28

Dinda was still lying next to Nadya, and then she glanced at Nadya now and then. She wanted to talk again but was afraid that her best friend would be offended.

"Nad...."

"Hmmm,"

"About Nathan, how is it?"

"What do you think?" asked Nadya back, which managed to make Dinda confused.

"Yes... well. I think whether he is a badboy or not. But I think he is good," answered Dinda.

"Yeah, it's like that."

"So he's good?" asked Dinda, whose face was now brought closer to Nadya's and managed to make Nadya close the novel she had just read.

"Why are you curious? Do you think you started to have a crush on him, huh?" guess Nadya.

Dinda shook her head.

"Yeah, that's not the case, Nad. It's just that even having a male friend, I don't know why I just imagine Panji. Nathan is Panji's type of model, I'm afraid he's not good. The one who will hurt girls, I don't want to have friends like that."

"I think he's really good with you, Din. I've never even seen him this good with any other girl," Nadya replied. "You're the girl Nathan marked, who usually only lasts a week at school. But in fact, until this moment you're still safe, right, at school? In fact, he gets furious if other pillars harass you. I've never seen him care this much about a girl, even though he's allergic to rain, he's willing to rain, he's willing to come here every day when you were depressed yesterday. And the coolest thing is, he's willing to eat a bowl of chili sauce because of you. I think that It's not an acting, Din, but it really is Nathan. And maybe he meant you not to prank you. But to protect you."

"Then what do you mean by ten million, Nad? Do you know what that means?" asked Dinda, increasingly curious. Maybe, Nadya knows about it.

"I don't know, Din. Well... maybe... maybe..." said Nadya while glancing at Dinda briefly. "Maybe Nathan bet on Rendra...."

"Bet? For?"

"Ehm... maybe if Nathan could expel you from Airlangga High School within a week Nathan won, and vice versa. Maybe like that. How do I know, Din, I'm not their friend," Nadya explained. It was as if she was reluctant to be associated with the three pillars of Airlangga High School.

Dinda was silent, even though Nadya's answer was quite lengthy, but for some reason, there was something that she hid from Nadya. She don't know what it is. However, Dinda did not want to ask more questions because Dinda knew that Nadya was uncomfortable with this conversation.

*****

This morning Dinda looked surprised to see Sasa sitting alone on the edge of the school's center field. Whereas usually, she would go everywhere with Gisel, even though Selly said the two were not as close as they used to be.

Dinda slowly sat next to Sasa, who saw looked reluctant, but she was still silent. Sasa ignored Dinda's presence and was busy pressing her cellphone screen as if she was waiting for something.

"Can I help you, Sa?" asked Dinda openly. She feels indebted to Sasa. But until this moment, Dinda has not been able to repay Sasa's favor.

"What are you doing? You don't have to act as you know! Don't bother!" snapped Sasa, who was starting to get annoyed.

Dinda grimaced. She thought Sasa would turn out to be a good friend. The cute girl with dimples was still angry with her.

"Wow, Dog! Here you are, you bastard!"

Dinda and Sasa immediately turned their heads when Regar screamed in desperation—running after one of the students who looked scared. The student is the same as in the movies: the cute student wearing glasses and curly hair in the middle.

What do you think?

That's what tickled his brain right now, mainly when Regar had found the boy, dragging the boy to the basketball court where Nathan was already there.

"The red pillar is starting to act," muttered Sasa, which managed to make Dinda turn around. "If you're curious about how Nathan does his target, you can see now."

"Beat that bad boy?" guessed Dinda. Sasa smiled sarcastically.

"Frustrates the boy."

Dinda did not answer Sasa's words anymore. What she saw now was Nathan throwing a basketball right at the boy's chest until the boy stumbled backward. Meanwhile, the children started to crowd the basketball court. For the girls, on this sunny morning, watching Nathan exercise was a very cool thing, while for the boys, it was a special joy to see the king get in on the act himself. Because Sasa said, this is the first time Nathan has stepped in to work on a child. Usually, he will order one of the pillars to do it.

"I need a friend to play with, let's play together," Nathan said. It seemed friendly, but his tone felt so cold.

Even though his glasses fell, the bespectacled guy immediately bowed down to worship Nathan. And cruelly, Regar stepped on the boy's glasses until they broke. Meanwhile, Nathan put his hands in his pants pockets, still standing where he was.

"I... I'm sorry, Nath... I didn't mean to. I... I'm sorry, Nath," the boy asked. At the same time, kneeling in front of Nathan.

"I need a friend to play with, you idiot!" Nathan snapped. "Stand up!" he orders.

With his legs looking shaky, the boy stood up. Nathan, Regar, and Benny then started their game. They passed basketballs to each other and turned the smooth-haired boy into their cat and mouse.

Dinda, who saw it, looked even more furious. She really couldn't stand Nathan's bossy behavior anymore.

"Uhm, Din... where are you going?" asked Sasa when she saw Dinda was already standing and was about to run towards the basketball court.

"I want to talk to Nathan, Sa!"

"It's useless, Din, don't look for disease. Wow, Din!" shouted Sasa.

It turned out that Dinda ignored her. Dinda was already running towards the basketball court. Split the crowd of students there—running towards Nathan and his friends.

"Nat!" shouted Dinda, which managed to stop Nathan, who is currently holding the ball, trying to put it into the ring.

Meanwhile, the smooth-haired boy looked grimaced at Dinda. Between getting scared or happy, if Nathan stopped even for a moment to bully him.

"What are you doing, Nath? What are you doing?" said Dinda.

Nathan took a deep breath he put the basketball in his arms. "What the hell, Din? This is none of your business. Come on, girls too. Just watch on the sidelines,"

"You are not playing sports, you are not playing, Nath. But you are playing with other people's children!" said Dinda did not want to lose.

Hearing this, Nathan's jaw seemed to harden. He was silent, looking at Dinda intently. It was as if there were a lot of emotions he was trying to suppress, as well as an annoyance because Dinda was against it. He doesn't want Dinda like this, aren't they now friends? Shouldn't Dinda sit back and watch. Or, if Dinda doesn't like it, she can ignore it and pretend she doesn't know what happened.