Satya splashed clear and cool river water on his body, using only his palms. Now and then, he glanced at Lathifa who was sitting in the shallow river, about three steps in front of him.
It seems like there's nothing taboo for that girl to be naked in front of a guy like me, he thought. The river's water level with its white sandy bottom is only up to the stomach in a sitting position. Of course, thus, Satya could see the beauty of the curves on Lathifa's body.
And that sucks!
Doesn't she know I'm finding it increasingly difficult to contain my lust?
Damn it!
And actually, Lathifa realized that Satya had been watching her body all along.
Then she lifted her face, smiled at the man, and said, "Is there something strange about my body?"
Satya choked, then cleared his throat, looked down again, and pretended to splash water on his body.
Lathifa blushed because Satya also blushed with an unusually red face.
"Have you never bathed with a woman in your world?"
"Please… It's not like that," said Satya. "And please, don't misrepresent me. Besides, don't you feel uncomfortable?"
"Uncomfortable?"
Satya extends his arms to the sides in such a way. "Come on!" he said. "You and I are different, and we've both grown up. Don't you understand?"
"You like me?"
"Good grief!" Satya patted his forehead. "Listen, Lathi," he said. "I'm a normal man, what if I can't control my lust anymore, huh?"
Lathifa shrugged and moved her hand in such a way to the side.
"Oh, Great Goddess…" Satya let out a long and heavy sigh.
"I know," Lathi smiled blandly and looked down.
"Oh really?"
Nah, that's can't be, Satya though. In fact, since yesterday she has always accompanied me to bathe in this small river. Irritating!
"I'm confused myself too, Satya."
Satya frowned. What did she mean by that?
Lathifa lifted her face, trying to smile at Satya. "I know, maybe you think I'm an aggressive girl."
Satya shrugged his shoulders, a gesture that confirmed the girl's own words.
"I don't know…" Lathifa sighed softly and long, bowed again, and even slowly covered her large and beautiful breasts with her hands in such a way. "After I was rescued from the bottom of the sea at that time, I did realize that something had changed in me."
"Yeah, that's pretty obvious."
"No," said Lathifa, lifting her face again, and looking at Satya sadly. "What I mean is about my changing nature as it is now. And believe me, before all this happened, I was just an ugly princess who was too embarrassed to even see the world…"
Satya let out a long sigh and lowered his head. He felt guilty for making Lathifa speak like that just now.
Lathifa suddenly looks sad in Satya's eyes. Then the girl stood up, came out of the creek, grabbed her clothes, and put them on behind the bushes.
Satya took a deep breath. He didn't mean to offend Lathifa, he just felt uncomfortable if he had to take a bath together, close to each other with naked bodies.
It's a different story if this is done with respective partners, he thought. Like your girlfriend or wife.
Feeling bad that he had offended Lathifa, Satya decided to finish his bath. He came out of the small river, grabbed his long batik cloth, then wrapped it around his waist to his knees.
"Lathi, please!" said Satya after he approached Lathifa who had her back to him. He touched her shoulder. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean—"
"It's okay," said Lathifa. "Just forget it. Anyway, you're right. I shouldn't have accompanied you to bathe naked."
Satya sighed heavily and long. She did say it was okay, but it was clear from what she said that she wasn't okay.
"Never mind, we'd better go back to the hut."
The man could only follow the girl's steps without saying a word.
***
"If we're really going to visit Kencana Ireng's house," Lathifa said, "then we have to find clothes for you first."
"I can use those pants of mine."
"No, Satya. Don't you understand yet?"
"Hey, I'm not comfortable using just this batik cloth, Lathi."
"I know," said Lathifa. "But, if you wear those weird pants of yours, then people will become suspicious of you. What's more, the soldiers."
Satya took a deep breath. At least Lathifa's words made sense. His shorts were very different from people's clothes these days.
Yeah, they'll definitely suspect me.
Currently, they are sitting in the front yard of the hut while enjoying their lunch, which is only roasted sweet potatoes.
"Shirtless?" Latifa said. "Well, that's what men are used to these days. But not by just using batik cloth like you are now. Yes, I agree."
"You have a better idea?"
"Hmm, what about we steal it?"
"Good grief! You invite me to commit a crime? Stealing pants? Come on, Lathi!"
And why should I do that? Satya thought. Came from the future to the past just to be a pants thief?
Oh, Great Gods…
"Well, you've seen all the parts of my hut, haven't you?" said Lathifa, and Satya nodded. "Do you see a piece of men's clothing here?"
Satya shook his head. Except for my pants, he thought.
"There it is!" said Lathifa. "Let me do it, you can just shut up and wear those pants if I manage to steal them."
Satya then laughed softly while shaking his head.
"Why are you even laughing like that?" Latifa frowned. "You're weird!"
"No, don't misunderstand me!" said Satya. "I only thought of one thing."
"And, what is it?"
"Is that so, huh? A royal princess will steal a piece of pants?"
"Oh, Great Goddess…" Lathifa smiled shyly, looking down.
"Okay, okay," said Satya while holding back his laughter. Besides, he didn't want to offend Lathifa a second time. "I'll just go with what you're planning."
Then silence enveloped the two of them for a while. The sun may be shining quite hot in the middle of the day, but it is not felt in the area. The condition of the forest is pretty dense, causing the temperature there to be cooler.
"Satya," said Lathifa as she lifted her face, looking at the handsome face in front of her. "I'm sorry about earlier."
"Oh, Lathi," Satya took a deep breath. "I should be the one apologizing for offending you."
"You know," Lathifa bowed again, then there was a thin smile that was quite sweet on the corners of her lips. "I'm just too happy."
"Happy?"
Latifa nodded lightly. "At the very least, my wait might be over."
"I don't understand," Satya frowned.