"So, Tik! Pull it slowly while pressing that red lever!" Akmal blurted out, standing right beside Cantika, way too close in my opinion. He even deliberately put his hand on top of Cantika's hand to guide her pulling the lever. Bro! Seriously?Cantika immediately pulled her hand away like she got shocked. "Ah, thanks, Kak Mal. I can do it," she said while giving a thin smile that was clearly very polite, not interested. She stepped back, giving space. Akmal could only grin awkwardly.I stood in front just shaking my head inside. This is going to be long, Rand. This is going to be long and dusty.But a ray of light (or maybe new conflict material?) appeared on Friday. I was given an assignment by Pak Dani the Killer Lecturer to look for several rare reference journals for my Structural Analysis major assignment. The target was the Campus Central Library, 4th floor, engineering journal section. A place known to be quiet, dusty, and… romantic? Hey, don't get it wrong. Between piles of old books, unexpected things can sometimes happen.I walked through tall corridors filled with old bookshelves. The smell of old paper and dust filled the air. Silent. Only the sound of my own footsteps echoed. I started searching for the journal code Pak Dani mentioned: JSTR_Vol78_2001. My eyes scanned rows of dark green journals that all looked the same.Dammit, where is it? I stood at the end of the aisle, hands on my waist, starting to feel frustrated. I turned around, planning to look for a librarian maybe.THUD!I bumped into something. Or someone."Oh my God! Sorry!" that soft voice I immediately recognized. No. Way.I turned my head. And yes. In front of me, standing slightly unsteady, several thick journals piled in her small hands, and a face that I now knew would make me speechless again: Cantika. She was wearing a light blue t-shirt and simple jeans, her hair tied in a low ponytail. Without orientation attributes, she looked more… real. And still captivating."Cantika?" I was surprised. "What are you doing here?"She was surprised too, but her face immediately brightened when she realized it was me. "Randi? Wow, meeting again. I'm looking for materials for my introductory engineering assignment. My lecturer offered bonus points if I made a small analysis from journals." She lifted the journals in her hands. "These ones. They're really hard to find. I just found them.""Wow, smart and diligent junior," I teased automatically. It felt easier talking to her outside the formal orientation setting. "I'm also looking for a journal for Pak Dani's assignment. JSTR_Vol78_2001. Do you know where it is?"Her eyes lit up. "Oh! That Structural Journal? I just saw it on the shelf over here!" She pointed toward the aisle she had just passed. "Want me to help you look?" she offered, very friendly."Whoa, that would be great! Thanks so much, Tik!" I immediately got excited. Not just because of the help, but because I could talk longer with her without a supervisor named Akmal.The two of us walked down the aisle she pointed to. She walked in front, I followed. I watched her carefully examine the rows of journals, her slender fingers slowly tracing along the spines. Very focused. Damn, she's the serious type when studying."Here!" she whispered suddenly, excited. She squatted at the end of the shelf, pulling out a thick dark green journal. "JSTR_Vol78_2001. This is it!"I squatted beside her. "Wow, you're awesome, Tik! I was already starting to give up searching," I said. I took the journal. Her hand was still touching the cover. Again, a brief touch. Cold. I quickly pulled my hand away. "Thanks a lot, yeah. This really helps.""You're welcome," she smiled. A warm smile that made the narrow space between the bookshelves feel brighter. She stood up. I stood up too. Now we were standing quite close in that narrow aisle. The atmosphere suddenly became… quiet. Only the distant hum of the central AC.She looked down, staring at the journal I was still holding. "Pak Dani's assignment is killer, right? I heard your batch is freaking out," she started a conversation, maybe feeling awkward too."Totally!" I immediately responded, relieved there was a topic. "Just imagine, structural analysis of a 15-floor building or a 200-meter bridge. Using two methods. And it has to include data from a Consultant. That's not even counting contacting the consultant, who might not even want to accept students." I shook my head pretending to be tired. "I've even been staying up late thinking about this. I couldn't even focus watching My Sassy Girl!" I blurted out without thinking.She raised her eyebrows, her smile widening meaningfully. "Oh? You watch My Sassy Girl too?"Shit. I slipped. Embarrassed, but knowing she watched it too made me a bit confident. "Yeah… secretly. Don't spread it around, okay," I whispered, half joking half serious. "The story is funny and makes you curious. Didn't expect you to watch it too?"She laughed softly. Her voice was like a bell. "Yeah, I like it. Chun Yang is really funny. But her fierceness is so annoying." Her eyes sparkled talking about something she liked. I became more interested. She continued, "I even like watching it in the boarding house living room. Sometimes my roommates join in watching.""You live in a boarding house?" I asked, finding new information."Yeah, in the Belimbing area, near the station," she answered while gathering her journals again. "A girls-only boarding house."The conversation flowed smoothly. From Korean dramas, discussing how hard it is being a Civil Engineering student as a female minority, to complaining about killer lecturers. She told a bit about her home in Tangerang. I told a bit about my family in Pejaten. It felt comfortable. No Akmal peeking around. No pressure to be an orientation senior mentor. Just Randi and Cantika, two students casually chatting among piles of old books.I even lost track of time. Until finally…"Wow, it's already this time?" Cantika checked her small wristwatch. "I have to go back now. I need to meet my group to discuss that assignment. At five."I checked the time too. Wow, it was almost half past four. "Yeah, true. I also need to hurry and photocopy some parts before the library closes." It felt like such a waste to end the conversation. I had an idea. "Hey, Tik, as a thank you for helping me find the journal, how about I treat you to sweet iced tea at the canteen downstairs? Quickly. So you won't be late meeting your group." My tone tried to sound casual, even though my heart was pounding waiting for her answer.She thought for a moment, a small smile appearing again. "That's okay… but quickly, yeah. I can't be late because I'm the one bringing the discussion materials." She lifted her journals."Deal! Let's go!" I got excited right away. I helped her carry some of the journals. The two of us quickly walked out of the quiet aisle, heading toward the stairs down.I felt like I was flying. I had just chatted alone with Cantika, and she agreed to get iced tea! This is progress! Take that, Akmal! I thought a bit wickedly. But that victorious feeling only lasted until we reached the end of the third-floor stairs.There, standing with a pose like he was doing a photoshoot for a magazine, complete with a cool smile that instantly disappeared when he saw who was coming down: Akmal."Tik! Looking for materials in the library?" Akmal greeted, his tone flat. His eyes pierced me. "Randi? You're here too? How come you're coming down together with Cantika?"The atmosphere froze instantly. Cantika looked a bit awkward. I tried to stay calm. "Yeah, Mal. I was looking for assignment journals, then I met Cantika who was also looking for materials. Coincidentally she knew where the journal I needed was, so she helped me. After that we came down together since the library is about to close." My explanation sounded long and defensive.Akmal nodded slowly, like a detective convincing himself of something. "Oh, a coincidence, yeah?" He emphasized that word. Then he looked at the journals in Cantika's and my hands. "Wow, that's a lot of journals. Heavy. Here, I'll help carry them, Tik." He immediately stepped forward and took some journals from Cantika's hands without waiting for an answer.Cantika could only say, "Thank you, Kak Mal." Her voice was small.Akmal then turned his smile back to Cantika, pretending to ignore me. "By the way, Tik, I was about to call you earlier. I heard you got a foundation design assignment. I'm really good at foundation design, you know. I can help you tomorrow before class starts. How about 7 in the morning? I'll treat you to breakfast at the Economics canteen. The nasi uduk is really good."I could only gape. Seven in the morning? Breakfast together? Akmal, you're really sneaky!
