The hallways are grey marble floors and white walls, the doors are wooden made painted in black numbered with silver digits that match the globe shaped handles. I hesitantly walk up to

the door with the small XII –IS –C nailed above it, checking the paper sheets in my hand cause the teacher might need me to show it to her once I enter the classroom. I slowly open the door, the teacher stops talking, my heart beats faster, adrenaline floods my system, I know how stupid I am cause I woke up too late today. I’m honestly lazy to come to school but not always.. I mean sometimes, not because of school bullying or else… it’s because I’m tired of playing game all night.

I adjust my glasses and step in. The teacher with wide and thick glasses in brown skirt and white shirt then walk towards me, lifting her palm and shaking her fingers.

“Valerian, you are late! Where are your homeworks?”

I lifted my paper –sheets, “Done” I said. Then the teacher took it with her, let me seated in my place beside Bobby. The teacher then continue her explanation about the history of Candi Borobudur.

“How’s your rank?” asked Bobby. We are talking about Dota (game).

*“Now Divine*, on the way to Immortal” I exclaimed.

“Great! Damn! I just watched the new chapter of Boruto yesterday. That was amazing”

“Send it to me! Gonna bring you my flashdisk tomorrow”

“Sure”

“OH GOD! STUDENT! PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS! THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR EXAM!” yelled the teacher. But yeah, the students in XII –IS –C never pay any attention to our History teacher, cause she is too nice and gentle. They say school is a place where students go to learn. For us, school is where we have fun every day.

In the back of the classroom, a gang of troublesome teenagers unwillingly wearing the school uniform could be seen performing the rebellious act of not completely button up their shirt until their neck, the ties are gone, they are always against the school’s policies. Outside the school, they are car racers at somewhere else I don’t know, they always appeared in branded stuffs and pretty girlfriends. True gangster of the class.

In the corner of the classroom, there’s a gang of fck –boys, who tend to joke and talk every time. They snorted loudly as they laughed while wheezing constantly, yep they mostly talk about girls.

In the middle of the classroom there’s a gang of queen bees. The gang with 7 pretty girls combing

their hair, full make up on, always pretty like a group of girl –band. They pulled out their prohibited mobile phones and the sound of camera shutters clicking against each other filled the room, as they sexily posed for the picture using beauty camera.

In the front part of the classroom, there’s me and my friends. The nerd gang to be exact. We always have fun, capture each other’s weird expression then turned them into memes in our group chat. We used to play and joke with only ourselves’ understanding, so other student might think we are weird. But I never doubt that, cause I prefer being nerd rather than fck –boy or the gangster. I and my 9 friends are always together, eating lunch together, breakfast together, hang out together, watch movies together. Just everywhere… My high school is beautiful.

Paper airplanes are being manufactured with great precision at one end of the classroom and flown to the other end, hitting several annoyed children on the way and earning a good amount of foul-mouthed words in return.

Tiere is there every time I turn around, she is always sleepy during class, she sits with Velly, the

selfie girl, I honestly don’t really like Velly cause she is very clingy but it doesn’t matter that she joins our gang since the queen bees always try to outwit her cause she is from a very rich family, that’s why she became close to Tiere, a friend that never care how rich or poor you are.

Tiere and I has the same taste of joke, everything I said had been funny, intelligent and witty. She had courted my opinions but always challenge my assertions. Tiere is sometimes so embarrassing cause she used to talk very loudly, she isn’t pretty or clever, she is just very creative, that’s her! Lots of guys are after her, but mostly… hu uh.. they are the worst guy from the part of the Mars.

And I?

I am the tall nerd guy who plays game all the time. I and Tiere get along together since grade school, because we are always in the same class. Such a rare coincidence.

Anyway, there’s Misha after Tiere and Velly. Misha sits in front of me, the nerd Anime girl, she is clever and very helpful. She helps my exams, cause I always find difficulties in Math.. like everytime.

