Linger

Give Him A Hugs

During the minutes after Irina's departure, Gavin remained silent in his car. Thinking about everything that happened to her life in the last few months. Her marriage to Kalea was not the only problem, because long before that, her life had indeed fallen apart. During these two years he was forced to establish a relationship with Irina secretly because there are many parties who will feel unhappy when they know their relationship. Especially at that time Irina was starting her career in the world of modeling, which requires her to focus on building a self-image so that the slightest rumors should not be revealed to the public. 

Living a relationship secretly is tiring, then the problem becomes more complicated when Mother comes to him, offering an arranged marriage that she cannot possibly refuse. Because during life, Mother never asked for anything from him. The woman took care of it wholeheartedly without demanding anything at a time when others around her put a lot of demands and expectations on her. Mother became the only faithful person standing beside her, no matter if others continued to sneer and throw spicy sentences at the woman. Gavin cannot refuse this matchmaking because he does not want to make Mother disappointed. But more than that, he was increasingly unable to resist because the person was Kalea. 

Gavin sighed, rubbing his face rough in order to expel all the restlessness that filled his heart again. He turned to the back seat of the place where he had placed the paperbag from the boutique earlier this afternoon. Supposedly, the paperbag he gave to Irina earlier. But because the atmosphere was not supportive at all, the paperbag was forced to stay longer in his car.

For a moment Gavin was silent and looked at the paperbag, until he realized that the phone he had placed on the dashboard vibrated several times. With his eyebrows clutched, Gavin grabbed his phone, squinting to see who was calling him right now. Then her breath choked when Kalea's name appeared on the screen. The vibration on the phone was still felt, but Gavin never picked up his phone because his head was too noisy now. He did not know what to say to Kalea, not ready to accept the questions she might ask him.

Until finally, the vibrations on the phone stopped and Gavin could only sigh long when a few minutes later, no other shakes followed.

Actually, what did he expect? A Kalea Dimitria would call him first was a miracle, so when he decided to leave the phone unanswered, it was a miracle, so he should not expect that the woman would contact him again for the second time.

Knowing nothing would be done if he just kept quiet, Gavin decided to drive his car. For a moment, he left all his feelings of guilt to Irina, because at this time Kalea also needs to be soothed.

The car drove at full speed, splitting the streets of Jakarta which were jammed and filled with the sound of a simple horn. In times like these, Gavin remembered Kalea far more than ever before. The woman dislikes hearing the noise of the honking horn, and Gavin clearly knows why. He still vividly remembers the beginning of why the woman had discomfort in the noise of the horn. However, Gavin has not found the right time to show Kalea that he knows everything.

By the time Gavin finally reached the gate of the house of Kalea, the sky was already completely dark. This time he did not want to waste any longer in the car, so he immediately got down and rushed walking towards the gate. Fortunately Mr. Dadang was at the guard post, just about to sip coffee when his eyes caught Gavin's presence and the middle-aged man hurriedly put back his coffee cup and immediately opened the gate for Gavin.

"You want to meet Kalea Ma'am, huh, Mas?" ask Mr. Dadang, friendly, as usual.

"Yes." Yeah." Gavin answered briefly. He was about to swing his legs, but his intention stopped when the voice of Mr. Dadang interrupted again.

"Bak Kalea doesn't exist, Mas. Again go with Karel."

Ah, Karel. Gavin forgot that Kalea said she was going to watch with Karel this afternoon. His mind was too chaotic that he missed too many things.

"Who is home?" ask after a few moments of silence.

"It's just that I'm the same Bi Imah, Mas. I'm the same mom left, I don't think I'm coming home tonight. If Mas Gavin wants to wait for Mbak Kalea, mending waiting in aja, Mas. Let me get permission to Ibuk." Bidar Pak Dadang, but Gavin quickly shook his head.

"I'll wait in the car."

"Loh, no, Mas. It's okay, just wait inside."

"It's okay, I'll wait in the car. Thank you, sir." Gavin said, trying to make a thin smile before turning back to his car.

In the car, he didn't do much, only occasionally glancing at his stranded phone in the passenger seat and the screen appeared to be out. Although the possibility is small, but Gavin still hopes that Kalea will try to contact him once again.

******

Throughout the film, Karel was unable to focus on the big screen in front of them. He was busy looking at Kalea, trying to read every expression that the woman showed each film moving from one scene to another. The woman did seem to focus on watching the film, occasionally giving a reaction with a loud chatter that often made her given a cynical look by other audiences. But Karel knew, Kalea wasn't really drifting in the movie they were watching. Karel believes that right now inside the woman's head must be spinning so many scenes from the results of random thoughts that he piled up all day.

When Kalea said that she would accept her betrothal to Gavin, Karel thought she only needed to take care of her own heart, looking for a way that the pain in his chest can quickly heal because of his unrequited feelings and even had no chance to be expressed. But as it turned out, Karel's job was much heavier than that. Apparently, he still had to help Kalea take care of her heart. Even when the woman's heart contained the name of another man, Karel still had to help take care of her.

