The High School Bad Boy
Chapter 32. How Do I Get To Your Heart (How to Get to Your Heart).

MARAIS LES, SURESNES.

***

The woman cupped her face with both palms. Long jet black hair. Black dress that wraps around a thin and fragile body.

Alone, alone, lonely.

Life is hard, yes, Wulan ....

Come here, let me stain your tears.

Max puts the final touches on his painting on canvas. He pulled back his head, then tilted it to the right and to the left, trying to find an angle to check the results of his hand graffiti.

A simple black and white painting. More like sketches of imperfect paintings. It deliberately displays a combination of the process of seeing, feeling, living, thinking, expression and empathy. Testing the depth of the soul and the sensitivity of its intuition to an object to be recorded. Unripe.

An object that has lately made her feel that all that has been unreasonable in her life during this time, is slowly removed by sparks of love and happiness.

"Relight ...."

Patrick's voice from behind his back made him gasp.

"Hmmm" she said, adding black to her dress. After it was felt that there was less when examining the final results earlier.

"I'm glad you're trying new things and not getting caught up in a single stream."

Max smile. "I visualize everything here" he said, tapping his head with his index finger.

Patrick drew his face closer to the canvas to take a closer look. "Fusing with the dark side of the universe" he murmured. "Life is not just about bright colors that cool the eyes."

"Equilibrium (balance)" said Max.

The old man nodded. "You're so young, Max. Many things will come in your life, good or bad, which will be the process of forming your identity as a real man later." Patrick patted Max's shoulder slowly. He seemed to know everything that was happening in the young man's life. Although Max had never told her about personal problems. "One you should always remember" he said. "Responsibility (responsibility), whatever your life choices."

For Max, this is the first time Patrick has spoken more deeply with him. And it made her heart feel cold.

"Mr ...." Max stroked his nape before continuing his words. "How do you think you can get a woman's heart?" ask her with a blushed face.

Patrick wettest. "Women in the baby boomers generation are simpler than millennials or Z generations, which may be more complicated, but, basically women from the same time. Happy to be chased and showered with attention." Patrick clapped his hands once. "Cliche," kekehnya.

Max grimaced as he scratched his hair with his head half-down, hiding his red face.

"Merci, Pat," he said as he tidied up his painting equipment. Put it in a wooden box, then put it in the corner of the room. He then grabbed his backpack on the table.

"A demain (until tomorrow), Pat," he said, waving a small wave at Patrick.

Max steps out of the gallery and walks through the bustling Les Marais sidewalk.

He stopped his steps when crossing a flower shop and his attention was focused on a bouquet of mixed flowers between daisy, lily, and red roses that were behind the window glass.

Lips throbbing.

Not a bad idea.

He stepped inside the store and met the salesman, a red-haired young woman who greeted him kindly.

"A good choice" said the woman, handing Max a bouquet of flowers. "Your boyfriend will definitely like it" he continued.

"Oui, j'espere (i hope so)." Max's smile expands as he receives a bouquet of flowers and hands him a piece of fifty euros.

After receiving his twenty-euro return, he said goodbye and continued his journey to the nearest metro station.

***

Wulan noticed the reflection of her face inside the mirror above her bathroom sink. He touched her face with the back of his hand. There's no wrinkles there yet. Then slowly his hand went down stroking his neck, then down again fingered the two protruding lumps of fat on his chest. Tauter.

He tilted his body left and right. Make sure the shape is still perfect.

A moment later he patted his forehead while wide-eyed. What's he thinking? When was the last time he cared about his face and body shape? When was he with Pierre?

Why does he care anymore?

Wulan shook her head slowly, then lit a faucet and washed her face. He grabbed a towel and stepped out of the bathroom while drying his face.

He intends to lay his body on the bed, straighten the body and stretch his muscles that feel stiff while waiting for Adrienne to give him a drink at the bar, when the sound of the door of his apartment knocked someone.

"Who the hell, disturb aja," he said in Indonesian. He immediately stepped out of his room and opened the door.

"Bonsoir (good afternoon), Miss."

As soon as he opened the door, he found a sweet smile from a sweet but stubborn child who he really wanted to avoid.

Wulan did not immediately say Max's greeting. His attention was fixed on the young man's hand which he hid behind his back.

"Beautiful flowers for the most beautiful woman in Paris." Max thrusts a bouquet of flowers at Wulan.

Wulan rolled her eyes hearing the young boy's seduction. But gladly received the flowers.

"Merci" he said, looking for something that might be tucked away in flower stalks. "There's no sender's name" he murmured. "Max, is this your new job? Bringing flowers?"

"Ah, bon (ohya)?" Wulan giggles. He then brought a bouquet of flowers to the kitchen and put them in a glass bottle that had previously been filled with water.

"You like it?" max asked him. The young man was standing behind him.

"Bien sure (of course)," he said nervously. "Very romantic," he mumbled. Still heard by Max.

"Ben, je suis Francais, it's in my blood (yes, I'm French, the romance is ingrained)," he wrote.

Wulan held back her smile hearing Max's babbling. Pierre is French. But he's not romantic.

Max threw his body on the couch after throwing his backpack away.

"You're just here to deliver flowers?" ask Wulan while taking a seat in front of Max.

"I forgot to say that at school. I'd like to take you to see the exhibition at the Sorbonne, one more week."

"Eloise doesn't mind if you take me?"

"Why should he mind?"

Wulan pressed her shoulders. "Who knows he wishes you'd come alone."

"Why do you think that?"

"Of course."

Max smiled at her smile. "You're jealous, huh?"

"Non, non, pas du tout (no, no, not at all)," said Wulan fast. He turned his eyes to the window of his apartment.

"Miss ...." Max got off the couch and now sits next to Wulan. "You like me, don't you?" tanyanya while tilting her head looked at Wulan who was still facing towards the window.

"What's the matter, Max?"

"I why? I like you, Miss."

Wulan snorted annoyedly. "Do you know who you're talking to?"

"Yeah, with Wulan, the most beautiful woman in Pa ...."

Pukkkk

"Auch!" Max grimaced the end of his head that was hit by Wulan's punch.

"Do you know how old I am?"

"Emm... forty?" goda. But soon after he had to be willing to have his long hair pulled hard by Wulan who was upset instead of playing.

"I don't care how old you are, Miss. Really."

Wulan twitched her suddenly throbbing head. "Don't do this to me, Max, please," she said.

"Miss ..." Max grabs Wulan's shoulder and brings her closer to him. He looked at his Master Mother.

Wulan only glanced at him briefly. He could not face the blue eyes that could have made him fall into the things he had to avoid. Even though he wanted it.

"Dis moi que tu m'aimes aussi (say that you like me too)," whispered Max as he brought his face closer to Wulan who could only close his eyes. Either resigned, either scared, either his brain is raging choose between yes and no.

When in the end he chose to accept such a tempting offer, apparently the universe had not allowed it.

The phone on the table rang.

Call from Adrienne.

Wulan breathed a sigh of relief. Not with Max. He breathed a disappointed breath.

"I'm going out with Adrienne" Wulan said, grabbing her phone. He tidied up his clothes and hair, then went into his room to pick up his sling bag.

"You're gonna wait here?" ask Wulan for pleasantries.

"I'm coming with you."

Wulan chuckling. "You're not old enough."

"Then I'll wait for you here."

"Don't joke."

Max turned his shoulders. "I'm serious!"

Wulan was silent for a moment. "I'm gonna lock the door, Max."

Max just nodded. "Amuse toi bien (have a good time)," he said while looking unwilling to leave Wulan.

***

***

***