Magic Key

PART 16 - BOOKSTORE

"For today, please don't discuss the invisible issue, okay?"

*****

After breakfast ketoprak this morning Zaki took me to a lake that he said recently opened.

"Disclosed here?" My toot.

I was still confused because Zaki kept holding my hand when it had been since a few minutes ago we reached the edge of the lake.

"I like water." Said Zaki after a while.

"Pffttt.." I tried to hold back my laughter but couldn't.

"Who doesn't like water, try it? Everyone needs water."

"Yes. But I mean it's like it's different. It's calm to see the water."

"Okay I understand. But if I prefer running water. There was a gurgling sound. It feels more alive." I said.

Zaki turned to me and smiled, his expression funny.

"That's what I like too." Zaki retaliated. I nodded a few times.

"But I prefer you." Said Zaki again.

I round my mouth in surprise. My eyes blinked as if that way I could tell what Zaki meant.

"What?" I finally made a sound.

Zaki shook his head while turning his gaze away.

"Mas Andi is still bothering you?" Ask Zaki suddenly.

I frowned while looking at Zaki who was staring straight at the lake in front of him.

"He never bothered me."

"I mean, he still doesn't take you?"

My chest expands instantly. The flowers in it bloom and are surrounded by butterflies. It almost exploded just because Zaki had just said it.

Okay, this might just be my feeling. I feel Zaki is showing his jealousy here. Moreover, plus his tight tone of speech strengthened my perspective.

"Yesterday was not. We don't see each other because I'm in the room."

"So hoping for a meeting?" Ask Zaki coldly.

"Yaaa.not expecting to see you too. We're one place."

"Kok effect you're like a really hard worker to meet with him?" Zaki turned his head to me, slashing his eyes.

"Yes that's not it either. But it's really what I said. Chances are we can meet even if not every day."

"Whatever! Going to see you every day is none of my business." Zaki turned even more tighter.

Wh why? Why is Zaki so angry? Weren't we still okay a few seconds ago?

And suddenly the flowers in my heart that were blooming now withered as Zaki said that this was none of his business.

"It's none of your business." My reply raised my voice a little.

"Why do you believe him?"

"Who believes him, Zak. I'm talking the truth."

"Yes, why do you think it's so cool to talk about him? Why don't you look for another topic?" Zaki's making no sense.

"Who? Wasn't it you who went first? I'm just answering your question, okay." I started to get emotional. I snapped at Zaki unconsciously.

Ah, why should I yell at Zaki and get angry? Suddenly I felt guilty for him.

I took two steps back, making a little distance between me and Zaki.

I saw Zaki rubbing his face rough. His expression was illegible. The fingers that have since held the lake fence now do not stop moving.

"Dad." Call him very slowly. I didn't immediately tell.

Zaki cupped my face, raised a little of my head that had been lowered.

"Sorry, Ay. I don't mean to be angry with you."

I removed Zaki's hand from my face slowly without making a sound.

"OK I know you must be angry with me because I was angry for no reason like that. I understand." Zaki's breath was heard hunting when he did not run away.

"We can't continue with our current condition. So, I'm gonna take you home or.."

"Zak!" Call me, stop Zaki's steps that seem to move unsettled.

Then Zaki looked at me waiting for me to talk.

"Lupaina. I was also wrong for getting carried away by that anger."

Zaki smiled thinly, almost invisible if not carefully observed.

"So, you still want to walk?"

I just nod. And then we both laughed together.

"Want me to take a photo? The view here is good, right? The sun has not risen too high. I can still take a photo of sunrise." Said Zaki. He and I laughed again.

Zaki took out a camera that had been hanging from one arm.

"okay. Nice photo, huh."

"Ready commander!"

*****

"Not good for the photos?" I asked after Zaki followed me into the car.

"good. Who used to take pictures." Said Zaki to be proud.

I rolled my eyeballs, pretending to be unhappy. Then we laughed.

"If you want to see." Zaki handed me the camera. No hesitation in accepting it.

I smiled at some of the photos Zaki had taken. It turns out that his photography skills are quite charming.

"Send ya." I asked him to return the camera to him.

"Yes, ready!"

"Where are you planning?" Ask Zaki.

I'm shaking. "Nothing is."

"Where do we want to go now?"

"I don't know the area. I've only been here a week."

Zaki chuckles. "Oh yes I forgot. Want to play at home again?"

"You want to."

Zaki smiled at me but implied a surprised look.

"Okay, let's go home."

