Oreo

III

"Joey! I really love you dear boy, don't get me wrong. You are the cutest student who actually knows how to play the basketball. That's good. I like basketball." Mr. W rambled on and on about Joey across the desk from Joey and Sem, "but you know that even my favorite student is prohibited from the rooftop."

Joey sat in an exaggerated diplomatic posture on his chair in a way that tells that it's not his first time being in Mr. W's office. Sem, slouched on the other chair, could only stare at her wrist on her lap, burning red, soon to be purple. Sem is also comfortable in this room, but not for the same reason as Joey's antic cases.

"And that's you, Sempurna darling. You are my favorite student, but I cannot just let you pass after you break a rule!" Mr. W explained frantically with his hands all over the air trying to prove a point.

"Bu.. Bu.. But..." Sem started to mutter; not really knowing what to say, but just to stall the punishment.

"It's not her fault, Mr. W! I took her up there!" Joey cut Sem's series of but's. He took Sem's arm from her lap and showed Mr. W the swollen arm, "See! I pulled her by force!"

So that's what the swollen arm is all about. Aw. That's sweet. But I guess he didn't think that if his story was real, then he had ran dragged me all along the 5 floors since my class is on the 1st floor all the way to the rooftop. That's smart. Sem thought sarcastically.

"Don't you know that hurting your peer would result in expulsion?" Mr. W's expression didn't get any better. His eyes were wild. Sem wonder how he could keep his blood pressure low if he handles all the cases of the students on campus like this.

"Um, sir! Actually, he didn't force me! Um, I went to the roof on my own will! I got this playing basketball yesterday! Don't expel Joe!" Sem puts on an assuring look.

Mr. W seemed to think for a while until finally he rises his voice in a certain conclusion, "Well, I don't know which one of you is telling the truth, but now I understand."

Both Joey and Sem went static waiting to hear what Mr. W has understood.

"The swollen arm, Joey you totally did that on purpose just to protect Ms. Sempurna here, right?" No answer.

"I know what's happening here. Joey and Sempurna, you are in love with each other! That's why you try to protect each other!" Mr. W said certainly, "but Sempurna, you must be embarrassed having a boyfriend like Joey."

"I know I would if I have a lover as empty as this bottle head." Mr. W continued his conspiracy with a sweet tone pointing at Joey.

"Ouch." Joey puts both his hand on his heart responding to the clearly offensive insult of Mr. W.

At the same time Sem went "What?!"

Mr. W just sat on his desk reminiscing at his high school days where he felt those flirty, fluttery feeling of young love.

Mr. W sighed and continued his speech, "Young love. You made me remember my good ol' high school days."

Mr. W snapped back on his seat, "Well, love is something mysterious. It makes us do stupid things" obviously he said it out of experience, "Out of the name of love, this time I let you pass. And of course you're lucky, Joey, you're in this case with Sempurna. She has a clean record and I don't wanna be the one who ruins it for her. But, if you both get caught breaking the rule one more time..."

"So we can go?" Sem asked.

"Let him finish, Sem. One more period before lunch." Joey whispered.

"So you think we make a good couple, sir?" Sem edited her question even though she herself cannot bring that out if not by the pressure of everything that's going on.

Mr. W explained long and well how love makes you blind and how humans are made to complete each other. Of course he insulted Joey along the process, but hey, to Sem and Joey, anything to stall time.
Joey and Sem fired Mr. W, who was high on high school memories, with questions which Mr. W answered with long high school days love stories with each of his many exes.

After the bell rung, Joey and Sem scrambled out of the VPSA room. Sem was afraid to even look at Joey after that whole deal. She knows that it would be totally awkward. Sem was about to sprint to the 1st floor if Joey hadn't poked her and said, "Hey, if you ever wanna sneak out, I wanna tag along. Don't forget." Joey left and just as he was about to disappear along the corner, he looked back through the mass of students and yelled at Sem who was stupefied in front of the VPSA office, "DOESN'T MEAN I LIKE YOU!" The hallway went quiet and every head was turned to look at Joey.

a/n: apalah ini. I have the idea but I suck at getting it across loud and clear. Well it's always the effort that counts, right? Watch out for the next one. Bubbye!

-TS