My name is Rina.

Rina Hermawan.

I go to Tunas Muda High School, one of the most prestigious schools in Bandung.

People say high school is the best time of your life.

For me?

Not always.

Especially after the stupid thing you're about to read.

---

That afternoon was unbearably hot.

No wind, the class air conditioner had given up on life, and students of Tunas Muda were basically dried salted fish waiting for rain.

But I stayed in the second seat from the front, scribbling mol formulas like my brain was boiling with them.

Normally I’d run to the library at break, but not today.

Chemistry test after the bell — and I’m not the type who relaxes before exams.

The back of the class, though?

Different universe.

Laughter.

Chairs dragged like torture devices.

Shoes scraping the floor.

Boys laughing at jokes only they found funny — sounding more like monkeys choking than humans.

I already knew the mastermind:

Anto Subagja — and his chaotic little gang.

Anto is tall, fair-skinned, expressive, and according to himself — underline that — he’s handsome.

To me? He’s average.

Annoying, actually.

The type who attracts chaos like a magnet.

"Oi, To!" Tey shouted, grinning as if the whole world needed to see that smile.

"Bet you won’t date Rina Judeng!"

Judeng.

Yes. My nickname.

Because I’m supposedly cold, snappy, and allergic to stupid boy jokes.

Which is not wrong, honestly.

I raised my head slowly.

My eyes already saying: one more word and I’ll throw a desk.

They took that as encouragement.

Anto laughed, scratching his head, pretending to be cool but clearly embarrassed.

"Come on, me being paired with Judeng? Seriously?"

"Look at her eyes — LASER!" Kane pointed dramatically.

They laughed even harder.

My grip on my pen tightened so much it almost snapped.

Chemistry test?

Suddenly felt easy compared to this circus.

"Who’s scared, huh?" Anto suddenly puffed up, ego rising like steam.

"If you can date her for a whole year," Kane declared proudly like a knight of stupidity,

"I’ll give you half of my allowance for a year!"

"Me too!" Juke added.

Tian raised his hand. "Count me in!"

The back of the class turned into a stadium.

Me?

My breathing matched a dragon ready to burn a village.

They laughed too loudly.

So I closed my book — and without hesitation — threw it at them.

"HEY!"

The book flew like a perfect frisbee.

All four of them scattered like chickens under fireworks.

"YOU'RE CRAZY!" Anto laughed, still somehow amused.

I wished it was a brick I threw instead.

---

Later that day, we gathered outside the biology lab.

Practical exam incoming.

Students sat around rereading notes like zombies.

I sat by the wall, calming my shaking nerves.

Until a tall shadow blocked my book.

I looked up.

Anto.

Great.

Why wasn't it an earthquake instead?

Hands in pockets, wearing the dumbest smile known to mankind.

"Rin…" he called.

"What." I replied without looking.

"You heard the bet earlier, right?"

"I didn’t hear anything."

Conversation closed.

Or so I hoped.

"Seriously? You didn’t hear?" He squatted down, eyes peeking up at mine.

"I'm deaf," I deadpanned.

He snorted. "Then you did hear."

I closed my book slowly, holding back an urge to swing it at his face.

"Anto, I'm studying."

"But think about it," he said suddenly too serious.

"If we pretend to date for a month, I could earn so much money. You could too."

I turned my head very slowly.

"Anto… I’m not that cheap."

Instantly he spun toward his friends and yelled:

"GUYS! SHE'S NOT THAT CHEAP!!"

I could feel my soul leave my body.

Students turned.

Some laughed.

Some whispered.

Some recorded.

Embarrassed?

Not enough to describe it.

I wanted to evaporate.

Tey raised his hand like a game show host,

"How about this! If Anto and Rina manage to date for ONE month — and look like a real couple — we all give half our allowance to them! If they fail…"

he smirked,

"they have to continue another month!"

"What?! Why another month??" Anto panicked.

"A year is too long — I still want to eat!"

Everyone burst out laughing.

"Agree!!" Kane yelled.

Within seconds, hands shot up, students cheered as if this was the finale of a national TV show.

I froze.

Heart pounding.

Ringing in my ears.

This is my life? Not a nightmare?

Anto looked at me, grin stupid but with a hint of uncertainty.

He leaned closer, voice low only for me,

"Rin… I think the universe is messing with us."

I took a long breath and stared at him with my deadliest glare.