Zaki wears his seat belt and then starts the engine. After that the car drove.

*****

"Like."

"You wanna stop by the bookstore? It just so happens that there's a bookstore out there."

"Well?" Many doubt.

"Yes, buying books is a precarious buying time in a bookstore." Answer Zaki humor.

"Is there a book you're buying?" Ask Zaki again.

"There's no."

"If we stop by."

That way Zaki turned his car into a fairly large bookstore yard that was very strategic.

"Yuk." Take Zaki. He's already removed his seatbelt.

"Emm. I don't think so, Zak. Anytime."

"Why? We're already here." Zaki scrunched his forehead.

"Y-yes no papa. Yeah, sometime." Balasku.

"Udah come. I'll buy it." Zaki seemed to know what I was thinking.

That's exactly what I was thinking. I can't waste my money unwisely let alone I still haven't received a salary, so I have to be smart to save.

"No need not."

"I can't refuse sustenance, Ay."

"But but_"

Not heeding my words, Zaki got out of the car first and opened the door for me.

"Come on." Zaki stretched out his hand and his voice sounded very soft. Ah, I can't resist it.

I also according.

We entered the bookstore. At the front is an interestingly organized novel that launched recently. And some best-seller novels are prominently displayed in one corner. Ah I almost want to buy all the books here, especially the novels that I have been searching for a long time.

"What book are you looking for?" Tanya Zaki broke my daydream.

"Novels."

"OKAY. What's the title of the novel? Or who is the author? I'll help you find." Said Zaki slightly raising his voice as the atmosphere was a bit crowded.

"About you." My reply.

"Huh? Wh-what?" Zaki's question sounded ambiguous.

"Yes. It's about you, Tere Liye's latest novel."

"O-oh. I'll help you find." Zaki looks wrong. Is something wrong?

"Actually he has many novels, but this 'about you' is the latest." Obviously without being asked for an explanation.

Zaki nodded.

I moved down the line of novels in search of the book I wanted. Zaki followed.

"Dear of Tere Liye?" Ask Zaki on the side of us looking for the novel.

"I actually like his work, anyway. Because I've never met Tere Liye so I can't say I like him or not." I reply half joking. Zaki laughed too.

"Some of his books that I read have made me fall in love, so my expectations are that all his works will be amazing. Moreover, the novels published before this are definitely best sellers, so it can not be doubted."

"OKAY. So what novel do you have?" Ask Zaki in a friendly tone.

I didn't expect that Zaki would enjoy this much at the bookstore. Does he like places like this?

"Hm.. Fallen Leaves Never Hate The Wind_"

"That's the title?" Zaki asked interrupted.

"Yes." Yeah."

"That's long. Hard to remember." Zaki said along with giggling.

"What else is going on?" Ask Zaki again.

"There's a book called Rain, Sunset with Rosie and there are two books that contain a collection of short stories but I forgot the title of the book."

"OKAY. Sunset with Rosie? How's the story going?"

"I like to read but I'm not good at talking let alone telling stories. When the speaking exam in my grade school is only limited to the standard, there is never more than one person of KKM value." I said interspersed with jokes.

I joke but I don't lie about the value of my speaking that can never be said to be good.

"Do you like reading books too?" I asked Zaki.

"You can say you don't like."

"Then why did you bring me here?"

"Some of the girls I know they like to be invited to book shopping."

"Oh that's it."

Why do I suddenly feel uncomfortable hearing Zaki's explanation?

Some chick? Hm.

"Oh,"

"Yes?" My reply was flat and not looking at him.

"Some of the girls I said were just classmates. Not more."

Oh thank goodness. I feel relieved to hear it. But I have to pretend that it's not a problem for me at all.

"Why should you explain it to me?" I try to calm down. In my heart, I really want to prance.

"I want to be open with you. And I don't want you to misunderstand."

"Oh, okay." I said trying to be ordinary despite the fact that my heart was pounding erratically.

"Ah, meet." I said I was excited to find a book with a brown cover with a picture of a pair of shoes I've been looking for since.

"This is also Tere Liye's work?" Tanya Zaki held up a white-coated book with the words LONG.

"Yes. You want to buy that?"

"Yes, I want to buy this." Zaki replied with his funny face. Geez! That's adorable.

"You read?"

"You are the one who reads."

"Me?"

"It's bonus. I'll buy one free one."

"Haha... Thank you, I happen to not have that one. Always have discounts so that customers are happy."

Zaki laughed.

"Come on to the cashier."

*****