"Are you serious?!" Crystal exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief. Shana closed her eyes, a throbbing headache forming behind her temples. She couldn't understand Dirgan's abrupt departure. After her confession, she had expected an angry outburst, a confrontation. Instead, he had simply left without a word.
"But isn't he angry?" Bayu questioned, bewildered. "I mean, Dirgan has a temper. He wouldn't just walk away like that." They all remembered the fiery temper Dirgan had displayed during their high school years.
"Yes, he also loves you deeply, Shan. Why did he just leave?" Agus observed, his gaze fixed on Shana's troubled expression.
"I don't know," Shana admitted, feeling utterly confused. Dirgan's unexpected departure had left her reeling.
"Veri will also be back at school tomorrow," Lisa announced.
"What? Isn't he supposed to be out of town for two more weeks?" Shana asked, surprised.
"It's been two weeks, you've been spacing out," Lisa pointed out. Shana rubbed her temples in frustration. Problems seemed to be piling up, even when Dirgan wasn't around to cause chaos.
"What about Intan? Any new developments in the investigation?" Shana inquired, the memory of her friend's tragic death still haunting her. The guilt of not fully listening to Intan weighed heavily on her conscience.
"Still under investigation. It's proving to be quite difficult. Intan was a solitary figure, rarely interacting with others beyond her visits to the library," Bayu explained.
"Who knows, maybe she met her boyfriend there?" Agus suggested, his tone lighthearted.
"No one dates in the library. You'll get scolded by Ruli if you're even caught trying," Crystal chided him.
"Just a theory. The police are currently investigating the possibility that she may have become pregnant outside of school," Agus admitted, the jovial tone disappearing from his voice.
The room fell silent. The possibility of Intan's pregnancy was a chilling revelation. Shana knew Intan well. She was a quiet, introspective girl who spent most of her time immersed in books, attending library events, and occasionally joining Shana on the rooftop to discuss their favorite book series. Intan had never mentioned having a romantic relationship.
"I need to talk to the head of the school organization," Shana said, a renewed sense of urgency fueling her. "Where's Brian?"
"Basketball field," Lisa replied.
***
Shana sighed, glancing at her watch. She had been waiting for Brian, the head of the school organization, for over ten minutes while he played basketball. His team lacked a substitute, so she had to wait until the current game concluded.
As the whistle blew, signaling a break in the game, Brian approached his deputy. Shana opened her mouth to call out to him, but a basketball suddenly whizzed past her face. Startled, she instinctively closed her eyes, bracing for impact.
The sound of the ball hitting the ground, followed by the gasps of several female students, filled the air. To her relief, she felt no pain. Opening her eyes, she saw Dirgan retrieving the ball, his gaze fixed on the court, seemingly oblivious to the near miss.
Brian finally left the court, replaced by Dirgan. Shana watched him, his demeanor unusually subdued. It was unlike him to ignore her.
"Well done, Dirgan! Rafi's throw was quite powerful,' Brian remarked, greeting Shana with a nod. She was still processing the near miss, her gaze lingering on Dirgan.
"I want to discuss Intan," Shana said, her voice serious.
"Yes, I want to as well. But it's beyond the scope of the school organization now that the police are involved," Brian replied.
"They're moving too slowly, Brian. The police investigation is hampered by school schedules. They can only conduct interviews after school hours. We need to help them," Shana argued.
"The problem is, this matter falls outside our jurisdiction," Brian explained. "Even though we submitted a proposal, the principal rejected it. However, Dirgan and his group might be able to assist. They seem to operate outside of school regulations."
Shana chuckled wryly, running a hand through her hair and biting her lip in frustration. The school organization was severely limited in its scope, particularly due to the rigid and conservative nature of the vice principal. He consistently rejected any initiatives that challenged the status quo, hindering their ability to address important issues like student safety and well-being.
The principal himself was rarely on campus, making it difficult to address concerns directly. Shana felt stifled by the bureaucracy and the lack of student agency within the school system.
