Once everything was ready, they climbed into the car. Frans took the driver's seat, with Radit settling in beside him. Thivi chose the back seat next to Kaivan. The ride was filled with easy chatter and laughter. Frans occasionally tossed out a witty remark, and Radit eagerly added his own jokes.
The Bandung sky glowed with a golden hue as dusk crept in, wrapping the city in a gentle warmth. Old buildings stood tall, their shadows stretching long beneath the sinking sun. In the parking lot of a once-grand mall, now a little faded from its former glory, Zinnia stood waiting. Confident and poised, her violet hair was tied into a ponytail, swaying softly in the evening breeze. Her sharp, lively eyes scanned the area with quiet vigilance.
As Kaivan stepped out of the car, Zinnia's gaze immediately locked onto the girl standing beside him. Her eyes narrowed, a glint of curiosity sparking within them. With a graceful yet commanding stride, Zinnia moved forward. The click of her heels echoed lightly across the quiet parking lot. A mysterious smile curved her lips. "Who's she, Kaivan?" she asked, her voice trembling ever so slightly as the breeze lifted loose strands of her hair.
Kaivan rubbed the back of his neck before meeting Zinnia's gaze calmly. "This is Thivi," he said, his tone steady yet clear. "She's the one who helped us find connections for all those second-hand phones. Without her, we might not have succeeded."
But Zinnia didn't seem satisfied with that answer. She stepped closer, now almost level with Kaivan. Her eyes shifted to Thivi, studying the girl carefully. "Then why is she always by your side? What exactly is your relationship?" she asked, her voice carrying a sharper edge.
At last, Thivi spoke up. She took a half step forward so she stood shoulder to shoulder with Kaivan. With a gentle motion, she brushed back her short black hair. "My father asked Kaivan to look after me while I'm here," she said, her voice soft but firm. "That's why I need to stay close to him."
Sensing the tension, Kaivan stepped between them, placing himself squarely in the middle. "Zinnia," he said, his voice low yet steady, "Thivi is part of our team now. We wouldn't have made it this far without her. She gave us access to sellers we couldn't reach otherwise. I hope you can accept that."
His words carried an unshakable certainty. Zinnia held his gaze, her dark eyes flickering with an emotion too complex to name. Finally, she gave a small nod. "Alright," she said simply. Turning slightly away, her tone lightened. "So, when do we start taking the phones apart?"
Kaivan offered a faint smile, glancing at her. "Maybe this Sunday," he replied with an easy calm. "It's already late today, and we'll need to prepare carefully. No need to rush."
Zinnia nodded in agreement, then issued instructions in a firm but measured tone. "Frans, Radit, put all the phones in the storeroom. Make sure everything is neat, so we can start working without any trouble."
Frans, standing near the car, wiped sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. "Got it, boss," he said with a broad grin. His tall frame made the heavy lifting seem effortless. Radit, relaxed yet quick to move, joined Frans in carrying the sacks of phones.
Meanwhile, Thivi stayed close to Kaivan. Suddenly, she spoke up, catching him off guard. "Oh, Kaivan, where's your house? I'd like to stay there for a while and keep my things safe."
Kaivan turned, eyes widening slightly in surprise. "You want to stay at my place?" he asked, his voice tinged with hesitation.
Thivi smiled gently, her gaze unreadable. "Of course. Didn't you stay at my house once, back then?" she replied with a casual warmth that carried an undertone of familiarity.
Frans, still busy with Radit, couldn't resist joining in. Raising his voice, he joked, "When will I get to invite my girlfriend, Tira, to stay over like that?"
Radit chuckled, cutting in with an amused shake of his head. "That's not happening, Frans. You'll need to marry Tira first. But Kaivan seems to get a special exception," he teased, patting Frans on the shoulder and easing the tension with laughter.
Twilight painted beauty across the sky's canvas, spilling gold that slowly faded into a tender hush. The soft glow sank, wrapping the city in a magical hush, steeped in quiet intimacy. Streetlights flickered awake, merging with the lengthening shadows.
Kaivan leaned against the balcony rail, his gaze stretching far into the horizon. A quiet murmur slipped from his lips, meant more for himself than for Thivi.
"Lucky Mom isn't home today, just my sister. She won't be back until later tonight."
His words sounded light, yet there was comfort beneath them, as though the night belonged entirely to him, a rare moment to breathe in peace.
Standing a few steps away, Thivi turned with the cheerful smile that always seemed to brighten her face. Her blue eyes sparkled, daring the evening's darkness. With a playful lilt, she asked, "So… where do I sleep?"
Kaivan looked over, offering a small, reassuring smile.
"You can sleep in my room if you'd like. I'll tell my sister later," he replied, voice calm and warm, the tone of a host intent on making his guest comfortable.
But Thivi, unwilling to be outdone, narrowed her eyes with a mischievous grin as she stepped closer.
"Oh? You don't want to sleep beside me? You could do anything you wanted to me all night," she teased, laughter bubbling from her words, yet somehow her innocence stayed intact. "Or maybe I should be the one to do something to you?"
Kaivan let out an easy laugh, choosing not to answer directly.
"Thivi," he murmured, half to himself. He'd grown used to her bright, bold nature, but there was something different in the air tonight.
Time seemed to slow as they finally stepped inside the house. Thivi's light steps carried her into Kaivan's room, her presence flooding it with cheerful energy. She placed her things in the corner, eyes shining as she glanced around. "Your room's pretty tidy," she commented with playful ease.
Kaivan lifted one shoulder. "Only sometimes," he said, settling into a chair near the window.
Without much fuss, Thivi began changing clothes, slipping out of her outfit for something looser, more comfortable. Kaivan politely turned away, yet he could feel the subtle shift in the room's air.
When she finished, Thivi approached with a soft laugh and tapped his shoulder.
"Kaivan, what kind of girl do you actually like?" she asked lightly, as if it were an idle curiosity.
Kaivan turned, caught off guard by the sudden question. "Why are you asking that?" he replied, trying to hide his surprise.
Thivi laughed, her eyes alive with curiosity. "I'm just wondering. You never seem interested in anyone."
Kaivan offered a faint smile, trying to steer the conversation away from anything too personal. With a playful tone, he began to invent an almost impossible type of girl.
"Maybe… a very beautiful woman, with a sexy body, bust size above Cup D, big perky hips, over 180 cm tall. Sexy outfit, cleavage showing, well-done makeup but not too flashy, long flowing hair, and glasses to look smart.."
It sounded like a joke, yet Thivi's reaction was far from what he expected. Her face lit up, bright with enthusiasm.