RUN WITH ME
CHAPTER 9: MY SHADOW

Arunika admitted that the stature of a woman who seemed to be no different from her age, her body was tall as high as her posture that once saw immediately showed how classy she was. Her blonde hair and blue eyes made everyone praise her beauty in the first sight of—, as well as Arunika. His face was soft and friendly. Arunika glanced at Gavin who was standing next to her, wanting to know how the man had reacted. However, in fact Gavin's face was still flat as before seeing the woman, making Arunika surprised.

Seeing as Gavin was not going to open his mouth, Arunika finally returned the greeting with a friendly smile, "yes, you can. You're the daughter of the Rosverd family?" ask him pleasantries. The woman nodded and extended her hand (yes, may. You're Rosverd's daughter, right?)

"Cassandra Rosverd." Arunika replied to the remark, "Arunika Bumantara." After the handshake was removed, Cassandra turned to Gavin and did the same. For a few seconds Gavin just looked at the hand until Arunika finally nudged his hand slowly, then the man replied.

"Gavin Kanagara" he said. Cassandra smiled as she stared at Gavin, whose gaze led to something else.

"So, what do you want to talk to us about?" In order for Cassandra not to be awkward about Gavin's sudden cold attitude, Arunika distracts the woman and fortunately Cassandra is distracted. (So, what do you want to talk to us about?)

"On being of my family, I want to know your opinions on our new product. Can you guys tell me?" Finally Cassandra explained her arrival intent with an occasional glare at Gavin. Arunika also began to realize that there seemed to be another purpose for the arrival of the woman. But looking at Gavin who did not want to open his mouth, Arunika finally answered first. (On behalf of my family, I want to know what you think of our new product, can you tell me?)

"For me, this new product is an upgrade from similar goods from other brands because it has quality and some new features that are not in other brand goods, making consumers so interested in buying. Moreover, the price is also not much different from other brand goods so consumers think, it is better to buy this new product than similar items from other brands." Cassandra heard the comment carefully, though several times glanced at Gavin who was also secretly looking at Arunika. After hearing that praise-filled sentence, Cassandra smiled and thanked Arunika. Then, the blue net turned to Gavin.

Gavin realized the point of the gaze, "my opinion is no different from hers" he said with a flat and cold impression. Arunika who noticed the unusual reaction gave a puzzled look, was the man in a bad mood? Butwhy? Even though before meeting the woman, her mood is still fine. While Cassandra can only smile merrily (my opinion is no different from her.)

"Sir, it's your time to get on stage." Suddenly a man in black clothes approached Gavin. But the three people there knew that the man was an event staff because of the equipment attached to his body. Gavin knew the meaning of the words so he said goodbye to Arunika who still had a confused face. (Sir, it's time to get on stage.)

Seeing Arunika's confusion, Gavin explains in one word, "piano." Then Arunika understood, Gavin will present his piano game to everyone in the ballroom. Gavin's departure makes Arunika the only one who is along with Cassandra. The two pairs of eyes were pointing at the empty stage as Gavin was still walking towards it.

A few moments were filled with silence, but Arunika realized the unease of Cassandra who was standing next to her. He glanced and opened his mouth, "what do you want to ask?" tanyanya relax. Cassandra flinched slightly, then smiled awkwardly, it turned out that her doubts could be felt by Arunika.

"Are you dating her?" Arunika's forehead frowned at the question, then snorted playfully while smiling.

"How did you come to such a conclusion?" ask back Arunika while crossing her hands in front of her chest. Cassandra fell silent, making Arunika continue her sentence.

"No, me and Gavin are just friends. We first met five days ago, there's no way we can date that fast." That answer made Cassandra exhale a sigh of relief. Arunika who saw that smiled.

"You're interested in him?" The question again surprised Cassandra.

"Is it that clear?" Arunika raised both of her shoulders, "yes, in my eyes, no longer know in her eyes." Hearing that Cassandra covered her entire face with both hands, feeling embarrassed. He is terrible at hiding his feelings.

"If it turns out he doesn't know, please don't tell him, will you?" pinta Cassandra who thoughtlessly approved by Arunika. After all, for what reason Arunika wants to refuse the request, of course there is no.

