Florianas
Chapter 14: On The Bus

Let's start this chapter with Farrell and Flo's dimples.

***

Flo lowered her hand which was originally waving out the window, as the bus moved further and further away leaving the station behind. Sis Taala and Aksaf who escorted them no longer looked his figure.

"Aksaf asked for your phone number as I did, I kept telling you. Not pa-pa, is it?" asked Farrell, by his side.

Flo just nodded. His mind was still left in the village with Kak Taala who could not bear he left alone. But he was also powerless to bring her home because he lived in his stepfather's house, not his own.

"I actually object."

"Why?" Flo frowned at Farrell.

"I'm afraid he'll get close to you."

"That's impossible" said Flo. "Aksaf seems to like Taala."

"By the way about your sister Taala, by the way" said Farrell, "she is.. mute?" ask carefully. Naturally, considering it was a sensitive topic.

"He's phobic of speech because of his childhood trauma."

"Have it?"

Nodding Flo. "He saw the time his parents were murdered."

Farrell gaped, speechless. Flo knows Farrell doesn't like Taala for some reason. Maybe because of Taala's cold attitude or maybe something else. But knowing this fact might make Farrell want to understand more.

"His hobby can be healed? Is there a chance he could talk again?"

"Maybe. As far as I know he's been with psychologists for a whole year, but since there's been no progress, the treatment's been stopped."

Their talk of Taala stopped there. In silence, they both felt the topic was too dark. Just outside the bus is gray, no need for them to bring it in.

Flo turned back to the window. Observing the dark clouds. Hiding the sun that has not been up for a long time. He suspected that soon the clouds would be overgrown, falling into rain.

"Flo, look," said Farrell, once again drawing Flo's attention.

Flo looked where Farrell was looking. It's not hard to find. The object is moving towards them.

"Five thousand three! Five thousand three!" the hawker who had not been on the bus for a long time was shouting for his sale.

"Do you want that?" ask Farrell, sumringah. As if looking at strands of tofu, quail eggs, fried beans, fruit crunch, sweets, chips, and a number of other snacks is so tempting.

Flo nodded, pleased to see the enthusiasm on Farrell's face.

"Bang, Bang!" Farrell called out to the merchant who was approaching.

"Flo, what do you want?"

"Choose Neng, that many. Mumpung in payin si Aa," said the merchant.

Smiling at Farrell's call to help, Flo approached the man by her side to reach for the hawker she wanted.

"It all costs the same?" Flo ensure.

"Yes, Neng. Hit flat, five thousand three."

Flo also pulled a packet of mango sweets, quail eggs, and fried tofu. Only five grand.

"That's all?" Farrell asked.

"Yes." Yeah."

Another from Flo, Farrell did not playfully buy the salesman's merchandise. He took all sorts, spending fifty thousand dollars. Imagine, twenty-seven packs (not including Flo's)!

Flo wasn't sure Farrell was going to eat it all or she was just excited to see all the snacks. Clearly his eyes were twinkling.

"Stupid school, Neng?" ask the seller when Farrell took the money in his wallet.

Flo glanced at Farrell's ash skirt and ash pants. They were now wearing school uniforms, the day was still not too late, it was natural that people thought they were truant.

Before Flo could answer, Farrell said, "No, Bang. Want to study tour but miss the bus, so this will follow."

Lacar once Farrell lied, Flo thought. His expression was relaxed, as if that was how he was. Although it is true they do not truant, but they also do not study tour.

"Oh that's it."

"This is the money." Farrell gave the fitting money.

"Yeah! Thank you." Thank you."

After the peddler who started touring the bus offering his wares to other passengers, Farrell turned to Flo, grinning.

"Why did you say we wanted to study tour?" ask Flo.

"Suddenly think. Than you'd be mistaken for a truant."

"I don't care if I'm truant, don't know this."

"Yes, too." Farrell's voice disappeared at the end of the sentence. He began to coolly peel a pack of quail eggs while occasionally chewing fried tofu.

Flo also started enjoying her snacks. Choose mango sweets to eat first.

"It's delicious" Flo said, spontaneously, at the first bite.

"Times?" ask Farrell.

"Yeah..." Flo's answer never ended. He was so shocked by Farrell's sudden movements that he brought his face closer, grabbing half the slices of mango the rest of his bite.

