During the transition between classes, the classroom was relatively lively. Some students were snacking. Some were sleeping. Others were chatting. A typical high school atmosphere.
Dina sat at her desk, playing with her phone.
Beep.
Her phone vibrated again.
Dina opened the screen, and the moment she saw the message. The corners of her lips lifted as though she'd just been touched by a heavenly breeze.
Alfa:I found a really beautiful bonsai.
Dina typed back quickly, her cheeks warming.
Dina:Seriously? It must be amazing. I want to see it.
It didn't take long for another reply to arrive.
Alfa:Sure. Are you free this Saturday? We could go see it together and grab something to eat. What do you think?
Dina froze.
OH MY GOD.That's a date invitation, right?It is, isn't it?
Her heart felt like it was jogging laps around the school field. But then reality slapped her in the face. She already had plans this Saturday to do research with Ando and the others.
Dina sighed sadly.
Dina:Uh-oh... I can't. I'm doing research with the others.
Alfa:Okay. Focus on that first. Maybe another time.
Dina bit her lip, disappointed but also relieved that Alfa hadn't closed the door on another opportunity.
Dina:Promise? Next time.
Alfa:Deal :)
Dina immediately covered her mouth with her hand, but her smile was far too big to hide. The corners of her lips curled upward. Her eyes sparkled.
Icha, who had just returned from the bathroom, stared at her suspiciously.
"What's with you?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "Why are you smiling like that?"
Dina hadn't had time to turn off her phone screen, and Icha's ninja instincts kicked in. She snatched it.
"Icha!!!" Dina panicked. "CHA! Give it back!"
But Icha had already escaped two steps away, quickly scanning the messages.
"Whoa, wait... Who's this?"
That mischievous expression returned instantly.
Dina snatched her phone back.
"Cha, I swear! One of these days, I'm going to cut your hand off."
She then returned to her seat.
Icha held back a laugh, her eyes sparkling with gossip. She sat down beside Dina.
"'Alfa'? Hmmm..."
She drew the word out suggestively.
"Please, Cha," Dina groaned. "It's nothing special."
Icha stared at her with an expression that clearly said, Who are you trying to fool?
"Nothing special? Then why did 'nothing special' make you smile that wide? Come on. Tell me. Now."
"Why are you suddenly so bossy?" Dina asked, smoothing her hair, which suddenly felt strangely messy.
"Tell me, Din. I'm not joking."
Icha turned sideways, giving Dina her full attention.
Dina finally gave in, looking at her somewhat shyly.
"Okay, okay. So... This Alfa is Dino's college friend."
Icha's eyes immediately lit up like a gossip reporter who'd just gotten a scoop.
"When did you meet? Where?"
"Just two weeks ago. He came over to our house." Dina began smiling to herself. "But... Yeah, we really clicked. He likes nature. He likes hiking, diving, snorkeling. He also likes going to zoos and animal sanctuaries and stuff like that. So there's always something to talk about."
"He's totally your type." Icha raised an eyebrow with a grin. "The kind of guy you can actually have a conversation with. And his name just happens to be Alfa."
Dina immediately turned red. She lowered her face.
"He's not that much my type, Cha..."
"Yeah, yeah. Even though you're blushing."
"You're exaggerating."
Dina gently pushed Icha's shoulder.
"Me? I'm exaggerating? Who's been smiling while texting this whole time?"
Dina merely grimaced and lowered her head. But her smile... It was still there. And refused to disappear.
Icha nudged her arm, laughing.
"Your life has gotten so interesting lately, Din. I love it!"
Dina buried her burning face in the crook of her arm.
So embarrassing.
---
The morning air was still cold when Dina arrived at the school parking lot. A thin mist hung low between the buildings, making the place look like a morning that was not quite ready to wake up. The parking lot was quiet; only a few dry leaves moved with the wind, along with the sound of Dina's slow footsteps. Her backpack felt heavier than usual, perhaps because of how nervous she was.
Dina rarely went far without her family or close friends. Today truly felt new. She gripped the straps of her bag more tightly, trying to calm herself down.
A little farther ahead, she saw that her friends had already arrived. She hurried over to them.
"I brought snacks. A lot of them. I'm not kidding," Aldi said, lifting two large bags. He looked satisfied, as if he had just saved the world with his food supplies.
Arvin raised his DSLR. He was wearing a gray hoodie, his bangs slightly messy. "I brought a camera. Ready to be your walking documentation crew," he said casually.
"I'm only bringing myself and a neck pillow," Bram said, waving his neck pillow. His hair was half-wet, but his eyes were still sleepy. "Don't judge me. I need comfort."
A black SUV approached. Ando had arrived. The car stopped right in front of them. The window slowly rolled down.
"Get in," he said briefly.
Ando looked fresh, his hair casually combed but still neat. He was wearing a white T-shirt paired with navy jeans and a blue jacket. Dina's eyes widened. His outfit was somewhat similar to Dina's, who was wearing a blue cardigan and navy jeans, except Dina had paired hers with a light gray blouse.
Apparently, Dina was not the only one who noticed. Aldi, who was usually the most mischievous, immediately commented, "You two should've told us if there was a dress code."
Bram let out a long whistle, while Arvin added, "Matching, guys."
Dina did not respond. She only glared at Arvin, who was grinning.
Bram gently pushed Dina's back, forcing her to get into the front seat beside Ando. Arvin and Aldi sat in the middle, while Bram immediately took the very back seat and put on his neck pillow.
"If I fall asleep, don't take pictures of me, okay? Seriously," Bram said, closing his eyes even before the door was shut.
"Got it. Let's leave before the traffic gets bad," Ando said as he turned the steering wheel.
The car drove out of the school gate.
Aldi rummaged through his bags as if he were opening a treasure chest.
"There are chips, chocolate, bread, cookies, mint candy, sour candy… which one do you guys want?"
Arvin stared at the contents of his bags for a long moment.
"Bro, is that for five people or just for you?"
"I'm thinking about the future. Hunger Prevention," Aldi said proudly.
Ando had to hold back his laughter.
"Did you bring a plastic bag? Just in case you get carsick."
"I'm tough." Aldi patted his chest—before immediately eating a piece of ginger candy.
The journey began. The radio played bright morning songs. Dina had not spoken yet. She looked out the window. Every now and then, her hand jerked whenever the car went over a speed bump.
"Nervous?" Ando asked without looking at her.
"A little," Dina answered honestly.
"Why?"
"New experience."
Ando nodded slowly. "Relax. Our trip is going to be fun."
Dina only gave a small nod, but her stomach was churning, a mixture of nervousness and excitement.