All residents of Chicago know the cold war that occurred between their two new students who both have thin minds, namely Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons. It all started from the ceremony on the first day of Sweetie Belle as a high school student. Sweetie Belle who at that time was appointed to deliver a speech as a representative of the force, was furious to find Mash Buttons late in the middle of the ceremony dressed in a delinquent style; dyed blonde hair and wearing a uniform that doesn't conform to school rules, walked past Sweetie Belle and calmly headed for class without following the ceremony. From the whispers that Sweetie Belle heard from the people around him, it was the son of the newly elected Governor of Chicago who passed him.
"—And I will have zero tolerance for anyone, especially the spoiled and delinquent son of a government official. This is my speech, Sweetie Belle Mahesa Wijaya. Good morning," said Sweetie Belle aloud using the microphone he used to make a speech.
Mash Buttons turned his body, took off the sunglasses he was wearing and looked fiercely at Sweetie Belle. But Sweetie Belle bravely looked back at Mash Buttons from the podium. All the students and teachers who witnessed the start of the war could only gulp.
"Glad to hear your promise. I, Mash Buttons, am waiting for the realization of your promise, Mr. Representative of the Forces who feels versatile," Mash Buttons shouted in response to Sweetie Belle's words. And the war began.
When Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons were in the tenth grade, no major problems occurred because their classes were far apart. The biggest problem that occurs is when Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons coincidentally are in the same canteen. It is certain that other students who were jostling for canteen food, without being ordered to shift, made room for Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons to stare at each other fiercely. Then as expected, a mock war broke out in the cafeteria.
And for some reason, when they went up to the eleventh grade, Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons were placed in the same class. What's worse, the results of the seat rotation lottery put Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons into my seat. Imagine the horror film The Insidious, then the atmosphere of Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons's class is more horror than the film. Many students have asked to change classes because of their actions. Even the teacher was reluctant to enter the classroom to teach.
Unable to stand the condition of the two of them spreading conflict with each other, finally one of the teachers ordered Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons to work as a team in the inter-school Physics Olympiad.
"Excuse me sir. Can you explain what you mean one more time?" asked Sweetie Belle to make sure.
"As you heard earlier, Sweetie Belle. For this year's inter-school Physics Olympiad, I appointed you and Mash Buttons to be the school representatives," said Cheerliee, their mentor teacher.
"Mash Buttons doesn't want to be paired with this smart-ass brat, Mr. Cheerliee!" exclaimed Mash Buttons while pointing at Sweetie Belle's nose.
"Don't Ge-er you, yes, spoiled child. You think I want to be paired with you!?" Sweetie Belle replied disapprovingly, "You must have been chosen only because of your father's influence, right?" continued the Director.
"What!? It's fine! Don't bring papa Mash Buttons into this!"
"How old are you!? Still calling myself by name. You want to be cute, don't you?"
"This—This is because papa said it would be rude for Mash Buttons to say 'I' instead of the first person."
"Oh, it turns out that a spoiled brat like you understands good and correct Indonesian. I salute you."
"You really don't—"
"ENOUGH!" Cheerliee's voice boomed to stop Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons's quarrel, "Listen, Sweetie Belle. Mash Buttons's score in yesterday's test was only 1 place below you, so it's only natural that Mash Buttons was chosen to represent our school," continued Cheerliee.
"But-"
"No buts. The school's decision is final. You can't refuse it!" break up Cheerliee.
Sweetie Belle turned his face to the side while Mash Buttons pouted while glancing at Sweetie Belle who was now casually looking at the paintings in Cheerliee's room.
"So from now on, you should work and study together to bring a gold medal for our school," said Cheerliee again.
'Cooperating with him!? It won't happen!' Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons thought at the same time.
.
However, what was ordered by Cheerliee, absolutely must be carried out by Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons. Under the supervision and guidance of Cheerliee, Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons started a study session to face the inter-school Physics Olympiad. It's really not an easy thing to make Sweetie Belle obey and Mash Buttons doesn't play truant in their study session.
"So, for the Olympics later what will be studied is dynamics and—"
"Sir, I have understood all the material that you gave. Can I go home now?" asked Sweetie Belle cutting Cheerliee's words.