*The others are boys -Jamie, Willis, Timothy, Dave, Hugo, Bobby.. and they are all OTAKU. Sometimes I feel a little bit normal than them, it doesn’t mean I hate Anime*, I do watch Naruto, Bleach, and else. But not the PORN. Ah come on, how can a cartoon porn turns you on? I still prefer real life porn anyway.

That’s how our friendship looks like. But still I’m the closest friend to Tiere, the tomboy. She never quits her thick eyebrows and her big rounded glasses. She likes thai –boxing so much that cause her bruises everywhere, sometimes on her arm or thighs, or sometimes in the face which is ridiculous. She is kinda messy, mostly shares her love and life stories including her messy family issues. But yeah, Tiere is a very strong girl, she hates my pity and she won’t let me help her. She is always independent by herself, I am proud of her. I remember when we were in grade school, her mom and my mom used to be close friends, sometimes I sleepover her house and she did the same in the other time. But come on, don’t think

dirty. We were still innocent that time, we know nothing about sex. So don’t get me wrong, I always keep Tiere’s privacy. I don’t want to hurt or touch her in the negative way, cause I and Tiere are bestfriends. We should look after

each other right? Taking benefits from our friendship will make me a jerk, I might have to carry the sin until I die which is horrible.

Since we graduated from high school, I and Tiere lost contact.

Her Instagram isn’t contactable, I don’t know how long she hasn’t log in to her account, she never showed up online too. Her last online is about 2 years ago. Her Line ID isn’t contactable, I

sent a lot of text messages but she never got to read them, maybe she changed her account and her Instagram ID? I don’t know. Cause she didn’t post any picture too, she’s like.. disappear from this world. Sometimes I wonder where is she or how is she doing right now.

One day, I was quiet shocked when she shared a new photo on her Instagram.

Like after 2 and half years…

She was kinda messy during high school, but yeah her new picture is not startling me either. She posted a new picture without her face, covered in flowers or… taken from her back. Like what the hell Tiere.

Back in High School, she was always with her rounded glasses and thick eyebrows on, she does look like a cat that’s why we called her cat –girl, plus she loves cat so much. Everything is cat in her bedroom, she told me her underwears too. The only difference I notice is her hair, they grown longer in curls, her hair is much more beautiful now.

She finally replied my 2 and half years ago DMs.

And I was like, really? Tiere? You gotta be kidding me.

AFTER 2 AND HALF YEARS. I DON’T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO SAY TO YOU.

Tiere: Sorry I just got the time

I rolled my eyes, slapping my forehead several times. I’m kinda pissed.

Me: Hey

I replied her. Let’s try to calm down and let her talk.

She replied me with

Tiere: YO –like usually. Then,

Tiere: So how’s life?

Me: How is YOUR LIFE?

Tiere: Messy.. Like I used to be..

Then another message popped up

**Tiere: My mom and dad finally divorced anyway and I chose to leave, I don’t want to choose between them

Me: Sorry… but really? Alone? Don’t joke Tiere**

Tiere: I’m not, wanna come over? As a prove?

Me: -___-

Tiere: Ah nope, don’t. Don’t ever do that. Cause I afraid you fall in love with me. HAHAHAHA

Tiere, I haven’t seen you for ages.

Me: Alright Tiere up to you

Tiere: Hahaha! Then how bout your girl? Your first love?

Me: Caroline?

Yes, Caroline. She is my first love, since GRADE SCHOOL when I was still an innocent. Caroline is one of the queen bees’ member in my class. But among all the girls, she is the prettiest… for me, and she is very clever. Now we are in the same university and she got full scholarship. See? She is amazing. I never quit loving her, I confessed to

her during High School but she wanted us to be just friends.

We became closer since we are studying at the same university, sometimes we watch movie together. I tried to confess to her last year, but she didn’t take it seriously, she tends to change the topic. I assume she still wants to be just friends, so I will wait until she is ready.

Me: Tragic

Me: We are in the same university by the way

Tiere: I’m sorry Ryan. I don’t know what is the lack of that cuteness overload of your face

Then I remember the time when Tiere hugged me from behind, or front, or poke my nipples. She was playful and very annoying sometimes. I chuckled, that’s the funniest moment we have ever had. I kinda miss her.

