When Potatoes Fall in Love

11

‘Monster Turf Lifting’, that is the name that is currently suitable for Nadin who is pulling the grass with all his emotions overflowing due to late coming to school. His hand looked sadistic plucking the weeds without mercy. Aidan who was doing the same work as him until he gawked at the sound of the grass being uprooted to the roots.

He usually looks calm. But why does he look so sad now ? inner Aidan who was plucking the grass casually.

“Hah, huh, huh. I will no longer play the game until late,” Nadin wilih while managing his hunting breath because it is too excited to vent his emotions on the weeds.

“Your hair is dirty,” said Aidan grabbed the end of Nadin's hair that touched the block papin.

Nadin turned his head and found Aidan was cleaning the ends of his hair by rubbing it slowly.

“Te-thank you,” said Nadin then brought his hair forward and put it on his lap as he sat down.

“Your knee is injured. I'm sorry,” Aidan said after seeing both of Nadin's knees hurt.

“It's okay. I also apologize,” said Nadin while paying close attention to where the resemblance of Aidan his childhood friend with Aidan who is now in front of him.

After being compared, Nadin saw that they both had the same characteristics. Both have white skin, a sharp nose, and thin lips. It's just, he can't make sure they're both the same person or not because of their different face shapes. The Aidan he used to know had a round face. Meanwhile, Aidan who was now looking at her had an oval face.

Can't I know him because we haven't seen each other in a long time ? muttered Nadin who felt frustrated with his thoughts.

“Do you like to see me so much ?” aidan asked with a smile while propping up his chin after noticing Nadin staring at him for so long.

“Of course not,” ketus Nadin mendelik upset and stand about to leave Aidan. He immediately stepped to the side without looking down, as a result of which he fell into the dry sewers in the garden.

It has been caught staring at him for so long, now I fall in front of him, it is a shame, muttered Nadin lowered his slightly raised skirt after falling.

“Sini.” Aidan reached out his hand to help Nadin stand up after he had not managed to reach Nadin's body that would fall.

Inevitably, Nadin receives Aidan's help because he has trouble lifting his waist from the small ditch.

“Hey, wake up ! Why are you silent ?” reprimand Aidan who tried to pull Nadin with all his might.

“I'm wedged ! Pull harder,” replied Nadin holding tightly to Aidan's hand.

Nadin and Dira step gontai towards the cafeteria after their brains are squeezed on a chemistry lesson. Nadin wanted to wet his throat that felt dry after being showered with questions by Dira about the cause he was late.

After buying food and drinks, Dira invited Nadin to see the mading that was installed by the mading club this morning. However, the two decided to see her while returning home from school because of the large number of students who gathered at the place to see photos of MOS activities.

After school, Nadin and Dira headed to the mading that was beside the school cooperative. Dira occasionally laughed at the photos of MOS activities, because their appearance looks funny.

“Nadin Nadin !”-clap Nadin-”Coba look, this is your photo when reading a poem with Aidan,” Dira said while pointing to a photo.

“Eh ?! How can I do it?” Jesus, I look like a dreadlocked kuntilanak.” Nadin's words immediately made Dira's laughter explode.

“Aduuuh, Nadin. Stomach hurts. Where there are kuntilanak that,” said Dira holding his stomach for laughing too much.

“Yes too anyway. But, starting on Monday. I might set my hair like this, ” said Nadin then wrapped around his hair to look like a pee of chili.

Dira again laughed loudly at the shape of Nadin's hair, this time he sat on the floor. He did not expect that Nadin had a humorous side behind his face that always looks grim.

Nadin just smiled watching Dira who could not stop laughing. He looked back at those photos. Suddenly, his eyes were fixed on one of the portraits showing Aidan being given the title of school prince at the end of the MOS event.

Since she was a prince, there was of course a schoolgirl who was also given the title of school princess. Nadin's initially fluffy smile instantly faded when he saw the girl who was given the title of school's daughter was standing next to Aidan with a big smile. Nadin could see that the girl was very happy to be standing next to Aidan by using the crown.

