The wind blew through Dina's bedroom window, making the curtains flutter softly as though they were sighing along with the room's owner. The dim light from her bedroom lamp cast soft silhouettes over the stacks of books. The atmosphere was actually peaceful, but the sounds coming from Dino's room—right next to hers—ruined everything.
Laughter erupted. Someone strumming a guitar. Someone banging on something—sometimes a table, sometimes a mattress, sometimes simply clapping their hands.
That was what a bunch of guys hanging out sounded like: loud, random, and impossible to predict when they'd finally stop.
Dina had been holed up in her room for three hours. Not because she was busy, but because she didn't feel like dealing with all the noise outside.
"Dinaaa, get me something to drink!" Dino's voice echoed from his room.
Dina shouted back, "Nope. Your arms and legs work perfectly fine. Get it yourself."
Laughter spilled out from her brother's room. They were probably laughing at Aldino Putra's bratty little sister.
Speaking of drinks, Dina suddenly realized her throat was dry. Whether she liked it or not, she had to leave her room.
She might as well get drinks for her brother and his friends while she was at it.
She walked out of her room and headed straight for the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, she took out a large bottle of mango juice. As she poured some into a mug, she suddenly jumped when she noticed someone standing beside her.
"—Astaghfirullah!"
The juice in her hand nearly spilled.
The guy was wearing a red T-shirt with black jeans. His dark brown hair was slightly messy, as though he'd just gotten out of bed. His eyes were brown too, warm and gentle. He looked at Dina with a calm but polite expression. Broad shoulders. Probably around 178 centimeters tall.
His face...
Well, he was the kind of guy who could make someone spill juice all over the floor just by startling them.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," he said.
His voice was calm, slightly husky. Maybe he'd been singing too much.
Dina composed herself.
"It's okay. You're one of Dino's friends, right?" she asked casually.
The guy gave a brief nod.
"I'm Alfa," he said, extending his hand.
Dina froze.
Another Alfa?
What a coincidence. A very pleasant coincidence.
Dina quickly put the mug and bottle down on the counter so she wouldn't spill them and shook his hand.
"Dina. Nice to meet you, Alfa."
"I know. Dino talks about you a lot," Alfa said, smiling for the first time—a calm smile that didn't look forced in the slightest.
Dina reflexively touched her hair, suddenly nervous.
"Hopefully he didn't tell you anything bad," she grimaced. "I'll have to interrogate that guy later."
Alfa let out a short laugh, warm and easy.
"No. He actually praises you quite a lot. He says you're smart. One of the top students at your school. You can tell he's really proud of you."
"Oh?" Dina raised an eyebrow.
Wait... Dino is proud of me?
Note to self: make Dino some special fried rice tomorrow because apparently he actually protects my reputation.
She felt slightly guilty for refusing her brother's request earlier.
"Do you want something to drink, Alfa?" she asked, glancing toward the juice bottle.
Alfa nodded.
Dina quickly took another bottle of juice from the refrigerator and several disposable plastic cups from the cabinet beside it. She handed the bottle and cups to Alfa.
"Here, Bro. Sorry I refused to get you guys drinks earlier," she said sheepishly.
Alfa laughed again.
"It's okay."
He opened the bottle and poured himself some juice.
"I kind of don't feel like going back to the room." Alfa looked around. "You guys have a really nice backyard."
He tilted his chin toward the glass door.
Dina followed his gaze. The garden really was neat: short grass, rows of potted plants, and a short papaya tree covered in fruit.
"Oh, that's Mom's hobby. She really loves collecting plants. And that..." Dina pointed at the papaya tree. "That's the Dina tree. It's only a little taller than me. Dino and I planted it."
Alfa stepped closer to the door, taking a better look at the garden.
"You guys name your trees?"
"Ehehe. We were just having fun," Dina replied, scratching her cheek. "Funny, right?"
Alfa laughed and nodded slowly.
"Funny. And for some reason... it really does look like you."
The noise from Dino's room erupted again, but Alfa didn't seem interested in going back. Instead, he sat down on one of the chairs on the back porch.
Dina sat beside him. Each of them held a glass of mango juice.
Their conversation continued—about Alfa's college life, his major, the magnets stuck to the refrigerator, Percy suddenly walking past with a dramatic meow, and mostly about Dino's antics at college.
Without realizing it, Dina began to feel comfortable around him. And without realizing it, a strange thought began to creep into her mind.
Maybe her Alfa wasn't the same age as her.
Maybe he was older, and it was just that his build made him look younger.
Maybe...
---
The hallway leading to the bathroom was unusually quiet that afternoon. Most of the students were in the cafeteria, classrooms, or on the field.
Dina walked quickly, clutching a tissue in her hand—the call of nature had terrible timing. Just as she was about to turn the corner at the end of the hallway, she stopped.
Standing there were two people clearly in the middle of a heated conversation.
Clara and Ando.
Dina froze.
OH MY GOD... why now? I really have to pee...
She pressed herself against the wall, trying to make herself as small as a lizard. From where she stood, Clara's voice was faint but full of pressure.
"You've changed, Do."
Ando let out a heavy sigh, his hands shoved into his pockets. Dina could almost see the small, frustrated shake of his head.
"I haven't changed. You're just too suspicious."
Clara stepped forward half a step. Her face was tense—angry, but also afraid of losing him.
"You don't even defend me anymore. Not like you used to. You're so distant."
Ando ran a hand through his hair, clearly trying to hold back his emotions.
"Clara, seriously. Don't start again. I'm tired, you know."
Clara immediately shot back, as though she'd been waiting for an opening.
"You think I'm not tired? Every day I feel like you care less and less about me."
Ando looked away.
"I'm just busy. That's all. You're busy too, aren't you? With tutoring and extracurriculars. But do I complain? No, right?"
Clara clenched her small fists.
"You just don't want to make the effort anymore."
Ando held his breath. His jaw tightened.
"Clara, you always assume the worst."
"I just see what's happening."
"And what's happening? Is this because I'm in the same group as Dina again?"
Dina immediately covered her mouth.
Why does everyone else's relationship problem somehow come back to me?I just want to pee...
Clara lifted her chin slightly. Her eyes glistened.
"That's part of it. You're different when she's around."
Ando shifted his stance, his voice dropping into a noticeably colder tone.
"Enough. Stop blaming Dina. She hasn't done anything wrong."
Clara stared at him. For a long, long moment.
Silence settled over the hallway until Dina felt like she was holding her breath along with them. When Clara finally spoke, her voice was cold.
"See? You even defend her. I knew it. You really have changed."
Ando stared back, equally firm.
"No. You're the one who doesn't trust me."
Silence again. Tension again. But Dina... was now at emergency level five. She closed her eyes for a moment.
Okay.I can't hold it anymore.Whatever drama they're having, I have to get through.
Dina cleared her throat softly.
No response.
She cleared it again, louder this time.
Both of them instinctively turned at the same time.
Dina raised one hand like a prisoner of war.
"Excuse me. I don't want to interrupt, but I really have to pee. Seriously."
Clara blinked in surprise. Ando held back a laugh, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
Dina immediately hurried past them—almost running—without looking back. Her bladder felt like it was about to explode.
Once Dina had disappeared into the bathroom, Ando couldn't hold back his amused smile.
Clara scoffed, even more irritated by the sudden change in Ando's expression. She stomped away, leaving behind the faint scent of vanilla perfume in the air.
Ando eventually turned as well, heading back toward the classroom while slowly shaking his head.
"Dina, Dina..."
He was still smiling faintly.