Virally
31. Wither Before Growing

Sometimes out of fear of being hurt trying to be together feels reluctant,

Building a 'self-shield' keeps the distance awake

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I was behind Dewo and Bian. From the beginning of the journey I could hear Dewo dominating the conversation.

We have arrived back at the square. As an 'amateur' the distance we traveled was not too far. Starting from the square around the sidewalk of Sudirman Street which is not too crowded in the morning and then back again to the square.

Now what I'm thinking is definitely not us but Bian. It wasn't that he was at the chicken gruel stall, according to Dewo because he asked where Dewo was. Then he met us on purpose. So where did Bian start running from in the morning?. Not to mention the sudden nongol of her twin sister.

"Where did the boy start running?"

"From the square." Bian answered without shifting focus from the screen in his hand.

"Didn't you go here with Danar and Diandra?"

"Bareng really."

"But you guys didn't go to the stall together."

"I ran first."

I want to take over the device in his grasp. He came back irritated with words and I was like a big brother asking with his little sister who had just learned to talk.

"So far, Danar and Diandra have not yet come to his order. They mean still eating at the grazing stall. You want to wait for them here, right?"

Bian mengalihkan pandangan dari gawai kearah ku lalu dia menatap Dewo. Wajah Bian yang tertutup masker membuat pancaran matanya lebih jelas. Entah perasaan ku atau bukan tapi aku merasa ada kontak pandangan terjalin antara Bian dan Dewo.

"Kami pulang dulu ya, Bian."

Aku baru hendak beranjak dari sini dan menuju parkiran ketika celetukan Dewo menghentikan langkah ku.

"Pulang sama kami saja, Kak Bian." Aku mendelik ke arah Dewo.

"Tidak, makasih Dewo. Aku menunggu Kak Danar dan Kak Diandra disini saja."

"Kalau begitu kami permisi pulang dulu ya." Aku baru saja mau melangkah ketika Dewo menarik lengan ku.

"Kak Bian yang aku pesan kemarin barangnya sudah ada?"

"Sudah ada di rumah."

"Pesan apa sih?." Aku bertanya tidak sabar, ingin melarikan diri dari Bian.

"Kak Anggrek kalau aku jelaskan pasti tidak tahu. Tambahan aksesoris kamera ku kemarin, jadi pesan sama kak Bian."

"Iya ntar aku antar ke rumah mu, Dewo." Aku mencium ada indikasi penolakan Dewo disini.

"Kelamaan kalo di antar, Aku ambil sekarang! Kak Anggrek kita ke rumah Kak Bian ambil barang ya?"

Aku baru mau membuka mulut untuk menolak. Mereka berdua sudah mendahului ku berjalan ke arah parkiran. Sekarang disini lah aku berada sendirian di kursi belakang mobil. Sebenarnya aku bisa saja menolak dengan keras tadi tapi ada sisi lain hatiku yang membiarkan ini terjadi.

Kami telah tiba di rumah Bian, Aku menunggu di dalam mobil enggan untuk memasuki rumah. Dewo dan Bian masuk kedalam rumah untuk mengambil pesanan Dewo. Batin ku bertanya apakah Dewo akan bertemu orang tua Bian.

Aku mengamati lingkungan sekitar rumah. Asri dan adem, kelihatannya tenang. Konsep perumahan minimalis yang menarik. Latar perumahan pemandangan Bukit Asri. Pengamatan ku terhenti ketika ada suara ketukan di jendela ternyata Diandra. Mereka ternyata telah pulang dari alun-alun . Aku pun menurunkan kaca jendela.

"Let's go yuk, Orchid."

"Thank you, Sister Diandra, but I'm sorry to want to go straight by chance, my sister just wants to take orders with Bian so it's not long."

"Yes but rather than waiting in the car better get in first. There is me and my son at home. All of you want to give me my banana bollen from the banana that Orchid gave you yesterday."

I was still hesitant but Diandra still remained steadfast standing beside the car made me hesitate to refuse his invitation.

The interior of the Bian family home is dominated by black and white. There's something that interests me in this house. The existence of the 'anthurium regale' plant'. I've been with Mama to the plant exhibition and the price of this "anthurium regale" according to my balance is expensive.

One leaf alone at that time sold for 15 million, In Bian's house there are five pots 'anthurium regale' placed on the side terrace is limited to a glass door as a separator between the dining room and terrace.

In addition to anturium there are also some agglonemas. I believe the price of this aglonema is in a range that is not far from the price of anthurium regale. My brain immediately turned into a calculator calculating the price of plants in Bian's house.

