Blooming At It's Time
³⁴ Feelings That are Inflowing

These days have been very beautiful for Alora, maybe Alden too. Alora so more often appreciate the blue sky, even more often smile with customers who sometimes annoying. I don't know why, but every time Alora wakes up early, she always checks her appearance in the mirror. Make sure that there is no residual saliva on the cheek, or dirt in the corner of his eye. Maybe Alora knew the cause of her behavior lately, maybe not, or maybe she didn't want to think about it.

"Morning."

"God! Be present..." Alora took a step back while stroking her chest, feeling her heart almost melt as Alden suddenly greeted her from the kitchen. The scenery is quite rare, seeing Alden wake up so early in the kitchen as well. Alora approached Alden, asking in surprise, "Tumben is up at this hour?"

"You want cereal?" Alden had just finished pouring milk on his cereal bowl.

"Can."

Without the ba-bi-bu, Alden immediately prepared an empty bowl and filled it exactly the same as the bowl. Cornflakes with milk is a simple breakfast that Alden prepared, but enough to make Alora wonder. "It's Sunday. Tumben didn't wake up?"

Tumbens, tumbens, and tumbens.

"Don't ask, my mood's good." Reply Alden, do not forget to slip a smile at the end of the sentence while looking cheerfully at Alora.

Again Alora found this scene unusual, but she happily looked at Alden's smile as bright as the morning sun. Alora might have gone crazy standing next to Alden, so she decided to wait at the table until the man brought two bowls to the table. If only, only if the events between them were truly real, Alora would not expect anything more from her life, since she was already happy with this simple routine. But then again, it was only a possibility of Alora's hope of the fact that there was still unfinished business between them. At once all this simple, soothing routine was in vain because of some sheets of paper they signed themselves.

"You want to go for a walk?" Alden chirps suddenly after finishing his breakfast quickly.

"Where?"

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know, you're a jackass!"

"Another? It's still morning."

"Can you ride a bike?"

The plot!

"Saturday!" Alden hit the tip of Alora's head with his used spoon.

"Ouch! Alden slob!" Alora protested while rubbing the tip of her head. His mouth was raised a little as if sulking cutely, even though his cheeks were blushing. Alora had already painstakingly hidden the smile that broke her heart, but saw Alden laughing Alora lost. His lips curled, but he kept it hidden while looking down.

"Come on. Then I'll take you somewhere." Alden got up, cleaned up the breakfast leftover bowl and headed for the kitchen.

"Where?" Alora turned her body, following the direction of Alden's path.

Alden paused, then made a sound without turning his body to stare at Alora, "There is no."

Alora scowled at Alden who was not looking at her, and instead tried to be mysterious while she was being serious. But Alora quickly brushed off her annoyance, then continued to finish breakfast with a more carefree feeling than before. Actually being mysterious is not that bad, Alora so more and more waiting and wondering where will Alden take her. Somewhere romantic? Or to a pleasant, refreshing place? Never mind, just dreaming, spending time together is very fun.

The two began their journey at about half-hour 7am, when the thin dust still really felt light and the air still felt fresh. It seems like going outside this early in the morning to meet nature is a good idea. In the vast expanse of the park, Alora and Alden were paddling each other on rented bikes while chatting casually. Not to forget also they compete with each other to be the fastest, and Alden the winner. They are equally not athletic, so it does not take long for the two to decide on a finish and return the bike that has been paid the rent.

Near the bicycle rental place, there was a flower shop that had just opened. The distance did not cross the road and then walked a little to the East. From a distance, Alden had seen the flowers arranged outside the store, so he asked Alora for a moment to go to the flower shop. Without asking further, Alora nodded and Alden darted quickly towards the flower shop. Alora did not want to dream, but what the power of her mind had drifted everywhere. Why did Alden go to the flower shop? Is Alden gonna give her flowers? Such thoughts made Alora's smile widen even more.

Are they going to go somewhere romantic? That is, that secret place.

Alora did not want to ask what the bouquet that Alden bought for, because he was late with his own dreams. Even throughout the journey, her heart was beating even more so until Alora herself could hear it. His tone was even more unusual, more timid, unlike Alora a week ago let alone a month ago. Alora was still wondering, but somewhat hopeful as well, until Alden's car turned into a large open gate. Instantly, Alora immediately frowned looking at the inscription written on the entrance board, her heart instantly falling down into the stomach.

Alora did not misread, her eyes were still normal, even the scene before her was right, not wrong at all. They are now at a funeral. The romantic place that had been in Alora's imagination was instantly shattered into pieces. At once Alora was embarrassed, and wanted to hide so much that she cried out in her heart, 'Anyone please hide me!'. Though Alden's attitude was also ordinary, but Alora with all the wars in her mind became too dramatic.

