"You did it on purpose, didn't you?" accused Afika.
"What on purpose?" Diaz denied. He immediately protested to Afika for accusing him carelessly.
"You deliberately took advantage of the opportunity to look at my underwear, didn't you?" Afika accused him again. She also blames Diaz.
"What are you looking at? They're all so flat," Diaz mocked. He immediately turned his flushed face away.
Afika got angry, because she was mocked as 'flat all over' by the annoying senior. She protested because Diaz had insulted her. Body shaming is just like bullying in school.
"You're bullying me on purpose, aren't you?" Afika became constantly prejudiced against Diaz.
"Oh my! Instead of being grateful for being helped, you're thinking the wrong thing. At least say thank you," Diaz quipped.
Afika no longer responded to Diaz's conversation. She was still busy looking for a solution as her uniform got wet from the tap water.
"So, what do we do?" Afika was confused. It would be embarrassing if she wore the went uniform to class. She had to find a away to cover up her wet clothes. But, what to use?
"Alright, come with me!" Diaz immediately grabbed Afika's hand and led her away.
"Wait! Where are we going?"Afika interrupted. She was even more confused as Diaz dragged her by the arm, forcing her to come with him.
"To my class," Diaz told her.
"To your class?" repeated Afika in a confused voice. "What are you doing?" she asked further.
"Already … don't ask to many questions. What a nag you are! Anyway, I already have a solution," Diaz said, calming Afika down.
What solution does Diaz have? Wait a minute! To Diaz's class? Afika immediately became pensive and her heart started pounding. Isn't that Alan's class too? Then, what now with her in this state? It would be very embarrassing if Diaz's classmates, especially Alan noticed her soaking wet.
"I'll wait outside, later," Afika whispered. Diaz ignored her. He still held Afika's hand all the way to his class.
"Hey! I told you, I'll wait outside the classroom," Afika reminded Diaz again.
Unfortunately, the boy ignored Afika's warning. Instead, Diaz had the nerve to bring her into the classroom. At the time, the class was still empty. However, in a few minutes there would be a lot of Diaz's friends coming to his class. Afika became uneasy about being alone with Diaz in his class.
"Just wear my sweater! To cover up your wet clothes," Diaz gave his hooded sweater to Afika.
Afika hurriedly picked it up. It was true, Diaz had the best solution that Afika could utilize for now. She immediately put on the sweater in front of Diaz. Reflexievely, Diaz helped her. Wow, what an oversized sweater!
After helping Afika put on her sweater, it wasn't long before Diaz's friends entered the classroom and witnessed an unusual sight. That's right! What Afika said. It happened too, right? They must misunderstood Afika and Diaz's closeness in class.
"Hey, beautiful! Wow, are you guys dating?" Helmi greeted. His bucket mouth had the whole class speculating about Diaz and Afika's relationship.
"NO!" Diaz and Afika answered it compactly. Surprisingly, they were of the same mind when asked that question.
Afika became clumsy and misbehaved. After seeing Alan who was watching her. She immediately left Diaz's class. She was so embarrassed in front of Alan. She hurried, running as fast as she could to her classroom.
"Is that girl Diaz's girlfriend?" Alan frowned. For the first time he was getting curious about Diaz's fans who were mentioned by his classmates these days.
Afika arrived in class and immediately sat in her seat while holding back her irritation. Afika's arrival in a different outfit suddenly made her two friends wonder.
"Fik, whose clothes are you wearing? It looks like a guy's. The perfume smell like a guy's too," Febby sniffed at the strange clothes Afika was wearing at the moment.
"Oohh, this … sweater belongs to my older cousin's brother," Afika reasoned as best she could. There was no other choice but to lie.
"Oh yeah? Since when do you have an older cousin who goes to school here? Why didn't you tell me? Is he handsome?" Gina was immediately interested in Afika's story. She hounded Afika with questions that made her very curious.
"No! My older cousin's brother is ugly. He's ugly and annoying. You don't need to know about my cousin's brother," Afika said, cutting off the conversation.
Afika did this so that her two friends would not be too curious. Because it would be a long affair if Gina and Febby interrogated her further.
Gina and Febby were silent for a while seeing Afika's excessive reaction like that. There seemed to be a serious problem related to her current mood. So, like that! Afika has been grumpy since entering the class earlier.
***
In the afternoon, Diaz arrived home. His papa had just parked the car in the garage. It was unusual that his father was home from work at this hour. He glanced at the digital watch attached to his left arm. It was 5.40 pm. A very fast time for his father to come home.
"Yaz, help Daddy for a minute!" his father ordered. Diaz went straight to him wordlessly.
"There's a big suitcase in the boot of the car. Please bring it inside!"
"A big suitcase? What is it for, Dad?" Diaz asked spontaneously.
"Just bring it in first. You'll find out later," replied his father, sounding ambiguous.
Diaz did not ask many more questions. Following his father's orders, he lifted the oversized suitcase and carried it into the house. He saw that both his parents were at home.
His parents were now face to face with a serious conversation. Would there be another world war in their house? Or a world war that destroyed the whole house? As usual.
"Yaz, come here for a minute!" Daddy told his son again.
Father called Diaz to come over and sit beside his mother. This time the three of them would talk in the living room. It looks very serious indeed, Diaz guessed.
Mum and Dad decided to divorce. Both of them have visited the religious court office and the divorce process has been taken care of. It won't be long before the two will be officially divorced.
"What?" Diaz was shocked to hear his parents decision. How could they say the divorce without thinking about Diaz's feelings.
"Our decision to separate has been there for a long time. It's because …." His mother was about to explain. However, Diaz hurriedly got up from his seat and interrupted.
"Yes, I understand. I can understand your decision. If divorce can make you happier, that's better in my opinion. Instead of you two hurting each other in front of me," Diaz commented. He said it in a quivering tone.
Diaz pretended to be a strong child in front of his parents. He tried to understand the problems that arose between them. He also commented on it wisely. In fact, deep down, the divorce of his parents was a very sad and terrible moment for him.
So, that big suitcase … now Diaz knew what it was for. His father will be leaving the house soon after the court finalises their divorce. His father tried to give in and let the big house go to his ex-wife and son. Then, his own father said he would return to his grandfather's house in Surabaya.
"When is your final hearing? Should I testify at your trial?" Diaz asked. He didn't know who his parental rights would go to. To his father or mother. Wouldn't he also have to come to the trial to hear the judge's decision?
"Next Monday. You can come to the court office, right?" Father confirmed Diaz first.
"Hmm, Monday, huh?" Diaz was a little sarcastic at that. 'Perfect. That's the day I'll make sure you won't see me in court,' he said to himself.
Diaz went to his room after talking to his parents. Actually, he couldn't stand it anymore. He felt like getting angry. He hated the word divorce. However, he was relieved that the day his parents separated, he would not be in this city. He would be travelling away for his school holidays.
"You'll see! Can you get a divorce without me?" muttered Diaz with a sly smile as he closed the door to his room.