My eyes scanned Bian's household for a glimpse, All the items in his house were of high quality. Actually it's out of my habit to assess the state of people's homes when visiting but don't I know Bian's family.

Entering this house disturbs curiosity thoroughly. My eyes are looking for family photos but the ones that are found are displays and paintings of high artistic value. Bian never told his family. He is only interested in what is in me.

If Bian and Doni are presumed to be a book. So Doni is a book that most of the contents I have read, the next chapter just waits for time to find out the contents.

While Bian is only a book that I know from the front cover only. I don't know who his parents were, Bian's past, where he came from. He's still a book that even the first chapter I haven't finished reading.

Diandra showed up with a plate of banana bolen in her hand. Because of Dewo and Bian long ago so met with Diandra and Danar.

"Abang?? You mean he called me, brother?" I turned away an angry face. Anyone who is interested in calling him brother.

Danar has not yet finished grumbling "It is made bolen, the meal time is so to match and. He thought our family was a monkey given and a big banana."

"Wild, Dior here meet Aunt Orchid." Diandra.

I was fascinated to see Diar and Dior. Their family is indeed in the grace of luck born with a beautiful appearance. The two children were aged between six and eight. Diar a handsome stocky boy, Dior a beautiful daughter.

"This is my son."

"Hello meet aunt Orchid." I greeted the friendly smile that greeted both of them. After experiencing me, Bian's two nephews reentered into continuing his game

"Negrok." Diandra's voice turned serious.

"Yes Brother."

"What do you have to do with Bian?".

"Me and Bian are just friends, brother because they often use the services of Bian for photoshoots so we are good friends." I smiled reassuring Diandra.

"Oh so.. Danar's been talking about Bian's match."

"Here, Brother."

"You also know Bian 'fled' into this town to avoid an arranged marriage?". I shook my head. Did Danar and Diandra think Bian told them everything?. I don't even know their sister's age.

"Bian didn't like the matchmaking we did and it's likely that he deliberately approached another woman. The kind of women that are not the standard of our family. An accident that would make our family angry."

"I'm not that girl." My voice suddenly squeaked. There's a pain attacking in the chest.

"I hope so too. Bian's soul mate is a beautiful woman from a distinguished family. He's Bian's little friend and that girl loves Bian."

"I hope Bian will soon meet his soul mate. Oh yeah, we better get home first." I hurried to stand up. Bian and Dewo came to us.

"I'll excuse you." I coded Dewo and tried not to look at Bian.

"Wait for the Orchid, this is a banana bolster for you." Diandra smiled sweetly making me creep. How many moments ago she let out sharp words now she could give a charming smile. He's more terrible than Danar.

The bracelet from the French brand on Diandra's wrist stole my attention. Simple rings with small diamonds look elegant on the smooth fingers of the Diandra. Gosh my eyes today are really observant scanning what's in the Bian family home.

I walk at a fast pace. Make Dewo have to run a little.

"Be careful, brother ntar nodded." Dewo said casually without feeling guilty. Bian stepped up quickly to open the car door.

"Thank you Bian." I glanced behind Bian. Bian's twin sister is nowhere to be seen. Especially his parents. Does he live with his parents?. I don't want to think about starting the car again and the second time as fast as lightning I ran away from this house.

"Sister, Dewo wants to talk about Bian's sister?". What else does Dewo want to ask. Today I did not escape the question of Bian.

"Yes what?" ask me.

"Sister seems like Brother Bian likes older brother. I like Brother Bian too. He's much better than brother Adi's color."

Degs....

"The reason is what you said Bian was good?" My heart is beating trying to stay focused with the road ahead.

"Mama and Papa once said Adi was never close to our family when the marriage united two families. When Papa and Dewo were sick, He never besuk when Mama Kak Adi was sick who took care of Kak Anggrek in the hospital."

"You've just met Bian" I said straightforwardly

"It's just that Dewo has seen the way he approaches our family" said my sister.

"Hmmm so yeah," I was lazy to respond to Dewo's babble It seems like he likes Bian.

"Sister," call Dewo.

"Yes." Yeah."

"So Brother Bian was deliberately taking us home. There was something he wanted to give to brother but he forgot to put it so Dewo helped look for him. When we came out, there was already a twin brother he was talking to Kak Orchid."

"What to give" I asked.

"Not met yet, maybe played her. At home there are nannies and babysitters. It's just that Brother Bian doesn't feel good brother waited long so he invited out to see brother."

I was silent no longer responding to Dewo's words. If he knew he had not stepped up to be close to Bian, there were obstacles to block especially when the braid was intertwined.

I better stay away. Not wanting to be hurt again, building a 'self-shield' to keep my distance from him who is approaching is the right decision I will take.

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