"We will focus on our studies and the upcoming graduation exams for now, Shana," Brian suggested. "The student council elections are coming up in the second semester. We can address these issues then."
"But Brian, I—" Shana began, but her words were cut short by a sudden commotion on the court. A heated argument erupted between Dirgan and Rafi, quickly escalating into a physical altercation.
"Before you worry about Intan, you should take care of your boyfriend first, Shana," Brian remarked dryly. "He seems to be losing his temper again. Looks like he's targeting Rafi because the ball he threw almost hit you."
Brian had always been a source of support, but he also knew Dirgan's volatile tendencies firsthand. Dirgan had caused numerous disruptions during their time in school, often acting impulsively and without regard for the consequences.
The situation quickly escalated. Dirgan, fueled by anger and perhaps a touch of jealousy, unleashed a flurry of punches, landing several blows on Rafi. His supporters cheered him on, while others tried to intervene.
Dirgan, panting heavily, wiped the blood from his lip and retrieved the basketball. He glared at Rafi, who was struggling to get back to his feet. Then, with a chillingly deliberate movement, he swung the ball at Rafi, narrowly missing him.
The moment Dirgan readied to throw the ball, Shana's hand shot out, landing a hard slap on his cheek. The basketball court fell silent. Ari, who had been enjoying the spectacle, was bewildered to see his best friend and boss being slapped by his idol.
"You haven't changed at all, Dirgan," Shana declared, her voice sharp. "One year hasn't been enough for you to curb this childish behavior? I'm deeply disappointed. Stop these embarrassing antics!"
Dirgantara stared at her, a slow grin spreading across his face. Shana had finally shown some emotion towards him, a stark contrast to her usual reserved demeanor. He realized that the year they'd been apart had brought them both a degree of maturity.
"Why should I change? It's fun," he retorted, holding up the basketball. He feigned another throw, earning himself another, more forceful slap.
"We're adults, Dirgan!" Shana exclaimed, exasperated. "Stop stirring up trouble!"
Her words cut deep, but Dirgan remained unfazed. "Alright, bitch," he muttered.
Shana was taken aback. Her eyes welled up as Dirgan passed the ball to Ari, who caught it with a practiced ease.
"What did you say?!" she demanded.
"You heard me," Dirgan replied, limping away. His knee had taken a nasty hit during the scuffle. The Science team, disheartened by the altercation, began to disperse.
"Looks like you slapped the wrong person," Ari remarked, noticing Shana's simmering anger. He raised his hands defensively, knowing her temper could flare. "He also called you a 'naughty bitch' and implied you were pregnant because you spent time with Intan while he was away."
Shana turned to Rafi, who was nursing a bruised stomach, in disbelief.
"I-I was just joking," Rafi stammered.
"He also said he saw you with other men at night," Ari continued, revealing the full extent of Rafi's insults. Rafi, deeply offended, looked down at the ground. He had been harboring resentment towards Shana for testifying against him in a recent incident. He angrily threw the ball towards her, venting his frustration. Shana knew Rafi had been infatuated with Intan, but she hadn't told him that Intan was pregnant with another man's child.
"You should think before you act, Shana," Ari said. "Who's the immature one here? Dirgan was trying to defend you."
***
Shana ran after Dirgan, who was limping toward the medical room. She was furious with him for his earlier behavior. Shana knew she needed to consider his recent change in attitude; he wasn't the same arrogant man he used to be.
"Dirgan!" she exclaimed, rubbing her cheeks after kicking Rafi. She had defended him, only to discover that he was the one who had wronged her. Dirgan had been trying to protect her image. Shana couldn't let her pride get in the way, especially when this man was trying to defend her honor.
She looked around. Nurse Zefa was likely in the canteen. Dirgan had already opened the medicine cabinet and was pouring alcohol directly onto his injured arm. Shana quickly grabbed his arm, but he brushed her off. He tried to put the alcohol back, but Shana intercepted him.
"Dirgan, it's not like that, let me—"
Shana gasped as Dirgan threw the bottle of alcohol, shattering it against the other medications. His cheeks were still flushed from her slap, a memory that had haunted him for a year.
