My name is Eleanor Kenneth, I'm 21 years old. I was known to be a very quiet girl and I didn't have many friends, especially in High School, plus I have some bad memories.
Although in High School, I didn't have many friends but I graduated with satisfactory grades and made my parents proud. In addition, I was also accepted at my favorite University located in Tangerang.
At the University, I chose my favorite faculty, Psychology. In that faculty, I met new friends and the first person who invited me to get acquainted was Kenzie Aaron.
Kenzie Aaron was quite handsome, tall, and also famous for having a friendly nature. Only a few days in, he managed to make most of the students admire him and there were even some students who liked him.
Even now I still remember our first meeting, when I was in class, sitting at the far end of the seat while reading manhua and listening to songs through my earphones. I was focused on reading, and suddenly someone stood in front of me and knocked lightly on my desk.
His arrival made me a little annoyed because he was interrupting my reading, especially now at the exciting part. Annoyed, I stared at the person standing in front of me waiting for him to speak. Seeing that the person didn't speak, I intended to continue reading but my attention was lost because the person finally spoke.
"Excuse me, is there anyone next to you? If not, can I sit next to you? Only the seat next to you is empty," the man asked.
Hearing the person's words, I reflexively looked around to confirm what he said and it was true that the seat next to me was empty among the other desks in the class. I picked up the bag that I had placed on the seat next to me and that person, immediately sat next to me after I picked up my bag.
"Hello, I'm Kenzie Aaron, just call me Ken, Kenzie, or Ron," Kenzie said smiling. "I'm Eleanor Kenneth, just call me Eleanor," I replied with an awkward smile etched on my face. "Hello Eleanor, let's be friends," Kenzie said with a smile still etched on her face.
Although hesitantly, I still nodded my head and didn't forget the awkward smile still etched on my face. i
"Let's get acquainted with the others," invited Kenzie while standing up from his seat.
I wanted to refuse but, I was already being pulled by Kenzie and he took me to get acquainted with the other students in the class.
It was the beginning of our meeting, the beginning of my getting to know the other students in the class, and the beginning of our friendship.
Since that day, the college life that I had thought of before entering with what is happening now is very different.
At first, I thought that while in college, I would only spend my time studying and being at home. But in reality, besides going to lectures and being at home, I often spend my time with my faculty mates, hanging out with them, and celebrating celebrations such as Christmas, New Year, Eid al-Fitr, and Chinese New Year.
I swear when I heard the word Chinese New Year, I remembered the incident that happened when I and the others visited Kenzie's house. Okay, let's do a flashback...
-Flashback
10.50 AM
Today is the day my friends and I visited Kenzie's house and we promised to leave at 11. It's already 10.50 and I'm still standing in front of the porch waiting for Renata, my friend beside Kenzie, to pick me up.
A few minutes later, a black car pulled up in front of my house and the owner of the car rolled down the window.
"Why are you here?" I asked when I saw Kenzie in the car.
"Renata's car had a flat tire, so I was told to pick you up" Kenzie replied.
I nodded my head in understanding and got into the car. Kenzie immediately started the car and during the trip, the car was full of laughter because Kenzie told me funny things.
15 minutes later, Kenzie parked her car on the porch and we both got out of the car and approached the two of them who were joking around.
"Have you guys been here long?" asked Kenzie.
"We just arrived," replied Liavin.
"Let's go inside," said Kenzie and then entered the house followed by the others from behind. In the living room, they met Kenzie's mom and younger brother watching TV in the living room.
"Yi yi, Gong xi fa cai." said Liavin, Renata, and Reynard together.
"Gong xi fa cai, you are Kenzie's friends, right? Let's sit down," said Mrs. Aaron asking them to sit down.
They, including Mrs. Aaron and Kenzie's younger brother, sat on the sofa while Kenzie went to the kitchen to get some drinks. The atmosphere in the living room was a bit awkward at first but it disappeared because of Mrs. Aaron's friendliness.
"Hmm... Mrs. Aaron, can I go use the toilet for a while?" I asked.
"Please, you go straight to the kitchen and then turn left at the end of the toilet there," explained Mrs. Aaron
"Thanks, Mrs," I said and stood up from my seat.
