Mind-Blogging

They arrived right on time at Dika's house. The girl apparently lived in a civil servant's official residence.

When she got off the motorcycle, Dika still held onto Bagas because she was afraid of falling and Bagas chuckled when he realized it. As soon as both of her feet stepped on the ground properly, Dika returned the helmet to Bagas.

For some reason, when he handed over the helmets, their eyes met, Bagas looked at her with a mischievous smile leaves Dika stared at him clueless.

"So, you live here?"

Dika glanced around, realizing several people around them were watching them both.

"Yes." she answered unwillingly.

"What do your parents do that you got to live here?"

Bagas was quite surprised because of official residence houses along this road, how could Dika got enrolled to live right next to the jail; even still in the same parapet.

"My father is the warden"

"Wow, what a remarkable job he has"

"Well, hard work never betrays"

Bagas glanced at his surroundings, to the south of the house there was a small gallery hall filled with furniture. To the north there was a motorcycle wash too, surprisingly, both places were still in the front yard area of ​​Dika's house and there were some people hanging around in blue-polo-uniform labeled inmate and they had been keeping track of Bagas and Dika.

"Why are they outside?"

"That's normal"

"Why is that? I mean, they're a bad guy"

"It's complicated. I need to go, thanks for the ride. Bye" Dika turned around about to leave, but Bagas grabs her bag and pulls her back, "Hey, where are you going?"

Dika was bound to turn around, she stared at him annoyed, "What?"

"Is that all? Shouldn't you be asking me to come in?"

"No. I'm not hosting anyone"

Bagas chuckled, "Hmm, how bad. So, who do you live with?"

"Everyone" Dika swung her arms toward everyone in the front yard of her house

"Excluding your family?"

Dika rolled her eyes, too annoyed to heed on Bagas's intrusive question.

"Well, if they're all home already, let me know"

Dika frowned in a ruffle of Bagas's inevident remble, "What for?" she asks

"I'd like to come over you"

Dika had enough of hi teasing her for today, she slapped Bagas's upper arm without hesitantly, "Ouch, what a pat" teased the man

A pat? It supposed to be slap! What an insult!

Bagas's voice was loud enough that Dika felt ashamed of her surroundings.

"Stop teasing me and just begone already!

"Tease who?" he teased again, seeing Dika lift her hand ready to slap Bagas one more time he nimbly avoided it

"Alright, alright. " he giggles,

Bagas turn the engine on while staring at Dika with a flirty face and seducing smirk

"See you tomorrow, Dika"

He addresses a wink with a handsome smile before lowering his helmet glass down and drove his bike away.

Dika stays still. Still trying to digest the meaning of Bagas's smile and gaze which somehow seemed deadly; fascinating which she still desperately deny.

When the figure has no longer seen, Dika turns around and walked into the house. Who knows what crossed in Dika's mind, but, under the table a subtle smile was carved on her lips as the figure of Bagas again, come to her mind.

Bagas.

Dika stares down to her hand, a flash picture of when her hand wraps around Bagas's waist, drawn the curve on her lips even bigger.

Unwittingly, the guy has slowly intruding her mind.

~ ~ ~

"Wow, that was wearing"-Jihan

"Yeah! Especially when it was explained and resolved! Wo! What a headache"-Dayu

"Hey, what's wrong, Ka? Why don't you say anything?" -Meila

Dika gains her awareness as she hears her friend's calling, "It's the camping thing. I'm not sure my dad would allow me or not"

"Why shouldn't he?" asked Jihan

"I guess he just worries that no one would take care of me there"

"That's all? What about you? You really have the intention to go or not?" –Ridya

"I guess, yea. Anyway, to look at it again, there's no exact reason why I should come. I'm puzzled"

"So, you were saying you lack motivations, huh? Cause what? You're single as hell?" Dayu sneered teasily

"Ish, Dayu. I'm not single, I'm independent. It's different. You're self-mockery Dayu, hahaha " said Dika to Dayu, who teased her.

