Dollar Girl

Chapter 70 CLBK (Old Love Springing Back)

Brucks

He didn't even have time to blink, the books scattered to the floor but nothing hit his body. Rere looked at one arm that hugged his body tightly and the other hand pushed away the books, he felt the heartbeat of someone who was very close to him and the breath that had been restrained.

Slowly the arm let go, letting it move after all was safe. But he chose to turn around, staring at someone who had protected him.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" said the officer.

"It's okay, take it one by one next time" replied Jimy.

"You're okay, right?"

"No, let me help you finish the books" Jimy said, picking up one of the books.

Rere was still motionless, he noticed Jimy who seemed unwilling to look at him. He decides to help too, but accidentally holds the same book as Jimy. They looked at each other for a moment, but then Jimy removed his hand from the book and petrified the officer to keep the books.

"That's all, thank you" he said.

"No problem"

"If you'll excuse me first."

Jimy nodded with a smile, letting the officer go. He stared at Rere for a moment before leaving, but his steps stopped as a hand held him.

"What... are you okay?" ask Rere.

Jimy turned his head, looking at his hand that Rere was holding.

"I'm fine" replied Jimy quietly.

"Can you accept a cup of coffee in return?" ask Rere despite the doubt will be accepted.

Not in thought Jimy nodded, so he let go of his hand and took Jimy to a nearby cafe. He ordered two cups of coffee to accompany their chatter which was bound to be awkward, for a few minutes they were just silent without anyone talking to each other until Rere tried to break the silence.

"How are you?"

"Good"

"Um... I heard you're the shop owner's nephew, I didn't think you'd want to deal with books"

"I'm just looking for busyness, not completely interested in books."

For some reason it hurt every time I heard a cold tone in Jimy's words, even just staring at his expressionless face made Rere feel guilty.

"Um. thanks for that" he said back to melt the atmosphere.

"No problem" Jimy replied.

Silence returned between them, long enough for the coffee in the cup to run out. Jimy left without forgetting to say thank you for the coffee, leaving Rere who was still staring at him until lost from sight.

* * *

For two days he kept coming to the store, hoping to meet Jimy or just see him at work. But after those two days he didn't find her at all, he tried to ask the other officers but no one knew where Jimy was.

The next day he tried to ask Ratna, hoping to get the right answer.

"Oh master is sick, he has the flu" Ratna said.

"That's what it looks like"

"Why are you asking about the master?" tanya Ratna was suspicious.

"Ah it's okay"

"Yes" said Ratna did not want to force.

After school, Rere took the time to go to Hamdani's fruit store, he bought two sweet pineapples and gave them to Ratna.

"Please give this to Jimy" he said.

"Why did you leave it to me? come by yourself and see how things are going, I know you're worried about him?"

"Not so, a few days ago Jimy saved me so this is in return for him"

"What happened to you?" ratna asked increasingly.

"Just give it to him" Rere said, handing over the fruit and leaving.

Ratna is quite aware that Rere has feelings for Jimy again, I don't know what happened between them because Jimy didn't tell anything. Even so he went home to work he took himself to Jimy's house to deliver the pineapple that Rere had tipped.

"You're better?" ask Ratna.

"Lumayan, but my head still feels dizzy"

"This is for you!"

"Well, tumben you are very kind to give me fruits" said Jimy gladly while receiving the fruit.

"It's from Rere not from me"

"What?" asked Jimy as if his hearing was problematic.

"She came to the store and asked me to hand over the fruit for you, she seemed very worried when I told her you were sick" she explained.

Jimy can only say thank you to Ratna without saying what has happened, honestly until now his heart is still attached to Rere. It is not easy to forget the sweet memories that have been created, but the unaccepted apology made him crumble so he did not have a smile to show to Rere.

The next day Jimy returns to the bookstore to help, but his little heart's intention is to see Rere even if only briefly.

"How are you?" tanya Rere approached.

"Oh, fine"

"What about your flu? is it better?"

"Not fully healed, you should not be close to me if not later you can get infected" said Jimy who then rushed away.

That speech was like a strong rejection for Rere, now he believes Jimy has hated him for things in the past. It was quite natural because indeed what he had done was very outrageous, as much as possible Rere received the punishment that Jimy gave him.

Though behind the cold attitude Jimy secretly feel happy because of the attention given by Rere, it makes him become excited again.

Ddrrssssssss Test.....

"Why is it suddenly raining? though it was bright" muttered Rere staring at the sky that spewed water.

It was getting dusk and his stomach began to wriggle for food, but with the rain so heavy he was stuck there without being able to do anything. The wind that blew fiercely brought coldness to Rere's body, he shuddered because it made his stomach grow increasingly rumbling.

Suddenly a cup of coffee fell in front of him, he stared at the hand and continued to follow it to the arm up to the face.

"It can make your body warmer" Jimy said.

"Thank you" said Rere to take the coffee.

They stared at the increasingly heavy rain while enjoying a cup of hot coffee in hand, the awkwardness of coming back without a word to say.

Kkkkkrreeeoookkkk

Rere just raised his face when Jimy left, he started grumbling himself for holding back the unbearable embarrassment. Jimy came back with the bread in hand, he gave it to Rere as he said.

"Eat it, it's better if you dip it in the coffee. I always do that to make the bread softer"

"Thank you" Rere said as he took the bread.

