The hospital curtain shifted gently whenever the AC blew through the small vent. The room was bright, its white walls reflecting the sunlight coming in through the window. Dina had been in the same room for five days, staring at the same ceiling, with a headache that still throbbed from time to time and a left leg that couldn't bear weight for long.
For those five days, her room was rarely empty. Family, school friends, neighbors, even friends from middle school came by one after another, bringing fruit, flowers, or simply a few short stories to cheer her up.
On the first day Dina was fully conscious, Mimi came with her parents. The hurried sound of sandals could be heard before Mimi burst into the room, her eyes swollen from crying. Dina watched as Mimi's parents handed a bag of fruit to her mother as an apology.
The moment Mimi saw Dina, she immediately hugged her so tightly that Dina could barely breathe.
"Din… I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry," she sobbed, her body trembling.
Mimi cried so loudly that her sobs drowned out almost every other sound in the room.
"I only learned how to ride a motorcycle the day before," she said between sobs. "I… I didn't tell anyone. I thought I could handle it. I thought it was safe. I'm sorry… I caused you so much trouble…"
Dina gently rubbed Mimi's arm, even though her own hand was still weak.
"It's okay, Mi… really."
Only then did Dina realize something.
"But seriously… don't give anyone a ride for a while. You scared the hell out of me, Mi."
"Yeah… I promise," Mimi sobbed again, this time more quietly.
Over the next few days, it was her classmates' turn to come in groups. Nia and Icha were the loudest, busy offering to peel fruit even though the peels ended up scattered everywhere. Aldi sat on the sofa, munching on the biscuits he had brought as a gift for the patient. The others either sat or stood around, making the room feel cramped.
But there was one thing that was always the same:
Ando.
Just like before, Ando stood a little farther away from the bed. Never at the front. Never making a fuss.
He simply stood there, watching.
His gaze was calm, sometimes lingering a little too long, sometimes a little too intense—and that alone was enough to make Dina turn her face away so no one would notice her getting flustered.
One afternoon, after the other visitors had left first, Icha sat on the edge of the bed while peeling an orange. Nia sat on the sofa, swinging her legs in the air.
"You know what, Din?" Icha began in her premium-gossip voice. "When everyone found out you'd been in an accident, Ando almost ran out of class."
"Huh?" Dina instinctively sat up straighter.
Icha continued enthusiastically. "Seriously. He was about to go straight to the hospital. If Bram hadn't grabbed his bag, that guy would've taken off."
Dina tried to keep her expression normal.
But the heat spreading across her cheeks betrayed her completely.
Icha gave her a mischievous wink.
"I think that guy is totally in love with you."
"What are you talking about?" Dina scoffed shyly. "Don't say stuff like that. He has a girlfriend, Cha. Don't let anyone hear you."
Nia suddenly spoke bluntly.
"But according to the latest gossip I heard, Ando and his girlfriend are having problems."
Dina stared at her in surprise.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously." Nia waved her hand dramatically like a news anchor. "Ando wants to break up, but his girlfriend won't let him."
Dina sat up straighter.
"Why does he want to break up?"
Nia answered casually, "Because he's in love with you."
Icha immediately burst out laughing.
"Nice!"
"Niaaa," Dina growled.
"What?" Nia asked innocently.
Dina immediately covered her face with both hands. Half embarrassed. Half nervous. And half... afraid to get her hopes up.
Dina, Dina… don't get carried away, she told herself.
"But it's only gossip," Nia added shamelessly, immediately earning a pillow thrown at her by Dina.
Icha laughed even harder.
A few days later, they came again. Icha, Nia, Bram… and Ando. But that day came with a surprise. Alfa showed up carrying a bouquet of edelweiss flowers. He was wearing a dark green T-shirt and a light denim jacket, and his warm smile immediately made the room feel more comfortable.
Icha and Nia, who were meeting Alfa for the first time, were instantly charmed.
