Robby felt relieved after finishing his work. He had been working hard since morning to prepare for the welcoming event for new students that would be held tomorrow. He looked at his watch and realized that it was almost lunchtime. He thought that he deserved a break and fill his stomach with delicious food. Then he invited his friends who were also busy with their own work to have lunch together.
"Let's have lunch now." Robby said loudly. "We have worked hard and our stomachs must be very hungry. Besides, we don't know when we will get a break again." he continued looking at the list of tasks that were still many in the note he held.
"Yes, you are right." Tony replied, who was sorting plastic and paper waste into a large black bag and then throwing it into the trash. "Let's go. I can't wait to taste my favorite fried rice."
"Yes, let's go!" Bara said, who was also ready. He rummaged through his bag and put the box he received from Jessie and hadn't had time to open into his bag. "My stomach has been screaming since earlier. I want to eat crispy and spicy fried chicken." Bara continued.
When the three of them were ready to go eat, Rey looked so busy with his phone. He ignored Robby's invitation and kept typing something on his phone screen. Bara, Robby and Tony just exchanged glances at Rey's strange attitude. They wondered what Rey was doing.
"What's wrong?" Robby asked Rey, who didn't seem very interested in lunch. "Are you not going to have lunch with us? You know, lunch is important for maintaining health and concentration."
"… I don't think I can have lunch with you guys." Rey answered hesitantly. "I have to meet someone. This is very important. I can't postpone it."
"Who are you going to meet?" Tony asked curiously. Because it was unusual for Rey to refuse a lunch invitation. Especially with an unclear reason.
Rey just kept quiet with a weird smile on his face. His hand didn't stop scratching his neck as if he was nervous. He didn't want to tell who he was going to meet. He just hoped his friends wouldn't keep digging for information from him.
"Alright, then, I can't hold it any longer." Tony said who didn't want to force Rey. He got up while holding his stomach that was already rumbling. Then he gently patted Rey's shoulder. "I hope your meeting goes well. Don't forget to have lunch later." he continued with a tone that sounded a bit mischievous.
They finally went to lunch without Rey. As they walked to the hall door, Bara glanced at Jane who had been looking at him since earlier.
At first Bara didn't pay much attention to it. He thought that Jane might be looking at something behind him. But gradually Bara felt curious because Jane didn't stop staring at him. He began to wonder what was on Jane's mind. To make sure, Bara tried to smile at Jane. He hoped Jane would smile back and give a positive signal. But the opposite happened.
Jane was very surprised when she knew that Bara smiled at her. Jane quickly looked away and pretended to be busy with her phone. She felt embarrassed and confused by Bara's attitude.
***
In the crowded and noisy canteen, Tony wrote down all the food orders for Bara and Robby on a dirty and torn piece of paper. While talking about Rey who was so weird lately, he chewed gum that he had previously found in his pants pocket. Rey was their cheerful and friendly classmate, but lately he became quiet and strange.
"As far as I know, Rey is a person who can never refuse food. Especially lunch. Very strange." Tony said in surprise while playing with the tissue he found on the table. He remembered that Rey refused his invitation to eat together in the canteen today, even though Rey was always hungry and greedy.
"Why are you busy thinking about him? That's a sign that you're the weird one!" Bara snapped, feeling that Tony was meddling in Rey's personal affairs. He stared at Tony with a cynical look while frowning. Bara was Tony's good friend who was always indifferent and relaxed, but sometimes he could be naughty and rude.
"Yeah, you are." Robby teased while elbowing Tony's arm. "You are Rey's beloved best friend, right?" he joked playfully.
Tony's eyes widened in shock and he immediately pushed Robby's elbow away. "Are you crazy?!" Tony protested.
Suddenly a voice came approaching them.
"Actually, who is thinking about whom, Bara?!" Megan shouted from behind them. She walked quickly towards their table.
Tony jumped from his seat when he saw his girlfriend was already behind him. He was shocked because since yesterday he couldn't reply to Megan's messages, Tony's phone was broken because it fell into the toilet.
Megan is Tony's beautiful and smart girlfriend, but also jealous and fierce.
"Megan??? You finally came, Baby. Where have you been?" Tony asked his girlfriend with a confused tone.
"Didn't Bara tell you?" Megan asked with a sarcastic tone while staring sharply at Bara. She suspected that Bara deliberately did not tell Tony about her whereabouts.
Tony shook his head with a sad face, while Bara just kept quiet and busy looking at his phone. Bara was just too lazy to deal with Megan, because he knew that Megan was his cousin who always nagged and complained.
"I stayed at my mother's house, I called you several times but you didn't answer my phone, and you also didn't reply to any of my messages! What's wrong?! What were you really doing that you couldn't respond even for a moment?!" Megan yelled while pointing at Tony. She was suspicious that Tony was cheating or lying to her.
Tony just kept silent and lowered his head. He didn't dare to look at Megan's eyes, because he knew that he was guilty. Megan snorted and then pulled a chair and sat next to Bara. She was annoyed and disappointed with Tony's indifferent attitude. She hoped that Tony would apologize and explain something to her.
Robby grinned because he saw Tony couldn't do anything in front of his girlfriend. He enjoyed seeing Tony in a state of confusion in front of Megan. He planned to tease Tony again later.
Megan herself was actually Bara's cousin. And they lived together with their uncle named Nick. They both moved to this city a few years ago when they entered the same university, and since then Megan and Tony have been dating until now.
"Tony! Order me some food." Megan ordered with a firm tone.
"Y-yes Baby, I'll order it. You just wait here." Tony answered with a trembling voice. He ran to order food, because he was afraid that Megan would get angry again. He hoped that by ordering food, he could calm Megan down.
Meanwhile, Robby and Bara were trying to hold back their laughter seeing Tony's awkwardness in front of them. Making Megan just roll her eyes lazily.
***