"I'm sorry, Ras. The truth is, I used to hate you."
Tissa's confession left Laras speechless. She stared at her friend with a puzzled expression, trying to understand the meaning behind the words she had just heard.
Tissa took a deep breath before continuing her story.
"When we first started college, there was a senior I had a crush on. He was majoring in English Literature, too. In fact, I even told you that I liked him."
Laras nodded slowly. She began recalling the early days of their college life.
"Back then, you told me that you thought he liked me, too. But it turned out that he actually liked you because he often saw you hanging out with me."
Tissa lowered her gaze for a moment. A trace of embarrassment crossed her face as she remembered what had happened.
"At first, I thought he was approaching me because he genuinely had feelings for me. It turned out he was only using me as a way to get close to you, Ras."
She exhaled, then offered a faint smile. It was more like an attempt to conceal an old disappointment than a genuine expression of happiness.
"Honestly, I was both upset and really disappointed back then. Why did I have to be the one who got hurt? He often invited me to eat with him, asked me to meet him at the campus library, and did all sorts of other things. I thought he really liked me."
Tissa paused for a moment before continuing.
"But all those things he did were just because he hoped you would come along with me. He deliberately got close to me just so he would have a chance to see you."
She turned her gaze toward Laras.
"That was why I started distancing myself from you. It hurt every time I saw you, even though you hadn't done anything wrong."
Tissa lowered her head.
"Please forgive me, Ras."
Laras fell silent.
The confession was the last thing she had expected. All this time, she had assumed that Tissa had distanced herself because Laras had once refused her friend's invitation to accompany her to a music concert.
It turned out there was another reason, one far more complicated than she had ever imagined. It was a problem that had never once crossed her mind.
Laras slowly exhaled, then smiled at Tissa.
"Oh my God, Tissa. I was really sad when you started distancing yourself from me."
She shifted a little closer to her friend.
"Even though I have a lot of friends, the only people I truly feel comfortable with are you and Alya. I've always considered you one of my closest friends."
Laras looked at Tissa sincerely.
"I'm sorry, too, Sa. I honestly had no idea you'd been carrying those feelings all this time."
Tissa raised her head. Their eyes met, and eventually, they exchanged small smiles.
That night, a long-buried misunderstanding finally found its way into the open. Perhaps not every wound could heal with a simple apology. But at least they had both found the courage to open a door they had kept closed for so long.
The atmosphere gradually lightened.
The game that had been interrupted resumed.
This time, it was Rengga's turn to draw a challenge card.
He picked one from the middle of the circle, opened it, and read the words written inside. A moment later, the corners of his mouth curled into an amused smile.
"Wow, this question is pretty interesting!"
Rengga cleared his throat before reading the card aloud.
"When was the last time you lied to a friend, and what was your reason?"
Without needing to think for long, he immediately answered.
"I can answer this one right away because it literally happened earlier today."
Rengga leaned back casually, then glanced at Riki, who was sitting not far from him.
"I lied to Riki earlier. I told him I had a headache, but the truth was that he only wanted me to accompany him while he went to pee."
Several people immediately turned toward Riki.
Rengga chuckled before continuing his confession.
"The problem was, I was feeling way too lazy to move and just wanted to lie down. Besides, the place wasn't even that far away. Guys can pee just about anywhere, right? Why did he need someone to accompany him? What a coward!"
He ended his sentence with a loud burst of laughter.
"Hahaha!"
Riki, who had been glaring at him the entire time, finally spoke up.
"Maybe you're the coward here."
Rengga raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Riki flashed a mischievous grin.
"Are you afraid some handsome guy might make you fall in love?"
"You little punk!"
Rengga burst out laughing and pointed at Riki's face.
"I'm perfectly straight, okay! Watch what you say. I'll punch you in a minute!"
The threat only made Riki laugh even harder.
Their friends joined in, filling the air with laughter and restoring the warmth that had briefly faded from the group. Amid the chilly night on Mount Srinjani, their simple jokes provided a welcome distraction.
After completing his challenge, Rengga passed the turn to Keenan.
Keenan randomly picked a card. However, the moment he read what was written on it, his expression changed.
He tried to hold back his laughter for several seconds before covering his mouth with one hand.
In the end, he burst out laughing.
"I swear, this is the most ridiculous question I've ever read!"
He shook his head, still laughing.
"Let me read it out loud!"
Keenan raised the card and read its contents in a loud voice.
"How many ex-girlfriends have you had? Name them and explain why you broke up!"
The laughter that had been coming from several people gradually subsided. Now, everyone's attention was focused on Keenan.
The fair-skinned young man with narrow eyes fell silent for a moment. He seemed to be considering whether to answer the question or pick another challenge card.
After thinking it over, however, he finally shrugged.
"Fine. I'll answer it."
He leaned back, placing both hands behind him, and began his story.