"Oh, this practice of changing hair shape with chemicals is one of your group assignments?" asked Aunt Rosi, who managed to make me more confused. What group study? We didn't talk about this before.
"But-"
"Cook, you forgot, Lam and our group study promise yesterday," added Ricky. I understand Ricky's group study meant an appointment with him and me.
"But I—"
"Well...let's go!" half forced Ricky to drag me from the seat, "Aunt... we'll say goodbye, okay, after we finish studying. I'll return the patchouli."
"Be careful, Rick! Take care of her, okay! She's the only antique nephew Auntie has!"
That's an unfunny compliment. Antique? I'm not an object worthy of display in the Muri museum. Why do you call me antique?
"Why?" Ricky asked. I shrieked in surprise. His hands tried to force mine not to cover my strange hair.
"Sorry, I... I—" I said, wanting to cry, "I'm weird today. I should have canceled today, I—"
"You're beautiful," I looked at Ricky's handsome face. Her sad brown eyes seemed to anesthetize me, "Do you want your hair to be curly, straight, spiky, or not. In my eyes, you are still beautiful."
Is he kidding?
He pulled me again on a motorbike I didn't know. Who else's motorbike is this loan, that's clear? Thanks to Ricky's helmet, at least I feel safe. People wouldn't see the face of the owner of the weird hair, would they?
It wasn't long before we got on the motorbike and headed down the highway. Ricky pulled up his motorbike in front of the school. School. So... my birthday present is this school? I do not know.
"So... Genta and Lala are inside?" I asked, confused. He didn't answer. His demeanor returned to the cold side of Ricky I used to know.
I was so scared I lowered my face while following his steps. He opened the school gates. In fact, on Sunday, the gate is closed, and I don't know to who he got the key.
"Wait, over there," he orders. Asked me to sit on the school park bench. I followed his orders without asking because I didn't want to get a tantrum from him.
After leaving for a while, he came back carrying a rather large box of instant noodles. He gave it to me, is this my present? Instant noodles as—cardboard? Or is it Ricky replaces it with a bomb as a show of revenge for me seeing the box isolated by him?
"Happy Birthday," he said, handing me the box sitting next to me.
"I... yes."
"Open."
"I... yes."
"Do not!"
"I... yes."
"I want to talk first."
"Yes."
"You know I'm not a romantic guy. So instead of worrying about a gift for you, I have another alternative. I'll buy what you need, not what you want. I'm sure a girl like you doesn't need dolls or flowers. roses, or chocolate, right?" I had a horrible feeling about it.
"Y... yes."
"So... now open."
I obeyed his orders and pulled the end of the brown tape covering the cardboard. My eyes almost popped out, seeing what was in it. Ricky gave me anything I needed. And that made me even more speechless.
"Are you happy?"
"Hah?" I asked, confused. "This—" I cut off. There were a dozen notebooks, a dozen pens and pencils, an eraser and a box, a package book, and the last one... sanitary napkins of various brands.
"After the class meeting, we enter the new semester, and you can use the books and pens. So you don't have to bother buying them. The package books are complete until we are in third grade. And that last one..." he paused as if he was wrong. Act. In fact, at this time, the one whose face was red was me.
"I don't know what pads you use, so I bought some for your monthly supply."
"Oh," I said. Should I thank Ricky for his responsiveness? But I can't hide my embarrassment now. How could Ricky have the idea of giving me a sanitary napkin as a gift? Of the many rows of goods, why should sanitary napkins?
"You don't like it?"
"Love it! Thank you."
"And--" he cut off, was there more gifts besides this?
"What?"
"There's a surprise gift from me."
"Oh yes?"
"Try .. here, I'll do your beautiful hair."
"But-"
"Ugh!" excited. I obeyed again, shortening our distance. My heart feels weird when I'm near him. Ricky's scent almost made me faint.
"So brake for a moment."
"Why?"
"A surprise gift for you, would you like it?"
I nodded. Instead of him getting angry, I'd better obey, right? Initially, the prize wasn't something weird anymore. I closed my eyes, but he didn't give me anything. Oh! I'm sure he'll give me a necklace, or a ring? Oh my God, Nilam... realized. Who are you, and who is Ricky? You guys are like earth and sky. Why do you expect strange things from him? You're not even sure if Ricky loves you, are you?
"Already,"
I couldn't help but freeze on the spot when he said he had done that to me, I mean... to my lips. He... pressed his lips to mine, he... kissed me? Instantly I held my lips which had just touched his. I feel strange when the supple and moist thing sticks to my lips.
"I guarantee you won't catch the virus because I kiss you," he said with a big smile.
"Hah?" I said, still conscious—and—no. This isn't a dream.