"The distance between Iroya and Maruga"

It was Friday morning, and the air buzzed with anticipation. Today wasn’t just another school day—it was pizza activity day. Iroya and his classmates would be making their own pizzas on the school grounds as part of a graded activity. Most of the students were excited, except for one sleepy-eyed boy who was dragging his feet through the hallway. “Hey! What’s up? Doing good, bro?” Joshua called out, jogging up to him. “I’m tired today! Mrs. Jane punished me for dozing off in her class,” Iroya groaned. Joshua burst out laughing. “That’s wild, bro! Btw… you’re going to the pizza activity, right?” “Of course. It’s for a grade, so I have to,” Iroya muttered, rubbing his eyes. “Great! It’ll be fun. I can finally show off my cooking skills,” Joshua said with a smug smile. “Whatever. You know I’m the better cook,” Iroya shot back, and the two laughed as they headed to class. — The next morning, Iroya opened the group chat, still half-asleep. "Hello, guys, what time will you be at school?" he messaged. Daniella was quick to reply. "I'll be at school in 30 minutes, so hurry up, sleepyhead!" “30 minutes?! I definitely need to hurry!” Iroya yelled, throwing his blanket off and rushing to get dressed. — By the time he got to school, students were already arriving with their ingredients and setting up. The air smelled faintly of cheese, flour, and excitement. “Hey, you guys! Where are the others?” Iroya asked, spotting Joshua. “They’re late. Gosh, the activity starts in 20 minutes,” Joshua replied, looking a bit annoyed. As they prepared their pizza station, Iroya caught sight of someone across the courtyard—a boy he’d never seen before. He was laughing with his group, his pale skin catching the morning sun like porcelain, his eyes bright and filled with light. Something strange stirred in Iroya’s chest. His breath hitched. Joshua tapped his shoulder. “Hey, are you alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Iroya blinked, startled. “Yeah... I’m fine. Just didn’t sleep well, I guess.” But sleep wasn’t the issue. That boy—who was he? The activity kicked off soon after. Teams were hard at work, slicing vegetables, kneading dough, and decorating pizzas. Iroya’s hands moved automatically, but his mind was far away, focused on that one boy across the room. Every now and then, their eyes would meet briefly, and Iroya’s heart would skip. But the boy never looked twice. When the pizzas were done and the smell of melted cheese filled the air, the judges walked around tasting and taking notes. The results were announced shortly after. “Third place goes to the Second Section!” Polite applause. “Second place goes to the team from Third Section B!” That was the boy’s team. Iroya watched as the group celebrated, though the boy himself just smiled quietly. “And finally, the champion of today’s pizza-making activity is... the team from Third Section A!” That was Iroya’s team. Cheers exploded as they went up to the front to receive their prize. On the way down from the stage, the two winning teams crossed paths. Iroya’s heart pounded. “Congratulations, everyone!!” the boy said kindly, his smile gentle. Iroya hesitated but then stepped forward. “Hi, congratulations to your team.” The boy smiled back. “Thanks! You guys were amazing. Keep it up!” And just like that, he turned and walked away with his friends. Wait... Iroya thought, panic rising in his chest. He’s leaving... and I still don’t know his name. He watched helplessly as the boy disappeared beyond the school gates. The activity was over. — That evening, the group chat was alive with excitement. "GUYS, WE SHOULD CELEBRATE THIS. SLEEPOVER?" Daniella suggested. “YES, YES!” Joshua replied. “But, uh… whose house?” Iroya, still half-lost in thought, typed, “Let’s do it at my place.” By nightfall, his house was full of noise, laughter, and energy. His friends were having the time of their lives—eating snacks, having pillow fights, playing games, and binge-watching movies. But Iroya wasn’t fully there. He sat at the edge of the couch, eyes wandering to the ceiling as voices and laughter filled the room around him. Joshua noticed. “Hey, are you alright, man? You seem down. You do remember we won, right?” Daniella added, “Yeah, you’ve been kinda off since school. Did something happen?” Iroya hesitated, then forced a smile. “No, no. I’m just tired. You’re right. Let’s celebrate.” They cheered and resumed their antics, but even as he joined in, Iroya’s mind was elsewhere. That boy’s smile kept flashing through his memory. The soft way he spoke, the gentle sparkle in his eyes... He never even got a name. And as the night faded, and his friends dozed off one by one, Iroya lay awake staring at the ceiling, heart aching with one unresolved thought. "What’s his name?"