Florianas
Chapter 13: Under the Stars

To further dramatize the scene of falling in that embrace, a rain of flowers followed. Making Flo's heart banging on ribs with a craze. And a light lump in his stomach also took part.

"Farrell...?" lirih Flo's.

Farrell smiled slightly. He gently and casually lowered Flo, making sure she was standing perfectly. Flo felt really embarrassed remembering where she was a second ago.

"Why are you here?" flo asked, trying to hide his nervousness in front of the man in a white-gray uniform layered in a denim jacket.

"Because of you" Farrell said simply, taking the petals of the flower that fell on Flo's hair.

Farrell's answer did not make Flo's effort to look ordinary go easy.

"I mean..." Flo tried to clarify things. Unfortunately, his speech was interrupted by the voice of Aksaf, who made him realize that he was not alone with Farrel but there were two others.

"Farrell, right?" ask Aksaf. Making Flo look.

Farrell turned to follow the source asked. "Yes. Sia... Brother Aksaf?" tanyanya, doubt.

Aksaf nodded. Then he jumped down the veranda, arriving at Farrell's side.

"How are you? Farah how are you?"

"good. Farah's getting so bucin."

The two laughed with ridicule about Brother Farah. Flo is surprised they know each other. It even looks familiar.

Flo glanced at Taala's silent sister with a sour face. He almost forgot to introduce Farrell.

"Rell," Flo interrupts Aksaf and Farrell's chatter like old friends.

"Yes?"

"This is my cousin's sister. Anataala." Flo points her hand at Taala.

Farrell stretched out his hand with a sweet smile. But Taala did not budge. He only looked at Farrell's cold hands before bellowing and entering the house.

Flo really felt bad for Farrell about Kak Taala's abandonment. But he did not rush to say anything, but waited for Taala to leave first.

"Sorry yes, Rell," Flo's great-grandson.

"Your cousin doesn't like me, does he?"

"He doesn't like everyone" Aksaf responded. "It's just relaxing."

"Oh..." Farrell nodded. Whether you understand or not.

"Close to my house, Rell. In front." Aksaf pointed at his house with a thumb.

"Ready."

"Yes, I'm back," Aksaf said, "Rell, Flo. I'm going to have lunch."

"OK," said Farrell. While Flo just nodded small.

"WHETHER I GO HOME, YAA!!!" exciting Aksaf. It seems that Kak Taala's rudeness has no impact at all.

With Aksaf gone, Flo and Farrell now live together. Quietly staring at the place where Aksaf disappeared.

"You know Aksaf?" flo asked, looking at Farrell.

Farrell turned to him, nodding. "He's my upperclassman at Junior High. I've been dating Farah."

"It's a big coincidence."

"Yes. I haven't heard from him in a long time. Turns out he moved here." Farrell's voice was getting lower. He looked at Flo closely. "I thirst. Can I have a drink?"

"Oh yes!" Flo cursed at his stupidity. So confused with the presence of Farrell who suddenly made his mind chaotic. "Yuk," he asked.

Flo asks Farrell to sit on an old bench on the porch. While he went inside, looking for a drink. But all he could find was white water. At Taala's house there is absolutely nothing. His cousin lived in a shortage.

"Sorry, it's just water." Flo put a glass of water in the middle of the bench. Then he sat at the other end of the side that Farrell inhabited.

"No pa-pa." Farrell immediately grabbed Flo's drink and downed it into the toilet.

"Want me to take it again?"

"No need. Enough." Farrell put down the glass.

"Where is your cousin?" ask Farrell.

"In the room maybe."

"He's not that friendly usually? I'm afraid my arrival will make him feel disturbed."

Flo nodded. She hesitated when she added, "She's traumatized by strangers."

"Oh, sorry."

"It's ok."

A gentle breeze swept over the terrace. Waves Flo's hair free-degrading.

"Where do you know I'm here?" asked Flo, continuing her delayed interrogation earlier.

"Arina," Farrell answered briefly.

It really is Arina, Flo thought. He has forbidden her from telling others about her existence.

