Short Story (Cerpen)

Me and This Taste

Category: Triangle Love Cerpen

Title: Me and This Taste

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I like it. Yeah, I might just like it.

“Back school you have no business Ra?”

I slightly raised my eyebrows, a second later I nodded in response to my best friend's question, Salsa.

“Out again?” I nodded back, I could see Salsa pursing her lips to make her look so sweet.

“Why Sa? Tomorrow I don't have any construction, go to the library right?”

Salsa smiled broadly after hearing my words earlier. We always have time to read books in the public library. This is where we clear our brains and minds.

“Oke, tomorrow yes Ra..”

I nodded, refocusing my mind on the Chemistry questions that had been presented on my desk. Yes, I really like this one subject. For some reason, ever since I met and found out about Chemistry subjects on the Junior High School bench, I immediately liked it.

“Sstt.. Ra?” I turned, Salsa handed me a piece of paper. I picked it up and read Salsa's writing on the paper.

“You still like the same Dika?”

I smiled slightly as I read it, I turned my head towards Salsa who was waiting for a reply from me.

“Where?” Salsa asked in a slightly whispering voice as she did not want anyone to hear her.

At the moment we are still in Chemistry class, but our teachers are not coming and just deliver the tasks that we have to do. I wrote a few letters on a piece of paper answering Salsa's question. After that I returned the paper to Salsa.

“Ra.” I saw Salsa write something on another piece of paper and show it to me.

“Bohoooong!”

I chuckled at her reading, Salsa puffed her cheeks together. He wrote something again and I waited for him to spread the piece of paper again.

'”Honest Ra..”

I pretended to think back then, what should I answer? Don't I still like it? Yes, I loved it from the past and until this moment my heart would pound quickly when I mentioned his name in my mind.

“We talk later Sa..” My friend and back to work on the chemical problems that I had ignored earlier.

For a few days now I have never found out about Dika, we are not in class. I'm not even sure he knows me. I've known him since I sat on the Junior High, yes, it's been a long time. Dika and I attended the same Junior High School, and we are still in the same school. Whether it was a coincidence or not, I could only be grateful to know we could still meet for another 3 years.

One time when I finished with my coaching at exactly 4 pm, I traced the already deserted school corridor without any students passing by again. I started passing through the XI classes with the doors and windows neatly closed. At the end of the corridor I could hear the sound of footsteps starting to feel closer. I guess it was the same disciple as me, he might have just finished with his coaching. I continued my steps so that I almost reached the end of the corridor. When one figure began to appear right before I reached the end of the corridor, I stopped my steps.

“I guess no one is in school.” I was still silent with a look of disbelief, whether this was a dream or not. I just didn't want to wake up too soon, and I felt that vibration back in my chest.

“Building too?” I nodded slowly, and in that second I realized that Dika had very clear brown eyes.

“Chemistry?” I slightly frowned, how did he know?

One thing that makes me flutter is when I see him smile and laugh, now Dika laughs in front of me. She is so sweet, I am sure my feelings are not just a taste of like or admiration like what I and Salsa concluded before.

“Not to be confused Ra, I know you're coaching Chemistry because the book you brought the book Chemistry all.” I was like a fool, yes, I did carry some chemical package books in my hands.

“You know me?” I think my question is very strange, ah, even if faced with it I can never control my own feelings.

“Loh? Have we not been in school since Junior High? Or maybe you don't know me?” I gasped when Dika asked like that.

“Eh. yes, that means you know where my name is from.” I sat in a voice that was getting slower.

“You go home together? You go to school by taxi, right?”

“Eh yes I took a taxi.” My answer.

“Yes, you are on my bike now. Let's not waste it either.. Yuk!” Walking first, and me? I just followed him from behind.

“Ka.. I took a taxi only yes.” From behind him, we just came out of the school gate.

“Why? You're the same as me, besides I don't bite Ra.” I still can't believe this isn't a dream, how could Dika be in front of me right now?

“Vera?”

“Eh yes. I mean. I don't feel good about you.”

“How bad is it? You're Salsa's best friend too, I should be the one who doesn't feel good about you.” I frowned.

“You know Salsa too?” I asked, Dika looked at me strangely but the next second he smiled.

“Haha.. You don't know Ra?” I frowned when I heard her question.

“Do not know what?” I don't understand. Does Salsa and Dika have a special relationship? Ah.. no, Salsa would have told me right away if it was true that she had a special relationship with Dika.

“You can ask Salsa.. I take the motor first yes Ra, you wait here.” I just nodded. I don't know why I feel a little bad about Dika and Salsa. Is it true that Salsa is hiding something from me? Butwhy?

“Ra?” I looked over and saw Dika who was ready with his bike.

“Yuk home.” I took a breath and threw it away slowly, no. I couldn't directly deduce it myself. I have to ask Salsa directly tomorrow.

Today was the day that Salsa and I were going to the library, but somehow Salsa canceled it without explaining why she canceled the plan we had planned.

“Sorry Ra, you won't be going to the library right?” Salsa asked during the break, I shook my head. I still think about what yesterday Dika told me. Should I tell her and ask Salsa directly about their relationship now?

“Let's go there sometime.” Salsa looks a little busy with her phone. Haahh, I don't think I should ask him.

“I go to the toilet first yes Ra..” Salsa went out of class, I just silently pondered what was a conflict in my mind at the moment.

I don't know when I've been standing right in front of my school toilet. The entrance bell was heard a few minutes ago. As I was about to open the toilet door that was in front of me, something stopped me for a moment. My mind tells me I don't have to do this. Hiding behind my own best friend, afraid of facts that might hurt me later if I continue my current actions. I took a deep breath, and within seconds I turned my back.

“Sa? You're still inside?” I asked in a voice loud enough for Salsa to hear me from inside the toilet.

“Oh? Yes Ra!” Shouted Salsa then, I adjusted my breath for a moment until I heard the sound of the door behind me opening.

“What are you doing here Ra? Why not sign in?” Salsa asked, I just shook my head.

“You're inside why is it so long?” I asked later, Salsa chuckled.

“Bias.. Yuk to class!” Salsa walked first to leave me.

Something that I was afraid of finally happened, I saw Salsa coming home with Dika today. What are they gonna do? Is this the reason why Salsa cancelled our plans to go to the library? I walked out of class, and somehow I was in front of the public library. Looks like my brain told me to rest here. I entered the main door in this sizable library.

“You didn't say anything about Vera?” My steps stopped right in the row of the third shelf, I took one book from the shelf and remained in my position.

“Neither Sa, does Vera not know? I told him to make it straight to you.” I know this voice, yeah, they're talking about me, aren't they?

“Thank God. Anyway lest Vera know our relationship, Ka.”.

“Why? Aren't you guys friends?”

“Yes, but I still don't feel good about Vera, Ka.”

Why didn't you say it from the beginning Sa? Aren't we friends? As bitter as the truth is, I deserve to know that reality. At least I won't look stupid in front of you Sa. And I'd rather your honesty hurt me directly than your lies stabbing me in the back.