"Should not! You can't go home before you finish doing the questions I gave you yesterday," said Cheerliee.
"Oh, then Mash Buttons can go home, please. Last night, Mash Buttons was bored and was just doing all the questions that you gave him," said Mash Buttons.
"Eh?" Cheerliee and Sweetie Belle were shocked to hear Mash Buttons's words.
"Yes. Here, Mash Buttons has done all the questions," said Mash Buttons again while giving Cheerliee a printed paper. Cheerliee and Sweetie Belle scramble to see the results of Mash Buttons's work, and it turns out that according to his words, Mash Buttons has done all the questions.
"Well, you're right, you've done all these questions," said Cheerliee.
"But, why, only the end result? Where did you get this result from? Where's the formula? The way?" said Sweetie Belle, continuing Cheerliee's words.
"Eh? The important thing is that the results are correct, right? Mash Buttons forgot the formula, and if Mash Buttons wrote the path according to Mash Buttons's style, many teachers did not accept it and blamed Mash Buttons's path for not following the applicable formula. But if you want to see the calculations, here is Mash Buttons with his doodles," Mash Buttons handed him a few sheets of paper full of random Mash Buttons writings.
"Even if you've finished these questions, you still can't go home, Mash Buttons," said Cheerliee.
"Why? Why? Earlier, you said you can go home when you have finished the questions," protested Mash Buttons.
"Your task now is not doing assignments, but memorizing formulas and calculations to solve problems! Come on, open your books both of you!" Cheerliee orders Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons.
"Pak Zaaaaamm, but today Mash Buttons wants to go home quickly ...," Mash Buttons whined.
"Dad's son was told to go home early to drink milk," Sweetie Belle teased.
"That's fine! No, you know! But because Mash Buttons already has a promise!" said Mash Buttons.
"I can't, Mash Buttons," replied Cheerliee.
"Please, Mr. Cheerliee," begged Mash Buttons.
Cheerliee sighed tiredly, "Okay. But after you have successfully completed twenty-five questions complete with formulas and calculations," said Cheerliee.
"Eeeeeeehhhh!? Why is that!?" Mash Buttons increasingly protested.
"Just do it, or you'll still be home at six in the afternoon," said Cheerliee firmly.
Finally, with great compulsion and an angry heart, Mash Buttons complied and worked on the questions that Cheerliee had given him. Forty-five minutes later Mash Buttons managed to solve the questions and immediately rushed home after handing over the results to Cheerliee.
"You are the same, you don't dare to refuse and scold the spoiled child because of his father," Sweetie Belle quipped to Cheerliee.
"Don't talk nonsense, Sweetie Belle. You yourself, why haven't you finished yet," said Cheerliee who immediately took Sweetie Belle's paper.
"Here, you've finished everything. But why don't you collect it on me? When you're done, you can go home," said Cheerliee again.
"It's precisely because I don't want to go home early that I purposely didn't collect them. The basketball team also banned me from training because they wanted me to focus on the Olympics," answered Sweetie Belle.
Cheerliee sighed again. Not this one, not that one, both Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons are basically quite troublesome for him, even though Cheerliee knows that they are both good kids.
"I've learned enough for today. Go home, Sweetie Belle," said Cheerliee, "and this is the next print of the material. Tomorrow, convey this material to Mash Buttons too," continued Cheerliee.
Lazily, Sweetie Belle accepted the printed material that Cheerliee had given him and put it in his school bag. After that Sweetie Belle cleaned up his school supplies. Then stood up and said goodbye to Cheerliee. Since Sweetie Belle didn't want to go home quickly to his uncle's house, Sweetie Belle decided to stop by somewhere first. Sweetie Belle took his smartphone and started calling.
"Hello? Mama?" said Sweetie Belle when he picked up the phone, "Can Sweetie Belle go to mama's place today? Hmm, nothing. Okay, Sweetie Belle on the way to mama's place, "continued Sweetie Belle who then disconnected the phone.
