"Listen to her and be quiet."
Nikee felt the predominance in his tone which she's sure it was just not her feeling it, because she can also notice how the class suddenly turned quiet. Aside from being silenced, her other classmates were also surprised to see him acting this way.
As soon as he observed that everyone's mouths were shut closed, he sat on his chair as if nothing happened and went back minding his own business.
Wei and Kazu were not exempted from being startled by what Jetroharu just did. What Kazu meant about him being nice is the way he talks to her, and not necessarily doing something like this as if he's moving like her knight in shining armor.
"Damn it, I just did it. The words of that spiky haired guy did some brainwashing to me. I literally just saved a nerd I dislike from being confronted by a whole class." He tried to check his surroundings again. "And surprisingly, they always listen to me."
He didn't know what he was thinking during that time, all he knew was that his body started to react before his mind calculates the consequences. It may be because he can't waste any more time knowing that this is the best timing to change her mind.
Chi is just frozen on her seat, she's not writing anything on her paper. It's the same with Jetroharu, but for a different reason.
"To clarify what I said, you guys can talk to each other, but make it quiet that it won't disturb the people around you. Please start doing your review paper."
Nikee clarified to them once more, she headed to her seat to also write her review paper.
Although she appeared to be cool, looking like her thoughts had cooled down, it was a whole different scenario inside her mind. She can't stop the chaos that's occurring in her head caused by none other than the delinquent guy she despises.
Wei doesn't see this as his eyes secretly follow her. She did look like she was loosened up which made him come up with a reason why Jetroharu helped her. "I guess they're really studying together now? " He looked down on his paper when Nikee got back to her seat. "They must have clicked." This could only be it, which his mind insinuates.
Jana and Rain couldn't believe what they just saw, they never thought Jetroharu would pull off something more surprising than just wanting to study with Nikee.
"Seriously, what's with Jetroharu these days? I thought Nikee was being bullied by him, and now he's saving her?" Jana whispered in Rain's ears.
"It's so fishy, don't you think?" Rain added.
"It really does.I wonder how Chi might be feeling right now."
"Probably the same when we're in the bathroom."
"I feel bad for Chi. They're even seatmates."
Both of them looked at their side, checking what Chi might have been feeling knowing that she is sensitive when it comes to her feelings for him. They can't do anything about it since it's something unavoidable.
"Man, what do I write in this study review? I don't even understand the lessons." He scratched his head, trying to make his brain work in giving him ideas on what to write on.
"Jetroharu."
"huh?" He turned his head towards her.
"Can I talk to you again after class?" Chi wasn't looking at him.
"Talk to me after class? Ah, I'm sorry, but I have to talk to someone after class too."
"Then after that? Are you still free?"
Jetroharu knows why she's not facing him, because her voice can clearly tell what she's feeling.
"Is she gonna talk about her again? " Jetroharu is aware that the only reason why she has that desolated tone is because of what he did for Nikee.
"You can just talk about it with me now. I'm not sure if I'll be free after that. "
"Then why did you do that?"
Just like what he expected, it's solely because of her.
"Do girls who like someone get possessive with boys they like? I mean, even if they're not dating? Is this seriously a thing?" He thought. This is not the first time he experienced this, but he had enough of these questions.
"I'm just being nice. That's all there is to it. Please stop assuming things so you won't have questions like that in your head."
"Are you nice to her because you like her?"
His jaw dropped by that unexpected for question.
He can't help but make a funny face, looking as if he was mocking her for even asking it.
"Ha!? Her? No?? What even-!?" He shouted wholeheartedly with his loud voice, the first time he was completely flabbergasted.
He was not the only one who made that expression, but also the whole class.
"Oi, Jetro. Didn't you tell the whole class to be quiet? Why are you the one who's acting loud now!?" Kazu calls out, poking fun at his empty talk.
"You know very well I didn't do this on purpose-" He shouted back.
"Yeah, That's unfair! If you're just going to break the rule you set yourself, then we are allowed to do it too!" A random guy joined their conversation.
