Florianas
Chapter 4: Online

In a blouse and tutu skirt, Flo stood still, staring at the reflection of his figure on the glass surface. Long time in that position. Then in an unnatural way, he pulled both corners of his lips, forming a forced smile. Repeatedly he repeated, trying to find the best smile to show.

"Lo looked sweet with a smile." Farrell said in his head.

Flo's two hands cupped his heated face. He believes his fever has gone down since two days ago.

The afternoon wind slipped in from the open window. Shake her hair that is still long.

"Your hair is better when it's broken," Farrell's voice once again sounded.

Those words echoed in his head. Continued to disturb since that day. Make it no muddle. Smiling to himself, rolling around in a mattress, sometimes even making his heart beat twice as fast.

Jesus, jesus! He must have lost his mind. Flo patted her cheek.

Conscious, Flo, conscious. Farrell is too amazing for you who are too ordinary, he reminded himself. Farrell said so just because of her... Okay? Ah, no, maybe precisely to melt the atmosphere. It's just a meaningless compliment. Pleasantries!

Conscious!

Once again Flo patted her cheek. This time harder, leaving a trail of flushed.

Flo grabbed a hair tie with her backpack. Hurry up he steps out while tying his hair. Far from being a good word, he looks like a madman with long unraveling hair. Exactly.

So forget all about Farrell's words yesterday. Again, it was just the kindness of the man. Don't get baper for that kind of trivia. It will be difficult itself. He is not an experienced person in terms of romance, but he knows he will bother his business if he falls for a creature like Farrell. They're too different. Farrell's world was too noisy and colorful compared to Flo's silent and monotonous world. They don't fit in too much. And again, he was like a potato while Farrell was a handsome prince. Differ. Faraway.

So wake up. Floriana is just Arina's friend.

***

Floriana's eyes were closed in fury, lapping at every echoing melody. Perform a series of movements that he memorized outside the head. Jumping lightly at the ends of the toes, turning in a controlled manner, churning out the motion he has learned over the years.

His breath hunts along with the increasingly rushed tempo of music. Adrenaline's racing. It spins so fast. Until a few breaths passed. The hair felt loose until it fell completely, making the lamb flutter, slapping its face.

Then. stop. Flo stops just as the music subsides instantly. He opened his eyes, and a low clap of applause greeted him. Five people in the training studio dressed similarly despite being different colors, smiled in praise of how flawless his movements were. Even her overjoyed coach came to give her a proud hug. He is happy, even though he has not moved to this ballet academy for a long time, they really appreciate him and do not consider him a new child.

Flo thanked him, still with a smile on his feet for sure. A genuine smile that he could not see in the mirror this afternoon.

"You can definitely be a famous ballerina someday, Flo," said Kak Riani, the coach. After releasing his embrace.

"Hopefully, Brother," Flo replied.

"Surely," sure Brother Riani.

After Kak Riani moved away and the rest of the friends approached to just pat her on the shoulder, Flo turned her head. He could feel someone watching him from the outside.

And it's true. There, in the doorway, was Farrell riveted. The views of the two meet. This time, unlike usual, Flo first loosened the knot on his lips. He smiled, revealing two dimples with a pair of sparkling eyes. It took three seconds before Farrell came smiling in a similar manner. Dimples and twinkle in the eyes.

Strangely, Flo felt there was a murmur within him. Something unfamiliar as he looked at Farrell smiling so. Strange, Flo felt that something was different from the way Farrell looked at her this time. It was as if Farrell had only seen him properly after meeting a few times.

Bizarrely.

***

Ghiffari Genta: Flo.

Flo's forehead frowned. Somewhat surprised by Genta's new habit of contacting him every night around this hour.

Flo threw the body in the bed. There has been no intention of exchanging clothes with more comfortable ones.

Me: Why?

Flo replied, simply.

Genta Ghiffari: What else?

Genta Ghiffari: Not busy?

Always same. The Genta question. It has been a few days that the order has not changed, it is unshakable. First say hello to the name. Flo. The second asked what he was doing. The third question is the second question.

Me: Just got home from training. Not too busy.

Genta Ghiffari: What training?

Me: Ballet.

Genta Ghiffari: I just found out that ballet too, just like his brother Farrell means.

Me: Yeah. I know his brother Farrell. We're an academy.

Me: I just moved to the ballet academy a month ago.

Genta Ghiffari: Oh, fast. I haven't picked up Farah in a long time.

Flo didn't respond to the message. He was confused what to reply.

Genta Ghiffari: Yes already so, rest gih, must be tired abis training.

Is correct. He's so tired. Genta understanding. If not, Flo doesn't know what to say to bring up this conversation.

Me: okay.

Putting the phone on her side, Flo looked up. Counting the remnants of glow in the dark star stickers on the ceiling of the room. Only a few fruits remain.

His stepfather who put the stickers on, tried to make him who was then eight years old want to sleep alone. It was hard to do it first. Sleeping themselves. Flo remembers why she was so afraid to sleep alone. He was afraid of another fire, as it had been. The fire that killed Papa—his biological father.

Children usually forget the events that traumatized them. But Flo can't. How could he forget that Papa died to save him. He wrapped her in a wet blanket and hugged her tightly. So tight. Until the wet blanket was warm, until the smell of smoke was dissipated by Papa's distinctive smell. And the last thing he remembered on that fateful night was the sound of fire sirens. The voice haunted him for a long time.

Flo still misses Papa a lot. Not because his stepfather was evil. He's even very good. His stepfather never distinguished him and his half-brother, Fabian. But still there is a difference between a biological father and a stepfather. Even so with a stepfather as good as his, they should be able to be a happy family.

Unfortunately, the 'happy family' had to be put on hold for some time. Because Fabian never accepted him and his mother. Never, and never will be.

Flo's phone clinks. Signing a message just came in. He took it with ogah-ogahan. Who else bothered him

ready rest?

+62 821-67xx-xxxx: Flo.

Forehead Flo frowned. Number not known. There's no photo.  Flo just wanted to tap on the profile photo section to check the description, but the next chat already gives clarity.

+62 821-67xx-xxxx: It's Farrell.

Flo sat cross-legged for a moment. Face gawking. She remembers Arina once saying that Farrell asked for her number a few days ago. But he didn't expect Farrell to chat. Yeah, at least not at a time like this. Because according to Arina, Farrell asked for his number regarding the pickup of Kak Farah. And as he knew, Farrell had already picked up Farah's sister. They even met and exchanged simple greetings.

Me: Why?

Flo bit her lip. Typing just three syllables made him nervous. Funny huh?

+62 821-67xx-xxxx: Where to go? The same number is inactive.

While Farrell's status is still 'typing.', Flo exits his chat room and the man. Replace knocking on his obrol room with Arina.

And for the umpteenth time tonight, his forehead frowned.

Arina online's.

Farrell's lying? Not likely. Make what try?

+62 821-67xx-xxxx: I want to do geo duty last Monday.

Tomorrow's Monday and Farrell hasn't done a job last Monday? Wow, are all popular kids procrastinating on PR? Because Arina did something similar.

But it doesn't matter now.

Me: But Arina's online, Rell.

Five seconds passed and there was no response from Farrell. Maybe you started chatting with Arina. That was Farrell's goal.

Flo just shut down the app when 'typing.' came back under Farrell's number.

+62 821-67xx-xxxx: Oh, yes. Just online, I guess.

+62 821-67xx-xxx: Wkwkwk.

***

There's something suspicius about 'wkwkwk', right?

yuk spam love used to be for our big Brother Wkwkwkwk who is handsome his super load & he is a & _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

you guys baper not if praised by people like gini?