Chapter 22

Naya walked slowly down the school corridor, all the students who saw her were whispering to each other while looking at her with gazes that were very difficult to interpret.

 

"Hi Naya. Wow, I didn't expect that you were dating Mr. Arka," said one of the students.

 

"How does it feel to date Mr. Arka?"

 

"You can definitely continue to get good grades." said another student who immediately invited laughter from everyone in the school corridor.

 

"You guys want to know what it's like to date a teacher?" Mr. Arka exclaimed, who came out of nowhere, causing all the students to immediately fall silent and lower their heads.

 

Arka casually walked over to Naya. "If you want to know what it's like to date a teacher, then study hard. No teacher wants to have a stupid students," he said, making Naya immediately look at him in surprise.

 

"Sir, what did you say? You could get reprimanded for saying something like that," said Naya.

 

"Why? They are all free to judge you and say anything to you but why can't I?"

 

"This is different, sir. I..."

 

"Naya!" Before Naya had time to finish her words, Jihan suddenly shouted as he ran towards her. "Good morning sir," said Jihan.

 

"Come on, come on, there's something I want to talk to you.” Jihan immediately grabbed Naya's hand.

 

"Why are you still here? Go to your respective classes," ordered Mr. Arka, who immediately made all the students run to their respective classes.

 

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

 

Naya let out a long breath when Jihan took her to the classroom, there were already Dahya, Sina, Yuna and Juna.

 

"Explain what really happened? Why were you in the library with Mr. Arka?" Jihan asked.

 

"We just accidentally fell asleep because it was locked in there."

 

"Can you contact me or someone else for help?" said Sina. 

 

"I left my cellphone in my bag in class."

 

"Okay, I consider this problem resolved. Another question is about your relationship with Mr. Arka. Are you really dating?"

 

Naya was silent, Juna, who had been silent until now, now started to look at Naya. Waiting for an answer that made him think about it since yesterday. "That..."

 

"That's what? You are aren't really dating, are you?"

 

Naya looked at Juna who was also looking at her, after that she turned to look at Yuna "Yes, we are dating."

 

"What? how could that be?!" Dahya shouted in surprise.

 

"Did Mr. Arka threaten you? What has Mr. Arka done to you, Nay? Tell me, we will protect you," said Juna.

 

"No. We are really dating without any pressure."

 

"I'm sorry. I had to lie so that Yuna wouldn't misunderstand me and Juna," thought Naya.

 

 :::

 

Naya's days are getting more difficult, at school all the students are avoiding her because they don't like her relationship with Mr. Arka. Not only that, even Juna has been avoiding him since she said that she was really dating Mr. Arka. Plus, her mother started to like Mr. Arka because almost every day he came to her shop to help sell. Naya is increasingly falling into this charade.

 

"Nay," Mr. Arka called, approaching Naya who was sitting in front of the shop.

 

"Why here? It's very cold here, let's go in."

 

"No, I still want to be here looking at the stars."

 

"Sir," shouted Naya when Mr. Arka put his jacket on her body.

 

"The air is very cold. You'll get sick later," he said with a sweet smile.

 

"Sir, why have you suddenly changed and become better?"

 

"Why you do not like?"

 

"It's not like that. It's just that this looks strange. You're not planning something, right?"

 

"You're accusing me of planning something evil again?"

 

Naya nodded "because Mr. Arka always does that."

 

"Tsk, okay, I'll tell you the truth. We've already made this play, you know that I like you, don't you? So I'm going to use this opportunity to make you fall in love with me by being nice to you until you finally fall in love with me and This charade turned into reality."

 

"Tsk, I thought so." Naya quipped.

 

"But it looks like your efforts will be in vain because I never liked you," he continued.

 

"Is it true?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Okay, we'll see."

 

 :::

 

Today Arka invited Naya to dinner with his family at the request of his father, who wanted to see the face of the person who made Arka refuse the arranged marriage he had been planning for a long time.

 

"Good evening, sir, madam," said Naya, who had just set foot in the Arka family's residence.

 

There was no answer, Arka's father just stared at her appearance in silence. The atmosphere at the dining table looked very quiet for a few moments considering that the head of the family really didn't like it if anyone talked while he was eating. Until after quite a long time they finally finished the dinner in silence.

 

"So what's your name?" Arka's father asked Naya who had just put down her glass.

 

"My name is Naya, sir," answered Naya with a sweet smile. You know, right now he's in fear mode because since he set foot here, Arka's father doesn't seem to like him.

 

"Do you study or work?"

 

"I'm still in the 3rd year of high school, sir."

 

"So you are Arka's student?"

 

Naya nodded. Arka's father was seen continuing to ask him questions while Arka and his mother were still silently listening to the question and answer session. They weren't silent for anything, it was because Arka's father didn't like it if someone answered what he said without his permission.

 

"Where do your parents work?"