Sweetie Belle walked to the bus stop and waited for a bus with a direction that could take him to his mother's cake shop. After the bus that was awaited arrived, Sweetie Belle immediately got on and went quietly to his mother's place. Arriving at his mother's cake shop, Sweetie Belle came in and smiled and greeted some of the cake shop employees, then Sweetie Belle immediately went to the kitchen because he knew for sure that his mother was making cakes. How surprised Sweetie Belle was to find someone he didn't expect was also in his mother's private kitchen.
"You spoiled brat!?"
"The all-around fool!?"
"What are you doing here!?" exclaimed Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons in unison while pointing at each other.
"Ah, Sweetie Belle has come? Already eaten?" Rarity who just came into the kitchen carrying flour greeted Sweetie Belle.
"Mom, why is she here!?" demanded the Director.
"Mom? So auntie is her mama!?" exclaimed Mash Buttons while pointing at Sweetie Belle.
"Why? You know each other, huh? Oh yes, Buttons goes to the same school as Sweetie Belle, yes. Must know each other. Ah, could you two be friends?" asked Rarity.
"We are not friends!" denied Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons compact.
"Eeeehhh? But it's so compact," said Rarity.
"Mom, don't joke anymore, okay? Why is he here, anyway?" demanded the Director.
"Oh, yesterday, Mom told me that you had a new student who was talented, right? Well, this is Buttons that mama told me about, you know, Sweetie Belle," explained her mother a.
"Hah!? He?! Mommy's student? So she learns to make cakes with mom? Ppfffttt—" Sweetie Belle couldn't help but laugh while Mash Buttons's face was already the color of a tomato because of the embarrassment.
"Shut up you! Is it wrong that Mash Buttons bakes cakes and cooks?!" cried Mash Buttons.
"Bwahahaha…. No… It's not wrong… Pppffttt—but, with that look of yours, ppfftt—why don't you all wear a lace flower skirt?" derek Sweetie Belle.
"The plan is that Mash Buttons will use it later, if papa still forbids Mash Buttons to become a chef," Mash Buttons answered innocently.
"Bwahahahahaha! Serious!? Wahahahahaha," Sweetie Belle's laughter grew louder at the thought of Mash Buttons's figure wearing a lace flower skirt.
"Well, don't laugh, Sweetie Belle. It's pity and disrespectful to Buttons if you keep laughing at him like that. Here, just eat this cake," said Sweetie Belle's mother as she handed Sweetie Belle a plate of pies.
"Auntie, that-"
"Try it and tell me how it feels, yes, Sweetie Belle," said Sweetie Belle's mother, cutting Mash Buttons's words.
Sweetie Belle who had calmed down and was no longer laughing, took the piece of pie into his mouth.
"It's delicious," said Sweetie Belle subconsciously, then Sweetie Belle devoured the rest of the cake on his plate, "Mom, is there anything else? Sweetie Belle wants to add the cake," said Sweetie Belle.
"It's still there, really," said Sweetie Belle's mother, who immediately took another piece of pie for Sweetie Belle, "How is it? Delicious, right?" asked Rarity.
"Very delicious. Is this mama's new creation?" asked the Director.
Rarity shook her head in response to Sweetie Belle's question, "It wasn't mama who made it, but Buttons."
Sweetie Belle dropped the spoon he was holding and looked at Mash Buttons in disbelief. While Mash Buttons just lowered his face with a bright red face. Mash Buttons's hands were moving restlessly twisting the pink apron he was wearing.
"You, who made this?" Sweetie Belle's question was only answered by a nod by Mash Buttons who was still unable to lift his face.
"Hmm. It's delicious, it's better than mama's," continued Sweetie Belle.
"Eh?" Finally, Mash Buttons dared to lift his face and saw Sweetie Belle eating his homemade pies voraciously. Seeing this, Mash Buttons suppressed a happy smile that was about to spread on his face.
"Hooo, dare, yes, you are comparing what Mama made with Buttons, Sweetie Belle~~" Rarity exasperatedly pinched Sweetie Belle's cheek who was groaning in pain, "And just so you know, Sweetie Belle. Buttons's cooking is also very good, you know. You have to try. Buttons, you can, right, cook for us? Auntie will help too, really, "asked Rarity.