"Eh-hm," Farrell nodded in agreement to Flo's praise, among his chews. "Nob."

Flo cleared his throat, removing the bulkhead stuck in his throat until he had difficulty breathing. The tip of his finger that had come into contact with Farrell's cheek was still shaking. To disguise his nervousness, Flo continued eating, pretending to enjoy a mango that now feels bland. While Farrell seemed relaxed, completely unaware he had just made Flo almost have a heart attack.

"You want to know why I like so much on this bus?" Farrell asked.

Flo just nodded.

"I also ran away from home" Farrell recalls.

"Oh, huh?" Flo's interested.

"Yes. Age of 9 years. Much smaller than you are now." Farrell exchanges the quail eggs he has peeled for Flo's still-shelled ones. The movement is light, as if it was a normal thing—clear for Flo not. While doing so, he kept telling stories. "I took the bus alone, not knowing where the bus was headed. My mind used to be the one that was important to take the bus to get away. Keep on fitting in the latest fare, I don't have any more money. I'm gonna have to take a taxi to the terminal. I'm scolded all out with the kernet."

Flo finds it hard to imagine a nine-year-old taking the bus on his own without a destination. Thinking of the possibility that little Farrell was kidnapped horrified him.

"Where to go?"

"There was a kayak peddler who paid my fare and gave me many snacks like this." Farrell pointed at a bag of groceries on his lap. "She asked me where I was going and told me if there was anything I was told to go to the police station because she couldn't stop because she had to sell."

"That's fine" Flo said.

"Yes. That's why I've loved bus kayak gini."

"So where did you get off at that time?"

"In the last terminal. I hung for two days in the street, eating only leftovers from the bus. And finally got stranded at the police station. After a long wait while being asked this-that, I was picked up by my parents."

Unexpectedly, Farrell had such an experience. Obviously it was a bad memory, but there was a faint smile line on Farrel's face when telling a story. He doesn't seem to think like Flo.

"That must be a really bad memory."

"Yes, it's not good" Farrell said. He turned to Flo. "Especially the pitching in the streets. Hunger, thirst. I'll never do that again. But I'm not sure what I've done."

"Why did you run away from home?"

"Because I hate my parents. Back when I was living with—gak kayak now, they were very protective as I was also Farah. We both can't do this, can't do that. Feels claustrophobic. So I ran away. And it turns out my plan worked. Since then they've never stopped me from doing anything."

"But they did it because they love you and Brother Farah, right?"

"Yes, I know. I just need space to grow. I also hate to always teased mama's children because everywhere is always accompanied by a babysitter like a toddler."

Flo smiled looking at the annoyance on Farrell's face. Even when she was upset, she still looked charming.

"Flo" said Farrell, now it looked serious.

"Don't run away from home again, huh?"

"I'm not a nine-year-old boy, Rell. I know the destination address and won't hang around the street." Flo immediately understood the reason Farrell told him about his childhood experiences. It shows how horrible it is to run away from home.

"Stay away. I'm afraid you're in the middle of the road."

Honestly, Flo was glad Farrell was worried about her. It made him feel valuable to the man. But he also did not want to worry as if he did not understand anything.

"But I'm okay."

"Not necessarily next time."

"I don't have any plans to leave the house anymore" Flo said, making Farrell smile.

"OK," Farrell relented. "But if you have a plan to leave the house, don't go alone, take me, will you?"

Stunned Flo hears Farrell's request. He's touched. Although he knows if there is a situation like the one he just went through, escaping together will make the situation more runnyam.

Flo nodded, agreeing with Farrell's request. It would feel wrong if he refused, and Farrell was already that sincere.

"Promise?" Farrell raised his pinky.

"Promise." But Flo didn't give her the pinky.

"Come on..." Farrell moves his pinky to attract Flo's attention. "This is to inaugurate. Because there's no stamp here."

Relented, Flo gave her pinky even though she felt it was childish. And their fingers are linked together with a bound promise.

"Cap," said Farrell as their thumbs united.

Whether this was just an illusion, or it was true, Flo felt Farrell's gaze straight into her eyes become soft. The kind of look he often sees in romantic movies. And just then, the dangdut song that reverberated on the bus was replaced with a romantic pop song that was popular today. As if everything was planned.

Uhuk!

