My 8F Memories

FEBRUARY ; Perfect Scandal

Saturday, February 22

It was one of those lazy days at school where you just want to stay in your seat, play on your phone, and not be bothered by the outside world. I spent the morning chilling with Icha, swiping through random apps and talking about whatever popped into our heads. The thought of stepping outside felt like too much effort, but boredom eventually crept in. With just minutes left before the break ended, I decided to venture out for some fresh air.

Little did I know, my simple plan was about to turn into a full-blown drama.

As I headed for the door, I realized it wasn't going to be that easy. The boys had taken over the doorway, turning it into their private hangout spot. I pushed the door slightly, but it barely budged. Standing right in front of it was none other than Enjang, leaning against the door like he owned it.

"Move, guys!" I shouted, but they acted like they couldn't hear me.

I banged on the door harder, hoping someone would take the hint. Instead, they just laughed and continued blocking my way. Fine, if they weren't going to move, I had to get creative. Plan B: Climb onto a nearby bench, open the window, and yell at them.

"Move aside, bro, just for a sec!" I hollered, feeling half-annoyed and half-ridiculous.

When I climbed back down, I tried the door again. Rijal, who was leaning on the other side, yelled at me, "Push the other one!"

Gee, thanks for the brilliant advice, Rijal. As if I hadn't already tried that.

With a final push, I managed to get the door open. The boys started filing into the classroom, one by one. Fahmi was the first to walk in (wait—where did *he* even come from?). The moment he saw me, his mischief mode activated.

He made a snake shape with his hand and thrust it toward me, just like Wahab had done the day before. I jumped aside, trying to avoid his antics, but of course, that only encouraged him. Fahmi stepped closer, his playful grin growing wider.

"Euh, Fahmi, stop it," I muttered, too drained to deal with his nonsense. But he didn't listen.

Just then, a girl's voice cut through the noise:

"Wow, don't do that in broad daylight!"

I froze. Turning around, I saw the girls watching us with a mix of amusement and judgment. My heart sank.

Why does this always happen? I was just trying to mind my own business, but now it looked like I was part of some cheesy rom-com scene. I shoved Fahmi away, muttering, "Where's Mr. Iwan?" as a distraction. Finally, he backed off, and I escaped outside.

Or so I thought.

Mr. Iwan showed up in the hallway, so I turned back into the classroom. As I walked to my seat, I could feel the girls' eyes on me. Their expressions said it all: pure judgment.

"What?" I snapped, unable to hold back.

They shook their heads, but their smug looks remained. I knew what they were thinking, and it annoyed me to no end. Why was I the one getting the side-eye when Fahmi was the one acting ridiculous?

At my desk, frustration bubbled over. I glared at Fahmi, who didn't even notice (typical), and impulsively grabbed my phone.

"Fahmi, you're so annoying. I hate you."

I hit send, hoping he'd read it and feel at least a little bad.

Honestly, this wasn't the first time he'd pulled a stunt like this. A few months ago, he trapped me at the door when I had an injured leg. That day, our awkwardly close position reminded me of a scene from a K-drama—not that I found it romantic or anything. Back then, it was just the two of us, and I could brush it off. But today? Everyone saw. And their reactions made it ten times worse.

Later that night, my phone buzzed. It was a reply from Fahmi:

*"I hate you too."*

Classic Fahmi.

We texted back and forth, arguing over nothing, until suddenly I got this message:

*"This is Fahmi's mom. Stop texting him rudely."*

Wait, what?

At first, I thought it was a joke. Who replies in slang if they're a parent? But then doubt crept in. Was it really his mom? If so, I felt terrible.

***

Monday, February 24

I spent the entire weekend wondering if I'd actually been texting Fahmi's mom. If it was true, Fahmi would definitely be cold toward me at school.

The moment I arrived in class, Sindi came up to me.

"Did you text Fahmi yesterday?" she asked.

"Yeah..." I replied cautiously.

"Well, Fahmi's mom saw your messages and got mad."

Oh no. The guilt hit me like a ton of bricks. So it *was* his mom? Sindi would know—her house is near Fahmi's, and their families talk often.

As expected, Fahmi avoided me all day. He didn't look at me, didn't talk to me, and definitely didn't crack any jokes. It felt weird, like the balance of our chaotic interactions had shifted.

By lunchtime, I needed a distraction. Sindi and I decided to watch some older students play football in the courtyard. Among them was *handsome Aa* from 9E—a bit of an unofficial celebrity thanks to his good looks. Watching them play was a welcome break from the awkward tension with Fahmi.

But the peace didn't last long.

As I grabbed my bag to head home, something felt off. It was heavier than usual. Suspicious, I opened it up and found—surprise!—our class's tablecloths stuffed inside.

Maryam! That sneaky trickster. She'd been behind me earlier, pretending to chat casually. It was all a setup to sneak the tablecloths into my bag. No wonder she'd been laughing afterward.

Rolling my eyes, I dumped the tablecloths back on the teacher's desk and headed home.

What a day![]