The Winter Promise

Chapter 9: The Chain Link You Want to Re-connect.

“You why?”

I saw Maul who was pensive when I reached the cafeteria, and right in front of Maul there was already Riki and Kirana who were making out as usual.

“She was just rejected by a woman yesterday.”

Riki smiled slightly as he said that, it seemed like he felt that he was greater than Maul when he had Kirana by his side.

So she was rejected by Miyuki, I became curious how Miyuki refused.

I sat down next to Maul and ordered our fried rice.

“As you promised yesterday, today you are the one who is devoted huh?”

“Iya.”

With his shabby face Maul took out her money and gave it to me to pay for the fried rice I ordered.

“What did you guys do yesterday?”

Kirana looked curious about what we were doing, from her eyes I already knew that she was very curious.

“Nothing, we only bet a game only. Isn't that Mul?”

“...”

Maul was still pensive and unwilling to answer, she just stared blankly ahead and her mind also looked blank.

“What did that woman say to you?”

“She said nothing and silenced me just like that. Because of the shame of being noticed by the people who were there, I went straight home.”.

I didn't know that Miyuki could be that cold to strangers. Is that really his nature?

“Already, women like that are still a lot out there. Rejected one is still much the other.”

“You're right Mar, he's just one of the thousands of stars that shine in this universe. There must be many like him.”

He started again? But thank goodness he was no longer sad.

From a distance I saw Rina arrive at the cafeteria and looked at the entire table that was there. When our eyes met, he immediately walked towards me with quick steps.

When he arrived at our table, without saying much he immediately sat down beside me and patted his body on me.

“What's up?”

“I beg you, just a moment will not be long.”

Lina said that by hiding her face behind my arm, I don't know what happened to her back then. But clearly, I could see two men were looking for someone, but when they saw Lina beside me, they immediately left the canteen.

“AAHHHHHHH... I'M SO UPSET!”

Maul who was previously calm became a very loud shout that made everyone in the cafeteria pay attention to us, even the sellers selling there also noticed us.

“You why?! Suddenly scream.”

“Not long ago Riki brought Kirana and they made out in front of me, now you are Mar. You are a traitor Mar, let me alone with my loneliness and sadness to be a single”

Without thinking Maul went straight from the canteen, it seemed like what Rina had just done made Maul become jealous.

“It's fine to let him just like that Ar?”

“After all this happened because of you, what happened?”

“No problem.”

Since Maul has already left our table, so there is still room left beside me. I also distanced myself from Rina.

“You must be lying, impossible if there is no problem.”

“I'm serious, I just miss you.”

I hate seduction so much.

“Really? Didn't we just meet in class.”

Lina just laughed at my answer. I don't know what he's hiding, but it seems like the problem he's having right now is huge.

“It looks like you two are very familiar.”

I forgot that right now in front of me there is a very troublesome little sister. His curiosity was very troublesome for me, what else if he really liked seeing things like this.

I'd rather just shut up, I won't answer that ridiculous remark. I'm tired of serving him for today.

“Sister Rina, why aren't you two just dating? You two are very compatible in my opinion.”

Again a stupid question.

“Really?”

Lina blushed in embarrassment and occasionally glanced at me.

Why should you blush when there is such a question. You're just gonna make the misunderstanding more complicated here.

“That's impossible, Rina it's too good for me.”

“Too well? I don't think Kak Amar is a bad person.”

“You're wrong Kirana, Amar is the worst person among all the people I've met.”

“Is that Really Brother Riki?”

“That's right, you haven't just seen the downside.”

But what Riki had just said was not entirely wrong. I am not a good person nor a bad person, I am a person who is between the two. Maybe for now.

“But I just remembered it, yesterday when it came out of the cinema after watching the movie. I saw a woman similar to Miyuki.”

Pufft. Can we watch the same movie?

“Heee... Really?”

I need to calm down, they can't know that I'm panicking in the least.

“Yes, I think yesterday she was away with a guy. Is she his girlfriend?”

Oh my god, I hope he doesn't recognize that it's me.

“Maybe it's her boyfriend.”

“Can only.”

OK. He doesn't know it's me, at least I'm still safe here.

And I just realized that from earlier Rina was looking at me with a very deadly look. His eyes look like international hitmen who have seen his target, maybe I will die soon.

“What's Rina?”

“No.”

Lina also threw away her face.

***

“What really happened?”

Me and Lina walked down the hall to return to our classroom. It just so happens that the break time is almost over and the lesson will begin soon.

“...No.”

“Do not lie to me, I know that you are in trouble.”

“Alright I will say it. Indeed I am in trouble, but it is not something big, I can handle it myself.”

Confidently, Rina said that right in front of me. His hands were placed on his waist and his smiling face as if trying to convince me to stay calm. But I know that now he's lying, because I feel the threat from the two men who came to the cafeteria.

Is that maybe just my hunch? I better broaden my mind first, I don't know what they want to do.

“I told you not to worry.”

“Good.”

Now I better focus on the practice exam that will soon be conducted.

But just as we were about to arrive in front of our class, I saw Maul waiting for us in front of the class.

“You go first Rina, I have business first with Maul.”

“Good.”

Lina went to class first.

If I look at her gaze, it seems like she has something interesting to talk about. I don't know what happened when he left the cafeteria, it must have been so interesting that he waited for me in front of the class.

“What's up?”

I stood beside him and we both leaned against the wall behind us.

“I have something interesting.”

“What is this about Kirana?”

“That's.”

“Hmmm... So what's interesting?”

“Say this has something to do with Kirana, why even discuss Rina?”

“Soalya, the two men who talked about Rina were in the same class as Kirana.”

“Great once you can find out.”

“Do not underestimate my information.”

