Chapter 25: The Ice Cream Debt

I didn't remember how it happened.

Maybe it was a lost bet. Maybe I agreed to it without thinking. Or maybe Nad somehow convinced me with her usual way of making things sound reasonable.

But somehow…

I owed her an ice cream.

And that was how we ended up at Koperasi after prep class.

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The Koperasi Trip

Every school had a Koperasi—a small on-campus shop where students could buy snacks, drinks, stationery, and even necessities like toothpaste or shampoo. It was basically a lifeline for students who lived in the dorms.

Our Koperasi was always crowded, especially after class, when students rushed in to buy food before heading back to their dorms.

I was usually too lazy to deal with the crowd, but since I had a "debt" to pay, I followed Nad there.

"So," I said as we walked, "what kind of ice cream do you want?"

She thought for a moment. "Cornetto. The chocolate one."

"Figures." I smirked. "Sweet tooth?"

She shrugged. "Who doesn't like ice cream?"

Fair point.

We reached the Koperasi, and as expected, it was packed. Students lined up at the counter, some grabbing snacks, others buying instant noodles.

Nad and I squeezed through the crowd toward the freezer section.

"There," she pointed. "Cornetto."

I pulled open the freezer, grabbed two—one for her, one for myself—and handed them to the cashier.

After paying, we stepped outside. The evening air was cool, and the campus was quieter now that most students had returned to their dorms.

She unwrapped her ice cream and took a bite. "Thanks, Mana."

"No problem. Just don't ask for another one."

She laughed. "No promises."

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A Secret Exchange

We walked slowly back toward the dorms, taking our time.

Then, out of nowhere, Nad asked, "Mana, do you have WhatsApp?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, why?"

She hesitated. "I don't think we have each other's number."

I blinked. Wait. What?

I had never really thought about it before. Nad and I talked a lot in class, but we never actually texted.

And now, she was asking for my number?

I tried to keep my expression neutral. "Oh. Yeah. Here."

I took out my phone and quickly typed her number. She did the same.

And just like that, we had exchanged contacts—quietly, without anyone else knowing.

It felt… different.

Not a big deal. But also, somehow, a big deal.

She glanced at me. "Don't worry. I won't spam you."

I chuckled. "Better not."

The conversation moved on to random topics—school, teachers, the upcoming exams—but a part of me kept thinking about my new contact list update.

For some reason, it felt like March had just taken another unexpected turn.

—Mana, March 2017