I followed the direction Mrs. Aaron told me. When I got to the kitchen, I saw Kenzie getting a glass from the cupboard.
"Uh Eleanor, what are you doing in the kitchen?" asked Kenzie.
"I'm going to the toilet," I replied, then went to the toilet because I was so tired.
Seeing me rushing to the toilet, Kenzie shook her head slowly and a smile was etched on her face. After that, I washed my hands in the sink located in front of the toilet and then approached Kenzie who was cutting the layer cake.
"Can I help you with anything?" I asked.
"Hmm no need, it's about to be finished anyway" replied Kenzie glancing at me. "Don't you go to the living room first?" asked Kenzie.
"Just together, I want to ask you something," I replied.
"Ask what?" asked Kenzie, looking back at me.
I pointed at the decoration on the window, "What's that? I saw that decoration on the front window too."
Kenzie followed in the direction I pointed, "That's called Jian zhi, it has many different designs and each design has a different meaning."
Then Kenzie pointed to the lanterns hanging near the living room, "That you must know, lanterns symbolize happiness and are thought to ward off bad luck."
Kenzie again pointed to the one-word decoration, "Now that reads "Fu" which means happy, if you look closely there is a reversed "Fu," it means that happiness has arrived."
I nodded my head in understanding when suddenly I heard Mrs. Aaron shout from the living room.
"Kenzie, are you done yet?" Mrs. Aaron shouted.
"Already, ma," replied Kenzie rather loudly.
"Let's go to the living room," Kenzie continued as she picked up the tray of cans. Seeing Kenzie struggling, I picked up the plate of cookies, "I'll help."
"Thanks," Kenzie said.
They both left the kitchen and went to the living room. In the living room, we sat back down on the sofa after putting the things we had brought on the table and we just realized that everyone in the living room was staring at them with uninterpretable gazes.
Since no one was talking, Kaizo, Kenzie's younger brother, spoke up, "Ge, is he George's girlfriend?"
Kaizo's question made me and Kenzie stare at Kaizo in confusion while the others just smiled when they heard Kaizo's question.
Seeing that her two friends still didn't realize it, Eloria pointed to the clothes they were wearing, "Don't you two realize? Your clothes are like a couple's clothes."
Eloria's explanation made us both look at our clothes. What Eloria said is true, we are wearing pink sweaters and white pants like two people who are dating and wearing couple clothes.
"Are you two secretly dating behind our backs?" asked Renata with a probing look. "No, it's just a coincidence," we both replied with red faces.
They all laughed at my red face with Kenzie. At the same time, Kenzie's mom who had been in the room returned.
"Why are you both red in the face? Doesn't it hurt?" asked Mrs. Aaron
"They're not sick, but they're embarrassed because their clothes are the same color," replied Reynard.
"You guys are up to something, this is for you," said Mrs. Aaron as she gave angpao to the five of us.
"Thank you Yiyi/Mrs," said the five of us together and took the angpao given by Mrs. Aaron "This is Angpao, it contains money and is usually given to children or unmarried people," whispered Kenzie.
"I know about this," I whispered.
"I thought I didn't know," Kenzie whispered again and unconsciously ran her hand through my hair lightly.
"Are you two seriously dating?" asked Eloria when she saw our interaction. "Not right now, but tomorrow I will," Kenzie replied.
The atmosphere of the living room was immediately excited after hearing Kenzie's answer and I could only stay silent with a red face as well as Kenzie who could only smile.
"Then we'll wait for the treat," said Reynard, making the living room burst into laughter again. "I already feel sorry for Eleanor, her face is so red," said Eloria.
"Uh, when is Jolicia coming back here?" asked Renata, changing the topic. "She said the day after tomorrow," replied Liavin.
They all continued their conversation. Time went on and it was now 4 pm.
"Uh it's already 4 o'clock," said Liavin looking at the wall clock.
"Yes, then we'll go home first, I'm afraid I'll be looked for by my mom," Renata replied.
"Heh, did you forget? We're migrants here, it's only Eleanor who's looking for her mom," Reynard replied.
"Not her mom, but her older brother, she also migrated here," said Kenzie, which again caused a stir in the living room.