Me: Thanks, I assume it was a compliment

**Tiere: Eh..gotta go. Don’t text me. My boyfriend is kinda.. possessive

Me: Alright bye

Tiere: Loveyou

Me**: -___-

We are just best friends, never more than that. We never love each other in “THAT WAY” if you know what I mean. We are just friends. Our friendship is kinda crazy. We ever talked about our friendship and relationship stuffs on each other while joking, we always say “That’s not gonna happen between us”.

I and Tiere lost contact again, after few months contacted each other. I never text her anymore, I just afraid I might caught misunderstandings to her boyfriend. I haven’t got the chance to ask her number so sometimes we could do some reunion. She is pretty hard to reach now, maybe because of her boyfriend.

Time by Time,

Day by Day,

Year by Year.

Time flies, sometimes I barely remember how long I’ve graduated from school. It’s my final –year in university. I’m doing my thesis right now and about to graduate this year, pursuing my Information Technology bachelor and was targeting a big Indonesian multinational technology company by the side of the beach in this city. I think it might be awesome if I work viewing the beach. So, I work really hard for them, pretty sure I’m accepted.

My eyes gazing straight to the computer, haven’t done a chapter, I have a lot of revisions. My head is about to blew up, god help me please.

ping ping

There’s a text message from I don’t know who it is. It’s pretty unusual because I don’t usually get text message. I rose up from my gaming –chair to reach the smartphone on my bedside

table. Is that Caroline? Well, I noticed a new movie released at the cinema.

I grabbed my phone, scanning my face then a notification popped up and it brought me to the Instagram DMs.

It’s Tiere.

Wait what? Tiere? HAH! FINALLY.

**Tiere: Hey Ryan

Me: Yes?

Tiere: Can we meet**?

We take a short meet up at the café near the bus station. She lives near the bus station so I don’t have to pick her up, then I took the bus. The time in my phone showing 15.05. Which means Tiere has arrived and must be peeved. She hates waiting.

ping ping

It has to be Tiere. I pulled my phone out from my pocket, a message popped up with a lot of red angry emojis.

Tiere: WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU? I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU FOR 7 MINUTES (in full caps –lock).

Me: Sorry, the bus wasn’t on time

I tried to make excuses which Tiere won’t believe it but at least I tried.

Tiere: FINE

Tiere: FAST

The bus lurched to a stop at the station. I walk towards the gate, head turning left and right like a typewriter trying to find the white building name Lily’s. My eyes gazing 15 meters ahead when I found the white building with blinking LED lights “LILY’S” above the entrance. I wait until the traffic stopped, allowing me to walk over the zebra cross.

When I pushed the entrance, the waiters and waitress greeted me in simultaneously as the bell jingles. Then a woman waves her hand in the air, I tilted my glasses and walks towards her, pretty

sure it is Tiere. I was a little bit shock when I saw her.

“Tiere?”

“Ryan?!” she exclaimed, rose up from her seat and hugged me really tight.

“LONG TIME NO SEE!” she jumped to my body, people are watching us. This is embarrassing.

Tiere is very gorgeous now, she has a progressive appearance. Her hair is beautiful as seen on her Instagram. The way she dressed up suits her well. She doesn’t put on glasses anymore.

I sit down straight in front of her, it’s pretty awkward since we haven’t talk or meet for ages. “Tiere..” I called her, eyes gazing her as she widened her eyes waiting for me to continue my words.

“Did you have a plastic surgery?”

She rolled her eyes, “What the hell Ryan? Have you ever seen a dck on the head?” she hissed. The same Tiere I know.. bad words is her everyday snack. I laughed and she crinkled in teasing smile. I was just testing her cause I afraid it would be awkward if she changed a lot.

“So..” I cleared my throat, “Seems like you have something urgent to talk to”

She lifted her palm, making a silly expression “Yea..yea.. you know.. I broke up”

I widened my eyes, mouth hanging open. “What?”

