L A T E

7

When your children feel genius, when you are teenagers you still feel great, when almost adults you are faced with the fact that there are others who are greater than you, and as adults you will become ordinary humans.

***

Nino walked, followed by three boys behind her.

Many eyes stared at him in awe all the way to his class. Nino who was still sitting on the Junior High was smiling sweetly as the women greeted her, while the Women looked misbehaved and screamed stifled as Nino returned their greetings with her flagship smile.

Nino should be grateful for being given a beautiful face that is valued by many women, and a smart brain so that many teachers rely on it, as well as the talent to play basketball that makes it respected by male students at school.

Nino was satisfied as all those eyes stared in admiration at her. Nino feels proud because right now she feels she is at the greatest point of her life. There was no gap, no one doubted it. He is currently a prince in a fairy tale that many women admire and revered by men.

Handsome, smart and talented.

Nino stopped her steps, making the steps that followed Nino from behind also come to a halt. In front of Nino currently stood a woman whose height was only up to her chest. Nino smiled sweetly as the woman raised her originally lowered head.

Nino looked at the woman who was looking at him shyly, the woman's breath was short, her hands were clinging to each other and moving restlessly, and her legs continued to move small irregularly.

A little cute, thought Nino.

"What's wrong?" ask Nino kalem.

The woman immediately misbehaved when Nino's voice was heard by her sense of hearing.

"That's ...." The woman was getting more agitated, she felt her heart beating hard and fast, she was worried that her heart would jump out.

"Yes, why?" Nino was patient. He was actually aware of what kind of situation he was in right now.

"I want to talk." The woman looks soaked her lips.

"What by the way?" Nino was still smiling sweetly, but in her heart she complained for this to be over quickly.

"Emh, can you be alone?" The woman stared at the swarm of boys standing behind Nino.

Nino took a breath, then exhaled slowly. He tried not to be angry at women who took up a lot of valuable time.

Patience, Nino. Don't upset. If you get angry, all this fun will be ruined. Patience, patience.

"You heard, right?"

Without even bothering to turn her head, Nino knew that the friends behind her were leaving. Proven from the sound of the pounding of shoes that are getting smaller and inaudible.

"Well, now what do you want to say?" Nino's voice was calm, but demanding.

The woman flinched, her shoulders moved upwards, her hands clasped tightly together, her heart was beating fast, her feet were pressing against the floor on which she was on.

With one breath she said, "I like you!"

Nino smiled obliquely, aware that the prediction was right.

"I'm sorry, I can't" Nino replied in a disappointed tone.

The woman opened her eyes, her face looked sad. He already knew that Nino would reject him. Before he ventured into doing this many of his friends who had expressed feelings for Nino told him that Nino would not accept their likes. The woman knew, she understood, but somehow her chest felt heavy, like there were invisible hands squeezing it, just breathing it hard as if oxygen were moving away from her, his head suddenly dizzy due to a sudden change of emotions, As strong as the woman's power to refrain from tears.

He lifted the face and then in the face of Nino, his lips quivered as he was about to say, "yes, you know. I just want Nino to know how I feel about Nino. Thanks for listening."

Nino smiled soothingly. "Yes, thank you, and again, sorry."

The woman just nodded, she immediately turned around and left Nino who was still silent in her place, a smile erased from her lips, her gaze fixed on the white ceramic floor where the woman was standing. Nino sniffed her shoulders and then continued on her way to class.

"He's crying."

Nino's steps came to a halt as her ears caught the sound coming from the front. Nino's reflex held her head up. In front of him at this moment stood a girl with hair tied behind her resembling a ponytail.

"When was he here?" ask Nino cynically.

Called Fara. Neighbor one complex since Nino's move a month ago in his new home. The age of those who are lonely and supported also by the fact that they attend the same school and study in the same class also makes the establishment of a relationship called friendship.

Actually this friendship happens accidentally, flows just like that and suddenly, and does not know who started.

Because of that incident, the closer their day gets. From who only left together when accidentally passed each other to depart together from Fara's house with Nino who became his picker. They also sometimes go home together if Nino is not having any exculus or other school activities.

Nino loved being near Fara. She's comfortable. Although at first Nino was annoyed because Fara never looked in admiration at him. It was eager for Nino to find Fara's enchanted expression glancing shyly at him. However, it seems impossible.

Fara never questioned her acting great in front of a lot of people. And more importantly Nino can do anything she wants when in front of Fara. Nino is free to express and show all the traits that are contrary to his nature so far in front of many people in his school. Like at the moment.

Nino stared at the female cynically before her, waiting for Fara's reply.

"From the woman said like it until it's over," replied Fara as it is.

"Not good to know, nagging people's talk." Advice to Fara

"Then next time I'm just passing by, pretending I don't see."

Nino smiled broadly at Fara's reply, for some reason looking adorable even though Fara said it with a flat face and with an emotionless tone.

"Where are you going? In a minute." Nino asked curiously as Fara without warning walked past her body. Fara's height reaching her chin made Nino not have to bother lowering her head.

Without looking at Nino who was behind him, the girl replied, "toilet." Then leave Nino.

Nino looked at that back, she smiled widely.

He's really something.

***

Nino got into her class which was like a broken ship. Many backpacks are scattered on the floor, chairs are not where they should be, and the classroom atmosphere is crowded by the chatter of its residents.

Nino hit the whiteboard hanging on the front wall of the class, making all the attention on her. Instantly the crowded classroom atmosphere became quiet.

"Learn for yourself, teachers are meeting—"

Unfinished Nino said, the atmosphere of the classroom was immediately boisterous by cheers.

Nino as the class leader again hit the board twice.

"Don't be noisy." His tone was full of intimidation, making everyone who heard him instantly shrink the volume of his voice.

"Thank you for your attention." The last is given a sweet smile that makes the females limp made.

Nino walked towards his bench. He slapped someone's thigh when he arrived at his destination.

The foot that was originally on the chair immediately descended, the former stepping shoe printed clearly there. Nino patted her seat that was dirty by someone else's shoes. After feeling clean, Nino sat herself down.

"Sick, No," grumbled the man who slapped his thigh.

"Who put his foot carelessly" replied Nino cynically.

"Mistake the chair." The man with the tag name Bayu replied.

"Where there is," said Nino did not accept.

"There's." Bayu as my friend Nino did not want to lose. "The seat is empty, tempting to tease." Further.

"Can that be?" Nino asked Bayu in a curious feigned tone.

"Can" replied Bayu lantang.

Nino no longer has any interest in responding to Bayu's words. Nino paid no heed to the man next to her who was currently crouching on the chair as her mouth continued to babble indistinctly.

Nino would rather drown with her mind. All the way from the teacher room to her class she kept thinking about Fara. At that time his brain brought him to the incident a few years ago. And now his brain is leading him to the recent events in the corridor. Unknowingly Nino smiled faintly.

Adorable huh?

***