The new students scattered, taking off the paper name tags with string straps and placing them on the weathered wooden table at the edge of the field. Noise erupted. Laughter, chatter, and footsteps crisscrossed everywhere. Akmal and I were busy collecting and straightening the messy name tags.After the crowd began to thin out, I started sorting the collected name tags, making sure they were all there. Akmal was still busy chatting with a few students, including Cantika. I saw him trying to ask for Cantika's phone number. You're pretty bold, Mal.When I was almost done, my eyes caught one name tag lying in the middle of the field, nearly stepped on. I picked it up. The paper was still fine, the writing neat: CANTIKA PUTRI JELITA - CIVIL ENGINEERING 05.Without thinking long, and maybe pushed by the leftover spark I felt earlier plus a bit of guilt for 'eyeing' my best friend's target, I stepped closer to Cantika who was getting ready to leave, with Akmal still beside her."Cantika," I called, trying to sound casual. She and Akmal turned. "Your name tag fell." I handed the name tag to her.She looked at the name tag in my hand, then her eyes sparkled with gratitude. "Oh! Yes, thank you so much, Ka… Randi. I was already panicking looking for my name tag everywhere and couldn't find it." She said my name without 'Kak'. Her small smile appeared again. A warm feeling spread across my chest. She took the name tag, her fingers once again touching mine briefly. A small electric jolt."You're welcome," I replied, smiling back, momentarily forgetting Akmal's presence.Akmal, who witnessed all this, could only glance sharply at me. His expression was mixed: confused, suspicious, slightly jealous. "Wow, don't let your name tag get lost, Ntik. It's important to be collected," Akmal commented, trying to enter the conversation."Yes, thank you too, Kak Mal," Cantika replied politely, then turned to her female friend who was calling her. "Oh, I'm going first, okay. My friend is calling. Thanks again, Randi. See you tomorrow!" She waved her small hand and turned away, following her friend.Akmal and I stood still for a moment, watching Cantika walk away. The air between us suddenly became tense."She called you Randi, yeah? Not Kak Randi?" Akmal asked suddenly, his tone flat but sharp. His eyes stared at me full of questions."Yeah… earlier when I helped her I said it was okay to just call my name, since our age difference is small," I answered, trying not to sound nervous. "Besides, it's more friendly that way." An excuse that sounded forced.Akmal nodded slowly, his gaze still fixed on my face. "Oh, like that… friendly." He repeated the word in a tone that made me feel guilty. "You looked really close with her. Helping and all that.""Well, that's our job as mentors, right? We help them," I replied defensively, avoiding Akmal's gaze. "You also looked close to her, trying to get her phone number and everything. Even though you're a mentor for another team?" I tried to counterattack.Akmal grinned. "Yeah, I said it so I could help her if there's anything, but she didn't give it yet. She said tomorrow." He stepped closer, patting my shoulder. Hard. "Dude… you're my best friend. Cantika… she's special to me. Really. Don't let there be any misunderstanding or anything, okay?" There was a subtle warning behind his casual words.My heart pounded hard. A dilemma. On one side, there was my best friend who was clearly deeply interested and had asked for my help to get close to her. On the other side, there was this strange feeling, that spark earlier, which I felt for the first time, toward the same girl. And I couldn't lie about it."Ah, come on. What are you talking about. What would I do anyway?" I replied, trying to laugh lightly. But it sounded fake. "Alright, hurry up and let's tidy the rest of these name tags. I also need to rush home." I turned away, focusing on the name tags on the table, avoiding Akmal's gaze that seemed unconvinced.On the train ride home, the image of Cantika's smile and Akmal's suspicious stare alternated in my head. Mixed feelings. There was guilt gnawing at me, but also excitement, a desire to talk to Cantika again, see her smile again, hear her soft voice. That spark was real. Very real.But… Akmal. My best friend. He was the one who first pointed out Cantika. He was the one who asked for help to get close to her.Crazy, Randi. Just knowing her for one day already makes my head spin, I thought while staring out the train window, watching the city lights begin to glow. A hard choice had appeared right in front of me, far sooner than I expected. Between friendship… or following feelings I had just realized were there, yet felt so strong and true. And one thing was certain: tomorrow at orientation, meeting Cantika again would be an awkward moment… and at the same time, something I greatly looked forward to. Damn, Cantika Putri Jelita. You really cause trouble. But a small, uncontrollable smile appeared on my lips. Trouble that… felt pleasant?
