Aldebaran Looking for Love

Chapter 2

A girl enters a hospital room, with her hands hugging three large bottles of mineral water. His face looked tired, but he kept trying to smile.

Called Airina. Without family. Without any more frills. That one word is all. Even the people around him still discounted the name by calling him a short term, Ai.

Ai put three bottles of mineral water on the table, next to the bed.

“That's a lot of aqua, Nak?” mira said the mother was lying on a hospital bed.

“Make a drink until afternoon. I have class until six o'clock.”

Mira smiles. That only daughter was indeed very reliable.

“Still, Nak.”

Ai nodded, then immediately picked up her college bag and draped on the shoulder, “I leave first huh, Ma.”

"Yes, Son. You go straight to college or to the store first?" ask Mira. His expression was always changing like he was feeling guilty for his daughter. Given that the burden of their family is no longer on Mira's shoulders.

"Store first, Ma. There was a delivery this morning. But the class is starting at noon." Ai tries to comfort Mira's heart. His mother doesn't have to feel guilty about anything. This is just the destiny of life, it is better to live it, there is nothing to regret.

Finally Mira nodded, not wanting to burden Ai's mind any more.

"Let's not miss it, son," he said.

"Sure, Ma. I go first yes. Bye, Mama!" Ai kisses Mira's hand and then moves out of the room waving.

As she passed the guard table, she stopped by for a moment. Sister Rika – who is always ready to see Mira when Ai there is a lecture schedule – directly approaching.

"Sus, Mama's again transfusing blood. Ask for help to see yes, fear Mama overslept, so forget to call Sister. I had to go to the store this morning, and there was a lecture as well.”

Sister Rika patted him on the shoulder, "Yes, Sister will see. You go to college quiet."

"Thank you, Sus."

Sister Rika smiled.

Ai immediately went out to meet with her online motorcycle taxi. They immediately headed for the highway.

A few minutes later, Ai had arrived at a small shop of hers, on the corner of the street, called Flower House. This was the little shop where Ai made money. For the past two years, he has been a seller as well as a bouquet of flowers.

Sometimes life is a divine secret. We never know what our destiny will be. Two years ago, Mira was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer. A disease that damages the way lymph nodes and white blood cells work. This is what makes Mira sometimes have to get a blood transfusion because her red blood cells are attacked by her own white blood cells.

There are so many restrictions that Mira has to live because of this disease. Even in the sunlight, he could no longer. This made him have to quit his job. Ai also had to take over the duties of the head of the family from the shoulders of the mother. They just live together. There is nothing more reliable than yourself. Ai also has to work at the same time as college so that all daily needs and medical costs of Mira in the hospital can be paid off.

But we need to know that God never sleeps. He sees and reckons with all the efforts and labors of His servant. If our intention is good and aims to meet the needs of the family, He will open the door of sustenance to taste.

There is one sentence that people often use to encourage themselves…

"Yuk can yuk!" Ai tidied up the sentence like a telling spell before she walked into her shop. Why, this simple sentence is powerful enough to arouse his spirit.

Ai also moved to the refrigerator where she stored the flowers of her sale so as not to quickly wither. He took some roses, lilies, and others. To arrange it into several bouquets according to customer orders.

"Morning, Boss Ma'am!" Tantri, the only employee that Ai had, appeared at the door.

"Mother Boss from Hong Kong!" Ai sneers.

Tantri cengenesan, "Truly crafts, come early in the morning."

"Ntar my sustenance is pegged to the chicken if it works during the day."

"Where do chickens eat rice, not people's sustenance!" lamented Tantri while starting to sweep the store. Ai ignored Tantri dumelan, preferring busy arranging bouquets of flowers ordered by customers.

After all the bouquets were perfectly arranged, Ai continued to write down the greeting cards. This is his favorite part. When the customer entrusts some of his love story…

Someone apologizes to his lover, someone wishes his parents a happy birthday, someone congratulates him on his graduation. Assortment!

