44 (Reality)

Nathan lowered his face, and he was baffled. He had been feeling extraordinary about his feelings. Moreover, yesterday Dinda had just scolded him for it.

            "I don't know, I think it's going to fail," Nathan answered bluntly. Then he walked away, still with the thick book he was carrying.

*****

            "So you don't want to come?" asked Nadya.

            They seemed busy folding clothes on the bed while watching Korean dramas. Dinda took a deep breath. She was still afraid to have anything to do with a birthday party, especially when it was Nathan's model boy's birthday party. She didn't want to be used again, and she didn't want to be abused again. She was crazy enough because of what Panji had done before.

            "Din, I want to say..." repeated Nadya. Dinda turned her head as if she had just realized that Nadya had asked her for a long time. "All boys are not the same, Din. And you can't punish Nathan for that."