"E-eh? It's possible, auntie. But it's not necessarily the aunt's child who wants Mash Buttons to cook," replied Mash Buttons.
"Just cook. That's also if you are confident that you can cook delicious food for me," challenged Sweetie Belle.
"What!? You challenged Mash Buttons, huh!? We will see! Mash Buttons will cook something delicious for you!" replied Mash Buttons who was provoked.
In accordance with his mother's promotion, Sweetie Belle admits that Mash Buttons's food is very delicious. And Mash Buttons is very talented in the culinary world. And this is where Sweetie Belle knows that Mash Buttons is quite depressed by his family and his dream of becoming a chef is strongly opposed by Mash Buttons's papa. And Mash Buttons also knows Sweetie Belle's family background, because so far Mash Buttons has often heard Sweetie Belle's mother's stories about her family and children living separately from her. However, Mash Buttons never thought that the child was Sweetie Belle.
After they finished dinner, Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons said goodbye to Sweetie Belle's mother. Rarity excitedly told them to come back to her place which was immediately agreed with enthusiasm by Mash Buttons. Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle just replied casually.
"Wait! Hey, I said wait! Stupid kid, hey!" Called Mash Buttons to Sweetie Belle who was walking in front of him, but Sweetie Belle didn't respond to Mash Buttons's call, "Di-Sweetie Belle!", finally Mash Buttons shouted Sweetie Belle's name to call him.
Sweetie Belle turned around and faced Mash Buttons then smugly answered Mash Buttons's call, "What?"
'Damn it! He's really badass!' Mash Buttons cursed in his heart. But Mash Buttons swallowed his annoyance, there was still something more important to save, something called self-respect and prestige.
"Th-About earlier, don't spread it everywhere," said Mash Buttons.
"About that earlier, which one do you mean?"
"Yes—yes about the one at the tent—your mother."
"About you learning to cook and baking or about your dream of becoming a chef and wanting to wear a lace floral skirt to force your papa to agree to your wishes?"
"E-everyone!"
"Okay."
"Well, Mash Buttons knows you definitely don't ma—eh!? I-can that mean, you want to keep everything a secret from anyone?"
"Yeah, I'll keep it a secret."
"Is that true? Thank you, Director—"
"But there are a prerequisite."
"You are! How come it's selfish, anyway, to be a person?!"
"If you don't want to, that's fine. I do not force. But at your own risk."
"Uuuuhhh…. W-alright! Mash Buttons thank you! What are the conditions?"
Sweetie Belle walked closer to Mash Buttons and stopped right in front of Mash Buttons's face. Then Sweetie Belle raised his hand to cup Mash Buttons's cheek.
"You always have to obey me and make me a snack cake too l every day. Remember, every day means seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, without complaining. In other words, you must be my slave," said Sweetie Belle with a handsome smile. But Mash Buttons swore to see the devil's horn growing on the side of Sweetie Belle's head.
"S-slave?" Mash Buttons repeated shaking.
"Right. If you refuse, I have an interesting photo on my cellphone," said Sweetie Belle showing a photo of Mash Buttons cooking in a pink apron. Mash Buttons's face changed when he saw the photo.
"It is an honor for me to have a slave like you. Starting tomorrow, please help, OK, Buttons," continued Sweetie Belle, who still had a smile on his face.
"Hiiii!" cried Mash Buttons half frightened at the thought of his days starting tomorrow.
.
The next day, not only Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons class were aware of the strangeness that had occurred, but also the entire school community was also aware of the strange occurrence between Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons. Because that day, not only Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons not throwing fierce looks at each other and saying cynical words. But also Mash Buttons who always goes with Sweetie Belle everywhere.
The whole school was in an uproar about this big change. They wonder what happened until Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons finally reconcile. Some speculate that Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons are cursed. However, the speculation that Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons became close because they were both chosen to represent schools in the Physics Olympiad was more acceptable because it made more sense.
What they don't know is that now Mash Buttons is lamenting his fate, who is now an errand boy for Sweetie Belle. Mash Buttons not only made lunches and snacks for Sweetie Belle at school, but also drinks when he accompanied Sweetie Belle to basketball practice alone on Sundays. Like this week, Mash Buttons was sitting on the sidelines waiting for Sweetie Belle to finish playing basketball.
