Siska saw people passing by from the arrival gate of Soekarno Hatta Airport. She seemed hesitant to come forward and see someone she was waiting for her arrival up close because, for a long time, the two had no longer met after about thirteen months. The guy she would pick up was her own best friend. More precisely, new friends, they decided to be friends the past few months. Andi, who is now seen from a distance, has appeared and knows that Siska has been waiting for him.
Siska waved her hand as Andi emerged from the airport's arrival door. He had just returned from Uncle Sam's country. Andi smiled and gave a wave of Siska's hand. The guy was confused about seeing someone next to Siska, who he didn't recognise.
"Andi, that's so cute, and you're just best friends?!" Maria tilted her head and whispered to Siska as she waited for Andi to walk up to them.
Hearing Mary's words, she just smiled. She deliberately asked Maria to accompany her to pick up Andi for fear of being awkward when she met the guy at the meeting.
"Keep going. I'm also curious, anyway—your friendship is like backstreet. Even your brother, Daffa, was not given to know that you are friends. You even know that I am not how much this is," said Maria, humble.
Siska sighed for a moment.
"Do you know that Andi is my sister-in-law's little friend, Fera? I don't want to take her place just because I feel comfortable and have a friendly relationship in a few months. Yes, I'm afraid to be said pretentiously. After all, we are comfortable like this."
"What do you mean, anyway? I don't understand." Maria looked at Siska's incomprehension.
"I will be clear later. Andi has been dated," he whispered.
"Hi, Sis!" exclaimed Andi.
Andi came to the two girls. They shook hands after Siska introduced Maria first to Andi. Then, without lingering, the three went straight to the car park and hit the gas to one of the Padang restaurants. Andi was sitting in the driver's position while Siska was next to her, and Maria was in the back alone.
"Guys, sorry if I disturbed the moment of the two of you," she said quietly.
"Maria?!" exclaimed Siska as she turned her body back and pinched her friend's thigh.
That's how Maria, too much talk is her nature since the first time Siska knew her. She was a friend who could be trusted and exceptionally meritorious to Siska. The two 'reunited' after so many years. They were in the same school when they entered elementary school. Maria's humble personality made her the only person who helped Siska when her friend bullied her at school. As a result, Siska is more often silent in class when the break time arrives, and Maria is the one who always invites her to rest together or bring her food from the canteen.
When Mrs Arni decided to get Siska out of the school and give her a homeschooling education, Maria was the saddest among her friends who laughed. Since then, the two never met again until, at one time, Siska visited Daffa's office because of an affair. While looking through the files on her brother's desk, there was a proposal file where a photo of someone very familiar to her.
Maria Stefany Hardison. Siska knew the name very well, and sure enough, it was her friend's name when she was in elementary school. Siska then asks Daffa to accept Maria as her employee. Without a doubt, Daffa also received it because Maria had the qualified skills to be hired in his office.
"So, you won't go back to America, Ndi?" asked Siska as she waited for the waiter to serve food at her table.
"Probably, no. I will stay here because there is a new project at my job."
"Your innate is a lot. So, most of you, go home, huh? Hehe," Maria chirped.
"Yes, Mar. Anyway, I'm bored over there. Although many families already live there, I still miss life in Indonesia. Uh, how're the Twins? Can't wait to meet them," Andi continued.
"Oh, they are so adorable, Ndi. I'm proud to be their aunt, haha. The funny thing is, kinda looks like Kak Daffa, the Devin looks like Kak Fera!"
"I'm proud to have such a cute twin nephew. Like, what a dream!"
Siska's purpose in picking up Andi is not solely because she longs to meet. However, they plan to stop by Fera's house first to see the adorable twins.
After finishing eating, they went straight to Daffa and Fera's house. Andi, who came with Siska, quite surprised Fera because Andi only told him that he would go home.
"So, you guys together?" asked Fera in surprise.
Again Fera kept thousands of questions. But, until now, neither Siska nor Andi said anything about the clarity of their relationship. Andi, busy playing with his best friend's children, was no longer keen to confide in Fera. Instead, perhaps, he wants to care for Fera's privacy and himself.
"Where else are you going, Ndi?"
"To my old house, Fer."
"So, not in the same way with Siska anymore?"
"No. Andi just dropped me here. I plan to go to the office tomorrow with Maria and Kak Daffa. Hehe," chirped Siska.
Before long, Andi came home leaving two gifts for her best friend's two babies. It came as he said goodbye to Siska on the house's porch.
"I'll go home now."
"Yes, be careful, Ndi."
Andi smiled at the girl while rubbing his hands on Siska's head.
The cold night accompanied by heavy rain in the city of Bandung seemed to support the atmosphere of the two young girls, Maria and Siska, to confide in each other. Maria, waiting for Siska's story, unceasingly asked Daffa's sister.
"Sis, you still owe me the same answer," grumbled Maria.
"What?"
Siska smiled, pretending not to know. But, of course, it made Maria grumble irritably.
"Come on, Siska. Tell everything to me!"
"Hahaha. I don't mean to backstreet anyway. I'm just ashamed of them because it's the first time I've been able to do that long as it's the same guy. Moreover, the guy is my brother-in-law's best friend," Siska explained.
"Hmm, it's weird that you are. If I look at it, you guys are not suitable for friends. But, it's suitable for dating, hahaha."
"I am the same as Andi. The same is true in taking care of each other's hearts. We both have our fears about commitment. So, we better follow the flow first. I don't know how he is the same as me about his feelings, which is clear. Yes, live it first."
"Well, it's not clear you guys are. But, isn't it easy for you to be friends with someone? Are you sure, make friends with him who you think you know?"
"Of course, I was afraid and doubted Andi. I think he wants to be friends with me because I'm his best friend's sister-in-law. At first, I also had a suspicion that he would use me as a dream because he had a story of being rejected by his first love. But, over time, his attitude did not show such rich things, maybe just my fear." Siska sipped her hot chocolate milk.
"What is he doing until you are sure he is a good person?" asked Maria.
"I don't do anything specific, anyway. It's just that his honesty makes me sure that he is sincere."
"Know where he is sincere? Are you just chatting?" said Maria.
"I'm not taking it personally either, but he said to himself that if one of us appears to have a feeling of likes, it's better to hold it first until we can meet and get to know each other more deeply in the real world. So that's why we both take care of each other's hearts."
At least, that's what Siska told Maria. Although long distances, she is happy to remember when he and Andi gave each other news and said about each other's experiences and others. And stupidly, now she still feels awkward when she meets Andi before. However, she is sure that this groggy feeling will not arise if she interacts directly with that guy.
"Ah, how come I'm the one you want to be? You see, look, he's ok. And nature is also sweet and good even at a glance. Uh, but it's also true that he said anyway, how do you guys know each other first. The courtship business is not his. How will it be? In my opinion, it's more mature than ghosting, right?"
"Well, that's what I mean, Mar. Regarding the taste, maybe I try not to be too sensitive."
After a while, Siska's cell phone vibrated. She hurriedly opened the phone, which seemed to be a message from Andi from afar.
Seeing Siska, who was silent without being seen replying to the message, Maria was then astonished.
"The message from Andi, he asked if I'll go to work at the boutique or not. So tomorrow, I will over time."
"So? Just reply to his message! Don't be so difficult, Siska!"
It is also true what Mary said. Siska already felt confident that the guy would take her for a walk without knowing Andi's true intentions. But, realising it was embarrassing, she immediately replied to Andi's message.
'Yes, Andi. Why?'
'What time? I'll pick you up, ok?'