When Potatoes Fall in Love

13

Nadin put down the plastic bag he had been in and then put his face on the table. His heart was racing until it made his hands tremble after meeting Ela. He was like that not because he was afraid of him, he only spontaneously remembered what Ami had done if he met people who were related to him. Nadin still remembers how Ela laughed at him when Ami locked him in the old house and left him alone there.

“Nadin, you why ?” tanya Dira who just returned from the canteen.

“I'm fine,” replied Nadin while hiding his trembling hand under the table.

After school, Nadin led his bike from the parking lot with a lethargic face. He didn't even realize that Aidan kept seeing her as he passed right in front of Aidan who was standing at the school gate.

What he was thinking until he did not see me this big, Aidan grumbled because he was not hounded by Nadin who was daydreaming. He took the time to look at Nadin who was getting away from his sight before he got into the car that picked him up.

Shit, why am I even upset that he doesn't pay attention to me ? inner Aidan who keeps seeing Nadin from behind the glass of his car.

Kukkuruuuuyuukkkk

The sound of the rooster behind the house reminded Nadin of the atmosphere of his home in the village. This morning, he had breakfast while comparing everything in the village and the city where he currently lives. He suddenly missed the sound of birds in the middle of the honking sound and the sometimes deafening vehicle engine. He also missed the hills he could see from his home. In fact, he was more interested in seeing a row of hills than the row of multi-storey buildings he used to see in this capital.

“Darling, last night I cut potato chips for you,” Damara said putting down a lunch box containing his homemade potato chips.

Nadin took off his spoon, the look on his face that initially looked calm suddenly turned into a tangle.

“Bu, from today Nadin will not eat potatoes !” sahut Nadin looked at his mother.

“Loh, why suddenly ? Doesn't Nadin like potatoes ?” Damara was astonished as she sat beside Nadin.

“Does anyone call you a potato ?” ask Damara who already knows with the nickname Nadin.

“No, Nadin just wants to avoid it,” Nadin said.

“Nadin, mother's son. Don't stop eating what you like because of the talk of others. Just ignore what they say,” persuade Damara.

“Iya, Mum.” Dira put the lunchbox in her bag. He could not afford to waste the food his mother had made.

Nadin's eyes had stolen a glance toward the gate of Aidan's house that was tightly closed. He grew lethargic when he imagined Aidan would no longer go to school with him. The movement of his foot that pedaled the bicycle slowed down even more with his mind that continued to drift.

“You can be late if you pedal a bike with your turtle legs.”

Nadin immediately turned to look at the familiar voice in his sense of hearing. If he was a rabbit, surely his ears immediately stood up so happy to see Aidan who was now riding a bicycle beside him. He could not help but smile let alone take his eyes off Aidan.

“Do you miss that cycling with me to the point that you don't look ahead ?!” goda Aidan's.

“Who said I missed you !” nadin is now back facing the front. His face and ears were hot with embarrassment when he realized he was again unconsciously looking at Aidan for a long time. He patted his head several times for regretting his actions. Meanwhile, Aidan just smiled looking at her behavior.

You deny it ? Though you asked me to Dira, inner Aidan after hearing Nadin's words.

“Quick ! This time I will win again,” said Aidan drove his bike.

“Hey ! Who wants to race with you !” nadin shouted that was preceded by Aidan. However, even though he said that, he still chased Aidan with his bike.

Nadin tried to increase the speed of his bike. But, he couldn't even get ahead of Aidan. Finally he chose to follow Aidan from behind while looking at Aidan's back which he used to see when Aidan was cycling in front of him like the previous days. Nadin inhaled the faint fragrance of Aidan's perfume all the way to his sense of smell.

What perfume is she wearing ? nadin's inner self occasionally took a deep breath so that he would always inhale the lemon scent coming from Aidan.

Arriving at school, Nadin tidied his hair a bit messy after cycling. He also tried to wrap his hair so as not to get stuck here and there like yesterday.