"How are you doing?" Alfa asked as he sat on a chair near the foot of the bed.
"Pretty good. Thanks for coming."
Alfa started talking about college, a bonsai he had seen the day before, and the mountains. His voice was slightly hoarse but pleasant to listen to.
Meanwhile, Ando stood in the corner of the room, pretending to be busy with his phone. But from the corner of his eye, it was obvious he was watching Dina and Alfa.
Again and again.
Icha glanced at Nia. Nia glanced at Icha. Their expressions said the exact same thing:
"Love triangle, yoooo!"
Bram? He was already asleep. Dina suspected Bram had come because the hospital AC was better than the one at home.
"The vibe is so K-drama," Icha whispered.
"Totally," Nia replied.
Dina tried to focus on her conversation with Alfa, but she could feel Ando's gaze boring into her. Not angry. Not sad. More like… jealous? Worried?
A confusing mixture of emotions, but undeniably intense. And somewhere between the smell of antiseptic and the hum of the AC, Dina started to think:
Maybe my friends aren't completely wrong.
As evening approached, everyone started saying goodbye.
"Din, I'm heading home," Alfa said as he picked up his bag. "If you get bored, just text me. I'll keep you company twenty-four-seven."
Dina laughed softly.
"Okay. Thanks, Alfa."
Icha gently patted Dina's leg.
"You can go home tomorrow, right? I'll stop by your house. I'll bring your favorite mango pudding."
"Deal!" Dina gave her a thumbs-up.
Everyone said their goodbyes and left. But strangely, Ando didn't leave with the others. He stayed behind a little longer, claiming there was something he wanted to discuss with Dina about their art project. But Dina knew that was a lie.
After her friends left, the bedroom door closed… and silence filled the room. Ando still chose to stand rather than sit. As if sitting down made him uncomfortable.
Dina looked at him.
"Aren't you tired of standing all the time?"
Ando finally sat down at the edge of the bed, near Dina's feet.
"Not really."
Dina played with the edge of her blanket.
"Thanks for coming every day," she said softly.
"Of course I'd come." Ando glanced at her.
Dina looked away.
"You're usually busy."
"Busy doing what?" Ando replied just as quietly.
Dina smiled faintly.
"So what did you want to talk about, Do?"
"Nothing," he answered honestly. "I just haven't had a chance to talk to you."
Dina scoffed.
"Well, duh. Every time you come, you just sit there quietly, play on your phone, or talk to Bram."
Ando didn't respond.
"You miss arguing with me, don't you?" Dina teased.
"Yeah. I miss it." Ando answered so suddenly that Dina looked at him. Then he added quietly, "That's why you need to get better soon. Come back to school soon."
Dina lowered her head shyly, pretending to focus on her fingers. After a few seconds of silence, Dina finally gathered the courage to bring up a sensitive subject.
"Um… about that time… when you and Clara were talking near the bathroom, I accidentally overheard you."
Ando immediately tensed.
"Don't talk about that."
"Do I owe Clara an explanation?" Dina asked.
Ando stared at the floor.
"No. You didn't do anything wrong."
Dina looked at him.
"Seriously, Do. I don't mind explaining things to Clara. I don't want your relationship to fall apart because of me."
"Even without you, it was already falling apart, Din," Ando said quietly.
Dina bit her lip and lowered her head again.
"You've been acting weird lately."
Ando fell silent. For a long moment. Then he finally answered,
"It's not because of Clara. It's because of you."
Dina looked at him, confused.
"Because of me?"
"I'm worried something might happen to you."
Dina played with her fingers again, trying to hide her smile.
"I only sprained my ankle and got a mild concussion."
Ando continued looking at her.
"Stop staring at me like that," Dina said awkwardly. "You're going to stare a hole through me."
Ando chuckled softly, then grew serious again.
"Don't ever ride a motorcycle without wearing a helmet again, okay? It's dangerous."
