WAR OF AGES

Just thought the person who just passed him was actually in trouble so even if he doesn't want to help or just by standing and let harm came after other, he always moves by reflexes since his mother told him to always help other even if they are having some not a good time.

Not thinking much and wasting any more time his body moved by reflex as he turns and ran after them into the alley where they go to, Agus who followed them seen the girl was being harassed as she was held by the two guys standing on both sides of her while on the other hand the man standing in front of her talking in small but hearable voice.

"As I said before, when are you going to pay your debt?" whispered the debt collector.

"I did say a few more weeks because it isn't yet my payday," said the girl while looking at him straight eye to eye.

"You already have passed your time to pay the debt so how long will you say things that "you will pay it' but never once you paid it," said the debt collector.

"That's..." as the girl went silent then turning her around as she then noticed Agus while also staring back at him.

Noticing the glance of the girl the debt collecter noticed it then turn his heads away and the two who are holding the girl down also noticed it after the debt collector turns his head away before looking at Agus indifferently.

"What are you doing? here this is no place such as you kid go and leave, we don't have business with you... yet" said the debt collector in a harsh tone.

"True but I can't leave a person alone and let something happen to them," said Agus before he lastly sighs.

The four of them went silent before the debt collector and the thugs take their turn to look at each other as they show a confused face about what they should do next before the debt collector smiled in interest as he looked at Agus intrigued by him.

"Since that the case then perhaps you could pay her debt then? I'm... quite a peaceful man... and always disliked violent" as the person in question's smile went wider.

The man in person walks around from right then to the left before lastly glanced at Agus as if accessing the person he taled to capable or not of fighting or paying the money.

"I'd rather not forcing others but she already overdue her time to pay her debt thus she must pay the loan she previously burrowed" as he takes a glance at the girl then pointing his burning cigarette at her who jerked her head away "either from one way or another" as he continues before ending with a rotten smile.

Agus who listened to what the collector just said thought he had some money he could help the girl but... after thinking a bit more he knew something isn't right if he were to pay it there is no guarantee that the debt collector won't go back and after her again but even so Agus should help her out while also thinking another way to make sure she didn't get another trouble with him.

"Here your money so leaves her alone," said agus as he throws the money at the debt collector.

"Hm... yep this should be enough to pay this month loan so you have few more week not seeing me," said the debt collector as he signals his two underlings to back away from the girl "but I'll back to get that 2 years worth of loan, so see you... next time," said the debt collector as he left before the two thugs followed behind.

As the two people stayed behind while looking at the leaving figures before they turned toward each other.

"Thank you but I'm sorry but I cannot accept your kindness," said the girl.

"... no, I'm not giving it because of pity nor was it of kindness but rather something else" said Agus as he showed a paled looks as he turned to the side.

"huh?" said the girl in surprise.

Agus then remembered that he wanted to get any old kiosk nearby as he then looks back at the girl then quickly hold her hand before speaking loudly.

"Can you show where any cheap kiosks are?" said Agus loudly.

"Eh?" said the girl in another surprise while being dumbfounded.

"Before seeing to help you out, I was planning to go and buy some necessities for the night still looking for it," said Agus while showing a tired smile.

"... I understand then I will show you where it is since you helped me, I could make the payment of the debt as guiding you there then" after looking at Agus intensely.

"Well, you could take it like that then... thank you," said Agus before following her.

"... Well if someone we're supposed to say something like that... it should have been me" while the girl still walks ahead of Agus.

After walking about half an hour at the very least both of them arrived at what supposed to be a small and cheap kiosk on the outer part of the town if it was distanced from the academy it's very far away and he would need to take a bus or a train to travel to the place.

"Here it is the cheapest place kiosk... well, not that chea-" as she spoke with the proud look before being smacked on the head by mid-aged old man.

"What the heck with that kind of introduction, are you promoting the place, or are you trying to scare away the potential customer?" said the old man.

"Ouch? that hurt old man... er" said the girl as she glanced away.

"At the very least you brought one so I'll just let it off," said the old man before turning his eye toward Agus then gave a businessman looks.

"Does the store sell this kind of product?" said Agus as he gave out the list to the old man.

