The Girl Next Door's

Moving House

Deril looked out the window, where the trees standing firmly by the roadside, started passing by one after another. He was a little sleepy because he traveled for almost three hours.

Deril rubbed his eyes that started to dry. He glanced at the wheel. His father was driving in silence. Since the beginning of the journey, his father did not show interest in talking to anyone. He must be tired, because when he arrived at home this afternoon, he had to drive his car for hours without sleepy.

Deril is only sixteen years old. He didn't learn to drive until his father said he deserved enough to learn. Deril doesn't mind. He can take public transport.

Deril's sister groaned next to him, like a nightmare. Her long hair covered part of her face. I don't know when his sister fell asleep.

The sound of rain started to come from outside the car. The fog came down in a matter of minutes. Deril wanted to ask if their destination was still far away, but the question was swallowed when he saw two three-meter-high archways being passed by their cars. Deril's eyes swept every corner there was. They entered a housing complex.

"That's one piece" Deril murmured softly, yet loud enough for his father to hear.

"This is all that's left" Alex replied.

Deril did not comment again. His head was busy thinking about how far away his home and school would be. But, in modern times, of course, it does not matter. There will be public transportation, even if it is just bemo.

"Dad has a bike ready for you to go to school" Alex said, as if reading his son's mind. "Dad will bring things back to the way they were. But, for that you need time."

Deril looked at the back of his father's head. There is no resentment or disappointment in Deril, when his father announced the bankruptcy of the company that his parents had started ten years ago. Deril only saw that the figure of his father looked very tired. Perhaps, moving here was the right choice for them.

"Am I going to school with Diana?" deril asked, shifting the subject.

"Yes, I hope you can take care of your sister."

Deril took a long breath. Throughout his life, Deril has always been in charge of looking after Diana wherever her sister is. They are only three years adrift, which means, Deril school will be a mixed school of Elementary School, Junior High School, and High School.

"Just calm. You have not entered the department, certainly will not be difficult to follow the lessons later," continued Alex. "Around the house later there are also many teenagers that you can make friends with."

"I'll try to be good friends with them" Deril replied. In fact, he did not really intend to have any close friends. For him it will be free. Deril does not know when he will move again from where he is now. In three years, Deril has moved house six times. This makes it very difficult to be in a relationship and be close to someone.

About two kilometers from the gate, finally their car turned into a three-story house yard. The house was quite large, in contrast to what Deril thought they would occupy. Alex says the house is a relic of their grandfather's brother and has not been occupied for seven years since their grandfather's brother died.

"Is this house safe?" ask Deril.

Alex pulled the car's handbrake, then looked back. "Dad restored this house a few days ago. At least, this house is still sturdy and there is no leaky roof. Besides, we have to fix it ourselves."

Deril had suspected that they would have to work together to repair the walls or furniture of the house. Deril got out of the car first. His eyes were fixed on the building in front of him. The smell of wet paint filled his sewer cavity. Apparently, the paint on the outside of the house is still new. Deril looked around. The front yard of the house was wide enough for his mother to use gardening. Her mother would love to spend time planting all kinds of flowers there.

From the corner of his eye, Deril could see the movement from the house next door. When he turned his head, his eyes caught a woman his age standing in the doorway. The woman had snow-white skin and charcoal-black hair. His eyes were round like puppets. Her lips are as red as pomegranates. For a few seconds, Deril enjoyed the beauty that lay before his eyes.

"Groaning!"

Deril rushes to help Alex pull the two half-sized suitcases towards the front door of the house. Serena had managed to open the door, opening the door leaves of the house wide, letting the moist air in replace the musty smell inside.

The house is quite large inside. The furniture there is not too much. It seemed, the furniture in their old house was more seized by the bank.

"Where's my room?" ask Deril.

Serena looked up to the second floor. "It looks like it's on the second floor. Can you go upstairs and check? Take Diana too. He must be afraid to go into a new house" he replied.

Diana darted inside the house and casually struggled on Deril's arm. Deril looked on dislike, but Diana was indifferent.

"Sister, let's go up!" take Diana. He tugged at Deril's arm impatiently.

Deril just go with what Diana wants. He just wanted to quickly pick his room and rest. The air was getting colder tonight and Diana pulled him into the first room. The room was quite large with a window facing the main street.

"It's suitable for Father and Mother's room" said Diana. "This room is too big for me."

Deril glanced at a glance, a little envious of his parents' favorite daughter. Of course Diana will be given the freedom to choose the very first room.

Then, Diana opened the second room which was right next to the big room earlier. "I want this one!" diana exclaimed with an excited face, then took off her grip on Deril and went around the room. The room was not much different from the first room, only it had windows facing East and South. The room will be well lit during the day or at night.

"Hhh, it's as big as the room," murmured Deril. "I went to see the other room, yeah!" pamit Deril without waiting for Diana's reply.

Deril turned around and saw the brown-tinted bedroom door that had caught his attention. The door was across the first room. Without hesitation, Deril opened the door of the room and went inside. The rooms are not as big as the first and second rooms. The window is quite large with a gray curtain that is still open. Deril is approaching the window. It turned out that the scene he got was the house next door, where he saw the beautiful woman earlier.

"Eh? Is he still there?" deril muttered, when he saw the woman was still standing in front of his house. His eyes were fixed on Alex's van. However, not long after, a middle-aged man approached him. They seemed to talk for a moment. Deril looked at the handsome man. "They look alike." That conclusion led Deril to believe that they were father and son.

"What do you see, Ril?" alex's voice suddenly sounded from the direction of the door.

"The next-door neighbor's son," Deril to be honest.

Alex smiled meaningfully, then passed by with Serena who had just arrived at the top of the stairs.

***

(Hi, dear readers 🥰 This novel I work slowly, yes. The IGD where I work is getting crowded and quite time-consuming. Thanks for understanding 🙏)

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