I'm Not an Old Virgin
Season II: Mahligai of Love (Chapter 13.7)
"Ai, what's wrong with you?" Asri was suddenly already beside Ai.
Ai immediately went out of her mind, she smiled faintly and returned to busying herself with the dishes that were on the table.
"I'm grateful the food we cook is eaten well by all of them." Answer Ai is lying.
Asri was also happy when he saw many clean dishes. The santri seem to really enjoy the food they make - of course with the intervention of the mothers in the kitchen.
But he is an observer here. The expression on Ai's face did not show the joy she said earlier. Ai looked gloomy and there was a sad look inside her eyes.
"Come, rest if you're tired. The rest leave it to me and Mega, we can definitely get it done quickly." Pinta Asri after thinking about it for a while.
Ai smiled slightly, "I'm fine, Asri. Look carefully, does my face look pale?"
Asri answered seriously.
"Yes, you look very pale." He really isn't lying.
Ai fell silent, still with the same smile she returned to work again. Gather the dirty dishes before taking them away.
"Actually I'm a little tired," Ai finally admitted. Although not entirely because Asri knows there are people Ai tries to hide.
But it's okay, it's better than keeping quiet.
"So I'll leave the business here to you while I'll be inside to start washing dirty dishes and glasses." He said he made a decision.
He wants to be alone.
"It's okay, let us take care of everything and you rest inside." Asri did not expect Ai to still be stubborn.
Ai was more stubborn than him, "No, I'm fine. I can still wash the dishes inside and you can take care of the rest here." Ai refused firmly.
He was like he was not the Ai Asri knew. He was like Ai who was too tired to hold a burden, too tired to be cornered by something Asri could not guess.
This was Ai, the beautiful and gentle girl now looked desperate and much more fragile than Asri had seen.
What's the matter?
Asri couldn't help but ask. Wasn't everything okay before?
Wasn't that pretty face still meeting red before?
But why, in a very short time the face turned deathly pale without any more pink light there. Her eyes that were flashing as pretty as a peach at this moment looked muddled and absentminded.
He's so fragile, so fragile.
Asri let out a long breath. He relented, shifting his place to stand so that Ai could pass. Asri thought he seemed to want to be alone and not want to be disturbed. So, he had to give Ai some space to calm down and think about her problem.
"Alright, but if you're uncomfortable please don't force yourself to work anymore."
"I miss Daddy and Mommy." Whisper homesick.
He was eager to hear his voice, the voice of those who had accepted what Ai was. He misses those who wholeheartedly and willingly raise him. Positioning herself on equal footing with her younger siblings, Ai really misses those great people. He misses both his parents.
Meanwhile Asri replaces Ai's task of cleaning the new table half Ai clean. Asri's hand was very fast and in just a few minutes, he had already finished the table.
He then brought the dirty dishes into the soup kitchen. In front of the sink Ai washes the dishes with her face down and mute.
Asri let out a long breath. He put the dirty dishes down before coming out again. He saw that the tables in the women's booth were almost all clean except for the table that Mega was handling.
"I have to clean the man's sorority part." He said while swinging both his hands preparing to start the second round.
He did think that this punishment was not so difficult but it took a lot of time and energy for the three of them. They were even exhausted on the first day of the punishment.
"It's only the first day but it's been so tiring." He muttered talking to himself while bringing his steps into the male santri booth area.
"Oh..." He immediately stopped stepping when he passed Kevin - a man he liked but in fact already had a fiancee.
"Sorry, Brother." Asri immediately lowered her head.
Kevin nodded lightly. He again lowered his head to resume the event.
"Let me take care of it, brother. This is my job with my other two friends. Brother better go to school soon because soon the teacher will enter." Asri said awkwardly.
He stood at the table a little away from Kevin, with his hands down and started to work collecting dirty dishes on the table.
"I'm not in school anymore." Reply Kevin with his light tone.
"It's my last year at the boarding school and I'm just waiting for my graduation here. So, I'm not going to school until the next few weeks." Kevin occasionally glanced at Asri across the street.
Asri was stunned, his hand had frozen because it was caught not ready to hear this impromptu news. But this is only a few seconds because after that he can again control his attitude and actions.
It would be nice if he and I never met again. The Asri's mind strengthens itself.
"Congratulations, Brother. I hope Brother graduated with satisfactory grades. But even though Big Brother doesn't go to school anymore I can't let Big Brother help us here. This is the punishment that I and my two best friends must accept for violating the rules of the boarding school." Asri's still trying to get Kevin out of here.
Because if Kevin here Asri's focus will be disturbed, in addition Asri wants to immediately forget this man so he does not want to see him here.
"Talking about the offense you committed, whether yesterday's letter was indeed made for the man's santri or," He blatantly looked at Asri.
"...That letter you actually made for someone else?"
Seriate...
Any more?