''So it's true, you like her?!" Anindira exclaimed, grumbling. This time it was clear that Anindira's voice was whining because she was annoyed.
Halvir stopped his steps and looked straight into Anindira's eyes. His eyes looked searching with a furrowed forehead, his head was slightly tilted, silent for a few moments, confirming his thoughts.
''Are you angry?'' Halvir asked back without taking his eyes off Anindira.
''When did I get angry?'' Anindira asked with a wrinkled forehead, glaring a little at Halvir, but several times her eyeballs rolled.
''Now!'' Halvir shouted firmly, ''Now you're angry!'' Halvir shouted again, he repeated it aloud.
''No,'' Anindira immediately answered Halvir with a challenging face, ''Where am I angry?... What should I be angry about?'' asked Anindira about then. She firmly tried to avoid it.
''I don't know!'' Halvir shouted in response, ''But, I know you're angry right now…'' continued Halvir with a stern face, he was still standing, not yet taking a step and still looking into Anindira's eyes.
''Me?!'' Anindira exclaimed with a frown, ''When?... Where?... Where did I look angry?'' asked Anindira with bulging eyes, and both hands cupped Halvir's face.
Anindira wanted to deny what Halvir said, but her heartbeat couldn't lie, let alone Halvir, even Anindira herself almost heard it.
''Yes!'' exclaimed Halvir, nodding, ''You're angry... Now!... Right here!... Just now... Even your heart was so noisy,'' Halvir continued to answer firmly.
Anindira reflexively covered her chest with both hands when she heard Halvir's words. Instantly she also realized that since earlier her thoughts and speech had been messed up. Anindira's face was no longer able to hide her feelings, but this time what was seen wasn't jealousy, but shame.
''Erm... Sorry, I'm not angry... That, um... '' Anindira said nervously, confused about what she wanted to explain, that she didn't know what was happening to her. Her heart felt heavy like a boulder was blocking the door, but her brain felt very confused.
Anindira didn't know, ''Why is she angry?''..., ''What's wrong with the village head's daughter?''..., ''Why is she annoyed with her?''..., those questions were without fully aware of Anindira's thoughts constantly spinning in her head.
"You've been angry since you talked about Zia, your tone has changed since you talked about it," said Halvir.
He reiterated the matter to Anindira, continuing to stare at Anindira, looking for an answer from the look in her eyes.
''Yes, I know,'' said Anindira, slipping in the answer because she was busy thinking about her annoyance with Zia.
''So it's true because of Zia?'' exclaimed Halvir asked.
Halvir reiterated what he, as well as Anindira, was thinking. He finally got a definite answer. After confirming Anindira's expression, Halvir's face, which had been tense before, now calmed down a bit.
''Why? What does your anger have to do with Zia?'' Halvir asked again in a firm tone.
Anindira could only remain silent, unable to answer Halvir's question.
Halvir changed positions, lifting Anindira from his arms but not putting her down. He sat cross-legged from his standing position, and placed Anindira on his lap, tilting Anindira slightly so he could be face to face with her.
Anindira was still silent and even lowered her head, hiding her face.
''Dira!'' Halvir called in a firm tone.
''Look at me!'' shouted Halvir, commanding still with firmness.
''Dira,'' called Halvir again with a bit of pressure in his voice, ''Look at me!... Don't hide your face!'' Halvir shouted firmly, but his gaze was gentle when Halvir pinched Anindira's chin, making his face look up and look straight at Halvir.
''Dira, I like your eyes that always look straight at me, I like your sincere eyes that always look into mine... Dira...'' Halvir's finger touched Anindira's chin, and lifted it slowly and gently, making Anindira's head finally look up at Halvir.
''Dira...'' called Halvir gently this time, ''We are on our way to the village head's house, I will leave you to him... I will go to the Lion Kingdom, and it is a long and tiring journey...'' said Halvir gently, ''On the way later, I have to look for additional game, just two lions will not be enough,'' added Halvir, answered by Anindira's sad gaze.