Somewhere, someone coughed. Disperse the face-to-face event. Breaking off any imagination that plays on the mind. Making Flo immediately pull her finger from the link then turn to the front. From the corner of his eye, he saw Farrell looking disappointed.

After that, the two did not talk to each other for long. Gets in the silence. Until then the rain began to rain, making Flo the confusion close the window. Fortunately Farrell helped him.

Flo gritted her teeth. resisting the painful pulses that had arisen in her palm. He had forgotten that his hand was injured and forced him to pull the stalled window to clench.

"Your hand hurts again?"

"No." Flo shook his head, keeping his hands away from Farrell's sight.

"Lying" said Farrell. "Where do I want to see."

"It just hurts a little bit" Flo said, to be honest in the end.

"Eat him his hands should not be too much digerakin first."

"So I forgot my hand was hurt."

Farrell took Flo's hand in front of him. Observe the palms that are still covered with wide wound plaster. Then he turned his hand in his hand, instead of looking at the back of the hand. During the activity, Farrell did not notice Flo's stiffening face at all, or was aware that Flo's heart was suddenly racing.

As Flo was about to pull his hand, Farrell held back by tucking his fingers between Flo's fingers. It's making Flo's heart go crazy. But Farrell looked relaxed when he turned to face Flo.

"I have an idea so you don't forget it."

"What?" tanya Flo, painstakingly let out a sound while her throat choked.

"Awhile..." Farrell releases Flo's hand to open her bag. He also brought out a red pen.

"Where are your hands?" Farrell asks Flo's hand that has been out of his lap for a short time.

With a heavy heart—more because the effect of coming into contact with Farrell is not good for his heart—Flo gave his hand. Then he saw Farrell concentrating on drawing the sewn wound on the back of his hand. Annotated 'this is sick' in the bubble as commonly found in comics. It made Flo smile. Very sweet. Especially when Farrell blew the back of his hand so that the red ink would dry quickly.

"It should never be forgotten again" Farrell said.

"It should be" said Flo, still staring at her comfortable hand nestled in the warm hand of Farrell.

Flo shifted focus on the face of the dudui man next to her.

"Thank you," he said.

Along with Farrell's nod, Flo's phone rang. His voice was a bit dim as it was inside the bag. Just as he was about to let out his hand, Farrell once again held back.

"You forget again like it is," Farrell said.

Flo grinned. So he took his phone using his left hand, and saw the name Genta adorn the screen.

"Hello, Genta. Why?" ask Flo.

Just as he mentioned the name of the caller, the grip on his fingers loosened, for some reason. When Flo glanced at Farrell, the man's face looked agitated.

"No pa-pa. I was worried because I didn't go to school. It's hard to connect these few days."

"Yes, sorry" Flo said on her phone. "My cellphone I often matain."

No longer feeling Farrell would hold back, Flo actually pulled her hand this time. And succeed.

"Lo's sick?" The voice across there sounded anxious.

"No."

"Why not go to school?"

"I went to my cousin's. It's also on the way home."

"Oh... Any family events? There's no problem, is there?"

"No. Not a family event. Just playing around."

"Thank God, if there's no problem. Lo go alone? Or with Arina? He hasn't been in for a few days either."

"Not the same with Arina."

"Oh. Same family means?"

"Not."

"Alone dong?"

"No. Same.." Flo hesitated for a moment, glaring at Farrell who was still silent, "sama Farrell."

Silent.

Still quiet.

"The talent?" Flo checks if the connection is still connected.

Genta. His voice sounded far away.

"Yes first, Flo. The bell came in. Bye."

Before Flo could answer, Genta had already disconnected the connection.

"The talent?" Farrell asked, after Flo lowered the phone from before her ear.

"Yes." Yeah."

"Are you close to Genta?"

Flo fondling. Is he close to Genta? Yeah.it looks like that. Some time back they were quite intensely communicating. Genta often contacted him at night, approaching him at the library during break time. It should be said to be close enough. As friends.

"Lumayan."

"certainly near. Genta is the type of person who rarely calls people—let alone gawan—kalo is not his business is really important, or the person who called it is important."

That's new information for Flo. He wasn't sure if he was happy to hear it. But clearly, for him it is proof that they have really become friends now.

Farrell flinched, like someone who suddenly realized something important.

"You're the one who told Genta not to take the bike again?"

Flo nodded. "Why?"

***

Why yes approximately?

Why do you think yeorobun?