Bookstore II

Nica immediately turned to Aaron and then glanced at Ivani who was embarrassed. Oh so this is Aaron, shit... she cursed in his heart, sorry that she had been mesmerized for a few seconds. So far, she has always underestimated the men that Ivani has a crush on, which she doesn't think is right. But this time she had to admit, this time Ivani wasn't wrong.

"Your bag, Mai," said Nica. Nica gave this bag to Mai, ignoring Ivani's strange look who kept watching Aaron. The man smiled again and Nica immediately looked the other way. Afraid to return to his charm. Crazy... Where is this guy from? model? actor? Nica kept cursing in her heart.

"Wow, thank you, luckily it didn't get lost." Said Mai while hugging her bag, very grateful. It's a bit of a hassle with the ice cream that's almost half gone in her right hand. Mai held the bag with her left hand.

Unlike her two friends who were embarrassed but didn't want to admit it, this innocent girl was just normal in front of Aaron. Because she was too focused on her luggage. Ivani is right, she should be patient eating her ice cream in the car.

"She likes to be careless," said Nica about Mai to Aaron after she managed to overcome her strange feeling earlier. Nica's tomboys, but she's still a normal girl.

Aaron smiled again making Ivani drunkenly. The girl's look was like a fool in Nica's eyes. Ok, Nica also had a bad time earlier but now she's used to it again. Ivani is bad.

Aaron's attention was drawn to the girl who was delighted to find her bag. Mai still had time to lick the ice cream even though she had trouble carrying her fairly heavy bag. Aaron smiled amusedly seeing the girl's face covered in ice cream as well as her clothes.

Oh my gosh, I've grown up eating ice cream but it's still messed up. Seeing the strawberry ice cream that Mai was eating made Aaron remember something, the image of a little girl with a smile and ice cream in her hand suddenly flashed.

"Ron, what are you doing here?" Ivani's question distracted Aaron from the girl who was busy with her ice cream.

"Oooh... I'm going to the bookstore," said Aaron.

Ya, ya, it's in the bookstore parking lot, definitely going to the bookstore not going to the electronics store. Ivani's question was so cliché, Ivani cursed herself for being confused about the topic of conversation.

"You have an ice cream stain on your cheek," said Aaron.

Ivani frowned when she heard Aaron's voice again. At first, she thought Aaron was talking to her but then she saw the man approaching Mai.

"There..." Aaron pointed and Mai blinked then nervously wiped the ice cream stain Aaron pointed at her face but failed, slightly embarrassed and embarrassed especially Aaron chuckled at her behavior.

"Not that... This one." Aaron said, he almost touched the corner of Mai's lips, only about an inch away but he pulled his hand back. Mai took a step back, the man was too close, his brown eyes made Mai feel uncomfortable again. There was fear in the corner of her heart for some reason.

"Sorry," Aaron said as if he realized Mai's discomfort. He shouldn't be so familiar with people he hasn't known for long, it's just that the girl's innocent eyes made him a little curious. Not that he's attracted to her, it's more like a feeling of... Dejavu.

Mai smiled awkwardly, with the back of her hand she finally managed to remove the ice cream stain.

"Your appearance has changed, I almost didn't recognize you," Aaron said again.

"Cute," he said as he flashed his sweet smile again.

Mai's cheeks immediately blushed, Aaron not only recognized her but also praised her at the same time. Then he flinched when he noticed the sinister aura beside him. He turned his head and found Ivani's sullen face, looking at Mai with disapproval. While Nica tried to hold back a laugh next to her.

Yeah, Ivani managed to make Mai attract the attention of men but this time Mai attracted the attention of the man she had a crush on. Nica could imagine how much regret in Ivani's heart.

"Let's go first," said Ivani, then immediately pulled Mai and Nica from there. Mai stammered until the almost finished ice cream fell onto the sidewalk.

"Eh, don't pull it," protested Nica but Ivani ignored it and kept pulling her two friends away. Ivani also ignored Mai's whining who was annoyed that her ice cream had fallen.

Aaron shook his head at their behavior, funny. He was just about to leave when he realized something, there was a small pink book not far from where he was standing. He crouched down and picked it up, like a notebook or diary book. He opened the first page and found a photo posted there. A photo of the three girls with their two best friends, Thomas and Eddo.

