"Lia … please deliver the flowers to Mrs. Mirna's place later, okay? And please pick up your brother because he called me."
"Duhhh, why don't you said to take public transport, Mom? It's going to be messy on there when school leave," protested Lia, pursing her lips because she didn't agree with her mother's orders.
"It's in the same direction, Lia ... just go ahead. It's the same with your brother, is that so?" the mother said so while gently nudging the shoulder of the her girl. Because both hands are carrying a bunch of fresh-cut flowers.
"My brother likes to make noise."
"Hihihi, it's not only Ares like that. But you too," said the mother, chuckling a musedly, while Lia pursed her lips even more in annoyance.
Not wanting to prolong the debate which would only make the girl more upset, Sekar— Lia's Mommy decided to resume her flower cutting activities, to be delivered to customers who had ordered later.
The task of delivering flowers ordered by customers is usually delegated to the public transport driver who is a member of Lia's family. However, because Mr. public transport was not feeling well, finally Lia prepared to take the flower. As of that day, she had no class schedule.
After finishing separating the flowers as ordered, Lia rushed to get ready to deliver. Meanwhile, the mother is still busy making some notes for Lia to bring later.
"Lia goes, Ma'am."
"Be careful, My Girl. Don't forget to finish dropping off later and pick up Ares."
"Yes, Ma'am, yes," said Lia in a lazy tone, then kissed the back of her mother's hand respectfully before leaving.
---
Lia has finished delivering all orders to customers. And now, she was on her way to pick up Ares in him school. Lazy, very lazy because the streets in the school area of his brother will be very busy if it coincides with school hours. If it wasn't for her mother asking for it, Lia wouldn't want to pick him up at all.
Sure enough, when she arrived in front of her brother's school, the bustle of human activities that were almost carried out simultaneously, really made Lia feel stuffy. Finally, she decided to pull over a bit away from the school gate. Half grumbling, Lia sent a message to Ares to get out quickly because she was already waiting.
"Nareswara Mettadeva, Hurry Up! I'm already outside." Fiercely, Lia sent a voice note to his brother because he had not read the message.
"Oh my gosh, Ares is taking too long. I stayed home a long time too." Lia continues to grumble because her brother never shows the bridge of his nose.
Not long after, what she had been waiting for finally arrived. With an innocent face and grinning like a horse, Ares drew closer to Lia. The second-year high school boy seemed to feel uncomfortable because he had made his only sister wait.
"Sis Lia, I'm sorry. I …."
"Hurry up. It's been a long time, I'm tired of waiting for you, Res. I've been playing around with it."
"I passed by the teacher, Sis. Yes, let's go home. My sister is fierce," Ares said while pursing his lips and wearing the helmet given by Lia.
"How fierce?!" said Lia curtly which instantly made Ares laugh.
"Haha, yes fierce. Are you fierce or fierce, Sis?" instead of apologizing for mocking his brother, Ares teased him instead.
Lia didn't answer anything, but her beautiful eyes glared sharply at her brother who was laughing even more.
"It's okay, I'm fierce, I still love you my sister, hehe." So said Ares, then immediately took a ride and wrapped his arms around his sister's stomach.
"Ares! Let go of it, you hold it tight."
"Nothing. It's because sis Lia brings her motorbike, she's going to be speeding right if she's riding with me? Do you admit it?!"
Hearing this, Lia immediately laughed loudly. Because what his brother said is the truth. But even so, what Lia did was just a short joke. Because she will always be careful when driving a motorcycle. Especially if she traveling with her brother.
That's Lia. Even though she is known to be fierce to her brother, he loves Ares very much. Even Ares even feels happy when his sister is angry with him. Because that's the nature of the sister Camellia Mettadevi; fierce but loving.
***
After having dinner together, Lia with her mother and father gathered together in the living room to record and calculate the results of today's flower sales. No matter how much they got, they never once complained. The small family of Bimo's father is truly grateful for what God has given them.
"Tomorrow is closed for a day. Dadd wants to check in the hospital; Lia also has a class schedule," Sekar the mother gave a suggestion when they had finished calculating their income.
"Yes, Ma'am. Ah ... I remember that I haven't bought paper to print assignments. It's done, isn't it, Mom-Dadd? I want out for a while. It's not too late."
"Ahhh, Mom said sorry Lia. Because you have to deliver flowers, your assignments is to be tethered."
"No, ma'am. Lia has done it, just print it. So ..."
Before Lia had finished speaking, Ares came out of the room and was wearing a jacket and training pants which immediately surprised the whole house.
"Where are you going, Res?" asked Lia.
"Hehe, big Sister wants to go out, right? Come on!" he answered cheerfully, which instantly received a punch from Lia on the shoulder.
"Just be careful if you ask for a snack," Lia answered as a sign to allow her sister to come along.
