Dinda gave him a signal to greet Ms. Ambar back by stomping on his feet. Nathan glared because he was really irritated when somebody disturbed him.
"What?" He asked in a slightly raised tone.
"Ms. Ambar was talking to you." Dinda said.
"Ah. Yes, ma'am." Nathan answered just to get it out of his way.
"Were you caught in the rain? Without spare clothing?" Ms. Ambar asked again. Nathan only rolled his head. "My little brother left some unused clothes in my house, maybe you want to wear one?" Ms. Ambar offered.
Nathan smiled brightly when he heard that offer. He nodded happily "Of course, ma'am. Gladly."
Dinda rolled her eyes when she saw how quick he could shift his expression.
"You two-faced jerk." Dinda blurted. Nathan only glanced for a moment but didn't really mind whatever she was saying.
Right after that, Ms. Ambar went to her house and picked up a sealed package of clothing. Along with two cups of warm tea.
"Please, warm yourself up." Ms. Ambar said to Nathan. She also looked at Dinda and said, "Young lady, serve this warm cup of tea to your lovely boyfriend right here. Don't be shy, think of this place like your own home."
"He is not my boyfriend, ma'am!" Dinda countered swiftly.
Boyfriend? Why would she want a boyfriend like Nathan? As if she got nothing better to own. She would never want to have a boyfriend like Nathan even when the pigs flew, even when the hell was frozen.
"I see. Well, take good care of your friend, then."
"He is also not a friend of mine, ma'am."
Ms. Ambar seemed confused, but she refrained from prying any further. Nathan looked at Dinda with a resented look.
"Very well, I take my leave." Ms. Ambar decided to cut it short rather than get caught in these youngsters' quarrel.
"Now that is a great hostess, she makes me a cup of warm tea. Unlike you, doing absolutely nothing. What are you? A statue?" Nathan mocked Dinda.
Nathan went into the restroom again to change his clothes, then came out with a new look. Red long sleeve shirt and grey shorts. He fluffed up his blonde hair. He returned to the lobby with the towel then sat down to enjoy the tea and read a book while occasionally looking at the TV in front of him.
The news broadcasted on the TV didn't seem very interesting, only a case of fraud in a certain area in West Java. Dinda felt really bored because of that.
Dinda laid her back on the chair across Nathan's seat. Sometimes, she glanced at the boy that was busy reading his book. She recognized that book, it was the book of twelfth-class subject
Dinda folded her arms by her chest, raindrops impact on the ground really soothing her soul, especially the impacts on the roof above her. It sounded like music to her ears, like a lullaby. A very soft and comforting lullaby that allowed her consciousness to drift away…
"Why do you hate me, Dinda?" Nathan asked without looking at that sleeping girl. "I really wonder, why would you hate me so much. I just want to be close to you, Dinda. Is that wrong?" Nathan eventually looked at her and squinted his eyes at that dozed off young lady.
Slowly, Nathan approached Dinda, he took a really good look at that snoozing maiden.
"There she is, snoring away…" He mumbled. He smiled as he observed every inch of her face.
As far as he could remember, he never scrutinized a girl's face like this. He took a good look at that girl's nose as it went slightly reddish when the air was cold, that girls' long eyelashes when she slept, her fine black eyebrows, and that plump lips…
Nathan softly caressed her smooth cheek. He never thought that he would be amazed by a girl's delicate cheek. What sort of make-up product would create such heavenly softness?
Ever so slowly, Nathan approached that angelic visage. He was really curious about those luscious lips. As their lips were about to touch each other, he refrained himself from going any further.
Nathan smiled as he draped her body with the towel that he had used before. He picked up his book again and read it besides her.
"No, please don't!" Dinda screamed hysterically and that almost caused Nathan to jump off his seat.
Dinda's body was drenched in cold sweat, she cried to the top of her lungs but her eyes were still closed shut. Both of her cold hands clutched onto Nathan's arms.
"No, please. Have mercy!" She screamed again and again.
Nathan was still caught in shock. He was confused as to what was happening and what he should do at that moment. It is as if she was going through a traumatic experience. Actually, he also felt a little curious as to what was happening in her past.
"Dinda, wake up. Dinda…wake up."
"No!" Dinda screamed again. Eventually, her round eyes opened. Tears rolling from her charming eyes down to her cheek.
Dinda hugged herself, as if she was terrified of Nathan's presence. As he touched her, she was getting even more hysterical.
Nathan gulped, he really could not figure out what was happening. He slowly backed away to, hopefully, calm her down.
"Calm down, Dinda. It's me, Nathan. I'm no bad guy." Nathan said.
Dinda slowly regained consciousness. She hid her face and cried her heart out.
Nathan approached her again, slowly. He tried to rub her shuddering back to calm her down. It turned out that she realized what he was about to do.
"Don't touch me! I hate you!" Dinda harshly shouted at Nathan.
Nathan remained silent for a moment. Without blinking, he observed what she was currently going through. His mind went blank, he lost all senses. He never thought that Dinda would treat him this violent. Nevertheless, he was certain that there must be a good reason as to why she acted this way. He must find an explanation behind all of this.
Nathan stepped back. He suddenly realized that she did not need him at the moment, maybe a female friend could give her a hand instead.
"Stay here. I'll call for Nadya."
Right after that, Nathan went into Dinda's apartment room and asked Nadya's help to take Dinda back to her room. Gently, Nadya took Dinda back to their room without saying anything. She knew from experience that this was what Dinda went through almost every night. Nadya knew for a fact that Dinda needed help.