“Yes.. after 4 years dating” she scowled at me.

Tiere looks just fine, she used to be a player. A broke up will never break her down. “Are you okay then?” just to make sure she is okay. I know it’s pretty annoying cause we’ve lost a long contact since she dated that guy. But I have to understand her, as we grew up older, all we care about is money, career or…… boyfriend? Yes. I have to understand Tiere. It is impossible for her to spend the rest of her life with her best friends without a husband right? I have that critical kind of thinking so I tend to be so understanding as a friend.

She closed her eyes and flares her nostrils “I am okay”.

With that expression, I know she is not okay. I know Tiere for years and she will never show that expression if there’s nothing happen to her.

“Do you want to take a walk then? After this?”

“Sure” she frowned, looking at her cup of hot latte.

“I don’t know why.. his parents doesn’t like me” she added.

I quirked an eyebrow “Is there any specific reason why they don’t like you?”

“Maybe because I am from a broken family?”

She exhales a harsh breath “It’s the worst part of a relationship”.

I stretched my arm to reach her shoulder, then I give her a gentle tap “Be strong Tiere. You are the most amazing girl I’ve ever met”. At least to cheer her up. Her lips lifted upward, masking her anxiety, she is not okay.

“So how are you doing?” she asked, trying to change the topic.

“Just fine, gonna graduate this year”

“How’s your mom?”

“My mom moved to Miami with my sisters. My dad finally got the chance to develop his business there, but I choose to stay”

“Damn it, how stupid” she said, exasperated. “I want to be with my parents but both of them have a new family now. How pathetic” she added, sniffing a smile.

“Cause I think it is better I stay. Plus now I have my own apartment” I shrugged my shoulders.

“Whoa. So you are alone?” she lifted an eyebrow.

“Yeah. All alone. I’m free now. But my mom always call me like every Saturday or Sunday. To make sure I am okay”

“Okay..” she took a deep breath.

“Where are we going after this?” she widened her eyes, glancing at mine.

“I know a place” then I should bring her to a place we used to go.

***

“Cinema?” she tilted her head gazing straight at the screen with the movie titles shown. I nodded, “Yap..you..don’t like it?” I bit off each word, she met my eyes. I and Tiere never missed a movie back in High School. If our friends don’t have the mood to watch movies, then I and Tiere will go alone. It was our hobby during school.

She shrugged her shoulders, “After a long time.. my ex –boyfriend hates the cinema I don’t know why, he told me they are too expensive”.

“So fcking retarded” she hissed.

She is still the same Tiere I know. I’m kind of grateful cause I miss her so much.. there’s a quiet long time until I got to see her right now. She’s funny and very truthful.

I snorted a laugh and at the moment she implied “What are you laughing at?”. Until I stop laughing, I finally get to ask her, “So what movie do you like to watch?”

“OF COURSE MARVEL” she exclaimed.

After a long time, we got to meet each other. The same Tiere like she used to be, she is always in

complete caramel popcorn and a cup of coke. She never made it without those 2 things in her movies.

“What a wimp” she mumbled herself, crunching her handful popcorns, eyes gazing straight to the screen, kinda noisy during the movie.

It’s 8 o’clock after we finished the movie, I wave my hand towards her, and start walking to the bus station to catch the last trip.

“RYAN!” a call from 12 meters away startling me. I turn around and Tiere run towards me, jumping to my body with arms around my neck. I can feel the warmth of her body through my thin t -shirt. I grabbed her shoulders and push her back so I can catch her eyes. Her eyes glinting like wet pebbles. I could feel the pain inside her, she must be really sad of her life right now.

“Tiere? Are you really okay?” I asked.

“I’m okay..” she looked down, then tilting her head “Bye” she runs away. I was about to tell her, to let her speak to me whenever she feels alone.

 ***

It’s been a week since Tiere and I met up. She hasn’t replied my text, I assume she made it up with her boyfriend. So I don’t insist to send her text anymore. I was about to play another game with Bobby that time, then ..

ping ping

I tilted my head looking at my phone blinking beside my keyboard. It’s from Tiere. I quickly grabbed my phone to check the text.

