Chapter 44: Chapter 44

When the distance was only five centimeters, and their sharp noses were almost touching, Cakra stopped advancing his face, he opened his eyes slightly and blinked. He inwardly cursed his stupidity. He grimaced and looked away. What was he going to do?

Meanwhile, Inez herself also looked away with flushed cheeks.

Cakra sighed softly. "That's Nez, I just want to ..."

Nervousness completely overcame his body, making him unable to speak smoothly.

He closed his eyes, then shook his head softly as he moved backwards, taking distance from Inez.

"Sorry," he squeaked.

Inez, who felt that her heart was still beating fast, also immediately looked away. I don't know, why did she think that he wanted to kiss her? Damn, Inez had thought too far.

Inez cleared her throat to get rid of the awkwardness that suddenly ambushed her. Then she returned her attention to Cakra. "What did you want to ask?"

"I didn't."

Inez exhaled slowly, then remembered something. "I have something for you."

Cakra locked his mouth, not responding to Inez's words. Instead, he just turned to Inez with his forehead already covered in layers.

"Don't refuse, I insist." Inez stuck out her hand that held the bag.

Hesitating, Cakra finally accepted it. He looked at Inez again, before finally taking out the contents. He rounded his eyes when he found a brand-new cell phone.

Cakra shook his head softly. He opened his mouth, but Inez spoke first.

"I don't want you to reject it, okay? No need to protest anymore, it's for you. Consider it a gift from me because you're willing to be my boyfriend."

"Nez, I don't need this."

"You do," said Inez.

No, Nez, I'm used to not having a phone. I don't want to get this, it's going to be expensive anyway."

"So, get used to using a cell phone. It'll be easier for me to contact you or vice versa. Let's just accept it. The price is not important, you don't need to think about it."

"How can I not think about it, Nez?" Cakra spoke again. "I can't Nez."

"If you reject my phone, you're hurting my feelings, you know? I've worked hard to buy a phone for you, and this is my own money. I saved my own money, I didn't ask my parents." Inez explained at length to Cakra.

"No disrespect, Nez, but..."

Inez raised her hand, making Cakra immediately stop her words. "Alright, let's not talk about it anymore. I don't want to accept rejection, it's now your phone. It has my number too."

Inez then got up from her seat, patted her short skirt briefly, and then looked at Cakra. "I'm going back to class first. Bye!"

"Nez!" Cakra called Inez, but Inez didn't care, the girl continued to walk away from Cakra, making Cakra feel bad.

"I don't need this, Nez," muttered Cakra while staring at the cell phone given to her by Inez. Cakra finally chose to return to his class as well.

And unbeknownst to Inez and Cakra, someone had taken a picture of the two of them from a distance.

***

After school, Inez accidentally bumped into Rian. Inez stopped walking abruptly, her flat gaze directed at Rian. The boy also glanced at Inez but kept walking in the opposite direction of Inez.

Rian didn't say anything—or at least a light greeting. The guy didn't seem to care about Inez's existence, contrasting with what the guy used to do before Inez was in a relationship with Cakra.

With a furrowed brow, Inez stared at Rian's departure. Until finally Inez relaxed her shoulders and didn't care when Rian's body disappeared. Inez continued her footsteps. Isn't it good that Rian doesn't bother her anymore?

Inez got into the car and immediately drove to her house. Arriving home, taking a shower and laying her body on the bed, Inez took her cell phone. She tried to contact Cakra even though she already knew the result. Cakra was currently busy working at the restaurant. Picking up the phone was something that was actually a bit impossible. However, Inez still tried.

Hoping doesn't hurt, right?

Inez's one-time call was immediately connected. Making Inez blink her eyes and immediately change her position to sitting. She couldn't be wrong, Cakra picked up her call. Inez couldn't contain her excitement.

The girl pressed the sophisticated and expensive object to her earlobe. The look on her face had changed to a radiant one. She was about to say a greeting, but she didn't because on the other side, Cakra said first.

"Why Nez?" the boy asked.

Inez chuckled, the guy was still the same. There was no romance at all. Inez gets annoyed when it's like this.

Inez said quickly, rolling her eyes lazily. "How can you say that? It's me who called."

Cakra was silent, there was no more response from there. That boy must be thinking about what to say to Inez. Right, a few seconds after that, Cakra raised his voice again. And Inez listened.

"So, what do you want me to be like, Nez?"

"Well, if it's a soft greeting that makes me feel bored. This is just straight to the point. You're not cool."

"For example?"

