Episode 64. Dusted Heart

On the school terraces, a woman over 23 years old walked with a constant tone, traversing the around school.

The sun still peeping made the temperature in the school feel like a night in the desert.

The woman observed every corner of the school. She couldn't hide her expressionless face.

The first day of exams would begin very slowly and boring. It feels like hearing an old man's story.

The bags under her eyes continued to decrease every time she changed direction she looked at.

But because of what's called work, the princess still had to do the job that always attacked her sleepiness.

The non-rhythmic voice behind her was the only source of power for the woman.

The voice came from her left 'wing', the left 'wing' that would be her long life partner.

....

Point of View: Earl Xander Xander

I don't understand this situation, but my desire to not look at that orange lily flower is very strong.

Why is this happening?

Didn't I already decide?

Then why?

Do my feelings for that person still exist?

But even though I'm looking for her.

There's no way she would accept me.

Is this what they call a dilemma?

Just thinking about it already makes me feel like I'm being dragged into a whirlpool of water on my forehead.

"What's wrong, Xander?"

The harmonica voice asked me, bringing me back to reality.

The woman's head turned 25% to the left without turning her body.

Although the harmonica voice was melodious, it still startled me.

"Nothing, everything's fine." I flashed my white teeth while holding back the cold sweat on my face.

"If there's a problem..." Her voice was soft as she returned her head position. "I can be your talkshow host."

"Later, after the sun is right above us!" I showed her my right palm.

"Um... it's better to talk about personal matters now!" Widodo, who was the right wing of the princess, began to feel uncomfortable being between us.

"If you both allow it, I will leave you two..." The old man said with a trembling voice.

"No need - (I tried, but was interrupted by another voice)"

"Great idea!" (Anjani)

"What do you mean?!"

"I mean, let's rest for a while, this thing might take a time!" (Anjani)

Swiftly, Widodo bowed slightly and placed his palm in front of his heart to bid farewell.

"Then, Princess Tyas... My excuse!"

Clack! Clack! Clack!

The loud footsteps of his shoes were now gradually gone and the silhouette of his back becoming less visible.

Now we were just like a couple searching for a quiet place.

"Let's talk in that empty room!"

I, who was still staring at the old man, was startled by the harmonica sound being blown loudly.

"Uh, y-yes!"

I had to follow her wishes.

This was going to be a bit of a problem for me.

If only I wasn't tied up in politics, then maybe I could have the freedom to choose my partner.

Clack! Creak!

The sound of two doors hitting against each other was very loud, and then, accompanied by a rotating metal, the two doors were merged together.

....

Point of View: Rasyid Londerik

Waiting from the eagle's perspective made me uncomfortable, maybe walking around this school could slightly decrease my nerve. 

So that's why I am not at my post anymore. I was walking around school.

"Mr. Rasyid?" The shrill voice of the woman next to me shocked me.

"Good morning, Tasya..." I greeted her with a smile that held back the morning chill.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you at your post?!" She raised her index finger.

"Just walking around..."

"Hmm, it's the right thing...? It better move to not just stand at your post."

Her chin was massaged by her index finger and thumb. Her eyes closed as if imagining something great.

But something amazing could only be thought of by this legal loli when her mind was occupied by alcohol alone.

I even once thought, maybe Tasya was a smart person disguised as a fool.

"And now it's my turn to ask...!" I said with an increasing my tone. "What are you doing here?" I stared down at her, my retina unable to reflect her face. 

She shouldn't be here.

She suddenly became shocked and turned into a statue.

Seeing her reaction after hearing that question...

There was only one possibility that crossed my mind.

Suddenly, I exhaled, locked my eyes downward, and held my forehead with the strength of my hand.

"You... want to skip class, don't you?" I said mournfully. I mean, she left her duty as exam proctor. It is really bad not just for her reputation, but for the student's reputation.

"Ehe!"

Her tongue stuck out, her eyes not looking at me, her fingers stroking her blonde hair.

Seeing her fake cute behavior made my hand move on its own.

I pulled both of her cheeks.

"Ugh, Mr. Rasyid... Stop! I don't like being treated like a kid!"

"That's why you shouldn't try to dodge my question!"

"I-I'm sorry, so sorry!"

Feeling my frustration slowly gone, I released the pinch on her cheek and start sighed.

Her cheeks now looked swollen and as if she had a goiter.

"Oh, sorry..." I felt bad after seeing the condition of her cheeks.

"I-it's okay..." She said softly while raising her thumb.

"You're weird!" I said while tapping my waist.

"Weird? How?"

Suddenly, all the things on her cheeks disappeared as if nothing happened right after I asked.

She's really weird, seriously.

"You're not angry even though I hurt you earlier..."

I tried to analyze.

"Are you..." while holding my chin. "...A masochist like me?"

"Huh?" She said while thinking.

"HUUUH?!" Her surprise was delayed.

"A-are you a masochist?! REALLY?!" Her voice was like a ship about to sail.

"Is it possible that I, is it possible that I, is it possible that I've been infected by Rasyid's virus?!"

The soft parts of her face continued to be gripped by her fingers while she screamed.

"What the hell is Rasyid virus?! And Importantly, don't use my name on it!"

I pointed at her with wide-open eyes and a voice that passed my ballot box.

Tasya fell silent after that word, she bowed her head and her face looked dark.

I felt guilty after saying that.

I approached her to check on her.

"Are you okay-

"Hehe."

My voice was cut off by her smile.

A smile that was very wide, like a half-moon inverted.

Her eyes couldn't hold back the tears flowing down her cheeks along with that smile.

Was that a genuine smile?

"Why are you crying?" I asked with a hollow tone.

"It's nothing." She said as she ran a little away from me.

Her body leaned slightly to the side, she faced me from a distance with an expression that still hadn't changed.

Her body posture seemed to be carried away by the wind along with her twin-tailed hair.

If someone takes a photo of her now, she might get an extraordinary shot.

"See you later, Mr. Rasyid!" With that smile, she just left.

Wait, doesn't that mean she's running away from my question?

Damn, I've been fooled again.

....

Feeling like my walk wasn't satisfying enough, I turned around and continued my halted steps because of that old loli.

Or I should call her legal Loli?

I kept stomping my steps, but strangely, every step from my shoe colliding with the floor always seemed to make no sound at all.

Was this a habit?

But it seemed like, this habit shouldn't be dull.

I passed through the wide-open classes one by one as if I were checking them.

Although I didn't know what I was doing, but because it seemed slightly useful, I just did it.

Until there was one closed class that caught my sight.

I saw the holes of the lock in the door facing sideways. That meant the room was locked.

'It could be bad if Princess Tyas Anjani saw the closed class while she was around. Mr. Fat Baseball Player would definitely be in trouble!' I exclaimed in my heart as I approached the locked door.

I created a small key from ice.

Even though it was made of ice blocks, even if it had the right shape, the door could still be opened.

But when the ice was about to enter the hole, I felt the presence of two people inside.

Enemies?!

Thieves?!

Or Kidnappers?!

I brought my hearing sense to the thin wood in front of that locked class.

"Xander, I want an answer! Are you serious about this engagement?!"

A scathing voice like an assault rifle being fired multiple times I heard from inside that empty class.

Xander?!

What happened to him?