“Do you not want to cut your hair?” asked Aidan who was parked his bike next to Nadin's bike.

“If I want to cut it, surely my hair will not be this long until now,” said Nadin wearing his black backpack that he put in a bicycle basket.

“Hah, you just say yes or no, why should be long as the answer,” timpal Aidan furrowed his eyebrows.

“Why are you hiring ?! I answer like that so you can think more logically. You must have known just by looking at me. I let my hair be long because I don't want to cut it!” Cerosos Nadin until the veins on his forehead look poking.

Loh, how is this girl to be firm anyway ? inner Aidan who had gawked thought he was being scolded.

Aidan made a smile on his right lip while pulling Nadin's hand. Now they both stand at a distance of only two steps.

“See ! The school prince is with Nadin,” said a student who had been in a group with Nadin and Aidan during MOS.

“You're too close !” nadin whispered back and tried to pull his hand. However, as usual Aidan always clasped his hands tightly until he was unable to let go.

“You've been hurrying early in the morning, are you coming in month ?” aidan whispered still smiling.

“What ?! I've never experienced anything like that. So, let go of my hand !” sahut Nadin steps on Aidan's right foot.

“Addicted, yes I released.”

Nadin left Aidan who was still grimacing in pain. He moved his legs quickly while rubbing his arms and nape which had bristled when the gust of air coming out of Aidan's mouth touched his ears.

Last night 🌒

Aidan settles into his big, padded bed after he returns from his parents' house. Starting tonight, he will be staying again in his second home where only he and his household assistants are there. A few days earlier he had to live with his parents due to illness. Because he was healthy, he returned to his house which was usually passed by Nadin.

Drrrttt drrrttt drrrrrttt

Aidan reached into the pocket of his jeans to pull out the phone that had been shaking and tickling his thigh. His narrowed eyes caught the name “Dira” listed on his phone screen.

“I'm downstairs. Quick down.”

Tut tut tut tut

Aidan's eyes narrowed in amazement with the habits of his cousin who likes to turn off the phone arbitrarily. His phone floated to the side of the bed with his breath as he got out of bed to meet the child of his mother's sister. He went down each step carefully while watching Dira who was sitting sweetly in his living room.

“Why come nights like this?” tanya Aidan sat in front of Dira while guessing what Dira wanted.

“Mmm, I have a Chemical PR I can't work on. So, I want you to teach me,” said Dira began to pull out some books from his ash backpack.

“Did I not hear wrong?” asked Aidan while scraping his ear with his left index finger.

“You didn't hear wrong. Now let's quickly teach me ! I will give you information about Nadin that you asked this afternoon,” said Dira after swallowing all his emotions.

Aidan was aghast because he did not expect Dira would be so soon to get information about Nadin that he had always thought of since the first time they met.

“Ehem. All right, which one do you not understand ?” ask Aidan who was immediately tempted by that information.

“Everything,” answered Dira who then sat down on the floor so that he could write on the table.

Aidan instantly gave a sharp look to Dira who was currently smiling widely at him.

Patience Aidan, he's your cousin's brother. Do it patiently for the sake of that information, inner Aidan.

Aidan was made emotional for two hours by Dira who long digested what he had taught. He asked his housekeeper to make juice so that his head remained cold when facing Dira. He also closed his eyes several times, let out a long sigh, to raise his own lips so that the word ‘boh’ does not come out of his mouth.

“Luck Kak Dira is my brother, yes,” said Aidan smiled with relief after the matter of chemistry which amounted to five grains was completed within two hours.

“Eh ? Tumben you call brother, uwuuu. Very sweet my sister,” said Dira smiled while inserting his stationery.

Oh God. He didn't know that I was insinuating him, Aidan's mind shook his head.

“So, what information have you got ?” asked Aidan after gulping down his remaining juice.

“Emm, she is actually from Semilir village, di-”

“What ?! Semilir De-Village ?”

“You surprised me !” snapped Dira directly patted Aidan's broad shoulder.

