Paper Dove

Open Threat

The next day at school during break time, Elsa and I sat in the cafeteria chatting.

" Dew, the semester break is near. Where are you on vacation?", Elsa asked as she occasionally sipped her iced tea.

" Not going anywhere. I'm at home anyway. Where are you going?".

" The plan is for me and my family to go to Labuan Bajo. Visiting family on tour. If you don't have an event. Exciting", Elsa offers.

I smiled "Thank you Sa, but I'm at home. Pity the aunt for staying", I refuse subtly. 

" Ayeah, yes", Elsa then sipped her iced tea again.

" Adam where the hell. For a long time, this is the juice I drink too later", Elsa nagged. 

" Maybe they still have class. Or playing ball again?", I guessed. I'm also actually restless waiting for Juan to appear, time off to stay a little while longer.

Elsa shook her head then nodded once towards the door. Juan and his gang showed up. There was Adam, Leo and even Junet. So many of them. 

Juan came straight for me and Elsa was with Adam. His other friend took a seat in the corner where they used to gather in the canteen. Somehow it was like being a forbidden area for the underclassmen. 

" Hey beautiful", Juan was sitting next to me. I saw him with a happy smile on my face. 

" Hey...are you having extra lessons today?", I asked while looking at Juan.

" There's. But 3 o'clock. I'll take you home first. Want to eat together?", asked Juan. 

" Want to. ", I answered too eagerly. 

Juan smiled at me "A lot of spirit. How happy I was to eat?", Juan teased. 

I realized, my cheeks are hot "No. Said who? ", i looked away as if I didn't care.

Juan laughed, he pulled my chair closer to him then whispered "we take a Sunday walk to Labuan Bajo yuk. Let's see the beautiful blue of the sea ", Juan.

I looked at her and whispered back ignoring Adam and Elsa who were looking at us cynically. 

" Want to date far away to get there?", I whispered. 

Not yet had Juan returned my whisper, Adam interrupted. 

" Hey.Hey. . This canteen is not your world. Can't be too romantic" Adam sewot. 

" You'll have a girlfriend too, a really big sirik", Juan defended our annoying romance in their eyes. 

" Duilee.. Juan. bucin very much. ", Junet cheered to the cheers of his other friends.

" Basic sirikmu" Juan replied they were greeted with laughter that made me feel a little embarrassed but Juan seemed ordinary even did not care.

" Get home from school we ate first" Juan told Adam. 

" Okay", Adam said. " I'll take you home later, Nai", Adam spoke to Elsa.

Welcomed a nod of agreement from Elsa. 

" Uh.. What is nai?", I wondered. I remember Nandes once calling me that  

" Nai it means my heart .. yaaa kind of call dear" Adam replied. 

I was oh long, chewing on ice cubes. Alay is also the Nandes. 

"  why? Juan called you that?", asked Adam. 

" No. I just don't think I've heard where that is. Hence curious", I hurriedly replied so as not to look misbehaved.

Juan held my hand. " Get back in class, bell in".

I followed Juan from behind, he paid for my food and Elsa. We walked to each other's classes.

***

I was waiting for Juan in the front garden of my class, Elsa was going to the dance practice room to return some of the washed costumes. 

" lt….Nai...", I smiled a little, Nandes was too brave to call a girl he just knew with such a name. 

Juan came to break my daydream "You were daydreaming until you didn't realize I was coming". 

Being too excited to stand up, I tripped on my own feet and was unsteady. Juan quickly pulled me up and helped me stand up straight. 

I saw Juan who was quite shocked by my indiscretions.

" Last week your knees hit the table, now you almost fell. . Dew carefully, do not rush", Juan reminded me. 

" Yes.I started tomorrow more carefully. Thank you ", I grinned while looking at Juan. 

Juan sighed, then stroked my head fondly "O yes, let's go samperin Elsa and Adam", Juan clasped my hand to walk with him.

It seems Juan was afraid that I might fall or stumble upon something and cause something like that to happen. 

We'll eat at one of the shops near the school. Usually this hour in the store is crowded with our school children who just came home. Some eat but some just hang out. 

I was chatting about Elsa's vacation plans when someone called me "Dew". I looked towards the direction that voice came from. Juan and the others stopped.

Nandes and a friend were sitting on the back wall of our school, while the others were standing at the bottom busy chatting and smoking. The wall is not too high, but it is quite troublesome to climb. 

When I saw him he greeted me with a smile on his face "Hi. I'd like to" he said without caring about Juan and the others.

I'm silent, he's different when it's like this. I remember the last time it happened at my house, but judging by his actions, it seems like he's no longer angry with me.

Nandes jumped down from the top of the wall with no problem. Throw away the nipple and step on it with the tip of the shoe. He walked over to me without hesitation.

" You are beautiful today. Did you go home? Want me to drop off?", Nandes looked at me completely ignoring Juan. 

I looked at it without blinking "You.. smoke huh?", that's the only word that can come out of my mouth. 

Nandes's forehead wrinkled "You don't like smokers do ya ?Okay from today I'm going to quit smoking" Nandes raised his hand like he swore. 

Juan laughed, a cynical laugh that gave me goosebumps. Nandes shook his hand as if he was throwing away something "There's the sound of flies, you hear?", Nandes asked Elsa. 

Elsa who was afraid to see Nandes' behavior holding my hand, Elsa just kept quiet did not give any response. 

" Hey bastard, don't make a fuss at people's school" Adam pulled Elsa and I retreated behind him. 

Nandes looked at Adam "Wah. Kirain was mute all along". 

I was a little surprised Nandes said such a thing. It was like there was a great hatred in his voice. 

Adam advanced but was held by Juan. Juan came forward and spoke to Nandes very calmly. " What business do you have here?" .

" Ck. I'm here because I miss my future boyfriend. Dew ", Nandes tilted his head slightly looking towards me who was covered in half Juan's body. 

" Girlfriend candidate ? I guess you guys are just friends turns out you have other intentions. Please don't approach the Dew again", Juan said sharply. 

Nandes looked at Juan and nodded "You guys are dating?".

" Yes", Juan answered briefly. 

"OK", Nandes replied casually.

I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking this matter was over and Nandes wouldn't fuss over making me his girlfriend-to-be. But it's just my mind, not Nandes' name if it can't make Juan emotional.

" But you guys are just dating, not married. Before there is a SAH word from the law of our beloved country, Dew will still be able to be captured ! I'll CALL it. No matter how Juan is", Nandes speaks sharper.  Their distance is very close like going to jotos. 

My legs feel weak, it feels like it wants to disappear from the face of this earth. Juan didn't seem to be hooked, but his facial features were very scary. I went forward and pulled Juan over giving them a wide distance. 

" Come on Juan.Let's go ", I said as if to cry.

Juan was still staring at Nandes with a look 'I'll kill you later'.

Nandes smiled cynically, then looked at me slightly bent down to have his face level with mine. 

" dew…. If you're bored, he says yes. I'll come get you".

I kept quiet and did not answer, showing my dislike for the commotion Nandes made.

Juan took my hand and took me away without looking back. I followed him in silence. Leaving Nandes who was looking at us with a meaningful gaze.

***