If heaven had a branch on earth specifically for hungry stomachs, then the Rajawali High Canteen—or as officially inscribed on the marble plaque, the "Student Gastronomy Lounge"—was a strong candidate.
Forget the image of a typical school cafeteria with sticky floors from spilled sweet tea and the piercing smell of used cooking oil. Here, the ceramic floors shone like mirrors in a five-star hotel. The air didn't smell of students' post-gym sweat, but a blend of freshly ground Arabica coffee beans, French pastries just out of the oven, and a faint scent of lavender air freshener.
Salim sat at one of the tempered glass round tables, staring blankly at the digital menu displayed on a large LCD screen above the ordering counter.
* Wagyu Fried Rice: IDR 65,000
* Spaghetti Aglio Olio with Truffle Oil: IDR 75,000
* Sweet Iced Tea (Jasmine Infused): IDR 15,000
"Crazy," Salim muttered softly. "Fifteen thousand for iced tea. Was the tea picked by celestial fairies or something?"
"That's premium tea, Lim. Select tea buds picked only during a full moon," Dani chimed in, having just arrived carrying a tray full of food, then plopping his butt onto the cushioned chair next to Salim.
Dani set down his tray. The contents were enough to feed a small family: A burger with a thick patty, fries dusted with parmesan cheese, and a large glass of strawberry milkshake.
"Do you want to eat or simulate obesity, Dan?" Salim asked, eyeing the giant burger.
"Shhh! This is my reward," Dani said while running a hand through his slick hair. "My brain needs glucose after watching you slaughter Nadia yesterday. I swear, that was epic! Her face when she walked out of the library looked like she just swallowed a whole durian seed."
Rizki arrived shortly after, carrying a tray that was far "healthier" and classier. Caesar Salad with grilled chicken breast slices and a bottle of premium mineral water. He sat calmly across from them.
"Don't be too happy, Dan," Rizki said while unscrewing his water bottle cap. "Nadia is the vindictive type. Just watch, she'll get back at Salim during the semester exams."
"Let her be," Salim finally took out his own lunch from his bag: Two packs of plain bread with chocolate jam that he bought at the convenience store across the school for five thousand rupiah, and a bottle of water he refilled from the mosque's dispenser. A striking contrast on that glass table. "I don't care about Nadia. I care more about the fate of my wallet."
Dani munched on his burger greedily, a bit of mayonnaise smearing the corner of his lip. "Speaking of wallets, you have to see the interior of my new car, Lim. The 'Yellow Mustang'. Crazy... the dashboard looks like a fighter jet cockpit. So many buttons, I was confused which one was the AC and which one was the ejector seat."
"Your car has an ejector seat feature?" Salim asked in a flat tone, taking a bite of his plain bread.
"As if! I mean it's just that advanced," Dani swallowed his chew. "This morning I tried Sport Mode on the toll road. Damn! The torque, Bro! My body felt glued to the seat. The exhaust sound... vroom vroom! That's not an engine sound, that's the Grim Reaper holding a rock concert!"
Salim nodded, feigning admiration. "Cool. So how's the gas mileage?"
Dani's face immediately turned sour. "Don't bring that up. I filled a full tank for a million rupiah and only got half the indicator. I suspect the tank is leaking into another dimension."
Rizki chuckled, elegantly. "That's the risk of a muscle car, Dan. You buy prestige, you pay for the gas. Unlike Salim. His Supra bike is ridiculously efficient. One full tank, and he can circle Sukabumi three times."
"It's not efficient, Ki," Salim corrected. "The fuel indicator is broken. So I never know if it's empty or not. My life with that bike is thrilling, full of uncertainty. Every time I twist the throttle, I'm gambling with fate."
The three of them laughed. Amidst the laughter, a soft floral perfume scent greeted their senses. Much more fragrant than the smell of Dani's burger.
Maya arrived.
She stood beside their table, holding a tray with two bowls of Japanese Beef Teriyaki, steam still rising warmly from them. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, revealing her slender neck. Her uniform fit perfectly, not tight but not loose either. Perfect.
