"But I was wrong."
"Time never lets us stay in one place. It keeps moving, slowly taking everything away until all that remains are scattered fragments, growing blurrier with each passing day."
"The laughter, the hurried footsteps in the school corridor, the ringing of the bell that once felt so ordinary... now, they hold more meaning than I ever imagined."
"If only I had realized it sooner..."
"If only I had known that it was the last day we would laugh so freely..."
"Maybe... just maybe, I would have done something differently."
(Inhale...) The memories were still so vivid.
"But time can't be turned back, and it all began on that day..."
***
That morning, the school bell rang loudly, marking the start of the first class. Once again, the voices of students filled the air as they entered Class 10A, each with their own expressions.
Some were still busy chatting, others rushed to open their books, while a few simply leaned back, indifferent to their surroundings.
At the back of the classroom, four friends gathered just as they always did.
Arya, Ridho, Sinta, and Nadia had been inseparable since childhood. People often said they were too different from one another, but perhaps that was exactly what kept them so close.
In the corner of the room, Arya sat with a slight hunch, his eyes scanning a textbook he had probably read countless times. It wasn't because he particularly loved the subject, but more out of habit something to keep himself occupied, so he wouldn't feel out of place in the middle of a crowd.
On the other side of the classroom, Ridho suddenly sprang from his seat and rushed to the window.
"Hey! I think there's a new celeb on the field!" he shouted, instantly drawing the attention of several students.
His quirky and energetic nature had long been his signature. Ridho was the kind of guy who could liven up any room though more often than not, it left the teachers shaking their heads. He much preferred goofing around to studying, cracking jokes rather than burying his nose in a book. But beneath his mischievous exterior, Ridho genuinely cared about his friends.
Ridho came from a modest family. His father was a regular office worker, while his mother ran a small grocery store in front of their house. Their life was far from extravagant, but Ridho never felt lacking. To him, the most important things in life were having fun and keeping his friendships strong.
"Ridho, can you sit still for even a second?" Sinta sighed, crossing her arms over her chest.
Sinta had a bit of a spoiled streak, but that didn't mean she was selfish. She was actually quite smart, often stepping in to help Arya and Ridho whenever they found themselves struggling with math or physics.
Arya wasn't the type to stand out. He wasn't exceptionally smart, nor was he particularly talkative. His sharp features did catch the attention of a few girls, but he never paid much mind to any of it. To him, it was always easier to be an observer rather than the main player in the chaotic world of high school.
Since losing his father in middle school, Arya had lived alone with his mother, who worked tirelessly to support them. He had grown used to being independent, keeping his thoughts and struggles to himself.
Sometimes, even in a room full of people, loneliness crept in.
But Arya never let it show. To him, staying quiet and acting strong was far better than revealing his weaknesses.
She came from a well-off family. Her father was a civil servant, often sent on assignments out of town, while her mother was a housewife who spent most of her time at home. Though her parents provided her with everything she needed, there were moments when Sinta felt lonely moments when she longed for the warmth of family gatherings, for simple conversations shared around the dinner table.
But with Arya, Ridho, and Nadia by her side, she felt less alone. They were her safe space the ones she could laugh with, share stories with, and remind herself that no matter what, she still had friends who truly cared.
And of course, last but not least, there was Nadia. The beautiful one. The smart one. The popular one.
Many admired her not just for her looks, but for her grace and kindness.
Nadia came from an academic family. Both her parents were professors at a prestigious university in their city. Despite their busy schedules, they always made time for Nadia, and perhaps that was why she grew up to be such a warm and compassionate person. She genuinely cared about those around her.
She was never the kind of girl who looked down on others. Despite how easily she could have been part of the school's popular crowd, Nadia chose to stay with Arya, Ridho, and Sinta—the friends she had known since childhood. To her, they were more than just friends. They were family.
But hidden beneath Arya's quiet demeanor, there was a secret. A secret he had never told anyone.
Yes... He liked Nadia.
Not just because of her beauty, but because of the way she treated others the way she laughed, the way she spoke, the way she looked at people with such sincerity.
But Arya kept those feelings buried deep inside. To him, their friendship mattered far more than whatever emotions stirred within him. He didn't want to risk losing what they had just because of his own selfish feelings.
And yet, there were moments when his heart betrayed him.
Like when Nadia smiled at him. When she laughed at Ridho's terrible jokes. When she gently corrected his answers in class, never making him feel stupid.
In those moments, Arya realized no matter how much he tried to ignore it his feelings for Nadia weren't going anywhere.
