The mask.

46.

Rama back in class, whispers buzzing, some students glanced at the ring that Rama was wearing. Rama himself was indifferent, his plan worked. For a while he will be safe from the barrage of love letters and the direct confessions of girls he knows nothing about.

"Ram, today's a little weird, isn't it?" whispered Andi as soon as they walked into the classroom, the young man circulated his gaze.

"Either, to me the same," replied Rama did not really care.

Andi leaned her body to get closer to her friend. "Now, yes, usually every time we come, there are only one or two beautiful creatures of God approaching you. Oh, no, today there is none! What is the charm of a Rama, huh?" andi tried to whisper as quietly as possible.

Rama shrugged his shoulders indifferently. "Bored times," the young man replied as long as he was relaxed.

"You don't feel weird? I think there's something missing, is that it?!" ask Andi carefully.

"Come on, there's nothing like that. Isn't this a peaceful day?" kekeh Rama lightly. For Rama, this morning was perfect. There was no stinging perfume around her, no noise of the buzzing bee, no sobs or shrieks of tears because she rejected girls who expressed love too easily. It is so perfect and peaceful, there is no day more beautiful than today, hopefully tomorrow and beyond will be so again.

Andi felt that the words of her best friend were not wrong, but she seemed to feel that today something was strange. No girls approach her friend as usual, but many eyes are staring at her best friend, even they whisper to each other. "Don't there be any rumors that we don't know about you that are spreading and we haven't heard about that?!" guess Andi overrated.

"Let's go, I don't care. If I can make it through this peaceful day, I'm even grateful for the rumors!" reply Rama relax. His friend made his head bobble. But he agreed enough with his friend, this morning he should not feel sympathy for the girls who are sad because they are rejected, nor should he be envious because only his friend who gets a statement of love. Everything must have a good side, no matter how weird.

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A week later, Andi approached her friend as soon as her class was over. He was in a hurry and a little more impatient. "Ram, Ram, I finally know why you've been seeing all this lately!" andi shouted quite loudly, because of his shout, he instead attracted the attention of people around him.

Rama put on an emotionless face. "Can't we talk at home?" said the young man flat, only a week he enjoyed a peaceful day, the period must end because of the actions of his own best friend.

"It's important, Ram. Everyone knows, but why am I your best friend you don't know at all?!" andi was betrayed as a friend.

"We're talking at home, okay? Ask anything, complain all, but be quiet for now, buddy?!" Rama looked straight at his friend. Andi knew when she should stop, so she nodded while tightly locking her mouth. His friend was right, he shouldn't be making a fuss here, it's still their campus environment.

Rama smiled faintly, although that smile only lasted for a moment. "Eat, yuk, laper," the young man asked. Andi nodded obediently

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Kiara, the girl had already forgotten her irritation towards Rama who she thought was arrogant. Now all that was left was a little bit of resentment and curiosity, even the girl was guessing, maybe the man she met a few weeks ago was deliberately acting like that to attract attention from her. "Grandfather, Ara did not go to college outside," the girl broke up while she and her grandfather were sitting down to relax.

The grandfather straightened his back, turning his head quickly with happy sparkling eyes. "really? Thank God, thank God," said the grandfather was overjoyed, let alone his granddaughter confirming what she asked with a nod of the head.

"In exchange, sign Ara here?!" Kiara gave her phone, a campus with her full address on the phone screen.

"here? You sure, honey?" ask grandpa to doubt.

Kiara nodded her head quickly. "Yes, here or abroad," she made a choice.

"Here, here, grandfather will register right now so that you can go straight in as soon as the reception begins!" break up grandpa. Grandpa Rian was so happy, his granddaughter finally chose to continue here. It's not that she can't afford to pay if the granddaughter is out there, it's just that she doesn't like her granddaughter living there alone. They would only meet every vacation, it was lacking for the old man. Now even his own grandson who decided to go to college here, no need to think anymore, he will do everything possible to get his grandson accepted. If necessary, he will be a regular donor at the college his granddaughter chose.

"Grandfather doesn't want to ask why Ara changed her mind?" ask the girl in wonder.

Grandpa shook his head excitedly. "Necessary, not necessary. Whatever the reason Grandpa doesn't need to know, the important thing is that you don't go far from home, my granddaughter," Grandpa Rian replied with a happy laugh.

"Grandfather is the best, Ara dear grandfather?!" kiara said spoiled, she even jumped up to hug her grandfather.

"Ha-ha-ha, it's because this old man is your only grandfather, my sweet grandson," the old man laughed happily, patting his grandson on the back.

"Had the master and mistress been here, the little lady would have been happier than now" muttered the butler who was moved to see the two grandchildren and grandfather.

"Hust, the young lady will hear, she will be sad. Let's just go," take Auntie Kiara's nanny since childhood. The butler nodded, both of them leaving grandchildren and grandfathers busy with their own world.

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As soon as he got home, Andi followed Rama's every step exactly one step behind the young man. He doesn't talk, makes no sound, just follows. However, that was enough to make Rama sultry. "Just talk if there's something to say, An," said Rama, who busied himself in his mini-library.

"Later on, I won't bother you to read" Andi replied with a cry.

Rama took a long breath. "And by following me there, here, it doesn't bother you, does it?!" Rama closed the book he read, looking seriously at his friend.

Andi scratched his non-itchy head. "He-he, just wanted to accompany. Accompany, Ram!" the young man did not want to be discovered if he was following his friend.

"Well, let's see what you were trying to say on campus?!" Andi nodded excitedly.