"Can I join?" Maya asked, her eyes going straight to Salim, as if Dani and Rizki were just NPCs (Non-Playable Characters) in the game of her life.
"Sit down, Princess. We booked this seat just for you," Dani answered while sliding his tray, making space.
Maya sat right next to Salim. Their distance was close enough that their uniform sleeves touched slightly. Salim reflexively shifted his seat away a bit, giving polite space. Maya noticed it, but she didn't retreat.
"Lim, are you only eating bread?" Maya asked, looking at the bread wrapper in Salim's hand with unfeigned concern.
"It's enough. Complex carbohydrates. Good for the brain," Salim reasoned.
Maya shook her head gently. She pushed one of the Beef Teriyaki bowls on her tray in front of Salim. The bowl was overflowing: fluffy Japanese rice, thin beef slices with savory sweet sauce, coleslaw salad, and miso soup.
"Here," Maya said.
Salim frowned. "What's this?"
"Lunch," Maya answered innocently. "I just... um... ordered wrong. I meant to order one, but I accidentally pressed two on the ordering machine. And the lady said it couldn't be canceled. It's a waste to throw it away. You eat it, okay?"
Dani choked on his milkshake. He coughed dramatically while pounding his own chest. Rizki only smiled thinly, shaking his head at Maya's acting which was very... unconvincing.
"Accidentally pressed two?" Salim asked, eyeing Maya suspiciously. "The buttons on the screen are huge, May. Are your fingers all thumbs or what?"
Maya's face turned bright red. She bit her lower lip, looking panicked because her lie was threatened by Salim's logic. "W-well, systems have errors too, Lim! Or maybe my fingers were slippery. Just eat it! Rather than wasting it. It's a sin to reject a blessing."
"Hear that, Lim. A sin," Dani fueled the fire, having recovered from his choking. "Just eat it, come on. A blessing for the pious child from the canteen angel."
Salim looked at the bowl, then at his pathetic plain bread. His stomach growled in agreement with Maya.
"You seriously don't want it?" Salim asked to make sure.
"I already have one, Salim," Maya pointed to her own bowl. "My stomach is small, it won't fit two portions."
"Okay. Thanks. I'll pay you back later when I get paid for tutoring the neighbor's kid," Salim said as he pulled the bowl closer.
"No need!" Maya refused quickly. "Consider it... a treat. Because you were really cool in the library yesterday. I heard from the kids in other classes."
Salim began spooning the rice and meat. The savory taste of teriyaki sauce exploded in his mouth. Far more delicious than chocolate jam bread. "What was cool? I just solved a problem."
"The way you did it was cool," Maya said softly, starting to eat her own food. She occasionally glanced at Salim eating. There was a certain satisfaction in her eyes seeing Salim eat heartily.
"Slow down, Lim. There's rice on your cheek," Maya suddenly reached out her hand. With her smooth thumb, she wiped a grain of rice stuck to the corner of Salim's lip.
The movement happened so fast and naturally.
The world seemed to stop spinning for three seconds.
Salim froze with the spoon still in his mouth.
Dani dropped the fries he was holding.
Rizki stopped chewing his salad.
Maya pulled her hand back as if realizing what she had just done. Her face, previously pink, now turned into a ripe tomato red.
"Ehh... sorry. It just bothered me looking at it," Maya squeaked, hurriedly looking down to focus on her miso soup.
Salim cleared his throat loudly, trying to melt the awkwardness that suddenly thickened in the air. "Ahem. Thanks. I'm out of tissues."
Dani kicked Salim's leg under the table. Salim winced, glaring at Dani. Dani gave an eye signal: READ THE ROOM, MORON!
Salim pretended not to understand. He knew Maya liked him. He wasn't stupid. He could calculate probabilities of compound events, of course he could read social signals like this. But, Salim also calculated another variable: Reality.
Maya was the daughter of a hotel chain owner. Salim was the son of a widow whose motorcycle had to be kick-started five times before it turned on. In Salim's life formula, these variables didn't result in a balanced equation. So, he chose to pretend not to know. It was safer.