The title of prince and princess of the school was given to one of the most handsome and beautiful students and students of the time of MOS. She is beautiful, she deserves it, Nadin muttered and stopped looking at the photo.

“Come home, school is quiet,” invite nadin while pulling Dira to get up from her seat.

After dinner, Nadin went straight back to his room. He looked at himself in front of the mirror while counting the still faithful pimples growing on his face. He sighed in disappointment when comparing himself to Aidan who had a smooth and clean face.

“Aidan that men only have smooth face and white skin. But, why do I who is a woman have a face like this anyway ?” nadin complained while knocking his index finger on the table.

Even his palms were also smooth, inner Nadin put his head to sleep on the dressing table while clenching his hand that had once been grasped by Aidan.

“Shame once ! My skin looks so brown compared to her !” nadin shouted a little loudly. He felt embarrassed when he remembered the difference in their contrasting skin color when holding hands.

Hmm, but her smile was sweet, Nadin muttered smiling as he imagined Aidan's smile.

Tok tok tok tok

“Nadiiin son mother, you why yell Nak ?” damara asked who was worried hearing Nadin suddenly scream.

“Na-Nadin is fine, Mom,” Nadin said as he ran to open the door of his room.

“Yes already, now Nadin fast sleep yes, tomorrow we want to go to the place of father,” Damara said kissed Nadin's forehead and left.

Brucks

Nadin threw himself into his soft bed. He can't wait for tomorrow to meet his father.

“Iish ! Why can't I sleep anyway ?!” nadin grumbled as his head was still filled with Aidan's face and smile.

At five o'clock in the morning, Nadin had woken up from his deep sleep. He then took a shower even though it was cold that morning. It took thirty to half her hair to dry by a hairdryer. Patiently she rubbed the conditioner on her long, bushy black hair.

Tok tok tok tok

“Log in, son,” Damara said from inside her room when she heard the sound of her door being knocked.

Damara saw Nadin still wearing a towel when the boy went into the room and now sits at the side of his bed.

“Buuu, can Nadin have powder and lipstick?” nadin asked who now saw her mother combing her hair.

“Hmm ? Didn't you hear wrong?” Damara asked back because she was so surprised when Nadin asked for make up. Before, Nadin had never worn such an item.

“No, Mom. This is the first time Nadin has met his father. So, Nadin wants to look neat and beautiful. Well even though Nadin is not beautiful anyway,”, Nadin explained with a smile.

“Bby, may,” replied Nadin who also looks excited to dress up.

Fifteen minutes have passed. Finally, Damara finished dressing Nadin. He only put BB cream, powder, and a little lipstick on his face and lips.

“My son is very beautiful,” Damara when he saw Nadin's face from the mirror.

“Waah, is dressing up this great ? It's just right that women like to dress up,” said Nadin when he saw his face that looked brighter and fresher after dressing up.

Krirrng

The sound of bells at the entrance of Saka's shop rang when Nadin went in there. Hearing that someone was coming, Saka got up from his seat and met the buyer. He sharpened his vision when trying to recognize the face of Nadin who looked like he usually does not. His steps came to a halt as Nadin walked towards him.

Saka is so fascinated by Nadin's performance today, she likes the long black dress that her underclassman is currently wearing. Nadin's long hair that was broken and flanked by two braids on the right left side of his head made Saka whisper in his heart saying, “this girl is my type.”

“Kak Saka, I bought a white chrysanthemum twenty stalks,” said Nadin managed to resuscitate Saka who had drifted in his mind.

“I-iya. wait a minute.” Aidan immediately wrapped the flower for Nadin.

“You are already dressed up pretty early in the morning and buying flowers. Where do you want to go ?” tanya Saka could not help but ask.

“I want to visit my father,” replied Nadin while paying his interest.

“Are you seriously going to give white chrysanthemum to your father ?” ask Saka astonished.

“Of course, my father died a long time ago,” said Nadin received the flowers.