"Call again." Bisik Karel while seizing popcorn from the hands of Kalea. Since then, the woman has mastered popcorn that is actually intended for them to enjoy both.

Kalea turned her head, glancing back at Karel who was now tightly hugging the popcorn that was half-living.

"Well what?" kalea asked after siphoning Karel's lemon tea, hers had been depleted for the past few minutes.

"Let the problem be clear." Karle was half upset. He could not figure out why Kalea could still throw such a question.

"Males. Being called once is not lifted, means he has no intention of talking to me." Kalea said casually, her eyes returning to focus on staring at the screen. The movie they were watching was almost done and he did not want to miss anything.

"What then? Who knows if Gavin is driving again so you can't pick up your phone."

"Where to go? From Hong Kong to Dubai? It's been over an hour, yeah the time he can't call back."

"Call once again, Kale."

"No."

"Why, anyway? Gavin's phone again won't make you look cheap." This time Karel was really upset. He no longer cared about those near him who stared cynically because his voice was too noisy.

"Gue was surprised, Kale. Why such an overthinking hobby? Even though if you want to downgrade your prestige just dikiiiitttt, there will be no such thing as unfounded presumptions, which will only make you tired of heart and head."

Kalea turned her head, only to find Karel looking at her seriously. Then, the movie ahead was no longer important when Karel suddenly got up, pulled his arm and walked him out of the movie theater, accompanied by the noise of people who feel disturbed because they suddenly come out in the middle of the film that is still playing.

Kalea complied as Karel dragged her small body into the basement of the mall where the man parked his car. Even when the car door opened and his head was pushed slowly so that he immediately got into the car, Kalea still did not rebel. Because honestly his energy was drained to think of random things that came in turn filled his head.

"Where are we going?" the question then, after Karel sat behind the wheel and moved oddly put the seatbelt before stepping on the gas pedal so excited.

"home." Answer Karel briefly. The man's gaze was straight forward, focused on driving a car that in a short time had managed to get out of the basement and mingle with other vehicles on the road.

"Lo want to call Gavin one more time, or do I anterin you to his house?"

The question that came suddenly made Kalea turn her head. He looked at Karel in disbelief, not understanding why the crazy idea could be triggered by a Gautama Karelino. Take him to Gavin's house? Huh, that's right. What would the man think of him if Karel did it? It could be that the man will be big head and feel that he has managed to win his heart. If so, Gavin will be easier to behave as he pleases. Don't men usually do that?

"Don't macem-macem. If you get me to Gavin's house, I jump out of the car." Threatening Kalea, only to make Karel snort miserably.

"If you don't want me to anterin to Gavin's house, yes hunt Gavin's phone again!" Karel half yelled. His patience is completely exhausted. Kalea and the contents of her head that were too random had already drained her energy in just a short time.

"Rel,"

"Buruan, Kalea. Don't let the problem drag on." Karel turned his head, his voice this time was much slower. "You're getting married in a week, so there can be no reward. Everything has to be clear. That way, then I can be willing to let go of you to marry Gavin." The next full of seriousness.

Feeling that there was no longer any way to escape, Kalea relented. He exhaled heavily before reaching into the phone from inside the jacket pocket. But he had not been able to find the number Gavin for then he called, the name of the man had already appeared on the screen of his phone.

"It's dumbass, phone call." Urge Karel who began to be impatient.

"Kale, man,"

"This is the guy who called me first." Kalea said innocently. He showed his phone screen to the front of Karel's face, only to make the man screech and rage indistinctly.

"Yes the hunt is raised dong, Kaleoooooooo! Oh, my God, you really are!" oceh Karel who felt anxious at Kalea who seemed slow in responding to something.

"Yes patient!" Kalea even followed the ranting. Then after clearing his throat several times to relieve his sudden dryness for no reason, he shifted the green log. The phone is connected.

"Hello, Kalea?" greet Gavin from across.

Kalea only answered him with a dullness, making him given a sharp gaze by Karel who had time to turn his head in the middle of his driving activities.

"You're the same Karel, aren't you?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Why?"

"I'm in front of your house now."

"Well?"

"Wait for you, Iah. We should talk about that one last afternoon."

Kalea was silent for a while, glancing at Karel who was refocused on driving before replying. "Should it be broken now?"

"should."

"If I don't want to?"

"Must do."

"Kok maksa?"

"If you're not forced, you won't want to give me a chance to talk."

Kalea was made speechless by Gavin's statement just now. Gavin's words felt so good for him. He does tend to need more time to solve a problem because he needs to calm his head first before discussing with others. But presumably, Gavin is the opposite. It seems like Gavin is a typical one who doesn't like to make problems drag on and get tangled up.

So, there was nothing else Kalea could say as soon as "I'll be there." and then hang up.

