Ardian glanced at his watch, the clock said eleven in the afternoon. "It didn't feel like we were here for very long. Is your leg okay? It's break time now. Let's get out."
Dira nodded. "Yes. My legs don't hurt anymore. I can walk again now."
They both went out suppressing each other's nervous feelings.
"All right, then I'll see you in the afternoon." Ardian said.
"Okay."
Dira is seeding herself in her heart. How could he ever call Ardian a 'Sir' to a man as reasonably handsome as him? Ah, but even Dira did think that he looked very old. Was it because that guy back then his chin still picked on a beard and a mustache?
***
"Dira, this is the cafeteria back. The employees usually eat lunch here. The food here is actually pretty good." Lisa said tell Nadira.
"What Lisa said was completely true. You'll be hooked when you try the food here." Said Karina to Dira.
Dira has three new friends in the office with her. Karina, Lisa, and Dinda. The four of them ordered the same menu for different drinks. They sat at one table and faced each other.
"Oh, I haven't met your friend Karin." Said Dira.
Karina smiled warmly. "Yes. She's my best friend."
From how Karina put it that way, Nadira could see that they had been best friends for a long time.
"My name is Adinda Dwi Prasetya. You can call me Dinda." Said Dinda with a smile on Nadira and Lisa.
Dira smiled as well and returned dDinda's hand.
"I'm so happy to meet you guys. I hope we can be good friends at work." Said Dira.
All three smiled warmly with a small murmur. "Of course." the third word concurrently.
"If I may ask, Karin and Dinda have worked here a long time?" Said Dira wanted to understand them better.
"Yes. That is correct. We are same age. We've been best friends since school." Said Karina. Dinda chose to nod her head instead. A sign that he agreed to Karina's explanation, since she was chewing up her food.
"Ah, I see. Are you close friends?" Asked Dira again.
"Yes. We split up in college. But to see her again at the same workplace. So now Dinda and I are best friends." Said Karina.
Dira nodded in recognition and was overjoyed. Her first day on the job was a long day. But everything was fine.
"Ah, how about you, Lisa? Have you also worked here long?" Said Dira who told Lisa this time.
Lisa shook her head. "No. I haven't worked here long. Maybe I've only been here about six months." Lisa said softly.
"Ah, I see. Okay, I get it."
"Yes Dira. I'm the same age as you. I am twenty-one years old."
"Really? Did you graduate as well?" Asked Dira in shock.
"No, I graduated from a vocational school. I was unemployed for about a year because I didn't want to go to college. And long story short I met my old schoolteacher. She told me there was a vacancy here that was looking for a receptionist. Then I applied for a job here and I ended up being accepted as a receptionist." Lisa said with a smile.
Nadira was surprised to learn that some had left the university and could work as a receptionist. Lisa's appearance was also very elegant and intelligent. Nadira feels lucky now that she is reunited with some of her colleagues.
***
The sun is now beginning to shy away from revealing itself. Slowly the sun began to dim. Twilight always shows a different color of the sky every day. Sometimes it is pink and gold, but at times it can also be dark blue.
Birds were flying into each other's cages. They end the search for food and become air-dwellers. The birds gather as one in a cage they build above the trees.
The sand on the side of the highway was pure. The paved road was also still wet and slightly polished. Jakarta was recently blessed with rain, which was often referred to as soft cropping.
And this is what nadira calls the air all the while. Petrichor smell, a dry earth that is wet with rain. Especially when inhaled at sunset like this. Dira liked the case all the time. Even now, while feeling all the while, it's just like catching the smells of the country and the atmosphere.
"You're not home yet?"
Dira was somewhat surprised when she heard the voice of someone asking, who was suddenly standing next to her.
"Ah, Ardian. Yes. I'm waiting for my brother."
Ardian smiled. Then the guy takes something out of her briefcase. The thing was given to Nadira. A light blue handkerchief.
"Ah, here's your handkerchief. Thank you for giving me that time."
Dira accepts the handkerchief. "Yes. You're welcome."
"May I ask?"
"What?"
"Why is the handkerchief in the shape of 'A' letter? Why don't the 'N' or the 'D' only?"
"Hahaha.. Are you so curious about this?"
Ardian nodded. While he had the handkerchief, he was curious about the letter on the handkerchief. "Yes. I'm dying to know."
Nadira chuckles softly. "The letter 'A' means Aisyah. It was embroidered by my grandmother. Only my grandmother calls me by the name Aisyah." Said Dira explained to Ardian.
"Why?"
"Hahaha.. You wanna know more?"
"Oh, sorry. Haha it seems I dissolved your story. Understandably, all humans also have great curiosity. Right?"
"Yes. That's right."
Ardian was quiet for a while, as though the man were looking for a different topic of conversation so that the atmosphere between the two would not be awkward.
"Do your feet really not hurt anymore?"
Nadira nodded. "Yes. Just... relax. My feet don't hurt anymore. I can already walk smoothly. Thanks again."
"Yes, you're welcome. You picked up your brother?"
"Yes. And you?"
"Of course I took my own bike. Who am I gonna pick up... hahaha."
Dira chuckles small.
"Does your brother pick you up and take you anywhere?"
Nadira nodded slowly. "Yes. He always picks me up and drops me off. Maybe he's a little late. He's at his college with the professor." Dira said honestly explain.
In that instant he learned that the girl next to him was no ordinary girl. Nadira is well guarded by Rendra.
The chatter continues. Nothing bothers them. Like no one dared to interrupt their conversation. Even the sound of the rushing of vehicles before them was faint. And nothing can stop their laughter.
At that moment.
That place.
The meeting.
Until such short closeness.
Nadira feels that she won't notice, that something will happen in her sweet life. Something a long story. It starts in her own story.
And, nothing can stop that.
***