Tiere: Meet me tonight at Jake’s. 20.00

Soon I replied her with “Okay, see you”

Seven in the evening. I got into the driver seat, buckling my seatbelt, pushed the start engine and stepping on my accelerator so that the wheels spinning.

I brake sharply as I rounded the last corner and skidded into the parking lot. The Jake’s is a night bar, not really bar. Is a semi bar and café where mostly teenagers spend their Saturday night. I get down from my car and start texting her,

Me: Tiere. I am here. Where are you?

Then my phone pinged soon as I delivered the message.

Tiere: I an nwar thw cornwr

Well, she is not okay.

The place is crowded and very noisy. I don’t know why Tiere choose this place. How long Tiere been enjoying a place like this?

Without waving her hand, I know Tiere was there, facing the wall sipping her glass of red color drink, it must be wine. She is wearing black spaghetti tank and a long black flare skirt, her blue –jeans jacket hanging on the chair.

I walk towards her, poking her shoulder “Tiere”, then I sit in front of her. Her eyes are soggy and she looked like haven’t had a proper sleep for days.

She puts the glass down, quirking her eyebrow, “Hey” and tossing my fist.

“How are you doing?” yes, she is drunk.

“Tiere..” flarring my nostrils, “What happen to you? Where do you live?”

It is impossible for me to bring her to my apartment, I have to make sure where she lives so I could bring her home when she is totally wasted.

Her eyes looking everywhere, she lifted her arm pointing at I don’t know where is she pointing at. “Do you know the Abby Apartment? The cheapest one? Well. I fcking sleep there every day in the room …..they are ugly…but cheap” she swallowed a hiccup, “Room number 606” then she leaned her head on the table.

Tiere straightened her body all of sudden which startling me, like a sudden anger boils in her. She clenched her fists and hit them on the table for several times which makes the other’s visitor tilted their head to check on us. “WHAT THE FCK CALVIN!!”

Then she dropped her head on the table again, like fainting.

I pounded my forehead, “Geez” and poke her arm. “Tiere?”

No answer.

I rose from the seat and about pay her bills. It’s early at 8 something in the evening. I don’t know what is Tiere thinking about but I have to bring her back to her apartment. She is a loner now, I understand how lonely she is, her ex –boyfriend must be very precious for her.

I came back to our table but Tiere isn’t there, her jacket is the only left. My heart pounding faster, a fizz of worry settled in my stomach. I start assuming many things. Is Tiere being kidnapped? Or being caught by the drunker’ too? No Tiere please don’t. I stretched my neck trying to check around the bar, then I saw Tiere wobbling by the toilet. I run towards her to catch her up, her face is flaming red. I helped her stand then tossing her arm around my neck. “Tiere. Wait I have to take your jacket” I stretched my arm really far to reach the jacket in the corner then I bring her inside my car.

Tiere looks really sleepy, sometimes hiccups. She leaned her head on my shoulders, lifted her chin and meet my gaze.

"Ryan? Is that you?"

Inside the car, she suddenly held my cheeks and closed her eyes. That’s the moment I feel her lips pressing into mine, not innocently, like a tease but hot, fiery, passionate and demanding. I want to pull away before I lose myself but I can’t seem to…In this moment, my senses have been seduced and I can no longer think straight. I wrapped my arms around her body. I can smell the acidic on her mouth, her tongue is playing

mine. My heart is racing, with great pounding, great pressure, every beat of them is like a rhythm in my body. It feels like an explosion of the best flavors in the universe all at once mingling together and creating the best taste and sensation you’ve ever felt. We shared our breaths and at some time she bit my lips. This is weird, the taste of having the first kiss is pretty special but I do it with my best friend, what the fck. Ryan you are a JERK, bet gonna regret it after this.

Tiere moved away from me,

"Calvin! why you broke up with me?" pouted, hit me in the chest really hard and kissed me several times on the lips again and again.

What ? Tiere ? She thinks I am Calvin her ex -boyfriend?

