Ch 5 : Mari

Mari monologue

My father abandon us.

When I was 10 years old, my father left me and my mother alone in a lonely apartment.

I still relatively young back then, so I don't really know much about what's actually happening. But When I talk to my mom, She said, "It's okay, he will back soon"

Mom never told me the detail about the reason, but it's enough for me to hate my father that abandon us.

The good thing is, Mom was never bother about it, and still believe he will comeback someday. Well, at first I also thought. But after so many years, I doubt he will, I even doubt he's still alive out there.

It's hard for my mom to support me by herself, fortunately I was matured early, so I can help my Mom with housework. I also help my neighbor for small amount of money to help Mom.

I tried to study hard so I can get a scholarship. hard work really paid off. Middle school is basically free in my country, I got scholarship for high school, and now I also got scholarship for university. I picked this university, cause it's located nearby.

I am not really like going out to play, it's better to study or help my Mom housework. But today, one of my classmate called me about the gathering. By some chance, Mom heard it and told me.

"It's okay to play for a while, maybe you can find some friend or even boyfriend." Said Mom playfully.

After that, Mom told me to dressed up and gave me some money.

"Go, don't worry about mom, Mom will probably just watching korean drama until late at night fufu."

I found online driver and told him the address. When I arrived at the location, I finally realized I forgot my wallet.

***

Raihan went downstairs and found Mari.

"You're Mari right? What happen?" Asked Raihan.

"Are you her boyfriend? Great, please pay the fare. I keep told her to call someone but She's just dozing off."

"How much?"

"50K IDR"

Raihan took his wallet and pulled out 50K. "Here, let's go Mari."

Mari probably still processing what's going on. So Raihan took her hand and came to the resto. In the way to second floor Mari finally response.

"Eh-, if I am not wrong, you're Raihan right? I am really really sorry, I just forgot my wallet, and I don't know who to call, if I came back to home, Mom will probably feel strange about it and..."

"It's okay, I accidentally watched you struggle from the second floor window. So I might as well help you. Also, I am pretty bored inside the room hehe."

"How much is it? 50K right? I will pay it as soon as I come home."

"No rush, I help you because I saw an acquaintance in trouble before my eyes. I just feel this is the right thing to do."

Mari smiled and said "Thank you Raihan."

"No problem."

Then they walked to the second room together. Inside Raihan's head.

'Wow, that smile. I just realized now that Mari is actually pretty cute, Maybe if she use small amount of make up, She will become gorgeous.'

'It's good that I can maintain my face. It will be very embarrassing if I flustered.'

When they open the door, everyone was looking at their direction. Classmates came and asked us question but Raihan just told them, 'I just met her on the way here.'

Those curious eyes finally gone and Raihan met with Bagas the others to play another game.

Mari surrounded by her classmates that still didn't believe Raihan. But He put it aside and focus on killing enemy squad.

One by one our classmates came surprisingly enough, no one was actually absent from this gathering.

Six a clock, Abi took a mic and asked for attention for a minute

"Thank you for every single one of you, for coming to this gathering. It is our first time gather like this as a classmates. College life is short, 4 years for hardworking student or more for the other. But I hope we can be friends not just in college, but even after we come to society. And I also hope you guys and lads can be my friends. I hope this gathering will become our first step to tighten our bonds. Cheers for everyone!"

"CHEEERS-!!"

After that the gathering gradually became a party kind of atmosphere. Card game, board game, singing, chatting, BBQ-ing, and many more.

Raihan sat around the corner looking at Abi and Bagas played poker. Actually the winner was decided by the time Abi face against Bagas. Cause Bagas really can't do poker face. If money was on the stake. Bagas probably the first one to got bankrupt.

Mari walked over to Raihan and sat beside him.

"You're not joining them Han?"

"I take a break for a minute, it's too tiring play with Bagas, His face really honest and I feel bad for him."

Mari chuckled and said "Yeah, I can see why."

"What about you? I saw you bombarded by question after we came."

"It's fine now, but yeah. It's pretty chaotic. We're just a classmates for about 2-3 weeks, but everyone already think that we're a couple. fufun."

"That's really too much, I am sorry if it's bother you and your real boyfriend."

"It's fine, I don't have boyfriend, no one will upset about it."

Don't have boyfriend yet, Checked.

"By the way, I saw your phone accessories, it's from the new korean drama right?"

"Oh, this one? yeah, my Mom really love those korean drama, She bought one for herself and get free one."

"My Mom also love them, Whenever I watch TV, the channel never change. Even my father can't do anything about it."

"It's pretty much the same for me too, I watched it from time to time. But still didn't really understand what's so good about it."

"Did you not interested about the male lead? I thought girls really like those white good looking man."

"Me, no. I just can't find myself to like someone that I am not familiar with. But yeah, other than me, almost every girls in our class love them. Thankfully I know watch some of the episode, so I can get into the conversation."

After that the conversation gradually change to our university life, hobby, daily life. Before finally Raihan needed to take over Bagas place to play poker.

But, He feel pretty good about talking with Mari, She's cute, hardworking, smart. She's also very rich in expression, Big eyes, long pretty hair that flow until her waist, small lips and also small figure. Her height just right at my chin, So probably 160 cm or so. She liked to play with her hand, Ehem, He means when talking, her hand will playfully goes here and there demonstrate her speech.

Relationship maybe too soon for them, but Raihan really like to talk with her again in the future.

***

At first She was trying to say thanks to Raihan. But as the conversation went, She completely forgot about it and just go with the flow.

The wall that separate them has broken down to piece, and Mari feels really happy talking with him.

Mari was kinda shy talking with boys, especially in high school, She saw one of her friend get bullied by one particular boy, But, at the end. They actually get together, and she was shocked. How?

So Mari never really had male friends, until now. And she felt that boys actually really fun to talk with.

But, Mari didn't know that, it's not about man, because it was Raihan.

Both of them didn't now what kind of future they will have, but they're felt pretty good about each other.