It's not what she expected 10

On that day, Sebastian nibbled on light snacks, still unable to believe he'd survived the past three months. December had arrived, crisp and unrelenting, yet the weight of his stress lingered like a fog. Rian hovered nearby, as ever—a steady presence through the unraveling.

"I'm heading out. Need to grab something," Sebastian muttered, avoiding Rian's gaze as he stood.

Rian rose instantly. "Let me buy it for you. I'm your boyfriend. I'm here for everything."

Sebastian managed a faint smile. "So extra. I'm turning 18 soon—I can handle a snack run. But… thanks."

The smile, fragile as it was, sent warmth flooding through Rian's chest. Three months since he'd last seen that flicker of lightness in Sebastian's eyes.

'He looks… adorable' , Rian thought, heart swelling.

"Wait—your birthday's coming up!" Rian blurted, scrambling for joy. "I'll get you something epic. You'll love it."

Sebastian shrugged, feigning indifference though a spark lit his tired gaze. "Really? I mean… sure."

"Promise," Rian said, pulling him into a hug. Sebastian melted briefly, then slipped away, heading to the cafeteria.

He didn't want to go. Didn't want to move, to breathe, to exist. But Rian's relentless kindness left him no room to collapse—not again.

In the cafeteria, Sebastian stared blankly at snack racks, the fluorescent lights humming like a taunt. Three months. Three months since he'd felt human.

But Rian's voice echoed in his mind 'Epic gift. Promise'

For the first time in weeks, Sebastian's lips quirked upward. Just a little.

-

On the path to the cafeteria, Sebastian spotted Emeka walking away from Dewi and Farhan, their figures huddled like conspirators. His curiosity prickled, and he lingered just close enough to catch fragments of their conversation—Farhan's voice booming, "You're still on that?" Dewi's reply a tense murmur.

'Are they talking about me?' The thought flickered, fragile but stubborn. 'Maybe she's reconsidering…'

Not wanting to risk another rejection, Sebastian pivoted toward a corner store instead. The humid Jakarta air clung to his skin as he walked, head down, until—

"Basti?" A voice—bright, disbelieving—cut through the street noise.

He froze. No one had called him that since fourth grade.

Ela stood before him, her grin as wide as the day she'd left for Jakarta a decade ago. Time had sharpened her features, but her eyes still sparkled with mischief. "Eerie?" he croaked, the old nickname slipping out.

They collided in a hug that felt like rewinding time. "How'd you even recognize me?" Sebastian laughed, breathless.

Ela pulled back, smirking. "Please—your Weibo's full of those moody selfies. Though I didn't expect to bump into Jakarta's gloomiest snacker."

He rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a grin. "What are you doing here?"

"Job interview." She gestured to her blazer, rumpled from the heat. "You?"

"Snack emergency." He held up an empty chip bag.

Ela snorted. "Same old Basti. Here—" She scribbled her number on a receipt. "Dinner soon? No moody selfies allowed."

Sebastian pocketed it, warmth blooming in his chest. "Deal."

As they parted, he missed the figure watching from across the street.

Dewi stood frozen, her phone clutched too tight. The boy who'd barely smiled in months, now laughing in another girl's arms. A twist in her chest surprised her—sharp, hot, and utterly inconvenient.

—

Dewi glimpsed Sebastian's reflection in the window as he lingered outside, his gaze darting toward her before he abruptly turned and vanished into the crowd. A pang of suspicion tightened her chest.

"Let's talk later—urgent thing came up," she lied to Farhan, already stepping backward.

"Fine, but don't forget tomorrow," Farhan called after her. "Bring all the stuff he likes. His birthday surprise needs to be perfect."

'Shit. His birthday's is coming soon, i need faster my mission'. Dewi bit her lip. "I'll bring what I have. Just make sure you bring the dirt on Emeka."

"Deal."

She sprinted after Sebastian, her sneakers slapping the pavement. He veered toward a roadside snack stall, shoulders hunched like he carried the weight of the world.

'He probably hates me now,' she thought, guilt gnawing at her.

Dewi ducked behind a parked motorcycle, watching as a girl with a familiar laugh approached him. She strained to hear their conversation, but the honking traffic drowned their words. Then—they hugged, warm and effortless, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

'Who the hell is that?'

Before she could inch closer, a hand clamped her shoulder.

"Why are you lurking?" Putri's voice cut through her panic.

Dewi whirled around. "N-No reason! Just… thought I saw a pickpocket."

Putri scanned the empty street. "There's no one here. You're acting sketchy."

Dewi glanced back—Sebastian and the girl were gone. Relief and frustration warred in her gut.

"Anyway," Putri said, "Rian asked me to talk to you. He's worried. Let's grab coffee."

"Cafeteria's fine. I need to pick up food anyway."

As they walked, Dewi's mind churned. 'Who was she? A friend? A new…?'

But Putri's voice dragged her back. "Rian wants us to help fix things. Between you and Sebastian."

Dewi froze. "Fix things?" The words felt like a dare.