 

"My father has died and my mother only manages our small shop." 

 

"Tavern? You are not the son of a businessman?" This question immediately made Naya look down.

 

"Dad," said Arka, who immediately received a sharp look from his father.

 

"You know Naya? Arka is the only child of this family. He is the only heir in this family. Previously I had matched him with the son of my business partner. She is the son of a rich businessman, graduated from the best university in America and even now he already has the title of famous designer there."

 

"Dad enough!"

 

"That woman was truly perfect, but Arka rejected her outright and preferred a student."

 

“Daddy!” Arka shouted, feeling like he couldn't stand his father's words.

 

"Don't shout at your dad, Arkana!" 

 

"Dad, I complied with Dad’s wishes to bring Naya here because I thought this would stop me from arranging me with Dad’s friend's daughter. But in fact I was wrong, I should have never brought Naya to meet you. Daddy has really gone too far! I'm fed up with all the rules..."

 

 

 

PLAK!!!

 

Naya, who had been looking down, was shocked when she heard the sound of a very hard slap landing right on Arka's cheek.

 

"You don't know yourself! You chose that woman over your father's choice? Have you slept with her?"

 

"Daddy that's enough!" 

 

"Tell me. Has Arka slept with you? What happened at that time? Are you asking Arka to take responsibility?" Arka's father asked Naya, who was already shedding tears.

 

"Answer, what Arka..."

 

"DADDY!” Arka shouted as loud as possible.

 

"Daddy is really too much!" Arka stood up, pulled Naya's hand and left the place.

 

"Arka!"

 

"Let him! Let him go with that woman," shouted Arka's father, holding back his wife's hand who was about to chase them.

 

"You are really too much. Good girl Naya, how could you say such evil words."

 

"Are you starting to disobey me yet?"

 

"Arka is already big. He can choose his own choices without having to be controlled."

 

"You mean choosing a woman from a poor family?"

 

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

 

Naya tried her best not to cry in front of Mr. Arka. He just stared quietly out the window. Until suddenly the car Arka was driving stopped on the side of the road, making Naya immediately turn her gaze towards him.

 

"Why did you stop, sir? Isn't my house still far away?" he asked confused, but Arka just remained silent.

 

"Mr Arka didn't tell me to take a taxi home, right?" 

 

Naya exhaled when she saw her teacher's silence.

 

"Mr. Arka really told me to take a taxi home? Tsk, I shouldn't have come with you if that was certain..."

 

"It’s done?” Arka said with a sad look.

 

"Are you acting now? You act like nothing happened?"

 

"What do you mean, Arka?"

 

"Stop pretending you're fine, Nay! I know you're not fine."

 

Naya was silent, her eyes began to fill with tears. Should he cry now?

 

"Stop as if you're fine, Nay. I know you're not fine," Mr. Arka whispered.

 

"What does Mr. Arka think I should behave like? Should I cry? Well, I'm honest, I'm sad and hurt by everything that Mr. Arka's father said, but I also can't blame him, it's all true. What Mr. Arka's father said about my family that's true."

 

"Nay."

 

"I'm quite aware of who I am. Besides, didn't I say from the start that I never liked you? So if your father doesn't like me, that's not a problem. In fact, I'm happy because maybe he can keep me away from Mr. Arka."

 

"Stop saying silly things Nay! I'm not discussing your feelings."

 

"Mr. Arka, don't worry, I won't be hurt by everything Mr. Arka's father said. This relationship won't last long anyway. I don't like Mr. Arka, so I won't take those words to heart."

 

"Is that so?" asked Mr. Arka in his low voice.

 

"So you think this relationship is just trying?"

 

"Hmm. From the start I didn't want this relationship. From the start it was Mr. Arka who brought me into this complicated situation."

 

"I defended you in front of my father. I was slapped to defend you. And I was hurt to see you insulted but this is your reply?"

 

"I never asked you to defend me."

 

"So this is what you really are like, Nay?"

 

"Hmm."

 

"Go out."

 

"What?"

 

"You can take a taxi home, right?"

 

Naya was a little surprised by what she had just heard. Mr. Arka really told him to take a taxi home after that incident?

 

"Okay, thanks for the ride," said Naya before finally getting out of the car.

 

Just as he came out, Mr. Arka immediately started his car at high speed, leaving him unable to hold back his tears any longer.

 

Naya cried, she sat crying on the side of the road. Not because his teacher left him, but because of his own words which he thought hurt Mr Arka.

 

Mr. Arka hit the steering wheel hard, he was angry and sad. Angry because he had the heart to put Naya on the edge of the net. but he was also sad to hear everything the girl said. Mr. Arka just wants Naya to share her sadness with him, after that he will strengthen Naya to fight together against her father, not like this. Mr. Arka thought that his efforts to get close to Naya had made him have a little feeling for her, but it turns out he was wrong.