A Gift for Lala

Fourteen - My Hero

I did not answer because I now felt my eyes hot and soon my tears were back. A'am looked around and then pulled my hand, guiding me out. And then I saw Junot walking with Yola. Perfect! Everything's perfect!

"News!" said A'am. I'm still quiet. I was confused where to start.

"I. i..."

"It's because of Junot, right?"

I bit my lips like I used to do when I was depressed. My tears are still flowing. I don't want to go to class with the eyes of a basketball that Junot often plays. Everyone will be suspicious. How could I have looked like the happiest man in the world last night and this morning I went to class with a face. Ironic right?

Finally I nodded. I better be honest with A'am because he's my best friend who's been really good to me.

"If that's the story. What's Junot doing until you're a gini?"

I took a deep breath and exhaled strongly to let out my sorrow. "He likes Yola."

"Continue?"

"Keep, he deliberately came with me to make Yola jealous. She.." I can't go on with my words.

"Sucks..I thought so!" A'am said furiously.

"What's? Do you know?" my question is not to understand.

"La, I already know that Junot has a crush on Yola. Yola used to hang out with Junot. There's Fadly chasing Yola. But Junot told me that he wanted to prove that Yola likes him too. That's why the way to prove yes is like semalem. I was suspicious when you said that Junot took you to Ganis. But I can't believe that's how he is."

I can only be silent. A'am's story is getting me sick.

"Thank God, you don't like him yet, do you?" A'am. I looked back at him without saying anything. It should be that right now A'am can read my heart. But wait a minute, guys are usually less sensitive...

"Oh no! Lala, do you like Junot?" turns out I misjudged A'am. He's sensitive too. He's a great guy. He is good at reading my heart. He could only be shocked and shake his head.

"Uenake dadi wong. Akeh seng seneng. Including you, deck." A'am teased me with a smile. Goddamnit! I finally smiled too. A'am's anger has also disappeared.

"Yes it is. Don't think about him anymore. Consider it what you did last night charity for him. Your reward will be great in heaven. Huhaha..." A'am ngakak's. Irritatedly I showered him with a pinch and A'am cried out for mercy. We both laughed together.

"Any relax, there's A'am's brother who's about to take a bite, '" A'am blinked one eye. Junot may be the hero of Pancasila High School, but A'am is my hero.

"Btw, where were you last night? How come you didn't show up at Ganis's?"

"Oh yes La. Don't forget there's a choir rehearsal. We're going to the race, remember."

I'm nodding.

***

I'm trying to get rid of my puffy face. Jokingly, A'am and I went to class. And as I expected, when there were many screams and temptations coming at me.

"Gee... Lala did not know. High quality single Pancasila already has dong?"

Sissi slumped from the back bench with a nyinyir tone. And the classroom atmosphere is getting crowded. I just kept quiet, and so did A'am.

With an uncertain feeling I headed for my stool. And it seems like Yola is waiting for me too.

"Woooi Am.. kowe lost the same set as Junot," Aryo exclaimed as she nodded.

"Huh.your friends are all wrong. Gosib is not. Junot is not Lala. And for the girls who are still interested in Junot. The opportunity is wide open... It's as wide as Aryo's nose...." Grrr. Now the two men are denouncing each other.

I saw Yola smiling in a knot and her two maids directly approached her. I don't know what they're talking about. It was likely that Yola already knew the charade Junot had performed. Or maybe Junot himself has explained the truth of the rumor and maybe this morning he had 'applied' Yola to be his girlfriend.

"Well.now Lala has a mouthpiece. Kayak artist. How about using a press conference on the basketball court and ngundang mading team to be headline next week. This is very important for the survival of the heartbroken women. Not really a friend?" Sissy the mage began to carry out his actions. Classes are getting crowded.

My face is getting hotter. I didn't expect my move here would make such an incredible stir as it is now.

As usual, I chose silence. I chose to let A'am handle everything like he promised.

"Wooii gaeeess once again Kang A'am insists that Junot and Lala are nothing. So make a kowe, nduk," A'am said as he pointed at Sissy. "Catet yo. may be used as a headline." Sissy is just a manyun.

"From that moment only A'am spoke. What if the main character talks." I was surprised because now the one who spoke was Yola. I glanced at A'am who looked back at me with a smile.

"What I'm saying is A'am. I'm not dating Junot. We were just childhood friends because we were neighbors. That's it."

The whole class cheered me on. Goddamnit! I don't like it when I have to say that. After I finished speaking, the class grew more crowded. Luckily, Miss Vero is coming to class soon. The class calmed down. 

Before the lesson began, I saw A'am blink his eyes and I replied with a smile.