"Fuck you," he growled. He tried to reach for the alcohol again, but Shana blocked him. His clumsy handling of the injury would only worsen it.
"Dirgan, please—"
Dirgan pushed her away, intending to shove her out of the way. Shana lost her balance, falling and striking her head on the edge of the patient's bed. She groaned in pain.
Dirgan was immediately remorseful. He hadn't meant to push her that hard. He stepped back, his movements hampered by his injury. Both of them had been too emotional, and Shana had already conceded. Now it was his turn.
"Damn it!" he muttered, Rafi's words echoing in his mind—accusations about Shana's supposed promiscuity, and the hurt she had caused him by denying their relationship.
Dirgan kicked the medical room door, sending a tremor through the window glass. He returned to Shana, checking the red, swollen bump on her head. He sighed, then gently lifted her onto the patient's bed.
"I'm sorry," he said, his voice gruff.
Shana held onto his arm, halting his retreat. "Me too. Let me treat it."
She climbed down from the mattress and guided him to sit on the edge of the bed. A tense silence followed until Dirgan finally sat down.
Shana quickly retrieved the first-aid kit, designed for student emergencies in the nurse's absence. She pulled a chair close and sat facing him, examining the pebbles embedded in his palm.
"Your lips first, they're still wet," she said. It was important to ensure his hands were clean. She stood up, returning with cotton and antiseptic.
Shana leaned closer, gently applying the antiseptic to his lips. His gaze met hers.
"I tried to forget about you last night," he confessed.
"And?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"I craved you even more," he admitted. Shana sighed. She gently lifted his chin, parting his lips slightly as she applied ointment to the cut. She didn't respond. The answer would always be the same, despite her attempts to resist and move on.
"Whether it was in the past or now, it doesn't change anything. You're mine. We're dating, and it's not over," Dirgan declared, ignoring Shana's protests from the previous day.
"Yes, I know. It's impossible to escape you," Shana conceded, a wry smile playing on her lips. She gently examined his face, noting the lingering redness from her slap. Then, she turned her attention to his knee, checking for any embedded pebbles.
"My elbow hurts too," Dirgan complained.
Shana looked at his elbow, then gasped. A long, red scratch marred his upper arm. "How... Oh my god." The urge to scold him was strong, but she held back. After all, he had been defending her. She reached for the cotton, but he suddenly grabbed both her wrists, forcing her to look at him.
"I like you, Shana, a lot. Please, don't let me build this alone," he pleaded, his gaze intense. He yearned for her reciprocation, for her to acknowledge their connection.
"Things like this aren't—"
"Shana, look at me. What's lacking in me?" he interrupted, his voice firm yet gentle.
Shana met his gaze, finding a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. This wasn't the domineering Dirgan of old.
"Your attitude," she said, her voice soft. "If you like me, respect me. Respect my decisions, and consider my opinions. This relationship involves both of us. I'm not just an accessory. Dating doesn't mean we're glued to each other. I can't be by your side every moment."
Dirgan looked down, the memory of his past transgressions weighing heavily on him. He gently rubbed her arms with his ring finger. His actions had haunted her. Yet, he couldn't let her go.
After waking up in the hospital, Dirgan had deliriously called out for her name. He had vowed to make amends, begging her to visit him weekly for a year. But she had never come.
"I'll change for you, Shana. I'll try to be—"
"You don't need to change, Dirgan. You're enough. I just need you to consider me in your decisions. This is our relationship, not just yours," she explained.
He pulled her close, his arms encircling her waist as she returned the embrace. He buried his face in her hair, finding solace in her warmth.
Shana felt a shift in their dynamic. This Dirgan was different. He was asking for her, not demanding her. Yesterday, she had felt a sense of ease around him, a comfort she hadn't experienced before.
"So, you want to be my girlfriend?" he asked, his voice a low murmur.
"Consider it official as of today, not two years ago. We officially started dating today," she replied.
To Be Continued...