FRIENDSTHAT
Episode 3
“Ngot going to be serious with the beloved. Stay the best friend yes, Cha.”
April 2004
In addition to one band, Ayu and Ditto are always almost together when they are in their school field. Especially if there is a futsal match. If in a futsal match, Ayu is usually in the line of supporters who are ready to support Ditto whenever the guy takes to the field.
Actually, Ayu is not the only one who is a supporter for Ditto. Many other field girls were shouting Ditto's name with a frenzy. But they are too afraid to be near Ayu when they become supporters. Never mind when in the field, wherever the school area that has Ayu, as much as possible they will keep their distance.
How not, the girl is arguably indeed like ‘preman’ school. His clothes are always thick, his long hair is ponytailed without ever being scratched, his playmates are mostly men. Even the way the road is like a real thug, according to some people.
But Ayu herself was indifferent to it. Why do you care if your best friend doesn't mind that?
Currently, Ditto and Ayu's classes are competing in futsal after school hours. Sparing between classes is already commonplace, even with Ayu choosing to support Ditto rather than her own class, for grade 2-2, it is commonplace.
Ayu looked around, so many girls who were not from her class or Ditto class were watching on the sidelines. Every now and then his eyes caught their enthusiastic gazes falling on Ditto.
Ayu admitted, Ditto is cool among them. Chairman of OSIS, percussionist in the school band, good at the futsal court, and also smart in the classroom. Not to mention the nature of the soup that is able to make it easy to blend. No wonder that many women are sometimes jealous of him, because he can be friends with Ditto.
There is also the one who with a little courage, asked Ayu, how to be close and friendly with Ditto. Do I have to be a tomboy? Or maybe you should play futsal?
Sometimes Ayu is upset when she feels saturated with the unfounded selfhood of the girls. But, if anyone asks, he himself is confused. What did Ditto see of him?
If Ayu himself, he does not see the solitude, cleverness, humor, indifference, and. He is close to Ditto yes because Ditto is himself. The guy doesn't approach her for silly reasons, doesn't try to find out about her job like everyone else, their chatter goes on, and many other things that in the end can make Ayu feel comfortable around him.
At the moment, the game is running exciting, the class has conceded several goals by Ditto, Gani, and then Fero. There was less than five minutes left, and it made the field even more boisterous with the support his friends were constantly shouting.
“Come dong, do not lose the same class 2-2!” “Kick the Ditto to his goal!”
“I'm ashamed that our class is conceding again, Bro!”
Five minutes later, a long whistle of the referee immediately ended the course of the match between the classes of 2-2 and 2-3. Classes 2-3 came out as the winner, making the majority of the women's audience instantly frenzied when they saw Ditto out as a winning team member.
The guy immediately approached Ayu who had been sitting while holding her bag. “Would you like to go home?”
“Iya, there's filming in an hour.”
Ditto grabbed a small towel from inside her bag and walked off the field with Ayu. Then, the two of them start waiting for an empty taxi as Ayu rides home. “Crazy, so cool you were!”
“Gue is always cool,” said Ditto approved Ayu's remarks. Who was immediately replied to a sneer because of his attractiveness.
While walking towards the main gate, they cross paths with Damu who was with his gangmates. Damu looked towards Ditto who just happened to be looking at him as well. But the girl immediately turned her gaze away from Ditto.
“Former, former,” muttered Ayu while elbowing Ditto.
“Apaan anyway, Cha.”
Ayu just laughed. Then the sound of the horn as they reached the main gate made him leave immediately to Ditto. Ayu got into the taxi, then waved from the car window to Ditto.
Ditto waved back, then when the taxi was away, he went back to school to pick up his bag.
***
As soon as the break bell rang, Ayu immediately walked out of her class and headed towards the next class.
“Dit, canteen yuk!” as soon as he found Ditto who was still sitting in his place.
Ditto replied, agreed and immediately left the class. The class next to Ayu made it a habit for them to look into the classroom just to call each other if the break came.
Before long the two had walked together to the cafeteria, there was a table they used to occupy together with their bandmates.
Because they often rehearse together for school events or band tournaments, they are all so often together outside of band activities. In addition to Ayu and Ditto, there is Ola the vocalist, Dana who plays drums, Anka and Ivan who both play guitar, Andini who plays keyboard, and there is Rendy who plays bass.
“Inget, tomorrow do not be late to meet there yes,” Andini said when they discussed the band tournament they will face tomorrow.
“Iya, yes,” Ayu replied while tightening her hair pouches. He turned to Ditto. “Mana her chicken noodles, long time ago.”
“Lo thought I was selling,” sneer Ditto, he turned to the chicken noodle seller who was filled with other buyers. “Crazy, real race.”
Ayu grunts. Then accidentally his gaze fell on Bobby, his ex in first grade, who was now sitting not far from them.
“Ngeliatinnya aja times,” whispered Ditto when aware who is being seen Ayu.
Ayu turned to Ditto. “Gue regular aja.” “Ex-kangen?” ditto Goda.
“Ngak.”
Good, Ditto said in his heart. Maybe he voiced it out loud.
Bobby is their upperclassman, one year above them to be exact. Ayu had dated him in first grade, about six months as Ditto recalled.
If you want to be honest, he does not like when Ayu is dating Bobby. Even until now, he honestly never liked anyone who dated Ayu. But he could not say it clearly to Ayu if they did not want their friendship to be strange.
So, Ditto just kept it to herself and tried not to show it at all in front of anyone, especially Ayu.
***
Ditto's family always escorts the guy if he goes to a band tournament. Complete with one family. Both her parents and one younger brother are six years old.
As of now, Ayu and Ditto are in one car with the Ditto family. Their friends split up in other cars.
At the first grade of SMP— when Ayu first entered the band—ia tournament was quite surprised to see the Ditto family who really took them. But after a long time friends with Ditto, he became accustomed to their presence, even quite familiar with his mother Ditto.
From the music player in the car, Maroon 5 was heard singing their song which is a hit at this time. Ayu and Ditto hummed while occasionally chiming in on her parents' chatter. Andiko, Ditto's younger brother, who sits with them in the back sometimes sings despite not knowing the lyrics
tunes.
“Ucha later fitting SMA want to make again?” ask Ditto's mother who's sitting in the front seat. He was already familiar with Ayu because his son was always with him.
“Ndon't know, Mom. This is only because I invited Ditto.”
“Hah, the Mas mah does not want you to continue, Cha,” ledek middle-aged woman. The whole car laughed, as if to say to Ditto's mother's ledge.
“Ucha now whose girlfriend is it anyway? Not the same as Ditto?”
Ayu and Ditto are used to dealing with this type of throttling from Ditto's mother. She loves to flirt with both.
“The girlfriend of Ucha is now a tuh artist, Bu.”
“Apaan sih lo,” look Ayu quickly. “Sama that was a break up time.”
“Lha, now?”
“My thumb,” say Ayu with a big smile. “My boss is the same as him doang. That's that kind of dating. Long time yes bosenlah.”
Ditto could only cluck softly. “Bosen ... lo think again toys.”
“Ya is not a toy either. But you also definitely feel bored if you are dating again.”
Ditto just nodded, assuring. Unaware of her mother sitting in the front seat smiling faintly at their manner.
***