“Oh, sorry,”

“It's okay. I say yes, thank you flowers.” Nadin came out of the flower shop without knowing Saka did not take his eyes off until he was no longer visible from the clear glass of his shop.

Damara's tears have been shed since her feet passed through the gates of the Naraya family's private tomb. Deep sadness as she escorted her husband to the last stand was felt when she came there for the second time. His steps stopped in front of the tomb with a gravestone engraved with the name Lingga Naraya. He nodded his head to tell Nadin that it was his father's grave.

So it's true that I have a father named Lingga Naraya, the inner Nadin who also shed tears.

Nadin then sat in front of the tomb whose edge was covered with marble. A feeling of sadness and happiness mixed in his heart. He felt sad because after fourteen years of living, only now he can visit his father. He also felt happy, at least they could meet even though only the tomb representing the existence of his father buried under there.

Dad, Nadin's a big boy now. Nadin will often come to see his father, muttered Nadin while putting a white chrysanthemum in front of his father's headstone.

After praying, Damara stroked her husband's headstone before leaving. Nadin did the same with his mother.

Damara's steps still felt as heavy as before as he left the place filled with grief. She occasionally turned to the grave of her husband, who was lined up neatly with the graves of other members of her family. His hand was embracing Nadin who was walking beside him, he could not guess what Nadin had in mind. His son remained silent after leaving his father's grave.

“Damara,” call a woman who is now standing in front of Damara and Nadin.

Damara's heart seemed to want to get out of place when he found the great mistress of the Naraya family who was none other than her in-laws was now standing in front of him. He let go of his embrace and clasped Nadin's hand tightly.

Now he hopes Nadin is a child so he can hide it from his grandmother. However, what power. Nadin was even taller than him so he could not pull Nadin behind him.

“Mistress,” greet Damara after she has been quiet for a while.

Naraya, whose real name is Ayu Kasmirah, turned her eyes to Nadin. He was surprised to see Nadin who is now grown, it feels like he wants to hug him. However, her sudden feelings of guilt seemed to forbid her from touching her granddaughter.

“Nadin, he is a mother acquaintance. Let's say hello,” Damara said turning to Nadin.

“Good morning, Grandma. My name is Nadin,” Nadin said as he kissed his grandmother's hand which he did not know.

Nyonya Naraya furrowed her brows in wonder Nadin did not recognize her. He also looked at Damara who also experienced it.

“How are you doing, Son ?” ask the lady Naraya who would like to mention Nadin as her grandson.

“Good, Grandma,” replied Nadin smiling sweetly.

Similar to that, I didn't even take long to find out that he was my grandson Ayu muttered smiling at Nadin.

Nadin was eventually asked to go home first by Damara because her in-laws wanted to talk to her. He also told Nadin not to go down right in front of the house when driven home by his driver-in-law. Damara did it so that the driver and his in-laws did not know where they lived.

Now, Damara and her in-laws are in a restaurant. He did not expect that the woman who once insisted on forbidding him to marry his youngest child was now willingly inviting him to sit together.

“How's the madam ?” ask Damara to open the conversation.

“Well, you must be fine too right ?”

She still spoke in a cynical tone, the inner Damara trying to understand her in-laws.

“Yes, I'm fine,” said Nadin smiling little.

“Didn't you tell the boy that I was his grandmother?!”

Nadin could capture the aura of annoyance from his tone and expression in-laws while asking with furrowed brows.

“Mistress, how can you say ‘anak it’ on your own grandson ?” sindir Damara's.

“Are you insinuating me ?” asked the lady Naraya astonished to see Damara who had somehow got courage from where so he dared to insinuate her.

“Sorry if you feel insinuated. I'm sorry I said that too. I forgot that you said earlier that in the Naraya family there is no need for a granddaughter" Damara said.

Damara's words really hit her heart. His old memories were forced to recall what he had said.

“I know it was my fault. But, if I see him he's very similar to- ”

“Enough. Please don't continue anymore,” pinta Damara while gesturing with her hand so that her in-laws don't continue her sentence.