"Right! Right!" The person next to the random guy added fuel to the fire which made the class start getting noisy again. Nikee got irritated by the clashing sounds so she got distracted.
"Everyone. I said, be quiet ." Although her voice echoed the whole room, no one was listening.
"Ah, this is getting all over the place again" Nikee knows it's nothing unusual. She looked at Jetroharu who disobeyed his own words.
"I knew that jerk was just showing off. Why would I even think he did that for other reasons? Silly me. That guy's a clown."
She immediately wears her earphones, realizing that her thoughts had calmed down after believing what he did a while ago was all for a show.
Jetroharu was defending himself continously from the false claims of his classmates, when all of a sudden, Chi continued the convo where they left off.
"What do you mean by that?"
The argument exchange he was doing with others was broken off. He looked back at her and saw the sincerity in her eyes. He had to answer her back.
"What I'm trying to say is.."
Jetroharu was hesitant to say what he's about to reply, but he's gotten tired of her misguided line of thinking between him and Nikee that he had to put an end to it, especially that the look on her face was tempting enough for him to admit these words.
"Why would a pretty girl like you get jealous of some plain nerd?"
Like what he assumed, her reaction was priceless.
"I will never have a crush on that nerd if that's what you want to hear."
"Huh?"
"Be confident in yourself, that is all."
Chi got flattered. She wanted to make sure she was hearing it right.
"Did you just say I'm pretty?" The flicker in her eyes were visibly clear
"Yeah, you are a hundred times prettier than that nerd so stop asking me such absurd questions."
Jetroharu can't believe he even had to say this, he finds it embarrassing because it's as if the words are coming out flirty although that was never his intention to begin with.
"If you think i'm pretty then that means-"
"I admire your looks. simple as that."
He knew she would say that. Chi can't help but look away, the color red on her cheeks is becoming more saturated.
"Th-thank you. I never knew you would overestimate my look like that." She tucked a strand of her curly hair behind her ear.
Hearing Jetroharu say she's a hundred times prettier makes her feel a thousand better. Thanks to his words, she began writing her study review looking pleasant as if she was sitting on cloud nine.
***
An hour had passed since Nikee announced about doing the review paper. She checked the time on her phone and realized there were only a few minutes left. She got up from her seat and walked towards the teacher's table in front of the class.
"You can start passing your papers now."
Surprisingly, a lot of students stood up and were already finished with their review papers. They all fall in line in unison. Jetroharu noticed the long line and started getting alarmed because looking at his own paper, he only had a few sentences written, including his name and section.
He tried to check Chi's paper by not making it obvious, and comparing it to his, he gave up.
"Screw this study review."
He stood up and went to the line at the back, although his paper was far from calling it a review paper.
"Oi, how many did you write?" Jetro saw Kazu who just passed his paper and was going back to his seat.
"I didn't fill the whole page but i think it was enough" He took pride in it.
"Good for you then." he can't help but make a frowned face while looking at his own paper.
"What's with that look? how about yo-" He was about to take a peek on Jetroharu's paper when his hand suddenly dodged and kept the paper away from him.
"You don't need to know." He took a step back.
Kazu chuckled because he knew what that meant. It's not like he needed to know, but he just wanted to tease him.
Jetroharu saw the line getting shorter, after the person in front of him, it would be his turn.
He looked at Nikee who was receiving the papers, and he couldn't help but think how Nikee would react after seeing his paper now that it's his turn to pass.
"As if she's not already underestimating me, I don't give a f*** at this point."
He went ahead and tried to convince himself as he came closer to Nikee.
"Nerd, here's mine." He lent his paper , which Nikee picked up without looking at him but only the paper she had received.
"That's enough right? at least I'm being honest about what I only know." Jetroharu looked away, he didn't want to see her reaction. Looking at his paper, only two sentences were written which don't even look like a review paper but a bunch of common sense knowledge from the past lesson summarized together. It's even written casually like he was having a friendly talk during a drinking session.