Although he was actually embarrassed but it would be even more embarrassing if he refused, Rere ate quietly without saying anything and was quite surprised to see a smile on Jimy's face that he missed so much.

"You..want?" bargain Rere.

"No, for you alone" Jimy replied with a smile because to him Rere's embarrassed face was adorable.

Now the smile lingered there, remaining present after the rain had subsided. Jimy offers to drive home and Rere accepts, they can chat as usual even if the topic is not far from the book.

The day goes on and Rere always comes to the store on a regular basis, he meets Jimy and the awkwardness has gone. They spend time together with lunch or just discuss the latest book.

Until one day Rere was talking about a more serious topic.

"I hate dishonest men, you know my problems there. When I see you smoking I can actually tolerate it, but you're trying to dodge it and give me an excuse. It's what I don't like the most, but I also realize my attitude has gone too far and that's why I'm sorry" Rere said.

"Even from the beginning my way of approaching you was wrong, it doesn't matter now that it's all been a memory so let it pass"

"Thank you for understanding me"

"It doesn't matter, after all, now our relationship is just a friend" said Jimy.

The truth that Rere did not want to admit, this time he realized that he wanted Jimy, so he continued to come to the store.

"How about... if I want the old relationship?" ask Rere.

Jimy was silent, he did not expect a girl would express his feelings for him.

"For me who used to be no good, the relationship will never work" he replied learning from experience.

"Why? we haven't tried"

"Because I want my privacy to be maintained" Jimy replied.

"On the one hand you will continue to pry my life while on the other side I try to cover it up, we both fight hard in the opposite direction then it is impossible to succeed" he explained.

"If.... I would try not to go beyond the limits you have set, would you give it a try?"

"No need, women and their selfishness cannot be separated" Jimy replied.

There was a loud broken voice and it came from inside his heart, it hurt but Rere displayed his best smile.

Maybe this is karma for him, feeling high just because he is loved now he whines back after throwing away without wanting to see. It's only natural that Jimy turned it down raw, but still it feels unfair after he apologizes.

To Ratna he sulks, complaining about Jimy's over-the-top attitude. He should have been able to resist with a softer word or some other reason, not by hurting like this.

Can't bear to see his sad friend Ratna come to Jimy to hold him accountable, but all he gets is a more reasonable explanation until his support lags behind in full on Jimy.

"He's too selfish, things have to go his way. Moreover, there should be nothing that I hide even though it is bad, it is not wrong, but everyone needs privacy even with his own girlfriend. In fact, after seeing the side that he didn't like so easily he got angry and ignored me, he should just accept it, right?" obviously Jimy.

"Then what are you gonna do?" ask Ratna curiously.

"I need your help, do you want to help?"

"If it's not hard then it doesn't matter to me"

"Alright I want you to do this.... "

* * *

Rere was still saddened by Jimy's actions, and at school he became uninspired and unfocused.

"Are you just going to give up?" ask Ratna.

"What can I do? she just rejected me"

"Then you're supposed to prove that you mean it, make him realize you're not playing games"

"What should I do?"

"Of course, for him to be happy, men do not like to ask various things but the understanding they need"

"You mean?" ask Rere not understand.

"For example, when you find out Jimy smokes, even if you're angry for good reasons, he still doesn't like it, but by giving him understanding and good talk he will feel happy and appreciate you"

"All right, I'll try" Rere said.

After school Rere came to the bookstore and found Jimy was busy chatting with one of the officers, the closeness made him upset and almost made a mistake.

Fortunately he remembered Ratna's advice and tried to be ordinary, especially he also had to realize that now his status was nothing more than a friend.

Rere walked up to them and chatted, there was nothing interesting in the conversation. Just a few light jokes but Jimy and the female attendant were able to laugh which further upset Rere.

"You're very close to him" Rere said after the officer left.

"We work in the same place of course we are quite close" replied Jimy.

There's nothing wrong with that answer but Rere's heart just hurts more.

"Um... I'm looking for a good novel, can you recommend something for me?" ask Rere.

"I've been interested in a mystery novel by R. L. STINE's a pretty good book for you to read"

"Um, I mean romance novels"

"Oh sorry, you know I don't like things like that. Then I go first, there's a lot of work to be done" Jimy replied.

When Jimy pretended to like romance novels he did not like his expression that was deliberately made up, now seeing honesty in Jimy's eyes it was more painful.

This made him realize that all this time the problem was indeed himself, without so borrowing Rere's book to return home. Jimy offers a ride but after his job is done, he politely refuses because he does not want to interfere with his work.

Rere's attitude that makes Jimy smile happy because the task he gave Ratna has been successful, he told Ratna to advise Rere about what he wants from Rere. It's not hard, it's just the sense that must always be in Rere's nature.

That day when the sky was so clear with the blue sky and the white clouds were fluttering in the wind, Jimy bought some juice to give to Rere who was quietly reading.

"Thank you" Rere said.

"If I told you that I wanted to start something new with you would you ask me for conditions?" ask Jimy suddenly.

"What?" ask Rere not understand.

"I want to go back to having a special relationship with you, but without any conditions because this time I want a healthy relationship" Jimy explained.

Rere fell silent, it took him a few minutes before he understood the meaning of Jimy's words until his smile slowly expanded.

"I won't give you any conditions" he replied.