Is Ihstan Alone?

II

CHAPTER 2

The class checked the papers immediately. I had no idea who checked my paper. Mine, I got the paper of Ritzieh, my friend and classmate since the beginning of this academic school year.

Mrs. Belo wrote the answers on the board. I was sighing if I do not get the correct answers. Ritzieh was doing good. She had a lot of correct answers.

"Good Job." Said Gañiella after returning my paper. I smiled because I passed the long quiz. However, I was not happy.

"How many did you get?" Asked Ritzieh, on the other hand, while hugging her paper. She had just two mistakes.

"I got 44." I answered. "I did not beat you this time huh. You better prepare yourself next time bitch." I acted angry to her.

"Study harder bitch. You deserve your score." She said. We both laughed. "Hope you will not pass the upcoming exam." She added but I ignored her. "44, right? Too bad."

To motivate one another to excel more. Ritzieh and I have been acting like we two are rivals in the class. By this way, we were always determined to study harder. We cared about our future and do not believe in a quote grades are just a numbers because that is nonsense.

However, we promised that no matter what scores we got; we still remain friends and will not be angry to one another. In fact, we understand each other. And we were studying really hard because we are running for academic achievers in this semester.

"How is your relationship with him?" I asked Ritzieh during our lunch time, talking about Kaldhi. "How is it going? Good?"

Ritzieh had no reaction in my question. I observed her. Just like there was something bothering her. I did not repeat my question when she asked me if I was asking her a question. The bitch had a late reaction.

I just told her that we should eat. Yesterday, we planned to eat at McDo but the heat of the sun was scorching. No choice, we stayed inside the campus.

"What if I told you that we can't be together, Ihstan."

I was stunned by Ritzieh's words. So she heard my question a while. Was she thinking Kaldhi?

"W-What? W-Why?" I was confused.

I have known that they have feelings to each other but I felt like maybe they were afraid of commitment, especially for Ritzieh. I guess she was still in trauma after her first break-up.

Honestly, Kaldhi was not courting Ritzieh. But they were sweet when they are together. I accidently opened Kaldhi's phone one time and they were throwing "i love you's."

"I still love my ex." She answered. "Kaldhi asked me last week if she can court me." I did not say anything because I was shocked. "Good thing, he was smart and he understood me." She reasoned.

"He asked you if he can court you?"

"Yes."

"So will you use him to move on from your ex, will not you?" I asked an interesting question. "Please, don't do that."

"Ihstan, maybe in that way! I admit I have feelings for Kaldhi but my feelings to Justine." She paused. "I can't explain! I just know that I still love him."

"Are you chatting again?"

"I'm sorry, but yes." She admitted and immediately avoided my gaze.

"You should tell that to Kaldhi, Ritzieh. He's expecting from you. You need to be honest. Using him was terrible." I told her.

"Ihstan. You are not me. You need to understand my feelings as well." She argued.

"Justine hurt you physically and emotionally, Ritzieh. Were you thinking?! Is that how you define love?!" I reminded her. "If you will be back in that shit's arm again. What do you think will occur?! He will change?!" I began raising my voice at her.

"That's not the point, Ihstan."

"And I had a point." I argued back and leave her alone.

I was glad. I asked what's going on about them. Ritzieh is my bestfriend. I will never tolerate her behavior. Even if she is not my friend, that was still wrong.

Afternoon classes passed, Ritzieh and I did not talk. When I opened my locker to placed my books. She had a peace offering for me, a sweet piece of cake, with a note which says she was sorry.

"Edi wow." I stated to myself.

Next, I waited Kaldhi in his car and was still thinking about our conversation of Ritzieh.

"What's with that face?" Kaldhi asked me when he arrived.

"Nothing." I lied.

"Oh, a cake." He noticed before grabbing it on my hands. He read the note before looking at me. "Did you have a misunderstanding?" He curiously asked.

"Yes, he still fvcking loves his ex." I said, straightforwardly.