"You're engaged, aren't you?" andi pointed at his friend's face. "And why don't you even tell me about it? I know you, we live in the same house! Why didn't I even know you had a fiance?" andi continued impatiently.

Rama breathed a tired sigh. "First, no one's engaged! Second, since you don't know, that's why it's all just nonsense being spread haphazardly! Third, who can I be engaged to? No one I've ever met, Grandma didn't say anything, and you immediately believe the rumors aren't clear? Jesus, An, don't swallow what are you with, man?!" clearly Rama is long.

"Stupid, you should know that's not true. Grandma didn't make any announcements, no parties, either. No way my grandmother could be fiancee secretly," replied Rama rolled his eyes.

"His name is also khilaf, Ram. I'm disappointed, so yes. How did you meet a pretty girl not long ago, right? That's the right you ask permission not to enter because you have to nemenin Om Dani meet clients!"

"Ha-ah, so you thought that day I was secretly engaged? I'm not that kind of person, man. After all, girls are not very pretty. Even chatty and pretentious there?!" grunts Rama remembers Kiara's behavior. So the girl is really a god-level girl, feeling that all men will stare and bend their knees under her feet. Rama is on the list of stupid guys.

"Seriously? Said Om Dani you want aja nemenin tuh a traveling girl. You also bought these things for grandma and me, right?" ask Andi to make sure.

"And you think I'm doing it because I'm happy to meet my soulmate, is that it?" Rama asked back, seeing his friend nod Rama again open his voice. "Come, there's nothing in this world called love at first sight, especially for a guy like me, huh. I don't care what the others are?!"

Andi as if still in disbelief, he stared at the full survey of his friend. "I'm just bored, keep me around after returning from Om Dani's nemenin. It just so happened to meet the jewelry store, stop by, and well .., spend a few sheets of money to get a happy smile grandma. That all?!" obviously Rama.

"So Om Dani lied, dong," decih Andi felt cheated.

"At least half lying. I was a girl out of Om Dani's room, but Om Dani didn't tell me that I split the street?" Andi approached as if she was very curious. "I went to the roof and the girl went somewhere, I don't care. Dani knows too, though. You know, I said he was back in his room!" continued Rama.

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Finished straightening the rumors that his friend heard, Rama invited Andi to meet the grandmother. Usually at this time their grandmother will spend time in the park while enjoying afternoon tea.

"Have you come?" greet the old woman when she sees her two grandchildren walking together.

"Of course, we won't spend time with the most beautiful woman in the house" Rama replied, giving a compliment that was too sweet to hear.

"Ha-ha-ha, although a little exaggerated and full of lies, but grandma likes to hear compliments from you, my naughty granddaughter," said the granny laughing happily.

"Where are you lying, Grandma Lidya? What did Rama say was true, the most beautiful grandmother in this house?!" andi denied confirming the speech of his friend. "In his day but!" he continued joking.

"You're spending time in the library again, Ram?" asked the grandmother who saw Rama still holding a book in his hand.

Rama nodded in confirming. "Yes" she replied briefly.

"While on holiday, my friend is too lazy to walk, Nek Lidya," Andi complained.

"And you're the same, don't come out, either? You young people should enjoy your youth and spend time outside! Meeting peers and doing things together" the grandmother sighed softly. "It seems like this old granny is too time-binding for you two, huh?" the old woman weakly continued.

"That's not true, I just prefer to spend time inside the house, Grandma. Besides I don't have any friends to meet, I just need you two in this world!" timpal Rama fast. The young man clasped his grandmother's hand solemnly.

"Rama's right, Nek Lidya. I was too lazy to go out! Mending in the home nemenin grandma or ngusilin Rama, still more exciting than outside the time is unclear," Andi added.

"Well, this old granny will accept you two, poor lads who have no other friends and no activities, ha-ha-ha-ha." a loud laugh rang out, indicating the grandmother is happy to be able to insult and ridicule her two grandchildren.

"Grandmother?!" exclaim both. However, they also laughed happily without protest at all.

"Is there a book you want to buy, Ram? Can we add some collections to your mini library?" ask the grandmother to offer.

"Not yet for the moment, Grandma," Rama replied refusing.

"Don't believe it, Grandma Lidya. Rama had read all the books there, some even read over and over again so diligently he?!" timpal Andi complaining.

"But no book interests me at all!" a long sigh rang out from the young man's lips.

"Well if you say that! How are you yourself? Anything you want to buy, An?" now the old granny was staring at Andi.

"Nothing, Grandma Lidya. All is enough, even if there is, I can buy it myself with the pocket money that grandma gave me?!" andy answered quickly.

"Don't do that, the pocket money is for your shopping on campus. Not to buy your needs, An," replied the grandmother. He did not want Andi to feel that he was treated differently from Rama, his own grandson.

"It's okay, grandma. In school, they are taught to save. Now I'm practicing what I've learned so far. I save and use it when needed?!" obviously Andi did not want the grandmother to misunderstand.

"We're having a birthday party, Grandma, for my best friend?!" rama with a big smile. The grandmother agreed quickly, without a second thought she immediately told the servants to take care of everything.

"Sir, Rama must come too, huh? It's not good to be the main star alone!" pinta Andi drags her best friend to suffer with her. How not to suffer, surely he will be dressed for hours, even though he is a man. It was exhausting to make.

"A better idea?!" nek Lidya agrees.

"Let every once in a while Andi be the main character and enjoy his day as 'Prince', Grandma, '" said Rama refused on subtle grounds. Lidya's grandmother seemed to think, Andi was waiting for the grandmother's decision anxiously.