"You said you weren't allowed? What if we come along with you?" -Jihan

"There it is, that's why I'm not comfortable with you guys who are going to my house asking for my permission."

"What if your sister is coming too? Just tell the teacher if you have to be accompanied?" -Meila

"I'm not sure. If my sister is allowed to join the trip maybe I will get permission. But, she's in college. Besides, she is a girl too."

The girls just nodded in agreement, don't know what else to say.

"Wow!" Out of nowhere, Bagas came in and sat straight next to Dika

"Ish! You startled me, Gas!" Dayu exclaimed reflexively slapped the man's arm

"Hehehe, what are you talking about? Seriously?" Bagas asked as he rubbed his arm that felt stung

"That's it! There's Bagas by chance!" Jihan exclaimed in excitement

"Whoa, whoa, what are you guys have been talking about?" asked Bagas, slurping the coconut iced drink set served on the table

"It's Dika" Melia replied and Bagas glance at the one being mention in the issue.

"Her father didn't allow her to come to the camping trip" Meila continues.

"No, it wasn't her father. Dika doesn't have enough mood booster to go there" Dayu sneered and click her tongue towards Dika

"Dayuuu, shut up! It wasn't like that" Dika whined, glance shyly to Bagas

"Hahaha, what? Bagas deserves to know. You guys definitely have something going on. Maybe he wouldn't mind taking after you" Dayu chimed.

Dika glance at Bagas hesitantly, she saw Bagas nods in agreement then suddenly the guy turned his face to the side. As he realized the girl was already looking at him, Bagas curved his handsome smirk and wink his eyes at her. Dika gets clumsy and facing away.

"Anyways Bagas, you're a Brahmana's. Which parent doesn't want their daughter to date this fine Ida Bagus, huh? You might as well ask for their blessings!" Melia replied in exclaimed, making Dika's feeling even more complex, her cheeks have turned red!

On the other hand, a bright smile of pride has curved on Bagas's face.

"There's only one thing left. I don't come with the bus, I prefer to ride my own motorcycles. I have my license and permission so if she wouldn't mind?" Bagas glance at Dika as he was saying his last statement.

"Don't you know? Dika prefers 2 wheels than 4!" Dayu exclaimed, "Wow! This isn't just a coincidence! You guys meant for each other!" she continues to heat up the beat even more!

"Dayuuu, stopp!" Dika whiney cried.

"Besides, if you guys ride the motorcycle you can ..." Ridya hanging her words on purpose to tease the couple-wannabe

Bagas smirked at Dika who's no longer has the guts to lay her eyes on him.

"Yeah, I guess that has made us a complete match" Bagas took another sip of the drink as he flies a wink towards Dika

Dika sigh annoys, "That makes it twice" she was talking about 'her' coconut iced drink Bagas has drunk without her consent since the very beginning.

Bagas just laugh innocently, "Hey, I mean it. Do you mind to do the trip with me or not?"

"Aaaaa cieeeeeee" her friends exclaimed in excitement

Dika stuttered, she has no idea what to say. Something about Bagas bothering her. It was such an inferiority complex and she had never had this kind of thing happened to her. She was clueless!

Bagas has bottomed up the drink and so he asks, "So you like coconut iced, huh? Me too" Bagas smiles at her girl foolishly

"Hey, Gas! Quit flirting and get your *** up here!" a guy standing by the door exclaimed for Bagas to come with him, he has a drink on his hand

The girls laughing at him and Dika giggles it turned out makes Bagas a little bit embarrassed and so he grimaced in embarrassment before leaving the spot and approach his jackass friend.

Not even a minute later, Bagas return to Dika and place a glass of coconut iced drink. She follows his hands as Bagas places the glass in front of her then she stares at Bagas cluelessly.

