FRIEND WITH BENEFIT

7. Friend And The Jealously

Suuzan hugged her bolster, burying her face in it. It was two in the morning, and she still couldn't sleep. She'd tried to close her eyes, but it was no use. Damar's words asking her out kept replaying in her head. She felt stupid for telling him to wait. It was obvious she had a crush on Damar, but for some reason, she felt it was too soon. Does anyone fall in love in a matter of days? And if so, is it even normal?

Suuzan had been single her whole life. She was proud of it. There was a nagging feeling that it'd be a shame if her "forever alone" status suddenly ended.

"Why me?"

Suuzan was annoyed with herself. Amidst her thoughts about Damar, an unpleasant feeling crept in about leaving Leo hanging like that.

"It's his own fault for being so possessive. He's not even my boyfriend, but he acts like he owns me."

She was so sleepless it made her head spin. And she had math class tomorrow. If she dozed off during that lesson, a chalkboard eraser might just come flying at her head.

Monday morning, Suuzan took an ojek to school. She'd overslept, so her brother, Marvin, who went to college past her school, didn't give her a ride.

"Here you go, Sir."

Suuzan handed five thousand rupiah to the ojek driver. Without confirming anything, Suuzan immediately dashed towards the school gate, which was about to close in less than a second.

"Suuzan!"

The shrill voice of Mr. Markus, Suuzan's physics teacher and homeroom advisor, made Suuzan stop dead in her tracks. Suuzan turned, grinning sheepishly.

"Why are you just getting here? What time is it?"

Suuzan exhaled, trying to maintain her smile even though her heart was pounding. Being late was a huge deal for her. He wouldn't accept any excuses.

"But I'm not late, Sir. I'm about to go in."

"I was just asking why you're only arriving now! We all know school starts at seven, and you're just getting in at seven!"

"Sorry, Sir. I overslept and my brother left for college without me, plus it's a long journey…"

"Am I your personal therapist? School has started at seven for years. The school's always been here. Whether it's far, whether you overslept, whether no one gave you a ride. You need to be disciplined!"

Suuzan could only stay silent. Mr. Markus didn't accept any excuses. He'd still be mad.

"Sorry, Sir. My bad."

"Alright, alright. Now get to class. Ms. Juju will be in soon. If you're late, she might just eat you alive."

"Ms. Juju?" Suuzan forgot that the first two periods were math. She quickly said goodbye. "Sir, gotta run!"

Suuzan sprinted to class. She passed the hallway that faced directly onto the field. Damar's class happened to be having a practical sports exam. Accidentally, Suuzan's eyes met Damar's. Damar smiled at Suuzan. Suuzan's heart instantly fluttered. Without looking ahead, Suuzan kept hurrying forward.

CRASH!

"SUUZAN!"

Vivi's distinct high-pitched scream. It turned out she'd fallen after Suuzan bumped into her. Her clothes were soaked from the iced tea she was carrying. It seemed Vivi had just come from the canteen and was heading to class.

"Oh, Vivi, sorry. I didn't mean to."

"Didn't mean to, such a b***h! Where were you even looking, rushing like that? I was clearly right in front of you, and you just plowed into me!"

Suuzan felt guilty and reached out to help Vivi up, but then Leo suddenly appeared. He took off his denim jacket and covered Vivi's wet clothes. Then he helped Vivi get up.

Suuzan stared at Leo, who was being so attentive to the most annoying girl in class. Since when was Leo so attentive to Vivi?

"Thanks, Leo. You're always care of me."

Suuzan couldn't say anything. She knew very well that Vivi wasn't Leo's type. She and Leo had discussed this repeatedly. Leo had even sworn he'd never be interested in Vivi, but now it seemed Leo was going back on his word.

"Suuzan, what's going on?"

Damar, realizing there was an incident involving Suuzan, immediately ran over.

"It's nothing, Damar. I accidentally bumped into Vivi. I was in a hurry because I was late for class."

Damar gently touched Suuzan's shoulder, concerned.

"But you're okay, right?" Damar looked her over as if worried Suuzan might be hurt.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"Good. I was worried you might be injured."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What's happening here?" Vivi noticed something unusual between Suuzan and Damar. "Why are you guys being so sweet to each other?"

Suuzan stayed silent, unable to answer. She didn't even know what kind of relationship she had with Damar.

"Are you guys dating?" Vivi accused, even pointing at them.

Leo seemed reluctant to be there. He left without saying anything. Vivi turned around.

"Leo, what about your jacket?" Vivi's voice was quite loud.

"Just keep it!"

Suuzan frowned. That jacket was her birthday gift to him. No way was Vivi just getting it. What had Vivi ever done for Leo to deserve that jacket, when Suuzan had to save money for two months to give it to Leo?

Ms. Juju was already seen leaving the teachers' room. That meant she'd be in class soon. Vivi and Suuzan panicked.

"Damar, I'm heading to class," Suuzan said.

"Suuzan, what about my clothes? You gonna take responsibility?" Vivi protested.

"Later. Ms. Juju will be here any second!"

They both immediately sprinted down the hallway to get to class first. And indeed, Ms. Juju walked super slowly. Like, chill, like someone with no worries in life. Luckily, Suuzan and Vivi made it to class first. Suuzan sat in her usual seat, which happened to be next to Leo.

"Why are you mad at me, Yo?" Suuzan couldn't stand Leo giving her the silent treatment. Leo had been upset since that Saturday night. Even on Sunday, when Suuzan sent him a text, Leo didn't reply at all. He didn't pick up her calls either.

"No," Leo answered curtly. "Why would I be mad?"

"You've been weird since Saturday night. What's going on?"

"Nothing. Ms. Juju's here."

All the students went quiet when Ms. Juju, the most terrifying math teacher in the school, entered. She placed a thick textbook on the teacher's desk. Suuzan glanced at Leo, but Leo chose to focus on Ms. Juju.

"Leo!" Ms. Juju called him.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Bring the assignment I gave to the front. And after class, take it to the teachers' room, okay?"

Suuzan was suddenly in shock. She'd forgotten about Ms. Juju's assignment. She panicked. And she had a chance with Leo. Oh, Suuzan frantically searched through her bag. She hadn't done this assignment at all. She'd been too busy thinking about Damar and Leo's attitude. Leo walked among the desks, collecting the math assignments from Ms. Juju. When he reached Suuzan, she could only stare at her best friend.

"I'm so dead," Suuzan muttered, slapping her forehead.