This afternoon, Dinda left her apartment and checked out the residential area across the street like Nadya suggested. She walked around the block to find whoever needed an after school lesson. There, she found it;four of them at that. They didn't want to take their children to an education center since their schedules were pretty tight so they preferred a teacher that would do their job at the students' home. She was lucky because all four of them lived side by side so they did not have to go very far from their home. She suggested that they took the course together in their home. Their parents agreed, especially since she only asked a modest price for her service. So, from monday to thursday each week, she would be their teacher. However, Dinda asked to be paid in advance. At first, the parents disagreed, but they paid her anyway after she explained why she needed to be paid in advance. Now Dinda has more money for her needs this month, and a little something for when the rainy days come.
Dinda smiled, it turned out that her life here was not as hard as she would have imagined. She looked forward to a peaceful life without having to lay her gaze upon someone that she hated with every fiber of her being.
The next morning, Dinda went to her school way earlier than usual. Dinda invited her roommate but she appeared to be having a hard time getting out of bed. She said she had a sleep problem for the past two nights. Dinda had no idea why she suffered from a sleep problem. Sometimes Dinda thought that her roommate was disturbed by her cries during the night. She tried to shrug off such thoughts.
Dinda took a seat in her place, Selly had already taken a seat before her. She was sitting, glanced at Dinda, smiled a little, then resumed whatever she was doing with her book. Dinda herself was staring at her desk, she saw a sealed book on it. It was the book she intended to borrow from the library yesterday.
"Yours?" Dinda asked.
Selly rolled her head, then she stood up to turn on the AC. She picked up a broom and started sweeping the class. Dinda knew what she had to do, she picked up a feather duster and started dusting the desks and windows.
"It has been there before I came here. I think it was for you." Selly answered.
Dinda returned to her desk to examine its origin, but there was no label, no letter, no message, or anything that might be linked to the owner. She could only guess, and it fell into a single person. Who else would do such a thing if it's not Nathan? The boy who marked her, who would make her expelled within a week.
"Two days." Dinda remarked "You have said that whoever is marked by Nathan will be expelled from the school within a week. This is my second day here, will I be expelled within five days?"
Selly did not answer because several other students had arrived at the classroom.
"You're so pretty, diligent, kind, cool, and smart. You really are an ideal wife, Dinda. If only you were willing to be my fiancée." Regar said. That shiny-haired boy smiled brightly at Dinda but she ignored him.
"Dinda, what kind of guy would you like to have? If you want a faithful man, then I'll be the first in line to take your hand. But if you look for a rich boy, I'll take my leave." Benny blurted.
Selly laughed after she heard what Regar and Benny said. But she did not dare to say anything since she was the most unnoticed girl in the classroom. Nevertheless, she was grateful for not being targeted by the three pillars.
"Shut it, dumbass! Your words are really grating my ears!" Regar said while slapped Benny across the face.
"Well it's worth the try, you shithead! Who knows, Dinda may make a random choice and be willing to go out with me." Benny replied.
But they quickly composed themselves as they saw Nathan come in. He walked in leisurely without any care whatsoever then took a seat in his place.
"It was unusual for him to arrive this early, he will visit his concubines first." Regar blurted.
"That is to be expected, he had his eyes on a new prey. An armistice must be in effect immediately!" Benny laughed.
Dinda paid no heed to whatever Regar and Benny said. After she was done with her chores, she returned to her desk, picked up the book that had been there since she arrived and slammed it on Nathan's table. That brown-haired boy seemed confused as he looked at Dinda with his grey eyes. But Nathan did not budge as Dinda glared at him.
"This must be your doing, right? Dinda asked but Nathan did not answer. "Stop acting like a hero, I don't need this." She continued then returned to her seat.
Regar and Benny elbowed each other, then they took a seat around Nathan's desk.
"Damn, man. This is the first time we see you remain still when a girl scolds you. Are you okay?" Regar said that while placing his hand on Nathan's forehead to check whether his friend was right in the head or not.
"You do not need to return this, I believe you will need it for the upcoming lesson." Nathan kept his composure and calmly gave back the book to Dinda.
Dinda only glanced when the book had returned to her desk. She really wanted to yell at Nathan for that but she somehow managed to restrain herself. She was afraid that her friends would question her as to why such a thing would drive her insane.
"You are not obliged to help me and I don't need your help." Dinda returned the book and walked away from him.
Selly nudged Dinda with a frightened look on her face. While Nathan sighed and smiled a little to retain his composure.
"Be patient, Nathan. This is a challenge for you. Not every girl would easily kneel before you. We got this new species named Dinda that has rejected us bluntly." Benny said.
"You suck." Nathan mocked him.
Regar laughed. "The hell are you saying? You were turned down in seconds just like us, so 'we suck' is more like it."
Nathan chuckled to hear that. Those two boys talked pretty loud as if the boy who they were talking about was nowhere near an earshot.
"Anyway, this is the first time that Nathan has been declined by a girl just like we always were. This moment must be celebrated, go make us a huge tumpeng, dummy!" Benny exclaimed.
"Well I'm gonna cook it inside that thick skull of yours!"
"We need tumpeng to celebrate our mutual defeat! Hahaha!"
"That ain't funny, you moron!"
Nathan was laughing to see his friends' antics, those three boys acted equally weird as if they were made in the same factory.
"You should not act like that, Dinda. Don't be too harsh on him." Selly whispered.