All right, even though I got a little information from Maul. But that doesn't explain that Kirana is behind all this. Maybe it was just a coincidence.

“So what are they talking about?”

“After school later, one of them will declare his love to Rina.”

“Didn't you hear wrong? Where there are people who dare to do such a thing.”

Because the agreement “Women with” is still valid until Rina graduates later. Those who know the agreement should understand this.

“Do you forget Mar, if in fact Riki is no longer feared by others.”

What he just said was not wrong. I just remembered that lately Riki did not act that much as usual. He plays with Kirana too often.

“You're right, I only realized that after you said it.”

“I just thought about this earlier, is it okay if Kirana's destination is dating Riki for it?”

“No way, which Junior High child can devise such a plan.”

Of course, second-graders who are only 13-15 years old. It is impossible at such an age that a person can make a plan up to that complexity.

“And also where there is a first-class Junior High child who can make plans ‘Women Bersama’.”

“You're right too.”

I forgot that I did the same thing in first grade.

Then my theory about the ability I have turned out to be true. I'm not a special person, my ability can be possessed by someone if he wants to think harder than anyone.

“Means now we must be vigilant with Kirana, who knows it is true he is the mastermind behind all this.”

“I also think the same with you Mul, but we also have to be careful when investigating about him, because Riki is already in his grasp.”

“As much as possible, I don't want to make Riki an enemy.”

Maul goosebumps when she remembers something, she hugs herself to calm down. Surely he was remembering when Riki faced with the upperclassmen at the time the plan “Women with” will be implemented.

“But if only that were the case. You take it easy.”

I tried to convince Maul by holding her right shoulder, Maul became convinced after hearing my words.

“So what will you do next Mar?”

“It looks like I want to see the plan he made first.. thanks for the info yes.”.

“Just relax, I also helped it for the good of all of us. If if Kirana's goal was to use Riki for her own sake, I would definitely reply to her.”

It turns out that Maul cares enough for her friend too, I guess she's the kind of person who would stab her in the back.

Maul goes back to her class waving her hand, and her investigation begins.

***

Sfx: Gang... Teng……

Right now, I was standing in the hallway leading to the back yard of the school. According to the info I got from Maul, after school later Rina will go to the back of the school to listen to the statement of love from the two men who chased her during the break.

While reading the novel that Rina suggested at that time, I waited until Rina arrived.

Just like what Maul said, I can see Rina who is walking to the back of the school by carrying a bag on her back.

When I saw me there, Rina fell silent and looked at me in surprise.

“What are you doing here Ar?”

“I'm just reading a novel.”

I closed the novel and put it in my bag and I blocked Rina's way to go to the school's backyard.

“Surely you know that I will go here.”

I looked at Rina's unusual gaze, her face looked grim and she seemed to be sad, yet she tried to hide it and tried to act ordinary in front of me. But for someone who's been with him for three years, I know he's hiding something.

“What do you want to do here? Why don't you go straight home.”

“It's none of your business Ar, I just want to meet my friend behind school.”

“Why should it be behind school? Not a lot of right places to meet.”

“...”

It turned out that the information from Maul was not wrong, it was also great that he gathered information in such a short time.

“Better you don't have to come there.”

“This is none of your business Ar, let me take care of this matter myself.”

“Taking care of this problem yourself huh?… Okay please go if you want.”

I also shifted a little from where I am now to let Rina through. Slowly he started walking towards me and started passing me.

“Where might I let you go there.”

I pulled her hand so tightly but it wasn't so strong that it made her feel pain, yet it was strong enough that she couldn't let go so easily.

“Let me Ar, I don't want to trouble you anymore. Let me solve this problem myself.”

Lina was still trying to get her hand out of my grasp. I was still holding her hand and not letting go.

“Even if you go there, you'll only make trouble for me again.”

“But-”

“Have it, you don't care what happens next. Now you go home, let the rest of me take care of.”

Although this will definitely be more troublesome than the past.

I began to feel Rina's hand squeezing. He was silent and his head was down. I could only see his two shoulders still stiff as if there was a heavy weight he was carrying.

I walked to her side and stroked her head.

“You are calm. You should share it with friends you can trust.”

“You cheated Ar.”

Cheating?

“I will follow your words, but you do not do careless things Ar.”

“If for that you don't have to worry.”

Then Rina left me.

All right, what's waiting for me back there? I think after this incident I will experience something troublesome. I hope it's just my gut feeling, but I think it's gonna happen. I'm sure of it.

OK. Now it's time to see who's involved in this.

***

There they are, I can see they are standing waiting for Rina. I think the nervous one on the right will declare his love.

Hmmm.The appearance is not bad either.

“Eh-em.”

They were both surprised when they saw me there. Of course they would be surprised, because the person they had avoided the most to meet, was now in front of them.

“What are you doing here?”

“Just by chance just pass.”

“That's impossible, where there are people passing behind the school when going home school.”

“True yes.”

What am I gonna do now? I can't possibly look for information at a time like this. Especially now that it is two-on-one, I don't think I will win even if I have to use my strength.

“I already know what you want to do. You better just leave here, Rina won't come here.”

“Where do you know!?”

“Already, we better just go. There is no point in serving Kak Amar.”

It seems like the other friend is wiser than him, he knows what he needs to do now.

“Alright, but you think I'll just stay quiet after knowing this. I will definitely reply to him.”

There it is, a sentence that will lead me to something troublesome. This time what will happen to me? Hopefully it can't be passed easily.

They also left the school backyard. Maybe at the moment I can't figure out who did it, but at least I can relax for now.

After all, our graduation time is also not long. I think letting Rina do it alone is not a wrong decision either. But I can't bear it if he has to do something he's forced to do.

the End Chapter 9