It must have been Mai, maybe it was scattered when the bag fell earlier. I'll return it tomorrow, he thought and then went to the bookstore.

-----

"Ok... I take back my words," said Nica while in Ivani's car on the way home.

"What are you talking about?" asked Ivani who did not understand what Nica said.

"About your crush, he's nice too," said Nica. Oh, she means Aaron.

"Why? Am I right? He's handsome," said Ivani proudly.

Nica rarely praises a man, especially if the man is Ivani's crush. For some reason, Nica likes to criticize the men that Ivani has a crush on.

"It's handsome... Yes... It's handsome but...." Nica hung up on her words, making Mai and Ivani curious to wait for what Nica would say next.

"He's good at fighting," Nica said with a sudden smile.

"No way! he's mine." Ivani said, she immediately claimed. Remember that Nica is only interested in men who are good at fighting.

"He's already taken, you said it," said Nica reminded.

"Huaaaaa... Don't need to be reminded why?" Ivani protested.

"Why is every man handsome, there are many plus points that already have one," complained Ivani.

"Hi hi hi ... That means you lost quickly," said Nica jokingly. Mai also laughed along. Ivan was sullen.

"Eh wait.. fight?" Mai said, her focus was shifted to other information.

"Yeah... It was Aaron who caught the thief, not me." Nica said with a smile.

Mai and Ivani nodded at Nica's story.

"I should have said thank you earlier," said Mai regretfully.

"We can meet tomorrow," said Ivani.

"If you want to stop by the Faculty of Health to say thank you, I'm willing to accompany you," she said again with a face full of hope.

Mai just smirked, it looks like she wouldn't be that brave, looking for Aaron to the Faculty of Health just to say thank you.

"Remember... Already taken... Don't expect too much." Nica said, she broke Ivani's beautiful dream making the girl frown again. She deliberately stepped on the gas pedal deeply, making her two friends startled and screamed.

"Uh... Aaron doesn't have a girlfriend anymore," Mai said calmly.

Ivani immediately stepped on the brakes of her car, making Nica and Mai almost jump out of their seats. Nica, who was sitting in the back, hit her head on the front seat.

"Are you crazy? Be careful... It hurts to know I hit my head," she shouted a little annoyed.

While Mai was holding her shoulder, the seat belt hurt. Luckily they were on the residential street and the side of the road, otherwise it would be dangerous.

"You... You're not... kidding, right? How do you know?" Ivani said while looking at Mai, her hands gripping both of Mai's shoulders.

"I was talking to Riven this afternoon." Said Mai.

Mai also forgot the details. Anyway, they were talking about campus, lecturers, courses and then suddenly turned to The Whale Gray, the name of Thomas and his friends' band. That's where Riven mentions Aaron who hasn't been able to move on from his ex-girlfriend and Thomas admits that he lied to Ivani to tease her, not expecting Ivani to swallow it whole.

"So that's how it is. Cynthia was his ex-girlfriend in high school and they've been breaking up for a long time," Mai said clearly and closed the story.

"Insolent... Thomas dared to lie to me... Just watch out tomorrow," said Ivani angrily.

Nica laughed too. And Ivani was even more annoyed, moreover, Mai also laughed too. Mai felt sorry for Thomas. She was sure Ivani will scold him tomorrow.

"Don't be angry anymore... You're happy right... Your crush is still single... You still have a chance... Hurry up before people take it." Said Nica teasing her. Ivani smiled to herself. Her bad mood immediately changed.

"I'm so excited. Can't wait to go to campus tomorrow," she said and started the car again.

It's good to be Ivani, Mai thought. Beautiful, sociable, and can freely talk about her feelings. Don't be ashamed to admit that you have a crush on someone. Unlike her, who is buried deep in her feelings. Fear and shame if other people know. After all, there is an agreement in their friendship, the five of them must not fall in love. Because it could ruin their friendship.

What is the relationship between Mai and Thomas going forward? There is absolutely no progress, stuck in the friendzone, even though Mai has given thousands of signals, being considerate and kind to Thomas. It's insensitive, grumbled Mai. Mai sighed.