“Sorry, I was just surprised. Continue,” said Aidan trying to calm his turbulent mind out of curiosity.

“So, Nadin from Semilir Village. She lives with her mother Damara, whose father died in an accident just as she was about to be born. He moved here when he entered High School. And what I find most interesting is that he really likes to eat potatoes. I want to call him potato,” said Dira smiled.

So, so it's true, Nadin who is currently in school with me is Nadin who used to be my childhood friend. God, why can't I recognize him right away ? I only felt very familiar when I first met him, the inner Aidan who was now leaning on the side of the sofa while continuing to rub his temple with his index finger.

Aidan's heart was racing because he felt very happy, it was very anxious that he went to see Nadin and immediately hugged him to release all his longings during this time. However, he must harbour all those desires after realizing that he does not know where Nadin's house is.

“Aidan ? Aidan !” pangil Dira in a loud voice after seeing his cousin's sister was daydreaming while smiling sweetly. Just as sweet as the smile of a KPop idol that Indonesian fans call him ‘aguS’.

“Why scream anyway ?” gerutu Aidan held his ear.

“You anyway, daydreaming continues. New possession tau taste !” nagel Dira's.

“Apaan anyway. Emm. Then, do you know why he moved here ?”

“Haah, I don't know. He didn't want to tell me about it.”

“Yes already, I go home first. Next time I will come here again if there is PR Chemistry,” added Dira then rise from his seat.

“Why don't you work with Nadin?” ask Aidan while driving Dira to the front of the house.

“Well, I admit he's smart. But, he himself said that his brain does not work during Chemistry lessons,” replied Dira.

Aidan spontaneously smiled at his brother's words.

“Do you know what Nadin did while at school when I didn't get in?” ask Aidan to know.

Dira furrowed his brows, he wondered why his usual sister looked cold and did not care about women suddenly asked .

“Yaaaa, she's on the move as usual. But, as I recall, he always looked frantic as soon as he got to school. Ah, that Saturday he had asked you who did not go to school,” cerocos Dira then left Aidan.

Aidan returned a wave of Dira's hand that slowly moved away with the car that carried him. He went back to his room and threw himself into the bed. Not until five minutes, he then approached a large mirror standing beside his closet and looked at his face that was always adored by the girls at his school.

Why can't he recognize me ? My face did not change at all, inner Aidan while continuing to look in the mirror.

His lips again smiled sweetly when he realized Nadin had kept his promise to lengthen hair. Aidan admits that Nadin looks charming and feminine with his long hair. He began to think about how to face Nadin if they meet tomorrow.

Tomorrow I will ride my bike when I go to school, murmured Aidan excitedly. He returned to his bed and looked up at the ceiling of his room.

I better not tell him who I really am, I want to punish him because he might not recognize me, inner Aidan smiled mischievously.

***

Teeeettt teeeett teeeett

Until the bell rang out, Nadin continued to give a probing gaze towards Dira since they met this morning, Dira until feeling uncomfortable because of it.

“Ok, now you say I was wrong what until you keep glaring at me ?” ask Dira as soon as they get to the cafeteria.

Nadin let out a long sigh while folding his hands on his chest.

“Did you tell Aidan that I once asked him who didn't go to school?”

Dira rolled his eyes to find an excuse. However, he abandoned his intention of not wanting to lie to Nadin.

“Hehe, yes. Sorry, last night I was forced to sell you to Aidan so he would teach me PR Chemistry that we can't do that,” Dira replied with a chuckle.

“Haa ?! You sold me ?!” nadin squealed with her eyes wide open.

“No, no ! I-I mean, I sold information about you,” timpal Dira immediately shut Nadin's mouth.

Nadin immediately put Dira's hand out of his mouth.

“Hah, yes already. I forgive you for doing the right thing. But, you have to teach me how to answer that Chemistry,” pinta Nadin.

“Definitely doong,” said Dira then embrace Nadin to find their stomach filler.