"As women we should know to what extent we can approach men. If it turns out that the man feels uncomfortable and refuses, we must immediately move away and not approach him again. Show our pride as women and never beg for love from men, understand what I mean?" The suggestion made Cassandra speechless for a while, not expecting the woman next to her to be that mature. But soon he understood.

"Oh yeah, how old are you? It seems that our age is not much different," Arunika guessed confidently.

"Fifteen." Arunika was surprised to hear that, "fifteen years and your body is already this tall?" Naturally, Arunika was surprised because in fact Cassandra's height had exceeded Arunika.

"How tall are you?"

"Hm .. I actually don't understand the unit of length used here, but a few days ago I tried it and got it. 170, if not wrong." There was a pause in Cassandra's sentence as she tried to recall it. Unlike Arunika whose life seemed to float after hearing it.

"Why are you so tall?" Arunika moved her hand from head to toe Cassandra several times. Cassandra laughed at Arunika's reaction, but she thought Arunika was also not short because Arunika's height was parallel to her eyes.

"Perhaps because of heredity, my father was 192 centimeters tall and my mother was 180 centimeters." Arunika became silent, while Cassandra's laughter hardened. In his heart he did not expect to be this fast familiar with new people, maybe it was all because of the easy-going nature of Arunika who was able to make him comfortable.

"Tests." A fairly heavy sound echoed throughout the corner of the room, making the focus of Arunika and Cassandra again point towards the man on stage there. Gavin had been sitting in front of the grand piano with the floodlights pointing at him, everyone knew where their eyes should look.

"I'm going to present this little performance to the Rosverd family, who have been good friends of my family for many years. Congratulations on the launch of the new product, and I hope you all enjoy it." After saying that short sentence, all the guests clapped their hands, Arunika was no exception with her gentle smile. Gavin began to prepare himself, making sure his sitting position was comfortable, and his ten fingers were on the correct keys. (I will be presenting this little show to the Rosverd family who have been good friends of my family for the past few years, congratulations on launching his new product and hopefully you all enjoy it.)

The first five seconds filled with silence, then in the sixth second Gavin began to press the keys with his middle finger. The following minutes the room was filled with the sound of a classical piano that was very pampering to the ears, as well as a pair of Arunika's auditory senses. The soulful game was able to make Arunika close her eyes and her head swayed slowly to the right-left. Inside his head, Arunika could see himself running around freely on a vast expanse of grass with a bright blue sky above him. Arunika in her shadow ran with white clothes, bare feet, arms spread wide, and smiled cheerfully—as if there was not the slightest burden on her shoulders.

Not much different from Arunika, Gavin also closed his eyes with hands and feet that continue to move, as if he had remembered all his tone without the need for Gavin to guide. This piece was his mother's favorite. The mother said, when this piece was played, she could see a vast expanse of grass and blue sky with no buildings or humans there. There, the mother was accompanied only by small animals, such as birds, squirrels, and rabbits. And either this was a suggestion from his mother or something, but Gavin could always imagine the scene every time he played this piece. Sometimes Gavin also imagines himself inviting the mother to play and the woman happily complies with the child's request.

When Gavin was still swept away in his shadow, Harris who from the beginning noticed the appearance of his son could only be silent with a sad face, there was a little part in his heart as if being pinched. Of course he knew why the piece could bring out Gavin's widest smile, but he wondered why his son chose the piece? Rebecca turned to look at her husband and gently stroked Harris' hand. Harris noticed the attentive act so much that he stroked the back of his wife's hand.

Finally after nearly ten minutes of play, the show finished with Gavin's right hand held high and his face adorned by a satisfied smile. Rumbles of applause filled the room, various lines of praise were thrown at him, and once again Gavin proved his identity as Kanagara. Without Gavin knowing, Harris smiled proudly at him. Then many people turned to Harris and Rebecca to praise the appearance of their firstborn.

While the couple was busy replying to people, Gavin stood up from his seat and looked at the one woman standing beside the wall with a gentle smile, making Gavin smile.

Yeah, who else if not Arunika.

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