Along with the phone being shut down, the traffic light turned red. As he had expected, Karel used the opportunity to turn his head and immediately shower him with a gaze filled with many questions that were just waiting for time to be conveyed verbally.

"The lights are green again, anyway, street game." Kalea said to Karel, then he leaned his head against the window, busy looking at objects on the road that moved along with the car that returned. Kalea closed her eyes for a bit, just to put a damper on the commotion that was happening worse than before.

********

Fifteen minutes after the phone closed, Gavin found Karel's car driving off in the distance. He who was originally leaning on the hood of the car immediately straightened his body when the car stopped right in front of him. The distance between his body and the front of the car body may be only three inches, it was as if Karel had deliberately stopped his car at such a close distance that the man could directly hit him if he wanted to do anything to Kalea.

Gavin wouldn't be surprised if Karel would actually do it. Because so far, he did see Karel could do anything to protect Kalea. Something he might not be able to do in the future.

Shortly after, Karel got out of the car first. Gavin frowned when Kalea did not come down and instead remained silent in the car with a view that was deliberately cast somewhere, or not, it looks like they are trying to avoid eye contact between them even though the car glass is not too dark.

"Yeu, this is a child instead of going down, even dibel!"

Gavin hears Karel babbling. Then he saw the man walking to the other side of the car and opened the door immediately. It took longer to get Kalea out because she was reluctant to get out of the car. But in the end Karel managed to drag the small body in front of him, although Kalea was still reluctant to look at his face.

"Now, you solve your problems tonight. It's so bad I squirm this boy overthinking is not clear." Karel pushed Kalea's body slowly towards Gavin. "Whatever how you make him persuade, I won't help, because you need to know, I don't know anymore how to talk to this one boy." Karel continued, glancing cynically at Kalea who looked ogah-ogahan standing in front of Gavin.

"That's talking to both of you, I unplug first." Karel said again, then immediately got into the car and immediately rewinded his car before driving it into his yard, leaving Gavin and Kalea standing opposite each other in silence.

For a long time they were both silent. Neither Gavin nor Kalea were willing to start opening their voices first. Until finally, Kalea was surprised when her small body was suddenly pulled and in an instant was already in the arms of Gavin.

Everything happened so quickly, that Kalea did not have time to rebel or protest because Gavin hugged her without permission. His originally stormy head was suddenly empty, along with his gradually beating heart at a faster tempo.

"Sorry, I've been overthinking you all day." Gavin said slowly. His big hands were now moving slowly, rubbing Kalea's head that was leaning comfortably on her field chest.

"Something unpleasant happened after the hotel, and it made my mood so bad."

"Something what?" kalea asked, she tried to pull away from Gavin's embrace, but the man held her back so that he could only give up when the big hand held her tight.

"There was. I can't tell you the same story now. If the time is right, I'll tell you everything."

"Is it something to do with Irina?"

Gavin smiled as Irina was called by Kalea. He knew the name would indeed be often mentioned among them, only, Gavin did not expect the time would be this fast. Even before the wedding.

"Irina? Who?" tanyanya pretended to be stupid. Sure oes. She wouldn't voluntarily be forthright about her relationship with Irina to Kalea, would she?

"Woman that we met this afternoon at the hotel."

"Oh..."

"You really don't know Irina, or just pretend you don't?"

"Not knowing."

"Really?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Seriously? Sure enough? No lie?"

"Yes, Kalea."

"But Irina seems to know you."

"Surely he knows me." Gavin's chirps made Kalea force herself to look up.

"You don't forget, right, that I am the only son of the owner of the largest television station in Indonesia? My same-face name is everywhere, so it's no wonder that the woman I met this afternoon." Gavin said while grinning, plus the annoying rancid face that immediately made Kalea feel like pinching this man's head as hard as she could.

"Where did your confidence come from? You forget, I don't even know who you are if it wasn't for this matchmaking." Kalea said while trying to escape from Gavin's embrace. And this time the man let it loose, but could not really create a comfortable distance to chat more freely because the man's hand was still on his waist, deliberately holding him back so as not to retreat further and further.

"That's because you don't care about the world around." Said Gavin, and strangely Kalea immediately agreed to the man's words.

"I didn't know you turned out to be this stringis." Kalea throbbed, inviting a crisp laugh escaped from the side of Gavin's lips.

"Gavin," called Kalea quietly after Gavin's laughter subsided.

"Hmm?"

"If there's anything, please tell me the same story, huh? Don't confuse me with your silence, because I want to help you too. I want to help you as much as I can." Kalea said in a soft voice, her eyes looking sad. Obviously there are so many concerns hidden behind the bead boba.

"There's one thing you can always do to help me." Gavin said while making a thin smile.

"What?"

Gavin answered that question with action. His big hand pulled Kalea's body back into the embrace, letting the woman feel how her heart was beating at a random tempo.

"When you find me in a bad state, please give me a hug, Kalea. Because that's the only thing that can help me feel better." As you used to do to me.