This afternoon Diaz returned home early. He had predicted that his super-busy parents wouldn't be home until late at night. Upon arriving home, Diaz went straight to his room on the second floor. As usual he would shut himself up for the night. To his surprise, Mummy came home early from the office, where she worked.
"Yaz!" called mummy. When Diaz had just climbed the stairs. He turned to his mummy.
"Oh my God! What's wrong with your face?" Mummy realised that her son's face was bruised and covered in plasters. "Who did you fight with again?" she asked worriedly.
Diaz slowly let go of his mum's arm that had just touched his face. He said it was okay. It was just a little cut. He didn't want to make his mom worry more. He didn't want to tell his mum the truth. That he had been attacked by street buskers.
"Mom, I have a lot of schoolwork. So, I'm going to my room first," Diaz said reasonably.
"But, tell Mommy first. You're not brawling or involved in a fight between motorbike gangs, right?" Mommy confirmed it. The look of panic on her face made Diaz unable to bear to look at her.
Diaz smiled briefly to calm her mum's heart. Not at all. Her mum's worries were too much. He's not the type of person who likes to meddle in other people's business, let alone get into juvenile delinquency like that.
Diaz would rather spend his time playing games or listening to music on his mobile phone. According to him, it is more useful than brawling or joining motorbike gangs.
Mommy, you know that during school Diaz never whined for a motorbike. Or any other vehicle. So, how could he join a motorbike gang.
According to her, Diaz doesn't need such luxury items yet. Although in reality Diaz's family is classified as well-off with the high positions of his parents in well-known companies and agencies.
His father has a position as President Director in his family's hereditary company. Meanwhile, his mum is a civil servant. Their house is also quite large and located in an elite residential neighbourhood.
However, all of this did not make Diaz a stubborn, arrogant child, or like to bully others who are economically inferior to him. He was just the opposite. He loves to share his pocket money with others. After that, he didn't want to know other people's business.
"Good night, Mum. Sweet dreams," Diaz said before leaving his mum. She quickly went up to the second floor.
Even though Diaz said it was okay, his mum was suspicious. Mummy would find out secretly without her son knowing. What she feared was that her only son would get into trouble with a girl and he would be beaten up by the girl's boyfriend. Teenage problems, if not about school subjects, must be about girls, her mum practically thought. Because mummy was once young too.
Diaz placed his bag on the study table. Then, he lay down on the bed. He hoped that his mum would not guess what he had just experienced yesterday. Because of that blooming face. Now, it was not that problem that he wanted to remember tonight.
'They say that the first kiss is the hardest to forget. Ah, damn it! Why have I been imagining it all this time?' Diaz was agitated.
Diaz admitted that what happened that afternoon was the first time in his life history. His first kiss with a girl named Afika. Even though their lips were just pressed together, it was still memorable.
And until now, his heart kept pounding. How should he face tomorrow? Would Diaz be able to see Afika if they accidentally crossed paths at school later?
'Ah, I don't know.' Diaz closed his eyes and went to sleep.
***
What Diaz feared finally happened in the morning. He bumped into Afika at the school corridor. Just look at Afika's face turning red! Although Diaz was able to hold it in and act 'so cool' and take it for granted, still in his heart he tried to control himself as much as he could.
Diaz passed by Afika who was misbehaving with a flat face. Then, he turned around and saw Afika's back away from him. The girl quickened her pace as if she didn't want to see him anymore.
'How could she be so ignorant like that. Running away too,' Diaz muttered to himself. He resumed his steps.
Meanwhile, Afika had to face the inner war alone. She stopped her steps and turned right. She saw the ignorant Diaz continuing to walk towards his classroom. With that innocent look on his face, the older brother thought nothing had ever happened between them. To Afika, that was unfair. Did she have to bear her own shame?
"Oh, so after yesterday's incident it means nothing to you, you ignorant bloke!" cursed Afika. She snorted in annoyance because Diaz's attitude was too ignorant and very annoying.
Afika was busy cursing Diaz and fuming to herself. She didn't realise there was a boy behind her who she almost hit. When she was about to continue her journey to her classroom, he suddenly reprimanded her.
"Hey, watch your step!" warned Alan. Oops!
"Oh, hi Alan! Sorry. I didn't see you behind me," Afika regretted. She was so embarrassed just now. Why did Alan always come at the wrong time? When she was putting on an ugly face because she was upset.
"You often don't pay attention to your walk," Alan reminded her.
"Yes, I’m so sorry. I won't do it again next time," Afika promised.
Alan walked away while smiling at Afika. Oh my! His sweet smile melted Afika’s heart. Soon her feelings would soar thanks to his flowering heart.
"Oh God, Your servant is willing to be matched with such a handsome guy. I sincerely accept Your destiny, God," Afika prayed sincerely.
"Aamiin," said a teacher standing next to Afika. The teacher made her jump in surprise.
Afika reflexively turned her head to her right. She thought an angel had answered her prayer. In fact, it was a teacher who had been watching her in the school corridor.
"Hurry up and get to class!" the teacher ordered. "Didn't you hear the bell ring earlier?"
"I-yes." Afika rushed straight to her classroom.
The first term school holiday was almost here. All the students were excited about it. The atmosphere of a very pleasant holiday was already imagined in the eyes of every student. Some have even planned their holidays in advance.
'Holidays are only for people with money,' Afika muttered to herself.
To be continue …