"Yeah. I learned my lesson," Dina agreed.
Right at that moment, a nurse entered carrying her medication.
"Visiting hours are over," she reminded them.
Ando quickly stood.
"Yes, Nurse. Din, I'm heading home."
"Thanks for coming," Dina said with a smile. "I'm going home tomorrow. You don't have to visit anymore. See you at school, okay?"
Ando nodded. "Okay."
After giving her a brief wave, Ando left.
Dina was in a good mood. Even the bitter taste of her medicine couldn't stop her from smiling.
---
That night, Ando's bedroom was lit only by a small desk lamp in the corner. He lay flat on his back, his left hand tucked behind his head. A speaker on the small shelf played Noah's Dilema Besar, low but clear. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. His body felt tired—not because he was sleepy, but because of everything piling up inside his head.
His phone vibrated beside his pillow.
BRRT. BRRT. BRRT.
Ando glanced over lazily, letting out a sigh before checking the screen.
Clara.
She had been sending him messages since the afternoon, all of which he had ignored.
Clara: Do, where are you?
Clara: You haven't answered me all day.
Clara: Don't pretend you're busy.
Clara: I know you went to the hospital, right?
Clara: Seriously, Ando? You're just ignoring me?
Clara: WHY ARE YOU BEING LIKE THIS?
Ando stared at the messages for a moment, then turned off the screen with a single tap.
"I'm so damn tired," he muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Before he could actually relax, his phone vibrated again.
BRRT. BRRT.
This time, it wasn't a message. An incoming call. CLARA appeared on the screen.
Ando simply stared at it. Silent. Waiting. Until the call ended on its own.
One second.
Two seconds.
The phone rang again. Louder. Longer.
"Oh my God, doesn't this girl ever get tired?" Ando complained with a scoff.
He finally answered the call, but didn't immediately put the phone to his ear. Clara's voice could be heard even from a distance.
"ANDO! What is wrong with you? I've been texting you all this time and you've ignored every single message! Where are you? Who were you with? You—"
Ando reluctantly brought the phone to his ear.
"I'm tired, Clar," he said wearily.
"Tired? Tired from what?" Clara's voice rose. "All you have to do is answer my messages! Is that really so hard?"
"Clar, I just got home from the hospital."
"At this hour? You really enjoyed spending time with Dina, huh?"
Ando's eyebrow lifted slightly.
Clara's tone grew sharper.
"You've changed, Do! You weren't like this before! You're avoiding me and getting close to another girl! You—"
"Clara."
Ando's voice was flat and serious this time.
"What?!"
"I want to take a break."
Silence.
For one second.
Then Clara exploded.
"A BREAK? You're leaving me like this? You're such a jerk, Do!"
Ando closed his eyes for a moment, then stared at the ceiling that had barely left his line of sight all night.
"I'm not leaving you. I'm just… tired. We need some time to think again… about everything."
Clara was silent for a fraction of a second, but then her emotions rose again.
"Oh, so I'm the one who makes you tired? Then who doesn't make you tired? Dina?"
Ando immediately cut her off, his voice firm.
"STOP."
"What? Afraid you'll get caught?"
"Clar… I don't want to fight. Let's stop for now."
Without waiting for a reply, Ando ended the call.
His phone immediately started vibrating again, more intensely this time, as if Clara were trying to force her way through the screen.
BRRT. BRRT. BRRT.
Dozens of notifications appeared one after another.
Clara: Don't hang up on me!
Clara: ANDO!
Clara: You're being cruel.
Clara: Answer me. Now.
Ando stared at the string of messages with tired eyes, looking like someone who had run out of energy to feel anything at all. He pressed the power button and turned off his phone completely.
The music from the speaker changed—the next song began, Peterpan's Semua Tentang Kita.
Ando turned onto his side and decided to sleep. For tonight, he chose silence.
And for the first time, he felt relieved after turning off his phone.