"So you live with Terrence's family?" asked Langit once they arrived in front of Terrence's house.
"Yes. My father is overseas, so I'm temporarily living here. Do you know this family?" Asked Juliette.
"Haha, of course. Our houses are right next to each other. This is my house." Langit chuckled at Juliette's surprised expression.
"Ah... What a coincidence. I didn't expect the houses to be right next to each other. Looks like we're close neighbors." Juliette laughed too. She didn't expect such a coincidence.
"Right, so from now on we will meet often." Langit smiled happily. His smile was very shady with his handsome soft face.
"Um, then I'll go in first. I've been out for too long. bye." Juliette waved goodbye and entered the house. Langit waved back at Juliette and continued to look at the girl until she disappeared behind the door. His smile continued to adorn his handsome face. He never thought he would find a girl who could steal his attention.
"Huh! You did it on purpose, didn't you?" Just as Juliette entered the house, she was immediately greeted by Nathan's scathing words.
Juliette glared angrily. "What do you mean?!"
"You deliberately stayed out for so long so mom would tell me to look for you, right? Don't try to get my attention!" Nathan spoke in a very condescending tone.
Juliette could no longer contain her anger. In her eyes, Nathan had gone too far. Juliette moved forward until she was standing right in front of Nathan. Julie looked directly into the eyes of Nathan who was also looking at her. "Hey you! Why are you always messing with me?! You like me huh?! Always causing trouble with me. Just admit that you're looking for attention from me! Everything I do is always a bother to you. When did I seek attention from you? Aren't you the one who's always watching my every move and looking for reasons to get into trouble with me?!" Juliette looked sarcastically at Nathan. She couldn't stand being mistreated by that guy anymore. Then Juliette left Nathan. She deliberately bumped Nathan's shoulder with a bang. Releasing some of the emotions that were churning in her chest.
Nathan turned around, staring at juliette with an incredulous look. He hadn't expected to get such a reaction from her. Until this morning Juliette was still being friendly with him. Well, actually Nathan knew Juliette just wanted to be nice to him. However, Nathan didn't like strangers. He felt insecure if he got too close to strangers.
"Julie, how was the jog?" Aunt Intan asked when she saw Juliette walking hurriedly towards her room. Juliette's expression looked angry. Aunty Intan was worried when she saw her.
"It was fun, Aunty." Juliette immediately smiled when she saw her aunt. She didn't want to make Aunt Intan worry. "Julie take a shower first aunty. It smells of sweat." Juliette laughed cheerfully and ran to her room. She leaned against the door. Organizing her feelings that were overwhelmed by anger.
"No... I can't be like this. I have to stay level-headed with people like Nathan. I don't want to disappoint Aunt Intan. But I'm not going to let that jerk bully me either!" Juliette was pensive, thinking about what she would do next.
"Hahh!! I don't know. I'm going to take a shower first."
*********
"Let's eat together." Aunt Intan invited Juliette, who had just arrived, to sit next to her. Juliette was the last one to come down, the others were already sitting neatly at the dining table. Tension was in the air. Juliette and Nathan looked at each other sharply. As if sending a signal that they were at war.
They ate in silence. No one tried to start a conversation. Auntie Intan realized that Juliette and Nathan were arguing. Juliette, who usually always started the conversation, chose to remain silent this time. She was really fed up with Nathan's treatment of her.
"Did you have a fight?" Aunt Intan opened the conversation when they had finished breakfast. Everyone was silent, no one answered.
"Nathan, Andrew, you promised to be good to Julie, right?" Aunty Intan looked at her sons gently but firmly. She asked them for an explanation.
"Why would I be nice to someone I don't know?" Nathan answered coldly. He didn't dare look at his mother. Nathan knew that his answer would disappoint his mother.
"Who don't you know Nath, this is Juliette. She's part of our family. You used to grow up together." Aunty Intan looked genuinely disappointed in Nathan.
Nathan gave Juliette a sharp look. A cold, piercing stare. Nathan did remember everything. How fragile Juliette had been. The little girl whose cheeks were always wet with tears. The girl whose eyes were so dark and empty, as if life no longer existed in them. Nathan remembered all the times they spent together. But... Many years had passed. And the wound that continued to bleed in his heart wouldn't let him accept her. He didn't want to be hurt again. He didn't want to experience such a horrible thing again. He didn't want to break out of the barrier he had created to protect himself.
"He's not family! He's a stranger. He's a bad guy!" Andrew came to his brother's defense.
"Andrew!" Aunty Intan's voice rose. She was getting carried away.
"Aunty, let Juliette do the talking." Juliette straightened her seat. She was ready for battle.
"Andrew... Don't always follow what your brother does, because he's not always right." Juliette looked at Andrew sharply. Her gaze signaled that she didn't want to be argued with. Juliette knew very well that Andrew was only following what his brother did.
"And Nathan! Wanna bet with me?" Juliette looked at Nathan with a smile. A smile that was very difficult to interpret.
Nathan didn't answer. He just stared back at Juliette intensely. But from his eyes, Juliette could tell that Nathan was curious about what she had to offer.
"Let's bet, if I score higher than you on the entrance test to Belleza, you'll treat me right. Don't look for trouble with me anymore. And think of me as JULIETTE. Not a stranger." Juliette challenged confidently.
Nathan smirked. A very condescending grin. "What if you lose?" Nathan asked.
"If I lose, I'll move out of here." Juliette replied.
"Julie, what do you say." Aunt Intan seemed to disagree with their bet.
"Deal." Nathan replied quickly. "Don't regret it later." That condescending grin spread across Nathan's face again. He was talented at playing the violin. And he knew what he was capable of. He was confident that he would beat Juliette easily. Nathan wasn't even sure if Juliette could get into Belleza, given the school's high standards.
Juliette grinned dismissively. She was very annoyed at Nathan's expression to her. "Sure. Get ready to be nice to me." Juliette laughed contemptuously. She now understood, the subtle way would not work on Nathan. So Juliette deliberately provoked Nathan. Whatever the method, the goal was the same. Juliette wanted Nathan to return to his old self. Nathan who was warm and caring to his surroundings. Juliette wanted to get Nathan out of his self-made circle. Because if Nathan continues like this... He's going to end up being a lonely man. Very very Lonely.... ....
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To Be Continue...