Fifteen

"You know?"

"Tama seems to have broke up with Laura last Friday."

"The whole school was excited. They said that it was Tama who humiliated her at Pakde's meatball stall."

"Eh, but that's okay too. Yesterday I was there when it happened. So yeah I saw what happened."

"And then?"

"I think Laura is also a bit too late. Tama has said that well. Well, she even charges. So yeah Tama is a bit loose."

"Oh I see."

"After all, everyone knows how scary Tama is when he's angry."

"Yeah, but it's only natural that Laura insists. Just imagine. I've been a fan since the beginning of school, finally I can be his girlfriend. But it's only been two days. How can you not be frustrated?"

"Ha ha ha."

"E eh… but, something was weird yesterday."

"What?"

"Tama said that he had a crush on someone."

"Oh shit! Really?"

"Yuhu…. Really…."

"And then?"

"What makes it a bit strange is that yesterday he ate meatballs, guess with whom?"

"Who?"

"Eshika."

"Wow? Impossible."

"They keep fighting."

"Eh, something like Eshika will definitely be fascinated by Tama this time."

"But, it doesn't seem strange that Eshika likes Ta--- eh..."

The four girls who were gossiping in the cafeteria immediately swallowed back their words, just as their eyes caught Eshika and Velly who seemed to be crossing their table.

They gulped in unison. From Eshika's flushed face, they could guess that Eshika heard everything they said. Makes them feel awkward for a moment.

"Ha-ha-hello, Esh..."

Eshika smiled. Or rather try to smile. Velly's hand was felt to be shaking by her friend. Just be clear. What human could calm down when she found herself being talked about behind her back by a group of people?

Eshika and Velly continued their journey. Towards an empty table after ordering dumplings and chicken noodles, as well as two glasses of orange juice. While sitting down, Velly said.

"Well, this is how gossip can be born on earth. When what the eye sees is not combined with what the ear hears."

Eshika chuckled once. "But, that's the most terrifying gossip isn't it? I? With Tama? Ha ha ha." Eshika stopped her stiff laughter for a moment. "I'm sure God couldn't have made such a joke."

Velly's shoulders rose briefly. "It's just that I'm worried about one thing, Esh."

"What?"

"You know how Laura is, right?" asked Velly. "I'm just afraid that you will be the target of his anger."

Eshika slightly contemplated Velly's words. Her brain couldn't help but confirm that theory. As Velly said, sometimes Laura was too blind a person.

"Excusme ..."

Eshika and Velly's order came. Eshika received the dumplings she ordered, while Velly with the chicken noodles. Two glasses of orange juice were also served on their table. The interruption made Eshika's mind wander. She smiled as she grabbed the bottle of soy sauce.

"But, there's no way Laura would think like that." Eshika gave a little sauce and chili sauce to the dumplings, then stirred until smooth. The girl spooned a piece of dumpling into her mouth, enjoying it slowly. "The whole school also knows how my relationship with Tama is."

Velly nodded. Start enjoying the chicken noodles.

"But," Eshika whispered then. "I can't stop thinking about it. Why do they like it to Tama?" Eshika's eyes rolled around. "Well I know Tama is cool. But, let's see. How many times has Tama's ex tried at this school? My fingers and toes are not even enough to count the number of her exes. Does he kind of want to break the record for the boy with the most exes in school?" Eshika snorted. "I think every class has a representative. Have you ever been able to make a group chat like that? The Tama's Ex Group."

"Ha ha ha." Chicken noodles almost splattered from Velly's mouth when she laughed. "TTEG. Ha ha ha. I think it's a good group name too. So who's the leader? The first ex or the last ex?

Eshika's hand waved. "Tama's first ex at this school has also been in college, Vel. Our seniors right? When we just entered it. What they did the day after MOS."

Velly nodded. "Tama's first ex is a 12th grader. It's a bad boy."

Eshika snorted in amusement. "And with Tama's track record like that, do they still want to queue up to date Tama? How stupid! Like there's no other guy on this Earth."

"Yeah... it's called feeling."

Eshika took another bite of her dumplings after taking a sip of her orange juice. "That's stupid in my opinion."

"Ha ha ha."

Hearing Velly's laughter, Eshika just shook her head while still enjoying her dumplings. And that's when both ears heard hissing.

"Looking around."

"There's Laura."

Feeling that they have nothing to do with Laura, Eshika and Velly ignore Laura's presence with her friends. However, it seems that Eshika and Velly's guess was wrong. Laura instead walked over to their table, indicating to the two that Laura clearly had some business with Eshika and Velly. Erm ... or just Eshika maybe.

"I want to talk to you."

Eshika raised her face. Seeing Laura who came and her two friends. The beautiful girl looked sideways staring at him with a sharp gaze. It made Eshika's heart instantly cursed.

Tamaa!!!

*

"Damn! Seriously! It's bad!"

There was a voice screaming in panic as he ran into class 12 IPA 2. The guy in the uniform with the name tagged Heri ran quickly towards Tama and Reki who were chatting casually with their other friends.

Heri immediately approached Tama breathlessly.

"Eh! What's wrong with you?" asked Tama confused to find Heri who came to him in a panic.

"Damn it, Tam! It's bad!"

Reki patted Heri's back. "Breathe first, Ri. Use your nose, not your stomata."

Heri glared. "Thought I was a plant?"

They laugh.

"H-wait," said Heri. "This is not the time to laugh. This is terrible."

"Why?" asked Tom. "Russia and America going to war? Or has North Korea fired its nukes at the South Pole?"

Harry shook his head. "Lau-Laura..."

Tama let out a long breath. "I don't have anything with her anymore. What does she want to do, she doesn't have anything to do with me anymore," Tama said as he got up from his seat. He looked like he was about to leave.

Seeing that, Heri immediately said. "She had a fight with Eshika."

Tama's footsteps stopped. He turned around with a frozen face. As if he needed to reaffirm what his ears heard, he asked.

"W-what?"

"Laura came and kept pouring Eshika with orange juice. And now it seems like they're having a fight in the cafeteria."

Tama clenched her fists.

"Damn!"

*

tbc ....