Tiere stopped, now she looks sleepier than ever and straight back to her seat, she leaned her head by the window and snoozed. That’s pretty quick.

"Tiere" I poke her arm.

"Tiere" again.

No answer.

Did she faint? or die?

"Tiere"

I rub my forehead, deep in depression. What was that just now? Did we just do it? NO! THIS IS BAD, REALLY REALLY BAD. I JUST KISSED MY BEST FRIEND.

I tried to focus, I have to bring her home, I start the engine and the wheels spinning against the gravels. Lucky that I asked her address before she knocked out.

It wasn’t that far, I stopped my car and start calling her again and again by poking her cheek.

“QUIT TOUCHING ME!!!” she moaned and moved away.

Tiere is very drunk. Of course she is, she spent millions for the wine. It’s pretty amazing.

“Ah come on” I moaned. I grab her hand -bag, rummaging her key.

Then I carry her my own, she is pretty heavy now, she used to be skinny, now she is heavier than ever. I carry Tiere on my back. An icy wind blew up the bottom, chilling my legs as I hold herself on my back, I hung her handbag on my arm and the jacket in the other arm, almost fell off to the ground, I feel like my back is gonna crack soon. I followed her leads down to the hallway on the 6th floor looking for the number 606. I plugged the key inside the knob and at the same time Tiere bit my ear which startling me, I almost dropped her to the ground, “Stop it Tiere!” but she scoffed as it was a joke to her. I smacked my

open palm against the door so it wouldn’t hit us while I brought her in. I clicked the lamp on, the room is painted in a cold gray. There are some pictures on the walls, some tiny decorations, and window with white curtains in half opened.

“Thanks, Ryan” she said as I dropped her to her bed, with her eyes still close.

“A kiss on the forehead?” she pouted, before I got to leave her. Did she think I am still Calvin? I finally give her a kiss her on her forehead.

“Good night” she smiles, hugging her bolster.

I pulled her phone out from her jacket and put it on the bedside table, drapping the blanket over her body. Look at her, so peaceful while sleeping. My eyes staring at her soft pink lips which reminds me of the kiss earlier. Dammit! How can I... Urghhh.. I need to leave soon. It’s getting awkward!

As I know, Tiere always keeps her spare keys under her bed. I bend my body to check under the bed.

“Ryan?”

Everything is blurry. I blinked my eyes slowly as I can see a woman with long dark hair approaching me. She’s crawling slowly above me, I was on the bed and froze couldn’t move my body, she holds my cheeks with her warm palms.

“Tiere?” she looks very pretty and hot at the same time. Her dark brown eyes staring me intensely, deeply in the eyes. Tiere leans her head forward. As her lips meet mine, the world melted away. My heart begins to pound, then it became faster and faster. I can hear it loud from my ears, it is killing my chest slowly. “Kiss me.. I want it so badly” she whispered. Her lips are soft and moist and hot and breathy, not trying to win a battle but seeking union and closeness and the sharing of one breath, one sensation, one timeless and passionate moment. Her fingers touched my neck and her hair sweeping my

face which nearly gives me goosebumps.

DDRRTTT…DRRRTT…

My face crinkled with sleep as the morning light caught my eyes through the open curtains. I reached my alarm to push them off, sit straight and slapped my forehead several times.

“This is a disaster” I moaned in desperation.

I did enjoy our kiss yesterday, but regret it so much. I don’t want to hurt or take any advantages from our friendship. Does Tiere remember that? Or no? I don’t know. I rose from my bed to take a glass of water. Then, there’s a pinged of my phone as I gulped. I walk back to my bed to reach my phone.

It’s Tiere again.

Tiere: Hey

That’s when my heart starts to race.

Me: Hey

I text back, my hands are shaking but trying to act as normal as I could, like nothing happened

Me: How are you doing? Feeling better? You are wasted last night

Maybe Tiere doesn’t remember anything about last night, it’s better that way.

ping ping

Tiere: Where do you live?

