When Potatoes Fall in Love

12

Damara bit her thin lips that shook with the cry. His teary eyes were ready to shed the clear droplets that he was trying to contain. Now, he saw the face of his father-in-law who was upset at the interruption of his conversation.

“I know Nadin is similar to whom. So, please don't talk about it again,” pinta Damara.

“Good if you know. So, you will still remember who she belongs to,” ketus Nyara.

“Of course Nadin belongs to me. I don't care whose face is the same as who because he's still my son. Honored big madam like you can't possibly break a promise, right ?” damara smiled cynically.

“Of course,” said Mrs Naraya could not deny her remarks.

“Good. Then excuse me.” Damara got up from his chair about to leave but just a few steps away, he came back to his in-laws who were still sitting to see him go.

“Mistress, I want to thank you for giving Nadin to me. I'll also return the credit card you used to give me. I didn't use your money to raise Nadin because I raised him with money from my own efforts,” Damara said and left her in-laws who didn't stop throwing dislike views at her.

For the first time Nadin went to Dira's house to do PR Mathematics. Nadin feels awkward when he enters Dira's large and luxurious house. He shook hands and met Dira's mother who was very friendly and kind to him. Dira also took Nadin to his room decorated with posters of handsome people called Korean idols.

After eating, they went to the back garden of Dira's house to work on PR. Nadin who was sitting on a wooden chair threw his gaze around the garden planted with various types of flowers. Nadin felt comfortable as the wind stroked his sweaty neck. He also wanted to sleep under the shade of the tree he was sitting on at this time because the wind was like tempting him to close his eyes.

“Nadin, sorry you waited so long,” said Dira who had just returned from her room to pick up their bag.

“No, nothing. Let's do this PR,” said Nadin.

From a distance, Hannah looks at her daughter who is studying with her friend who she first brought home. He went back to the kitchen to make some food. Meanwhile, Nadin and Dira occasionally discuss to answer questions that are quite difficult for them to answer.

“Aaaah, finally done.” Dira looks relieved after an hour her eyebrows furrowed for trying to answer a question.

Nadin smiled as he put his books and stationery into the bag when he saw Dira who immediately stood up and stretched his body when their PR had finished.

“Hoaammm.” Nadin closed his mouth and shook his head so he wouldn't get too sleepy.

“Let's sleep in the room,” take Dira.

“No need, I'm comfortable here. The air is cold,” said Nadin put his head on the table.

“My room is also comfortable, there is AC that will make you feel cool,”

“Better here only.”

“Hmmm, whereas I want to introduce you to oppa-oppa in my room.” Dira looked glum and finally sat in front of Nadin.

“You mean the poster?” nadin asked back to his sitting position.

“Yes, aren't you interested in them ?” Now Dira asked back excitedly.

“No. I even feel uncomfortable. Oh yes, do you not feel embarrassed when changing clothes or when wearing a towel in front of the men on the poster ?” Nadin's question immediately made Dira laugh.

“They are just pictures. There is no way they can see me,” Dira said.

Days change, weeks change months. It did not feel like two months Nadin had spent his school days as a high school boy. His relationship with Dira became much closer. However, his relationship with the other friends in the class did not also show any progress. As a result, they became somewhat reluctant to greet Nadin because Nadin was still seen closing himself to befriend them.

Dira also over the past week launched his action to start approaching Rudi, the student he likes. Coincidentally, Rudi was also one class with Aidan. So, Dira always pretended to come to her cousin's class just to see her puja man. Of course, he always brought Nadin who also accidentally met Aidan often.

Whether since when it started, Nadin and Aidan always race to precede each other when they leave or go home from school, even though they never had an agreement to hold a race. It just happened. But, maybe it happened after for the first time they were both late to come to school. Even so, they never spoke to each other. There they just throw taunts at each other, Aidan always stick out his tongue to mock Nadin when he first arrived at school. Meanwhile, Nadin always rolled his eyes to avenge Aidan's ridicule.

Until Saturday when he came home from school, Nadin ventured to ask Dira about Aidan who for three days he had never seen. Usually, those students of unnatural height always met him.

“She has a fever. But today might be better. Last night I went there to see him alive or dying,” said Dira who is currently accompanied by Nadin waiting for his invitation.

“Why are you talking like that to your cousin?” nadin asked furrowing his brows.

“Finally, he never spoke well with me,” lamented Dira looked annoyed.

“I also have a friend who has a spicy mouth and likes to talk casually,” said Nadin smiling when remembering Aidan in childhood.

“Eh ? You have friends ?!” tanya Dira was surprised.

“Of course I have. In fact I have three, one of which is you,” replied Nadin spontaneously with his eyes glaring towards Dira.

“Jeez, your social spirit is so low. Hehe. But, why did you suddenly ask Aidan ?” Dira now rests his head on the shoulder of Nadin who is taller than him.

“I didn't see him when I left and went home from school for three days,” replied Nadin with a blank look he threw on the highway.

“Loh, do you guys always go and go home from school together ?!” Dirq raised his head and now faced Nadin.

“Maybe that sentence is less suitable because we never made a deal for it. We just happened to meet because our house is equally unidirectional,” said Nadin who is now sitting facing Dira.

“Haha, what a strange coincidence huh. If Rudi and I were like that too,” Dira replied with a big smile imagining Rudi who always managed to make his knees limp when they met.

Kriittttt

Nadin's black bicycle tyre stopped as he pulled the brakes right in front of Aidan's huge gate. He glared into the spacious and quiet courtyard, his eyes then turned to look at the balcony on the second floor.

What am I doing ? How could he who is sick instead sit on the balcony during this hot weather, thought Nadin who realized his actions. He returned to pedaling his bike, leaving the gate where Aidan also always looked at himself who still had to pedal a bicycle to get to his house, Aidan unconsciously always did that before entering his house when he came home from school.