"Not yet." Alora followed Alden who led the way. Alora heard Alden chuckle, so she smiled as she looked at Alden's broad shoulders from behind.

"If Oma were still around, she would be so happy to see you."

Alora did not understand Alden's intention to say that, but the man managed to make Alora's heart return to great stature until the woman paused just to digest Alden's sentence. With reddish cheeks, Alora laughed and then came back after Alden and aligned her steps with the man.

"Masa? Am I that good?"

"Yes. Are you not aware? That's why Opa insists that I should marry you." Alden turned to Alora for a smile, then said, "I've only understood now."

Right now, their gazes met each other, then magically gave off a sizable sting as a result. Alora felt all over her body bristling, with the man's gaze, her smile, even her sentence spoken so easily, Alora could not deny there were hundreds of butterflies flying by her stomach. He felt taken flying into the sky, at least he was afraid that one day it would fall back into the deepest abyss. But come on, for now Alora just wants to enjoy her own feelings.

Now they arrive at a mound of land overgrown with fresh green grass and neatly arranged. The tombstone embedded there, engraved a name with golden paint, 'Lilian', a very beautiful name. For a while, Alden and Alora prayed in their hearts. For a while, they calmed down without even talking. After saying a prayer, Alora looked at Alden who was still closing his eyes solemnly. He saw Alden's hair falling down almost touching his petals. Her eyelashes, her nose, to those pink lips, everything seemed very attractive. If only, only if Alden really belonged to Alora completely, then there was nothing more he could ask of God. But unfortunately not.

In a vast expanse with many neatly arranged tombstones, Alden and Alora sit on the sidelines facing Lilian's tomb which looks so beautiful with a bouquet of flowers given by Alden. For a while, both of them felt very calm and comfortable. Alora does not know, if staring at a tomb can feel this comfortable. Even as she visited the grave of her Mother, Alora rushed away, perhaps her Mother was saddened by that attitude.

"You must love your Oma, right?" Alora asked, opening the conversation.

Alden took a deep breath and waited long, recalling all his memories with Lilian. "From birth the one who took care of me was Oma. The closest person to me is, Oma."

Alora nodded in understanding, not making the slightest sound, as she only wanted to hear Alden's sentence.

"Mama was always busy with her education. The opa... Well, you can imagine Opa's busyness."

Alora laughed a little.

This time Alden chuckled, then again said, "I was eleven years old, when Mama married Papa." Alden looked deep into the sky, recalling a fragment of his life picture.

Undeniably, Alora was surprised to hear the story directly from Alden. He did have time to wonder, why Alden uses the last name Giri, not the last name of his father like Isadora who uses the name Mahardika. But now, with Alden's honest words, Alora began to put the puzzle together in her head. Meanwhile, Alden continued to tell stories very comfortably.

"Everything's busy with Mama's wedding. I remember, a few days before the wedding, at home. I'm just the same as Oma. That day, Oma made a cake using makeshift ingredients, Strawberry cake, I remember." Alden laughed, while staring at Alora at a glance, the woman did not turn away from him. "That's my birthday, eleventh. There's only Oma and I, but it's the best birthday cake I've ever eaten."

Hearing Alden's story, Alora at least felt the same. The feeling is full even with simple food cooked by the Mother. Although it didn't completely feel the same as Alden felt, it was at least similar. They both have loved ones, who are both gone. Alora could understand that feeling.

"Sorry, even so vent."

Alora chuckled, "Not really. It's even good for you, the Oma story. At least treat the kangen flavor, right?"

Alden smiled wryly, looking at Lilian's gravestone, "Yes, that's fine, too."

"Well, even though I don't know Oma."

"You are first... I mean, the first woman I ever met was Oma."

Right after Alden closed his mouth, Alora immediately turned to the man. So did Alden, who turned his head and exchanged glances with Alora. The two stared at each other, quite instant, until the temperature around them felt increasingly warm. Alden and Alora were almost made deaf with their respective heartbeats getting louder until nothing else was heard. Looking at Alora's blushing cheeks, Alden pushed his gaze down even further, right onto the woman's pink lips. Alden never thought those tiny lips could be this attractive. The pink hue seemed to be calling Alden to get closer, but Alden quickly closed his eyes and threw a face away.

Alden sighed softly, before he got up and said without looking at Alora. "Let's go home."

Then Alden rushed towards the parking lot, letting Alora overtake him in a hurry. Alden could not look at him, even as Alora shouted asking him to wait. Alden did not want to turn his head, even looking at the woman. Because if so, Alden would definitely be outdone by those pink-hued lips. No, for now.

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