"Here, I've restored your drink so you won't have any excuses to avoid me after school," Bagas said as he pinched Dika's cheek gently before strolling away again,

"Oh Geez, Dika! You guys have gone home together? Why didn't you say anything?!" Dayu exclaimed in surprise

But Dika can't even hear clearly what was Dayu and her friends are fussing about, she was too drown in her own mind of everything that has been going on with Bagas.

What is this feeling?

~ ~ ~

Dika has just finished feeding her dogs. It's such a peaceful morning. She's skipping school; it was the school anniversary week so they are busy preparing everything. With a clay mask dries on her face, a super heroes-theme short, random loose shirt she took from the laundry piles, yes, she is at peace today.

That's not for long as one of the inmates is calling her name saying someone is looking for her.

"Who is it?" Dika asked

"I don't know what his name is. He's just saying that he's your friend"

"He? Where is he now"

"I told him to wait in the living room"

"Oh gosh. Okay, thanks, uncle"

Dika closed escort her dogs into their cage and was about to go back inside.

"Oh! And, Tri" the man called again,

"Yup?"

"Frankly speak, maybe you should wash your face first."

"Oh! Ya! Thanks" she replied and walk inside.

Unfortunately, Dika wasn't aware of the fact that the bathroom door is right across the door to the living room. As she was about to enter the bathroom, she heard someone is chuckling. She then glanced at the source of the sound. She then realize that she was exposed, Bagas is sitting on the couch holding back his laughter as she saw Dika's face.

Dika was shoot in horror and walks straight inside the bathroom.

"Here, Gus, you may drink it"

"Thanks, uncle," Bagas thanked the inmate guy who served him a drink

Dika came out of her room with a fairly 'proper' appearance this time.

"What is it?" she asks bluntly, "Not enough teasing me last time?" arms crossed.

"Tch, don't be overconfident. I was here to wash my bike but they ask me in and even served me a drink. I don't have any choices"

'Yes, you have. You could have said NO!' innate Dika annoyed

"Liar. They said you were looking for me"

Bagas chuckled, "Haha, okay, okay fine, I admit it. But I might as well wash my bike in the meantime, right?"

"Cut it out and just get to the point, please?!"

"Come sit here. I wanna listen to what your dad's work"

"Oh, you haven't moved on yet?"

"I'm just curious of what my future father in law's profession is like."

"Cut it out!"

"Hahaha okay, okay, sorry. It was a joke. And might as well becoming true" Bagas was a bit whispering on his last statement but Dika can still hear it.

"K, Fine. Listen well 'cause I won't bother to repeat myself."

"Okay"

"So, as we first moved in, this place looks awfully settled. It was very arid and it really felt like an actual hell of a prison. There was a garden but there's no such greenery.

Bagas put his elbows on the head of the sofa and propped his head up.

"My dad's instructional program is cultivating inmates. Then finally I started to make amendments for the garden to make it greener. But for such a large yard, there must be many plants to take care of. Incidentally, there are some inmates who are allowed to leave the cell because of their well-being records for a certain period. Well, yes, I proposed to my father to let those inmates to be the gardener as well as to help them relieve their stress. It turns out, gardening is almost every single one of their hobby and it's running pretty well so far. "

"Then, what about the gallery and the motorcycle-wash?"

"And that one actually never existed before my father's reign. It was actually a whole lot of ugly front yard. There was one big old tree and stone tables surrounding it. 'Cause we wanted to make the most of this place, we decided to turn the empty useless yard into a motorcycle wash as a job for the inmates and the gallery to display the inmates' works. Few people realized the transformation 'cause they just walk pass bye without care about anything.

"That's cool! So, apparently you're house is a hectic every day, huh?"

"Yeah, pretty much like that"

"By the way, I haven't seen your mother or any of your siblings"

"That's because my mom and sister are lived across the island, so"

"So, you were saying you're here for your father?

"Mostly"

"Excuse me, Gek, Gus" a female inmate smiled at Bagas before she gave a meaningful smile to Dika, she places some snacks on the table. As Dika saw the look on the woman's face, she was shook. She grinned at her in horror. Especially when Bagas realized their interactions and glanced at them in turn.

