6. New Problem

I scowled at the faces of some of the girls who were bullying me.

I'm used to being bullied for being poor, but because of a man?  This is so annoying.

"You don't have to be pretty! You're with Bambang, you're still teasing Aji too! What do you want?!"  snapped one of them.

What do I want?

"This model child of yours, you shouldn't act! Who do you think you are? How dare you play with Roulette's guy?"

My mother used to tell me not to let anyone bully me.  So, I have to fight.

"First, I don't have a special relationship with Bambang. Second, I also don't have any relationship with Aji! Third, I'm really beautiful!"

I smiled sarcastically at my own words. Oh, where does that confidence come from?

It's my first time fighting with someone.  It felt quite nice to be able to defend myself like this. Oh, why didn't I do it like this, back then?

"This new kid is so arrogant, she must be taught a lesson!"

I immediately stepped back.

I've never fought before, what should I do? Should I grab them? Or, should I pinch? No, I'm in high school, I'm not an elementary school kid anymore. Who will grab and pinch in high school? That's so ridiculous!

"Hey, are you looking for a fuss with Roulette? You're playing!"

Someone's loud voice came from behind the girls.  After turning and seeing who was there, the girls immediately ran away from me.

I shifted to see who was there. A beautiful girl with long hair stood up with a broad smile towards me.

"Hi!" 

Who is that girl?

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Me? Ah yeah, introduce me, Naya! I'm a Roulette too! You Melody, right?"

I nodded slowly.

"How do you know?"

"Bambang told the story! By the way, don't be afraid of them, if they're trying to bully again, just say my name, they'll run away!"

I just smiled at Naya's words.  I moved closer to her.

"Thanks for helping," I said quietly.

The girl put her arm around my shoulder and smiled broadly at me.

"No problem! After all, you're Bambang's girl, so it's the Roulette's job to protect you too!"

Why?

"You seem to have misunderstood, Bambang and I don't have any relationship."

"Not yet!"

"I won't, I guess!"

Naya asked me to walk down the corridor to the cafeteria.

And all the way we walked, all eyes were fixed on us.  Is Naya someone who is quite influential at school?  Why are they all looking at us like that?

"Bambang looks really worried about you! He often tells me about you!"

"Don't get me wrong, he's worried not because he likes me, but because he's afraid of my mother, and his mother. They always warn Bambang to watch over me!"  I said holding back a laugh.

Naya immediately laughed so loosely.

"You're the one who misunderstood! It's true that Bambang's mother is scary, but just so you know, Bambang is not the type of person who will just obey his mother's orders unless he really wants to!"

Uh, wait!  What do you mean?

"You know, how panicked was Bambang when he found out that the Blackstone group was near the school? He even asked Gepeng to look for you, and take you home!"

Gepeng? Ah, the tall man from the other day?!

"You guys, Roulette, what kind of fights do you like? You have a lot of enemies?"

I know I shouldn't be saying this, but I can't contain my curiosity.

"It's a complicated story. It's good that Bambang himself told the story! For now, don't think about things, and just have fun and enjoy life as a high school student!"

I really can't understand this one girl.  Even though she looks like she's talking nonchalantly, every word she says sounds so deep and meaningful.

Roulette, gee!  What are they?  What's wrong with them?  Bambang said they were just a bunch of stubborn people, but that's not what I think.  They look pretty good.

"But, by the way, why do the girls who don't caress think that you are close to Paijo?"  Naya glanced at me with a probing gaze.

I don't know myself, during my schooling here, I never hung out with men, let alone Paijo.  So, why did the girls say his name?

"Ah, maybe because that time he lent me his jacket? No wonder everyone looked at me, maybe they knew it was Paijo's jacket."  I suddenly exclaimed.

Yes, I remember.  At that time, everyone looked at me strangely.  More specifically, the jacket I was wearing.

"And why did he lend you his jacket? He's not teasing you anymore, is he?"

Tease me?  Oh!  Is this Paijo a playboy who likes to tease girls?

"We collided, and my uniform was wet! He was just being nice."

Naya chuckled softly.  She didn't seem to believe my words.

"See, the guys are eating. Come on, come on!"  Naya half dragged me to where Bambang and the others were.

I immediately stopped walking and shook my head slowly.

"No, my friends are there too. I'll just join my friends."  I exclaimed quickly.

"You're not avoiding the Roulette guys anymore because of what happened earlier, are you?"  Naya investigate.

"No, it's just uncomfortable because we haven't met before."

"That's not a problem!"

"Bambang also told me to keep the Roulette guys away, so let's separate here!"

Instead of being annoyed, Naya laughed crisply.

"Don't want to know! Come on, join!"  Naya dragged me to where Roulette eats.

"Mel, have you eaten?"  asked Bambang as soon as we got there.

"I haven't eaten Mbang, gosh I'm so hungry I swear! Treat me!"  interrupted Naya quickly.

"I didn't ask you!"  said Bambang sarcastically.

"You stingy!"

"No, the chairman is out of the ATM! The money is all red!"  said one of them.

"Oh yeah? Where's Yogo?"  Naya immediately looked around and smiled broadly when she saw someone who had just entered the cafeteria.

"Yogooo, treat!"  Naya shouted as she left me and walked over to the man.

"Sit here!"  Bambang pulled me to sit next to him.

"What do you want to eat, Mel?"  he asked quietly.

"I'm full, I just ate lunch from mom in class."

"It's delicious! My aunt's cooking is second to none. If my mother could cook like an aunt, I would be very happy in my life."  said Bambang slowly.

"But, can't uncle cook? Mom said uncle uyon's cooking is delicious!"

"It's delicious! But, he won't want to cook anymore."

I smiled amusedly.  That is true.  If there is a mother at home, why does the father cook?  Later the mother is insecure again.

Especially if the mothers are fierce like Aunt Yuyun.

"This is called Melody? Wow, beautiful, set her up with me, Bro!"  said one of Bambang's group.

"Dream!"