The Winter Promise

Chapter 28: Dating? Seems Not.

“About a suitable gift to give to Maul what yes?”

Lina asked me while looking at the entire store that was inside the mall.

Right now, I was walking with Rina inside the mall to buy Maul a gift, because Maul's birthday was coming soon. Very early in the morning Rina called me and invited me to come here. Though I already told him not to bother giving Maul a gift. I know very well what kind of nature Maul, if a woman like Rina gives a gift to him, surely he will misunderstand and misbehave.

“Are you sure you didn't give him the gift of Ar?”

“Make what give him a gift, said congratulations I'm sure he's happy too.”

I never gave Maul a birthday present. After all, if we have a birthday party instead of giving gifts, we just have a dinner party.

“You can't be like that Ar, so Maul is your good friend.”

Lina again advised me.

“Iya... But I still won't give him a gift.”

We continued walking through the shops inside the mall. We still have not found which items you want to buy to be a gift later.

“Do you know what Maul likes?”

“I think any item given from you she will love it.”

Because we're talking about Maul here. A single person who still feels heartbroken.

“You're Mah Ar, I'm serious here... I want to provide items that can be useful later for Maul.”

Rina scolded me who was impressed toying from earlier.

“Sorry... Excuse me... If you want to buy something like that, you better give him a computer. I'm sure he'll always use it.”

“At first I thought that way too.”

Then why are you asking me!

We went straight to the computer shop there. Actually, I have wanted to go here for a long time, because I went to the multimedia department, at least I had to buy a laptop to make it easier for me to learn.

When we got there, the staff greeted us and approached us. They also offered us some of the latest items that were in the store. We also walked to a shelf featuring computer accessories.

“I forgot to ask you this, how much money do you have? You know, the goods here are quite expensive loh.”

“If for that you just calm down Ar.”

“I advise you not to spend too much money on something like this you know. You better spend for something else.”

When I suggested that, Rina said nothing and still focused on choosing the computer accessories that were in front of us.

At that time, I thought of something too.

Buying a birthday gift to someone is only done if that person is a special person. What else he does not care about the costs that must be incurred, besides that he wants the objects he buys to mean a lot to those who receive it.

Is it possible that Rina already has feelings for Maul?! Hmmmm... It's catchy.

When he was on the mountain he also once praised Maul, but it was commonly done by him. Did something happen while we were at Miyuki's school. At that time I didn't really know what was going on because I was separated from them. I'm sure something happened to those two.

I also saw her standing next to each other during a hanabi event at Miyuki's school.

Did the show make Rina realize her true feelings for Maul!?

Then why didn't he just reveal it back then? The atmosphere is very supportive and I'm sure Maul will take it.

Hmmmm...

...

Oh, I know! Surely the noise of DJ music plus the sound of the fireworks makes it difficult to express his feelings, so now he wants to give Maul a special gift to give a sign of his true feelings.

Hum-hums... I know that, if that's the case I'll help him to make amends for rejecting him.

“Rina, how do you think Maul?”

I also tried to find her myself.

“What do you mean Ar?”

Lina looked at me seriously. I think he actually knew what he meant but he wanted to make sure again.

“Do you like it?

“Hah?!”

“You know, it may be very difficult to say at that time, because it is crowded by anything and your voice so inaudible, but I am sure you will be accepted kok.”

I gave him a thumbs up with the intention to give him a boost.

Suddenly Rina was angry and stomped on my feet very strongly.

“Aw!”

“Basic Ar Stupid!”

Lina turned around and walked away from me a little. I wonder why he would be so angry.

“...I will tell you this Ar. No matter how many times you reject me, this feeling will never change.”

When the word was heard, even though it was just a fleeting but my heart was beating quite fast. I turned my face away from Rina.

“You why Ar? Your cup is flushed.”

“Nothing... Anyway, if you want to give me Maul. I suggest just buy him earphones, the price is cheaper and also affordable. Not long ago also his earphone he was damaged, so I guess it will be used often.”

I tried to turn the conversation in another direction. I don't want to be constantly in the flow of conversation about love. I'm very uncomfortable if I have to talk about it.

“Hmm... So.”

Then Rina chose the earphones on her face and took two earphones with different colors. The first earphone is black and the second is blue.

“Which bagusan do you think Ar?”

Lina asked me by showing the two earphones in front of me.

“I think blue is better.”

“Alright, I'll choose blue only.”

Rina also returned the black earphones to her rack.

“...Sorry.”

“For what?”

“Because I knew that earlier.”

“It's okay, at least you already know how I really feel.”

We went straight to the cashier to pay for the earphones.

“How about after this we go to the cafe first?”

Lina suggested to me.

I looked at my watch and I saw that it was still two in the afternoon. There is still plenty of time until later in the afternoon, it seems like it's okay if I go to the cafe first. But I saw Rina who noticed the bracelet I was wearing.

“What's up?”

“Uh... No, that's a nice bracelet.”

His face suddenly turned red and he took his eyes off me.

“Really! I got this when I exchanged gifts in class. Until now I still do not know who gave this gift.”

“Oh so... You always wear it?”

“Not always, because I'm quite late, I rarely use this bracelet.”

“Hmmm..”

“How was my offer earlier, Do you want to go to the cafe first Ar?”

“Bby, coincidentally the time I have is still much.”

“Ok.”

After paying for the earphones, we immediately went to a cafe not far from there. This cafe is the cafe that I went to along with Miyuki while spying on Riki.

