Nostalgia

"Are you Jessica? How are you? Why don't you look older? What kind of skincare do you use? Share it with me!"

Jessica smiled broadly at the greeting of Mrs. Alice, one of the teachers who taught her first.

"I've always used the skincare that you recommended," Jessica said as friendly as possible.

"Oh yeah? Oh, that means it's not wrong, right, the recommendation from me! That your skin is still as radiant as when you were in high school!" Mrs. Alice seemed so happy with Jessica's answer.

"Mrs. Alice, do you still remember me?" Sean interrupted before Jessica or Mrs. Alice opened their mouths again.

"Sean? Of course, I remember you! The trouble maker who always makes my voice hoarse because I keep yelling! By the way, you've already repented, right? You don't like causing trouble as you used to, right?"

Sean immediately sped up, at the point of an angular question like that. For him, it is very natural for a high school student to be stubborn. Youth is fleeting, and can never be repeated. So, shouldn't all students do whatever they want?

"Judging from your expression, it seems you haven't changed!" Mrs. Alice pouted.

"Aren't you tired of constantly nagging? Are you bored or just mad at me for three years?" Sean protested.

"See, isn't it true what I said? This child hasn't changed! Ouch, I'm getting dizzy! Come on, you guys go home quickly! Your business is done, right?"

"Why did you throw us out?" Sean protested again.

Mrs. Alice ignored Sean's protest and turned her back to the man to face Jessica.

"I have class. If you want, you can wait in my office, then we can continue the conversation," said Mrs. Alice very friendly.

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you, but I still have a business after this."

"Oh, I see. It's okay, it's okay, come here often, take Rey too!"

After saying that, Mrs. Alice said goodbye to leave Jessica and Sean there.

"She hasn't changed, doesn't she still likes favoritism. From the beginning, it's better to just go to Rey. It's my turn? Rude, it's not like teacher one." Sean grumbled as soon as Mrs. Alice disappeared from their sight.

Jessica shook her head slowly while holding back her laughter.

"That's because you were so stubborn back then like to bother Mrs. Alice! Meanwhile, Rey, even though he's not smart or diligent, he doesn't act like you!"

Sean immediately pinched Jessica's cheeks with exasperation. He was annoyed that both Jessica and Mrs. Alice always praised Rey.

"It's just an image! Pretending to be good in front of people!" Sean protested.

Jessica wanted to laugh as hard as she could now. It was Sean who liked imaging in front of the girls.

"Let's go to the basketball court!" asked Sean suddenly.

Without waiting for an answer from Jessica, Sean immediately grabbed the girl's wrist and took her to the basketball court which was not far from where they were now.

"You know that, don't you? In the past, Rey and I used to bet when we played basketball." cried Sean while picking up a ball that was lying on the floor, then caught the ball in his hand.

Jessica knows that they often play basketball together here, but about betting, she doesn't know anything about it.

"Whoever wins, has the right to be close to you."

Jessica was quite surprised to hear Sean's confession. Wow, the men's intentions. But a second later, she laughed loudly.

"And you've never won against Rey, that's why you don't dare to approach me?" guess Jessica.

"Ah, damn it! That's what's bothering me until now. Why do I always lose to him?" Sean grumbled.

"You may not know it, but Rey's father and brother are former athletes. So, because he used to play with his family, Rey became good even though he didn't participate in basketball clubs."

Sean was getting annoyed after hearing Jessica's explanation. It wasn't the fact that Rey's family were former athletes that had bothered him. However, the fact that Jessica knows Rey and his family.

"Well, let's just let it go. After all, we're not high school kids anymore. Even if Rey forbids it or whatever, I'll still be close to you!"

Jessica was silent.

The girl was touched by Sean's determination. On the one hand, some men waste themselves, but on the other hand, some men fight for them.

***

"Hey," Vera called when Alex had just entered the house.

"Wow, the fat one, why are you here? It's not the weekend, is it?" said Alex as he approached Vera.

"I want to pick up a book that I left at home yesterday. Bro, why did you go home alone? Got laid off, huh?" guess Vera origin.

Alex works in a private company in Jakarta. Just like Vera, he can only go back to Bandung every weekend.

"It's none of your business!"

Vera immediately gasped at Alex's words. But, a few seconds later, he grimaced vary widely and drew as close to Alex as possible.

"Al," Vera called with a strange expression.

"What?"

"Do you like Jessica?" Vera asked probingly.

Alex looked at his beloved sister with a flat gaze. He then straightened his body and faced straight at Vera.

"Curious, huh?!" Alex said slowly.

"I often catch Jessica on the phone with you! It's suspicious, you know, isn't it?! You guys have an affair, right?" Vera insisted.

"If I say we're just a friend, you won't believe it either. So, you just want to think about what it's like."

"Ah, my brother isn't cool! Just say yes! Or, perhaps, you like Jessica, but she doesn't realize it? Are you only considered a friend? This is a tragic love for my brother, oh my God."

Alex gawked at Vera's guess. After this, he will make sure that his beloved sister stays away from things like dramas, novels, and so on. His sister's mind was already contaminated with strange theories from the dramas she often watched.

"Or, even you still don't realize your feelings? It's a lot more complicated than I thought," added Vera.

"What kind of novel are you writing? Go away from me! It's scary to be close to you!" Alex pushed Vera's forehead with his index finger to keep his sister away from him.

"You don't have to be ashamed of me, I promise to help you get close to Jessica if you like her. Don't worry, I am good at tampering with people!"

Alex immediately laughed loudly at Vera's statement.

"You can't even brag about yourself with a man you have a crush on, want to brag about people!" Alex sarcastically.