Secret Reunion

Kaluna stepped into the room and froze for a moment as a young man with short black hair and square-rimmed glasses sat waiting for her with a judgmental look.

“Kaluna Demetria?” the man asked in an ice-cold tone. The young man’s broad back arched slightly as he sat in his chair and his sharp eyes seemed to be judging Kaluna for a mistake that could never be forgiven.

Kaluna was surprised by the atmosphere in the room that felt so different, plus the presence of the young man he recognized as Estefan, a math teacher and his homeroom teacher at Oasis High School.

“You... called me?” Kaluna whispered, uncertainly looking into Estefan’s eyes hidden behind the lenses of his glasses. “What is it, Sir?”

“Sit down,” Estefan pointed with his eyes toward the chair in front of him.

Without needing to be ordered twice, Kaluna obeyed and immediately sat on the empty chair.

“You’re a final year student, and you’ve changed schools several times based on the additional notes written by your teacher at your old school.” Estefan flipped through the book spread out on the table. “Your reasons for leaving are almost always the same: skipping class, making noise with male friends, not doing your assignments, and answering test questions carelessly.”

Kaluna remained silent and did not argue.

“You always repeat the same mistakes in this school,” Estefan continued, closing the book and looking at Kaluna straight on. “Do you intend to change schools again to break the national record?”

Kaluna remained silent, but his mind drifted to the last moment that made him choose to leave his old school and be stranded at the new school where Estefan taught.

***

That morning Kaluna should have arrived at school earlier because her boyfriend Dewa wanted to celebrate their first anniversary, if only Aunty Ola hadn’t told her to have breakfast at home first.

As an apology, Kaluna stopped by to buy a box of cakes for the two of them to eat on the roof of the school.

Once arrived, Kaluna eagerly climbed the stairs that would take her to the roof while carrying the box of cookies she had bought earlier.

“Dewa!” called Kaluna with a cheerful face. “Sorry, I’m late ....”

The joy that radiated on Kaluna’s beautiful face instantly dimmed in just a split second when she saw Dewa tightly hugging another girl who turned out to be his own close friend: Rara.

“Dewa?!” repeated Kaluna in a high shrill voice and successfully separated the two humans of the opposite sex.

“Uh, you... you came already Lun?” Dewa straightened his hair and uniform immediately. Rara moved away with a slightly mischievous look.

“What are you two doing?” asked Kaluna in a judgmental tone, her gaze staring at Dewa and Rara in turn.

“Lun, let me explain first...” persuaded Dewa as he approached Kaluna. “I was waiting for you and you didn’t come.”

“I didn’t ask about that!” Kaluna snapped, looking at Dewa sharply. “I asked about her and you!”

Kaluna’s index finger pointed clearly at Rara who stood not far from him and Dewa.

“Answer!” snapped Kaluna when Dewa remained stunned. “Today we’re supposed to be celebrating one year of our relationship, but you’re... celebrating by cheating on my friend?”

To Kaluna’s astonishment, neither Dewa nor Rara denied her accusation at all. Did that mean the two of them had really been in a secret relationship behind her back?

“You better be honest, Dewa.” Rara ventured to speak up.

“Who told you to talk?” asked Kaluna fiercely while looking at Rara with eyes narrowed with anger.

“Didn’t you ask for an explanation yourself?” Rara still dared to answer. “Dewa and I want to explain it to you, Lun.”