Dinda stopped when Nadya started to go crazy and take whatever she felt was suitable for Dinda. Nadya took a deep breath, and she looked at Dinda with her hands on her hips.
"You, don't be shy, I know, Din. Like anyone, eh! It's okay, okay. And don't worry, I'm sincere, I won't bring it up, okay? Now, let's go to the cosmetic shop. . Your beautiful face, dear ignored, Din."
Again, Nadya tugged Dinda's hand to the places she wanted. She tried some cosmetics on Dinda's face then took some to buy. Nadya sighed as if she had done something significant. Her smile grew on the corners of her lips, and she didn't even care how her shoulder hair was starting to get messy.
"Geez, Din, I forgot!" she screamed.
Dinda, who was in a hurry with several shopping bags, looked at Nadya more confused.
"What the hell, Nad? You want to go shopping again?" asked Dinda. Nadya shook her head. "You ran out of money?" she asked again. Then Nadya shook her head again.
"I have an appointment with my boyfriend, Dinda! And I forgot, my goodness!"
"Nad, cook something as important as this that you forget it!" annoyed Dinda in the end. "Okay, okay, look for your boyfriend before you get dumped just for shopping for me," said Dinda, pushing Nadya's slimy body away from her.
"Could you go home alone?" asked Nadya doubtfully. "You can come with me, you can go home together later," Nadya offered again.
Dinda doesn't want to. How can she be a mosquito repellent between Nadya and her boyfriend, no way!
"No, I can come back by myself anyway. I just need to take a taxi and ask to be dropped off in front of the complex, right," he said.
Dinda also needs time alone. Completely alone among the boisterous crowds around her. She wanted to set her heart, steady her heart to rise from the dark shadow of Panji. She needs time for that right now.
Nadya tightly gripped Dinda's hand. After she showed a smile, she hugged Dinda briefly.
"I'll make sure you come back safe and sound, okay?" she said. After that, Nadya said goodbye. Half is running down the escalator on Dinda's left.
While Dinda smiled, after waving for Nadya, she then walked away. Exit the mall, and look up at the blue sky that looks cloudy.
She should be like this, and she stepped in this city alone. She had to rise from her fall so that she could genuinely believe that she could face Panji on her own. No more fear, no more trauma. Or even she wanted to slap Panji in the face with her own hands. Without anyone's hands.
Dinda gasped when someone pulled her shopping bags. She immediately turned to her right and found Nathan had taken the groceries from her hands. Nathan looked straight at the street filled with passing pedestrians. Then, he turned to Dinda and smiled.
"A malnourished girl like you carries a lot of groceries, where your bones are shrinking down, then all of your skin is peeling off," Nathan said.
Dinda blinked her eyes, hearing Nathan's words which were different from usual. Arrogant speech, but Dinda felt much more comfortable than the usual sweet pretentiousness.
"Why are you here?" said Dinda. Nathan laughed. After smacking Dinda's head, then Nathan strolled. Slowly Dinda followed Nathan's footsteps as well.
"Do you think this is the road that belonged to your ancestors, that I can't pass here? This is not Dinda street, this is a public road that many people pass," Nathan argued.
Dinda just sneered, but she didn't argue with Nathan's words other than walking hand in hand with her.
Dinda stole glances at Nathan, and the boy seemed tall above her even though people said Dinda was tall. However, when compared to Nathan, they are still far behind.
"You don't need to make lyrics, pretty boys like me are usually seen by girls," said Nathan, who managed to make Dinda's face turn red.
"Geez, you're really big head, Nath. I glanced at the ice cream seller across the street. Who would want to glance at a cute guy like you."
"there's no need for many excuses. The evidence is on display, look at the girls around here, don't blink when they look at me. Including you too!" said Nathan, not wanting to lose.
Dinda could only hold her breath. After she stamped her foot, she walked ahead of Nathan. But then again, the guy throws a tantrum. He pulled the collar of the neck of the back of Dinda's shirt so that the girl would walk towards him.
"I'm hungry, want to eat!" Nathan said. "If you stay, it's dangerous. Then your ex is looking for you again whose name is Panji. So, I have to ask you to eat first before coming back."
And after that, there was nothing Dinda could do but obey Nathan's words. Stop at a restaurant, then eat with Nathan. Now and then, Dinda looked around. It's clear if his caste is far from them. However, the guy who was already busy with his food didn't seem uncomfortable with Dinda's presence. Nathan kept throwing sarcasm or even talking unnecessarily in between his meals.
Again, Dinda saw another side of Nathan. Nathan is Nathan. Although Dinda's first impression of Nathan is terrible, at least Nathan is not a lion who will pounce on Dinda alive. At least, Nathan wasn't Panji.
Can Dinda think like that?
"Din!" called Nathan after they arrived at Dinda's boarding house gate.
Dinda stopped, then she turned to Nathan, who was still standing facing her. While she tucked Nathan's hands into hisr trouser pockets, his gray eyes looked at Dinda intensely.
"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable in the past by saying things that might be disgusting for you. I admit I was wrong," he said. But, Dinda is still silent. She was baffled about what Nathan was about to say. "So, Din, if you don't want to be my girl. Can I... can I be friends with you? Can I be your friend, Din?" asked Nathan.
Dinda's eyes widened at Nathan's words. There was a feeling of warmth that secretly crept up his heart for some reason. However, Dinda could not answer Nathan's question at all. Even to say a word, it feels like Dinda is powerless.
Nathan walked closer to Dinda, and then he raised his index finger right in front of Dinda's eyes.
"If you want to be friends with me, you touch my index finger with yours. But, if you don't want to, you can go. And I won't bother you anymore."
"Just friends, right?" asked Dinda at last.
Nathan looked at Dinda with a surprised look, but he showed a smile after that. However, Dinda is still in a fragile condition. He will not be able to force anything to fulfill his ambition. Nathan nodded in response to Dinda's words, then Dinda hesitantly touched Nathan's index finger with her index finger.
Nathan smirked at that. At least he was satisfied. Dinda is not afraid of him anymore. Dinda has allowed him into her life as a friend. Nathan then scratched the back of his neck when he saw Dinda's clumsy expression, Dinda's red face was embarrassed. Then, he smacked Dinda's head until the girl screamed in pain.
"That expression of yours is like a grandmother with seven children. It's so ugly!" he mocked. Then Nathan quickly left there before he saw Dinda's strange expression again. And it would make it even more bizarre than Dinda's expression.