The Ninth! Sabrina Sambilan, The Mute Senior. (The Diligent Clinger)

Let me tell you a story about a meeting with what I called faith!
You see, if you are living under a rock, let me tell you that disability was a bitch!

Nah, I'm joking! I'm joking!
Why do you take that so seriously?

Anyway, this story took place after my first month at university. And yes, Delphy was still following me. We exchanged numbers even. God, how I never thought I would do that.

"Hey, look! There was the mute gal, Sabrina!" Delphy pointed in the direction of a girl with beautiful silver hair. She looked in our direction after Delphy called her out.

Hi, you guys need something?
Don't ask me how I know sign language... Actually, I'm just going to answer that. Nana asked me to learnt it back in high school. She said it might be useful. Well, never knew it would come in handy here.

"Nah, we're good. Sorry for interrupting your lunch."
No problem. Ask me anytime you're in need of help.
"Sure. Once again, sorry, we'll be on our way."

She waved bye and continued eating her meal.

"You understand her? She never speaks and just flails her arms like an idiot."
"Ey! That was rude, Delphy. She can't speak, that's why she's flailing her arms. She tried to communicate with us via sign language."

Then it occurred to me.

"Wait, how the fuck do you remember her name, but not my name?"
"She left a very distinct first impression."

That was really weird. I would love to know why. From the look of it, this girl named Sabrina was fine when Delphy. She even offered help when we passed by.

"Hey, Delphy, let go of my hand. I need to go to the bathroom."
"Aww, don't want me to come."
"What the fuck? Get off!"

She giggled and went on her merry way. I took that opportunity to go back to Sabrina. When I stepped into the hall where Sabrina was, she left.

That was quick. Where did she go?

Without a whole lot in my mind, I went aimlessly with no knowledge of what or where her class was. At this point, I have officially become a stalker. The worst part was that I was scared to admit that I was searching for Sabrina. People kept asking me, "Are you trying to find Melphy?", and I kept answering no.

That was my whole day that day. Until...

"What's with you? You're ignoring me! I thought we had something going..."

I pushed Melphy's face out from my face. I couldn't shove her further since she was hugging me at the time.

She asked, "Is this about Sabrina? She's not in any of our classes. She's a graduate. She helped the student to pass their academy."

That answered my question, but also raised another question.

"Did you... took her lesson?"
"Yes, and it was horrible."
"Right. Where is she right now?"
"I don't know! She could be in that room where the professors gathered."

Bingo! She should be there. To unlock Melphy's hug, I whispered into her ear with a deep voice, "Oh, my love."

She released her hug and covered her ears, "What the hell!?"

I quickly darted towards Professors' Room. Upon stepping outside the room, I finally met eye to eye with Sabrina.

Oh, hi. We meet again.
"Yeah, hi. May I have your time? Sorry if it was very sudden."
Sure. I don't mind.

We walked towards an empty room and talked inside.

"So, may I know your name first? Sorry for interrupting your evening."
No biggie. Here is my name.

She gave me a piece of paper that has her name written on it. Sabrina Sambilan.

"Sambilan? Are you the ninth kid of your family, or generation?"
No, no. It's just our family prefix.
"I see. I'm Utama Karakata."

We shook hands.

Your name? Main Character?
"Ah, yeah. My dad kind of made my name as a joke, but my mom liked it enough that they decided to go for it at the end. My last name didn't even have anything to do with my family name; it's that stupid of a joke."

She laughed, and she looked cute while laughing without making a sound.

"So, I have a question. May I...?
Go ahead.

After that, we talked for an hour and a half. We got close. See, if you're asking, I was actually eyeing her and felt like I wanted to be her boyfriend. It was the first time that I felt like that. I'm serious.

A conversation went by, and we exchanged numbers. She said she liked me, and she wouldn't mind if I asked for any problem in any study. I was on cloud nine getting her number. It was a miracle that I could finally find someone whom I could call a crush. Really!

But then it came crashing down.

"You... WHAT???!!!!" That was Delphy.
"What's your problem? You didn't even remember my name consistently!"
"I'm just joking with you! I remember your name was Main Character!"
"My real name!"
"Eh..."
"See!"

Here was the problem! You see, Delphy's first experience with Sabrina was disastrous because she was the real diligent person. Sabrina forced Delphy to wake up early every day to catch the bus to the campus. Sabrina was also the one who gave her time to teach Delphy on holiday. Basically, Sabrina was Delphy's nightmare. She hates Sabrina's gut.

The last repeated semester was the last straw for Delphy. She asked Sabrina not to teach her anymore. Sabrina took that lightly and said okay, while Delphy took it too seriously and bullied Sabrina behind her back.

"Look, Delphy, if you hate her so much, why not just move to another university?"
"Are you crazy? It was hard enough for me to get into one, how the fuck could I get into another?"

Fair. Her score was horrible.

"Then could you just..."

Then there it was, the clash between diligent and Pygmy. Delphy's wrapped arm got smacked by Sabrina. I was free from being hugged, but wrapped in another hug.

Stop bullying, Uta!
"I don't understand you. Stop flailing your arms like an idiot!"

I never seen Sabrina cry; it was heartbreaking.

"Ok, Delphy, that was enough."

After I said that, Sabrina hugged me tighter with her left hand while making a sign with her right.

That's right! Let him alone!
"Eh... Kak Sabrina. I think you hug me too tightly."

She didn't hear me.

"Are you also deaf? Uta said he was hurt! Stop hugging him so tight!"

Sabrina hugged me even tighter.

There is no way he would be hurt by a hug with my small body. Unlike a bimbo like you!

I hate that I could understand that.

"Uta! I couldn't understand her. Translate it for me!"
"... That was insane. You remember my name?"
"Stop teasing me! Translate it for me. NOW!"
"No! You would get hurt if I said what Sabrina said."
"What? She called me a bimbo?"

... How?

That's right! You're a bimbo.

I just noticed how Delphy understands bimbo from the way Sabrina flails the sign language.

"Eh, Kak Sabrina. I think that's..."

I got interrupted when Delphy started running toward Sabrina. To my surprise, Sabrina was actually capable of carrying me. Like holy shit, she carried a person that was twice her size, and she could still run like a maniac.

After a while, Sabrina outran Delphy, and we were in a deserted room. She seemed out of breath and put me down.

"Eh, Kak Sabrina..."

My mouth got shut by her finger, and she said to me.

From now on, you're under my protection. If she ever bullies you again, call me. I know how to deal with her. In fact, I already know how to shut her down in one sweep.

I didn't like the sound of that. Wasn't she a graduate student? She won't be on the campus all the time, right?

Don't worry about my time. I'm a full-time tutor on this campus. I am always in the Professor's Room if you need me.

Well, that was not fun. I think I just made my crush into a clinger. I thought I would find myself a great girlfriend without any gimmick like my previous seven, but you know what, whatever. I still saw this as a win... maybe.