"Hm... yeah, I have most of them inside the store," said the old man as he looks back at Agus after nodding "I could have them delivered to your place by tomorrow morning since its the first time I see you here" before turning to a wide smile.

"Ah, yes I just recently moved to the neighborhood... well most of the part yeah," said Agus while rubbing his neck unsure of how to proceed.

"I see... then can I have the address then," said the old man as he grabs a paper and pen"

"Eh? you... don't use a digital phone for this kind of thing?" said agus surprised before taking the paper then writing the address on it.

"Don't bother even using it, I don't even want to touch it... " said the old man with mixed disgusted and troublesome looks on his face. "Oh, this address got it" as he turns away then walks to his store.

"... Yeah" said Agus with confused looks as he stared at the fleeting old men's back.

"Well, it seems you are finished... so I'll be leaving you now, I hope this will be the last time we meet," said the girl with a wry smile before ending it with "I hope" before leaving Agus behind.

Since Agus already knew the place and also knew where it is located he could return to his dorm as he could take a walk home taking only half an hour Agus noticed certain someone was shopping in a nearby store on his right side, feeling curious Agus looked more carefully at the person as it was Dayang who he saw.

He talked with her only once before and never interacted with her again as he sees Dayang was frustrated with something looking from left to right and repeating for few more time, Agus feeling curious he walked closer unconsciously toward her which led to her noticing him as she glanced at him before turning fully at him

"Come here at… eh, erm, who were you… Agus was it?" said Dayang in a bit of confusion.

"… Yes" said Agus with a wry smile.

"… Never mind, you are new anyway so you can't know it" said Dayang as she remembered.

"What are you searching for though, I'm a bit curious?" said Agus as he looks at her back.

"It's… something that can only be bought in this place," said Dayang not wanting to say it out loud.

Agus thought the place is a small store before remembering it was a small bookstore which has some old and many new books especially magazine and reference books then he thought what thing could be said as a shameful thing? is it an e.r.o.t.i.c comic? no that would be for men... this side is novel, could it be an e.r.o.t.i.c novel turning his head wanting to confirm it with her as he gets closer to Dayang which should be enough so only she could hear it well enough.

"Impossible something embarrassing?" As he whispered.

"… Yeah" Said Dayang as she blushed a bit.

"Okay, that's a bit awkward… I'm leaving-" said Agus as he about to leave but his neck collar was being held on to by Dayang.

"Don't leave yet..." said Dayang with embarrassment while looking away from Agus.

Agus thought why did she get so scared about? is it losing her hard-earned reputation... or was it something else, probably she doesn't want to besmirch someone else that got her very scared. Knowing she would still after me if he were to reject her request or ignored would be a problem for him thus he sighed while nodding before opening his mouth.

"Understood… I would do what you want" said Agus as he looked down not wanting her eye directly.

"Good…" she then covered her upper cloth with her hand quickly "Pervert?" said in a questioning tone.

"In hell, no," said Agus as he stepped back quickly.

"… Okay you can leave, so if you were to tell others about this, I will other that you are a pervert so this make is equal," said Dayang with an oddly scary smile.

"This girl…" sighed as he scratches his head.

As he was about to take the first step Dayang then shouted "There it is!!!" which is enough to startle Agus mid-walk as he slowly turns around what she just found.

What he saw on the cover is as he expected… a Yuri novel-based one, from one glance he knew the cover girl has the same look as Dayang and Melati as the two girls touched each other intimately while their face was close to each other.

Agus then quickly look back at the store entrance thinking he was not caught by Dayang who is hugging the book tightly as if looks like someone who doesn't want to part with it before hearing her stands up then walks to the register wanting to pay it.

Agus leaving the place not wanting to interact with her but... she appeared a minute after he left running after his fleeting back before catching his cloth near the waist thus stopping him in the track.

"What is it again? Dayang, hm" said Agus as he turns his head to the side.

"Well since miss Melati trusted you, please escort me to my home," said Dayang with a prideful smile.

"Huh?! your home?" said Agus with surprise.

"Yes, my home... or are you dissatisfied with my... request?" said Dayang as she glanced at him the end.

