Enchanted by rhymes

The sun rises on the eastern horizon, reddish gradations shine around the sun that looks shy but full of tenderness to provide warmth in the morning full of joy.

Qing Yang was awakened by the sound of birds chirping, chirping in the window of the bedroom where she was sleeping. Her eyes were still tightly closed, ears listening intently, the beautiful melody of the morning that made her lips widen in a smile. Slowly she opened her eyes which was welcomed by the sunlight coming in from the wide-open window, letting the fresh air in and refreshing her heart.

"Oh, you're awake" her mother's voice sounded in the bedroom. She turned to her mother who was standing in front of the wardrobe. Her Hands holding a pile of clothes, it was her mother's activity in the morning to get herself and her father a change of clothes. She saw that in her mother's hand were the clothes she wore every day.

Her eyes opened wide in surprise to see her mother "Oh, don't you go to the sea, to catch fish?" she asked curiously. Usually, every two days, her parent will go out to the sea to catch fish and then sell it in the market. The profit from the sale is used for their family's daily living expenses.

"The weather doesn't allow for fishing. The water wave was high, and the wind was blowing hard, so we decided to wait for the weather to subside before going out to the sea again. Other fishermen also don't have the courage to go out to the sea to catch fish" her mother explained the situation.

Qing Yang just listened quietly and nodded at the end of her mother's explanation.

Her mother walked up to her and spoke. "Come, get out from the bed, wash your face and this is your change of clothes for today." The hand that was holding several pieces of clothing, stretched out in front of her and she welcomed the clothes with both hands.

she smiled at her mother while saying "thank you mother, mother... I told you, you don't need to get my clothes, I can take them from the closet myself" and without wait for her mother answer, she got out of bed, walked out of the bedroom towards the back door to wash her face.

She was focusing on washing her face, when she faintly heard the sound of someone reciting the rhymes that sounded like a song that calmed her heart and mind. Even though she didn't know the meaning of those rhymes, she tried to hear more clearly.

Grabbed the towel hanging from her neck, rubbed it over her face which was still wet with water. Then walked to the source of the voice that was still reciting the rhymes. She kept walking until she reached the corner of the yard. About ten meters away, a man sat alone on an oak branch. He was none other than the scholar whom she and her father met in the forest yesterday and are now staying at her house.

While holding a book in his hand. His facial expression was serious but there was still a smile on his lips. Every now and then he would glance at the book he was holding. It was as if he was reciting the contents of the book.

Qing Yang was amazed to see this. This was the first time she had seen someone seriously study. Of course, it was clear that he had to be serious to studying, because the scholar exams were only a few days away.

She stood in the same place for a long time and did not realize that she had been lulled by the scholar's charisma. it occurred to her, she also wanted to be a scholar, like the scholar in front of her.

Lulled by her own reverie, she did not realize that the Scholar had sensed her presence. And was looking at him without blinking. Immediately the scholar stopped reciting the rhymes. Tilts his head to the right. His eyes stared intently at Qing Yang, guessing what she was doing standing there alone.

Deciding to find out, Bo Lin jumped down from the oak branch, walking towards her slowly but with dignity.

She conscious from her reverie when she saw the Scholar in front of her coming down from the tree and walking towards her. Panic, embarrassed, unsure what to do. She had already caught sight of someone else. And that is disrespectful. Her legs tried to move but she couldn't find the strength to move her feet and walked away from there, as if there is a magnet was holding her, not letting her move and leave.

By the time she could move her legs and try to turn around, it was too late. The scholar's voice was heard.

"Good morning Miss. Has my voice disturbed your calm in the morning?" asked Bo Lin, at the end of his sentence he was already standing one meter in front of Qing Yang. one arm half folded, pressed against his stomach with clenched fists. Another hand holding the book was hidden behind his body.

In Qing Yang's eyes, Bo Lin's face was calm, charismatic, and dignified. She didn't see the worried face she saw yesterday in the middle of the forest. His lips smiled a little, his head slightly lowered to look at her, patiently waiting for her to answer.

Qing Yang blinked a few times doubting what she should do, without realizing her mouth was open, she stammered "M-Morning Mister…." Her eyes glanced left and right, avoiding looking directly at the scholar. Hers two hands were intertwine each other with moving fingers. Shows that she is panicking.

Bo Lin patiently said apologetically "Sorry, if my voice has disturbed you" hoping she calmed down a bit.

"Ah… no, no Mister. Not at all, I should be the one apologizing for disturbing your concentration in studying." Finally, she can control herself and answer out loud so that the scholar standing in front of her does not feel guilty.

"Oh" Bo Lin only let out an O sound still with a smiling face looking at her.

This time Qing Yang was at a loss as to what she should say and put an end to this inconvenience. And as a helper her mother's voice was heard. "Qing Yang, what are you doing there?"

She immediately turned to her mother embarrassed but relieved, at least she could avoid the Scholar, who stared at her like she was a candy, which was sweet on the tongue when chewed in the mouth.

"Ah...nothing mother, I'm just going inside to change clothes". She said looking for an excuse, then she turned back to the scholar, bowed her body slightly as she said. "Sorry Mister. I have to go inside to change clothes" without waiting for the scholar's answer, she turned around, then walked past her mother, continued walking towards the back door, stepped inside and her figure disappeared behind the door.

Her mother's brows knitted with her head tilted to the left. Thinking if there is something wrong with her question and making her child uncomfortable. But she remembered that her daughter was not alone. The scholar who was brought by her husband yesterday was standing near her daughter earlier. Her eyes stared at the scholar, hoping to find an answer to her curiosity.

Unfortunately, her gaze was only returned by a small nod from the scholar, then the scholar turned to leave her there, alone. Making her brows furrow even more. Resigned she finally turned around, walked towards the back door, followed her daughter into the house to continue preparing breakfast for her family and the scholar.

Inside the bedroom, Qing Yang buried her face in the pillow and cursed herself. 'Why did I have to stand there for so long, to let the scholar know my present. Oh, if I had not been so stunned by the verses he read and the charisma of the scholar when he recited the rhymes, it seemed as if I was lost in the cradle of words and wanted to hear more of the rhymes. Oh, how is this, soon mother will definitely call me for breakfast, of course they will seat together on dining table'. She sulked inwardly.

And what happen next exactly is what she thinks of, her mother voice was heard from outside the room, calling her "Qing Yang let's have breakfast".

She reluctantly replied, "Wait a minute mother, I haven't finished dressing yet". She hurriedly got out of bed to change clothes. When she was finished, her feet were heavy. But what can she do, she could not heed her mother's call. Her hand gripped the doorknob, pushed the door open, then she stepped out, walking towards the dining room.