Mall

"Are you serious about going home with me?" Panji confirmed once again. Afraid if his hearing problems to the point of hallucinating like this.

"Yeah, I'm serious. What's wrong? You can't take me?"

Panji immediately shook his head. "No, I can do it. Come on." He said.

In Panji's car, Laras was silent as she looked around. Pay attention to how the atmosphere of the capital city on Sunday. A little longing came out again, considering that her parents were still alive, the three of them often spent time walking around. Whether it's a tourist spot, a public swimming pool, or even a mall.

Everything is no longer the same, Laras will not be able to feel that happiness again. Even if she cries blood in front of her mother's grave, it still won't change fate. Even though it is difficult, it must be accepted with grace.

"You want to go straight home?" Panji asked, breaking the silence between them.

"Where are you going first?"

"I actually want to go to the mall for a while, to buy gifts. But I will take you first." He said.

"Gift for who?"

"Your aunt."

Laras thought. She never knew that this twelfth was her aunt's birthday. But, what would Laras do if she knew? Celebrating it? Huh! Impossible and will not want.

"Do you want to come looking for a present?" Immediately Laras shook her head strongly.

"No. Why give a gift to someone who wants to sell me."

Panji took a deep breath, so low it might not even be audible. "Aunt Yuni didn't sell you, Laras. She just wants what's best for you."

"But the best for me is only Randi, only him, and nothing else."

Stings. Like being slashed, then the wound is sprinkled with salt. It seems that the proverb is suitable for how Panji is feeling now.

"Yeah, I'll just take you right away."

Panji has turned the steering wheel towards Yuni's house. "Em, what gift do you really want to buy?"

"What, huh? I don't know. But later I can ask the sales clerk there."

"Um, I see."

There was a hint of disappointment, because Laras thought that Panji would beg her to come to the mall to find gifts. But apparently, Laras was just expecting too much. Panji will always be Panji. He is just a stiff man who will be straight and just do what people say.

"Why ask?"

"Huh?"

"Earlier you asked what gift you were looking for. What's the matter? Do you have a gift recommendation for your aunt?" Panji glanced at Laras for a moment. To which the woman replied with a scratch behind the ear.

"No, just...."

"Just what?"

Laras tongue is very itchy. She wanted to be honest if he wanted to go with Panji, but she was embarrassed to say it directly.

"Auntie likes perfume, you just buy it."

Panji nodded slightly. "Perfume, huh? Just like my mom. Do you think it smells the same, doesn't it?"

"Aunt Widia, what perfume do you like?"

"If I forget the brand, I only remember the variant. If I'm not mistaken, is it a blush flower?"

"Floral blush, mom, I also like the scented variant."

"Oh yesh?" Laras nodded. She was waiting for an invitation from Panji.

Laras was furious because Panji was silent until they arrived at the gate of Yuni's house. Deliberately, Laras did not immediately come out and say goodbye to him. Want to test whether Panji is sensitive or not.

"You're not coming down?"

Unlucky!

It turns out that Panji is an insensitive man.

"Ugh! How come you're not sensitive?" Laras asked in an annoyed tone.

"Huh? Sensitive to what?"

Pouting, Laras put her hands on her chest. He glanced at Panji with annoyance. "I want to join!"

"Follow where?"

"Oh! Yes, come with you!!"

"Go to mall?" Panji asked confusedly.

"Yes! Where else is it?"

"Want to buy a present?"

"Yes, no! But I want to come!!" Panji just scratched her head that didn't itch. Confused about how to respond. "So you want to come?"

Laras eyebrows dipped. She was already very annoyed with this completely insensitive Panji. "No! I don't want to come. You are annoying! Insensitive!"

Blam!!

Laras came down in a hurry, not forgetting to close the door so hard it made a thumping sound. She wanted to open the gate, though it was a bit difficult. But her hand was held by Panji who turned out to come down too.

"Come on." He said.

"No need!" Laras pushed away Panji's hand which was holding the gate key. "There! Just go alone. I want to sleep, tired!"

Laras was getting annoyed because the padlock of this gate was already rusty so it was difficult to open. "Huh! What the hell? Old gate! Unclear lock!"

Where she stood, Panji could only watch Laras, who was annoyed because she couldn't open the gate. She let it be for a while, before taking the keys from Laras hands. "Here."

"Why are you pocketed?" Laras protested that the key to the padlock that was supposed to be used to open the gate was actually put in Panji's trouser pocket. It's impossible if Laras reaches for it.

"You come with me to look for a present.When you're done, I'll help you open the gate."

Groaning, Laras looked at Panji with a slight look up. "That's it! Grandpa, like this! You don't have to be tired of getting out of the car, it's hot, you know!"

Without waiting for Panji's response, Laras walked immediately to the car. Sit back at the wheel, put on the seat belt and don't forget to put on an annoyed face.

Panji entered, with a normal face of course. He didn't say anything and continued to turn the steering wheel towards the mall they were going to.

"Will you go to the mall just to buy perfume?" Laras asked.

"Yeah, what else does your aunt like besides perfume?"

Well, even though she hoped that Panji would ask Laras what she wanted to buy. But, hope has been dashed.

"Don't know." Laras replied curtly.

"Do you want to come to the restaurant tonight or not? To your aunt's birthday? If you want, I'll pick you up later. Incidentally, I didn't go with my parents."

"Auntie's birthday? Is she having an event?"

"Yes, some of her business colleagues were invited. The event is at night, eight o'clock. The dress code is white and black. If you want to come, let me find the clothes."

"Why do you have to look for it? I'm here, I can look it up myself."

"Ah, yeah, if you want to look for yourself. I guess you don't like looking for clothes."

"Why do you think that? I like shopping, especially shopping for clothes."

"No problem, I thought you didn't want what happened last night to happen again."

Laras frowned. "What happened? The one I threw at you with a glass?"

"No, that's not it. I'm just afraid you won't want to be invited to the boutique again, because last night you really refused to go to the fitting with me. I was just afraid you'd be angry again."

Laras pensively made.