"Clay ..." That voice made Clarissa even more nervous. Calm, soft, and soothing. She used to hear a voice like this from her father.
"Everything you've been through has taught you to be a strong girl. Rest assured of that."
Clarissa was silent. So far no one had spoken to her like this. That the bad things that disappointed her, would make her be a strong person?
"Without a father, you are now a grown woman. That's great. And ahead there is a future waiting. Be proud of yourself." Diaz continued.
Clarissa wanted to cry loudly hearing those words. If Diaz was in front of her, she would probably hug him tightly. Clarissa felt her heart painful, but there was also a sense of calm creeping in there. She wanted Diaz by her side to calm her down.
"I don't think so. I am just passing through my days. After high school, I am in college. I don't know how it will be, I don't know." Clarissa answered as if resigned to life.
Diaz could feel Clarissa was just living her life, not knowing what goals she wanted to achieve. Because there was no one beside her guiding. Diaz could guess that Clarissa chose the major she was currently studying in college simply because a friend was in the same faculty. For Diaz, it was not the first time he met a student like Clarissa.
"It's okay. From now on you can start, think about what you want to be like after graduation. Yes, even though it's still more than two years." Diaz continued to invite Clarissa to expand her mind.
"Hmm ... If we meet, we can discuss right it, Brother?" Clarissa asked.
"Sure. Anytime," said Diaz.
"I wait for the time. Thank you very much for today." Clarissa was very happy. The door was getting wider she approached the handsome lecturer.
"Okay. Bye." Diaz hung up.
Clarissa smiled widely. Her heart blossomed. The opportunity for her got closer with Diaz just near. More, she had nowhere to complain now. Diaz seemed to open himself up whenever Clarissa confided he would be ready.
"It is a right thing to love you, Diaz. I won't waste this opportunity. I never thought I can find you. No. You suddenly came in front of me. Ahh ..." Clarissa laid down. She closed her eyes and looked in her mind, Diaz smiled at her.
*****
Clarissa arrived at the library. Adimasta was waiting for her. According to their agreement, when Clarissa returned the book, Adimasta borrowed it instead.
"Wait, yes. I'll go back to the books first.” Clarissa headed for the counter and Adimasta followed her.
Clarissa handed the book to the librarian. Then, Adimasta immediately said that he would borrow two books that Clarissa had previously borrowed.
"Two books? Not just this one?" Clarissa pointed to the book she was referring to.
"Maybe I need this one too. I think it could also be a reference." Adimasta smiled.
"It's up to you, Sir." Clarissa turned around to go out.
"Clay!" Adimasta screamed a little, he was holding his voice a little, so it wouldn't be loud. Clarissa turned around. She looked at Adimasta.
"Wait a minute," Adimasta asked Clarissa to wait for him.
Three minutes later, Adimasta was out to meet Clarissa who was waiting at the door.
"What?" Clarissa asked. She looked at Adimasta, she wanted to know what Adimasta would say.
"I want to ask about this task. This one..." Adimasta took out a book from his bag. It was a notebook of anything related to lectures, a kind of agenda of things that need to be done.
Clarissa watched Adimasta opening the book and showed her some of the assignments they would be collecting in several weeks to come. Neat and detailed. Detailed and complete. That was what Clarissa saw. This guy was really serious about studying in college. Unlike Clarissa, if there was no Yenny, her learning outcomes could be a mess. Yenny always reminded Clarissa what she needed to do.
Adimasta was talking about an assignment that Clarissa hadn't even thought about. Clarissa was now keeping it in her brain, so she wouldn't miss the task.
"Di, I guess I will be diligent if I stay around you, anyway," Clarissa said.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Adimasta was surprised by those words.
"If you do the task, I'll just follow," said Clarissa.
Adimasta smirked. Clarissa was, still the same, as he knew. She did not care about completing her tasks.
"That's fine. I'd be happy too." Adimasta smiled.
They walked out of the library. It was time to go home. While walking, Clarissa felt her phone vibrate. She took out the cell phone in her bag.
"Daddy?" Clarissa stopped and immediately accepted the call.
Adimasta also stopped and watched Clarissa's face suddenly tense up, slightly reddened.
"Dad ...." said Clarissa. Her heart was beating to be able to talk to her father again after so long without contact.
"How are you, Girl?" That voice, Clarissa missed. Clarissa also misses seeing her father.
"I am good," Clarissa answered with teary eyes. "How are you, Dad?"
"Fine. Where are you?" Arlon was relieved his daughter said she was fine.
"Still on campus, Dad. I'll be home soon." Clarissa wiped the corners of her eyes that were getting wet.
Adimasta continued to watch Clarissa.
"Okay. Are you studying well?" Arlon asked again.
"Yeah ... Kinda. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not." Clarissa pursed her lips, smiling faintly.
