DELENE

SIXTEEN

The bell in Delena's apartment unit went off. Delena found a young woman who she thought was the same age as her standing at the door. He smiled kindly while thrusting a package at her. “I just moved yesterday. Hopefully we can be good neighbors,” said the woman.

Delena smiled back and accepted the package with both hands. He had never had a neighbor greet him before. And it would be impolite if he did not just mince words to offer her entry into his unit. But then what Delena did was just thank her before saying goodbye to go back inside.

“Ah.. sorry for interrupting. Hope you like the cake. I made the cake myself.”

Delena just nodded in response. He was already completely drowned behind the door when he began to peek at the contents of the package and found some cupcakes there. The cakes looked beautiful with food coloring of various colors at once felt warm when Delena touched it.

His saliva was ready to take a mouthful of cake in his grasp when the girl's phone suddenly rang loudly. Delena took the object lying on the nightstand and found Gavin's name on the screen. “Again!” gavin is excited.

Delena placed her new neighbor's cake on the dining table and sat down on one of the chairs in her kitchen. “Morning too, Gavin.”

“Udah breakfast yet, Del?”

“Not yet. Why?”

”Gak papa's. It's aja.” I heard a light laugh from across the phone.

“Handering, darling. I'm on the way there. We had breakfast together yes.”

Delena couldn't help but smile back then.  He subconsciously nodded excitedly before answering “iya” to the man. Their phone connection was cut off.

Then Gavin actually came, just minutes after the man called him. He carried a large paper bag with the logo of a famous restaurant printed there.

“New eight o'clock in the morning. Are they open?” delena asked after receiving and brought her inside.

And gosh, it's not every day that Delena can taste the expensive and classy dishes of that restaurant. Her iritual soul screamed in excitement.

“I bring Chinese food, don't tell me you don't like ya.”

“I'm not picky food kok.” Delena smiled sincerely. “Gavin, you haven't answered my question.”

“I'm the owner. So you can open it all I want." Gavin replied casually.

Yes, Delena has just forgotten, she is now dating a rich om-om owner of expensive hotels, resorts, restaurants as well. He was no longer surprised and just nodded slowly.

“Why is ngeliatin rich anyway?”

“Gak papa's. Oh, I suddenly remember the kids. They how are you?”

“They're good. Yesterday Mas Almas said it was still another week until they came home.”

Delena just nodded again. He did not know that the man was actually sad or free because of the absence of his three nephews. Gavin once said he felt like a single parent who was super busy when left alone with them. But he was also unable to hide the longing from the look in his eyes at the children.

“Del, what is this?” Gavin asked when his manic found another paper bag on the table. He peered at it a little and frowned.

“There are new neighbors. Just nyapa while bringing cake.”

“What girl is a guy?”

“Chick. He looks so young and friendly. Maybe I can be friends with him.”

“Do not eat cake.”

“Loh why?” Delena looked at Gavin confused while the man was already about to throw the pack into the trash.

“We don't know this girl very well. It is not impossible if there are strangers who have bad intentions to us. And be careful it's better than sorry later.”

“What's wrong with sharing a cake to a new neighbor, Gavin? Many people admit it.” Crossing both arms in front of the chest, Delena frowned deeply.

“I can make you that rich cake as much as you want, Del. Please degerin me this time.”

Delena surrendered. Whether Gavin ever had any bitter experience until he behaved like that, Delena did not want to discuss it further.

***

If by chance we try to slide down from the cliff facing directly into the open ocean, adrenaline at that time still feels even though we realize that we are just dreaming. 

Delena woke up on her bed, gasping for breath while holding her left chest.  The girl glanced out the window, the sky looking bright while the wind was gently blowing fluttering the curtains and trees outside. He had been asleep for about two or three hours after Gavin's departure. The man only hitchhiked breakfast before going to work at his hotel.

Moving towards the balcony, Delena found a new neighbor woman in the parking lot of the building below. Their gazes met and the woman smiled as she waved at him. His mind seemed pleased, Delena might find a close neighbor for the first time after a year of living alone there. The apartment he lived in belonged to his father, and his unit could be said to be on the separate side of the other units. Not much else passed there other than a few guards whom Delena's father assigned to check on her condition occasionally.

But why was Delena so horrified?

Maybe there is still a part of him left in the dream on the cliff. The uncomfortable feeling is still there. 

Delena waved and smiled awkwardly. He did not know why he became interested in observing every movement of the woman. So Delena was still standing in her place.

“I didn't even ask her name,” thought the girl felt a little guilty.

The new neighbor looked like she was waiting for someone. After maybe about five minutes had passed, he decided to sit in the front of the white jeep parked in front of him. His head was still stretched out a few seconds to his surroundings. 

“Either why seeing the jeep took me so long to feel uncomfortable,” Delena said to herself. Delena felt something like tickling her stomach along with a strange feeling that just suddenly came. He decided to go down to see the woman thinking he might feel better.

“Hai!” delena shouted when she was near him.

The woman turned her head, smilingly displaying her neatly lined teeth before jumping down from the jeep.

“Wait for who?” delena asked who failed to hide her curiosity. The woman looked surprised for a second. “A friend,” answered later.

Delena smiled inwardly. The woman looked cute as she smiled shyly.

“We are not acquainted. I'm Delena.”

“Eh, yes. I'm Jovita.”

They shook hands after mentioning each other's names.

“What we have met before?” delena asked carefully. Jovita seemed to think for a while and then shook his head.

“I don't think. I just moved to Bogor. Uh, actually I'm waiting to go to the hospital. There's my brother who's been hospitalized for a respiratory illness. But I don't know where it is.”

“Oh, the one in Cisarua huh?” Jovita. “You know? Temen I just ngabarin if he can't come. I actually wanted to go upstairs. Busy again no?”

Delena was doubtful. “Transport is easy. The place is strategic, and not too far from here. You-”

“Oh, sorry to make you feel bad. I shouldn't have asked for help so easily when it's just a stranger here. The only family I know again struggling with his life, surely I was too emotional.” Jovita looked down and looked like she was going to cry.

Delena felt sorry for the woman. He recalled the tough days at the start of his move a year ago. There were a lot of tears, he also felt foreign, then it took him a long time to adapt to the new environment. And he's alone too.

“Again free. I didn't say I didn't want to, I guess you didn't invite me to come.” Delena scratched the back of her head involuntarily while Jovita again smiled brightly.

“Still, Delena.” Delena smiled and nodded.

"Are you more comfortable in my car or taking public transport?" Jovita glanced at the jeep behind him.

Delena wanted to say to take public transportation only. But seeing Jovita's expression that looked proud of her white jeep, she felt bad. So Delena just answered whatever and ended up entering that car.

Heart's somersaulting. Delena immediately regretted her stupidity. Because right after a few meters they came out of the apartment parking lot, the strange feeling that Delena felt before became even greater.

Missing all the sweet images about Jovita. The girl was at first just driving quietly, until suddenly an illegal black object she took out from behind her leather jacket.

Delena was sure her eyes would jump out the first time she saw him. And at the first second Jovita pointed the gun at him.

Tbc~