That day, the class picket schedule had been rearranged due to a new student. The new schedule made Tasia's lips pout.
Yes, Tasia had a picket turn on Thursday. And to make matters worse, on Thursday's picket list there was one name that bothered her quite a bit, it was Hadyan.
"Come on, Nadine.. I have a violin course every Thursday." Tasia whined, trying to persuade the exotic brown-haired girl.
"Sorry, Tasia. I can't, I have a basketball club on Thursday." She rejected.
"Besides, your violin lessons start at 7 pm, right? There shouldn't be a clash if you do the picket today. Done picket until 5 pm at the latest, the trip to your house is less than an hour." Tata calculated. Tasia glanced at her sarcastically. What an annoying girl.
"B.. but still. It would be so tiring if I just got home and immediately set off again. It can take up to an hour from my house to go to the course place."
"Of course you can, seriously. You just have to take a taxi. After all, the fare is not much different than a bus. The problem is, no one else wants to swap schedules with you." Said Sandra who had been chatting with them. Incidentally, she also got the picket schedule today.
Quietly, Hadyan listened to the girls' conversation.
Picket huh? Without Patra. It's a good opportunity to get close to Tasia.
**
"Goodbye, Tasia!" Tata and the others waved at her.
"Don't worry, Tasia. I've asked Hadyan to help you more." Marya said proudly.
Tasia returned the wave of her friends with a wry smile as sighing multiple times.
'What was up with Marya? She spoke as if Hadyan would always obey her. Besides, I don't need his help if it's just for picket. How hard is it to clean the classroom?' Tasia thought.
"By the way, Hadyan! Don't forget my messages!" Marya shouted again. Tasia secretly glanced at her annoyed.
Hadyan smiled and nodded to the cheerful girl.
Then Tasia immediately turned around to enter the classroom and took the broom hanging near the cupboard.
"I'll put the chairs up," Hadyan said.
"Okay," Tasia replied casually.
"You don't need to listen to Marya's request that you should help me more. I know.. even though Tilly doesn't come today, but it's just a class cleaning. It's not a heavy job."
"I'll still help you, Tasia," Hadyan answered from behind the table, watching Tasia who was talking to him without even looking at his face at all because she was busy with the floor and broom.
"I know you obeyed Marya's request. But, I am strong and independent enough. So, I can just tell Marya that you are very helpful to me. So, you don't have to bother."
"This is not because of Marya's request. I will indeed help you whether she or you asked me or not. I will always be helping you. Got it?"
Tasia immediately stopped her activities and looked at Hadyan confusedly while putting her hands on her hips. There was a feeling of shock and fear within her. "Y.. You are just.. like.. a maniac. Sorry if you got offended." she was been honest.
"Maniac? What is it?" Hadyan repeated.
"You don't know the maniac, do you?" Tasia asked. Hadyan shook his head innocently.
"Em.. it's.. nothing. Forget it." Tasia said with an amused smile on her lips.
"Is there something funny?" Hadyan joined in laughing by seeing Tasia's expression which was very visible covering her laughter. A dimple formed on the girl's right cheek as her lips tried hard to hold back a laugh.
But Tasia finally let out a laugh, "I'm sorry, I find it very funny on your confused face. If only your face could always be like that, it wouldn't be as scary as usual."
"Really? So, all this time you think my face is scary like a ghost?"
Tasia nodded and laughed even more when she realized Hadyan deliberately made a strange look on his face, "Hey! You're too much! I never said you looked like a ghost!"
"But your face looks like you've just seen a ghost every time I talk to you. I feel like I just want to wear a mask. Do you know? Just like a clown." Hadyan said.
"Well.. that would be better. I like clowns!" Tasia nodded in agreement. Then they laughed together.
"I'm willing to make my face like anything just to make you keep laughing like that," Hadyan said.
Tasia's heart immediately thumped hearing those words, "I'll die if I keep laughing." she replied, immediately resuming her sweeping activities which had been delayed because of joking.
They cleaned and tidied up the classroom in silence. Only a few times asking each other for help and coordinating when clearing the table. Because one of their classmate, Tilly, didn't come today, so the three of them had to clean the classroom with a minus member.
"Let me move the table." Hadyan immediately grabbed the front table which was shifted due to being hit when the floor was cleaned earlier.
Tasia agreed by taking a few steps back.
"Tasia, about what happened last night you told us about. Were you that scared?" Hadyan asked uncomfortably.
"Of course I was scared. I think I could die of fear." Tasia replied.
"May I know, why are you so scared? Honestly, I'm very curious."
"I don't know. Since my family died, I've been more afraid of things, especially when I'm alone. I feel like if someone wants to harm me, then no one would come to help me. It's actually just psychological trauma. My friends said that..."
"It won't happen again. I promise. I was wrong about you." Hadyan cut in, showing a strange expression on his face.
"W-why are you? It's got nothing to do with you anyway." Tasia said.
"I.. I mean, you have to believe that you won't experience anything like that night anymore. And I'm so sorry about your family. I wish I had known it earlier, so I could have known you better."
"O.. oh.. Thank you then." Tasia replied confused. This guy was very ambiguous to Tasia. His speech and way of speaking were strange.
'What kind of plan it was, Rangin?!! I even tortured the girl I love myself.' Hadyan growled in his heart.
"Guys, are you done yet?" Sandra asked.
"I just need to put a few more chairs on the table. Are you going home already?" Tasia asked.
The quiet girl with a cute voice nodded, "My dad is waiting outside. I've also done all my jobs. I'll go now. Bye!"
"Don't worry, Tasia. I'll do things quickly so you can go home immediately." Hadyan said. He knew Tasia wanted to hurry home, even though he also knew that it was to avoid him.
"It's okay. Don't be in such a hurry, It might..."
BAM!! One of the chairs fell from the table because it was hit by Hadyan's arm. Unexpectedly, his strength was big enough that a touch of his arm could move their school chair which was quite heavy.
"I haven't finished talking yet, it's already happened! There's no need to rush like that, Hadyan!" Tasia scolded him as immediately helped to put up the fallen chair.
Instead of regretting it, Hadyan laughed amused, "I didn't know you could be this fierce."
Tasia blushed a little, she didn't usually show her fierce side to people she just met. Even to her own friends, she rarely showed it.
"You made me angry." Tasia rolled her eyes.
"I didn't mean to, Tasia." He laughed again, desperately wanting to rub her head, but he held it in.
"Come to think of it, I always do reckless things in front of you. Like when I fell off the motorbike in front of you. And you always offered to help me."
"Of course I'll help. How could I just leave someone in trouble like that?" Tasia said.
"You're right. There's no way a girl with a heart like you would let other people suffer. Especially a child." Hadyan muttered as half daydreaming.
"A child?" Tasia repeated. What's that got to do with a child? What a strange guy.