Prologue

"Will you say yes to him?" I ask as I look straight into her eyes. She just gave me a plain smile as an answer.

She came closer to me, and we sat down under the tree. We're here in our favorite place in this school... our safe haven.

I'm still waiting for her answer, but she was just lean on the tree, and she closed her eyes. "You know, Benji, I'm already drained of the projects and special activities I do."

"Yes, obviously. The size of your eye bags shows it, you look like a panda," I laughed evilly, but she just smirked. Oh, that smirk of hers... So lovely.

"At least cute," she proudly said.

Yeah, it's cute, but you're cuter than panda. "You don't look like a panda, you look like Smeagol!" I said instead. Yeah, I'm too coward to tell her what I really want to say... It's just a simple word, but I can't voice it out.

"Ha-ha-ha funny." She opened her eyes and glared at me, "You are the stench of your name. Benjamin. Private Benjamin. 'Don't flake anymore! Boom kara-karaka!'" She teased me with matching dance and song. And her face? That's her serious face, but that's a teasing.

Here we go, of all the things she can tease me about, that weird song she really choose. I don't know if she's a die-hard fan of Vice Ganda, or she's just a trip to really tease me then? But it's okay, I'm not annoyed... I even enjoy it every time she teases me, she becomes cuter in my eyes when she dances that.

She continued teasing me, while here I am, stunned again by her beauty. Why is it so beautiful even though she makes herself look abnormal?

As I adore her in my mind, I suddenly feel that there's someone is hugging me. Suddenly, I came back to the certainty of my realization that she was the one hugging me. Just because of her hug, I was stoned in my seat. Why am I acted this way every time she hugs me? We know each other for a long time, why am I still like this every time she approaches me?Why am I become sheepish towards her? But, yeah, I'm satisfied, and it feels good to hug by her. I really love it, though.

Even though I couldn't move my body due to panic, I still forced myself to hug her back and secretly bit my lip because I was trying to stop myself from smiling, I was shivering. And yes, I'm happy with the position of the two of us. It's like we're a couple. I hope that's just happening in reality and not on my freaking dream.

I felt she hug me tighter, so I tightened my hug as well. We're still on this position when she uttered something.

"It depends."

"Depends on what?"

"Depends on if I answer him." Oh... it looks like she answered my question a while ago.

Don't entertain his affection to you. I'm here. Just turn your gazes on me. I can be a better man for you... But I can't say this thoughts because I'm numb and scared. I was afraid that I might have busted her right away and that we might end up our friendship all of a sudden. I don't want that to happen.

"He's your crush, right? So, why does it depend?"

"Hmm because," she cut off and looked at me while we were still hugging, "because he's just my crush. I'm not really into him!" She continued with a burst of laughter.

I laughed too because I was happy with what I heard. That person is not her man of her dreams. Does it mean that I have the opportunity to court her?

But her laughter suddenly change into a stern. "I'm waiting for someone to woo me, Benji." So, it means she likes someone else?

My smile slowly fades... And my fantasy of becoming his man also disappears. All of a sudden, I feel pain in my chest. Shouldn't I be happy and not feel pain because it's not that arrogant she likes? Why am I hurting? Is it because all this time she's into someone else, and she never told me about it? Or am I hurt because all this time she just noticed me as a friend... and I will never be her lover.

"Really? So, who's this unlucky guy?" I still forced myself to tease her with my question even though I felt that at any moment tears would fall in my eyes.

"Unlucky? No Benji, no. He's the luckiest man alive on earth because he got caught my gold attention!"

Yeah, she's right. That person is the luckiest man. I know she will love him with all her heart, she will treasure him... and definitely she will take care of him, more than she took care of me.

"Tss, you're too confident, eh? But, w-who is he?" Why do I even want to know that guy? I really want to hurt myself a lot. Isn't it enough that I'm hurt by the fact that she's dating someone else?

She looked at me intently and gave me an annoying look. "You know him."

I know? "W-who?"

She stared at me for a long time, and her gaze on me seemed to be wondering if she would answer who it was or not. But soon she smiled again. I don't know, but I suddenly felt nervous when she smiled. I don't know why? Maybe because I'm still hoping that she will say my name?

Ugh! I hate this.

But before she answers me, the school bell rings. It is a signal that lunchtime is over. She stood up first and helped me to get up. She stretched out her arms and started walking, but she immediately stopped and turned to my direction. "You'll meet him too, Benji. Don't worry, I'll introduce him to you. Not now, but soon," she said while giggling and ran away.

-AndyThoughts-