Chapter 1 — An Accidental Way Home

“Mira, Mira. Have you finished the homework yet?”

Ani’s voice cut through my cloudy morning. Half panicked, half pleading—the exact tone of someone who remembered her responsibility only minutes before the bell rang. I had barely pulled out my chair when my notebook was snatched from my desk without permission, quick and instinctive, like a starving cat finding food.

I let out a slow breath.

“Easy, Ni. That’s a notebook, not confiscated goods.”

Ani just laughed. Her hands flipped through the pages quickly, eyes scanning line after line, lips silently reading. I let her be. This had been our routine since tenth grade.

This was my everyday life.

Always considered smart by people who were lazy. Even though I wasn’t actually that smart. My grades were average. I was just diligent—and often too kind to say no. My life was ordinary. Not particularly interesting, but not boring either.

Maybe it was because of my face.

Not ugly. Just… plain. A face that didn’t make people look twice. Black hair always tied neatly. A school uniform worn in the most standard way possible. I rarely tried to stand out. Or maybe I simply knew my place.

Sometimes, in moments like this, my thoughts wandered to unnecessary things.

If only my face were as pretty as Tera’s.

If only my skin were as bright as hers.

Maybe boys in my class would sit next to me more often—not just to copy homework.

“Why are you zoning out?” Ani tapped my arm lightly. “It’s still morning.”

I flinched. “Huh? No.”

Ani stared at me for a moment, then smiled knowingly.

“Thinking about seniors again, huh?”

I didn’t answer. I just closed my notebook and took a breath.

Classes went on as usual. The whiteboard filled with writing. Chalk scratched against its surface. I took notes, Ani tried to take notes, and time slowly crawled toward the last period.

Outside the window, the sky grew darker. Heavy clouds hung low, making the classroom feel quieter than usual.

Finally, the dismissal bell rang.

It always sounded longer than the others. Students immediately moved—books packed into bags, chairs scraping, conversations filling the room again. I wasn’t in a hurry. I packed my bag carefully, then stood up and followed the flow of students out.

Ani walked beside me in the hallway.

“You going straight home?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

She glanced at the time on her phone. “They say the basketball team has practice today.”

I shrugged, pretending not to care.

“So they say.”

We walked toward the multipurpose hall. Not because we had business there. Not because we had plans. Just because… that’s what we always did.

Ngeceng.

A Bandung slang—my city in Indonesia.

It literally means looking around at nice things.

The multipurpose hall was already lively. The lights inside were bright, reflecting off the slightly glossy court floor. From outside, the sound of squeaking shoes and bouncing balls echoed clearly, mixed with laughter and small shouts.

Basketball practice was underway.

I stopped near the entrance. Not fully inside, not too far away either. A safe distance. From where I stood, I could see almost the entire court.

Several seniors were running across the floor. Their sports uniforms were damp with sweat. Some laughed loudly, some focused intensely, some simply stood aside wiping their faces.

“Oh wow, the one wearing black shoes is handsome,” Ani whispered, nudging my arm.

I glanced in the direction she meant. “The one with slightly longer hair?”

“Yes! But the one in the middle isn’t bad either,” she replied quickly.

I smiled faintly. “Twelfth grade is dangerous. Too many choices.”

Ani laughed. “That’s why it changes every day.”

Small cheers came from the bleachers. A group of girls stood together, laughing and whispering. Names were being called—but they overlapped, mixed together, unclear who was calling for whom.

I stood still, watching from a distance.

I wasn’t looking for the most handsome one.

I was just… looking.

Their movements were fast. Loud. Full of energy. The court felt alive. But in the middle of all that noise, there was one figure my eyes kept returning to. Not flashy. Not exaggerated. And yet, somehow, always there.

I didn’t know why.

“So, which one are you looking at?” Ani asked.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. They’re all loud.”

Ani studied me for a moment, then smiled.

“You’re weird. You say you’re watching, but you’re never specific.”

I laughed quietly. “I’m just looking around.”

Practice went on for a long time. Outside, the sky darkened further. Rain began to fall—first lightly, then heavier. The sound of rain hit the roof, blending with the bouncing ball and squeaking shoes.

One by one, students started to leave. The bleachers slowly emptied.

Ani and I stepped out of the multipurpose hall. The afternoon air was cold. She opened her umbrella.

“I’m heading out,” she said.

I nodded. “Be careful.”

I stood under the roof for a moment, waiting for the rain to ease. Inside, the sounds of practice began to fade. A few seniors walked out laughing, sports bags slung over their shoulders, joking with one another.

I wasn’t waiting for anyone.

When the rain lightened, I opened my small umbrella and walked toward the school gate.

The lights turned on one by one, their reflections shimmering on the wet pavement.

The day ended like any other.

Nothing significant happened.

No important conversations.

Just a small habit, repeating itself.

I walked home slowly, carrying a simple realization—

that I often stood in the same place,

looking in the same direction,

without ever really knowing who I was actually looking for.

And maybe, for now,

that was enough.

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