"I was waiting for you this morning in front of your house. But you're not out. So I knocked on your door, and your mother opened the door. Worrying about me, Mama you immediately entered to meet Papa with your Brother. And. they've got a lot of things, including why you get hurt."

Flo could imagine any question Farrell received. It's really embarrassing.

"I'm clear on everything I know and Mama you're kind of hit, Papa you are too. So your mom said you left the house yesterday and she doesn't know where you're going."

Flo just shut up. He was still angry at his mother. His regret did not cure his heartache at all.

"I keep trying to find Arina where you are. He said you were at your cousin's place, but didn't know where the address was. So I ask your Mama, all of you ask permission to pick you up—be he who wants to pick you up."

Flo hasn't opened any sound yet. Confused what to respond. He was also worried that Farrell thought it was ridiculous to run away from home.

"Sorry about Flo. Because of me, you got in trouble."

Farrell's plea just got Flo the answer to her first question. A more honest answer than the previous one. The reason for the man's existence here.

Farrell feels responsible for the chaos.

"Don't apologize. You're not wrong" Flo said. "And you shouldn't have come here."

"Don't you like me coming here?"

Flo was silent for a moment before answering. Staring at the twigs of rambutan trees swayed wildly in the wind. Far fly the leaves that have withered.

"I don't like it when you feel guilty."

"No way I don't feel guilty, I'm gonna keep coming here, Flo."

"Why?" flo asked, turning to Farrell.

"Because I'm worried about you."

Eyebrow Flo linked. "I don't understand.. Why should you worry?"

Suddenly Farrell approached. The tip of his index and middle fingers moved to unravel Flo's eyebrow link. There was a smile on his lips.

"How can I say you're beautiful today, understand?"

"What the hell, Rell..." Flo threw away his face. Embarrassed.

"You'll see why I'm worried. You'll know the answer to that."

As hard as Flo shouted in his mind a little unpredictable who did not. Don't get your hopes up, he calls himself up, recalls Farah's advice, remembers Arina perfectly.

"Ehem!" Flo cleared his throat. "What are you here to ride?" Suddenly he changed the topic of the trial, making Farrell chuckle.

"Buses. My bike died in the middle of the road. So I stayed in the workshop."

***

Flo leaning on the head of the bed. In his hand was a new cell phone he turned on. Since leaving the house he always turns on the phone late at night so as not to be disturbed by the phone and message his mother.

There were a lot of unanswered messages and phones coming in. From the house guy, Arina, Genta, too... Farrell.

Flo's index tip tapped on a message from Farrell. The man, who was staying overnight in the front neighbor's house, sent a message just a few minutes ago.

Farrell Fadillah: Are you sleeping?

Me: No. Wh why?

Farrell did not immediately read and reply to the message. Flo chooses to read Arina and Genta's messages, replying to them even though it is too late.

Ting!

Farrell Fadillah: Can you come out for a minute?

Flo cringing. What was? It's almost midnight like this.

Me: Create?

Farrell Fadillah: Chat.

Me: Can't you just chat?

Farrell Fadillah: You can't. Must meet.

Flo glanced at the clock in the corner of her phone screen. Almost midnight. Then he glanced at Kak Taala who was sitting face down on the study table. Seems asleep.

To be more sure, Flo got up from the creaking mattress. Step closer to Taala's sister. And sure enough, his cousin fell asleep as expected. His face was attached to a sketch paper whose drawing was half-finished. The scattered pencil sharpener did not seem to bother him at all. Among his fingers, still embedded a pencil that has been reduced by half.

Since he came yesterday, just this time he saw Kak Taala's face like this. There was no cold stare, sour expression, or defensive attitude. He looks peaceful. Almost like nine-year-old Kak Taala he remembered.

Carefully Flo removed the pencil from Kak Taala's hand and covered it with a blanket of fur that was so thin and dull. After that, he took his phone again.

Me: Ok.

Farrell Fadillah: I wait in front.