''Dira... Understand! All that must be done now. Otherwise, there won't be enough time to cover all our needs later... I'm afraid this year's winter will be long, therefore I also have to quickly return to the Forbidden Forest to look for *Amber... What I have now, I'm afraid I won't be able to do enough for you,'' Halvir continued, explaining with his mind all the needs of his household to Anindira.
''Be patient! Don't sulk!... Dira, you are a tough woman, I admire you... If you are like this, my heart will always be restless later. I will always worry about you on my way later, it will make me nervous.''
Halvir's words were immediately stopped by Anindira's answer.
"Havi isn't that... Sorry, I messed up earlier... I've troubled you a lot, you've done everything for me... I'm trying not to burden you. I'll learn more so I can be more independent. I don't think I can continue to depend on you, I...'' Anindira's words were not finished, now Halvir immediately cut her off.
Halvir stopped Anindira's words by tapping his forehead against Anindira's forehead gently.
''Dira!... What is the burden? You are not my burden at all, your needs are my responsibility…'' Halvir replied while looking at Anindira, ''Why do you have to be afraid to make me bother?!'' Halvir asked firmly.
Halvir paused for a few moments while looking directly at Anindira into her black eyes with a serene gaze.
''I admit... I wasn't prepared at all. I admit I was wrong, I'l wasted all this time. But, from now on, I will prepare thoroughly. So, in the next period, we will be ready. Don't ever be afraid to make me bother!'' continued Halvir with sharp eyes, ''When you hold back your feelings... when you hold back your desires like you are doing now... It makes my heart hurt…'' added Halvir firmly, Halvir's hand cupped Anindira's face, stroking it.
''But Havi...'' Anindira had not finished rebutting, and Halvir immediately stopped her by pinching her mouth.
''Dira, it seems you do not understand it. Listen to me carefully!... Since I brought you, it means that I am your potential spouse... And, about Zia, I know who she is, I know her because she is the Village Chief's daughter. I have known her since she was born, she is my niece Dira, nothing more!'' exclaimed Halvir, firmly explaining to Anindira, ''Since I decided that I would be your mate, I will not see another woman! That's what you should know,'' shouted Halvir, continuing to emphasize without blinking, his eyes kept staring intently at Anindira.
Anindira was silent with bulging eyes, she was stunned by Halvir's statement. She was shocked, speechless, and just stared at Halvir silently. With a red face, Halvir lifted Anindira and carried her back.
''Come on!'' Halvir asked, ''We are going to the Village Chief's house. Don't be annoyed with Zia anymore! I only see her as the village chief's daughter, my niece, nothing more!'' exclaimed Halvir, he reaffirmed his feelings with his face as straight as usual.
''Um…'' nodded Anindira replied.
For a moment, Anindira was suddenly silent as if connecting, something that had broken up in her head, but finally, after connecting, a smile returned to her blushing face.
''Only Eum?!'' Halvir asked, ''I don't want you to be burdened with thoughts about Zia!'' Halvir exclaimed, reiterating, ''Zia is indeed beautiful, but she is only my niece, in my eyes, there is only you, there will be no other woman!'' shouted Halvir continued, and he continued to emphasize his explanation.
Anindira blushed, but a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
Finally, Halvir is satisfied after seeing Anindira's reaction. That's enough for now. Because Anindira had calmed down, Halvir stepped back, continuing his original plan to head for the Village Head's house.
''Dira...'' Halvir called to Anindira who was blooming in his arms, ''I'm serious, think about what I said earlier! I'm proposing to you... Give me your answer when I get home!'' Halvir shouted firmly and kept walking, looking forward.
Anindira was surprised once again.
Not long ago, Halvir made it clear that he would not look at other women and now he is proposing to her directly. Far from romantic, but that has made the flowers in Anindira's heart spread everywhere.
Anindira just silently watched Halvir without any reaction. Deep inside she was cheering, but even so, there was a doubt and a feeling of anxiety in Anindira's heart that Halvir didn't know about. However, Anindira is only a very young teenage girl, she understands very well the relationship Halvir means. But, did she have to accept it without her parents knowing? That made Anindira silently frustrated.
*****