Nadia loves to eat and can always make me laugh with the silly things she does. Always in good spirits, full of jokes and laughter, and always able to bring a warmth to the atmosphere. However, since graduating from high school Nadia has changed a bit.
She used to fight Lisa at school and get into big fights with her, but this time she was more patient and quiet. I still remember when she graduated from high school a few years ago, Lisa almost made Nadia a murderer. And, that's what made her never want to reply to Lisa's harsh words.
Yes, the incident on the roof of the school building. At that time, Lisa was acting up again by almost jumping off the roof of the building. This time, the problem was a little complicated. Lisa couldn't accept that I and Nadia were dating. Because she hated Nadia so much, Lisa threw herself off the roof of the building. Fortunately, Bella and also Nadia swiftly pulled Lisa's hand.
And, since that incident, Lisa has been spreading rumors that she was almost killed by Nadia. And, because of that incident, Nadia was suspended for 2 weeks and had to clean the school toilets for 1 week.
Because of the rumors, Nadia became the target of the school's bullies. In fact, Nadia was often bullied by her friends. Being slandered as a murderous girl was outrageous. But, that was Lisa, she always put Nadia in a corner. Nadia used to beat Lisa to a pulp with her karate moves and often went back and forth to the counseling room because of the fights.
Now, Nadia is more silent and patient. She even gave up her black belt and promised to stop fighting. It's all for the sake of getting her good name back.
"Nad, you're okay, right?" Nadia was still silent and didn't answer my question at all.
"I know, you must be really angry with all the words Lisa said earlier. Lisa's words were really outrageous, I was about to explode listening to those sharp words from her mouth. You just calm down, I won't let Lisa hurt you again."
"In what way? Lisa is obsessed with you, Niko! Do we have to get divorced first before Lisa is satisfied?" Nadia shouted suddenly, making me startled.
"Nad, don't talk nonsense! We can't get divorced, we just got married one year ago."
Nadia sobbed. This time, I'm sure Nadia was getting tired and desperate with Lisa's attitude earlier.
"So what, why would you marry someone who doesn't love you and vice versa? You're trying to think, how hard it is to be me? You heard it yourself, right? Lisa said, I married you because I got pregnant out of wedlock, she also said I was pregnant with someone else's child and made you a sacrifice.
"Try to imagine, how painful those stabbing words are! Now that my name is tainted, what should I do? How should I live my life?" Nadia's tears started to break.
Seeing Nadia crying like that, I immediately hugged her tightly. I tried to calm her down, I understood and I really understood Nadia's current situation. She must be very depressed, her life will never be calm if Lisa still disturbs our home life.
"I'm still pure, Nik. There's no way I'm letting my pride down. I'm still keeping my chastity until we get married. How could I destroy my parents' trust in me. How could I betray my parents," Nadia's cries were breaking out.
I started to panic. Seeing her crying like this, I couldn't bear it. Nadia pulled the hem of my clothes and cried violently in my arms. I tried to calm her down and stroked her long hair.
"Yes, I know, I know you more than anyone. I believe you take good care of your body. Lisa was just talking and she never knew what you were like."
Nadia burst into tears. She cried like a child who lost her toy. However, there was something unique every time Nadia cried like this. She would sneeze.
And, I was right, she always made a unique sneezing sound. A sneeze that sounded like a balloon popping. I immediately chuckled at her uniqueness.
"Don't laugh!" she called out in between her cries.
"After all, your cry is really unique, Nad. You're sneezing all over again!"
"Ih, Niko, you're a jerk!"
"Yes, sorry."
"Niko?"
"Hmmm?"
"What should I do now? Everyone will definitely think badly of me. And, you'll be affected too."
I let go of my hug and wiped Nadia's tears with my hands. I also looked at her face intently while holding her shoulders gently.
"Whoever slanders you, makes you sad and disturbs your life, will face me. I promise, I will protect you until my hands and feet no longer work."
Nadia looked at me with her eyes wide. I held her close again and patted her shoulder gently. I also stroked Nadia's hair gently as a father would do for his daughter.
"Nad, you've washed your hair, right? It doesn't smell like menyan anymore, does it?" I said suddenly, making her immediately let go of my embrace.
"I've washed my hair, it smells good now. It doesn't smell of tincture anymore either. I've bathed in seven kinds of flowers for seven days and seven nights," she said innocently while hitting my body.
I laughed out loud. However, I immediately took a deep breath and refocused on my wife who was really very innocent and always made me laugh with her silly remarks.
"Yes, I know, ko. Now, your hair smells like chewing gum, I like the smell."
"Really? You like the scent?" she asked with an eye smile that looked like a baby's eyes when smiling.
I nodded. I liked seeing Nadia smile like that the most. Her eyes seemed to be smiling too, the smile of a baby who hasn't sinned yet. Her inner beauty is starting to shine through. Perhaps, if another man saw Nadia smiling like that, he would be instantly enamored.
"You don't need to think about Lisa anymore, her words are so vague. If she messes up again, I'll be the one to intervene."
"You promise?" she asked, looking into my eyes.
"Yes, I promise."
Nadia smiled softly and brightly. She looked at me with great joy. Sometimes, I was always confused by Nadia's changeable facial expressions.
When she's sad, she can easily smile again so quickly. Nadia was indeed a rare woman, because her facial expressions could be drawn very clearly from time to time.
"You're beautiful when you smile like that."
"Really?"
I nodded slowly and smiled slightly. Nadia looked at my face intently. Her brownish eyes made her round eyes look so beautiful. Her innocent, childlike face always makes me anxious when I see her.
"Yes, you're beautiful like Rapunzel, your favorite Barbie character."
I wiped away Nadia's tears with my hands. I also straightened Nadia's hair, which was starting to look tangled. Apparently, I've started to resemble her father who is always ready to help her anytime and anywhere.
"Don't cry anymore, okay?" I said with a small smile, "If you keep crying, you'll lose your beauty. You don't want to lose your beauty, so you have to keep smiling like this even when you're having a hard time."
Nadia nodded like a child who had just been given a new toy. It was so adorable.
"Promise not to cry anymore?"
"Yes, I promise," she said as she wiped her tears with both hands.
"Go home?"
"Yes, go home. Do you want to stay on campus with a ghost?"
"You're starting to get annoyed when you're not sad anymore."
Nadia just smiled widely and stuck out her tongue once her mood started to improve.