My name is Florany Michael, an Indonesian high schooler of Javanese and Madurese descent. I have no idea why my parents decided to name me this way, but here I am—seventeen years old, in my second year of high school.
My appearance is nothing special—tan skin, average height, and a simple life. Even so, for some reason, I've always found it easy to make friends.
And right now, I'm at school, enjoying our lunch break.
---
Lelyana Fitriani, my closest friend, stepped forward to the whiteboard, gripping a broomstick like a microphone. She took a deep breath and then dramatically began singing.
"Hoo... Aku sadar diri... Aku sadar posisi..." (Hoo... I know my place... I know my position...)
I lazily sipped on my drink, watching her performance from my desk. Lely continued,
"Aku seng sepele, tak nanges Dewe..." (I'm just insignificant, crying alone...)
I raised an eyebrow. "Here we go again..."
"What's wrong, Ly? Did your situationship disappear?" I teased.
Lely sighed dramatically, lowering her makeshift microphone. "Yeah, he blocked me out of nowhere! I can't believe this!" she groaned.
Jidan Husain, another classmate sitting nearby, let out a mocking snicker. "That's what you get for catching feelings in an HTS."
"HTS kok baper." (Catching feelings in a situationship? Seriously?)
I smirked. "HTS kok minta kepastian." (Why are you expecting commitment in a situationship?)
Lely turned to us with fiery eyes. "You guys are the worst!" She lunged at me, grabbing my collar playfully.
"You better say something wise, right now! Summon all the wise men—I want wisdom!!" she demanded.
I gently placed my hand over hers and spoke softly.
"Relax, Lely… Let me share a little truth with you…"
I dramatically paused, building suspense.
Then, with a swift grin, I delivered the final blow—
"Your HTS actually has a real girlfriend!"
And before she could even react, I bolted out of the classroom.
"YOU LITTLE—!!!" Lely's voice echoed behind me.
I laughed, running as fast as I could. My feet carried me further down the hallway, past rows of classrooms, until I finally stopped, catching my breath.
When I looked around, my heart nearly dropped—
I was standing in front of the senior classrooms.
"Oh no..."
It was break time, meaning the place was filled with third-year students—upperclassmen who barely knew I existed.
Embarrassment crept up my spine. "Why the hell did i run all the way here?!"
Before I could escape, someone bumped into me from behind—a senior girl.
"Oops, sorry!" she said casually, but my body stumbled forward—right into someone's arms.
A pair of strong hands caught me. The world seemed to freeze.
Then—
"CIEEEEEEE~!" (Ooooooh~!)
The chorus of seniors erupted around us.
My face burned with mortification.
I quickly pushed myself off the person, refusing to meet his eyes.
"I—I'm sorry!!" I squeaked before darting away as fast as my legs could carry me.
I ran all the way back to my classroom, slamming the door open like a maniac.
"JIANCOK!!!" (FUCK!!!)
A moment of stunned silence.
Jidan gave me a blank stare. "You know, when you enter a room, a simple 'hello' would be nice."
Lely raised an eyebrow. "Why do you look like you're being chased by debt collectors?"
I stomped over to her, still breathless. "Remember that senior girl who got mad at me for calling her purple lipstick Jin Tomang?" (A Javanese mythical creature with bright purple lips.)
"Oh yeah, that one," Lely nodded. "Why?"
"SHE PUSHED ME—RIGHT INTO A SENIOR GUY."
Lely gasped. "Omg. Did you fall onto him?"
I clenched my fists. "Yes."
Lely put a hand over her heart. "Damn… lucky."
"LUCKY MY ASS!!"
Before I could rant further, Jidan snorted. "You're probably secretly happy about it."
I grabbed the nearest whiteboard eraser and threw it at him.
"Shut up! No one asked you!"
Meanwhile, Lely's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Ahh, Flora… I wish I could have a romantic moment like that…"
I gave her a deadpan stare. "It's hard to talk to a simp like you."
Before we could continue our bickering, the bell rang, signaling the end of our break. Everyone groaned but slowly shuffled back to their seats.
Before the teacher arrived, Lely leaned closer to me.
"By the way… about that senior class," she whispered. "I heard there's a new transfer student in 12 IPS 2."
I sighed. "How do you even know all this?"
She grinned. "I have my ways."
Of course she did.
As we settled into our seats, completely unaware—
A certain boy from the back row had been listening to our conversation.
He chuckled under his breath. "Damn… this girl's got connections."
***
The Next Break...
The school day continued like usual—math, physics, the usual torture.
By the time the second break rolled around, I felt like my brain was about to melt.
"Ly, let's go to the canteen," I suggested.
Lely slumped over her desk. "Nah, my brain's fried."
I clicked my tongue. "Tsk. Some best friend you are."
I ended up going alone. But of course, Lely didn't let me go empty-handed—
"Buy me meatballs and fried snacks!" she had ordered.
I grumbled, muttering curses under my breath as I walked to the canteen.
"Won't come, but still wants food—Brengsek!"
After placing my order, I sucked on my ice drink and waited.
"Just sit down first, dear. It'll take a while," the canteen lady told me.
I nodded and walked over to an empty seat, completely unaware of my surroundings.
Then—
A voice called out.
"Hey… you're Flora, right?"
I looked up.
A group of seniors was staring at me.
"…Yeah?"
The guy in the middle smirked.
"I'm the guy you fell onto earlier."
---
To Be Continued...