Flo flicked the curtains slightly, peeking at the situation outside. His eyes immediately caught the silhouette of Farrell stepping out of the courtyard of Aksaf's house.

Unknowingly before leaving Flo checked her appearance on the glass of the closet. Making sure his hair is curled origin does not look like a madman. She also tidied up the loose, half-calf-white dress she wore. When he finished, he went out of the room slowly.

Arriving outside, the sound of night insects singing to each other sounded increasingly challenged by the night wind. Even so, it's calming.

"Farrell," called Flo, to Farrell who stood behind him in the middle of the lawn.

Farrell turned to face Flo. He smiled, showing off his dimples. The smile that is now Flo's favorite.

"Everything's ok?"

"Do you mean that Taala's mad or that I'm not coming out?"

"Yes, that kind of thing."

"He's sleeping."

Farrell nodded. "Wanna sit?"

Seeing the grass under his feet made Flo hesitate for lesehan. He was pretty sure the grass was damp.

Then, unexpectedly Farrell took off his jacket and spread it on the grass. Make it a place to sit.

"Sit down." Farrell, who had taken the position first, patted the space next to him.

Flo comply. He jostled with Farrell in the limited protection of the emergency mat. For a moment they just kept quiet, enjoying the quiet of the night in the middle of the yard, staring at the stars.

"I'm bothering you, not making it out these gini nights?"

"No. No pa-pa really," Flo replied, honestly. He had not slept and was not sleepy at all. "But you want to chat what can't be through chat?"

"M..." Farrell checked his watch. "Try counting to ten."

"Make?"

"Count first."

"One, two, three—" Flo counts.

"Don't hurry" Farrell said.

"One.. two.. three..." Flo repeats, more slowly, "five. six.. seven.. eight...."

"Say happy birthday to me" Farrell's pinta.

Flo eyes are rounded. Dumbstruck. "You're the birthday?"

Farrell nodded.

"Happy birthday" said Flo.

"Thank you."

"No cake equal candles make a wish. I didn't know you were birthday."

"Make a wish..." Farrell grabbed something from his pants pocket. "We can pack this!" He pulled out a match— that Flo could not understand what to bring.

"Quickly make a wish" Farrell said.

"You're the one on your birthday" Flo said.

"I want you to do'ain."

"But..." Flo hesitated, about to refuse. He feels this is strange.

"Please..."

"okay." Flo caving. He closed his eyes just as Farrell lit a match.

I hope Farrell is always happy. I hope Farrelll.

As soon as he opened his eyes, Flo blew the match out.

"Aamiin," Farrell completes Flo's prayer.

The two threw each other a small smile. Showing each dimple.

"May I have two gifts from you?" ask Farrell, keeping the matches back.

"May be. but I can't now. Want to buy a gift where midnight's 'this?" said Flo, plain.

"Gift doesn't have to buy."

"What do you want?"

"First, we go home tomorrow, okay?" Farrell.

Flo did not answer. He did not want to go home yet, but he could not refuse Farrell's request. And in the end, he chose to nod, slowly.

"Thank you" said Farrell.

Flo just nodded.

"Second, can I see you're dancing ballet now?"

Flo was surprised at Farrell's request just now. More surprising than knowing that the man was having a birthday.

"Here?" Flo ensure.

"Yes." Yeah." Farrell nodded. "Here."

"Don't you like ballet?"

"I like it when you're nari."

After a moment of hesitation, Flo stood up. He took off his sandals and turned on one of his favorite ballet songs. He was secretly grateful that they were in the village now. Because no one else is on the streets.

Flo ready. Deep breaths, relieves nervousness. For a moment he was closed before taking small steps. Jumping lightly. Then turn around, slowly then tightly. Outlining her long hair loop.

It turned out that dancing in the open air wasn't as bad as Flo thought. It even feels good. Doused dim light terrace lights. With the dewy grass under his bare feet. The moonlight that does not blind. Witnessed by millions of twinkling stars. And beyond all that privilege, dance for Farrell. Just Farrell.

***

Bayangin aja Flo pack gini kayak dress