Is he not in school anymore ? nadin's mind had turned towards Aidan's house as he passed in front of it.

Nadin pedaled his bike slowly because he thought about why he always felt there was less when leaving and going home from school without Aidan

His heart that felt lonely made his feeling uncomfortable. The slowly overcast sky made his mood even worse.

As soon as he arrived at the school gate, Nadin stopped to check his bag to look for a hat to wear during the ceremony. When he finished, Nadin guided his bike. However, his steps came to a halt when a black car stopped in front of him. He stepped back as the car door in front of him opened.

It's like Aidan's car Nadin murmured.

It is true that it was Aidan's car because not long after the car door opened, Aidan immediately took out his long legs from the car and was now standing in front of Nadin.

Nadin was flabbergasted when he saw him open the mask and immediately stick out his tongue to mock Nadin who had not recognized him. Annoyed, Nadin immediately stomped his foot and left him grimacing in pain.

Huh ?! Usually he never takes out his tongue to mock me, murmured Aidan smiled as he thought Nadin's face looked funny while replying to his ridicule.

Nadin hummed a little while taking out his maths book, there was a feeling of pleasure in his heart for knowing Aidan had entered school.

“Do you really like Mathematics ? To the extent that you sing like that,” said Dira who has since noticed Nadin.

“No, I don't really like that lesson, ” said Nadin now pulled out pencils, erasers, and other stationery cousins.

“Oh yes, Aidan has entered today,” said Dira put his head on the table.

“Iya, this morning I have met him,” said Nadin smiling cheerfully.

Dira furrowed his brows when he saw the smile made by his gloomy close friend. Before, he had never been like this when talking about others.

“Do you like Aidan ?” tanya Dira held onto Nadin's shoulder.

Nadin was surprised to hear Dira's question.

“I never liked it,” replied Nadin with bulging eyes.

“Casual, relaxing. I'm just asking, don't be strict.” Dira again patted Nadin's shoulder with a smile.

“Again, I don't know what it's like to like people,” Nadin added while propping up his chin.

“Ck, tsk, tsk. Here, this morning I will give you the first lesson before the Math lesson,” said Dira embracing Nadin's shoulder.

“Gini yes, if you are liking someone-”

“Liking male or female ?” cut Nadin.

“Male is !” sahut Dira with his eyebrows that immediately wrinkled.

“Gini yes, if you are liking men, you will feel happy, embarrassed, and nervous when you see or meet him. You will always think about it. You won't like it when you see him talking to other women. Your heart will beat just by hearing his voice. If you meet, your feet will limp,” explained Dira with enthusiasm.

“Not you who always limp when meeting with Rudi,” said Nadin smiled.

“But, it seems like I've felt one of them,” Nadin added.

“Really ? When you meet with who ?” tanya Dira looks enthusiastic.

“When I met a duck who had chased me,” replied Nadin immediately turned to Dira who for a while gawking at his strange answer.

“Do you like duck ?!”

“Of course not. But, my heart skipped a beat when I saw it from afar,” Nadin explained.

“Nadin, that's the name of fear. I didn't know you were innocent or stupid, ” said Dira patting his eel.

Teeeet teeeet teeeet

All the students were scattering out of their respective classes when the break bell rang. As usual, Nadin and Dira went straight to the cafeteria to fill the stomachs of those who had been singing with no melodious.

“Gosh, I forgot to pay for this milk,” Dira said to Nadin's surprise.

“I go first, you wait a minute ya.” Dira gives his groceries to Nadin and leaves.

Nadin leaned against the wall of a history class adjacent to his class that would learn Indonesian. He lowered his head so that no one would see or greet him.

“Nadin,” call Saka who happens to pass in front of her.

“Eh, Saka,” said Nadin did not expect anyone would greet him.

Why do they look so close ? it was Inner Aidan who saw Nadin with Saka from behind the open window of his class. He kept watching the two who were talking.

“Thuk, uhuk. Ehem.” Aidan immediately drank the mineral water and then returned to watch Nadin.

Meanwhile, Nadin immediately turned to Aidan because he knew the coughing voice belonged to Aidan. He was shocked to find Aidan not far from him. Aidan who at that time immediately rolled his eyes making Nadin could not help his wide smile.

He smiled, muttered Aidan who was washed away in Nadin's smile.

Saka also saw where Nadin's eyes looked, he was curious about the object that made Nadin smile sweetly like that. He also found Aidan who turned out to be the focus of Nadin's view.

“Then, I go first huh. I will wait for you in the store,” Saka said then went to her class.

Shop ? Will they go to the store together ? ask Aidan to himself.

Nadin turned his head back towards Aidan with a glaring look. Meanwhile, Aidan only gave an astonished look as he was suddenly stared at like that.

“Contact !”

Aidan's narrowed eyes opened wide when he heard a student he didn't know called a potato. He also saw clearly the look on Nadin's face suddenly changed when he heard the name of the two.

Ela, Nadin's mind when he saw someone he knew was walking towards him.

“Waah it turns out you are in school here huh. But, do you still know me ?” ask the student called Ela by Nadin.

“Still,” replied Nadin unblinkingly staring at Ela who is Ami's older cousin.

Ela gave a cynical smile to Nadin who was currently showing a hostile face.

“You are great Nadin, I can't believe a girl who looks innocent and cupid like you can make scars on my sister's face,” Ami said while giving a sharp look to Nadin who is his younger classmate.

“Why not ask the reason to Ami?” nadin asked and left Ela.

Who is he ? He called Nadin a potato, and now Aidan was curious about who Nadin really was.