"Buttons," Sweetie Belle called while carrying the ball.
"Huh? What?" Mash Buttons replied.
"Come play one-on-one with me."
"Eh? You invite Mash Buttons to play? But-"
"Why? Not confident and afraid of losing?"
"What did you say!? Mash Buttons is not afraid! Don't cry if you lose, okay?"
"Will not. In fact, you will cry because you lost."
And according to Sweetie Belle's prediction, Mash Buttons lamented his crushing defeat against Sweetie Belle. Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle sat on a bench by the side of the field to enjoy the lunch made by Mash Buttons.
"Buttons," Sweetie Belle called again.
"What else!?" said Mash Buttons who was still upset because he lost.
"This provision is too much."
"Eh? But Mash Buttons makes it the same as the usual portion, really."
"That's enough. Here help me finish it."
"Weird. Yes, borrow the spoon."
"No need. Open your mouth," ordered Sweetie Belle who handed Mash Buttons a spoon filled with rice and side dishes.
"E-eh?! Re-Mash Buttons can feed himself! You don't need to feed it!" said Mash Buttons while blushing.
"Buttons, remember my conditions," said Sweetie Belle again, "Open your mouth," he ordered again.
Mash Buttons swallowed his saliva. While looking around, finally Mash Buttons opened his mouth and resigned himself to eating from Sweetie Belle's mouthful.
"Are you satisfied?" asked Mash Buttons with a bright red face to which Sweetie Belle answered with a nosy smile.
"Buttons, with your cooking skills, one day you will definitely be the ideal wife," commented Sweetie Belle.
"Wh—Male Mash Buttons! How is it possible for Mash Buttons to be a wife!" Mash Buttons said while blushing.
"Hmmm. So you don't want to be my wife either, Buttons?" asked Sweetie Belle Plate.
Mash Buttons gawked at Sweetie Belle's words. Sweetie Belle said it carelessly, almost like a joke. After awakening, Mash Buttons immediately answered Sweetie Belle frantically.
"D-b-b-stupid! Y-you're kidding, right, Sweetie Belle?!" Mash Buttons asked awkwardly.
"Yup, I'm kidding."
"Di-Sweetie Belle BEGOOOOO!" Mash Buttons shouted at Sweetie Belle who had risen from the bench. Looks like the red color will be permanently imprinted on Mash Buttons's cheeks because Sweetie Belle keeps on teasing him.
.
The relationship between Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons is getting closer and closer. Even now bringing lunch and snacks for Sweetie Belle is a new habit for Mash Buttons. And the cohesiveness of the two of them was proven by successfully winning gold medals for their school at the inter-school Physics Olympiad. At that time, Sweetie Belle stroked Mash Buttons's head, who was crying because he had succeeded in making their school proud.
Many people think that Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons's cohesiveness will only end there. But in reality, Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons even more compact. Even Mash Buttons sometimes waits for Sweetie Belle to practice basketball and come to basketball games. Even though Mash Buttons evaded by saying he came to cheer for the school team, all members of the basketball team knew that Mash Buttons had come to cheer for Sweetie Belle. Like today, Mash Buttons came to the final basketball game to cheer on Sweetie Belle.
"Sweetie Belle, your wife is here," said one of the team members who saw Mash Buttons come to the basketball team bench. Sweetie Belle who was tying his shoelaces lifted his face and saw Mash Buttons blushing because he was teased by the whole team.
"Hey, Sweetie Belle," said Mash Buttons, who had managed to escape the temptation of the Sweetie Belle basketball team. But Sweetie Belle can see, his team is showing off a nosy grin to see Mash Buttons approached Sweetie Belle.
"What?" replied the Director.
"Eeerrr… Nothing. Just wanted to say, good luck?"
"Mm. Thank You."
"Ah, I've made this lemonade for you," Mash Buttons handed a bottle of lemonade to Sweetie Belle. And Sweetie Belle accepts it with joy even though he tries to hide it.
