FRIEND WITH BENEFIT

3. Fall In Love

"Why are you grinning like that? Are you crazy?"

Leo caught Suuzan smiling to herself and propping up her chin ever since Mr. Markus, the physics teacher, started class. Instead of paying attention to the brain-draining lessons and formulas, Suuzan preferred to fantasize about Damar. Of course, she couldn't get him out of her head. Suuzan felt like getting hit by a basketball actually brought her good luck. Because of that incident, she got Damar's phone number. And ever since then, they'd been texting each other.

Contrary to what she'd always imagined, Damar turned out to be really chill. He was the soft-boy type who always spoke softly. Plus, he was kind and super thoughtful.

Right after the basketball incident, Damar kept asking about Suuzan's condition. This, of course, became an opportunity for Suuzan to be a little pampered with Damar. When else would she get to interact with her crush?

"What's your problem, always bothering me?" Suuzan grumbled at Leo, feeling that her best friend always messed with her good times.

"Yeah, yeah, the one who's getting close to her crush now. You forgot about me. You even forgot that today you have to turn in your workbook to Ms. Juju."

Suuzan furrowed her brows. She only just realized it when Leo spoke.

"Ms. Juju? Math?"

Leo nodded firmly. Suuzan immediately stood up. She rummaged through her bag for her math book. Her expression looked panicked. Leo already knew his friend was that clumsy.

"In the library. Hurry up. Ms. Juju is going home before two o'clock today. If you can turn in the assignment before then, you might get a grade."

"Leo, you're the best."

Leo smirked. Meanwhile, Suuzan immediately left the classroom for the library. This was the perfect place to do a last-minute assignment. Leo was usually the one who helped her with homework. Suuzan just had to copy it. The librarian, Fuad, already knew Suuzan's antics, so he let Suuzan in and sit in her usual spot. Leo's workbook was already there. She quickly copied the answers into her own workbook from Leo's. Her hands moved super fast. It was already 1:05 PM. Not much time left. Suuzan had to turn in the assignment according to the teacher's instructions.

"Suuzan? What are you doing here?"

Suuzan was startled when she heard Damar's voice. When she turned, Damar was indeed in the library. He wasn't alone; he was with his classmates.

"Oh, no, Damar. I'm just working on this." Suuzan was embarrassed to be caught by Damar.

Damar looked at Suuzan's workbook. He then smiled.

"Relax. I'm not judging."

Damar's friends whispered in his ear, but their eyes were on Suuzan.

"Hey, Zan, are you free this Saturday night?" Damar suddenly asked Suuzan.

"Why?" Suuzan was surprised but also nervous. What did Damar mean by asking that?

"Nothing, there's a good movie. They say it's about vampires and a girl. Wanna come watch? I'll treat you to the tickets."

It was like being showered with heavenly water. Damar suddenly asked Suuzan to watch a movie? Was this for real? Out of all the girls who had a crush on Damar, why did he ask Suuzan?

"Um, I'll ask my mom first. Because I'm not allowed to stay out too late."

"Oh, no need to be late. Let's watch the afternoon show. So you won't get home too late."

Suuzan really wanted to go with Damar, but she hesitated and was afraid of making a mistake. After all, this was Suuzan's first time going to the movies with Damar. Suuzan didn't want to mess up.

"Can I bring a friend, Damar?"

"Which friend?"

"Leo. Just so it's not boring," Suuzan replied.

"Will he want to watch a romantic fantasy movie?"

"Yeah, he will, he will. He'll definitely want to if I'm the one asking."

"Okay, then you arrange it. We'll leave directly from school. Once you get permission from your mom, let me know, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks, Damar."

"Thanks? I should be thanking you for wanting to watch with me. Who knows, you might have other plans for Saturday night."

"No, no. I don't have any plans. I'll make sure I'll be there at the cinema."

"Oh, you don't want me to pick you up?"

Suuzan was dumbfounded. What dream did she have last night? Damar suddenly seemed so interested in Suuzan.

"Well, if you don't mind, then yes," Suuzan answered shyly.

"Okay, then it's set. We're watching this Saturday night, okay?"

"Okay, Damar."

She was so engrossed in talking to Damar that Suuzan forgot her purpose in the library. She was too happy about being invited to the movies by Damar to remember Ms. Juju's assignment.

"No! I'm not going to watch with you and Damar!"

Leo refused Suuzan's request when they were engrossed in watching a cartoon about a boy who dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player from Japan.

"Yo, please. This is my chance. Damar invited me to hang out."

"So why do you have to invite me? Isn't that your date? I have my own kingdom on Saturday night."

"You're so mean, Leo. Please. Just once, make your friend happy. I'm worried if you're not there, I'll be super awkward with Damar."

As they were busy chatting, Suuzan's mom appeared from the kitchen, carrying homemade fried snacks, plus fresh pomegranate juice.

"What's going on? Why did I hear Suuzan saying 'please'?"

Suuzan's mom was like a psychic. She was always sensitive, especially when it came to her daughter.

"It's like this, Mrs Ratih. Suuzan is asking permission to go to the cinema with..."

Leo hadn't finished explaining, but Suuzan suddenly clamped her hand over his mouth firmly.

"Hemmh!"

Leo struggled to break free, though deep down he also wanted to give in.

"Don't listen to Leo. He likes making up stories."

Suuzan's mom placed the food on the table. She never felt suspicious or worried when her daughter was so close to Leo. She knew her daughter was close friends with him.

"What do you mean, Leo? I even heard you begging him."

Suuzan felt uneasy. She didn't want to tell her mom.

"You're definitely asking Leo for something big, Zan, aren't you?"

Suuzan's mom watched both of them. She realized her presence made them uncomfortable.

"Mom." Suuzan was surprised to see her mom complaining. "What are you doing?"

"Don't listen to Suuzan, Leo. She can be weird sometimes. Just let her ask for whatever. Don't give in."

Leo smiled and nodded.

"Got it, Mrs. Ratih."

"Ugh, what's with you?" Suuzan protested. "Go away, Mom. Don't butt in on young people!"

Sarah, Suuzan's mom, could only shake her head at her daughter's behavior, but Sarah knew when to back off. After a while, she left the room.

Suuzan looked at Leo, she continued to coax Leo into going to the movie.

"Come on, Leo. Help me. Do you want me to die waiting?" Suuzan whined.

Actually, Leo was hesitant, but Suuzan's behavior towards him made him unable to refuse.

"Okay, I'll come, but I won't stay out late, and when I want to go home, you have to go home too. You also have to tell my mom I'm fine."

"So many rules," Suuzan grumbled.

"You don't want to?" Leo taunted. "If you don't want to, fine. Go watch alone with Damar. I won't come with you."

"Ugh, you're so temperamental. Okay, fine. I agree. I'll do anything if you come watch with me and Damar."

"Okay, then. Get ready," Leo replied.