Home For My Soul

84|You Are Stupid

“Are you crazy!?” exclaimed Brother Jericho with a flushed face. He threw both his hands into the air. “We are trying to find a cool way to explain your situation to Mama, you are making a scandal!”

They picked me up at the stop, then bought some ice cream and some snacks before taking me to a park. Brother Jericho deliberately wears a hat and sunglasses to disguise himself. The park was not as big as we thought.

“Such as never going out. After all, it wasn't me who posted the photo or video,” I said, defending myself.

“True. But can't you kiss in a closed place without anyone watching? What to do in the lobby of a famous hotel in the capital??” protest Brother Jericho again.

I smiled at my brother's words. He did not have the same opinion as Chika. After seeing our photos and videos, Big Brother did not scold or call me cheap. He can understand the way we express our affection.

“So, you and Theo are dating?” asked Kak Nolan in a quieter tone of voice. I just nodded while enjoying my ice cream. “Learnest. You guys are really fools. Whether you are as Kat or Riris, you are together again.”

“Kak, can be serious a little, no? It's a precarious problem,” scold Brother Jericho fretting.

“What happened cannot be repeated, Jericho. You can calm down a little, can't you?” reply Brother Nolan who still remains relaxed.

“How can I calmly hear Mama yelling at me every day on the phone?”

“Why Mama yells?” manyworry.

“Because you snatched Theo from Kat.” Brother Jericho shook his head. “If Mama knew you guys were the same person.”

“Same soul,” error Kak Nolan. “They are obviously two different people.”

“What Sister is not—” said Brother Jericho. He stopped seeing Nolan raise his hand.

“I have to go back to Medan tomorrow morning, so I don't have much time to mince words. Ris, you need to step away from the media for a moment. Please, don't lure reporters to cover you or your boyfriend. We are trying to find the right way and time to talk to Mama.”

“Not me who deliberately—” said, self-defense. I had to stop watching him raise his hand. So obnoxious.

“You can, no, answer yes without frills? I told you, I don't have time for pleasantries.” Brother Nolan turned towards Brother Jericho. “If you are free, go home. I need a friend to explain this weirdness.”

“My schedule is full until next year, Brother. I'm no longer an ordinary student. I am now a professional model. It's my full-time job.” Brother Jericho looked at me and Brother Nolan in turn. “Again, we need the presence of Riris as well to explain this to Mama.”

“No, thank you.” I touched my left cheek, the pain of Mama's slap was still felt even though I had not experienced it for a long time.

We separated after they drove me home. Even if it's only a few hours, I'm happy to spend time with my two brothers. The rest of the day I used to process the data and rest. But on Sunday, I focused on the data and was relieved I didn't lack anything. All the data that Mas Norman gave me was very complete.

Working on Monday, I kept my distance from my boss. We moved to a new workspace, because he is now filling his father's position. All my personal belongings from my desk have been moved to a new one. I can't believe I'm on the top floor of this luxury hotel.

When Mas Norman went to lunch outside with his secretary, I felt so relieved just being alone in the room. I completed all the tasks given to me as quickly as possible and went home with other employees.

“That's an intern in the director's pack room, ‘kan?” whispered someone who was standing by my side while I was in the elevator towards the ground floor.

“Iya, right. It's nice that he can sit one table with Mr. Boss at the event,” replied the other.

“You're serious?”

“Altheo likes him, then he's after Mr. Norman. What else would he wear if it wasn't black magic? Where there are sane men who are attracted to ugly women so.”

Time was going very slowly when I wished I could get somewhere soon. I was anxious to reply to their words, but I realized my current position. I'm just an intern. If I make trouble, I can get bad grades. So, I refrained from hearing their insults.

Black science. It's always the excuse they use to discredit me. Is there no other more elite reason to accuse me? I understand they don't believe I can get a guy interested in me with the qualities I have. Because I still don't believe it either.

That one week I managed to avoid Mas Norman because he was busy with his new assignment as chief director. But the person I was hoping for in the morning would surprise me with his presence never even being granted.

“I miss you.” I typed the sentence on the screen, but I hesitated to touch the send button. After a second thought, I decided to remove it.

I jogged around my neighborhood, greeted everyone I knew, then came back after a few rounds. That Saturday morning I started by cleaning the room and washing clothes as usual. Looking for a different atmosphere, I had lunch outside.

But I saw a car that I did not expect to park in front of my residence. The owner got out of the vehicle and smiled at me. “Eat with me, yuk. Please?”

Hearing that word, I felt bad rejecting it. I went back to the room to get the bag before going with her. We just kept quiet all the way, enjoying the music he put on. True to her age, she loved songs from the early two thousand years. Even for the taste of music, we are different.

He took me to a restaurant not far from where I live. So, we do not linger struggling with heavy traffic. I looked around me when I got out of the car. Pimply. I forgot about one thing. Theo hired people to keep an eye on me.

Die me.

“What's up?” ask Norman. He looked towards the window. “Do you see anyone you know?”

“Ah, no, Mas.” I smiled, then looked back at the menu book in front of me. “I order special fried rice with orange juice only, without sugar and ice. Thank you.”

The waiter left us after asking us to be patient waiting for the order to be delivered. I didn't know where to look, so I just looked down at my hands on the table. Since his confession that night, I can no longer behave the same way.

“Pardon my mother's attitude,” she said, opening the conversation. “I don't know how she can know your phone number, but I didn't ask Mom to meet you.”

“I know, Mas.”

He laughed nervously. “If you may know, what is my mother talking to you about? Please, tell me I'm not discussing embarrassing things.”

“Sorry, Mom. I can't tell you the conversation between women. That's our secret.” Her mother did not say it was a secret, but if she did not tell her son, then neither would I.

“Good.” Instead of protesting or urging me to speak honestly, she smiled happily. “I'm glad to see you're familiar with my mom. That will make things easier.”

“What do Mas mean?” my question does not understand.

“I'm serious about what I said a few days ago, Amarylis.” He brought his body to the table. “When I've become a dirut, I'm still the same Norman. I like you and hope you don't see me as your boss.”