The one call to Marcell that Novan made was picked up in less than two minutes. Novan was quite surprised that Marcell could pick up so quickly.
Immediately, Novan sat on the edge of his bed with the phone pointed at his earlobe. Then, a voice came that Novan recognized—of course, it was Marcell's voice.
"Hey Van, why are you calling me?" Marcell asked, straight to the point, no pleasantries.
"Where are you now?" Instead of answering Marcell's question, Novan asked one.
"I asked instead of asking back!"
"Just answer," said Novan while straightening his legs.
"You already knew where I was going this morning at school, why are you suddenly asking me? Sudden memory loss, Van?" asked Marcell. Making Novan close his eyes while snorting long.
Novan, of course remembered it clearly, he wasn't senile. He knew that his friend was going out with his girlfriend, Weeby. And that was the purpose of Novan calling Marcell at this time.
Somewhat annoyed by Marcell's response, Novan clicked his tongue. "I'm not a senile old man, nor am I someone who suddenly loses his memory. I know that, Marcell."
"If you already know, why are you even asking? You're weird, what are you trying to say?"
"I thought you wouldn't go with Weeby, who knew I didn't know, right? All you have to do is answer, and you're done. How complicated are you?"
"I promised to go with Weeby tonight, there's no way I'm canceling it, she'll get even angrier at me."
"Yes, I know that Weeby hasn't fully forgiven you for your speeding on the motorcycle."
"Well, you know that yourself. So the question now is, why did you call me? I was about to go to Weeby's house."
Novan shifted his gaze, noticing the two tickets on the small nightstand beside his bed. "You still remember that I have two tickets?"
"So you want me to buy them at that ridiculous price? Geez Van, I spent all my time listening to you ramble on, only to find out that you called me to talk about this again. I won't buy your movie ticket."
"Listen to me first, dude, I haven't said anything yet, and you've already barged in first. Give me time to say why?" Novan let out a long sigh.
"So what do you want? Give me the movie tickets at the normal price? I still don't want to. If it's below the normal price, I'll take it. You're my best friend, Van, and the price is okay."
"I won't sell the tickets to you, just take the tickets for you, I don't set the price."
"Wait a minute, I didn't hear wrong, did I?"
"Your ears are still functioning normally."
"You're giving it to me for free? For free?" asked Marcell, his heavy voice sounding excited.
"That's if you want it, just take it."
"I want it, if I don't want it. Who wants to turn down free stuff? Everyone likes that!"
"Well, I'll give it to you."
"You're not messing around, right? Are you serious? Watch out if you think you're just playing a prank on me."
"Here boy!" Novan immediately sneered. "My intentions are good, but I'm suspected like this. If I wasn't serious, I wouldn't have called you."
"Yeah, yeah, I trust you. But why all of a sudden? You're not going out with your girlfriend?" Marcell asked curiously.
Novan didn't answer immediately, trying to find an excuse. If he answered the truth that Uti refused to go with him, Novan didn't want Marcell to laugh at him. That's why Novan tried to come up with the best possible excuse, one that was so slick, with no loopholes, that Marcell wouldn't be suspicious at all.
"I can't go, the girl I want to invite has family matters."
"Really? She rejected you." Marcell laughed on the other side, which was very annoying to Novan's ears.
Trying to be patient, Novan replied sharply, "I don't believe it, it's the truth. Besides, I also want to go with my father."
"Your father is back home?"
"Hm."
"How long has Uncle Jonas been home?"
"This afternoon, when I got home from school, my father was already at home. And I'm also leaving."
"Where are you going with Uncle Jonas?"
"Too much nosiness is not good for your health."
"Ih, silly! It has nothing to do."
"Alright, back to the topic at hand. After I left with my dad, it looks like I want to eat at a restaurant; just meet me there, and I'll give you the ticket, okay?"
"Which restaurant?"
"I don't know either, the place hasn't been decided yet," Novan replied, shrugging his shoulders. "So, I'll let you know later."
"What if it's far away?"
"It's not far, you can trust me."
"Your current position is at home, right? I'll follow you there."
"I can't." A protest escaped Novan's mouth.
"You can't?" shrieked Marcell, "why can't you?"
A low sigh escaped Novan's nostrils and lips simultaneously. "The problem is that I'm going to call soon, it's really time to leave with my father. Let's meet."
"It's okay, you just let me know."
"Okay, I'll call you later."
"That's it, we're done, right? I'm also going to go pick up Weeby."
"Hm, that's all I wanted to talk to you about."
"Thanks, Van, you finally opened your eyes. That's what you do with your own friends." Marcell chuckled softly at the end of his words.
"I'm still good with you. So it's okay once in a while."