"Anto Subagja," I whispered,

"if you think I’ll join this idiotic game—"

"RINA! TOMORROW WE'LL CHECK YOUR COUPLE STATUS!" Tey yelled.

Crowd cheered again.

Anto just smiled.

I just covered my face.

This is only Chapter One.

And my life is already a disaster.

The final bell finally rang.

I felt like a prisoner who just got released.

My bag was already slung over my shoulder, and I walked fast toward the gate. I just wanted to disappear from school before someone—

My bag strap was pulled.

“Rin, don’t go home yet!”

I turned around with the most impatient face I’ve ever made.

“ANTOOO… what now?!”

Anto looked restless—not his usual fake-cool self.

“Come with me for a bit. It’s important.”

“No.”

“You have to. I swear it’ll only take a moment.”

Without waiting for my consent, he dragged me back into the school building, now nearly empty. The halls were quiet, half the lights already off, and only the evening sunlight peeked through the windows.

“Anto, if this is a prank—I’ll curse your life forever.”

“Relax, it’s not a prank… well, maybe a little.”

“You’re making me even more suspicious.”

He stopped in front of class 10-B. The room was completely empty. He opened the door slowly.

I covered my face instantly.

“Oh God… you guys are serious…”

---

📌 The Empty Classroom

It really was empty. No teacher, no other students.

The desks were neatly arranged. Warm golden sunlight spilled through the windows.

And at the front of the class sat Tey, Kane, Juke, and Tian—like a thesis defense committee.

On the teacher’s desk was a thick stack of papers.

Tey patted it proudly.

“Welcome, Rina. Please, have a seat.”

“I’m going home.”

“Nope,” Kane said. “You have to sign first.”

“I DON’T. WANT. ANYTHING. ANYMORE.”

Anto rubbed his neck, visibly uncomfortable.

“Rin… please. If you run away, the rumors will get worse. I don’t want you to become a bigger target.”

I looked at him.

Tired.

So, so tired.

“Just look at the contract,” Tey said, handing me the first page.

---

📌 The 30-Day Contract

Kane read the clauses like a fake lawyer.

> Article 1

Rina Hermawan and Anto Subagja are declared “temporarily dating” for 30 days, starting today.

> Article 2

This relationship must not be exposed as the result of a bet.

> Article 3

Documentation (photos, chats, videos, status updates) will be managed by the Head Admin: Tey.

Anto quickly turned to him.

“Tey, don’t tell me—”

“Oh yeah,” Tey said casually. “I’ll be holding your Instagram account for a while. For daily updates.”

“WHAT?!” Anto and I shouted in unison.

“This is for story aesthetics,” Juke said proudly.

I held my head.

“What kind of school is this… a drama production house?”

> Article 4 — Mandatory Moments

Every week, the couple must complete a required activity:

– Week 1: Hold hands in the hallway

– Week 2: Eat together in the cafeteria

– Week 3: Couple photo

– Week 4: Anto must walk Rina home at least once

– Bonus moments to be decided spontaneously by the committee

I stared at the page.

For a long time.

“I’m going home,” I said flatly. “Right now.”

“Sure,” Tey said. “Just sign first.”

“Where’s the pen.”

My voice sounded resigned—not agreeing, just surrendering.

Anto looked at me anxiously.

“Rin… if you don’t want to, I—”

I didn’t let him finish.

I signed the last page without reading anything else.

“There. I’m leaving.”

His friends cheered like football supporters.

Anto exhaled in relief.

“Thanks, Rin…”

I glared.

“DON’T you dare say thanks. This is ALL YOUR FAULT!”

He nodded quickly.

“Right… my fault… all my fault…”

I stormed out of the classroom.

---

📌 That Night — Harsh Realization

At home, after sitting down and opening the rest of the pages…

I froze.

“WHAT IS THIS?!”

> Additional Clause A:

The committee may add romantic moments anytime without notice.

> Additional Clause B:

Rina and Anto must respond to committee messages within 5 minutes.

I buried my face in a pillow.

“What did I even sign?! WHY didn’t I read it first?!”

One month.

A whole month of stupidity.

And I realized…

My real problems had just begun.

That night, after I got home from school, I had just finished showering when my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing.

Instagram notifications kept flooding in.

I opened the app—then instantly covered my face with my hand.

