pocket money.

"Hema hasn't been seen yet. Where is she?"

Rasya, who was busy with her cell phone, turned her head and nodded slowly. "Mahesa called her," answered Rasya, returning to focus on the cell phone.

"You're not coming?"

"I'm hungry. Anyway, Mahesa said only briefly."

The two fell silent again and were lost in their respective activities. The atmosphere in the canteen is getting busier. Moreover, several children are now heading to the canteen still wearing sports uniforms. It looks like they just finished PE class.

"Oh shit—"

"Language, please."

"Sorry, but... look at this."

Rasya took off one of her AirPods, put it in Shona's right ear, and then held out her cell phone, watching with a youtube channel.

After a few seconds of listening, Shona widened her eyes, turned to Rasya, and blinked, then turned back to watching the news of a bookstore robbery in the alley at the end not far from the Sanjaya restaurant. Both of them knew the shop well. Rasya and her friends often visit to look for assignment references or read. They even know the bookstore owner.

"I think Jasmine needs at least two days to get her shop back to normal," Shona commented as she munched on a burger.

Rasya nodded, agreeing. "Or maybe longer," said Rasya a moment after seeing the condition of the shop, which was destroyed.

Jasmine, the shop owner, looks after her, her condition in disarray. Rasya turned to her cousin, who was now shrugging her shoulders while putting on a concerned face. Her face was puffy with messy hair, and she was being led slowly by a police officer for questioning.

"You want to visit?" asked Rasya.

"At least we have to encourage Jasmine, even though I know it's useless," said Shona, who got a nod from Rasya.

The two returned to focus on watching while eating their breakfasts. Without realizing the increasingly crowded canteen they were in or someone in a dark blue hoodie waving in front of the cafeteria door, Hema.

Hema—whose attention her two friends didn't notice was now snorting softly—stepping towards the table where Shona and Rasya were.

"Hello!" Hema exclaimed, embracing his two friends. "Did I miss something?" Hema asked looking at Shona and Rasya in turn. Rasya rolled her eyes lazily, moving Hema's face away.

"Sit properly, idiot."

And Hema now chooses to sit beside Rasya without asking permission to take a sandwich in front of Rasya – which Rasya doesn't protest at all because she's used to it.

"Are you done with Mahesa?" Shona asked.

Hema nodded curtly. "He's just talking about some activities and the Olympics this semester," Hema replied, casually eating the sandwich in her hand, making her cheeks bulge.

Shona and Rasya nodded in unison. Yes, although the two – Mahesa and Hema – are brothers who often fight, they are two brothers who are both busy in academics.

"Ah, I just remembered!"

Hema and Rasya turned their heads spontaneously when Shona called out suddenly. Rasya raised an eyebrow while Hema stopped chewing, looking at Shona, who was now in a hurry to drink the milk box in front of her.

"I heard some teachers were talking about camp on the weekends. You know, in Central Park." With enthusiasm but in a whispering tone, Shona said so.

Rasya, who heard it now, blinked slowly before sparkling and smiling broadly. In contrast to Hema, who just kept quiet.

"Central Park?! Seriously?!"

Shona nodded enthusiastically. "I think it will be announced soon. Isn't that fun?"

"Of course. We will ask papa to bring us a lot of food for lunch later," answered Rasya, who looked enthusiastic.

Hema was still, swallowing her sandwich. Silent and not enthusiastic like the other two friends.

"Are you coming, Hema?" Shona asked.

Hema glanced at the Japanese-blooded teenager and then, a few seconds later, took a deep breath before finally shaking her head slowly.

"Nope."

Shona now turned to Rasya, slightly twitching her chin slowly as if asking Rasya what was wrong. Rasya just smiled. She patted her shoulder lightly.

"It's been a long time, Hema. Forget it," she said with a half-laughing smile.

"Stop it!"

And Hema's call made Rasya now unable to hold back her laughter. Hema was traumatized by the camp. Rasha knows, right? It all started when they were in fifth grade, and the teachers held a small camp before graduation.

Like other children in general, Hema was so enthusiastic. She was so excited, especially when she discovered she would share a tent with her friends and other fun things. She was so excited, asking permission from her father– Darriel. Everything also went smoothly according to plan and wishful thinking. Finally, the long-awaited day arrived, becoming the worst day for Hema.

At that time, Hema liked her lengthy hair, black and so thick. They were on duty to collect firewood for the bonfire at that time. And Hema saw a bird's nest in a not-so-tall tree. Hema, who had been ignorant by nature for a long time, intended to annoy the bird. Even though Rasya had warned her because the mother bird might peck her.

But Hema being Hema. She did not heed Rasya's words and turned to pelt the bird's nest. Instead of the mother bird coming out of the nest and pecking, the mother bird drops bird droppings.

It made Hema hysterical. She screamed and ran to meet Mrs Hammington and asked her to clean Hema's hair – Rasya herself just laughed nonstop.