"When is the day off? Can you come here?" Arlon also misses his daughter. And it was not easy to meet her. Due to the situation and he was busy with his job, so it was difficult to manage time to meet Clarissa.
"Dad, don't ask me to come. If you want to see me, I wait for you to come. You know I can't meet your family. Sorry." And Clarissa hangs up.
She was upset. She still has a hard time accepting the fact that her father belongs to someone else. The cause was the anger in her heart that she had yet to get rid of.
Adimasta was still staring at Clarissa. Another side of Clarissa, he just knew. This cheerful and slightly haughty girl was hurt. And she didn't want to treat her wound. She just didn’t care about her wound.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Clarissa asked, looking at Adimasta.
"I know you have a problem with your father. May I be your ears? Just helping you relax, Clay. And your cheerfulness will be genuine. Not only to cover your painful heart."
"What did you say?! A misery in my life you think? Wanna bet?!"
"Adi ..." Clarissa's hand waved in Adimasta's face. Adimasta stutters. Again, he was daydreaming. He was dreaming Clarissa was mad at him.
"Is it your hobby, dreaming? Or are you fascinated by my beauty?" Clarissa fiddled with her eyebrows. Adimasta smirked.
"Answer me, Sir," Clarissa said.
"Let’s go home." Adimasta walked ahead of Clarissa.
"Well, this is Mr. Adi, he likes to act in a mysterious way," said Clarissa. She followed Adimasta.
"We are a match. You like to act in an antique way." Adimasta glanced at Clarissa. He raised his glasses.
Clarissa smiled widely. They parted in the parking lot. Clarissa headed for her car, Adimasta stepped into the row of motorbikes. Adimasta didn't leave immediately, he waited until Clarissa left first.
"It's right I love you, Clay. I want to treat your wounds. I will definitely make you smile. A sincere smile." Adimasta's heart whispered.
Now Adimasta got on his two-wheeled vehicle. Soon he was speeding down the increasingly crowded streets. Fifteen minutes Adimasta arrived home. Just as he parked the motorbike, his sister came out of the house.
"Are you going, Sis?" Adimasta greeted the women with the same white skin as Adimasta. Her hair was jet black, straight, and wide.
"Hi! You just get home?" The woman asked again.
"Yes. Are you teaching this afternoon?" asked Adimasta again.
"Yup. I'm in a hurry. I haven't had time to prepare dinner yet. Mom and Dad will arrive tonight. You cook yourself or order online food. Okay?" Adimasta's sister spoke as she continued towards her motorbike which was next to Adimasta's motorbike.
"Alright!!" Adimasta replied then he entered the house.
Arriving in the room, Adimasta just remembered something. He had to call Clarissa. Adimasta called the girl. He tried several times, but Clarissa still did not pick up her phone. Was Clarissa still on the road?
Clarissa had just finished showering and changing. She wanted to charge her cell phone. When she took it out of the bag, there were several incoming calls from Adimasta. What was up with that guy calling? Was there anything important? Clarissa sent a chat because she had to fill in her cell phone energy. She asked why Adimasta was busy looking for her. Adimasta's reply came quickly. He asked if his workbook had been taken by Clarissa. Clarissa didn't feel it, but she'd check first. The phone was put back down and Clarissa opened her bag. The book was in the bag. It was tucked into the book Clarissa had borrowed. Clarissa was curious, what were the contents of Adimasta's book. She sat down at her table and began to flip through the pages of the book. Clarissa smiled. Neat, organized, systematic. Yes, it was Adimasta. A good boy, friendly, and intelligent. Unfortunately, in Clarissa's eyes, Adimasta looked like an indecisive and weak guy. It was the reason why
Annoyed, Clarissa got into her car. Why had to be Adimasta?! She wasn't really interested in him. But so far, Adimasta was one of the most pleasant friends for Clarissa. After Clarissa found out Adimasta's heart for her, she just wanted to stay away from the boy. Yenny who was sitting next to Clarissa knew her friend was really upset. Yenny was the same, didn't expect Adimasta to have feelings for a girl like Clarissa. In Yenny's eyes, Adimasta needed a calm, polite, and gentle girl. But the fact, was it real he loved Clarissa? It didn’t make sense in Yenny’s mind. "What are you angry about? It's Adi's business whether you like it or not. If it's not bothering your life, just let it be." Yenny calmed Clarissa down. "I want to be with Diaz, you know. I don’t care the others." Clarissa drove the car. When she was near the gate, she saw Adimasta on his motorbike. The boy stopped at the side of the road, making a call to someone. Yenny patted Clarissa on
"Honey, I'm really sorry. I've made you angry many times. But, I miss you, so much." Rosita spoke hoarsely. "Mam, I'll get you some warm water, okay?" Mrs. Tirah interrupted Rosita's words. "Yes, sure. Thank you," said Rosita. Mrs. Tirah left the room. She told Yenny to come in and sit in a chair not far from the door. Clarissa turned to Yenny. She waved to her friend. Yenny came over, stood by the bed, next to Clarissa. "This is Yenny, Mom. My best friend." Clarissa introduced Yenny. "Yenny, you must be a good girl. You can stand with my daughter’s behavior." Rosita looked at Yenny. "Mom, ugh," Clarissa snarled. "Clarissa, I know you're the most annoyed when I want to talk to you. Especially when it was about dating." Rosita turned her gaze to Clarissa again. What could Clarissa say? Even she was sick, Rosita still talked about arranged marriage. "I just want you to get a good man, your life will be okay then.
