City M
Slam!
Gretta was now alone in the kitchen, she could also hear the door closing from the living room. Then after that, she tried to tidy up the kitchen as best she could.
She dried the plate and put it on the shelf, where she had originally seen this plate taken. However, just as she was focusing on her tidying up, there was a knock on the door and Gretta, who heard it, frowned in confusion.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Who? I'm afraid to open it," murmured Gretta as she placed the cloth she uses to dry dishes on the hanger near the cupboard.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The knock sounded again and Gretta, who felt that Geana would not come out, decided to take a peek at who had come at this time of night to this small rental house.
After making sure her hands were clean, Gretta finally ventured up to the door. She walked slowly, calming her heartbeat which had doubled due to the arrival of a visitor like this.
From day to night, Gretta was not brought to see anyone by Geana. Even buying food only Geana herself goes, considering she has a fear of the streets for now.
Ukkh…
Gretta covered her mouth, trying not to let out the contents of her stomach right now as she recalled the flash of her bitter memory.
"Please, it's just a guest," she muttered to herself.
Tap!
Arriving at the door, Gretta saw first who was outside through a small hole.
From here she could see the back of a person, who she guessed must be a man from the posture of his broad shoulders. Again, that fear almost overtook her when she was confronted though indirectly with a man.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
She quickly stepped away from the peephole with her hand on her chest. She even took a deep breath and regained her composure.
"Calm down Gretta calm down!"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Gretta yelped in surprise at the knock. She stared at the door with biting lips, then decided in her heart to keep it open. She didn't want to make Geana's guests wait and end up with an uncomfortable Geana.
"Come on, you can Gretta," she whispered softly as she reached over to the doorknob and unlocked it after locking the door.
Creak!
"L-looking for who?" stammered Gretta.
A man who originally turned her back to now turned towards her, showing a handsome face that now looks frowning, seems curious and confused.
"Who are you?" said the man back asking. "Open the door, I want to come in," he continued commanding in a rough voice, when he only saw the faceless blonde mane of the person who opened the door to the boarding house of the working woman who was monitored and at the same time her own friend.
"Eh! No-can't, Gea-
"Hey! Open the door-
Thump!
They both fell silent when their eyes met. Gretta, who was silent, was shocked when suddenly the man who forced her to enter and the man who was now swept away by the eyes as beautiful as the afternoon sky in front of him.
"Beautiful," the man mumbled without realizing he was admiring Gretta openly, who was shaking with fear.
"G-go!"
"Hey! What do you mean?" said the man who woke up dreamily admiring him.
Creak!
The bedroom door opened, Geana who saw Gretta trembled in fear in front of the entrance, suddenly turned around in surprise. She could also hear the sound of someone always watching her at the door, making her feel even more bad for Gretta.
Tap!
"Gretta!" cried Geana as she grabbed Gretta's body, then hugged her tightly and left the door ajar, without any intention of opening it first.
Grip!
Geana tightly hugged Gretta's trembling body as she said the word 'go' over and over again though softly.
She really didn't know if Gretta, who she thought was fine, had a trauma with men.
"Gretta, calm down, I'm here," Geana whispered softly, hoping that Gretta would hear her and come back okay.
"Not going…."
"Hei Ana! Why that woman?"
Geana turned her head and looked at the person who called her Ana (her nickname at the club) with a slightly annoyed look.
"Chiko, you can leave here first. I'll tell you later," explained Geana quickly when the man called Chiko was about to reject her.
"You can't, you yesterday-
"I'm working! Can't you see I'm already wearing a uniform? Anyway, yesterday I had permission with you, how come," interrupted Geana this time, really annoyed, when she received a rejection from the man who was now breathing, furious.
"I'll wait for the front! Don't be long, you know I'm evading-
"Yes, I understand, Chiko. So please, leave now."
Again Geana quickly interrupted the man's words this time accordingly, the man left after closing the door with a small thud which was a good response, for Gretta who slowly began to calm down in Geana's arms.
Slam!
After making sure the door was closed, as well as the sound of footsteps getting further away from her boarding house, Geana slowly loosened her arms when she felt Gretta began to calm down.
Geana painstakingly wiped the sweat on Gretta's forehead, then held the young woman's face and turned it towards her, right in her eyes, which were now clashing with each other.
"Are you afraid? Are you afraid of men?" asked Geana carefully, wanting to make sure it was clear what Gretta was feeling right now.
Gretta shook her head but also nodded uncertainty, she stared with wild eyes and immediately held the two hands that were perched on her cheeks.
"No, I don't know, Gea," squeaked Gretta.
She didn't really know what she was feeling right now. She obviously felt fine at first, but when she came face-to-face with a man like a moment ago, she was somehow that scared.
"What about me? Are you afraid of me now?" Again, Geana confirmed and this time a shake of the head was sure to be the answer.
"No, of course not," Gretta said quickly. "I'm not afraid of men either. I just, I just felt like I went back to that night when I saw men," she continued explaining.
Geana had guessed that Gretta would definitely be traumatized after the incident. However, hearing this evasive answer from Gretta only worried her even more.
"Okay I understand, don't worry about it. You just rest in your room," said Geana, trying not to ask again. "Well! While I'm working, you don't even open the door, anyone but me is here. Do you understand?" she continued to emphasize.
Gretta's face still showed a bad state. However, Geana still received a nod that made her secretly exhale, worried.
"Um, fine."
"Okay, now I'll take you to your room okay. Then you go to sleep and don't think about anything else, okay?" said Geana as she helped Gretta up from her seat.
Gretta didn't answer, she just obeyed with a nod and stood with Geana who was now leading her to the front door of the room.
Geana also opened the door, then let Gretta get on the bed and help put the blanket up to her chest.
"That's it, forget about it. Now sleep and I'm off to work," added Geana after making sure Gretta was properly covered by the blanket.
Gretta nodded slightly, then hid half of her face under the blanket. "Be careful, Gea," she squeaked.
"Yes. Close your eyes," said Geana then left the room after receiving a nod.
For a moment she looked back and still saw Gretta who was watching her from under the blanket he was wearing. She also briefly stopped and lowered her head, with a small sigh.
Should I take Gretta to a psychiatrist? But, I don't have enough money, Geana thought.
Geana walked back and opened the door, then completely left Gretta who was still watching Geana's movements.
Slam!
The door was closed by Geana gently, she leaned her body against the door leaf and turned her face up there.
Another breath was heard from Geana, who was quietly carried away by her old daydream.
Ah! Why did he come to that, is it worse than my bad experience?
Geana could only ask herself, before finally deciding to meet Chiko who must be waiting for her downstairs according to her request.
After all, why did Chiko go to her boarding house for all kinds of things, it just made her annoyed just because she had one day off last night.
Yes, for helping Gretta to be exact.
"Okay, it's time to face reality. You damn auntie," Geana sighed tired of her angry curse.