See You Tonight

Step 7: Sofia

After finishing eating a bowl of meatballs, I felt a bit full. I also sat for a while in the meatball stall until my stomach felt better. While sitting there daydreaming, suddenly there was a girl who seemed to be my age who came with a sizable bag that he placed in his bicycle basket.. I don't know what it is, but it looks like it's quite heavy.

He wears the same uniform as me, so he must be from the same High School as me. After he parked his bicycle in front of the stall, he went straight to the owner of this stall. Our eyes met for a while, but we did not greet each other. It seems he is in a hurry.

"Dad, this is the order my father has given me," he said as he passed me.

"Oh yes, yes. Do you want to eat meatballs today?" reply the shop owner.

"May, all those iced tea, yes" the girl then suddenly sat in front of me at the same table. I do not know why he chose to sit there, but there are still 2 more tables that are still empty.

"May I sit here?" I asked him who was sitting in front of me.

"Bo-can," I replied rather awkwardly.

"You eat meatballs alone?" ask again.

"Yes" I replied again.

"You're weird, look around you. Does anyone eat meatballs alone like you?" ask the girl again.

I looked around, and it was true that no one ate meatballs alone. I just realized it.

"What's so good about eating alone? anyway why don't you take your friends out to eat together? Don't you have no friends, do you?" again he asked.

"I thought it was good."

Then the meatballs and iced tea orders came. Then he took an empty bowl. He divided his meatballs into 2 into the bowl he took earlier. He gave one of those bowls to me.

"This is eating again. No need to pay for this one. You still have a strong meal, right? Come on, just half. Try to feel the difference of eating alone with others," he said while offering a bowl containing half a serving of meatballs and iced tea that he ordered earlier. Then he ordered another glass of iced tea.

"Actually I'm going home" I said rather softly.

"Here you go, you can only go home after finishing the meatball. I'll take you home" he said again.

I can't dodge it anymore either. I'm like I'm running out of excuses. "Strong girl" I thought to myself. Then, I started eating the meatballs slowly.

"By the way you're from Tunas Bangsa High School right?" ask again.

"Yes, I just got in this year. From your uniform, it looks like you are also from Tunas Bangsa High School right?" now I ask back.

"Yes, I'm from there too. Wow, that means we are both new students dong. I just got in this year too. What class are you in?"

"I'm in 10-7" I replied.

"Wah means our class next to dong.aku class 10-6 lohh. But, I don't think I've seen you in school even though our class is next door" she seemed a bit surprised.

I didn't respond to it this time. I continued to eat the meatballs slowly.

"Sorry I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Sofia. It's nice to meet you."

"My name is Galang. Nice to meet you too."

After that, we did not chat again until we finished eating our meatballs.

"How's it feel?" asked Sofia to open the conversation again.

"Obviously. There is nothing different I think," I replied flatly.

"Oh my goodness. Maybe you'll realize it later when you're alone. As promised, I will take you home. So, which side is your house?" he seemed intent on driving me home.

"A promise is a promise. I promised you, right? I'm glad to hear that your house isn't too far away, which means I'm not too tired to pedal the bike. Want to go home now?" he seemed happy to hear that my house was not too far away.

"Then let me pedal the bike to my house, you're the bonny one" I said.

"Then I'm not the one who delivered his name. I promised to take you, didn't I? So, I have to keep it up. Dad I'm out for a second..."

"Oh yeah... Careful," said his father who is also the owner of a meatball stall.

"Yaudah ayoo" he said, pulling my hand.

We also went straight to my house. I showed him the way while sitting on his bicycle. His straight and long hair was several times broken by the wind. The smell of the shampoo is sometimes smelled by me.

We rarely chat when on the way, just a small conversation about the direction of the road to my house.

Finally, we arrived in front of my house. He looks a little tired, his sweat was quite a lot of pouring.

"Thank you for driving me. Actually, you don't have to bother driving me like that" I said.

"No-no, I'm happy to keep my promise hehe. It's a bit tiring but it's okay" he said, gasping for breath.

"Then you can rest here for a while and have a drink. You look thirsty too."

Suddenly, my mother came out of the house.

"Eh Gilang not in front of the house so dong, invite your friends in, not polite to know," said my mother as she approached us. "Sorry yes mba, Gilang is not good at things like this," said my mother while inviting Sofia to go inside.

We also went inside.

"Wait a minute... Let me make you a drink for a minute. If tomorrow-tomorrow there are friends again, do not just stand in front of ya... Get in the house, too" my mom went to the kitchen to make a drink.

"Well your mother was very kind to her..," said Sofia rather softly. His voice sounded different than before.

"Wait a minute, well, I'm going to go back for a second" I left Sofia alone in the living room.

In kitchen.

"Will you go to the store?" ask my mom who looks like she's done making cold orange syrup.

"Mom was already in the store, but my HP missed, so I went home to pick it up. There were also employees in the store, so if there were customers there would be a service," my mother went straight to the living room with the cold orange syrup that she put on the tray. I followed him from behind.

"Please mba" said my mother, putting her drink on the table.

"Oh yes thanks mom... Sorry to be troublesome," Sofia said with a faint smile.

"Well, no trouble. By the way, whose name is it?"

"My name is Sofia ma'am" Sofia replied with a faint smile on her face.

"What a beauty her name is, as beautiful as her man hehe," praised my mother who was followed by a smile.

Sofia only smiled this time, her smile was now more detached than before. My mother said, Sofia looks so sweet. His smile was like bringing coolness in the midst of hot air. I felt something I had never felt before. It feels a little fluttering and a little tight on the chest. I felt like I had entered another world for a while.

***

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