Jetro sneaks a look at Nikee, and apparently, she placed his paper on top of others implying that she accepted it regardless.
"Nice! Thanks!" He rejoiced.
He walked back to his chair, nodding his head in satisfaction. Nikee glares at his back, leering at his unbothered demeanor.
"That jerk really thought he did something."
She hauled her eyes onto the papers she's holding and arranged them on top of the table, but got startled when another paper swiftly appeared in her sight. This content of the paper is entirely different from what she had received earlier. No leftover spaces can be found, but only familiar handwriting from someone. Just from the appearance and the way it's written, only one of her classmates can write like that. Upon looking at who it came from, it's definitely from someone who takes his studies seriously.
"I thought I'd get another paper because one may not be enough, but I guess I was able to fit it on a single page" Wei said formally.
"Oh…this is more than enough." Nikee collected his paper and placed it on top, as where it should be.
Wei smiled and went back to his seat. He was the last one to pass his paper.
She subtly looks at his paper while fixing them altogether, the words were written in full detail, the explanations were descriptive, the format is professional, she can't help but applaud him for his hard work. Unlike the other guys in this class, Wei just stands out among all them, it's inevitable to like someone like him.
"Hey, why aren't you taking my paper yet?"
She got distracted for a second, she thought everyone had already passed their papers.
Chi looked at her, as if she was observing her from head to toe while remembering what Jetroharu mentioned a while ago.
"you are a hundred times prettier than that nerd."
Her insecurity disappears the moment she was reminded by those words, it feels like he was reassuring her whenever her negative emotions overtook her thoughts. He made a clear stance that there's no point in assuming things between them. When NIkee took her paper, she immediately turned her back, knowing that Jetroharu finds her pretty and the nerd she's conscious about is nowhere near that.
"Since you guys have all passed your papers on time, class is dismissed."
Everyone stood up from their seats while fixing their bags. They excitedly left the classroom one by one, except three students who were going to the teacher's table in the front of the classroom where Nikee was.
Chi noticed them, which she didn't mind.
"Look, he's talking to her again. And really, after class?" Jana said while waiting for Chi who's putting things in her bag.
"Yeah, don't you think it's funny too Chi-" Before Rain could look back at her, she was cut off immediately.
"Don't worry about them anymore. I no longer care."
"Huh!?" Both girls shouted at once.
"He doesn't like her. He reassured me. He told me that I should be confident and not think of such things like the idea of liking her. He told me it's never happening." Chi told everything to them so they won't get the wrong ideas anymore.
"What? He said that?" They said simultaneously.
"Yes, I told you. He's a man of his word." She wore her shoulder bag.
"Anyways, Let's go." She smiles at them and walks ahead first.
They passed by at Jetroharu.
"Goodbye, Jetroharu" which Jetroharu took immediate notice of.
"Oh yea, bye!" He waves his hand to them as they leave the classroom which Chi also waves back showing him her sweet smile. Jana and Rain felt relieved that they were seeing her again free from self-doubts.
"I'm also going. Jetro, Kazu." Wei came closer to Kazu and whispered something.
"You know what to do if he does something rude again." He tapped his shoulders firmly and waved goodbye to both of them. "I will, see you tomorrow!" Kazu replied. He wonders where that intense look on Wei's eyes came from.
"See you, Wei." Jetroharu waved back.
Wei glanced at Nikee for a brief second before he left without saying anything to her. This is not something unusual anyway. No one in the class knows they're friends.
When Nikee finished arranging the papers, she glares at the two who's waiting for her to talk.
"What is it that you want to talk about? Please make it faster because I still have to pass these papers." She seemed to be in a hurry as she put on her shoulder bag while carrying their papers.
Jetroharu tries to be careful in his approach as much as possible. He heaved a sigh and started talking.
"Just like what I told you this morning, I don't understand your notes without you teaching me that, so I prefer that you study with me." He looked at her in all seriousness, convincing her for the second time.