"Why are you even asking me?" Inez grumbled. Then she took a deep breath, trying to calm down and control her slightly irregular breathing. "Think for yourself, if I tell you, I won't get upset because I already told you."

"I don't understand what you're talking about, Nez," Cakra said later.

Inez seemed to have to be patient with her boyfriend. Cakra was the only guy who was difficult for Inez to guess. If other guys show their feelings openly, invite her to date, watch movies, or seduce her. In contrast to Cakra, who never did that. Cakra hasn't had a girlfriend so far, and Inez is his first. Of course, Inez felt happy about that. She could be the first to belong to him

Inez let out a rough breath. She shook her head slowly. "Okay, forget about that."

"So, why did you call me Nez? Is there something important you want to tell me?"

Oh my! Inez felt like smashing her head against the wall. She was furious with her boyfriend. What was wrong with calling her own boyfriend? Does it have to be something important first for Inez to call? Inez tried to be calm with Cakra.

"Am I not allowed to call you?"

Yes, you can, but what do you want to say?"

"Do you think there has to be something important first, before I can call you?" asked Inez, a little annoyed. Her tone of voice sounded cynical.

Cakra replied softly. "If there's nothing important, why call Nez? It's a waste of credit, better save the money."

Inez looked up, her eyes closed. Her one hand that wasn't holding the phone was clenched tightly. Looks like Inez should be able to get used to Cakra who behaves differently from most boys.

"Are you working right now?" Inez asked, changing the subject.

"No, I'm on the phone with you."

"That's not what I meant, where are you right now?"

"At the restaurant."

Well, then you're working!"

No, Nez, I'm actually at the restaurant. I'm going home. But you called earlier."

"Going home?" Inez asked, just to make sure that what she heard wasn't wrong. Her brow furrowed faintly. Slowly, Inez's head turned to look at the wall clock in her room. It's still afternoon, why is Cakra already home?

Inez shook her head slowly. Then she said, "so you're free dong?" asked Inez, suddenly she became excited. If Cakra is not working right now, that means Inez...

"You could say that, Nez," said Cakra.

"Good then, let's go!" Inez was very enthusiastic. Her face was beaming. It was the perfect time, she was busy every day. Inez was fully out of bed, the girl with wavy hair walked slowly to the balcony of her room, her cell phone in her ear, impatiently waiting for Cakra's answer.

"Going for a walk, You mean Nez?" he asked later.

Inez nodded enthusiastically, even though Cakra, of course, couldn't see her. Yes, I'm going for a walk. You want to, right? It's rare for you to come home at this hour. Do you want to go? Please ..."

There was no answer that Inez heard next from Cakra, making her forehead furrow, indicating that confusion had settled in her head. Inez looked at her cell phone, the line was still connected.

"Cakra? Hello..."

"Yes Nez. I'm here."

Clucking her tongue in annoyance, Inez then rolled her eyes lazily. Without realizing it, Inez had also stomped her foot irritably on the floor of her room.

"Why are you silent?" Inez was scolded next. "How do you answer? Do you want to hang out with me?"

"Who else, Nez?"

"Well, it's just me and you. It's not a trip where you have to bring a lot of people to make it fun and crowded. I'm talking about a date, dinner, going out, just the two of us." Inez explained at length, her breathing was already labored. Inez closed her eyes to catch her breath for a moment. Her head would go bald if Inez had to explain something like this.

"Now do you understand what I mean? It's just the two of us. Both of us! Didn't I make myself clear?"

"Where is Nez?"

"You answer my question first. Do you want to go or not?"

"Yes, you answered my question first. Where are we going?"

"Well, I haven't thought about it myself." Inez spoke quietly as she thought about what place would be suitable to be alone with Cakra. "Where do you think we're going?"

"I don't know, you're the one who asked Nez."

"Then you want us to go? Come to think of it, we've never been on a date before. You've been busy working, what do you think?"

"Alright," said Cakra in a short, concise manner, but it wasn't clear to Inez's ears.

"What already?"

A soft chuckle escaped Cakra's lips. "Yes, about that, I want to."

"YES!" Inez spontaneously cheered excitedly while jumping slightly. Her hands were already clenched into fists, and her face was shining brightly. Her smile spread so wide.

"You seem really happy, Nez."

"Yes, I'm really happy."

"Why?"

"Because you accepted my invitation." Inez replied quickly. Uh, wait a minute, you're not forced to do what I want, are you?"

"No, Inez, it's safe."

"That's good, then. We'll discuss where to go later. Now share the location of your house, so I can go straight there."

"I don't know how."