Anto Subagja posted on story:

💍 Taken by Rina Hermawan 💍

With an extra caption:

“One month of happiness, baby.”

I let out a tiny scream.

“Astaga—ANT-O!!”

In just minutes, my DMs exploded.

> “Rina, you serious with Anto?”

“The grumpy girl and the clown???”

“OMG you two actually look cute HAHAHA.”

“Rinaaaa why would you say yes?!”

My phone was burning like it was about to explode.

I shut it off and pressed a pillow over my face.

THIS IS ALL A BET! NOT ROMANTIC AT ALL!

---

The next morning, Tunas Muda High felt louder than a marketplace.

Every pair of eyes was on us.

Or… more accurately—on me.

I walked with a “don’t talk to me, don’t make noise, don’t even breathe near me” face, but comments kept coming anyway.

“Eh, that’s the new couple!”

“Bro the grumpy girl got a boyfriend??”

“Is Anto insane?!”

“I swear I saw their story—so funny!”

I swallowed irritation like bitter medicine.

---

During art class, I sat at the front, trying to focus.

The teacher told us to color a sketch.

I pulled out my color pencils—the only thing calming me today—

Until the voice I feared echoed behind me.

“RIIINAAAA!”

God… my suffering wasn’t over.

Anto stood behind my chair, waving like a dancing dangdut singer.

“MY WIFEEE! COL-OR PEN-CILS!”

I shut my eyes.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Hold it in. Contract. Contract. Remember the contract.

The whole class burst into laughter.

“He called her wife!!”

“Tey record that, QUICK!”

“Rin why so quiet? Embarrassed, huh??”

I opened my eyes, glaring at Anto.

“What do you want?”

My cold voice sounded like a broken AC.

Anto stuttered. “U-uh… color pencils. I forgot mine.”

He smiled—stupidly.

Very stupidly.

I grabbed my box, took out three pencils, and handed them to him with the laziest expression in the universe.

“Here. If you lose them, don’t return.”

He accepted them. “Thanks, wifey—”

I stomped my foot.

“ANTO!”

The class got even louder.

Boys whistled.

Girls squealed, “CUTE OMG!!”

The art teacher just shook their head, unbothered.

And me?

I wanted to move to another planet.

Anto went back to his seat, face slightly red.

Even though he was laughing, I could see something in his eyes… fragile?

So he was embarrassed too…

Huh.

---

During the first break, I headed to the library.

Peace.

Quiet.

No Anto.

Or so I thought—until the door creaked open.

Tey walked in, dragging Anto by the collar.

“What’s wrong with you?” Tey scolded. “I told you, don’t call her ‘wife’ in class!”

Anto let out a long sigh and slumped into a chair near the shelves.

“I… I… I just don’t want to lose the bet.”

“You don’t have to go that dramatic either, dude.”

Anto buried his face in his hands.

“It hurts, okay… she’s so cold every time I talk. And I’m trying to be nice.”

Tey stared at him for a moment. “Anto… she’s not cold. She’s just embarrassed.”

“No! She hates me!” Anto shot back like a child losing candy.

I froze behind the bookshelf.

I heard everything.

Anto leaned against the table, eyes tired like he’d lost all energy.

“Tey… I swear… I’m suffering. But I won’t back down. My pride will crumble if I quit.”

Tey patted his shoulder.

“Just keep going. Rina’s tough outside, but deep down… I think she’s soft.”

I silently scoffed.

Soft my foot. I wanted to throw a Latin dictionary at their heads.

Then Anto’s voice softened.

So soft.

“I just don’t want her to hate me. That’s all.”

For the first time that day, something in my chest fluttered.

Not anger.

Not hatred.

More like… a gentle knock.

I quickly walked out of the library before they caught me eavesdropping.

---

That afternoon, after the last class, Anto approached me in the hallway.

“Rin…” he said quietly.

I gripped my bag strap, ready to explode. “What now?”

He lowered his head a bit.

“Sorry… about this morning. I went too far.”

It was the first time he apologized.

His voice wasn’t loud.

Not playful.

Not annoying.

I looked at him briefly.

“Don’t do it again,” I said.

Anto smiled faintly. “Okay, Miss Grumpy.”

I huffed. “Anto!”

He chuckled softly.

But not like earlier.

This time, his laugh felt careful.

Gentle.

And somehow…

for the first time…

I realized this bet might not be as simple as I thought.