It was around 5 p.m. when my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID and saw it was Zahiri. Wondering what could be so urgent, I answered the call.
"Hey, Zahiri. What's up?" I asked, and my curiosity piqued.
Zahiri sounded worried as he replied, "Do you have any idea what's wrong with Adhi? He's been acting strange today."
The mention of Adhi immediately made me concerned. "I'm not sure," I replied, my voice filled with concern. "What's been going on?" Zahiri explained that it was Adhi's birthday today, and they had secretly planned a surprise birthday bash for him later in the evening. However, Adhi had skipped his usual evening practice session, which was highly unusual for him. Moreover, when they tried contacting him earlier, Adhi mentioned that he wasn't feeling well and decided to pass on his birthday celebration this year. "Don't worry, Zahiri; I'll go check on Adhi right away," I assured him.
I felt guilty for yelling at Adhi on his birthday. The words echoed in my mind, tormenting me as I cursed myself for spoiling what should have been a joyous celebration. Determined to make amends, I decided to buy a cake for him as an apology. With a heavy heart, I walked to the nearby bakery and purchased a delicious almond-flavored cake. The sun had set by the time I made my way to Adhi's room, located on the fifteenth floor.
I took a deep breath and knocked on the door, my anticipation mingling with nerves. Adhi's voice wafted through the door, weak and feeble. "Guys, I'm not feeling well. Please leave. I'm sleeping." My heart sank for Adhi. Had my harsh words caused him to fall ill? Concern trumped my guilt as I spoke up, determined to help him. "It's me, Tara. Can you open the door? I can check on your illness. If something's serious, I can take you to the hospital," I said, my voice trembling with worry. After a moment of silent hesitation, Adhi cautiously unlocked the door. As it creaked open, the room revealed itself, shrouded in darkness. I went to switch on the light in the living room, but as I reached for the switch, I heard Adhi's voice from the darkness. "You don't need to check on me. I'm not in the mood to celebrate my birthday today," he said, his voice quiet and somber. "That's why I skipped Zahiri's invite." My hand froze mid-air, and I stood there in silence for a minute, trying to comprehend his words. I hadn't realized it was his birthday. How could I have been so thoughtless? Guilt washed over me, and I took a step closer to him. "Adhi, I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice laden with regret. "I should not have yelled at you. I did not know it was your birthday. Can you forgive me?" There was a pause, and then his voice came back, softer this time. "I will forgive you this time," he said. Relief flooded through me, and I couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, Adhi," I said sincerely. "I bought a cake for you," I announced, holding it out to him. "Can we celebrate?" Adhi's eyes softened with surprise, and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Since you bought it already, why waste it?" he said, a gentle warmth in his voice. "Let's celebrate."
We walked onto the balcony. It was a beautiful sight, with stars twinkling like precious gems scattered across a deep blue canvas. In my hands, I held a small, delicately decorated cake. The candle's flickering flame dancing in the darkness brought an air of celebration. This was no ordinary night; it was Adhi's birthday. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself and smiled. "Happy birthday, Adhi!" I greeted him with genuine warmth. He returned my smile, his eyes sparkling with gratitude. "Thank you, Tara." With a soft whisper, he closed his eyes and made a wish before leaning forward to blow out the solitary candle.
"So, Tara," he began, a playful tone in his voice, "where's my gift?" I blinked, caught off guard by his question. "Isn't this cake a gift from me?" I asked, my voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. Adhi's smile widened, a glimmer of challenge evident. "This cake is for an apology," he teased, "but where's my actual gift?" I fell silent, pondering his words. Perhaps he had a point. I had put so much effort into planning this surprise, but now I find myself empty-handed. A mischievous glint danced in Adhi's eyes as he broke the silence. "I suppose I could punish you instead," he suggested slyly. Intrigued, I raised an eyebrow, waiting to hear what he had in mind. He scooped a dollop of cream onto his finger and brushed it against the side of my lips. I gasped. Adhi's laughter filled the air as he marveled at his handiwork. "You look beautiful this way."
"Since it's your birthday, I am forgiving you this time," I said, setting the birthday cake aside. I reached for a tissue to wipe the cream from my lips. But just as I was about to do so, Adhi gently held my hands. "Cakes should not be wasted," he whispered. And without warning, he leaned in and swiftly licked the cream off my side lips. I was taken aback, my heart racing, but I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement and delight in that unexpected moment.
He stared into my eyes with his twinkling sapphire orbs, drawing me closer with his magnetic gaze. Time stood still as he moved toward me, closing the distance between us. His warm breath brushed against my lips, enticing and inviting. And then, in a moment that felt both infinite and fleeting, his lips gently pressed against mine. A surge of emotions consumed me as I surrendered to the enchantment of the kiss. Our lips moved in perfect harmony, a dance of intimacy and longing. His strong arms encircled me, pulling me closer to him. I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck, aiming to be even closer. As we molded ourselves together, our bodies became one, a symphony of desire and vulnerability. Lost in the blissful haze of the moment, I forgot about everything else. Little did I know, he slit his right hand under my hoodie and grabbed my right boob over my bra.
Suddenly, Adhi's phone rang, interrupting the comfortable silence that had settled between us. Startled, I opened my eyes and pushed him away, my mind struggling to catch up with reality. As Adhi focused elsewhere, absentmindedly running his fingers through his hair, I felt my heartbeat race and my face flush with embarrassment. It was as though a surge of electricity had jolted me back to my senses, making me acutely aware of what I had just done.
Once back in the solace of my room, I collapsed onto the bed and buried my face in the softness of the pillows, attempting to hide from the overwhelming shame that washed over me. How could I have lost control like that? What had possessed me to act so impulsively? These questions echoed in my mind, tormenting me with self-doubt.
It's next morning, and as I woke up, I couldn't shake the thoughts of what had transpired the previous evening. The memory replayed in my mind like a broken record, making me feel increasingly nervous. But deep down, I knew I couldn't hide away like a coward. After all, I was older and wiser than him. I mustered up the courage to face the day ahead and got ready quickly. As I stood before the mirror to check myself, my eyes were drawn to my lips. The sight instantly reminded me of the incident that had unfolded only hours ago. I took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind of the troubling thoughts. "Tara! Forget it and focus," I whispered to myself, willing my mind to let go of the memory.
As I walked to the pavilion, I saw Adhi practicing. "Focus!" I whispered to myself, reminding myself to stay focused on my own path. Little did I know, Adhi was making his way towards me. Suddenly, I felt a presence beside me, and when I turned my head, there he was—Adhi, with a warm smile on his face. "It's soft," he uttered, his smile growing wider. My heart skipped a beat on hearing it, and I asked, "What do you mean?" with my eyes wide open in shock. He replied, "Your lips," with a mischievous smile.
"Adhi, listen," I began. "Both of us are grown adults. I hope you'll understand that what happened yesterday between us was simply a result of the heat and the charged atmosphere surrounding us. Please don't dwell on it. Let's move on." I said and ran away from the pavilion.