Tantri who was sweeping in front of Ai paused for a moment to observe him wrote.

"There's no fun card today?" tanyakanya.

Ai hands over one potential card to Tantri.

It says a pretty sensual sentence.

Meet me in my room?

(See me in my room tonight?)

"Where are you going?" Tantri's face looked curious. Ai also mentioned the name of a famous hotel in Jakarta.

Tantri immediately giggled, "From gadun to sugar baby time huh?"

"Yes right? I thought it was like that too." Ai laughing.

"Is there anything else?"

"Nothing. Udah, uah. Back to sono. Don't pay blind!"

"Galak. Again, yeah?"

Tantri sneered, but she immediately continued sweeping.

Shortly after, a figure suddenly appeared inside the shop. Tantri glanced with annoyance at the person for returning to dirty the floor that he had swept daritadi. However, as soon as he realized who was coming, the look on his face immediately changed.

"Good morning, Samuel!" greet Tantri while smiling and tucking her own hair behind her ears.

Ai looked. Once he realized who was being teased by Tantri, he could only shake his head.

"Morning, Tantri!" Samuel – a little friend who is more often called by the name Sammy – also smiled back widely. Tantri immediately excited like a sawan.

Well, he doesn't know...

Sammy walked towards Ai.

"Morning, Rosalinda!" Sammy always greets Ai like this, every day. According to him, Ai is indeed the figure of Rosalinda, a female figure who sells flowers in the telenovela of old times.

Ai glanced at him dramatically, always hating if Sammy was mocking him like that.

"Garak very!" Sammy chuckles.

Ai twisting eyeballs.

"You want help, right?" ask Sammy.

"No need. This is already twisted. Just sent it."

Sammy nodded.

After making sure everything is on order, Ai immediately took a smart phone to order a subscription courier service.

"Wait a minute, will you? Please?" Ai welcomes Sammy.

He immediately sneered, "So fierce, now beg. What a bipolar!"

Ai laughed, "The name someone else needs..."

Sammy did not answer. However it seems, he is aware that Ai's work will take – not as promised. So, he chose to sit casually in the corner of the Flower House, then put up his airpod. Ai breathed a sigh of relief. It seems like Sammy is watching a Netflix series, he will be quite busy for a while. Ai becomes a little calmer to take care of the delivery.

Just half an hour later, Ai finally approached Sammy.

"Undahan?" sammy asked, taking off the airpod. Ai nodded.

They also headed to campus.

Ai and Sammy have been inseparable since childhood. It had been the distance of the house only two steps, strangely, they had also always been accepted in the same school. Even college and majors are like a match.

And as she realized, Sammy always took the time to pick up and drop off Ai as often as she could. He said he wanted to give moral support to Ai and reduce the burden of his best friend. Ai was always grateful for Sammy's kindness.

Upon arrival at the campus, they immediately stepped into the lecture hall that afternoon. Upon entering the door, their eyes instantly circulated sweeping through the room.

A single hand waved as soon as it realized their presence. Shaletta, one of their other friends, who as usual chose the corner seat in the back of the class. As soon as Ai and Sammy sat down next to her, they immediately looked at Shaletta's laughter while looking at her smart phone.

"Why lo?" ask Ai, curious.

"It's okay!" Shaletta is still laughing.

"Buckoo! Still laughing! Any funny memes? Video tiktok viral especially that makes you laugh?" ask Sammy.

Finally, Shaletta stopped laughing. He turned off the screen, then turned to look at Ai.

"Ai.." call him.

"Hm?" Ai answered while taking out a book.

"Lo still doesn't have a girlfriend, does she?"

"Yes! Wh why? You want to lead me again?"

"No...”.

"Continue?"

"Do you want me to be with my brother?"

"YES?!"

“This is real! Want no?”

Ai frowned, looking at Shaletta as if she were an alien creature with three eyes and webbed feet.

He never thought that Shaletta's words could sound so ridiculous.

***

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