INVITE DATE

The feeling after reading Zaki's love confession from a letter was not as chaotic as when she heard and saw it directly when Zaki expressed his love.

"I don't want to have a relationship with anyone right now. I want to pass my junior high school in peace. Please understand!" Gita replied in a calm tone.

"What am I going to do? I don't want to mess up your education, Gita. I just want you to get to know me better and vice versa. I also want to get to know you more!"

"I admire you. I've been watching you for a long time, Gita. Please give me a chance for that…"

Zaki keeps persuading Gita to accept his date, which makes Gita indecisive.

"I'll think about it later, now I want to go home. My brother is waiting!" Gita replied as she left Zaki and walked over to Barra at the pick-up area.

"Who's that, Gita?" Barra asked curiously.

With a weak tone, Gita answered, "That's Zaki, Bro. He's from another class and just asked me out on a date,"

"Then, did you accept the invitation? You're still a child, Gita! It's not time to date yet!" Barra nagged a sign of dislike.

"I haven't answered it yet, Bro. I'm still confused between wanting to accept and trying what it's like to date like many of my classmates who already have girlfriends. But I don't want to go on that date if I end up having trouble with this relationship," replied Gita with an expression still lazy.

Barra looks happy to hear Gita's answer, who doesn't want to bother dating.

"Bro, I was called to the teacher's room again yesterday," Gita said.

"You're throwing a tantrum again, aren't you?" Barra asked calmly as if it were nothing new.

"Yesterday I hit a child from another class which made Galih cry," Gita confessed, and after that Gita told the chronology of the incident until she was ordered to change her appearance and demeanor to be more gentle.

"I agree with your teacher's advice! You should have been gentler. And one more thing… try wearing a longer skirt to make you look more graceful. At the same time slowing down your agile movements when looking for trouble with other people!"

"I'll give you money to buy a new skirt. Let's go home and talk to mom about this!" continued Barra.

"Well, it's up to you! Besides, I can't do anything else," Gita answered resignedly.

A few days later, after agreeing to a new uniform accompanied by a long scolding from Mrs. Laila, Gita was busy getting dressed and tidying up a new uniform that she had never worn during school.

'I can't roll my arms this long, can I? Especially with the long skirt. I must have a hard time running around in a skirt this long!'

Gita complains about her current appearance. With a skirt and long-sleeved shirt like that she was very tortured and not used to it.

"Gita… Galih… are you done yet?" called Barra after finishing his breakfast.

"Brother Barra, I'm just going with my friends! I don't want us to have trouble riding the motorbike because of Sis Gita's new skirt! Look at her, she hasn't even finished until now!" Galih replied as he said goodbye to his friend who was waiting for him in front of the house.

"Brother Barra! Have I looked better?" Gita asked Barra who immediately smiled broadly at Gita.

"You're perfect! Why didn't you wear this elegant look a long time ago?" Barra praised Gita's appearance.

"Yeah, let's go!" invite Gita while saying goodbye to go to school.

•••

A strange atmosphere enveloped Gita's class that morning. Maybe all the students were surprised to see the different appearances of the Gita. Dian who was curious asked directly her friend,

"What wind made you change your appearance like this, Gita? Did you dream of being punished last night? Why are your clothes so long? Hahaha!" sneered Dian with a laugh.

"Laugh all you want, I don't care!" Gita replied annoyed but she was not angry because Gita loved her best friend.

"Oh my… Beautiful girl is angry, hahaha!" sneered Dian again.

"Never mind, Dian. Why do you keep mocking her? Doesn't that make Gita look more beautiful?" Anita protested Dian's joke to Gita.

It is true what Anita said at this time. Gita is indeed more beautiful wearing a long-sleeved uniform and a long skirt. Her hair is also neatly combed so that the tomboyish impression disappears from Gita's face and turns her into a sweeter one at this time.

Gita feels that only with Dian and Anita, she feels comfortable. The three girls have almost the same thinking, intelligence, decisiveness, but their personalities are different.

