ARINDAS

Love Signs

The first semester exam is over, all students of SMK Bhakti enjoy empty hours for the next few days. Arin exclaimed happily that having ranked in the top 10 in his class, he showed an unusual attitude. His friends were surprised, because they never saw Arin's happy attitude.

"Such a sweet yee, who is ranked 8th," cried Risa.

Arin nodded happily, "This is the first time he has been ranked in the top 10 during school. Not 13 or 14."

Kiki grinned, "I'm just a regular rank 6."

"6 from below you. So proud of Ki" Sahut Nita.

Instead of being upset, Kiki laughed out loud. "But this is also a new record. I'm usually ranked 2nd from the bottom."

"Nita nih yang ayem, dapet rank 3," said Jihan who propped up her chin with her right hand.

Since they came to school this morning, they had not left the classroom at all. Because the weather is hot, plus the crowd in the ceremonial field because of the campaign event of the new Osis chairman candidate. So, for 2 hours they just laze around in class.

Arin's phone vibrated because of one chat. As soon as he opened, he got a one-minute voice note from Niko. He immediately pressed the play button to listen. Not the greeting sound or anything like that that Arin heard, but the guitar passages with noisy backsound people chatting. For a few seconds he heard the sound of a guitar quote, now he heard a sentence with a very beautiful tone. His voice is melodious, singing a song called 'little things' from one direction.

♬I'm in love with you, and all these little things♬

Arin's smile is engraved after hearing the last lyrics sung by Niko. Because through the song the man told me that he liked it.

Niko Farzan Ardani's

Don't smile, I'll have more of a crush.

Arin circulated his gaze, looking for the person who sent the chat. His gaze stopped at the corner of his classroom window. Niko, who is now waving to Arin, signals him to leave the classroom.

Arin immediately rushed out, and saw Niko sitting in front of her class in a free suit. Plain white shirts, black jeans as well as white sneakers, make it look different than usual..

"Don't you wear your uniform?"

"You're performing again in the hall," explained Niko.

Arin just nodded. For some reason, as long as he communicated with Niko, he did not feel as uncomfortable as when chatting with Inspiration even if it was only once. He was more comfortable responding to the words of the man next to him, than the jokes of friends of Ilham. Child according to Arin.

"Didn't like the song?" Ask Niko.

"Like, Brother."

"I am too." Niko smiled at the woman beside her. "Like you" He continued.

"Huh?" Arin was surprised to hear the last sentence from Niko.

From the song, it was clear that the man liked it. And also his attention during this time increasingly clarified Niko's feelings. But still, hearing it directly makes Arin's heart feel pelted with firecrackers.

The noise from inside the classroom makes Niko and Arin stand up to check, apparently from the window, the four friends of Arin secretly eavesdrop on the conversation of the two of them. The woman snorted coldly at the behavior of her friend.

"Hehe continued to keun Mas bro, continued Keun," said Kiki who eventually moved away from his place eavesdropping, followed by his friends.

"Sorry, my friend. Loves kepo."

"Yes, gapapa. So how's?" Ask Niko.

"What Brother?"

"I like you Rin. You want to be my girlfriend?"

*

Niko's love statement to Arin was still attached to her ear. Ever since, the woman had put her head on the classroom table. The friends who teased him were ignored, he was more focused on thinking about what answers he would give Niko.

Before Arin answered Niko's love statement earlier, the man was called by his friend. So Niko did not have time to hear the answer from the woman he liked. Arin was lucky because she was given the chance to think about the answer. The man was indeed kind, plus he also treated him sincerely, but in his heart there was still Danis. The man who was even reluctant to glance at her.

Kiki nudged Arin who was still laying her head on the table. "Udah Rin, please accept Brother Niko."

"Yes, he's cool. Band boy, Osis kid too" Jihan said.

"Well, you don't know?" Tanya Risa did not believe it.

Arin shook his head, "She's a Band boy."

Risa snorted coldly, "Makanya, if anyone likes the same you find out. What kind of child, what activities."

Arin just kept quiet, because he thought such a thing was not important to him.

His mind refocused on the answer for Niko later on. Then what about the wall in his heart that says the name Danis from long ago to this day? Stay strong with his feelings or stop? That's what he thought. If Arin keeps the name Danis in his heart, is he able to accept all attitudes from Danis? Would he do anything to get one step closer to the man?

Quitting love is hard, but surviving is harder. Because enduring is not as easy as stopping loving in an instant. I don't know which path Arin will choose.

"Ahhh podo! I'm going to the cafeteria." Arin got up from her seat, but Kiki held her back.

"No! You have to come with us."

"Where's Ki?" Asked Arin lazily.

"Udah come on," Nita pulls him out of class with the rest of her friends.

Apparently, they took Arin to the school hall where the building is located right next to the basketball court. Where there is full of students waiting for the appearance of some students who will entertain in the empty hours this afternoon. Kiki and Risa scream hysterically with the other students, as Ezra and his band members get ready with their respective musical instruments.

The band members who were first time this gig got a great reception. Indeed, Ezra's aura makes the atmosphere here hotter. The screams calling Ezra made Arin's ears hurt.

"Han, let's go to the cafeteria. It's noisy in here, "Take Arin but Jihan shakes her head.

Jihan flanked tightly around Arin's arm. "Not going anywhere, just here."

Arin's upset. He did not like to watch shows like this, making his legs ache from standing for too long. Even every time there was an art show at Junior High, he chose to stay in the library with his friend, read a book that made him much more comfortable than standing on stage, listening to music so loud.

One performance from Ezra and his friends was done. Now the musical equipment changed hands, one of which is the guitar that is now in the hands of Niko. Risapun horrendous nudged Arin, when the man was busy with his guitar.

"Riiin, Brother Niko noh!!" Risa Seru.

After that, Niko's guitar sounds, starting the song they will play. From the intronya it is clear that the song was sent to Arin earlier. One Direction – Little Things. During their performance, occasionally Niko steals a glance at Arin while smiling sweetly.

♬I'm here for you, maybe you'll love yourself like I love you♬

Niko stared fixedly at Arin, as the vocalist chanted the lyrics of the song. His serious look made the woman also feel at home to look at Niko until the song they were singing was finished.

"Keren kak Niko" Goda Nita.

"Rarely accepting?" Kiki's Sahut.

"Let's go to hunt for people. Look noah who neriakin name Kak Niko now a lot too," said Risa.

Arin was silent, then he left his friends out of the hall. He does not care about Risa and others who ask where Arin is going. But, just a few steps out of the hall, something was holding his arm. The woman turned around, because her arm was held by someone. The man who expressed his feelings.

"Where are you going?" Ask Niko.

"To class, Brother."

"I'm a temenin yes" Tawar Niko.

"Now us-"

"Ciyeeeeeee... Danis." Shouted some students.

Hearing the name Danis mentioned, he looked for the whereabouts of the man. Right in the middle of the basketball court, he was standing with a student hugging a basketball in a sports suit. Regardless of what they were talking about there, Arin's views still pay attention to their activities surrounded by other basketball members. Danis was seen smiling shyly, occasionally rubbing her nape and looking down a few times.

One of the girls there yelled again, "Ciyyeee, Danis and Fely's sister. Treatyannn.. Treaty of..."

Arin's body felt stiff, hearing one such scream. At some point, Arin realized that his hope with Danis was no longer there. Now he knows the difference between determination and despair. It hurts, but what can I do? Because there is no special relationship created between Arin and Danis, so he can not rebel.

Arin's chest tightened with tears. Niko held her hand, then said, "Sister, I also like Sister Niko."

***