Then because there was no water, they took little Hema to the river to clean her hair. Instead of being clean, the river water contains a lot of frog eggs and moss. So they decided to cut Hema's hair short– and well, the haircut wasn't perfect for people who were panicking because Hema's crying wouldn't stop.

Rasya smiled as she drank her orange juice.

"Stop it!" blurted Hema.

"What?" Rasya blinked innocently.

Hema took a deep breath. "Don't," he muttered under her breath.

"What are you talking about?"

And with an expression that seemed like she didn't know anything, Rasya tilted her head, blinking at Hema innocently.

"I know you're remembering the fifth-grade camp incident," Hema replied with narrowed eyes.

Rasya couldn't hide her smile and ended up laughing.

"Oh, come on, Hema. It's been a long time. You should have moved on," said Rasya casually.

"Easy for you to talk, it's a shameful incident that everyone saw, Acha. Even Sadewa saw my stupidity." Hema spoke quietly enough in the last sentence.

Rasya nodded slowly, patting her best friend's shoulder, who, this time, leaned her head on the table. Shona was silent, blinked, and continued eating her burger because she didn't understand what the two lovebirds were saying.

"Besides, I don't think I will join that stupid camp. I'll stay home," she said, tapping Rasya's glass of orange juice lightly.

"Oh, come on, Hema. What's so good about just being home?" Shona, who had been silent for a while now, spoke up.

Hema took a deep breath. "I can go to the park, and I can go to Uncle Sanjaya's restaurant, play games at home, and Jasmine's bookstore, of course."

And Hema's last words made Shona and Rasya recall the news they had just read.

"Uh, I don't think you can go to Jasmine's bookstore, Hema." Shona nodded at Rasya's words.

Hema raised her head, blinking slowly. "Why?"

Rasya now swiftly opened her cell phone, showing Hema the latest news she had seen. Just like Shona and Rasya when they first saw her, Hema was slightly surprised and wide-eyed.

"Wow, Jasmine's bookstore got robbed? I don't think there's anything of value there, you stupid robber–awh!" Hema's comment ended in a pained groan because Rasya hit her on the head. Hema grimaced, rubbing her head which hurt from the blow of her best friend.

"Can't you sympathize?" said Rasya.

"Why? I'm just speaking facts. There weren't many visitors at Jasmine's bookstore. There were only piles of books, mostly used books. What did the robber want to take? If I were a robber, I think I would prefer to rob the store. Jewelry, two blocks from Jasmine's bookstore," said Hema.

Rasya wanted to protest, but unfortunately, what Hema said was true. There is nothing special in Jasmine's bookstore except for Jasmine herself, who does have a beautiful face.

"It's possible that they didn't intend to rob but rather to do something bad to Jasmine," Shona spoke again.

Hema nodded slowly. "If that might make sense, but as for robbing– oh come on, even Jasmine has no customers other than the three of us."

"And the Andaru brothers, don't forget them. You want to go to Jasmine's bookstore just because they go there often, you idiot." Rasya replied to Hema's words with a grumpy eye roll.

Shona just smiled while Hema took a deep breath again. Okay, indeed, no one will understand her other than Rasya. The little teenager does know everything about Hema, especially about her – who has a crush on Sadewa.

"So you're going there later?" Hema asked, now changing the subject.

Rasya and Shona nodded in unison. "We need to know Jasmine's condition, so at least we can express our sympathy, and maybe we can help her tidy up the shop," said Rasya.

"Okay, I'm coming."

"But before talking about Jasmine's bookstore, I think about the camp—"

"I'm not going, Acha!"

Shona grimaced slightly, gently rubbing her ear when she heard Hema's exclamation. Oh, Hema, when she screams, it makes her ears hurt.

"Hema, calm down. I heard they would have a group division for hiking every night. And each group has five people," said Shona, looking at her nails and then blowing on them.

Rasya turned, slightly raised an eyebrow at Shona, and got a smile from Shona.

"And in case you forgot, Mahesa is the student council president and also in charge of organizing the camp. And I think we can ask him to make us a group with Sadewa." A smirk appeared on Shona's lips.

Behind her innocent face and silent attitude, Shona also has a sly nature, of course – something she learned from Hema and Rasya. Rasya, who heard Shona's speech, now understood. A similar smile appeared on her lips, and she then turned to look at Hema.

"Sho-chan is right, Hema. Imagine you'll be with Sadewa on a hike later. And, I think you'll be able to talk to him alone. We promise to arrange it for you." Her race followed Shona, who tried to seduce her.

Hema blinked slightly, and her eyes seemed to sparkle hearing that.

"Really?"

Rasya and Shona simultaneously nodded.

"Okay! Let's meet Mahesa!"

And bingo.

A satisfied smile formed on Shona and Rasya's lips, and a fist bump was created under the table.