"Here, I spare you some snacks"

"Wow! Thanks, aunty! Sorry for bothering you"

The woman smiled again at Bagas, leaving him clueless.

"Okay, I just gonna go back to watch the gallery, K?"

"Yes, aunty, this is very sweet of you. Thank you"

The woman smiled mischievously, "Don't mention it, darling"

After the woman left, Dika let Bagas eat the snacks and so do her.

"So, where's your father right now?"

"At work, why?"

"I just want to talk to him about the camping trip"

"NO YOU DID NOT!" she was shook!

Bagas giggles, "Yes I do!"

"Gus, your bike is ready," said the inmates reminding Bagas

Dika escorts Bagas to the terrace and she is fully aware that everyone is glancing at them.

"Right! Can I have the wifi password?"

"Nice, why don't you just ask when you're already home?"

Bagas just smiled while shrugging his shoulder. Finally, Dika typed him the password. It was the first time Dika touching Bagas's phone and he was thrilled.

"Here you are" she returned his phone, "Is it working?" she asked

"Yup! Thanks to you, beautiful"

"Oh, just begone already" she rembled and was about to go back inside when Bagas grabs her hand and signing Dika to check on her phone

Dika frowned, as she felt the vibrations by the notification on her phone.

A Direct Message.

"May I request a follow back, please, my dear?"

Dika tries to hold her smile back and click on the confirmation option also follows back Bagas's account.

She types by, "Done" and Bagas immediately like on her message and replies with a large heart emoji

The atmosphere has melted. Dika glance at Bagas and so do him, they both smiles in chuckle.

Bagas smiles as he saw the notification, "Okay, I'm done here, see you at school!"

~ ~ ~

Dika crashes her body to her bed and starts recalling unusual things that happened today. Especially with the involvement of Bagas.

"Evening, sir" Bagas took Mr. Agung's hands and shook his hands on his forehead

"Dad, let me introduce you to Bagas, he's my friend at school"

"Hello, sir. I'm honored to meet you. My name is Bagasankara. If you excuse me, I would like to discuss something with you. Can I have some of your time, please? I promise it is something crucial and it won't be long"

"Okay, no problem. What is it, son?"

"This is regarding our school annual camping trip. Since this includes an assignment activity there some bonus points if we join the trip. So, it is very major for Dika be part of this trip and apparently she is a new student, she has a lot to catch on"

"Is that so? I guess there will be other alternatives to make it up. I forbid my daughter from participating in this trip for a reason. A worried parent is natural. To take a look at the number of the teachers assigned for this trip isn't equal compared to the number of the students. They won't supervise every single students carefully enough. If anything happens outside the teachers' supervision who would be the one to be responsible for that? To make sure things get handled and will get back into normal as nothing happened. Look, son, I'm also a newcomer in this county. If something happens to my daughter or my son, I have no one to ask for help"

"Yes, sir. I understand you loud and clear. But, as you were saying a newcomer, this makes more sense for Dika to learn to adjust to her surroundings, to mingle by herself independently. Balinese friendship bonds really deep and last for long. So this trip is very crucial for Dika. Doesn't she come all the way here to look for experience? For any positive opportunity which later would affect her life and help her enhance herself?"

Dika smiles in a chuckle as she remembered every single word Bagas uttered to her father. This is the very first time she have a friend who has the guts to challenge his father to an argument. For so many years only her mother who could persuade him anything, but it seems not forever. In fact, sometimes Dika can be very stubborn more than her father that finally, the old man had to surrender to his daughter, but still, sometimes there was no such compelling reason for Dika to propose the disobedience act.

And for the very first time, she has the permission to spend time and having fun with her gang all by herself! She is very happy and excited in the same time. She should be thankful to Bagas for unlocking the door for her.

Oh no, him again? To think about it, how many peculiar things had happened to her since Bagas came riot in her life.

Is it only the door he was unlocked? or Dika's heart as well?

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***