"Poor chicken," Dirgan teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Shana and Dirgan were caught embracing in the medical room when Nurse Zefa entered. Shana attempted to deceive Nurse Zefa with a fabricated excuse, but her deception was quickly exposed.
Both were subsequently dismissed from the room, leaving Shana feeling humiliated. They were now seated in the canteen, processing the encounter.
Shana speared a piece of fried chicken with her fork, her emotions simmering. "This is all your fault, Dirgan! You shouldn't have hugged me. Do you think this is your school?" she scolded.
"My mother's school, actually," he retorted, a playful grin spreading across his face.
"Argh! Don't be sarcastic! This will negatively impact my extracurricular activity points," Shana whined, scooping a large portion of rice onto her plate and devouring it with surprising speed. Dirgan watched her with amusement, the memory of her slap still vivid in his mind. It felt gratifying to engage with someone who could hold her own.
"Your appetite has certainly improved after eight days of dieting, hasn't it?" Dirgan remarked, a knowing glint in his eyes, subtly reminding her of Intan.
Shana fell silent. Eight days had passed since the tragic news of Intan's suicide. It had been determined that she was pregnant, though the father of the child remained unknown. The school was in a state of shock, and the authorities were diligently investigating the matter.
Shana looked at Dirgan, who was casually nibbling on her almonds. Brian was right; Dirgan operated with an unparalleled sense of freedom, unburdened by the need for approval or permission. Even the Vice Principal was hesitant to reprimand him.
The man who awoke to Shana's gaze had a moment to look back, but no one else seemed to have captured her attention until now.
"Why? Is there a ghost behind me?" Dirgan asked a playful lilt in his voice. They had grown close quickly, their past grievances seemingly forgotten. They could easily be mistaken for a long-term couple.
"I'm thinking about Intan. It's been eight days, and the investigation has stalled. The police are only allowed to conduct inquiries after school hours, as they are not permitted to disrupt the learning environment. I asked Brian to investigate the case earlier, but he had to submit a formal proposal," Shana explained, her brow furrowed.
She noticed that Dirgan remained unfazed, his attention fixed on her as he chewed his almonds. He was a good listener, but he rarely offered unsolicited advice.
"Why are you silent?" she inquired.
"What comment should I make?" he responded nonchalantly.
"The school administration can't investigate during school hours, but you can, right?" Shana asked cautiously.
"I'm busy," he replied dismissively.
"Busy with what?!" she exclaimed.
"I attend school from morning until afternoon. When I get home, I play games or socialize with friends," he said casually.
"You can investigate during school hours. That's the point."
"I have numerous eleventh-grade assignments to complete," he boasted.
"Then why aren't you studying now?" she retorted.
"Now is our time to spend together. I'm a master of time management and a whiz at physics. Don't worry about me neglecting you," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Shana snorted in annoyance. She gripped her fork tightly; arguing with Dirgan was like trying to reason with the wind.
"Think about it seriously," she urged.
"I'm a bit lazy. I've been contemplating things deeply lately," he admitted.
"Dirgan, please!" she pleaded.
"Yes, my dear, what do you desire? Bedroom privileges and… destruction?" he teased, a playful grin spreading across his face. Shana chuckled; there was no point in arguing with him when he was in this mood. She resigned herself to enjoying her meal.
"You're too focused on the dead and oblivious to your surroundings, Shana," he observed, pulling her arm towards his mouth. Dirgan then proceeded to devour her favorite fried chicken with cabbage.
"What do you mean?" he asked, his gaze sweeping across the cafeteria where Shana's friends were seated at a separate table, seemingly hesitant to disturb their reunion after a year.
"Lisa has been lost in thought all day. Just by observing her, I can tell she's troubled. You should focus on those who are still living," he explained.
Shana noticed Lisa staring intently at her rice, a pensive expression on her face. She was startled when Agus nudged her arm, and she quickly rejoined the conversation, her mind momentarily distracted.
"Today? Were you observing my friends?" Shana inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"Only Lisa. I received a report from the Redi Team that she had entered the left-wing building," Dirgan revealed.
"Left-wing? Aren't you the only one who has access to that area?" she asked.
"It used to be, but it seems that many people have been entering and abusing the area since my absence," he explained.
"Abusing the area?" she questioned, confused.
"Now, that's a place of harassment and oppression," he replied, his tone serious.
To Be Continued...
The man who awoke to Shana's gaze had a moment to look back, but no one else seemed to have captured her attention until now.
"Why? Is there a ghost behind me?" Dirgan asked a playful lilt in his voice. They had grown close quickly, their past grievances seemingly forgotten. They could easily be mistaken for a long-term couple.
"I'm thinking about Intan. It's been eight days, and the investigation has stalled. The police are only allowed to conduct inquiries after school hours, as they are not permitted to disrupt the learning environment. I asked Brian to investigate the case earlier, but he had to submit a formal proposal," Shana explained, her brow furrowed.
She noticed that Dirgan remained unfazed, his attention fixed on her as he chewed his almonds. He was a good listener, but he rarely offered unsolicited advice.
"Why are you silent?" she inquired.
"What comment should I make?" he responded nonchalantly.
"The school administration can't investigate during school hours, but you can, right?" Shana asked cautiously.
"I'm busy," he replied dismissively.
"Busy with what?!" she exclaimed.
"I attend school from morning until afternoon. When I get home, I play games or socialize with friends," he said casually.
"You can investigate during school hours. That's the point."
"I have numerous eleventh-grade assignments to complete," he boasted.
"Then why aren't you studying now?" she retorted.
"Now is our time to spend together. I'm a master of time management and a whiz at physics. Don't worry about me neglecting you," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Shana snorted in annoyance. She gripped her fork tightly; arguing with Dirgan was like trying to reason with the wind.
"Think about it seriously," she urged.
"I'm a bit lazy. I've been contemplating things deeply lately," he admitted.
"Dirgan, please!" she pleaded.
"Yes, my dear, what do you desire? Bedroom privileges and… destruction?" he teased, a playful grin spreading across his face. Shana chuckled; there was no point in arguing with him when he was in this mood. She resigned herself to enjoying her meal.
"You're too focused on the dead and oblivious to your surroundings, Shana," he observed, pulling her arm towards his mouth. Dirgan then proceeded to devour her favorite fried chicken with cabbage.
"What do you mean?" he asked, his gaze sweeping across the cafeteria where Shana's friends were seated at a separate table, seemingly hesitant to disturb their reunion after a year.
"Lisa has been lost in thought all day. Just by observing her, I can tell she's troubled. You should focus on those who are still living," he explained.
Shana noticed Lisa staring intently at her rice, a pensive expression on her face. She was startled when Agus nudged her arm, and she quickly rejoined the conversation, her mind momentarily distracted.
"Today? Were you observing my friends?" Shana inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"Only Lisa. I received a report from the Redi Team that she had entered the left-wing building," Dirgan revealed.
"Left-wing? Aren't you the only one who has access to that area?" she asked.
"It used to be, but it seems that many people have been entering and abusing the area since my absence," he explained.
"Abusing the area?" she questioned, confused.
"Now, that's a place of harassment and oppression," he replied, his tone serious.
To Be Continued...