Blooming At It's Time
²⁹ Old Stories

Alora has been sitting in her apartment for a few days. She is almost like a housewife who cooks, cleans, and waits for her husband to come home from work. If the husband does not come home, Alora just stay asleep, maybe her husband is visiting his celebrity girlfriend. The harsh reality is so.

"More."

No wind without rain, Alden suddenly thrust an unlimited credit card at Alora after breakfast. The woman who was still chewing her breakfast looked up, and stared confusedly at Alden with cheeks full of food. Alden always ate quickly, Alora could not keep up with the tempo of the man. So that his cheeks are now like hamsters because they store food.

"What's that?" Alora looked skeptically at Alden, still unwilling to accept the card.

As his tired hand lifted, Alden placed the credit card next to Alora's plate. Then Alden put on his suit which had been hanging from the back of the chair.

"out there. A walk. Buy what cake."

"No need. I still have money."

Alden was quite astonished by Alora's usual response. The woman even pushed the credit card towards Alden back, and devoured the rest of his food. Just this time Alden met a woman who refused him money. Well naturally, because all this time Alden more often give material to women.

"Wear it! Buy something for Sandra with Harsa."

After hearing Alden's words, Alora was pensively staring at the black credit card that was still lying on the table. Then he realized that Alden had other intentions by giving him the unlimited credit card. Alora had indeed thought of several possibilities, among others, pity, or sick of seeing Alora sleep. But now Alora becomes convinced that Alden's real intention is, so that Alora meets Sandra and Harsa is not empty-handed. Because until now Alora still has not told the problem to Sandra and Harsa.

"I'm being neat?" alden asked, when he did not get a response from Alora. So the woman looked up to check on Alden's appearance.

Alora did check on Alden's appearance, but her mind drifted far away. Somehow he had to thank the man. Alora felt more and more indebted to Alden. A moment later, Alora nodded.

"OKAY. I'm leaving." Alden hurried away, leaving Alora alone with his thoughts.

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This was Alora's first time out on a walk alone, after years of work, work, and work. Sometimes Alora went outside just to accompany Harsa to watch a movie, or accompany Sandra to buy feminine items. Alora herself prefers to shop online for her own purposes, except for the consumables she has to buy into the supermarket. The lack of experience Alora, making him confused where to go.

Finally Alora just went around the mall, looking at clothes, shoes, or bags that can be purchased for Sandra and Harsa. Alora deliberately chose items that were rather expensive, because all this time she had never bought expensive items on Sandra and Harsa. After all, it was not his own money that was used. Actually Alora had wanted to buy a lot of goods for Sandra and Harsa, but it never materialized because Alora had to save money. Well, now Alora instead fun shopping for her sisters until she herself hassles with her luggage.

Ah, it looks like Alora has to rearrange her luggage to be more concise by combining several items in one bag. Alora was already out of the mall, and was just thinking of rearranging her luggage. So, Alora walked side by side looking around looking for the right place to rest while arranging her luggage. His gaze stopped at a cafe that looks crowded visitors, it is natural that the cafe is famous among young people. Alora herself had long wanted to try the drinks there, but to order it just seemed like Alora would be confused.

Quickly, Alora paused her intention to enter the cafe. Alora chose to continue her journey in search of a quieter place. After a while of walking, Alora finally found a place that caught her attention. Alora heads to a bakery with a sign reading 'Apricus Bakery'.

The bell immediately rang as Alora opened the door. Simultaneously, a man immediately stood at the cashier table, welcoming the arrival of customers.

"Welcome to Apricus."

Alora simply smiled in response to the staff greeting her, then quickly headed for the table. Alora sat at the table closest to the door, to reassemble her groceries. Suddenly Alora felt a strange air around her, like she was being observed. Alora did not dare to turn her head towards the staff, and pretended to focus on her activities. He felt guilty for not ordering or buying bread sold there.

"Attent, Mas. Scratch this first." Alora mumbled slowly to herself, of course she did not want the staff to hear her sentence.

Increasingly uncomfortable, Alora immediately woke up to choose the bread neatly arranged on the shelf. Initially Alora intended to buy some bread and just ran away. But when she was about to pay at the cashier, Alora scrunched her forehead staring at the only staff who served there.

"Gen..ta?"

The staff immediately smiled when they heard Alora say her name.

"Still inget?"

"Yesum! A clapper? Narayana Gentala?"

"Geez Genta! How are you?" ask Alora cheerfully.

"good. You how? I hesitated, so from now on see you continue. It turns out that it was Alora."

Alora laughed immediately. It turned out that it was true that the man had been watching her all along. The two greeted each other after years of not seeing each other. Alora and Genta were close friends during High School, even being close to more than just friends. However, ever since Mother Alora left, Alora has increasingly stayed away from Genta without even talking about her condition. Genta, who was young at the time, did not know how to comfort Alora. So that the two separated naturally, until now reunited accidentally.

Genta presents milk ice to Alora and Americano ice to himself. Alora and Genta sat at a round table to chat with each other.

"Yes, Gen! Finally, open your own Bakery."

"Well, praise God. By the way you're my first customer today."

"Yes?"

Even though it was past noon, it turned out that Alora was still the first customer today. Indeed, the Genta-owned bakery is only open for a few days, maybe no one knows if there is a bakery that is open here.

"There's still a lot to do for promotion. I also need workers to help. If your acquaintance is unemployed, bargain for work here, Al."

Alora laughed then nodded. Who is Alora's unemployed acquaintance if not herself? Of course Alora did not immediately talk here and there about her complicated life. They only remember their High School days, laughing at the ridiculous attitude they used to have.

"Al, I didn't get to say gini. Now, if we meet again, I'm gonna say something."

Alora immediately gave full attention to Genta.

"I'm sorry. I used to have to get you in hard times. It's not like you're staying away."

Genta finally started the discussion. It seemed like Genta was in a hurry, probably because he did not want to lose the moment to talk about it with Alora. Not wanting to make the atmosphere even more clumsy, Alora then smiled. After all it was all just the past, Alora had already made it through so far.

"Grandfather, Gen. I was the first to stay away. In the past, because I had to take care of a lot of things, I didn't have time to mess around anymore. Sorry, Gen. You must be confused I'm suddenly moving away."

Then Genta laughed, then thrust his phone at Alora.

"Can you ask for your number?"

Alora received Genta's phone with pleasure, then dialed her phone number.

Genta calls Alora's typed number, until the woman shows her ringing phone.

"This time don't stay away again!" Genta said with a smile. His smile was still exactly what it used to be, gentle and soothing.

Alora does not think fate will lead her to meet Genta, when she is married to Alden. Alora realized after seeing Genta's smile, that the memory of the man was still imprinted in her memory. All this time Alora never really forgot Genta, she just ignored her feelings.

After all, Genta was the man who had once filled his heart, even though Alora had never resolved that feeling. Now that she had reunited with Genta, Alora could not resist her feelings of pleasure. Even his heart was pounding at the sight of Genta's smile, as if his past feelings had returned without excuse.

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Narayana Genta