"Bye ... call me when you have time, okay?" Abel begged.
She then closed the door, the window which was still open made Abel able to keep her eyes on his lovers who were slowly running his car.
As a child, Abel did not hesitate to wave at her final moments of staring at Dhani's handsome face. That black eye kept up with the oncoming car.
"Keep staring until you forget to blink," the bully blurted out.
Who else but Lia? The girl always hated seeing Abel's over-attention in Dani. Even so, Abel seemed aloof and spared the friend's involvement in matters of her heart. Plus, about her relationship with Dani.
Abel grabs Lia immediately and pulls her into the lobby.
A happy smile still lit up that white face, Abel wanted to remember every beautiful moment with Dhani. For her, everything about Dhani is happiness.
Abel's glance points to the transparent plastic that Lia's held. She saw a box of martabak with the irresistible scent of eggs.
"You're the most understanding friend, knowing so well that I'm hungry," she said.
"It's for my stomach," Lia firmly.
"Split it, okay?" seduced Abel and tightened her grip even more.
"I'll if you break Dani." Instantly Abel frowned in wonder at Lia's words.
"According to me, he's not a nice guy. Before you hurt yourself, better yo--"
"What's the matter, Li? What was his fault? Dani's nice, insightful, makes me happy. Why do you keep telling us to break up?" Abel softly uttered what she wanted to tell this long over Lia's willing.
Abel looked up, glancing at Lia as she looked away. His sudden, cold hand again reached for the girl's shoulder to grab onto, giving her a tight pat on her shoulder several times.
"I'm sorry, Li. I love Dani, maybe he indeed has some flaws that might not be good for me, but I want to accept that and make up for it. You don't have to worry, if he hurts me ... I would have left him without you warning me," Abel said.
Lia nodded back once, then turned and looked at Abel's now glass-filled eyes. She also felt guilty for being so nosy about the affairs of her friend's heart.
It's just that Lia is so dear, so dear that she cares and is even so controlling and makes Abel uncomfortable. Without another word, they hug each other, for now, it was just Lia who can be Abel's place to lean. No mother would support her like other children, as well as a protector like a dad. Abel is lonely.
For almost a year they lived together, although they were not friends from little their friendships had become very sticky since graduation. Almost no more secrets in between the two.
"Does Dhani go straight back to Surabaya?" asked Lia as she eat up her martabak.
***
Special egg martabak of Mr. Jaja's being a conversation friend for the evening. Occasionally, Abel glimpsed a cellphone sitting next to her. It's the end of the month, but her dad hasn't sent any money yet. Abel missed her last month's payment, so she borrowed Lia's money first.
She would be ashamed to owe her payment and trouble Lia in the end. Lia suddenly plunged a piece of martabak into Abel's mouth, and she glared in surprise.
Slapp!
A small blow landed on Lia's arm.
"Ah, it's become your habit to play hands." Lia's irritated look made Abel wince as she stroked Lia's arm.
"Sorry. Since you've been so rude, you've been putting food in my mouth without I'm even aware," Abel giggled.
"Why are you checking your phone constantly? Here, I bet you'll cry again if I finish this martabak," said Lia while pointing out some of the leftover martabak.
Abel let out a heavy sigh. "Papa hasn't sent any money yet," she complained.
"Dhani usually gives you money after you meet up," Lia guessed.
"That right ... Well, I just use it to pay the boarding house first." Abel opened her bag.
She took some fifty thousand nominal of money and gave them to Lia. "This will make up for what I borrow last month. Sorry, I need a long time to pay you back," said Abel.
"Thank you, my friend." Lia was thrilled to receive it.
"You're welcome, my honey Lia," said Dhani's girlfriend.
Speaking of Dhani, Lia was curious about what really got Abel to like that guy. After saving the money, Lia asked her gently.
"Bel, are you so comfortable being with Dhani?" She asked.
"Yes...," she answered timidly.
"Meanwhile if you are interested, there's Dirga, someone who is around your age, handsome, look out for you. Dhani just like your father, Bel," Li said with great enthusiasm.
"Dirga has many girls. I'll just get hurt every day seeing him smile at another girl," Abel said.
"At least he smiled just to price the girls who greeted him. He likes you," Lia said.
Abel stepped out of her seat. She's lazy to talk about Dirga who is become the most wanted boy in his school. Especially when he's so nice. Abel felt unworthy for Dirga who clearly has so many privileges.
"I went to the hotel with Dhani," Abel said before entering the bathroom.
"Crazy. Why do you go to the hotel?" said Lia in surprise.
"Nothing. Just accompany Dhani rest, he was tired after the trip from Surabaya." Abel answered casually.
"Huh! Good, he's a total pervert anyway. You better be careful, Bel, guys like Dhani usually enjoy an outdoor snack," babbled Lia.
Abel, however, only responded with a slight smile. Anyway, the man had won her heart over. If Dhani is who Lia thinks he is, Abel will forgive him as long as she is the last port for Dhani's love journey.
She went into the bathroom, while Lia continued enjoying her martabak. A day of not resting made the two beautiful girls sleep after cleaning themselves up.
The alarm goes off. The tiny panda-shaped clock rang loudly and trembled until it shifted position. Lia went off the couch, then disabled the alarm, and went to the bathroom.
"You forget what Mr. Willi's assignment, do you?" asked Lia.
Next …