CHAPTER 5 — That Stupid Bread

The next morning, when I woke up, I was still thinking about yesterday—

more precisely, about being carried bridal-style by Anto in front of the entire school field.

I could still hear everyone screaming:

> “MY WIFE FELL DOWN!!”

“ANTOOO’S CARRYING RINAAA!”

God.

I slapped my own cheeks.

And even though it was insanely embarrassing,

a small part of me...

ugh, never mind. Forget it.

Because for some reason, today I felt like—just once—returning the favor.

So before going to school, I made an egg-mayo sandwich in the kitchen.

Not cute, not fancy, but decent.

And I had no idea why I bothered.

“Rin… who’s that for?” Mom asked.

“No one!” I replied too fast.

She raised an eyebrow. “You sure it’s not for that boy na—”

“MOM!! STOP!!”

She laughed. Annoying woman.

---

At school, the chaos continued.

Every time I walked past, someone would whistle or whisper Anto’s wife.

Oh my god help.

I put my bag on my chair, opened my book.

Then fast footsteps—followed by the most annoying voice ever.

“RINAAA!!”

Dear universe, my test has begun.

Anto came over with a grin as wide as the Bandung gate.

He looked like a kid who just got a birthday gift.

“I have something,” I blurted.

He froze.

Silent.

No jokes.

Which somehow made me more nervous.

“What is it?” he asked softly.

I took out the small box with the sandwich.

Handed it to him, expressionless.

“Yesterday… thanks for helping me to the infirmary.”

He stared for five whole seconds.

Like a lagged computer.

And then—

BOOOOOM.

He slapped his cheeks, bounced like a kangaroo, then—

“OH MY GOOOOD MY WIFE MADE ME BREEEEEAD!!!”

Everyone turned.

Tian screamed, “ANTOOO SHE MADE YOU BREAD!!”

Kane stood up from his seat.

“BRO THIS IS REAL RELATIONSHIP LEVEL!!!”

Tey immediately live-reported,

“Breaking news: Anto’s wife feeds him!!”

I wanted to die.

Respectfully.

Anto held the box like it was sacred treasure.

“Rin… you… made this? For me?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, just bread. Don’t be dramatic.”

He smiled—different this time. Softer. Sincere.

“Thanks,” he said quietly.

I sat down quickly.

Before I caught feelings.

---

First break, we went to the cafeteria.

I sat near the corner with Eli—my loud-mouthed yet loyal best friend.

Eli noticed the empty box.

“Eh… what’s that?”

“Food.”

“From who?”

“Not from… but for.”

Her eyes narrowed. “FOR WHO? ANTO?!”

I held her face, stopping her from screaming the whole cafeteria down.

“Shhh!!! Yes. But it’s just… returning a favor.”

She stared at me.

Long. Really long.

“Rina Hermawan,” she finally said,

“You’re falling.”

“Falling on the field. Yeah, I know.”

“No. Falling in love.”

I gripped my spoon. “Eli. Don’t start.”

She burst into laughter and ate her meatballs.

Not long after, noise erupted again.

“EXCUUUSE MEEE!! IMPORTANT PERSON COMING THROUGH!!”

Anto entered like a karaoke champion.

He raised the sandwich box high—

and dear God, please forgive this clown—

he shouted:

“LOOK EVERYONE!! MY WIFE MADE MEEEE BREEEAAAD!!”

The cafeteria exploded.

“NO WAAAY!!”

“Cute couple alert!”

“Rinaaaa hahaha!”

“Anto scored BIG!”

I covered my face.

Eli patted my shoulder.

“This guy won’t stop until someone throws a chair at him…”

Anto waved at me with the biggest smile.

“Thank youuu my beloved wife!!”

“ANTO SUBAGJA CAN YOU LOWER YOUR VOICE PLEASE?!”

And yet, seeing him that happy—

deep inside my heart, a tiny warm spark appeared.

But that warmth died instantly when someone walked by.

A senior.

11th grade.

Tall, neat hair, soft cologne.

Adrian.

The boy I’ve liked forever.

Calm, smart, basketball team, smile that melts hearts.

He walked right past my table.

I was ready to give a small smile.

Just a little.

Elegant.

But before I could even open my lips—

Anto yelled at maximum volume:

“MY WIIIIIFE THANKS FOR THE SANDWICH THIS MORNING IT WAS SOOO GOOD!!!”

Adrian turned.

I froze.

Completely.

He smiled politely.

“Oh… you two are dating? Cute.”

CUTE?

Lord please evaporate me into dust.

Once he left, I slammed the table.

“ANTO!!! A SENIOR WAS RIGHT THERE!!!”

Anto blinked. “Huh? Who?”

“ADRIAAAN!!”

The kids nearby cheered.

Eli covered her mouth, trying not to burst laughing.

Anto raised his hand.

“Oh? I thought it was just our class? Hehe.”

HEHE, HE SAID.

I wanted to kick his chair.

I sat down, hand on my chest.

“I…”

I closed my eyes.

“…am so mad, Eli.”

She rubbed my shoulder. “Makes sense. You like Adrian, right?”

I inhaled.

“…yeah. Since forever.”

Eli sighed. “So what do you want him to think? Seeing you like a clown couple with that idiot?”

“I don’t know,” I muttered.

“Then why give the sandwich? That’s a dangerous move.”

“It was just returning a favor!”

“The sandwich was heart-shaped, babe.”

“IT WAS NOT HEART-SHAPED IT WAS JUST… ACCIDENTALLY ROUND-CURVED!”

She laughed harder.

Meanwhile Anto was still showing the box like he won the World Cup.

Crowds cheered around him.

I let out the longest sigh of my life.

“Why is my life like this…”

Eli smiled.

“Because life wants to joke a little… before getting serious.”

I looked at her.

“What do you mean?”

She just smirked.

“You’ll see.”

---

I glanced at Anto from a distance.

His silly grin, eyes squinting with pure joy.

I looked away quickly.

No.

I must not feel weird.

Or worse—fall.

But the real question is:

What if the thing that falls… isn’t just feelings,

but me myself?

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