"Hey, Rehan. It's just Sweetie Belle, right, who was given lemonade? We-we weren't given?" one of the team members teases Mash Buttons.
"Don't just make your own husband, please, Mash Buttons," continued another member.
"You can't be jealous, please, seeing Buttons just make a special lemonade for me," replied Sweetie Belle who put his arm around Mash Buttons's shoulder from behind. And Sweetie Belle's action, which was like hugging Mash Buttons from behind, suddenly received screams from the supporting girls who saw it, some even took it with a cell phone camera.
"Damn you, Sweetie Belle! Don't show off your affection here!" cursed the other members of the basketball team. Meanwhile, Mash Buttons could only stand still and not move with Sweetie Belle's treatment. Mash Buttons has resigned himself to all of Sweetie Belle's jokes and eccentric actions.
"Di-Sweetie Belle, let go of Mash Buttons. Mash Buttons wants to go back to the audience," said Mash Buttons, hiding his face.
"Oh. Okay," Sweetie Belle let go of his embrace. And Mash Buttons immediately ran towards the audience.
"Buttons," Sweetie Belle called before Mash Buttons stepped into the audience. Mash Buttons turned to look at Sweetie Belle questioningly.
"After the match, if I win, prepare yourself, okay," said Sweetie Belle. Mash Buttons furrowed his brows in confusion, but finally nodded and walked back to the audience.
The basketball final match between the Binusvi Garuda Satyanegara High School Team and the Pekanbaru Cendana High School Team was tough. Both teams did not want to give in and tried to increase the distance between the numbers created. However, at the last second, the Binusvi High School team won the championship title. The cheers of the Binusvi High School supporters rumbled inside the sports hall.
Not long after the euphoria of Binusvi High's victory took place, the ceremony of awarding trophies and medals was held. SMA Binusvi as the first winner in the inter-school basketball competition in Father province was called to the podium to receive trophies and medals. And Sweetie Belle was chosen as Most Value Player or MVP and had the opportunity to say a word or two on the podium.
"—I thank my team and also my school, because thanks to them I was able to be selected and stand here. Finally, I want one of my loyal supporters, Mash Buttons Rizaski, to accept me, Sweetie Belle Mahesa Wijaya, as his lover," said Sweetie Belle closing his victory speech.
The whole gym suddenly fell silent hearing Sweetie Belle's words. After a while, they came to their senses and screams and cheers soon filled the entire gym. Mash Buttons who was gawking in the audience was pulled down and brought to the podium by a member of the Binusvi High School basketball team. The rest of the team cheered for Mash Buttons and pushed him to the podium too.
"How about it, Buttons?" Sweetie Belle asked when Mash Buttons was on the podium with him.
"W-w-how is it?" asked Mash Buttons stuttering.
"You want to accept me?"
"W-what the heck did you have in mind to do something this crazy!?"
"You."
"Huh?"
"You are on my mind that's why I can do something this crazy."
Cheers and whistles echoed again when Sweetie Belle finished teasing Mash Buttons. Mash Buttons was sure, his face must have been very red when he heard Sweetie Belle teasing him.
"Sweetie Belle stupid," Mash Buttons cursed softly with shame. Meanwhile Sweetie Belle just smiled noisily seeing Mash Buttons who was holding back tears and was embarrassed.
"So how? You want to? Or are you too afraid to accept me?" asked Sweetie Belle challengingly.
"Wh—Just so you know, well, no one else can put up with all that weird, magical, and eccentric attitude of yours other than Mash Buttons!" Mash Buttons replied.
"Oh, can I conclude that you accept me?"
"It's useless for you to be the overall champion of the Physics Olympiad in the province if you can't conclude this."
"Oh, I see. Thank you, Buttons," said Sweetie Belle who walked up to Mash Buttons and then kissed Mash Buttons's cheek in front of everyone.
The next day, Father local newspapers and news excitedly reported on the incident with Sweetie Belle and Mash Buttons yesterday at the sports hall. Even the photo of Sweetie Belle kissing Mash Buttons's cheek was also printed in big size. It looks like for the next few weeks, Mash Buttons will have to wear a mask when walking out of the house.
– HAPPY ENDING –