Paper Dove

Price Label

We watched in silence. Nandes seemed interested in this film, he was very serious about staring at the big TV.

I who from the beginning did have a purpose behind the reason I asked him to watch was not too concentrated on the course of the film's story.

I bit one end of my fingernail agitatedly. I kept staring at Nandes, thinking about what I should do to ascertain his feelings for me. 

Suddenly Nandes made a sound that made me jump in shock “ Popcorn Dew ran out. You want me to make it again?”.

I stuttered “ Uh... no..iya... uh”, I confused myself.

Nandes frowned at me “ so, yes or no?”, he asked again.

I took a breath of self-soothing “ No, later fat”, I said firmly and then looked at the TV with a serious pretentious look.

Nandes nodded then stood up and walked towards the kitchen. I peeked at Nandes from behind the couch, watching his every move. Nandes turned towards the TV and instantly caught the wet me monitoring his movements. He looked at me suspiciously for acting a little strangely, I quickly fixed my position towards the TV

I was thinking about what Elsa said at the supermarket yesterday afternoon.

“ Dew make sure first she still likes you as a woman or not”.

“ How? I asked directly?”, I asked innocently.

“ Ih si dodol. Seduce her, show her a different part of you”, said Elsa.

“ Ha? how?”, I'm still bego.

“ Iss, show your sexiness”, Elsa said.

I thought about that word, what does it mean to try? how am I supposed to? ooh this Elsa, why is the explanation half-and-half.

Nandes returns with a box of popcorn. I tried to think of the right way to find out what his heart was to me. Did I just talk? i'm rattled.

Nandes seemed to be concentrating on TV. I exhaled and began my actions by pretending to tie my hair so that my neck would be visible to him.

No time Nandes saw my action, suddenly his phone rang. Nandes looked at the thin screen.

“ Hello Monica”, Nandes answered his phone. “ Not busy, I'm just watching with my sister. What's up?”, he asked again.

I glared as she said ‘adikku’. I wish I was too much, I'm just a little brother to him. I bit my own lips irritated by the reality I received.

Nandes glanced at me and raised his hand signalling that the phone was important. He walked into the room and then closed the door leaving me with a popcorn chip on the table all of a sudden he said.

" Dew dry your hair with a hairdryer, then catch a cold".

I stared at the seowt towards the door of the room Nandes “ Hah. He didn't even glance at me one bit", I untied my hair violently.

" That jerk's taste has turned out, sexy height? am I not sexy?”. I looked at my chest, it was incomparable to the women of that time but it was a normal size.

I angrily pressed the power button on the TV remote and lifted all the dirty dishes to the sink. While washing dishes I still nag “ to hell with feelings. Bodo amat”'s. After that I went into the room and fell asleep in my anger. 

***

Tomorrow after work I go to Elsa's house. To be honest, I'm getting curious about Nandes. While helping Elsa fold the newly lifted clothes from the clothesline, I told Elsa and of course Elsa laughed at me until her face was red. 

" If I think about it again. It's called karma, man. Nandes really chased you. Now you're the one who's curious about her after she shuts up" Elsa told me. 

I pouted "I'm just curious", I said. 

" Dew, it looks like you're getting interested in Nandes. Remember, you've been alone too long. Always close your heart with a big ice. Look now it looks like the ice is about to melt", Elsa said like a grandmother advising her granddaughter. 

I grunt but don't argue. " But it looks like she has a boyfriend ", I'm desperate. 

I sighed, began to believe Elsa's words and convinced myself to stick to my plan again.

" So what should I do Elsa?" , I asked. 

" Tonight wear your most different clothes than usual. Throw away all your rotten training" Elsa said. 

" But I don't have any other clothes. I wasn't even determined to go back to my boarding house ", as I was. 

" I'll lend you my shirt", Elsa stood up and went into her room, and then how many minutes later she came out with a suit that still had a label on her shoulder strap. 

“ Wow are you crazy? I just wanted to make sure she didn't want to ask him to sleep together. What if he gets angry and thinks I'm a woman not right?”, I protest to see a thin-styled negligee model, short enough with an open back. The shirt is not too thin but enough to accentuate the shape of the curves of the person wearing it. 

“ I'm sure Nandes will directly prey on you and say I still like you”, said Elsa dramatically. My face flushed hearing his words. 

“ You sure right Sa? if this fails, I will be ashamed my whole life”, I said looking at Elsa with a gaze asking for reinforcement. 

Elsa nodded steadily “ I'm sure, very sure. Cut off my fingers if he's not fascinated by you ".

So my behavior became increasingly absurd because of the incitement of Satan given by Elsa. With steel willpower I decided to become a seductress tonight, just for Nandes. I'll make him confess his feelings to me. 

***

I stepped inside Nandes' house, he was reading a book in his lazy chair. He looked at me “ you just came home? I thought you went back to your boarding house?”, Nandes closed the book to me.

“ I'm out of Elsa's house and I intend to stay here longer. Tired of me being renovated so noisy, not calm. I stayed here first”, I lied calmly.

Nandes nodded “ if your mama knows, we can be married ?”, Nandes said turning my words back at that time. 

I ignored him and quickly entered the room. Up in the room I took a breath, took out the clothes given by Elsa then convinced myself “ Yes I can definitely”. 

With a shunt step I walked to the bathroom, lingering in the bathroom. Before going out I tied my hair to make my back visible. I pray in front of the glass sink.

“ Yes God forgive the sins of the servant today. Servant is just looking for a soul mate”, I put my hands together like praying. After that I opened the door and looked around, Nandes was nowhere to be seen. I took my breath and walked towards the kitchen to grab a drink. 

Pouring water in Nandes's glass rebuked me

“ Bathingya tumben lama”.

I looked at him, he seemed a little fixated on seeing me, did this work I thought. 

“ uhuk.. You ... get to bed. I have job”, Nandes said as he poured water in his glass.

I gawked, he wasn't tempted at all. Or even told me to sleep. Damn Elsa I'll cut off your fingers, all your fingers. 

I exhaled in disappointment and turned around to put the glass in the sink. Suddenly Nandes coughed and water spilled onto his shirt. My instincts as a medical man rose, immediately I swiftly patted Nandes on the back.

“ You're okay? “, manyu. Nandes was a little away from me.

“ I'm okay”, he said. I looked in wonder at Nandes. This was clearly a complete failure, he even avoided me. 

“ Yes it is “, I walked away leaving him but he pulled my hand and whispered softly into my ear. 

“ Dew... You.. “, Nandes brought his lips to my ears, I could hear his breath. My heart was beating uncharacteristically, with Nandes' hand grabbing my right shoulder. Will I be made to fall in love with her tonight?

Nandes pulled something off my shoulder strap and continued speaking “ .. forgot to cut his price tag”, Nandes handed the discounted price tag of the shirt to my hand.

With a red face I ran towards the room and did not come out again until tomorrow morning.

***