AMAZED

Arriving at home

After changing clothes, I immediately treat them using raw materials from nature. My mother seemed to be watching me from behind the kitchen door. It seems that mom is happily mixed with worry because she saw me bring a friend to this boarding house.

"Mom has made soup. Eat it while it's warm."

My mother just gave a message like that, which was responded to by thanks from the young man in front of me.

I took him rice with mushroom soup and two slices of fried tempeh. I saw this young man as confused as to see the form of my family's food. However, gradually he seemed to enjoy it.

"Where are you from? Why did it fall into the sea?" I asked boldly.

After finishing the dish I served, the young man drank a glass of water. He's like a hungry man.

"I come from a place so far from here. And I also don't understand why it has to fall into the sea," he answered in surprise.

I see a sweet smile captivating the heart. My heart was pounding, and there was a sense of interest that made me want to know more about him.

"May I hitch a ride here for a few nights?" he asked, which suddenly interrupted my thoughts.

"Riding? You mean?" I asked, surprised.

"Yes. Just a few nights. That's if it's allowed. I was looking for something that said it was here," he replied.

I took a deep breath, thinking about how mom and dad would respond. Will they allow my new friend to stay at the house? Besides, I just met him. I do not know his origin and clarity of him. His words gave me a headache.

"I'll ask them for permission, don't worry."

His words made me deja vu. It's like you know him but don't know where. He was so confident and brave. Perhaps it was because his intentions were truly good that there was no fear or doubt in his heart. It's just that I'm overly emotional in this. My heart is still wary of the strange things that happened to me.

After finishing my lunch, I went to my mother, trying to negotiate. The mother looks a little worried in response. The worry grew even more when my father and brother came home from the market. However, my mother immediately told me what had happened.

I am grateful to have a mother who understands her child. Father's gloomy face gradually brightened up again. Then I met my new friend. In front of me, there are now two men who became close in an instant. I almost couldn't believe what was happening.

The next day…

"Clouds!"

I welcomed him home from the market happily. I saw the look on my father's frown when I didn't greet him when the two of them arrived at the house. I think the father already has a mother who welcomes.

"How about in the market?" I asked Cloud, my new friend.

Cloud smiled. He walked side by side with me. I was on his left, heading into the house.

"Very crowded, but I'm happy," he replied with a smile.

The young man claimed to be named Cloud. Just like a cloud. However, he is like a cloud when the sky is clear if you look again. His smile calms my heart. Even so, I still kept watching in case he did something bad.

But if you think about it further, I don't think I should have any prejudice against him, because he was so kind to help my father sell in the market and even pick vegetables. And because of his arrival, too, my father's merchandise sold well.

We got acquainted briefly last night before Cloud took a break from his trip. He sleeps in the living room on a makeshift kapok mat and mattress, accompanied by a pillow that is enough to accompany him to rest.

Two o'clock in the afternoon…

During the day, as usual, I did my job fishing. This time I'm not alone. Cloud accompanies me. For some reason, since Cloud was holding the fishing rod, the caught fish were not as large as usual. Only about half an hour have got five fish. Strange indeed, but maybe this is what is called sustenance.

I looked at him. Seeing his calm demeanour made me mesmerized, and I didn't want to take my eyes off. Moreover, he is also charming in my eyes.

We've been silent ever since. Not one or two words could be heard from his thin lips when he started fishing.

"You're cute, aren't you?"

Cloud suddenly said while pulling his fishing line. And it turns out again he got a fish.

"Hah? Funny?" I asked, confused.

"You don't realize that you're cute, Ara?" he said again as he put the fish into the bucket.

"Hm, looks like that's enough for today."

I asked Cloud to stop fishing. I think the six fish are enough for today's lunch until tomorrow morning.

"Don't change the subject. I feel what you feel."

"W-what?! You mean?"

Cloud didn't answer my question and just chuckled as he rowed the canoe to shore. I made him curious.

"Clouds?"

Arriving at the edge, we walked together. He just walked ahead of me.

"Cloud, you haven't explained what you said earlier."

I asked Cloud to explain the meaning of his words. Or maybe more accurately forced.

Cloud stopped his footsteps. He turned to face me, putting down the bucket and fishing rod he was carrying at once.

"You are a girl full of curiosity. Every time we are close, I see you always looking at me. But when I turned to look at you, you immediately looked away."

Not!

I feel cornered. What he said was true.

Am I being too aggressive with him? It would be a shame if he judged me all kinds of things.

"Ara…"

A soft touch landed on the top of my head. He stroked my bangs without warning.

"Believe me, and I'm not like your bad guess. I have a task that needs to be done soon."

I fell silent as if hypnotized. Cloud then invited me home, and I was powerless to refuse. I wish I could be with him longer.

My days changed after his arrival. I became more enthusiastic about living my life. Cloud also really showed his identity. He was so lenient to my family that he managed to steal the hearts of my father and mother. He doesn't seem like a bad person. Until now, I have never seen any suspicious movement from him.

At night…

Tonight the full moon, I saw Cloud looking at the moon in front of the house. I approached him then I tried to talk to him.

"You seem to be thinking about something. If you like, you can share it with me."

I stood beside him, watching the moon shining brightly. It felt so comfortable, and my heart was hit by mixed feelings when I was alone with him. Could this be the result of my attraction to him?

"Hmm, that's right. There's something I'm thinking about right now. Can you help me?" Cloud said as he turned to me.

"Maybe I can help if I know what the problem is," I replied excitedly.

"Ara…"

Cloud corrected his posture, and he was now standing with his arms crossed over his chest.

"I need an expert for my country. Can you work for me?" he asked quietly.

"Work?"

The atmosphere was silent for a moment. Cloud turned to face me.

"I have a lot of work to do. I need you to help me."

His words confused me a little.

Why should I help him? What does it mean that something is me? Will he kidnap me if I refuse his request?