"You know what, don't you think I've been stalking him?" asked Kaizo investigative.
"Duh, I didn't expect Kenzie to turn out to be...," said Reynard hanging on his words "No, she told me about it and I met her brother when he was taking her home," explained Kenzie. "Hmm... Are you seriously not talking about Eleanor? Who was it yesterday." Liavin, who hadn't finished his words, was immediately smothered by Kenzie.
I, who was replying to my brother's message, turned to them when I heard my name being called "Did someone call me?"
"You're not feeling it," Kenzie replied.
"Kenzie can you take me home? My brother can't pick me up," I asked.
"Sure, let's go," Kenzie replied.
They walked out of the house and got into their respective cars. Just as Kenzie wanted to get into the car, she was pulled by Reynard. I don't know what Reynard whispered, the important thing was that Kenzie's face turned red while Reynard laughed out loud.
"Woi Reynard, hurry up, we'll get stuck," Eloria shouted.
"Yes, yes patience, the feeling is only 4 o'clock" replied Reynard.
"If so, don't forget to tell Kenzie baby, HEHEHEHEHEHEHE" continued Reynard as he ran away laughing out loud.
"YOU'RE DISGUSTING," Kenzie shouted.
"You'll get your revenge later, he's waiting for you," said Kaizo, pointing at me who was chuckling at his hilarious interaction with Reynard.
"Uh yeah, come on Eleanor," Kenzie said and got into the car and so did I.
Kenzie drove the car out of her yard. During the trip, Kenzie and I kept quiet because it was awkward with the incident earlier, Kenzie focused on driving while I looked at the scenery outside the window.
At a red light, I saw a lion dance performing in a housing estate close to the traffic.
"It's the lion dance, a dance considered to ward off evil spirits, which is also thought to bring prosperity and good luck," Kenzie explained suddenly.
I nodded my head in understanding. At the same time, my cell phone rang indicating an incoming call, I immediately answered the incoming call after seeing who was calling.
"Hello bang, I'm already on my way home," I said.
From the other side came my brother's hoarse voice, "Still far?"
"Not bad," I replied
"What's wrong, bang?" I asked.
"Nothing, just asking, when you get their call," my brother replied.
Unconsciously, I nodded my head and then turned off the phone and heard a quiet laugh from next to me. I immediately turned my head to the side and saw Kenzie laughing softly while shaking her head.
"Something funny?" I asked, confused.
"There is," Kenzie replied
"You," Kenzie continued looking at me and saw a smile etched on her face.
My face immediately turned red when I heard Kenzie's words while Kenzie ran the car with a big smile carved on her face.
At first, the atmosphere became silent because of Kenzie's talk and then turned into full of laughter when Kenzie told funny things.
10 minutes later, Kenzie's car stopped in front of my house and I saw my brother standing on the porch.
"Thank you, Kenzie, for bringing me," I said.
Kenzie just nodded his head and I got out of the car. Just as I was about to close the door, Kenzie suddenly held my hand making me look at her.
"Why Kenzie?" I asked looking at her.
Instantly my face turned red after hearing what Kenzie was talking about, I immediately forcibly removed her hand from mine and ran into the house without caring about my brother who was still standing on the porch.
Even until night, Kenzie's words were still ringing in my head and made me unable to sleep all night. I wanted to forget what happened today.
Flashback END
I can't feel the time passing quickly, it's been 2 years since the incident happened. At that time I wanted to forget the incident, but now for me, it is one of the good memories.
It's now 11:00 am, and I'm standing in front of the terrace waiting for someone to pick me up. He promised to pick me up at 10:45 but I've been waiting for 15 minutes and he still hasn't arrived.
Just as I was about to call the person, a black car pulled up in front of me and the owner of the car rolled down his window.
"Sorry I'm late," Kenzie said from inside the car.
"Yeah, not once or twice either," I quipped as I got into the car.
"I'm sorry Elea, that damn Reynard forced me to accompany him to play the game," Kenzie explained.
"Serah, let's go now, we'll be late," I said.
Kenzie nodded her head and drove the car to campus and the car ride was filled with laughter.
During these two years, there has been no change between us, actually, there is but only between me and him.
END
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