"By the way, how's your study tour prep?" Rizki asked, saving the situation with a neutral topic. The savior of the atmosphere.
"I'm 100% ready!" Dani exclaimed enthusiastically, forgetting the romantic moment just now. "I'm bringing my PS5. They say the bus has power outlets. We can play FIFA all the way, Bro!"
"Does it even have a TV?" Salim asked skeptically.
"I'm bringing a portable monitor! Relax, I've thought of everything," Dani patted his chest. "We're in the same bus, right? One back row seat, okay? That's our basecamp. The Boys plus Maya."
"I want the window seat," Maya requested. She turned to Salim. "You sit next to me, okay, Lim? So if I get carsick, there's someone to... um... help find a plastic bag."
"Ulterior motive," Dani coughed again.
"Sure," Salim answered briefly. "But if you vomit, don't get it on my jacket. That's the only jacket I have without holes."
"Salim!" Maya whined, hitting Salim's arm lightly.
They laughed together. The atmosphere returned to being warm. Amidst the fancy canteen filled with students discussing trips to Europe or new bags, their table was a unique little island.
However, not everyone was happy seeing that view.
From the entrance, Rinto walked in with his gang. He looked toward Salim's table. His eyes narrowed seeing the bowl Salim finished—which was clearly an expensive menu item—and Maya laughing so freely beside Salim.
Rinto deliberately walked past their table. When he was right behind Salim's chair, he stopped.
"Must be nice, being a parasite," Rinto sneered, his voice loud enough to be heard by surrounding tables. "School paid by scholarship, food paid by a girl. What kind of man are you?"
The laughter at the table died instantly.
Dani stood up immediately, his comical face turning fierce. "What did you mean, Rin? Watch your mouth."
Rizki put down his fork slowly, but his gaze pierced Rinto sharply. "Rinto, you better keep walking. Don't start trouble."
Rinto chuckled cynically. He looked at Salim who was still sitting calmly, finishing the rest of his tea. "I'm just stating facts. Maya, why are you clinging to this hobo? Your level is at the VIP table there, not with this parking attendant."
Maya stood up, her beautiful face now filled with anger. "Rinto! Watch your words! Salim is my friend. And he has far more class than you who can only show off your parents' wealth!"
"Class?" Rinto spat on the floor. "Look at his shoes. Look at his junk bike. That's not class, that's trash."
Salim finally put down his glass. He sighed deeply, then stood up slowly. He turned to face Rinto. Their height was about the same, but Salim's gaze was far calmer.
"Rin," Salim called softly. "You're right."
Everyone was surprised. Dani looked at Salim in confusion. Rinto smiled victoriously.
"I am poor. My bike is junk. My shoes are discounted," Salim continued. He took one step forward, closing the distance. "But at least, I'm sitting here because my friends want me here. Not because I pay for their meals."
Salim patted Rinto's shoulder, dusting off imaginary dirt there. "And one more thing. You better worry about your Calculus grade earlier. Because if your old man finds out your grades tanked, maybe your credit card facility will be the one turning into trash."
Rinto's face paled. Academic threat. His weak point.
"Let's bounce, guys," Salim invited his friends. "It smells of envy here. Makes me lose my appetite."
Salim grabbed his bag and walked away, followed by Dani who deliberately bumped Rinto's shoulder while passing, and Rizki who shook his head in pity. Maya gave Rinto a fleeting look of disgust, then jogged lightly to catch up with Salim, matching her steps beside him.
"You okay, Lim?" Maya asked worriedly when they were in the corridor.
"Chill, May. Words don't scratch my skin," Salim answered with a thin smile. "Thanks for the food. Really delicious. Next time, 'order wrong' again, okay."
Maya laughed, relief radiating from her face. "Roger that, Boss!"
Behind them, the entrance bell rang loudly.
Salim walked toward class with mixed feelings. The warmth of Maya and his friends' treatment clashed with the bitter reality of Rinto's words. He was aware of his position. He was aware that this world was unfair.