And coincidentally it happened again. Right in front of the cafe, we saw Miyuki who was together with Kichida wanted to enter the cafe.

“Oi Rin's! Mar!”

It's true Maul said at the time, if I had met Miyuki somewhere. He will always find me, whether I am hiding or not. Sucks.

“There Miyuki Ar. Hi Miyuki!”

Rina also approached Miyuki who was followed by me.

“What are you two doing here? Don't-don't.”.

Miyuki clasped Rina's hand and then she showed her teased face.

“No-no, we just bought a gift for birthday Maul.”

“Get year Maul?! Is it soon her birthday?”

“Two of you, better we go in first and talk inside only.”

I told the two of them to enter because I was afraid that our presence near the entrance was disturbing the other visitors.

We went in and sat down on one of the empty seats.

“You haven't answered my question Rin. Is it soon Maul birthday?”

Miyuki continued her conversation.

“Iya, on July 25.”

“Looks like I should buy him a gift too.”

Miyuki thought the same thing as Rina.

Will all the women in the world buy something for their friends on their birthdays? Honestly, we guys usually just celebrate by eating somewhere or at the house of a birthday person. We rarely give gifts, because we don't think it's time we received a gift from someone.

I also saw groceries under the bench Kichida.

“Oh yes, by the way you guys are here also for what?”

Rina asked Miyuki.

“I was just accompanying Fuyumi to buy her picture book. It just so happened that he was staying at my house.”

“Yes, it just so happens that the picture book I have is up. So I asked Miyuki to accompany me to buy a picture book here.”

At that time I realized that Kichida was Miyuki's best friend who had been told to me at that time. I became curious about the feelings Kichida had right now. Whether he still hates Miyuki or not. I think I can test.

“What's up?”

Kichida felt uncomfortable because I noticed from earlier.

“You look so familiar huh.”

I smiled at him a little to add a friendly impression to him, but somehow Kichida became nervous and could not answer my questions.

“Of course Mar, he was already my best friend by the time I was in Japan.”

Miyuki finally answered my question. I guess Miyuki herself doesn't understand what I mean by asking like that.

“Oh so... It's just worth it you guys look familiar.”

I smiled at him again too.

“Kichida, can you accompany me to the cashier? There's food I want to order.”

“Good.”

Kichida and Rina went to the cashier. I knew that Rina understood what it meant to me to ask that question and she tried to save Kichida from the situation. As I expected from Rina, she never had any hatred for someone.

“Did he already know everything?”

“Know what Mar?”

Is my question unclear?

“That's a fool, the person who made you turn up like this.”

“Sure, when I asked for advice from you and also Rina, the next day I immediately used the advice from Rina. Even though everyone still behaves the same and uses me I'm still being nice to

they...”

Fortunately, he used the advice of Rina. If only he had used my advice, he would probably now be someone with no friends. The friend I'm talking about here is a real friend, not one who pretends to be his friend.

“...But my heart is not as strong as Rina's. When I was alone, I still did not accept the words and attitudes of them, but at that time I remembered your advice to ignore everything and do what I wanted. It was because combining the advice of you two that made me like this... I'm so grateful.”

Miyuki also thanked me.

“It's not a big deal.”

“Sorry waiting.”

Rina and Kichida returned after ordering food at the checkout.

When I sat down, Lina pinched my hand very strongly.

“Aw! What are you doing?”

“So please, I was just upset when I came back here.”

“Hah! That doesn't make sense.”

I also saw the ceiling of the cafe. I also enjoyed the cup of coffee I just ordered.

From there, I only saw the three of them who were chatting with their familiar. I don't want to join the talk of the three of them because it will make me look familiar with them.

You know, in my current position, I am a man with three women. Surely they will all think of me as a weak man who likes to be friends with women.

If you say one of their girlfriends doesn't seem to. I don't think any fool would consider me the girlfriend of one of the women here. You know, I'm not a guy who has a handsome face and has a good personality.

“What's Ar? You just kept quiet.

“Just ignore me, I'm trying to find calm here.”

Yep... Very mortal calm.

After talking for a long time, Miyuki and Kichida left because there was something they had to buy. Although I knew that something was a gift to Riki.

“It looks like it's time we go home too.”

I invited Rina to come home because the time has shown at three in the afternoon.

“Can you wait a little while Ar, there is something I want to talk to you alone.”

My attention also became distracted by the topic of conversation from Rina.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Do you intentionally do that?”

I know what Rina means. He must have been talking about what I did to Kichida earlier.

“Is that all you want to say to me?”

“You shouldn't have done that Ar. I've heard from him directly that he's already regretted what he's done.”

I also breathed very long. It seems like Rina misunderstood my intention of doing that.

“I just tested it.”

“Testing?”

Lina was confused by my words.

“Of course, I just want to see if he really doesn't hate Miyuki or not.”

“Heee... Tumben once you want to do that. Isn't that troublesome.”

Even Rina herself knows what I don't want to do.

“It's not like that. If he still hates Miyuki it is likely that one day he will do the same and it will be troublesome for me in the future. I was trying to figure it out now, if if she still hated Miyuki, I could stop her from now on.”

“It's great that you can think like that Ar.”

Lina seemed to be amazed at my plan.

“I thought like that just to avoid something troublesome in the future... Never mind if there are no more questions, we better go home.”

I also immediately got ready to go home. It was fortunate that Rina only asked about Kichida. If only he had asked me what I thought of his statement in the computer shop it would have hurt me.

the End Chapter 28