"What type of cell phone do you want to buy?" Haden asked as soon as we arrived at the International Plaza.
"The cell phone has a standard price, so that I can use the rest of the money to buy my college needs," I replied.
Yesterday, my mother sent me extra money to buy a cell phone, so I had no more trouble contacting her and my friends.
"What type, Yuk?"
A seller said in the shop we went to.
"A new type at a standard price" I said.
"There is a new Nokia 3210, the price is Rp. 750,000. The battery is really durable and it can last up to several days."
"Can I see the item?" I said and soon he gave me a sample phone with that brand.
"What do you think? Den?" I asked for his opinion.
"Very nice. The price is standard too," he replied.
Finally I chose to buy this phone.
We were on our way to the Mie Celor 26 restaurant. We used Mrs. Sari's motorbike. So, we could easily move to other places. Of course, the restaurant was Haden's choice. The location was in 26 Ilir Market which wasn't too far from the International Plaza.
"Just sit here," I said.
"Yup, you sit down first. I want to order."
The place wasn't very big, but there were lots of people who came to eat here. Mie Celor was one of the typical Palembang foods, the sauce made from coconut milk and shrimp broth. For the topping, there were sprinkled with chives and fried onions then given an egg. Yup, it looks simple. However, the flavor that combines the savory and creamy taste made the taste not as simple as it looks.
We arrived at the bus stop faster than usual. We were already in semester 5, but we never went to college for a day without using our proud Yellow Bus.
"Today I have to try hard, I think," Yonna said.
"Yup, fighting!" I joked.
"Okay! The bus is here. Hold my hand. Nes. Haden hold Anes's bag. Don't let go!"
When I held Yonna's hand, Haden also held my hand which made me startled and my heart was beating faster.
"Sorry, I was holding your hand," Haden said as we were walking towards our faculty building.
"It's okay, I was just surprised," I replied.
"Later when you come home a little late, you just call me."
"Yeah! I'll go first. Bye!" I waved my hand.
"I think I just took a taxi home. No one's home. So, no one can pick me up," Lyla said.
We had just finished working on the assignment at the boarding house.
"But now it is night. Do you want to go home with Haden by motorbike? I'll tell him later."
"But it will be troublesome for him."
"No, really. Wait, I'll say to him first," I said.
I left the room to find Haden. I saw that there was no one in his room. Then, I stepped onto the rooftop and found he was here.
"Den, what are you doing?" I asked, waking his reverie.
"Is Lyla home?" he asked me back,
"If you don't mind, will you drive her home?"
"Okay. I also have nothing to do anymore," he said.
"Thank you!"
Lyla and I were waiting for him on the porch. Soon he too was following us in his jeans jacket.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Yes, I am," she replied.
"I'll go home first, OK?" she said to me.
"Be Careful!" I replied.
I just arrived in class and I saw Lyla was here.
"Why are you smiling?" I asked.
She only replied with a smile.
"Thank you, last night you offered me to go home with Haden," she said to me.
"Uh-uh. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"We also eat Model near my house, so we cheated a lot. Apparently you are right," she replied.
Honestly, her answer broke my heart.
"I think he got lost because he returned home late at night,"
"Actually, since the first time I saw him, I've fallen in love with him, but I saw that he was very ignorant. So, I don't think I have a chance to get close to him. However, after eating together with him, my thoughts changed. I realized that the opportunity exists," she said with a smile.
I was silent for a moment.
"Did you hear what I said earlier?" she asked again.
"Yes, I did. Then what do you want?"
"I am also confused. I want to say everything to him but I am afraid that he will walk away. Maybe, later he will also have the same feelings as me. Does he have a crush now?
"I don't think so. You have that opportunity," I answered who was actually lying to my own feelings.
"Can you help me later to be closer to Haden?"
"Yes, I can! But, now study first."
I really didn't focus on the course because I thought about Lyla's words today. She also asked for my help to make her get closer to Haden.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated a sign of an incoming message.
Nes, this is Haden. I came home late today. You better go home with Yonna.
"If you want to go home with Haden, today he will come back late. You just wait at the bus stop," I said to Lyla.
"Okay! I'll wait for him there later," she replied enthusiastically.
"You came home with Lyla, huh?" I asked Haden while we were sitting on the rooftop.
"Yes. She said she was waiting for her father, but he didn't come. So, I asked her to go home with me,"
I actually knew it's just her reason, I just smiled.
"Yup, she told me that her father suddenly had work that couldn't be left behind, so he couldn't pick up."
"I wondered at first, why was she still waiting. Usually if her father couldn't pick her up, she would come home with you."
I just replied with my fake smile. I stopped my intention to tell him immediately about my true feelings for him. I decided not to tell him anything. I didn't want to disappoint Lyla.
"I'll sleep first," I said.
While in the room, I lay down with my mind still Lyla wasn't wrong. She didn't know about my feelings, because I hadn't told her before that I had feelings for Haden.
"Thank you, Nes! Lately I've been getting closer to Haden," Lyla said to me.
"May your feelings be avenged," I replied with a feeling of pain.
Lately, I let them go together a lot, so now they are getting closer. Haden often asked me why I seldom go out with them. I only replied that I was tired. Holding back was a difficult thing. Pretending to be supportive was the most painful thing for me. I hope that someday I will have the opportunity to talk about my feelings.
