WHEN I FELL IN LOVE
Chapter 9
As I promised Lela. After Maghrib, I immediately headed to Lela's house located in one of the elite housing complexes in my city, to pick her up. Not far, the distance between my house and his house. Yes ... at most only ten minutes travel time on my motorcycle.
I stopped my motorcycle in front of the house whose fence was painted black. The Mediterranean-style two-story house, painted in warm colors such as terracotta, orange, yellow and cream. As my eyes peeked between the fence of the house, I saw Mr. Selamet sitting on a teak bench on the porch of the house while reading a fishing magazine (yes, yes, fishing is Mr. Selamet's hobby).
“Assalamualaikum,“ my sap from the front of Lela's house fence.
Mr. Selamet directly stared at me, “Waalaikumsalam,“ reply. Then he stood up from his throne, and walked towards the gate.
“Ben, come in first,“ take him, while opening the fence.
Of course at that time I was in whatever condition, whatever I wanted. Want to stop by first come on, want to go immediately let’s go. But, not yet I got off the top of my motorcycle, I saw Lela was out of the house. Lela was wearing a black T-shirt with an Iron Man against her enemy. The T-shirt was combined with black jeans and Converse shoes are also black. Then, a black sling bag was on his left shoulder, and his right hand carried a red helmet.
“Bang Ben wants to stop by first?“ asked Lela, while walking towards the fence.
“Ya .. It's up to you, Lela,“ I replied.
After hearing my answer, Lela momentarily stared at the watch attached to her right wrist. “Live aja yuk? I'm afraid later tonight,“ he said later.
“Alright,“ I replied briefly.
After we say goodbye to Mr. Selamet, and do not forget I send greetings to Ms. Wati who was not at home at the time. I went with Lela to one of the Mall in Bandar Lampung.
🕐🕑🕒
Three years I knew Lela, one year ago I started to be attracted to her, and tonight, was the first time I went alone with her. As you know, everything that was first time, will feel thrilling. That feeling, that haunts me tonight.
Actually, on the way, there was a lot I wanted to ask or talk to Lela about. Yes ... common things like: where is his favorite place to eat? What music does he like? What book is he reading? Or, I'd like to ask you about the free library. But, like something locked my tongue, so that none of those questions came out of my mouth. Lela was silent on the way. I saw from the reflection of the shadow of the car window when my motorcycle stopped at the red light, he was busy moving his finger on the mobile screen. I don't know what he's doing? Maybe Lela is looking for fashion references at Google? Or could he be texting someone? I don't know, and I don't think I should ask, because my job tonight is just to get him to buy clothes.
The housing complex where Lela lives is not far from the city center. So, it does not take long on the way to get to our destination Mall. Arriving at the Mall and after parking my vehicle, Lela and I immediately entered the main building of the Mall. Lela asked me, want to eat or shop first? Because at that time I was not too hungry, so I answered better to shop first, and Lela agreed.
I was with Lela browsing through the clothes shops inside the Mall. I think Lela has a good sense of fashion, because every dress she picks and asks me, it all looks like she deserves to wear. Several times Lela also entered the dressing room to try on the clothes she had chosen, and several times she asked me difficult questions, such as: "which one is good? This shirt fits better than these pants, or this one?" or "I don't look fat if I wear this shirt?" Those are all questions that are hard for a man like me to answer. Just imagine, to ask her favorite music I was talking about, how can I give an opinion about the clothes she wants to wear? Well, but I tried to give the best answer, to Lela.
Two hours already, I accompanied Lela on a clothes hunt. My right and left hands were already filled with shopping bags containing the clothes and pants that Lela had bought. We walked to the second floor of the Mall. On the second floor of the Mall, there are many choices of resto-resto, ranging from restaurants that serve Indonesian, Western, Japanese, and Korean food there. Before we entered one of the restaurants, Lela had permission to go to the toilet first. He said he wanted to make his makeup.
While Lela was in the toilet, I waited in front of the jewelry store not far from the toilet. Because waiting for the decorated woman took quite a long time, I took the time to see the jewelry from the window of the white-painted shop front glass. I saw a ring, there were also necklaces and bracelets, all gold-plated, and beautiful to the eye. Of all the jewelry I saw, I was attracted to a bracelet of white gold shaped like a chain or braid, which was in the storefront. I peeked at the price listed on the paper label tied with red thread in the bracelet, three millions. I think Lela would be good wearing that bracelet. Well, make it look more stylish of course. The price, I can still reach, and I so imagine, what if I give Lela the bracelet? Will he be happy? Or reject it for all sorts of reasons?
🌹🌹🌹
When I was looking at the jewelry in the storefront, suddenly...
"Darrr!"
Lela surprised me from behind. Of course I was surprised, almost even jumping, and when I looked at him, he laughed out loud looking at me surprised.
"Hey, Lela! You want to get me a heart attack?" I asked her, and her laughter broke.
"So seriously, bang? What did Bang Ben see again?" ask Lela. Then his gaze was directed to the window behind the glass window of the jewelry store. "Cieeeee ... I'm looking for a present for my girlfriend, right?" tanyanya.
"ah! Where there's a boyfriend. Brother just look around. Waiting for you" I replied. Lela only smiled after hearing my answer, and that smile of hers, hadh ... Lela, Lela! Don't smile at me often. Because, your smile is like baking soda, making my smile also expands.
"Yuah yuk, Bang? Eat," take Lela.
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Lela and I walked together to an American fast food restaurant, famous for its 11 secret ingredients. After arriving, Lela immediately ordered a package menu containing: one fried chicken, rice, french fries, and a glass of soda. The same menu I ordered.
Tonight, as Lela promised this morning, she's the one who's buying me dinner. Actually I'm a little unwell, you know, the woman who paid the dinner fee? But, I don't want to offend Lela, because that was her intention from the start. So, yasudah, I accept. Next time, if there's a second chance, I'll buy him dinner.
The waiter placed our order in a brown tray. Then I took the tray to the table next to the window. Lela who chose the place, he said in order to eat while watching the view outside the Mall. Yeah, I'll take it, eat sitting cross-legged on the floor, I'd like it with Lela. I sat opposite Lela. While enjoying my dinner, I occasionally steal glances, staring at his face. I think the moments that happened tonight will always be remembered in my mind. Maybe my whole life? Whatever the fate of my relationship with Lela will be in the future. And tonight, I realized more and more that I was falling into love. Question is? How long will this feeling remain secret?
