Bab 02

Williams College High School was suddenly in an uproar. The incident had just happened less than half an hour ago, but the news of "Benz getting hit by a ball" had already spread like wildfire through WhatsApp and Facebook groups. The situation grew even more complicated as Benz's fanatic fan girls started calling for a boycott to kick Eron out of the soccer competition.

The afternoon was fading away. Any hopes of going home early were completely crushed. Eron, accompanied by Yuan and Dion, stood frozen inside the school clinic, waiting for the victim to regain consciousness.

The usually quiet clinic was suddenly packed with a crowd from the Class 11-A soccer team. Outside the room, a mob of female students from various classes waited anxiously, constantly checking their phones for the latest updates on Benz's condition.

Eron was just as anxious. Ten percent of him worried about Benz's condition, while the remaining ninety percent worried about his own survival.

"Congratulations, Mr. Eron Mahendar. The most wanted guy in the entire school. Your face is proudly displayed on Facebook," Yuan quipped, deliberately adding to Eron's misery. "Your deadly kick went viral instantly, bro."

Eron let out a heavy sigh. People say true friends will always be by your side in times of trouble. Unfortunately, that premise didn't apply to him.

"He won't get a concussion, right?" Eron whispered anxiously while craning his neck, trying to peek behind the tightly closed white curtain.

"The bump on his forehead is pretty bad, Ron. It's swollen like a duck egg. Just pray he gets amnesia. If he forgets what happened, you're safe," Dion replied, trying to offer some comfort―even though it sounded pretty far-fetched.

"Okay, let's assume Benz gets amnesia. Then, what about *them?" Eron pointed his chin toward the clinic window.

The faces of Benz's fan girls were practically glued to the glass window. Their eyes glared sharply, trying to pierce through the dimness of the room. Eron was slightly grateful that the clinic windows were tinted dark from the outside.

"Holy crap! They look like a pack of hungry hyenas stalking their prey," Yuan whispered in horror. "If you dare to walk out right now, you might get skinned, paraded around, and turned into a roasted lamb."

Eron's face grew even paler. The school proverb was absolutely right: never mess with the girls' idol if you want a peaceful life.

Suddenly, Eron's body jolted as his pants pocket vibrated violently. Yuan and Dion stared at him in confusion.

"My phone is vibrating," Eron grimaced, reaching into his pocket. Even though they were labeled as outcast students, they still followed the rules; phones had to be on silent mode during school hours.

Eron, Yuan, and Dion simultaneously looked down at the glowing screen: Aunt Moni.

"Hello, Auntie. Hmm..." Eron listened for a moment, then nodded. "Okay."

He hung up and immediately stood up. "Bro, I gotta go first. Need to buy chocolate."

"Wait, what about Benz?" Yuan asked.

Eron slung his bag over his shoulder. "What else can I do? Doctor Ari is on duty, and his friends are on standby too. Waiting here is useless since we don't know when he'll wake up. Let me know when he regains consciousness, okay?"

"No way! Like I'm his assistant," Yuan protested, standing up too.

"I'll walk with you," Dion chimed in, already matching Eron's pace.

"Where to?" Eron stopped right in front of the clinic door, trying to gather his courage before facing the pack of hyenas outside.

"To buy chocolate."

"I'm coming too!"

"Geez, I can go by myself."

"It's getting dark, Aunt Moni will be worried," Dion said calmly.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Come on, let's just go!"

Yuan grabbed Eron's arm and firmly pushed the clinic door open. Instantly, a barrage of curses and frustrated jeers from the female students welcomed them. Eron could only lower his head in resignation, letting himself become the target of their insults.

The sun had completely set, replaced by the brightening glow of the streetlights.

The motorcycle Eron was riding entered the parking lot of Kedai Kopi Baper. Dion rode pillion behind him, while Yuan followed closely on his own bike.

Kedai Kopi Baper occupied a two-story old building. The ground floor was entirely used for the business. Tables in the yard, the side terrace, and the air-conditioned room looked fully packed with customers.

The three teenagers―two still in their school uniforms and one in sportswear holding a plastic bag―walked in with exhausted faces. Eron walked straight to the bar counter and set the bag down.

"Thank you, sweetie," Aunt Monita said with a relieved smile. "The café is so crowded, I didn't even have time to buy groceries. Have you guys eaten?"

"Not yet!" Yuan and Dion replied in unison.

"I cooked rendang earlier, you know."

"Sweet! Your cooking is always number one, Auntie!" Yuan enthusiastically gave two thumbs up.

Eron could only shake his head. As their best friend, he knew their habits all too well. Their excuse for accompanying him to buy groceries and walking him home was actually for one sole purpose: a free meal. Usually, once their stomachs were full, they would get lazy and end up snoring loudly in Eron's room.

To Yuan and Dion, this house was already like their own headquarters. Eron didn't mind it either. In fact, he was grateful that his two best friends accepted his life's secrets with open arms.

Yuan and Dion rushed upstairs to the second floor, which served as the living quarters for Eron and Aunt Moni.

"Bro, Benz is awake," Yuan reported as they gathered around the dining table, his fingers still scrolling through his phone screen.

"Does he have amnesia?" Dion asked with his mouth full of rice.

"Looks like he's fine." Yuan read the comment section. "But most of them are still cursing you, Ron. You really have to be careful."

"What else?"

"If they ever find out you live here, this café might get boycotted too."

Eron gasped. "Whoa, absolutely not! If the café gets boycotted, I won't be able to work my part-time job. Aunt Moni will struggle too. I might get kicked out to my Dad's or Mom's house... though it feels like neither of them wants to take me in anyway."

"Your parents... are they doing well?" Dion asked cautiously. He was indeed the most sensitive and empathetic among them.

"After the divorce, they never contacted me again. The next thing I knew, they had remarried and had kids. I don't even know my half-siblings' names." Eron shrugged, trying to stay strong. "Only Aunt Moni was willing to take me in."

"At least Aunt Moni is way better than your mom," Dion blurted out, before quickly realizing it and looking at Eron with guilt. "Sorry, I mean..."

"It's okay. It does feel weird if I say I consider Aunt Moni as my own mother. Other people might find it hard to understand, but to me, she is my everything."

Yuan and Dion nodded in understanding.

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