See You Tonight

Chapter 40: Lying

"There are no serious problems, hehe. I was just helping my grandmother in the store. You see, one employee at this store is on leave, so no one is helping grandma now," Cindy replied in response to Ruben's question.

"So really just that?" ask Ruben again.

"It's really Ben hehe. Thank you for worrying about me, but I'm fine" Cindy smiled.

"If it's like that, thank goodness you're okay. I think there's a serious problem, because you've been aloof lately and look moody" Ruben said.

"Did I really look like that? Maybe I'm just doing it hehe" Cindy replied with a smile

"That means you have to promise me that tomorrow you have to go to school again" Ahsan said with a smile.

"Okedeh I promise tomorrow I'll go to school again" Cindy said.

"That's dong hehehe. Oiya, by the way you took the extracurricular What Cin?" ask Ahsan again.

"I took part in San's extracurricular literature" Cindy replied.

"Is there an extracurricular literature?" ask Ahsan wonder.

"There is, but it's only this year. So, yesterday was not on the list of extracurricular questionnaires yesterday," replied Cindy.

"Keep proposing our force or upperclassmen?" ask Ahsan again.

"Our figure is San. All of these extracurricular members are also X class. The chairman of class X-1, his name is Hendra," Cindy replied again.

"Oh that's right, it's cool that you can propose a new extracurricular even though it's still class X" Ahsan said.

"Yes that's how hehe is," Cindy smiled again.

The four of us then chatted lightly. Ruben now looks more relieved than before, but inversely proportional to Ruben I am now becoming more confused. The problem is that in this store there are no employees. That grandmother was the only person who took care of this bookstore alone from when I was a child. So, it can be concluded that Cindy was lying about her reason for not attending school.

I don't know if I should tell Ruben and Ahsan the facts, or if I should keep it to myself first. I was really worried this time.

Not long after, we also say goodbye to Cindy and her grandmother. Ruben and Ahsan look happy because Cindy finally promised to leave tomorrow. They don't seem to know that Cindy's reason was a fake. In the end, I haven't heard the real reason for Cindy's moody nature lately.

After he almost told me about his problem back then, we haven't spoken yet. I've become more and more curious about Cindy's problems until she lies to us like that.

After returning from the bookstore, the three of us immediately scattered back to our homes. The three of us said "meeting" to each other with sincere smiles on Ruben and Ahsan's faces, while I put on a fake smile. Of course at this moment I can't smile sincerely. I went home with a pile of question marks.

***

When I got home, I went straight to my room. I lie down and look up at the ceiling of my room. I kept thinking about Cindy's problems, as if the thought wouldn't go out of my head.

I wondered, since when did I become so concerned with other people I just knew. First Sofia, and now Cindy. Has High School Life always been like this? Where will we be more sympathetic to those around us? I think I've changed a lot.

***

It's dark, I'm still thinking about Cindy. I felt like I wanted to sit alone with him and listen to the story of his real problem.

***

Wednesday, August 10, the day after I had a chat with Cindy at her grandmother's house. Today, he promised to go back to school. I don't know if he will keep his promise or not.

"Yes Lang be careful" my mother replied.

Today Hana left earlier than usual. He said, there are work activities around the school environment.

I walked in leisurely this morning. The chirping of the birds perched on the right-left tree of the road, sounded like the singing of nature in the morning.

This time, I plan to go through Cindy's house which is in the direction of going to school. I passed by her house so that anyone would know we could leave together and I could ask her the problem directly.

When I got to the front of his house, I waited a while sitting in the garden chair. From here, I can see Cindy's house clearly. After about ten minutes of waiting, Cindy didn't come out either. As the day wore on, I decided to continue my journey to school. "Maybe he left earlier this morning," I thought to myself.

While walking near the bookstore, I unexpectedly saw Cindy just come out of there and was already wearing a school uniform. He was also seen carrying his school bag on his back. Could Cindy be living in her grandmother's house? If it's true that he slept at his grandmother's place, then it's possible that the problem is related to his family at home? I don't know, I was just expecting it.

I did not immediately greet him and question him directly. I just followed him from behind at this moment. It turned out that when I was in a situation like this, I was still not brave enough to ask directly.

Cindy walked pretty fast to school. Naturally, because now it is almost in.

***

We both got to school without being late. We were on time when we entered our class. I was keeping a distance of about 50 meters with Cindy so that she did not realize my presence was following her.

When I was just in class, I looked straight at Ruben. His face this time looked very happy.

About five minutes after I arrived, the doorbell rang. You then get ready to take part in learning activities in the first hour.

***

"Teett's... Teett's... Teett...," the sound of the first break bell finally rang.

Cindy looks better today than ever. He also did not seem too moody. After the sound of the break bell earlier, his female friends immediately came to his seat and asked his condition. He looks pretty happy at the moment.

"Oi Lang, why are you saying that?" suddenly Ruben approached me.

"I'm not daydreaming" I replied.

"Obviously you were daydreaming" he said again, "rather than daydreaming, mending we go to the canteen?"

"I seem to be going to the cafeteria after the second break" I refused Ruben's invitation this time.

"Ehhhh why don't you?" reuben said again.

"I still feel full" I replied.

"Have you" said Ruben.

Reuben also went to the cafeteria alone this time.

***

Seriate