Since I Meet You's

I Like

"Don't you like Ryan?"

"uhuukk uhhuuk", I choked on my own saliva because of Rita's question earlier.

"W-What the hell Rit, you just want to" I tried to switch the conversation.

"Come on, answered Tik! Don't talk", Rita is aware of my efforts.

"I like it"

"Really?"

"Yes, as a friend"

There was a strange feeling when I said it. Like a tightness but not asthma. Or maybe it's a heart attack symptom. I don't know, I don't want to think about it anymore.

"Ah Tika, I almost yelled. Do you cook that feeling?"

"I-iya wants to do it again. Brother Ryan must think I do too"

"But he's the same attention girls only to you. You're not that little baper?"

"What paper is Rit?", I really don't know the term Rita uses.

"The paper brings the feeling of a Tik. I think when you were taken care of with Brother Ryan, did you not feel special about him? If yes, it means you are a Tik", Rita's tone sounded anxious with my innocence.

Either way, I'm not the one who knows the things young people today do. His words sounded strange to my ears. Rita sometimes said that I mostly hang out with my fathers, so I do not know the new terms that young people create.

I'm basically innocent and clumsy. Hape I don't have and don't know how it works. Maybe if taught a little. But if I rethink what I have a hape for? My family only has father and Ardi left. Grandfather and grandmother in the village are also dead, there are only uncles and aunts who are both clueless with me. If I want to talk to them, I have to call the village chief's house because they don't have a phone or call home either.

Maybe one day I will also buy a phone if needed and my savings are enough to buy it. But for now, I don't seem to need it too much.

"No, I don't baper" I said.

"Ah come on, you are indeed a human of insensitive species"

"Hey! Whatchu mean? I'm sensitive"

"That's why you're not aware of the same kind of attention that Brother Ryan gave you"

''I've said it's just a form of caring for a fellow friend''

"As far as you are Tik, I want to go to the cafeteria first before the bell''

Rita went to the school cafeteria. I remained fixed on my bench while rethinking Rita's words. I actually didn't mean it much when I answered him. It's just a reflex form that spontaneity I say when cornered like that.

Rita, who kept urging me to force me to answer her question immediately, made me want to end our debate with the answer I gave. And it turned out that my experiment was successful, but it ended in my feeling of being unable to calm down.

Anyway, Rita says she likes Ryan's sister. So it's impossible if I also say that I like Brother Ryan too. It would hurt Rita, and hurt her.

I don't want to be selfish with my own feelings. Let me give up on Rita's happiness. I want to make her happy even once and I think this is nothing compared to the kindness I received from her.

Rita is too kind, and it doesn't feel right if I purposely say I like Sis Ryan to keep Rita away and create some distance between us. All I do now is for the sake of Rita's happiness, I hope that Ryan's sister also reciprocates Rita's feelings for her.

I want to protect, love and also make her happy even though my efforts are not much.

...♡♡♡...

This Sunday is a good day for some, but not for me. Every Sunday I would go from one house to another to take a job as a laundry laborer.

I don't want to force myself to not worry too much either. I also spend time cleaning and cleaning the house.

When the clock shows the number 8, there is a sound of a car parked in front of the house. I thought the next-door neighbor was about to come out and lock the fence, but a few moments later someone called me. I came out because I was in the bathroom doing laundry.

It turns out there was Ryan coming to see you. I let him in and made him tea in the kitchen and took care of my work for a while.

I brought the tea I had made to the living room now occupied by Brother Ryan.

''Please drink the tea, brother. Tumben brother came here, what is it!?'', I asked as soon as I reached the living room.

''I drank ya!?", said Sister Ryan then sipped her tea slowly.

''Begini Tik, my friends invited to hold a farewell event, but the place is in the cafe. They told me to invite you to Rita as well because they said they could ngundang nearby cement that''

''Now brother!?", I reflexively asked because I had not prepared.

''Not too, it will be a little late afternoon. I chatted with Rita, she said she could. That's why I came here for mastiin you can what not!?', explained Sister Ryan.

''Hemm, how are you brother!? I don't think I can, '' reject me.

''Well, cooking can't be. Though I ngarep you can, Kasian tuh Rita if you do not follow Tik''

I reconsidered Brother Ryan's invitation. Her words were right, Rita would be awkward if I didn't come along.

''But I don't have any good clothes kak''

''Just remember, if you think that let me take care of it. Now that you decide to come or not!?'', he made sure to come back.

''The place is far away or not!?'', I'm behind her.

''Don't you think, I take care of everything. I will be the same nganter to pick you up too'', Brother Ryan assured me.

''Hmm, yes'', I decided to come along.

''Yes, so now that you're ready, we're looking for clothes for you. I'm paying, you just have to choose what you like'', his eyes look sparkling to hear my answer.

''Should it be now!?'', I stared doubtfully

''Yes dong, if it's a loud afternoon we'll rush''

''Yes, I want to take a shower just as ready, brother. Brother is nothing if I stay?'', I am not comfortable leaving him alone.

''Yeah, don't worry. I'll just wait for you to take a shower, not wait for you to fight''

...♡♡♡...

Hello, welcome to the author's work!

Sorry if there are still many typos scattered and grooves that are rather monotonous

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