From Duren Down To The Heart
Chapter 21. My courage

My steps were very lethargic when I came out of the boarding room. I'm not really excited about selling today. But I thought I would be so bored if I just stayed home all day.

When I locked the door to my room, I heard someone calling me.

"Clar..!"

"Nadia? What was? You're not teaching?"

"today I have no teaching schedule." replied Nadia with a slight sound of 'jutek'

"oh.." I nodded.

"what do you have to do with Mas Keanu?" Nadia's expression looked very upset at me.

"yes, as you know, I'm Mas Keanu's sales partner."

"li lie! You must have more to do with Mas Keanu, right?"

"you mean?"

"don't pretend to be plain, Clara! If you have no more relationship, how could Keisya call you Mama? And I also see, yesterday Mas Keanu drove you home!" Nadia crossed her arms under her chest. "do you still want to snack now?"

I actually feel uncomfortable with Nadia's current attitude. But inevitably, I have to answer the question.

"for Keisya's trouble, I don't know why he called me Mama. And he's been doing it since we first met."

"lih!"

"do you mean do you keep saying I'm lying?"

"you're lying, aren't you? You must be intending to marry me. You like Keanu too, don't you??"

I exhaled violently. "Nadia, you have no right to say that to me." I said, in a still calm tone.

"why?"

"one thing you have to understand. That Keanu belongs to nobody right now, including you. So you have no right to say if I cornered you. And I also hope that you can accept if in the end Mas Keanu chooses me."

"oh! so anyway? You challenge me? We'll see, who's gonna win?" nadia said as she passed away going to her boarding room.

Huh.. I don't know where to get the courage to say that to Nadia.

Maybe because of Ririn's words yesterday. He said, I love the right people, and I deserve to be happy for my love.

But I'm not sure either, even though for example me and Keanu have the same feeling, will we be able to unite? Both of us were matched by our parents' choices.

****

Keanu seemed to have opened his shop when I just got off the online motorcycle. He's cleaning up his duren-duren.

I don't know what to do with Keanu. This is confusing enough.

I stepped slowly towards my stall, before finally hearing my name on the call.

"Claras.."

I'm turning.

Yep! it was Keanu who called me.

"i think we need to talk for a minute."

Keanu passed to his shop and returned with two plastic chairs. I followed him, and we both sat next to each other.

"i want to apologize" Keanu said, with a face that looked straight ahead and not looking at me.

I looked over, and just stared at him without responding to his words.

"i'm sorry for expressing my heart."

"i'm also sorry, Keisya's always been troubling you."

I shook my head, but remained silent.

"if you think this feeling of mine is going to destroy your friendship with Nadia, then I will stop liking you, and I will keep Keisya away from you before he really expects you. But, if you think that we can still be friends, sorry I can't. So we have to keep our distance, so I can forget you soon."

Keanu stood up and was about to return to his shop, but I immediately held his wrist, so Keanu's steps came to a halt.

"Mas.. I'm begging.. You don't keep Keisya away from me, because I really love him very much." My head turned upside down to be able to look at Keanu. "i'm sorry if my words yesterday offended you so much."

Keanu was still in a standing position behind me, with his hand still in my grasp.

"i will try to be a good Mama for Keisya." my words this time made Keanu turn and look at me for the first time since the conversation.

"you mean?"

Well, I said it very smoothly. I only had a sandwich and a glass of milk this morning, but why do I feel like a different person now?

"i'm willing if you want to make me Keisya's Mama officially. Because I like you too."

It's amazing Clara.. Looks like your breakfast this time really affects your brain and also makes your mouth leak!

Damnit.

In fact, I could at least say such a thing to a man. I am someone who always keeps the image.

What's wrong with me today?

Keanu sat back in his chair. "are you serious?" his expression described disbelief.

I nodded and bowed. Of course because I'm so embarrassed. This is the first time I've ever said that to a man.

Sounding from his voice, it seemed like Keanu was smiling.

"but.." continued me.

"but?"

"but I doubt it.. Even though we have the same feelings, will we be able to unite? And we are both betrothed to our parents."

Keanu raised my chin to look at her. "the reason my parents betrothed me, was because I always refused when they told me to give Mama to Keisya immediately." Keanu sighed. "I'll take you to meet them."

"but what if your parents don't like me? I'm just a fruit soup salesman. And.. about my parents, what about them?"

"we have to do it one by one. I'm sure, if we are a match and want to fight together, then everything will go well. Do you believe me?"

I smiled and nodded.

And don't ask. My heart was unceasingly beating very fast. I still can't believe it's true, because only yesterday I cried so much to cry over the ending of such a heartbreaking story. God's plan is unpredictable. Today, I was able to develop my smile again in front of the people I love.

I really hope that we will be together forever..

"so.. What are we now.." I stopped my sentence and then looked at Keanu.

"dating right?" Keanu raised both his eyebrows and a slight smile adorned his lips.

Good Lord! My heart rate is ticking irregularly. But I kept trying to put on a relaxed expression, as I would be even more embarrassed if Keanu found out. Maybe he'll cut me off.

But I wonder, how could he look to remain calm like that? Is this something ordinary for him?

Maybe it is. Keanu is a very handsome and kind-hearted man, so it's possible that he has a lot of female fans that he used to face. But I'm sure he's not a playboy.

Ahhe..

Hopefully later tonight I'll be able to sleep well, without thinking much about. 'my boyfriend'.

Hahaahaha. That sounds pretty weird!