The first lesson that morning was Indonesian. The classroom still buzzed with leftover energy from the morning bell. Some students whispered among themselves, while others hurriedly organized their books.
Soon, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway. The classroom door swung open, revealing a middle-aged woman with a warm yet firm presence.
Mrs. Rina, their Indonesian teacher.
"Good morning, everyone," she greeted them, her voice gentle yet commanding.
"Good morning, Ma'am!" the students responded in unison.
Mrs. Rina smiled before walking over to her desk at the front of the room. Setting down her books and markers, she let her gaze sweep across the class.
"Wow, our class looks neater than usual today. Did someone just finish cleaning duty?" she asked, breaking the ice.
A few students exchanged glances before a boy in the front row raised his hand.
"Yes, Ma'am! We cleaned up before class started," he replied proudly.
"Very good! A tidy classroom definitely makes learning more comfortable," Mrs. Rina praised with an approving nod.
"Now, let's start the lesson. Last week, we learned about descriptive texts, right? Does anyone still remember what a descriptive text is?"
A brief silence fell over the room. Some students seemed lost in thought, while others stole glances at their classmates.
Then, a boy in the middle row eagerly raised his hand.
"Me, Ma'am!" he said enthusiastically.
"Go ahead, Rian," Mrs. Rina encouraged him.
"A descriptive text is a type of writing that explains an object, place, or event in detail, allowing the reader to visualize it," Rian answered confidently.
Mrs. Rina's smile widened.
"Excellent! That's the right answer. Now, let's move on to today's lesson..."
With that, the lesson began, filling the classroom with lively discussions and occasional laughter as Mrs. Rina presented engaging examples to spark their interest.
***
After school, the four of them strolled leisurely along the sidewalk near the city park a habit they often indulged in when the weather wasn't too hot.
"We have a math test tomorrow, right?" Nadia asked before taking a bite of her ice cream.
Ridho groaned dramatically.
"Why is life full of tests?"
Sinta rolled her eyes.
"Life is like math, Ridho. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard. It all depends on how seriously you study."
Arya chuckled at Ridho's defeated expression.
Nadia turned to Arya and smiled.
"Have you studied yet, Arya?" she asked.
Arya scratched the back of his head, looking a little nervous.
"A little... but I still don't get it."
"Then let's study together at my house after school tomorrow, okay?" Nadia said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Arya looked down for a moment, trying to hide his smile.
"Okay," he replied.
For some reason, his steps felt lighter at that moment.
Yet, deep down, there was a strange feeling he couldn't shake.
Because even though everything felt perfect right now, Nadia had once said something that kept echoing in his mind.
"Life doesn't always go our way. Sometimes, there are things we just can't control."
***
Nadia's house always felt cozy to them. The study room was spacious, filled with stacks of books, yet it still had a warm and inviting atmosphere. Arya, Ridho, and Sinta sat in a circle in the living room, surrounded by open textbooks. In the center, Nadia patiently explained the material they were reviewing.
"So, if we use this formula for question number five, the answer should be this," she said, jotting it down in her notebook.
Arya nodded slowly, trying to process the explanation.
"Oh, I see... That actually makes sense."
Meanwhile, Ridho leaned his chin on his hand, looking completely uninterested.
"I already understood it earlier, Nad. I just pretended not to so you'd explain it again."
Sinta immediately nudged him.
"Liar! You kept asking me the same thing over and over!"
Arya and Nadia laughed at Sinta's irritation, while Ridho just smirked. Arya stole a glance at Nadia, who remained patient despite Ridho's antics. Her smile never faded, even as Ridho started losing focus and playing with his pencil.
Outside, the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of red and orange. Time always seemed to fly when they were together.
"It's getting late," Arya said, glancing at his watch.
"We should head home."
Nadia nodded. "Yeah, be careful on your way back."
Ridho stretched as he stood up. "Finally, freedom from math."
Sinta chuckled while tidying up her books. "You didn't even study properly."
As they stepped outside, the cool evening breeze greeted them.
Nadia watched them with a gentle smile, her gaze moving from one friend to another.
"I'll see you at school tomorrow."
Ridho waved casually. "Yeah, Nad. Don't forget to bring a cheat sheet for me."
Sinta scoffed. "Keep dreaming."
Arya only offered a faint smile. His eyes briefly met Nadia's, but he quickly looked away.
"Okay, see you tomorrow," she said softly.
As they walked away, Arya glanced back.
Nadia was still standing in front of her house, waving with that gentle smile. A smile that felt warm. A smile that… For some reason, felt like a farewell.
Arya didn't know why that thought crossed his mind, maybe he was just overthinking.
Or maybe…It was something inevitable.