Sekar and Bimo as their parents just smiled and shook their heads, watching the behavior of their two children who are now grown up. Again, they often fight over trivial things but love each other.
---
Lia already got the paper she needed, then invited her brother to stop by at one of the closest minimarkets.
"Buy it, whatever. Today, I have extra money," said Lia to Ares when she was in front of the drink rack.
"Well, that's it, Sister. Haha. Wait a minute, I'll be there."
Lia just nodded without looking at her brother. She returned to choose the drink she wanted to buy. But when she was about to take the drink she wanted, almost simultaneously another hand was about to take it.
Spontaneously Lia withdrew her hand, then apologized and allowed the person to take it. Meanwhile, she returned to choose another drink.
"Eh, you… you're that handkerchief girl, aren't you?"
Hearing someone talking nearby, Lia's reflex turned around. And suddenly he remembered that a man in front of him now was the one who thanked him for this afternoon.
"Oh, you… the one whose friend is allergic to pollen, huh?" guessed Lia who was immediately greeted by Angga's happy nod.
"That's very true. Finally able to meet you again. Honestly, I was confused because I haven't properly thanked you." Full of hospitality, Angga said so with a happy face.
Lia only smiled when she saw the sincerity that radiated from the face of the man in front of her. In his heart, she felt foreign and as she had never met in this area. And Lia's guess was not wrong when Angga honestly explained that he had just come from Jakarta.
"Erlangga Rahagi. Just call me Angga." Friendly, Angga reached out to Lia who was warmly welcomed by him.
"I'm Lia. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too. If I may ask, do you live in this area?"
"Yes, I live here. My parents own a cut flower business. Oh yeah, sorry if I'm a little confused. Emmm ... how is your friend who is allergic to it? is he okay? Honestly, I often see people allergic to pollen. So, I feel a little worried about him." Lia asked that because she felt sorry for allergy sufferers.
"Oh, He's alright. Because I immediately took the medicine I bought at the pharmacy. He does have an allergy to pollen. And unfortunately, the medicine was left behind in Jakarta," explained Angga with a small laugh.
Somehow… in front of Lia at this time, she could even act like a normal man. But it was very different when dealing with Evan because with him he felt very stupid and did not emit a charismatic aura at all.
"Thanks God. Don't forget to wear a mask when you go out. Because there will be many florists here, okay? This city gets the nickname is The City Of Flowers. Yes ... just in case," said Lia to Angga who nodded in understanding by the young man.
"My Sister, I have already chosen. Let us go home." Suddenly Ares appeared carrying various kinds of food and drinks that filled his right and left hands. There were so many, he held them to his chest so he wouldn't fall.
Lia rolled her eyes, annoyed at the behavior of her brother who was blackmailing her. Those beautiful eyes bulged again, but only an ugly grin from Ares returned.
"If He call you sister ... is he your brother?" asked Angga, one eyebrow raised.
"Yes. Who is this? Sis Lia's boyfriend, right? How come I don't know?"
A pinch flew to his waist, as Ares innocently said that. Instantly it made Angga chuckle, while Ares grimaced in pain.
"You'd better finish the payment as soon as possible before your sister gets a lot of behavior. Haha. Once again, thank you, Lia."
"Ah, you're right. And you're welcome, Angga. Bye-bye," said Lia in a hurry, while pushing her brother's body to walk towards the cashier.
Fiercely, Lia continued to pinch her brother's waist which had embarrassed him in front of new people. Then, she kept cursing incessantly at Ares.
From a distance, it turns out that Angga still pays attention to Lia and his brother. He still wanted to talk a lot. But for some reason, being near Lia made his heart beat faster, so he felt overwhelmed.
'What happened with my heartbeat?'
---
Arriving at the home, Angga immediately rushed to join Evan, who was relaxing in the living room.
"Where's my order?" Evan asked without changing his lying position at all.
"It's on the table. Van, Van, earlier I met the girl who gave you a handkerchief." With a beaming face, Angga said this which instantly made Evan half jump from his bed.
"Are you serious?" he asked.
"Yeah, it's time for me to lie. Ohhh… she's so beautiful."
"What's her name? Have you said thank you yet? Then, ask for the address and the same phone number, right? The handkerchief is still in my place." Without pausing at all, Evan asked Angga a question that succeeded in making the young man gape.
"H-her name is… her name is Lia. And I'm already said thank you. She also advised, she said, don't forget to wear a mask. But ..."
"Don't tell me you didn't ask for her address or phone number?" Evan fiercely looked at Angga who could only grin the usual ugly way when he made a mistake.
"Ah! How stupid is that?!"
"Well, why are you so angry? So sensitive. I'll looking for it later. We already know her name and she live in this area too. So, easy to find." Angga lightly said that even though he was not at all sure that he could find Lia.
"Don't do it! Let me find out myself."
***