A Tale of Ary

12. Still Trying

Alex arrives at Ary's house. Still like yesterday, Ary's house always seemed deserted. Ary was only alone with Asih's mother, father is still at the stall and mother today there are les bimbel. Mother Ary in addition to teaching at the Elementary School near Ary's house, she also teaches tutoring at the city's famous bimbel place, Prima Gama.

Tok.dok...

The sound of Ary's door being knocked on Alex. Alex comes alone because Anton and Enno are unwilling to be invited.

"Wait on! Sopo anyway, ngethuk Lawang ra uwes?" mbak Asih.

(Who knows, knocking on the door doesn't stop).

Ma'am Asih opened the door, saw Alex alone. Asih felt he knew Alex, but forgot where he had met.

"Who are you looking for?" ask mbak Asih.

"Ary there's a mbak?" answer Alex.

"Who is this, who is this?" ask mbak Asih.

"Alex, Ary's classmate. Can I see Ary?" Alex.

"Wait a minute, he sat down first."

Alex then sat on the chair on the terrace, first he put his bag on the table. Asih went back into Ary's room.

"Sir, something's coming. His name is Alex, his classmate is Ary" said mbak Asih while approaching Ary who was reading a novel on his bed.

"Yes, mom. Just who's he coming from?" ask Ary.

"Alone, ma'am."

"Make a drink, ask for help. Matursuwun." said Ary while blinking his eyes. Ary was out still with his long clothes, jeans and long-handed T-shirt his favorite. Not forgetting his favorite hat.

"Hm. Sorry, long wait. What's up?" Ary said without pause, with his flat face.

"Ng-no. Not long ago. This is the notebook I promised you yesterday." Alex thrusts a textbook into Ary.

"Sorry, it's already on you." Ary picks up the book, then sits in Alex's front seat.

Ma'am Asih came with two glasses of iced syrup, then put them on the table.

"Monggo mas, drink first." mbak Asih let Alex drink, because Ary must be quiet as usual.

"Thank you, ma'am. I'm bothered to drink." Alex pleasantries.

"No hassle, this was because my son asked to make his favorite pandan coconut syrup ice." replied Asih maize holding a tray on his chest.

"Who's the child, mbak?" Alex was curious about the man called mbak.

Ary eyes rounded, he gave the code to mbak Asih to be silent.

"Mbak Asih so do you make Ary martabak eggs? Now yes, Ary wait!" Ary tries to divert Alex's questions, so Alex doesn't know who the child is.

Ary was always called a child by Asih. Because she is always called the child in the mother's extended family. Among his grandparents' grandchildren, Ary was the last born. Even the children of Pak lek/bu lek (sister mother) Ary, born long before Ary was born.

"I live first, want to make a favorite cake mbak Ary." Asih avoided answering Alex's question earlier.

Ary and Alex just sit on the porch. No one wants to start a conversation. Ary who was getting bored also tried to melt the atmosphere by pretending to ask.

"What's..." Arys.

"You..." Alex.

Ary and Alex want to start a conversation. The two felt awkward for unintentionally speaking the words together.

"You first, what do you want to say?" alex said because Ary's hand showed him talking first.

"You're okay with ice, you're still sick?" alex asked Ary's question.

"I used to drink ice when the day wasn't so hot. But if it's hot, just don't dare to drink ice." explained Ary.

Finally they chatted fluently, talking about lessons at school, classmates and other stories. After being satisfied with chatting with Ary, Alex also returned home.

Every day as long as Ary hasn't gone to school, Alex always tries to come to Ary's house. Sometimes they come alone, sometimes with their friends (Anton, Enno and Candra). Because her friends come too often, Ary does not feel lonely anymore.

***

As long as Ary doesn't go to school, Tere keeps trying to get close to Alex. Although Alex often avoids him, Tere never gives up.

"Ndi, I'm sitting here!" tere said made as marihuana as possible. He approaches Alex and Anton who are eating meatballs in the school cafeteria.

"Sit down, this is a public place. Anyone can sit here" Alex said flatly. Alex keeps eating his meatballs.

"Mh... Ndi, he'll be back together. I wasn't picked up because" Tere said as he scooped up a hodgepodge and put it in his mouth.

"*Sor*ry, I'm going to Anton's house to Dheny's." Alex refuses to go home with Tere.

"Lha, how do I keep dong?" the voice of spoiled Tere.

"And there's Catherine, you can ask for her. Part of your house is unidirectional, she'll want to." Anton gives a solution to Tere.

"Cathy, pick up the guy. Cook me into the flies." lied Tere. Catherine doesn't have a boyfriend yet, Catherine's close friend Tere is also Alex's cousin.

"When did Cathy have a boyfriend?" singal Alex.

"You ngigau or what? I know Cathy very well, she dares to date. It looks like the mode." said Anton pushyly facing Tere. He felt uncomfortable because every time he was with Alex, Tere always nempel Alex like a stamp hit by glue.

"Well, I'm not lying." Tere was fired for being caught lying.

"Have finished your meal, nyuk!. Soon the class bell rang. Want to get punished again???" Alex reminds Anton.

"Kalo Cathy picked up her guy, you can ride a rickshaw or motorcycle taxi" said Alex gave a solution.

After finishing finishing the meatball bowl, Alex and Anton stood up. Both of them like having telepathy, without saying they know what their friends think. They both left Tere.

Tere was annoyed because, he had not finished eating already left Alex alone in the cafeteria. Though he had planned to linger in the cafeteria with the idol.

"I have to get Alex. I don't want to get Alex. My Ary also can't get Alex." threatened Tere. He was upset that Alex kept avoiding him.

Tere didn't finish his hodgepodge. He just left his meal at the cafeteria table.

"What is my lack? I am also beautiful, I am rich and my grades are also among the top five in school. Why the hell is Alexander Andi Kusumawijaya, never glance at me once." Tere grumbled, walking towards class as the break time was almost up.

While in the classroom hallway, Tere runs into Catherine who is looking for him. Tere approached Catherine, wanting to issue his complaint.

"Where the hell are you, Cath? You know the hell loe, I'm dicuekin again the same cousin loe's. Cook me to sit at a table with him, even he went that way. I was left alone in the cafeteria. That's what it is about me!" said Tere dramatically.

Catherine simply shook her head, hearing the curses of friends since childhood.

"Keep, how should I dong? Let him see me, assume I exist." Tere continued.

"Loe who is patient, pray a lot that the door of her heart is open for you!" catherine advised Tere.

The two of them stepped into the classroom to take their next lesson.

Sorry can not update every day, because the author writes just to fill the free time. Please support all dear readers. Like and comment (slices) always author wait. Don't forget to be a favorite of this novel.

Thank you darling all 🙏🤗🤗🤗