Chapter 1 — Platonic is a Package of Longing (Numbness in the Shelter of Mutual Gaze)

 —Platonic is a package of longing entrusted amidst the rain; neatly wrapped by letters, tightly bound by strings of sorrow, without hoping for anything more than the adhesive of an embrace, Karina said to Libra. They were only fifteen years old.—

The sun mournfully embraced the blue clouds, pouring out its sadness behind sorrowful drizzles, soaking the birds that flew listlessly, chirping restlessness blown by the wind of longing.

My wet shoes stepped on—soiling—the tiles, followed by the bell ringing loudly, igniting market-like chaos that ran rampant in the class. I stood in front of the door, putting my jacket and scarf into my bag. Pulling the zipper, I froze. As my eyes locked with a boy.

His white uniform was soaking wet, dripping water that slid down to his grey trousers, falling and being absorbed by his murky shoes. His sweaty hair weaved, following the gusts of wind. His eyes were glistening, disguised by a line of a smile. Even though a smile bloomed, his expression could not lie about how hard he was hiding the pain.

"Libra, you don't need to wait outside. You may come into the class," said Mr. Orion, who arrived and gently tapped his shoulder, inviting him into the class. I followed behind.

Seated, I put my bag in the space below the desk, also taking out my biology book, as Mr. Orion erased the blackboard, asking Libra to stand in front. The homeroom teacher placed the eraser on the table, his eyes kian looking intently at Libra.

"Our class—10 Science 2—has a new student. His name is Libra...," Mr. Orion said. Slowly he looked down, his eyes glistening. "The school has just received sad news of his father's passing. I hope you can accept Libra wholeheartedly," Mr. Orion explained while looking upward, holding back the rain so it wouldn't pour down. Mr. Orion knew exactly how it felt to lose a father.

Dimas rose from his chair, stepped forward, invited Libra to a playful arm-wrestling handshake, then embraced and slapped that wet back repeatedly.

"It's okay, Bro. Stay strong, okay," Dimas said, then broke the embrace, met by Libra's resilient smile.

Libra then sat behind Dimas, sharing a desk with Ratna, right next to me.

"Today I want to discuss the human coordination system: the nervous system, hormones, and senses," Mr. Orion said while writing on the blackboard.

Truly, I was concerned seeing Libra's condition. His hands were clenched tightly. His eyes blinked repeatedly staring at the board. His lips seemed anxious holding back saliva, his Adam's apple moving up and down repeatedly like swallowing tears. Truly, I cannot bear to see someone holding back tears. Remembering that he was an orphan just like me, my heart was moved.

I then turned towards him.

"Libra... it's okay to cry." I gave him my black handkerchief. I was afraid unwanted words would escape my lips again.

Slowly, he accepted my handkerchief. His lips trembled just to curl upward. "Thank you," he said sincerely.

"You're welcome," I replied while pulling my bag from below. My hand rummaged through something wedged in the folds of a book.

"This is for you...." My hand held a black scarf. "To wipe the wetness on your uniform." I waved the scarf. I grinned broadly. Perhaps my 'cat whiskers' lines bloomed.

He looked at me intently. Slowly his hand gripped my scarf tightly.

"May I continue?" Mr. Orion interrupted, pulling my focus back to the board.

"Yes, Sir," we replied simultaneously.

A simple diagram was drawn on the board. The marker screeched writing each title: brain, spinal cord, then the nerve branches, followed by underlined cursive writing below the picture: receptor – neuron – nerve center – effector.

"The coordination system functions to regulate and control all body activities...," he explained. "Does anyone know its purpose?" Mr. Orion asked with his marker raised, quickly followed by my desk-mate—Maya—raising her hand.

"So that the body's response to stimuli takes place quickly, accurately, and in a coordinated manner," she answered, causing Mr. Orion to nod while pointing to the picture of the brain.

"The nervous system works through electrical impulses... the mechanism of the nervous system's work?" Mr. Orion tested again.

I read the board. "Stimuli are received by receptors, forwarded to the nerve center, then responded to by effectors, namely muscles or glands."

"Raise your hand, okay," Mr. Orion admonished while smiling, triggering light laughter from the class to break into the clouds.

I thought it was to be read together since it was already clearly written on the board. That's why I didn't raise my hand.

Slowly, Libra raised his hand. His lips trembled slightly, "That response goes through the path of stimuli received by receptors... sent by sensory neurons to the nerve center, then the command goes back through motor neurons to the muscles or glands."

"Correct," Mr. Orion said, followed by Dimas's exaggerated cheering; that rowdy boy ruffled Libra's hair.

"You're amazing, Bro. One day in class and already like Albert Einstein!" he exclaimed, punching Libra's arm repeatedly, making the one being punched groan while smiling.

"Albert Einstein was a physicist, not a biologist," Maya corrected with furrowed brows.

"The important thing is, they're both Science." Dimas grinned like a horse.

Ignoring them, Mr. Orion continued explaining. "That's why, when someone is startled, sad, or anxious, their body can react even if it's not spoken."

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"Rank one, two, and three are...." Mr. Orion read the folder, glancing at the enthusiastic students. "Maya, Karina, Libra."

"Hooray!"

The desks were arranged neatly against the wall. The red and white flag hung crisscrossed in the ceiling. The end of June—approaching the holidays and preparation for the August seventeenth competition. Class 10 Science 2 was the most chaotic regarding competitions. We cheered when the ranks were announced by Mr. Orion. Maya embraced my body, so happy to get rank one. While opposite me, Dimas and Dion kissed Libra's cheeks; those two supernatural boys ruffled the innocent child.

I realized Libra's gaze was so serene towards me. Unknowingly, time was entranced in the serenity of locking eyes. The embrace and kisses on the cheek made us drift into smiles.

AAA!

Suddenly we screamed when Dimas lit a firecracker outside the class. Crowds of friends and Mr. Orion ran out of class. Faces relaxed and shocked, followed by chuckles when the rowdy boy was seen by the principal.

"Mercy, Ma'am!" Dimas yelled running a sprint.

"Oh, so this is the culprit!" the principal pointed, while having trouble chasing because her skirt was already too small. "Lighting firecrackers at school. Tomorrow you bring a whole case. I'll light them in front of your face, so you know how it feels to have your heart discoing and convulsing," joked the principal while showing her teeth looking to the window.

Dry humor, strangely Libra and I burst out laughing, and unknowingly our shoes narrowed the distance. Only the two of us were left in the class. Our eyes did not release their gaze even for a second. Chests heaved up and down filled with emotion and pride. Even breath felt difficult to use for speaking.

"Congratulations!" I extended my hand, which I had previously held back—gripped tightly. "On being the third person," I said interspersed with blooming cat whiskers lines.

He chuckled, his eyes looking shyly at the floor, gently wiped his lips, then his eyes met mine.

"Congratulations...." He extended his hand too. "I am proud of you," his words were sincere, looking deep into my eyes.

Our hands both idled in the air. He did not touch my hand even in the slightest. I chuckled then shook and vibrated his hand hard, sending our laughter kian flying above the clouds.

The yellowish incandescent lamp glowed warmly in the classroom ceiling. I did not know I had found a sincere friend like him.

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Before Season....

Next Season....