"No... it's fine for me, um so where is your home exactly?" said Agus not wanting to add any more trouble.

"It's about a few minutes away from here," said Dayang as she walks a bit further away at his right side.

"Why are distance yourself?" as he turned his head at her.

"I don't like being rumored with men," said Dayang with as she pouted.

"Huh?" as he slowed his step a bit.

Agus who heard it well enough he then thought could it be possible a trauma that caused her to be like that or was it something else... fascination, perhaps.

Agus then continued walking together with Dayang even if they are a bit distanced one from another since Dayang mentioned that she did not like a male that much, confused about what he should do before Dayang opened her mouth to break dependence as she turned her head away a bit opened would not show what kind of face she would make toward him.

"Agus… so is it true? About you and miss Melati being a fiance?" said Dayang with a bit low voice.

"That's is not true… well, for the most parts since my father and her father did promise about it," said Agus as he walks glanced from Dayang then to the road.

"But officially the two of you are fiancee then?" said Dayang as she still looked away.

"I… guess by the normal term," said Agus Awkwardly.

Glancing at Dayang her face was half-covered with her hood but noticing he was looking at her, she turns head away once more not wanting for her being seen by him as the two walks to Dayang's home after Brief of silence. Upon arriving near her home she just passed by him without wave nor saying anything to him as she closed the door to her home.

Seeing the event that just occurred Agus just went blank instantaneously after the door was closed at him while also thinking what he should do next before the door previously closed were slightly opened as a bit of her face were seen behind the door while facing downward while gave a small glance towards him.

"Sorry and thank you for escorting me home," said Dayang as she also closed the door back.

Agus knowing he had finished escorting her to her own home slowly walks away and walked back to his dorm but since the day already turned into night, he could only walk to his dorm using his flashlight on a certain part of the road as it was pitch black after taking around 15 minutes he arrived at the dorm and about to open the door before noticing the living room's light was still on and there are some people inside of it talking.

Agus opened the door and walked inside as he finds most of them were women where Melati and Bunga were part of the group and few men noticed him entering the dorm as some of the women waved him while only one or two did greet him just for the pleasantry while the rest just watched on the corner of the room and may even mock him in silence.

"Oh, Agus you're here," said Melati as she waved at him "Come here I'll introduce you to them… it only takes a moment of your time"

Thinking only for a moment he agrees because he only need show his face at them as a sign of respect but as he was about to show his face, one of the individual were seen with hateful looks on his eye for a mere moment before changing into the indifferent look as he turns his eye away.

"Hey, everyone so this is the rumored boy you all heard before," said Melati as she looks to the crowd before glancing at Agus.

"My name is Agus nice to meet with all of you," said Agus with a bit a smile.

"Hm, well met," said one of the guys.

"Yeah, looks handsome too," said one of the girl "Is he your supposed to be Fiancee, Melati?" as she added.

"Ah?! Yeah…" said Melati awkwardly as she not knowing what to say before blushing a bit.

"Its something I knew myself, my father and hers promised to wed us if they could" as Agus coughed a bit before telling with an indifferent tone.

"Oh, is that so?" said one of the girls.

"Then if it were not true then one of us girls could be his girlfriend then?" said the other girl.

Such a word sent shiver in Agus spine as he felt hostile and murderous aura from a few of the guys as they felt less handsome than him but the guy before no longer gave a hostile aura instead.

"So can I leave… since I need to take care of some stuff?" said Agus as he looked at Melati.

"Ah, yeah… bye then," said Melati as she waves her hand goodbye.

"Ok, I'll be leaving first sorry," said Agus as he quickly walks away.

"Bye Agus" one of the girls with a sad look.

"See you next time" one of the boys that look impressed at Agus.

"Mm…" one of the boys that did not like Agus that much.

Leaving everyone else Agus walks to the front of his room as he pulls out the keys from his pocket where at the same time Bunga just came out from Melati's room as she was also surprised that Agus just returned then heard a sound slowly from behind him, feeling curious he turned his eye to the source of the sound where he spotted Bunga who just came out from Melati's room as she also noticed Agus was looking at her who just take her step outside the room as she then opened her mouth.