After removing the helmet from her head, Uti frowned, but she didn't get off the motorcycle right away. She listened to the noisy chatter coming from inside her house. Wondering to herself, Uti then started to move.
Then, she entered the house. The living room was empty, and the noise was apparently coming from the kitchen. Stricken by curiosity, Uti didn't go into her room first to put her bag down, take off her shoes, and change. The girl walked slowly, and when she was in the doorway of the kitchen, Uti's eyes were fixed on one spot.
Something she saw made her hold her breath.
"Uti, daddy's home!" Omar immediately exclaimed, the boy being the first to notice his sister's presence.
Omar's words made mom, dad, and even little Adam immediately turn their faces toward Uti. Uti smiled and waved her hand slowly.
"Uti, come here!" Susan moved her hand, telling Uti to come closer, to which Uti replied with a slow nod of her head.
Uti moved closer, her steps quick. Politely, she greeted her father and mother one by one. Uti's youngest brother, Adam, was smiling on his father's lap. Uti knew that Adam must have missed his father very much.
"Did you just get home from school?"
"Yes, I didn't even have time to change my clothes because I heard a noise from the kitchen. Then, because I was curious, I came here, and apparently, you came home, Dad." Uti smiled as she looked at her father's face. "When did you get home anyway?" she asked.
"Not long ago, maybe half an hour before you came home." Gio answered Uti's question.
Uti nodded slowly, she understood. Then her gaze shifted to Adam. "Adam is really attached to Dad, he misses him, doesn't he?" At the end of his sentence, Uti laughed softly.
Uti's lighthearted question was answered by an enthusiastic nod from the little boy. Everyone laughed, Gio, Susan, Uti, and Omar. Gio kissed the top of his third child's head gently and lovingly.
"I have some good news for you." Gio said it again.
Uti looked at her mother, while Susan nodded gently while closing her eyes. Uti was sure her mother already knew what Gio meant. And Uti herself was even more curious.
Uti, who was sitting in front of her father, looked back at the middle-aged man. "What's the good news? I want to hear it."
Gio carried a smile so wide. "I have a new job starting next week, my friend gave me the job."
"Are you serious?" Uti blinked her eyes. Really, this was very exciting news. Uti was very happy to hear it. She even looked at her father with pride and joy.
"Yes, I'm serious."
"Congratulations, i'm very happy to hear that. What kind of job?" asked Uti, her curiosity still piqued.
"Construction work, which I accepted as soon as my friend offered me this job."
"I help you pray, I hope you'll always be well, I hope you'll stay healthy and work hard."
"Yes, of course, I'm working for all of you, my children." Gio hugged Adam and Omar, who were nearby. Seeing that, Uti felt jealous and hurriedly got up from her seat, and the girl joined in. Susan shook her head slowly at the harmonious scene.
"Don't you want to join the hug?" asked Omar suddenly.
"Okay, I'm coming." Susan then approached and immediately joined in. This little family was harmonious and full of happiness. Uti felt lucky to have a family that loved her so much.
Moments later, Uti excused herself to go change in her room. The girl came out of the kitchen area. Then she did the activity she had set out to do. For a while, Uti lay on the bed to get rid of her fatigue.
Then, suddenly, Novan's image appeared in Uti's mind, making her immediately get up and sit on her bed. Uti glared widely, shaking her head violently.
"Well, why am I thinking about Novan anyway?" Uti muttered under her breath. She didn't want to think about that boy. It was strange, Novan had been on her mind a lot lately. Not to mention, Uti wanted to admit something, that last night she also dreamed of that boy.
And do you know what was in Uti's dream? Novan and herself were seen playing and joking on the beach, They laughed at each other while splashing water on their bodies. Both of them were attacking each other. Just thinking about it again made Uti shudder. How could she dream of such random things? But what was even more annoying was that Uti was getting nervous and her cheeks were turning red.
"I don't want to think about that boy anymore!" Uti spoke quietly, but her words backfired on her. Because a minute later, Uti's thoughts turned to Novan, who was being chased by a younger sibling.
Uti was still upset when she saw that. "What's so special about Novan? It's okay that his physical appearance is good, but other than that, what? He's just an ordinary boy."
And Uti's words actually came back to bite her. The reason is, Uti is now interested in peeking at the boy's social media accounts. Uti is curious. Uti wanted to see him. Uti wanted to know what her classmate saw on Novan's social media account.
Uti had never done this before. She typed the boy's name into the search bar. She immediately found, her name; it was so easy.
"Just a minute, I'm not wrong, right?"
But whatever that meant, Uti was already attracted to Novan, she just hadn't realized or admitted it yet. And to Uti's surprise, the boy was quite famous too. He had a lot of followers.
Uti looked at Novan's pictures, and if anyone saw the look in Uti's eyes right now, it would be clear that Uti's curiosity had crossed the line into interest.
Then, something unexpected happened. She accidentally clicked on a photo and tapped the love button. She really didn't mean to, and Uti didn't mean to.
"Whoops, bad!" Uti immediately unloved again, but it must have been in vain, it was already done. A notification must have appeared on the boy's page. And in that moment, Uti regretted her actions.
"Don't let that boy get a big head tomorrow!" she mumbled. "I hope Novan doesn't bring this up, it's better if he doesn't realize."
But it seemed Uti's wish was impossible. Uti already felt it.
"Uti!"
Uti looked up at her brother, who appeared as he approached her. Omar smiled radiantly, while Uti furrowed her brow. If Omar bothered to come to her room, he must have something to do! Uti was willing to bet.
"What?" replied Uti fiercely.
"I want to collect your promise."
"Ha? What promise? Did I ever promise you anything? If so, what was it?" Uti asked many questions. She was thinking. "You don't remember any feelings."
"I forgot for sure."
"So, hurry up and explain!"
Omar suddenly took out something that had been hidden behind his shoulder. It was colorful A4 paper.
"Here, take a look. I won the competition yesterday!"
"Ha? Seriously? How can I."
Uti grabbed the paper quickly. Uti was wide-eyed, really not expecting Omar to be so clever. The way her brother colored was very good and unique, full of color gradations that made the picture look more alive.
Uti looked back at Omar. "Wow, I really didn't expect that."
"How is it? Am I cool?"
Uti couldn't help but admit that too. "Yes, then I'll treat you to meatballs tonight. It's a gift from me, as promised. Do you want it?"
"I will, really, tonight?"
"Yes, take it easy. Do you know if you're a champion?"
"I know. I'm happy too."
"Yes, it's not a waste to buy colored pencils at that time. What kind of champion are you?"
"Second place."
"Oh, but that's okay. That's already good. Did you get a prize?"
Omar nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yes, I did, second place got a bag and a book. And the third place winner gets a book."
"What about first place?"
"I got a bicycle."
"Seriously?"
"Not with, hehe. First place gets the whole package, a bag, shoes, and stationery."
Uti exhaled softly, "Okay, we'll go get some meatballs tonight."
"Cool! Thanks sis."
"Hm, you're welcome."