•••

Elsewhere, Barra is still dabbling with work at home. Barra helps clean the house and does her laundry. Coincidentally, that day Barra had an afternoon shift, so she could take Gita to school.

The thought of Gita made him smile to himself.

"Why are you getting more and more excited every day, Gita? Especially with your current appearance, hmm… you're getting prettier! Surely there will be stories soon when many male students seduce you!" Barra muttered to herself while washing his work clothes.

After the midday prayer, Barra rushed to pick up his beloved sister to school. He knew the road to Gita's school very well because it had been a routine route for the past three years. Yes, Barra is a current Gita's school alumni.

Barra arrived just in time when the school bell rang. He saw Gita with Dian and Anita walking out of school and separating towards their respective destinations.

But Barra's face changed when Gita turned back after being called by his male friend from behind Gita.

"Gita, wait for me!" called Zaki which made Gita look back.

"What else?" asked Gita nonchalantly.

"Come home with me, okay? We'll walk together until the bus stop at the crossroads! You want it, right?" Zaki asked.

Gita thought for a moment. Sooner or later, her business with Zaki must be resolved because Gita is a lazy person who faces problems.

"Wait a minute, I'll try to ask my brother first. My brother is already there waiting for me!" Gita answered in the affirmative, pointing at Barra who was waiting on his motorbike.

"Okay, let's go there! I will ask your brother's permission to let you go home with me!" said the brave Zaki and walked over to Barra.

"You're all done, haven't you? Let us go home! I'm already hungry because I haven't had time to eat yet!" Barra asked his sister to get up immediately.

"Bro, may I-" Gita asked, stopped when Zaki spoke.

"Bro, may I invite Gita to come home with me? We have to finish something this afternoon," said Zaki asking for approval.

Barra raised an eyebrow while looking at Gita who nodded and pleaded. As if Barra understood Gita's body language until Barra relented and decided to let his sister go.

"You go home right away, Gita! Don't point your feet anywhere else! I'll be waiting for you at home!" Barra said to Gita and then turned to Zaki and gave a warning, "Don't you take my sister anywhere! Just today I let her go home with you!"

After warning Gita and Zaki, Barra started the engine and left.

Barra's heart ached a little. Either out of anger or feeling disapproved of Gita with other people at this time.

'What is this feeling, my God? The feeling in my chest is uncomfortable…' Barra muttered to himself.

The side of the highway is currently crowded with schoolchildren in white and blue uniforms walking towards their respective destinations. Some are cycling, some are holding hands, and some are joking with their friends. And among the many school students who walked in a crowd, there were also Gita and Zaki who walked together.

"Zaki, I can't accept your invitation to date you. I want to focus on studying. Besides, I'm also not ready to get hurt because I'm disappointed,"

"I'm also sorry because a few days ago I avoided you when there was a stupid call that my mother picked up. I know the call came from you!" Gita opened the chat and went straight to the topic.

The beautiful sentence that Zaki had designed was shattered when he heard Gita's rejection sentence.

"Your words are very spicy, Gita. Did you add chili in your mouth when you said no to me right now?" Zaki replied trying to lighten the mood.

"Try to live it first and date me! I've gathered the courage that I've always kept. Since first grade, I've wanted to be close to you, but I stopped all that," continued Zaki.

"I can't sit still when I hear my other friends are planning to express their feelings to you. I don't want them to get ahead,"

"I feel more worthy of guarding you against the eyes of ignorant men who deliberately approach you!" Zaki continued again.

"Why are you being my shield? If you like me, just like me! Don't use various reasons to want to be close to me! Besides, I'm not looking for someone to take care of me even though in reality I'm not comfortable being harassed by them," Gita said to Zaki.

"At least try to date me first. I won't disappoint or trouble you. I will always make you happy and comfortable with me, Gita!"

"If you feel that being in a relationship with me is a burden or a hassle, then let's just end the relationship!"

Zaki continues to plead as if he will not give up on conquering Gita's heart, he knows that Gita is already indecisive because of his date.