"I can't."
"Huh?
"Remember what you said earlier? You said I was the one in charge to take the class representative role. You should be able to get what I'm trying to say."
"What? You're trying to brag your position now?"
Kazu noticed the increasing tension again just by the tone of Jetroharu's voice, he knew he misunderstood what she meant.
"Oi, Jetro-"
"I don't have free time during and after school hours. I have a lot of errands to do as the class rep, so studying with you is impossible. That's why I only lend you my notes, at least be thankful for that."
Jetroharu didn't like the the tone of her voice, it sounded as if he's making him an ungrateful brat. Jetroharu was about to lose his temper and answer her back but Kazu notice it, and had to intervene.
"Then can we get your social media account?"
Jetroharu revolted. "What the!? What are you saying now Kazu!?"
He didn't expect Kazu to boldly say that, they already settled that it shouldn't be a part of their conversation because he clarified he didn't need any of that, but he still blatantly said it in front of him nonetheless.
"If you're that busy in school, then can he just chat with you about his concerns on your notes? I think at least just on that, you can definitely have free time to answer him."
Kazu is not holding back his words anymore because he knows there's no other way, he's getting tired of Jetro's pretense that he had to take the matter in his own hands.
"Me? Giving my social media account to him?"
"Oi Kazu! I never said I need her social media-"
"Yes, you're giving your social media account to him. He'll be your online study partner instead."
"Ha!? Kazu, that's not what I-" He's about to grip the collar of Kazu's uniform when Nikee's reply suddenly left them in shock.
"Sure, that's not a bad idea."
"Ha!?" Their jaws dropped from Nikee's swift answer causing a delay to their movements.
"That's a good alternative for someone busy like me."
Jetroharu was caught off guard, he never imagined that she would agree on that.
Kazu realized Jetroharu should finally make a move. "Dude, stop standing there and go give her your phone now!" He whispered to his ears.
Jetroharu didn't expect Nikee's reaction, he can't believe he's opening his social media after a long while just to get her account which he didn't even want to in the first place. There's nothing he can't do but follow Kazu's lead, now that he can't change what has been done. Now that Nikee actually accepted to study with her online.
"Here. Type your username." He gave his phone, while having a sense of awkwardness as he reached out his hand to her. She gets the phone and slowly types her username.
"I only use this for messages. Don't expect me to reply immediately. Moreover, don't expect me to reply if it's not study related." She handed it back and fixed the papers in her hand.
He checked her account and saw that her profile picture was a cute cartoon character, a complete opposite to her overbearing personality.
"Then, I'm going." She walks out the door as soon as the conversation was settled.
Kazu expressed his thanks which Nikee didn't pay attention to and just left the classroom to finish her errands. Now that they are left alone, Kazu starts stalking casually.
"Jetro, you heard her. Don't expect that she'll reply immediately, so don't spam her like you always do to me."
"It's understandable because she's busy, but as for you, you're intentionally ignoring it, idiot."
"Look who's talking. The real idiot is the guy who kept pushing that he wants to study with our class rep, I wonder why?"
Jetroharu was about to pull his collar again when Kazu was able to move away faster in defense.
"What? You're denying that?" He poked fun at him, laughing about Jetroharu's clumsy ass.
***
As Nikee walks through the hallway, she deeply regrets agreeing to talk to Jetroharu with Kazu's involvement. She realized it was late that he brought him because he needed his help.
"Tsk. That spiky haired friend of his saw right through it that we can just chat online." Until she also realized that her profile picture in that account is embarrassing. "Argh. If I only knew, I could have changed it!"
Nikee knew even before Kazu mentioned it, that they can just exchange social media accounts together but she doesn't want to give any of her personal information to that guy.
"I was cornered. I can't make excuses with that suggestion since that just made sense. When will this situation get even worse!?"
Her grip turned tighter as she brought the papers closer to her chest, thinking
a delinquent man she hates will be annoying her with texts every now and then.