FRIEND WITH BENEFIT

4. The First Date With First Love And Bestie

It was finally movie time at a cinema located in a famous mall in the Simpang Lima area. 2008 was the hottest year for this mall. Almost everyone came here to enjoy the cool air. Outside the mall, it was hot, especially in Semarang during the dry season like this; you could fry an egg without a stove.

Leo parked his motorbike in the mall's parking lot. Meanwhile, Suuzan was busy battling the nerves hitting her right now. She was wearing her favorite bootcut jeans and a black t-shirt that was supposed to be form-fitting, but because Suuzan was so flat-chested, there wasn't much to emphasize.

For the first time, Suuzan put powder on her face. It was her mom's, too. She also borrowed her mom's bright pink lipstick. Now she looked like a capital city artist ready for a concert.

"Why are you getting dolled up?" Leo actually protested his best friend's appearance. "You look weird, you know!"

"What's wrong? It's called effort. Who knows, Damar might fall for me."

Leo exhaled in annoyance. He chose not to argue with his friend because he knew Suuzan would never care about his words when it came to Damar.

They entered the mall and headed to the cinema on the third floor. Suuzan walked very slowly. She was actually super nervous, but she tried to act calm.

"Walk faster, seriously?" Leo kept grumbling. His grumbling retention even increased several times compared to usual. What's wrong with this kid? Maybe he's possessed.

Suuzan grabbed Leo's hand to hold on. In an instant, she became more relaxed.

"Good thing I have you, Leo," Suuzan said.

"So, would you rather watch movie with Damar or hang out with me?"

"What are you talking about, Yo? Of course, Damar is more important. He's my future. While we, we'll just stay like this. You'll go to college, become successful, then marry someone and leave me. If I don't work on my future, then what?"

"Are you sure Damar will be your future?"

Suuzan smiled as they walked. "Still in my imagination, though. At least there's progress. He and I often text. Sometimes he calls me asking, 'Have you eaten yet?' Ugh, Damar is so sweet."

"I ask you that often too, but you never say I'm sweet?" Leo was confused by his best friend's behavior.

After passing two floors, they arrived at Semarang residents' favorite cinema. Suuzan craned her neck, looking for Damar.

"Leo!"

Unfortunately, it wasn't Damar they met, but Vivi Ningrum, their classmate. Vivi was the belle of Suuzan's year. Several times she tried to flirt with Leo, but it seemed Vivi wasn't Leo's type.

"Vivi, what are you doing here?" Suuzan tried to make small talk, even though she wasn't too happy to see Vivi. She always corrected other people. Yes, she was beautiful and adored by many guys, but that didn't mean she could correct others to look like her.

"What do you think we're doing at the cinema, Zan? Watching a movie, of course." Vivi immediately approached Leo and clung to him.

"Leo, what are you watching? Let's watch together. So we can be alone."

Inside, Suuzan felt annoyed by Vivi's attitude. She always thought all guys liked her. Even though people's tastes are different.

"I'm here with Suuzan. I think she'll choose the movie. Or maybe we can just watch together, it'll be more fun."

Suuzan immediately glared at Leo. How could they watch together? This was Damar and Suuzan's event. Why was Vivi suddenly here?

Not long after, Damar arrived with two of his friends, Faiz and Ricky. Suuzan's disappointment grew. She had imagined how romantic it would be to sit next to Damar. Then they'd watch a romantic movie and secretly steal glances. Unfortunately, all that failed.

Even though she wasn't enthusiastic about this event anymore, Suuzan tried to act calm. She still smiled at Damar. Even when Vivi joined them, she tried to enjoy it, though secretly she was fed up. During the movie, Suuzan did sit next to Damar. But on his other side was Leo. So she was sandwiched between them. Leo didn't like watching romantic movies. He preferred war or mafia movies. Meanwhile, the movie they were watching was about a high school girl who moved to a small town and met some vampires and werewolves there. Leo chose to sleep rather than watch a movie he found absurd, while for Suuzan, the movie was quite interesting. It was just that her mood was messed up.

After the movie, Suuzan quickly urged Leo to go home. But as they were just leaving the parking lot, Leo's motorbike suddenly broke down.

"What's wrong, Leo?" Suuzan asked.

"Looks like it ran out of gas."

"The gas station is far. In Thamrin."

Damar passed by when he saw Suuzan and Leo. He immediately stopped to watch them both.

"What's wrong, Guys?" Damar asked.

"Out of gas," Leo answered casually.

"Oh, there's a gas seller around the corner. Want me to buy some for you?"

Leo looked at his watch. It was already past eight in the evening. He felt he shouldn't bring Suuzan home after nine.

"How about this? I'll find gas myself. Could you please take Suuzan home? It's already past eight. Her mom will definitely be worried."

Thump!

Leo's words instantly shocked Suuzan. Her heart felt like it was going to jump out because of how fast it was beating. She looked at Leo with a flushed face.

"Oh, okay. Sure. Come here, Zan. Come with me."

Suuzan swallowed. Was this a dream? Suuzan even pinched her own thigh.

"You doesn't mind?"

"Of course, I doesn't mind. I was the one who invited you out. Actually, I was going to pick you up earlier, but you said you were with Leo, so yeah. Come on, hop on. It's getting late."

Suuzan couldn't imagine how happy she was. She immediately hopped onto Damar's motorbike, which was indeed cool for 2008. It was a new model boy's motorbike from a Japanese brand.

Leo looked at Suuzan. Suuzan smiled shyly. She even waved at Leo.

"We're going first, Leo," Damar said.

"Okay. Please take her home. Don't be later than nine."

Suuzan felt embarrassed by Leo's behavior. Why did he have to say that in front of Damar?

"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry. Where would I even take her?"

Damar then revved his motorbike, leaving Leo alone. Meanwhile, Leo watched Suuzan getting further away with Damar and his motorbike.

"Hmm." Leo sighed.