JUDITH

LOVE IN THE PHONE

Malang, the year 2000

As usual, after getting off the foundation bus, Andreas rushed towards the front of the canteen. When he used to come to this foundation complex as a High School student, now he is a student.

Slipping between the children of PLB, SD, Junior High School, and High School who are passing by, the straight-haired young man with a slightly bangs front seemed to carry a bundle in his right hand. An automatic smile develops when he sees the favorite girl sitting on the canteen bench, as usual. And as usual, the girl always looked down at the book. Ririsma, the glasses girl from Jakarta, who was sitting next to her also seemed to be flipping through the pages of the book.

"I'm coming!" Andreas exclaimed cheerfully. It was common to gather at that place, his presence was not surprising anymore. He just sat down.

Ririsma. "Welcome, Prince Andreas," he said in a contrived tone, then smiled widely until his eyes narrowed with wrinkles.

Yudith slowly looked up. "At first, An." The exotic-skinned petite girl with big round eyes smiled faintly at a glance then looked back down.

"Make breakfast." Andrew thrust the parcel he had brought to Yudith, but was struck by Ririsma.

"Thank you, An," said the girl as she opened the package.

"Ish, you are!" Andreas swung his hand about to snatch the parcel back, but Ririsma nimbly kept it away. "Ris, you may eat, but let Yudith open for the first time. Please ...."

"Yes, yes, yes. Nih, the game's open, Dith." Ririsma placed the white-cracked lunch box on top of the book that Yudith was reading. It was only the most effective way to grab the attention of the girl quickly.

Sure enough, because the reading was obstructed, Yudith would not want to have to open the lunchbox and give it to Ririsma. This was not the first time Andrew had given him food. The young man has been doing it since High School-every day. That was the simple way Andreas expressed his affection for Yudith who was also a simple girl type.

At most it was a klepon as usual. Exactly, as soon as it was opened, the sweet aroma and savory aroma of coconuts immediately poured out of the box. However, something was unusual this time. The grated coconut which was usually sown in a mess, is now neatly laid out in the shape of a heart and on the inside of the lid is affixed to a paper inscribed, which is,

We graduated High School. You can date, right?

Dith, you're sweet when you smile, as sweet as sugar klepon. Smile often.

At once Yudith felt her face hot. Yudith so remembered when he was still in High School Andreas once expressed his feelings through writing while in the library, and at that time through writing also he replied, the focus of the school first. When Andreas wrote the question, so if you graduate want to? Yudith did not reply.

"What the hell is that?"

Ririsma docked to Yudith, curious because the eyes of Yudith kept glued to the contents of the box. Yudith hurriedly took off the paper before Ririsma saw it then quietly put it in the pocket of the skirt.

"Yes, god!" As soon as he saw the shape of the heart on the surface of the ranks of the klepon, Ririsma was instantly blown away. "Lo, my God, An. How romantic is so good." The girl picked up the valve box, looked at it closer and laughed even harder.

"What the hell? Here's balikin." Andreas is about to snatch the valve box from Ririsma, but it again fails as the girl keeps him away.

"Things that have been given cannot be asked to return."

"But I love Yudith, not you."

"Yes, yes, yes. Here, I'm back." Ririsma placed the box in front of Yudith. "Lo suck. Moment of grandiose klepon, occasional love chocolate or another cake. Call again, call again. Duh, cheek dech."

Ririsma was about to pluck out a clone, but Yudith hurriedly closed it and moved to the left, far from Ririsma's reach. Andreas's eyes widened. Yudith had never been stingy before, but why now would she not share it with Ririsma, her best friend?

"Ish, stingy lo, ah! Yes, yes, I understand. You don't want to share Andreas' heart with anyone else, do you?"

Andreas looked at Yudith with sparkling eyes. Did ya? Is that really why Yudith this time did not want to share the klepon with Ririsma? Because there is a heart formed from a coconut grater that symbolizes the heart and feelings of Andrew towards him.

Slightly distancing himself from the table, Andreas stole a glance down, after seeing Yudith's hand, he grabbed it slowly. For a moment he felt Yudith screeching and reflexes about to pull the hand, but Andreas grasped more tightly, finally Yudith resigned.

"If not eaten now can be stale. Sineh, I put it in the canteen refrigerator."

Yudith was again about to take his hand off Andreas' grasp, but the young man was unwilling to loosen his grip. If he took the food box with his other hand, surely Ririsma would feel strange and think, there is a hand closer why should use the hand that position is difficult to reach But, what can be done. Andreas insists on not letting go.

"Take it yourself can," Andreas said indifferently.

Ririsma looked at Andreas and Yudith alternately with frowning forehead. He suspected there was nothing under the table. Moreover, it seems like their sitting position looks increasingly docked. Slowly he lowered his head to look down at the table and at that very moment almost gushed out a laugh, but was held back.

"It's dech, here." He picked up the food box as he glanced at Andreas and said silently, good job, then hurried away.

After the death of Ririsma Yudith who had lowered her head finally raised her face and looked at Andreas. "Detach, An. Not good to see people."

Andrew pretended not to hear. He picked up Ririsma's dictate book using his left hand and then pretended to be busy flipping through the pages. Yudith could only stare helplessly.

"Hello, Andreas."

A girl appeared and stood by Andreas' side, making Yudith startled and reflexively about to pull a hand, but again Andreas prevented it.

"Hello, Sa. What's up, huh?" Andreas seemed relaxed even though under the table his hand was pinched by Yudith.

The short-haired girl who stood beside Andreas glanced at Yudith, a sharp cold flash in her eyes. "Yesterday my mother came, there was a little souvenir" Lisa said as she placed a clear heart-shaped box containing a cake.

Andreas glanced at Yudith who kept looking down at the book. Actually he did not want to accept Lisa's gift in order to keep Yudith feeling, but rejection would definitely make the girl disappointed.

Andreas really did not want to give the girl hope, even already said that he already had a choice. However, Lisa was stubborn. He said, all is fair in love and will keep trying to get his love. Whereas in everyday life, Andreas has openly preferred Yudith, but Lisa does not seem to want to know. In this awkward moment, the presence of Ririsma is very useful.

"Hi, Sa. Whoa, nastar! For Andreas, right? I can ask, right, An?"

Without waiting for an answer, Ririsma immediately opened the cake box and without hesitation ate it. Ririsma knew Lisa liked Andreas and that was enough of a reason for her to dislike the girl. Ririsma has always supported Andrew and Yudith. Yudith to Andrew and Andrew only to Yudith. Ririsma knew they liked each other, only that Yudith had always held the rules above all else. Boarding and school regulations prohibit students from dating, yes, meaning no dating, period.

"Gee! What the hell are you doing? That's for Andreas." Lisa was about to snatch the cake box from Ririsma's hand, but Ririsma kept it away.

"To be given means to belong to Andreas. So you don't have any more rights to komplen, dong."

Lisa pouting. His eyes stared at Ririsma's nanar, but as he looked at Andreas seemed to be groaning. "An ...."

Andreas smiled gently and said soothingly, "It's not pa-pa. Thanks, Sa. But next time you don't bother, it's better to share it with your friends."

Not saying anything more, Lisa left with a slight stomping step. The girl is special in quotes. In the past when she was in High School she was a spoiled girl and the opposition who fell in the association is not good. His parents were sent to the Institute of Noble Hope in the hope of changing for the better under the guidance of the nuns.