Episode 12

The student was frustrated and left the canteen.

"Auntie, one fried noodle," Grizelda requested.

"How many servings?" the canteen lady asked. Grizelda usually ate up to three servings.

"Just one," Grizelda replied.

"Just one? Don't you normally eat a whole bowl?" chuckled her classmate.

Grizelda gazed at the two laughing men seated not too far from her.

They ceased laughing and looked at Grizelda, furrowing their brows.

"Hey, just realized your face looks smaller, are you on a diet?" they inquired.

"You know, yet you ask," Grizelda pouted.

"Here are your fried noodles, hope your diet goes well," said the canteen lady.

"Thanks, Auntie," Grizelda said with a smile.

Surprisingly, Grizelda couldn't finish her meal.

'Could this be an automatic diet?' Grizelda wondered.

...***...

After school, Grizelda was on cleaning duty, making sure all the students had left before she started. She changed out of her uniform and into her sports clothes.

She stood in front of the mirror in her classroom.

"Have I really started to slim down? Oh my God, I should just eat diet food to lose weight faster," Grizelda admired her reflection incessantly.

After her cleaning duties, Grizelda left the classroom and accidentally overheard an argument behind her classroom.

"Who's fighting now?" a curious Grizelda asked herself, walking towards the noise.

She intended only to have a quick look but ended up seeing Rafasya in a heated argument with a senior.

"I didn't transfer here because of you, it has nothing to do with you. We don't have a relationship, please keep your distance. You're just obsessed with me, but I don't like you one bit. Clear your head of such thoughts," Rafasya told the girl.

The girl was in tears. "But Rafasya, our parents have arranged a match, so that means we have a bond," she said, hopeful.

"An arrangement is merely a request from your parents, my family hasn't consented. That is not an engagement, since it's one-sided. My family wants to decline, but hasn't found the right moment. So, don't build false hopes," Rafasya declared, looking away with crossed arms.

He unexpectedly caught Grizelda spying and gave a small smile.

'Ha-ha-ha, you always seem to come to my rescue,' Rafasya thought.

"Hey, girlfriend! Let's go home together!" Rafasya called as he ran towards Grizelda.

"What! He saw me?" Grizelda gaped, then turned to run away.

"Hey wait, girlfriend! Why are you avoiding me, girlfriend!" Rafasya yelled after her.

"Who's your girlfriend! Go date a frog," Grizelda shouted back as she ran.

However, Rafasya caught up with her and they ended up running side by side.

"Hey! What is this all about!" Grizelda frowned.

Rafasya grabbed Grizelda's hand, steering her towards his car.

"What are you doing!" Grizelda protested.

"Get in, I'll take you home," Rafasya said as he closed the door next to Grizelda and then got into the driver's seat.

The senior watched with teary, angry eyes. "It's because of you, isn't it? Just you wait, I'll make you regret ever coming close to Rafasya," she clenched her fists, vowing to herself.

Gradually, the car moved off into the street, Grizelda peering out the window, arms folded.

"Where's your house?" Rafasya broke the silence since they had both been quiet.

"You did this on purpose, didn't you? Using me as a shield to avoid her," Grizelda narrated as they passed by trees.

"Hm, not really. At first, yes, I did use you as a shield at night. I transferred here on my parents' request due to issues at my old school. I didn't expect to find you here, but at least it means I'm not alone anymore with someone I know. But now, I don't think of you in that way. I truly consider you my girlfriend," Rafasya confessed with a smile.

"That's just it, how could a handsome guy like you suddenly want to be the boyfriend of an ugly girl like me," Grizelda said.

"No, no, I really do think of you as my girlfriend," insisted Rafasya earnestly.

"Stop! Pull over here!" Grizelda demanded.

"What? Why? I want to take you home," Rafasya said.

"Stop here, or I'll jump," Grizelda glared sharply at Rafasya.

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