"You should do this more often."
"Yeah, yeah, that's it then, Cell. I'm hanging up."
"Okay, fine."
And the two of them both disconnected their respective phones. After that, Novan prepared himself to walk out of his room.
Dressed neatly, Novan now stood in front of his father's bedroom door. He knocked lightly, before finally pushing the door, which did not close completely. In the next second, Novan of course immediately saw Jonas standing in front of a mirror, and his father was seen combing his hair. This time, the man was dressed a little more casually. A gray shirt is paired with a vest on the outside, complete with cloth pants and black shoes. While Novan himself had his big hoodie on, he didn't want to be complicated at all.
"Dad, I am ready."
Novan's chuckle made Jonas quickly turn his gaze towards the source of the voice, the man then smiled when he saw Novan standing in the doorway of his room.
"Alright, let's go now."
"Are you done?"
"I am, can't you see that I'm all dressed up?" Jonas spun around for a moment, then ended up facing Novan with his hands clasped at his waist and his chin pulled up, complete with a smirk.
Jonas then stepped closer to his son, and put his arm around Novan. "Let's go now, you know where you want to go. There are a lot of people selling laptops, we should go to the most trusted place."
Novan had been surfing the internet a few minutes ago to find references on where to buy laptops and cell phones, so he nodded quickly. "I already know the place."
Jonas moved his head up and down. "Good then, we can go straight there without going around and around first."
"That'll waste a lot of time too," Novan continued.
"That's right. Is the place crowded?"
"There are many good reviews on the internet, it must be crowded too, of course. It's reliable, I'm sure."
The two of them had now arrived at Jonas' new car, which was still parked in his yard. Jonas and Novan looked at each other. "Do you want to try driving?"
"I was driving dad's car?"
Jonas chuckled softly. "It's not just my car, it's your car too. You've never tried it before, and this is a good opportunity."
Novan didn't immediately agree to the impromptu offer. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but Novan just felt a bit lazy at the moment.
Of course, that thought led to a definite answer, and Novan hurriedly said it. "Next time, dad will drive this time." Novan smiled slightly. "It's okay, right?"
"Don't you want to try out the new car?"
"I want to, but I just don't want to right now."
"Okay then." Jonas decided not to force his son.
A moment later, both of them got into the car at the same time. Novan turned to look at his father, for some reason, he wanted to see the look on his face for a long time. Maybe it was because he saw him less and less.
"Novan," Jonas called.
"Hm?"
"Where is the shop that sells good laptops, the shop you mentioned earlier."
"Just walk first, and I will guide you."
Jonas complied, and a moment later the car sped off, cutting through the crowded streets that were quite busy tonight. There was silence for a few moments before Novan finally spoke, making Jonas immediately turn his face to look at his son.
"Dad."
"Why?"
"That-" Novan didn't know what to say. As usual and just like before, his brain suddenly short-circuited. Novan just didn't want silence, he wanted to talk to his father, whoever that was. But, Novan didn't know what topic he wanted to take up.
"What do you mean by that?"
"That well, hm dad's fine, right?" What a ridiculous question, Novan realized, his cheeks now red as boiled crabs.
Jonas chuckled at the question that escaped his son's lips. "Why did you suddenly ask like that, Novan? Shouldn't you already know the answer? Look at you now, do you look like a sick person?"
"Nothing really, but i just want to make sure."
"Novan, you don't need to worry. I'll be fine."
Novan knew that he had to believe everything his father said. Jonas and Novan looked at each other again, both smiling for the umpteenth time. We don't know if it was just Novan's feelings or what, but things were a little awkward at the moment.
"Is it still straight?"
"Yes, i will tell you if you want to turn."
"Okay, do you really want a laptop?"
"What do you mean?" asked Novan, feeling a bit confused by his father's sentence just now.
"Don't you want to change your phone? Oh or a computer device, how about that?"
"No, I don't want one. The laptop is enough, it's the only thing that's broken. The rest, i doesn't need anything."
Jonas understood what his son wanted. The middle-aged man did not ask any more questions. Jonas really wanted to make Novan happy. Whatever his son wanted, he would try to fulfill it. I don't know, Jonas just felt very guilty for not always being by his only son's side.
So, is buying Novan the things he needs enough? Jonas doesn't think it's enough, he thinks it's still lacking and nothing. Jonas just doesn't know in what way he will make amends.
While Novan and his father were in their car, Marcell, who had promised to take Weeby out tonight, finally arrived at the girl's house.
Actually, Marcell didn't know where he wanted to take Weeby tonight. Yes, that boy didn't have any ideas yet. And fortunately, Marcell was saved by Novan's offer of a movie ticket for his friend.
