This morning Dinda woke up earlier than usual. Or even, since last night, she really couldn't sleep. All thoughts started to race in her brain, especially the idea of agreeing to be friends with Nathan, whether it was the right decision or not. It's nothing, and it's just that her heart is still doubtful. Even though she's just a friend, Dinda is still afraid of male creatures.
Again Dinda took a deep breath. What if she met Panji later at school? Will she be able to face Panji on her own? Or will she spontaneously run and be scared like yesterday again?
"Din ..." said Nadya, which managed to make Dinda turn. Dinda's small eyes saw Nadya, already standing wearing her school uniform. "You don't want to go to school?" asked Nadya.
"Hah?" asked Dinda, confused. Then, she looked at the clock on the wall, and it was still 06.00. Usually, Nadya is still lazing in bed at this hour. "You want to go to school at this hour?" asked Dinda, who looked confused.
"Oh my gosh, yes, I forgot to talk to you, Din. Today my cheers team has a competition, Din. So I have to leave early. If you stay, it's impossible, what will happen if that damn guy comes to you again? where are you going to run? So, come on, hurry up and change clothes, I'm waiting," Nadya explained at length.
She took some bread, then put some jam and stuffed it into her mouth in a hurry.
"Wait a moment, Nad. You go first," said Dinda. It's too early. She didn't want to overtake the school security guard, who was already at the school early in the morning.
After all, it was doubtful that Panji would be here so early. At least after school. Even Dinda has also promised herself, no matter how she must control herself. She couldn't continue being traumatized like this. She was broken, and what Panji had done had to make her strong. It didn't matter later. No one would accept her because she was dirty. At least, this was a reality that she had to take first.
"Are you okay if I live alone?" Nadya asked to make sure. Judging by Dinda's recent gestures, she should have been very calm because Dinda is much better than when she first met. Even now, Dinda can sleep soundly. Nadya never hears Dinda sobs in the middle of the night again.
"It's okay, really," answered Dinda, holding up two thumbs up.
After Nadya's long consideration, Nadya finally gave up. Before leaving, a lot of advice was given to Dinda always to be alert to anyone, never be alone anywhere, and when going to and from school, lock the boarding room door tightly so that no criminals enter. Knowing Dinda nodded in understanding, Nadya finally left too. For some reason, she feels like a mother to her child when she is with Dinda. Honestly, Nadya has never cared this much about making friends with anyone.
Dinda lay back down on the bed. The drizzle started coming, and it made her like to laze around. Later, if there is no umbrella in the living room, how will she go to school? Because the umbrella provided by the boarding house mother is only ten seeds, which is very different from the number of boarding children here.
Dinda then got up, tidied up some books, and put them in a bag. Then she took her school uniform.
Again, Dinda took a deep breath. Later, there will be a test, starting from the first subject to the last. Dinda could not thoroughly learn from the four lessons.
Dinda grabbed her bag after finishing preparing. Then walk down the hall to the boarding house. It was true. The umbrella there had run out. Dinda's uniform address will be wet because of the distance from the boarding house, and the school is quite far, and she only has to walk to get there.
Luckily yesterday Nadya bought Dinda some thick cloth jackets. At least, it could help a little to prevent her uniform from getting wetter than not wearing it.
"Dinda didn't wait for the drizzle to subside first?" asked the security guard.
"I don't think so, sir. Afraid of being late," she replied, looking at the watch on her wrist.
The security guard opened the boarding house gate. How surprised Dinda was when she found out who was standing in front of the boarding gate carrying an umbrella.
The figure wearing maroon sneakers, whose shoes were now wet, was splashed by drizzle from the sky. His umbrella was slightly lifted, revealing a handsome figure smiling at Dinda.
Dinda did not expect Nathan was in front of her at this time. As if he knew that all Dinda needed was an umbrella so she could be at school safely.
"Well, you haven't left yet?" asked Nathan, who managed to make Dinda shocked.
"Huh? Not yet, what are you doing here?" she snapped.
"Oh come on, this is a public street, not Dinda Street. I happened to fix my shoelaces. Hey, you're sticking out like a gosht. I was surprised, that's why standing here can't go anywhere," Nathan replied with a made-up expression.
Dinda took a deep breath because clearly, she saw not Nathan who was tying his shoelaces. However, it was Nathan who was already standing firmly in front of the gate of her boarding house.
"So, are you together? If not, I'll stay," Nathan said again.
Immediately Dinda shouted at Nathan, got under Nathan's umbrella, and the two of them walked together. Nathan was silent, completely still, and walked at a slower pace for a moment. Dinda knew that Nathan's steps were not this slow. Nathan seemed to be following Dinda's steps so that Dinda would not be hasty while walking. Dinda also saw the position of the umbrella brought by Nathan. She was leaning towards her until the boy's right shoulder looked wet from the splash of drizzle. Meanwhile, Dinda's sneakers always looked clean were now splashed by the ground. Even though usually, Nathan always takes the car, right?
"How is your trauma, Din, are you feeling better?" asked Nathan after his residence.
Dinda turned to the axis of Nathan's stern face. The boy's gray eyes glanced at her. Then, his gaze turned to the road in front of her. So, Dinda could only see Nathan's pale skin, which looked red, Nathan's sharp nose, which was red too. And Nathan's eyelashes that look so thick.
"Can I ...," said Dinda in the end. Nathan turned his head again. "Can I be free from that terrible trauma, Nath? Can I deal with it? If Panji comes, will I be able to stand in front of him alone without hiding, and at least I can slap him?" asked Dinda in a trembling voice. Her eyes looked bloodshot, but it wasn't because of the emotion that made her want to cry. Instead, they suppressed an outburst of emotion from deep within her chest, but so far, she could only keep it under wraps.