Inez grimaced, spontaneously tapping her forehead. "You're really clueless, I guess. Let's see, you're at the restaurant right now, right? You haven't walked yet, right?"

"Not yet, I'm at the restaurant."

Inez's smile was on her lips again. She snapped her fingers. "Look, you wait for me there, I'm going there now. Don't worry, it won't take long. I'll do my best not to upset you by waiting for me for so long."

"Yes, I'll wait for you. Don't speed Nez, just slow down. It's dangerous, you'll get hurt. I won't get angry."

"I think someone is worried about my safety?" Inez deliberately insinuated Cakra, her ignorant smile appearing.

"I'm serious."

"Yes, yes, I'll be careful. Thank you for understanding me. I'll hang up first! Bye, boyfriend, see you soon."

"Hmm."

Tut!

Inez hurriedly grabbed her bag after the phone connection with Cakra was cut off. After putting in the necessary items, Inez put on her shoes, and then she walked out of her room.

Inez wanted this plan to work. It was a rare thing that Cakra could come home early from work. Even though it was almost five o'clock in the afternoon, Inez didn't care. The most important thing was that she could meet Cakra. Period!

"Where are you going, Nez?"

Inez's movement to open the door was stopped when a voice interrupted her. Inez then turned around, then she grinned softly when facing her father.

"I'm going out. There's some business for young people, that's normal!" Inez chuckled at the end of her sentence.

"Just playing around! Didn't you ask first?"

Inez chuckled softly, her eyes narrowing, and then she moved quickly to her father. "I'm forgot." Inez took her father's hand and kissed it. "I has permission from you, is that okay?"

"It's okay, so let's get permission first. It's not good to just go out like that."

Inez nodded obediently. "Forgive me, okay?"

"Yes, it's okay, the important thing is not to repeat it again, okay? What time do you intend to return?"

"Maybe at night, but I don't know yet." Inez replied casually while shrugging her shoulders.

"Oh..." Inez's father nodded his head slowly as he giggled. "Yes, but don't come back too late. You have school tomorrow too."

"If so, I know, just relax. Everything is safe!" Inez held her thumbs up in front of her, showing her father. After that, Inez left the house after waving and saying her greetings.

Since Inez had already been to the restaurant where Cakra worked, and it wasn't too far from her house, she immediately stepped on the gas without further ado. After all, she didn't want him to wait too long. He would already be bored.

In about fifteen minutes, Inez's car was parked in the parking lot of the famous restaurant. From inside the car, Inez's smile was already sweetly etched on her lips when her eyes saw Cakra, who was leaning against the wall, his bike beside him. Cakra's gaze was downcast, both hands sank into his pants pockets.

"I don't regret dating you," Inez muttered softly. Inez's criteria for the ideal boy are indeed based on his appearance first. And Cakra was indeed the kind of boy Inez was referring to. His face really made Inez want to stare at him for a long time.

A few moments after that, Inez quickly got out of her car. As soon as her feet had stepped on the ground and her body was fully outside, Inez immediately called out to Cakra.

"Cakra!" Inez slightly shouted, and as soon as Cakra looked at her, Inez smiled widely with her hands waving in the air. Her white and neatly arranged teeth were visible.

The next second, Inez was already walking quickly after Cakra. As soon as she arrived in front of the boy, Inez grinned again. "Hi!" she greeted. "Have you been waiting for me?"

Cakra shrugged his shoulders. "Not bad."

"So, how's it going? Want to go now?" Inez raised her eyebrows. Teasing Cakra. The boy looked at Inez without blinking.

Sighing, Cakra then said softly. "Does it have to be now, Nez?"

Yes, it does! After all, you promised, and we both agreed. You also know that it's rare for you to come home this early, right?"

Sensing that Inez didn't seem to understand his question, Cakra shook his head slowly. "That's not what I meant, Nez, what I meant was, do you really have to come today? There are other times."

"There's no other time!" Suddenly, Inez replied harshly with her harsh tone of voice. The girl with wavy hair gave Cakra an annoyed look. "I think this is the right time."

"But it's getting late."

Inez smiled faintly and said, "That's exactly it, Cakra, a date will feel better if it happens at night. Let's not waste any more time."

It looked like Inez really wanted it to happen, leaving Cakra no choice but to comply. After all, he had promised. Inez seemed to have really hoped for that. Cakra couldn't bear to disappoint Inez.

"So? Where are we going?"

"Tonight, let's go to a nightclub, shall we?" You want to, right?"

And Cakra almost choked on his own saliva.