Jojo blinked several times in disbelief. He thought that his ears had just misheard before.
Wait….. Wait… Hold on….
Is she still Arissa right? Is she still the same Arissa he had known from ten years ago right? Is she still the famous untouchable Arissa, right? The very same woman with men repellent? But, now?
"Living together??" Jojo gasped in disbelief.
How come?
"It's a long story ..." Arissa replied wryly and sighed heavily with a sorry look. She was not in a good mood to tell the whole story today because Jojo would surely flood her out with questions after questions like a neverending stroll. Duh….
No, thank you very much!
"Eh ... you're here already, let's pay a visit to the orphanage, shall we? "
Arissa smiled and distracted him successfully. She held Jojo's arm who just about getting ready to spit a series of questions while her other hand covered Jojo's mouth in one move swiftly.
"Hmmmphhh..hmphhh .." Jojo struggled in his silenced protest. Tried to break free and unleashed himself while Cristan just watched the ridiculous scene in front of him with a puzzled look.
"Why are you such in a hurry? Don't we should be nice to our guest and give him a house tour? " Cristan stared and smirked at Arissa amusingly while Arissa glared back at him furiously. Hush! Shut up!
"Shall we go now?" Come on ... "
Without further ado, Arissa pulled Jojo's arm out so that they wouldn't stay there any longer.
She just hoped that after they returned to the apartment this afternoon, Cristan has gone already. She wishes that the young man will go somewhere today.
"Eh, wait ... I'll join you, guys..."
Her body froze for a moment when she heard those words coming out from his mouth. She immediately pulls Jojo's arm even faster to get to the car but Cristan moved even faster than the two of them. He locked the apartment and run lightly towards Jojo's car with an annoying smile carved on his face. Arissa turned her head once again and suddenly, her eyes were bewitched by another extraordinary sight.
Under the sun, his features even much more beautiful. And somehow, in that short time, he had managed to shave and clean his mustache and beard so he looked much better than a sloppy haggard before. Very much different than his everyday shabby image and appearance as a bad boy. His length hair was also tied back neatly while he dressed up in a white cotton shirt and jeans casually as usual. Displaying his brownish complexion.
It took Arissa a couple of minutes to proceed and load his request inside her brain.
"Huh? Wait? What did you say?"
"I said…."
"I would like to join you, guys…"
"No ..." Arissa replied firmly with her stern voice and narrow eyes.
What else does he want now? Isn't irritating her every day with his annoying jerk behavior not enough for her?
"Ah come on… .."
"I'm having a day off and I have nothing to do in the apartment…." Cristan starts to plead with his pitiful sad eyes and begging Arissa who still looked discomfort with his being. But she just unmoved. She had just opened her mouth to reject his request when suddenly a hand covered her mouth and engulfed her in a tight hug. Forbid her to move or spilled out another word furthermore.
"OF COURSE!!! THE MORE THE MERRIER!!!"
"Right, Arissa?"
Jojo keeps shutting her mouth and holds her tight while asking about her permission forcefully with a big smile. But, she replied to him with a death glare in her eyes. Protesting his action but end up in miserable failure. A winning smile and gaze formed beautifully at Cristan's face. While Jojo's stared spoke of completely different language. The gaze said…. You-Must-Tell-Me-Everything.
In the end, she gave up and let her roommate join them that day.
Jojo just giggled in a jolly mood when Arissa still glared furiously at him once they're inside the car. The killing gaze that she throws at him didn't work at all. He already knew Arissa inside out like the palm of his hand. Her acts and gazes had told him everything. That there was a story or a good mystery behind their awkward relationship. For Jojo, there's nothing as best as the fresh gossip for starting a new day.
Meanwhile, Cristan smiled and whistled happily at the passenger's seat once he is inside Jojo's car. He is happy that he doesn't have to spend his time alone today. He hated it when no one stays with him in the apartment. Loneliness...
Always crept him out and luring him back to the deepest grief…
A moment that he always avoid and evade as long as he could…
.....................… ..
Along the way to the orphanage, Arissa just sitting silently with a scowl on her pretty face. She was upset while Cristan and Jojo were busy throwing their corny jokes and laughed loudly like old friends.
Cristan was got along with Jojo even though they both have just met. Somehow, Jojo also has no difficulties of familiarize himself with Cristan. Only Arissa who still sat in silence while she sighting the scenery outside the window.
Until finally, that question suddenly popped out of blue.
"So ... how long have you two been together?"
Jojo asked spontaneously in a curious tone. He didn't hide his silly intention of making a new fuss between them right now.
"Emmmmm ... .. more or less? A month??"
Cristan answered him nonchalantly and raising his eyebrows.
Even though he looks relaxed but Cristan has observed Arissa's facial expression of his spontaneous answer.
Jojo's eyes suddenly widened in disbelief.
WHATTTT ??? A month???