Yes, Marcell could have immediately gone to the movies with Weeby and bought tickets there. However, Novan said that the boy would give Marcell the ticket for free. Crazy, really good, right? Marcell didn't have to spend any money on the movie ticket.
If something is free, why pay for it? Right?
Marcell was already standing at the door of Weeby's house, he prepared himself first. Marcell took a deep breath and tried to be calm before finally raising his hand and knocking on the door directly in front of him.
In no more than three minutes, the door swung open. However, instead of Weeby appearing, it was Andika who was now in front of Marcell.
Marcell flinched a little, but he was good at playing expressions. He shook off the sudden awkwardness.
"Hello, uncle, good evening." Smiling and nodding politely, Marcell then shook the hand of Andika, Weeby's father.
"Good evening to you too; do you want to meet Weeby?"
"Yes, uncle." Since that was the purpose of coming here, Marcell did not deny it at all.
Andika was not fierce, the man was very friendly, which of course was an advantage for Marcell. In the next second, Marcell no longer felt tense.
"If so, wait a moment, okay? The girl is in the room, i call her out first."
"Okay, thank you."
Andika turned around, but before he stepped away from Marcell's presence, the tall man had already seen Weeby, who was walking towards him.
"There you go, the kid's here."
Marcell smiled brightly at Weeby's face. Weeby herself slightly waved her hand when looking at Marcell.
"I intended to take Weeby out."
"Yes, you can guess. You're all dressed up, you must be going," Andika said with a smile.
Weeby smiled back. A good Andika like this was what Weeby needed. Her father was back to his old self again, which of course made Weeby feel very happy and flowery.
"So yeah, I'll let you go with Marcell, right?" Weeby asked, looking up to stare at her father, waiting for the answer she had been hoping for.
"Sure, I'll let you."
Andika's answer drew a response of happy smiles from both Marcell and Weeby himself. The two then looked at each other.
"Thank you, uncle," Marcell said, representing Weeby.
"Thank you, Dad?" Weeby did not want to be left behind either.
"Yes, you're welcome, but there are conditions."
"Conditions?" Simultaneously, Weeby and Marcell chuckled. Both of them looked back at Andika.
"What conditions do you mean?" Weeby asked later.
"Don't come home too late, you still have school tomorrow. Okay?"
"Weeby and I know that for sure," Marcell replied, which Weeby supported with a quick nod of his head.
"Good, and keep it special for you, Marcell." Andika looked straight into Marcell's eyes. His sentence paused for a moment. While Marcell, whose name had just been mentioned, immediately stood up straight, the boy had prepared himself to hear what Weeby's father had to say.
"Marcell, you have to take care of Weeby. I entrust my girl to you, you bring Weeby out in good condition, and you must hand her over to me in the same condition too. Do you understand?"
"I understand, I will take care of Weeby. You don't have to worry, I promise."
Andika gave a faint smile as he tapped Marcell on the shoulder. "Alright, that's the only message from Om. Now you two can go."
"Thanks, Dad." Weeby smiled widely.
"Thank you, uncle," Marcell followed later.
"Yes, you two go, be careful on the road."
Next, Marcell and Weeby left the house, using Marcell's motorcycle again to be more precise. Andika had gone back inside the house.
"No more speeding, I really don't want to see you again if this happens."
"Yes, you won't. I've also learned from experience. Besides, you're still angry with me, you haven't forgiven me completely, right?"
"It's good that you know." Weeby shrugged her shoulders, then proceeded to adjust her sitting position on Marcell's motorcycle seat to make her feel comfortable. "I'm ready, let's go now."
"I think you should hug me first, that's better. Then I'll go, so it's both good, right?"
Weeby's eyes widened. "It's you who's enjoying yourself, not me. You're just making it up, let's get going, don't ask for anything weird!" Weeby exploded on the spot while patting Marcell's shoulder.
Marcell's lips twitched. "You can't ask to be hugged by your own boyfriend."
Weeby could see that Marcell was sulking. The boy's face looked very adorable when he was angry like that. Weeby secretly smiled. But she tried to act normal, and Weeby then gently cleared her throat.
"Yes, it's not allowed. Note that if you don't want me to hug you, don't expect anything."
"Yeah-yeah, you nag." With a feeling of resentment, Marcell started the engine of his motorcycle. A few moments later, the two drove off. Marcell's motorcycle cut through the crowded streets of the capital city on a clear night.
Meanwhile, Andika, who was secretly watching the two lovebirds, smiled while shaking his head. Andika peered through the window at Weeby and Marcell's interaction. He knew that they were dating, although he never asked Weeby directly.