Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Rumors

Kalea Orlin Loovata. A girl with long brunette hair, with hazel eyes that are shaped like a cat, a slender and tall posture, and who characteristically has freckles on her right and left cheeks. Kalea has a charming physique but is fairly unmarketable. Her face is very similar to her biological father’s.

Eleven years ago, her father had the heart to play with fire behind her mother, even leaving the two of them speechless. This makes Freya very devastated, betrayed, and becomes dependent on alcohol. Because of Kalea’s face which is similar to her ex-husband’s, she who was originally a gentle and loving mother, became very hateful and had the heart to abuse her own biological child. Because when she sees Kalea, the shadows of her ex-husband always appear.

Freya doesn’t work, she’s mentally shaken and it’s hard to think clearly because it’s all her own child’s responsibility. Kalea has to meet her mother’s needs, and alcohol is no exception. From the age of nine, to be precise, after the death of her father, Kalea worked here and there and was even forced to quit school at that time to make ends meet. The good luck is that sometimes she puts aside the results of her hard work so that she can continue her education back to high school, and with her smart brain, she can continue to higher levels without paying a penny because she gets a full scholarship until she graduates with a bachelor’s degree.

For now, she works as a teaching assistant at her campus and as a waiter at one of the most well-known family restaurants in the city. Even then, she felt that it was still not enough to fulfill her mother’s wishes, and seemed to have to look for additional work even though her activities would get busier.

After the incident of Kalea and Freya’s quarrel that ended in Kalea’s forehead being injured, the girl continued her activities as usual, as if nothing was bothering her. With confidence, she cut through the crowd of people on campus who sometimes stole glances at her, surprised by the bandage stuck to the girl’s forehead.

Of course, Kalea didn’t care, this was normal for her.

.....

Kalea entered the class that was scheduled for today, and immediately occupied the front seat close to the lecturer. Not because she is looking for attention or will curry favor with the lecturer, but she feels she has to make the most of all the opportunities that have been given to her. Kalea doesn’t want her college scholarship to be in vain because the knowledge gained is not digested optimally.

“Ka-lea? Lea! That ... bandage, what’s with your forehead?”

“Oh ... hi, Luna!” said Kalea without ignoring her friend’s worries.

Aluna, who had just arrived and saw her best friend’s condition being like this, of course was surprised, even though yesterday she was sure that she had brought Kalea home safely without any injuries. “Is this ... because of your mother?” Aluna asked in a whisper, her hand intended to touch the bandage but Kalea had avoided it first.

Without being told through her best friend’s mouth, Aluna knew that what she said was true.

Her eyes started to tear up, she immediately hugged Kalea tightly stroking her best friend’s back gently. While Kalea could only smile. The two of them didn’t care about the stares from the people around them.

Aluna knows the condition of her family, her best friend is the only one who knows this. She was grateful that there was still someone who cared, at least one who understood her, that was more than enough.

Exactly at eight o’clock in the morning, the lecturer entered the class and started the lecture. Kalea paid attention to what was explained by the lecturer in front of her, often she answered questions from the lecturer, who was fat and had a mole on her left cheek.

“Okay, before I close my class, I will give a group assignment regarding what global issues are currently being discussed. One group consists of two people, I will share the groups on the campus portal. Please see after this class I close, Sunday in front of you to present. Is there anything you want to ask?”

No one made a sound, indicating that all of them had quite understood the task given.

“Then I’ll close, thank you for today,” said the lecturer.

After the lecturer left the class, the majority of the children sighed in relief, and some even planned to go to the faculty canteen. Because the class will start again at one o’clock in the afternoon. Kalea herself opened her phone intending to look for job vacancies again. Yes, she really intends to find additional work. Her fingers were busy scrolling the screen looking for the requirements that matched her, of course she considered the time and cost.

“Kalea! Have you seen the group list earlier?!” Aluna asked with a face that looked like she had been chased by a ghost, and that made Kalea surprised. “Not yet, why?”

“Duh, you better see who’s your group partner.”

Because of Aluna’s orders, Kalea closed the job vacancy page and replaced it with the campus portal. She looked at the list of group members, but she didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. “Is there anything strange about this?”

Kalea’s question made Aluna gape in disbelief. “Don’t you know the rumors from your group mates later?”

“What’s wrong with Zeline? Isn’t she very pretty?”

Aluna rolled her eyes lazily, she sat on a chair that hadn’t belonged to anyone before, and moved her body toward Kalea. “I heard she often plays with old men! You know, even though she’s that beautiful, no one wants to be friends with her. Moreover, she’s very arrogant. You always see her alone, don’t you?” Aluna said in a whisper, “and I’m sure she will be a burden to the group for you.”

“But it’s just a rumor, Luna. Don’t believe it until you see it in person, that’s bad behavior.” Kalea started to tidy up her books, she put them in her canvas backpack.

“Ugh, but that’s an open secret! It wasn’t me who saw it, but some of the others, Lea!” Luna still didn’t want to lose. Kalea sighed and smiled.

“Still, I will cooperate with her no matter what. I won’t mind the rumors because they don’t harm me.”

“Then what if she really will be a burden to you?”

For a moment, Kalea was silent. “First, I will reprimand her myself. If that doesn’t work, of course, I will complain to Mrs. Betty. So don’t worry,” Kalea said, firmly making Aluna chuckle. That’s right, Aluna shouldn’t have to worry about that, because her best friend can definitely deal with it no matter what the problem is.

“Come on, canteen!”

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“Ah, but I’m thrifty.”

“I treat.”

“Deals?”

“Deal!”

They laughed as they walked to the faculty canteen.

***

Today the lectures are over, and students and college students are back to scattering to their respective activities. There are those who follow the organization and will hold meetings until midnight, work part time, or just visit popular cafes and then upload them on their social media. Meanwhile, Kalea will probably only review today’s material, and as a lecturer assistant, she will also prepare materials for the class she brings.

“Lea, what do you want after this? I want to come karaoke with the other class, do you want to come?” asked Aluna. Her hands were cool enough to iron his curly hair with the straightener she always carried.

“Hmm, I don’t think so. I want to prepare course materials for later. Oh, I’ll also talk to Zeline first, maybe.”

Aluna stopped her activities. “Are you sure?” Kale nodded.

“Want me to accompany you?” Aluna’s offer made Kalea chuckle, “No need, you better go first.”

“Really? Then, I just watched from a distance as we walked to the lobby together. Deal?” final Aluna and will not be denied.

As agreed, Aluna ended up waiting at the table closest to the classroom door, while Kalea approached the girl with blonde hair flowing back with beautiful sapphire blue eyes, who was busy applying light make-up to her almost perfect face. “Zeline?” calls Kalea.

The girl looked up at Kalea, raising her eyebrows haughtily. “Who are you?”

“I am Kalea Orlin Loovata, you can call me Kalea. We are in the same class and coincidentally are in the same group for the International Relations Analysis course, Zeline,” said Kalea while showing her sweet smile, but unfortunately, her interlocutor didn’t reply well, instead she continued to dress up activity.

“Ehm ... Zeline, I just want us to be able to work together on this task. When do you have time and where can we do it? So that the task can be completed quickly.” Kalea still hasn’t given up, but there’s nothing Zeline still doesn’t respond to.

Before long, the blonde girl put her cosmetic tools on, then faced Kalea. “Then now. Do you mind if I determine the place?”

“Oh ... today? Sure ...”

The girl smiled lopsidedly. “Okay.”