Eh? Tiere is asking where do I live? Does she remember everything? OH NO THIS IS BAD. This is really really bad. Let’s try to remain calm.

Me: Swiss Living, 003

Tiere: Okay, on my way

Wait, Is she really coming here?

I took a bath immediately.

DING DONG

My biggest fear creeping inside me, I feel my adrenaline floods inside my blood, pulsing through my veins. What if she remembers everything about last night? I keep concerning about the kiss, which is a big disaster to me. Tiere must be really pissed off, damn. I should have pushed her back when she tried to kiss me, she was so drunk, Ryan. You are the guilty ones.

I tried to stay calm, I took a deep breath and walk towards the door, peeping through the peephole as I can see her standing there waiting for me with a brown plastic bag of something. I clicked the door open, then she jumped over me, hugging me real tight. I don’t usually get freak out when she hugs me cause we used to be like that since we were kids, but this is extremely awkward since the kiss last night.

“RYAN!” she exclaimed. She looks happier than ever, like just won a lottery. Is something good happen to her? But I don’t want to ask her because as long as she is okay, means she has moved on, and she must be clearly happy right now. She lets herself in, observing the surroundings of my penthouse.

“Whoaa this is so big” she said. “You live here alone? In this big apartment?” she raised her voice with eyes popping out.

“It’s a penthouse…” I corrected her.

She clicked her tongue and hissed “Show off”

I followed her down to the hallway to my minimalist designed kitchen, she dropped the plastic of something on the countertop.

“You know. Since you accompanied me last night, I should have to treat you.. but you know..” she exhales a deep harsh breath, catching a glimpse on me.

“It is just bad. Cause I just resigned from the Tjiong company so I have to keep my money and my savings balance..” she added.

She lifted her finger “But, you need to remember that I’m just okay. When my parents divorced, I asked them for a big amount of money. I told them, it’s okay if they want to get married again. Give me the money and I will stay away from their life forever!” she gestured.

“I don’t give a fck man” she shrugged, “Then they gave me a big amount of money. Half for the apartment, half for my own savings and deposits, so at least I could get the interests from the bank. And then I work out myself like a bitch” her hands are busy rummaging the plastic, pulled out a box of instant spaghetti, and a bottle of milk.

She passed the milk to me. “Here..”

“Gonna cook something for you as a thankyou” she smiles, “You just need to wait cause I don’t need any help”

I walked backwards and sat down on the dining table, watching her cook. She is very clumsy and ..cute sometimes, different with the old Tiere, I mean her appearance. She will kill every guy with that glace. Puberty changed her a lot, I’m surprised.

“So.. how about your thesis?” she took a glimpse of me, while I am busy day –dreaming about things. I shrugged my shoulders “Almost done”

“Then how about yours?” I asked.

“I took a diploma for interior designs. That’s why I quit the fcking Tjiong company”

“Graduated?”

“HAH! Of course.. the certificates are safe inside my apartment” she hissed and chuckled.

“I registered myself for some online jobs. I have one, and still in progress. Quiet big amount of

payment” she clicked the stove on, start boiling the water.

“What are you going to do after graduation?” she asked.

“Targeting the technology company by the beach. We only need to work half a day, like 8 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon”

“Whoah. Good ones. Not gonna try to make your own game?”

“I will.. but I need practical experience though before I really make my own”

“I see.. “

“Then.. how about Caroline?” she made another question.

Talking about Caroline, she is always single all the time and now she is one of my closest friend at the university.

“We are still friends”

Tiere won’t say anything about Caroline, besides she admitted that she isn’t that expert in love l life, which is actually the same tragic as mine. Come to think of it, I haven’t talk to Caroline since we finished our class, she doesn’t even ask me out. Or maybe she is busy with her own thesis? Well, I haven’t date a girl until today, I want to date her so bad since grade school. But I ever kiss a woman……wait… My brain cracked, I feel like something breaking inside my head. I JUST KISSED TIERE YESTERDAY!

I pound my forehead, pushing away the vivid memory of me kissing my own best friend, and it was my first kiss… damn!