For three days Clarissa stayed with Rosita. After her mother's condition improved, Clarissa returned to her boarding house. But her communication with Rosita was more intense. Clarissa wanted to make sure her mother would be alright. Yenny was also relieved, Clarissa was cheerful again. Back unfriendly and arbitrarily. It annoyed her friend. But that was what Clarissa was. "How is your mother? Still trying to find a husband for you?" Yenny asked. They were waiting for the next class. Diaz’s class. "Yes, but I'm not insistent. I told my mom, I can definitely find a husband myself. I'll get to know Mama right away when I'm with her." Clarissa answered while opening her water bottle. "Ooh? Does she deal with you?" Yenny asked again.
The tall and stout body moved away. Diaz didn't look back at Clarissa. With a sad look and a disappointed heart, Clarissa still stood where she was. Diaz rejected her love. Their close relationship so far, Diaz's concern for him is only as brother and sister. No more. Yenny was right. Diaz wasn't in love with her. Clarissa was too confident. When she had planned everything well, it was to no avail. Clarissa was left behind. "Brother, you are so mean. I really love you. You also show that you love me all this time. In fact?" Clarissa clenched her fists in anger. Clarissa's heart was furious. She was not considered. Again, she accepted the refusal. Her father left her. Her mother didn't care. Last, the man which was Clarissa had hoped to cover up all the pain she had been feeling, had failed her too. Why was life not on her side at all? "But not Clarissa at this rate. I'll get you, Brother. You'll be mine. I'm sure of that." There was sadness mixed with
Yenny looked at Adimasta. The slanted young man with glasses turned back to face her. Adimasta did not mishear what Yenny asked. Yes, Yenny might know about his love for Clarissa. Adimasta was sure Clarissa couldn't help but tell her what happened in the park behind campus, forced to confess her heart to the eccentric girl. "Yes. I love her, Yenny." Finally, Yenny heard it from Adimasta's thin lips. Yenny exhaled, still unable to believe it. Actually, Yenny felt strange that Adimasta could fall in love with Clarissa. Because in Yenny's view, these her two friend’s characters woukd not be possible to connect. "I don't even know how could it be like this." Adimasta raised his glasses to their original position. "You know she loves Mr. Diaz." Yenny still looked at Adimasta. "I know. And Mr. Diaz can't possibly love Clarissa. I just want her to be okay." Adimasta smiled faintly. "Are you sure you can still love Clarissa? You know this girl
Even though Diaz had vehemently refused twice, Clarissa didn't want to give up. She wouldn't get back down. She wanted to prove to her mother that she could find the right man for herself. That way, she wouldn't accept being forced to receive one of her mother's friends' children. In addition, Clarissa could make her mother calmer, if her health condition worsens. Clarissa was just getting into the car when her mother called. Rosita asked her daughter to go home. Clarissa was on the way to the boarding house, then she turned around towards her house. Rosita mostly was working from home. The company she worked for understood her condition and shifted the tasks she must complete more freely, which could be done without having to come to the office daily. Rosita smiled seeing her daughter coming. Clarissa was no longer reluctant to go home, even though she felt more comfortable in the boarding house because of the girl's busy schedule on campus and its surroundings. Clarissa walked over
Clarissa's eyes still looked at Adimasta's mother and sister. She didn't understand why they were laughing. But Clarissa was sure they were laughing at Adimasta. "Sorry, Clarissa. I like to joke around like that. Adimasta is too flat and stiff. That's why I call him the woodman." Anindita's wide smile was still on her lips, she explained what her words meant. "Oh, I see ..." Clarissa took her smile. "But he's good. He is diligent and smart. He's never been a bother boy since he was a little one. I am so grateful to have him as a son. A boy but he doesn't give me a headache." Adimasta’s mother commented. "Ahhh, a promotion. Yes, it is!" Anindita glanced at her mother. Adimasta’s mother released her smile again. "I don't mean it, Anin. I just said the true." Clarissa smiled again, thinly. Her heart was speaking to herself. How would this mother and daughter react when they found out that Adimasta was in love with Clarissa? Would they be