Adam looked at Vijendra in confusion, watching him stir his lunch over and over again. The jokes Adam threw at him went unanswered, making him wonder why Vijendra had become so quiet.

“Your food doesn’t taste good?”

Adam sighed softly when Vijendra didn’t respond. Suddenly, he slammed the table, startling both the restaurant’s customers and Vijendra.

“Are you crazy?!”

Vijendra cursed, glancing around to apologize to anyone who felt disturbed. Then he glared sharply at Adam, while Adam looked completely relaxed, enjoying spoonful after spoonful of his meal.

“If you have a problem, just talk about it. Don’t just stir your food around. That’s so ungrateful,” Adam said after swallowing his bite, trying to sound wise as he looked at Vijendra.

What Adam said was true. It was pointless to just play with his food. Vijendra exhaled roughly before finally telling him about his encounter with Kanaya that morning.

“She’s back, Adam. I met her.”

Adam had just taken a sip of water—which instantly sprayed out of his mouth, right onto Vijendra’s face. He quickly grabbed a tissue and handed it to him.

Vijendra, his face wet from Adam’s spit, glared sharply and coldly. Annoyed, he accepted the tissue and wiped his face dry. It was infuriating, but he tried to stay calm and patient in dealing with Adam.

“Sorry!” Adam adjusted his sitting position and looked at Vijendra with curiosity.

“You’re not hallucinating, right?” Adam laughed sarcastically, not believing a word Vijendra said. “There’s no way Kanaya is here. You know you two have been apart for five years. Five years, bro!”

Vijendra sighed softly. Spending too much time with Adam really made him question his sanity maybe he should book an appointment with a psychiatrist. His sharp, irritated gaze stayed fixed on Adam.

Seeing that look and realizing how serious Vijendra seemed, Adam’s smirk faded. The laughter in his voice slowly died, replaced by silence.

“You’re serious? Kanaya Arayshi, right?”

Vijendra nodded slowly, breaking eye contact to glance at the glass of water beside him. He lifted it and drank until it was empty.

“So, how did you feel when you met her?” Adam asked curiously, knowing he had once been a witness to Vijendra’s high school love story.

When it came to feelings, honestly, Vijendra couldn’t clearly describe how he felt when he saw Kanaya again. But when he didn’t see her smile—or her familiar expression—he felt like something was missing.

“She’s still the same, right?”

Somehow, Adam’s question didn’t sound like a question but rather a statement. Vijendra gave a faint smile.

“The same? You mean like before? When she used to chase me around back in school?”

When he thought about it again, Vijendra almost laughed. But it wasn’t a happy laugh of nostalgia—it was a strained laugh, as if he were holding back pain. Adam froze, quietly waiting for him to continue.

“She’s different now?”

Those three words from Adam made Vijendra’s head nod weakly, his face turning gloomy. Seeing his pitiful expression, Adam tried hard not to laugh. Who would’ve thought that the coolest guy he knew could turn into such a sad boy now?

“It’s normal for her to change, Vijendra. The sky that once looked beautiful will change when the time comes. The same goes for the human heart. Man, your love story’s tragic,” Adam said, shaking his head in sympathy.

“That’s why if you like someone, you should just say it. Don’t let pride get in the way. Eat your pride, man!”

“I regret it!”

“Huh? What?!” Adam turned his body sideways, holding his ear closer as he repeated the words. “You regret it? Isn’t it a little too late to say that now?” he added, successfully leaving Vijendra speechless.

Five years was not a short time to forget someone she had loved so deeply. Especially when that person had been her first love and her love at first sight. But her heart had grown tired of endlessly hoping for someone who never looked her way or opened his heart for her to enter.

All her efforts to forget that unrequited love had become meaningless. There was a faint joy when she unexpectedly met him again. However, everything felt so different now—awkwardness and embarrassment filled the air.

“What should I do, Aviani?” Kanaya groaned. Her favorite iced cappuccino was gone, but her mind still felt chaotic because of Vijendra.

The man she had tried so hard to forget had appeared again. Unfortunately, his name still lingered neatly inside her heart. It felt useless to forget him when, in the end, God had brought them back together. The Creator’s plan truly worked in mysterious—and ironic—ways.

“Are you sure you want to forget Vijendra?” Aviani asked, looking at Kanaya doubtfully.

Kanaya nodded, prompting Aviani to lean forward, then straighten up again to find a comfortable sitting position.

“It’s useless, Kanaya. It’s pointless to try to forget him if his name is still inside your heart.”

Checkmate!

What Aviani said was true. Kanaya still kept Vijendra’s name deep in her heart. However, for now... Kanaya was determined to forget that man once and for all.

“How many years did you chase him in high school?” Aviani asked on purpose, making Kanaya lower her head and reflect on her friend’s words.

“Maybe three years,” Kanaya replied.

“Three years? You were so stupid! So cheap!”

Kanaya immediately lifted her head, looking softly at Aviani. She didn’t feel offended at all—at least those words made her realize how foolish she had been for chasing after Vijendra.

“Now... you feel embarrassed seeing Vijendra again, right?”

“So embarrassed! But, Aviani, back then I was so naive. I didn’t understand that chasing a guy was the same as acting cheaply. At least I got some experience and a story from my high school days.”

“Experience, sure. High school stories, fine. But why were none of them beautiful? It’s all heartbreak and pain, ugh.”

Kanaya pouted, turning her face to the left. It felt like a dagger to be teased that directly by Aviani. She became more self-aware—and more ashamed—remembering those memories.

“That’s why you shouldn’t chase too much. If Vijendra really liked you, he would’ve chased you back.”

“What if he didn’t?”

“Then that means he never liked you! How hard is that to understand?”

“Ugh, Aviani! You’re so annoying! Can’t you give me some advice or something?”

“It’s pointless, Kanaya. Giving advice to someone who’s already a slave to love is a waste of time.”

“Anyway, you’re there to work, not to chase after Vijendra again,” Aviani continued.

“What if Vijendra thinks I’m chasing him again?”

“Then that means he’s full of himself. Besides, your attitude toward him was normal, right?” Aviani asked curiously.

“I think so. But he’s gotten even more handsome, Aviani! His face still looks the same as it did back in high school. I wonder what his mom craved when she was pregnant with him?”

Aviani took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to stay patient with Kanaya’s childish attitude.

“The point is, you have to act indifferent toward a guy who doesn’t appreciate you. Don’t be like before. Don’t act cheap! Stop chasing guys. For your information, even jengkol is expensive these days—so you should make yourself valuable too. And for the record, I don’t approve if you and Vijendra get back together.”

Kanaya only nodded in understanding at Aviani’s words. Who would want to chase Vijendra again anyway? She already felt exhausted. If she could not have him, at least her heart had once painted his name in it.