She looked at my face, which suddenly felt like it’s made of stone, “Ryan?” Tiere narrowed her eyes, “Are you okay?” quirking an eyebrow.

“Ah…I am fine” I give her a thin smile. I have to remain calm. She doesn’t remember anything.

The not so pretty spaghetti served on the table. I l laughed so hard at her cook and she pouted “at least I tried my best!”

Tiere sat down across me and start eating.

“So.. you never talk to Caroline anymore? About your confessions?”

I shook my head as I put a fork -full of spaghetti inside my mouth “I did, about last year. But she

changed the topic. She treats me very well I don’t know why she didn’t accept my confessions”

Tiere eats a quick bite of spaghetti, chewing as she speaks “You guys.. ever go on a date?” she lifts her eyebrow, looking suspicious.

“Often... Quiet often. Mostly she is the one that ask me out, cause if I did the first she will never say yes. She has a lot of excuses to reject me”

She took a deep breath, puts her fork down on the plate. Then rest her chin on her palm, looking at me, “Do you think Caroline likes you?”

I have never think that far, “She cares, cook for me. Is that a prove?” I said with a shrug.

“I don’t know..” Tiere continues her spaghetti.

We finished our brunch. Tiere’s just walking here and there looking through my things. She likes to go through people’s stuffs. I was lucky that I kept all my underwear in the right place.

When she is tired, she sat down on the edge of my bed. I stood in front of her, still admiring her new looks, her beauty makes my heart beats faster, but a flash of vivid memory about last night threatened me a lot. I threw my gaze away trying to do something else so the kissing scene will stop appearing in my head, then she held my arm to stop me.

“Ryan” she lifted her head to catch my eyes, I froze.

“You must be thinking I forget those things” she grinned.

My heart pumping faster. I feel tight in the chest plus an extremely dizzy in the head, then I broke out in a cold sweat of fear. Fck I'm screwed. I’m really really screwed. This is the end of my life.

But I have to remain calm, “What do you mean?” but pretty sure my expression does differently, I failed masking my own anxiety. She pointed her lips and smirked then she narrowed her eyes.

“You must be thinking I was drunk and don’t remember anything, do you?”

My face went pale, cold sweat trickling down my head. Ryan it was your fault, “I…”

“You know what Ryan?” she cut me off. She stood up catching my gaze, then tip her toes to reach my face. She leaned her head forward like we are about to kiss again “Tiere…” I try to stop her, but she moves closer to me, pressing herself against my body. “Shut up” she whispered, her lips are getting closer to mine, my heart skips a beat, it beats so strong I think my chest will burst. Why is this keep happening to me? She gives me an intense eye contact, with slighty parted lips. My body froze. This is going to happen.... again..

Then in a moment she stopped… she sat back on the bed and start snorting a laugh. “I was just teasing you!”.

Damn, that was close! I almost had a heart attack. I feel relieved, the tightness in my chest has gone, I finally can breath properly. “Sorry Tiere” I sound pathetically disappointing, and guilt made my stomach spasm. I move and sit beside her on the bed.

“You never date, do you?” she asked, hasn’t stop laughing. The kiss keeps on bubbling inside my head. My face warmed with embarrassment. I can barely look at her anymore.

I nod my head slowly. “I am a guy… Tiere” I tilted my head towards her. “I am a guy… and please do not tease m- ..”

She smiles, nodding her head excitedly. “Wanna fake date?”.

I’m surprised, I look at her with jaw hanging open. “Are you insane Tiere?” I huffed.

“I think I am. But I want to move on. Please help me. Please..please..” she said, begging. “Plus. I think Caroline might freak out. If she does love you, she will be so pissed off, at least we know the answer. And my ex –boyfriend would eat his own shits too, cause he chose to give up on me. We both have our own benefits. That’s how we get use this situation. To freak everyone out”

What? Tiere? That sounds childish! I shook my head, “N-no Tiere, that’s too childish”

She caught my eyes, detecting my unsteady words. “Are you sure you don’t want the answer? You sure you don’t want to see her expressions?”