7. It is A Right Thing to Love You

"Clay ..." That voice made Clarissa even more nervous. Calm, soft, and soothing. She used to hear a voice like this from her father.

"Everything you've been through has taught you to be a strong girl. Rest assured of that."

Clarissa was silent. So far no one had spoken to her like this. That the bad things that disappointed her, would make her be a strong person?

"Without a father, you are now a grown woman. That's great. And ahead there is a future waiting. Be proud of yourself." Diaz continued.

Clarissa wanted to cry loudly hearing those words. If Diaz was in front of her, she would probably hug him tightly. Clarissa felt her heart painful, but there was also a sense of calm creeping in there. She wanted Diaz by her side to calm her down.

"I don't think so. I am just passing through my days. After high school, I am in college. I don't know how it will be, I don't know." Clarissa answered as if resigned to life.

Diaz could feel Clarissa was just living her life, not knowing what goals she wanted to achieve. Because there was no one beside her guiding. Diaz could guess that Clarissa chose the major she was currently studying in college simply because a friend was in the same faculty. For Diaz, it was not the first time he met a student like Clarissa.

"It's okay. From now on you can start, think about what you want to be like after graduation. Yes, even though it's still more than two years." Diaz continued to invite Clarissa to expand her mind.

"Hmm ... If we meet, we can discuss right it, Brother?" Clarissa asked.

"Sure. Anytime," said Diaz.

"I wait for the time. Thank you very much for today." Clarissa was very happy. The door was getting wider she approached the handsome lecturer.

"Okay. Bye." Diaz hung up.

Clarissa smiled widely. Her heart blossomed. The opportunity for her got closer with Diaz just near. More, she had nowhere to complain now. Diaz seemed to open himself up whenever Clarissa confided he would be ready.

"It is a right thing to love you, Diaz. I won't waste this opportunity. I never thought I can find you. No. You suddenly came in front of me. Ahh ..." Clarissa laid down. She closed her eyes and looked in her mind, Diaz smiled at her.

*****

Clarissa arrived at the library. Adimasta was waiting for her. According to their agreement, when Clarissa returned the book, Adimasta borrowed it instead.

"Wait, yes. I'll go back to the books first.” Clarissa headed for the counter and Adimasta followed her.

Clarissa handed the book to the librarian. Then, Adimasta immediately said that he would borrow two books that Clarissa had previously borrowed.

"Two books? Not just this one?" Clarissa pointed to the book she was referring to.

"Maybe I need this one too. I think it could also be a reference." Adimasta smiled.

"It's up to you, Sir." Clarissa turned around to go out.

"Clay!" Adimasta screamed a little, he was holding his voice a little, so it wouldn't be loud. Clarissa turned around. She looked at Adimasta.

"Wait a minute," Adimasta asked Clarissa to wait for him.

Three minutes later, Adimasta was out to meet Clarissa who was waiting at the door.

"What?" Clarissa asked. She looked at Adimasta, she wanted to know what Adimasta would say.

"I want to ask about this task. This one..." Adimasta took out a book from his bag. It was a notebook of anything related to lectures, a kind of agenda of things that need to be done.

Clarissa watched Adimasta opening the book and showed her some of the assignments they would be collecting in several weeks to come. Neat and detailed. Detailed and complete. That was what Clarissa saw. This guy was really serious about studying in college. Unlike Clarissa, if there was no Yenny, her learning outcomes could be a mess. Yenny always reminded Clarissa what she needed to do.

Adimasta was talking about an assignment that Clarissa hadn't even thought about. Clarissa was now keeping it in her brain, so she wouldn't miss the task.

"Di, I guess I will be diligent if I stay around you, anyway," Clarissa said.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Adimasta was surprised by those words.

"If you do the task, I'll just follow," said Clarissa.

Adimasta smirked. Clarissa was, still the same, as he knew. She did not care about completing her tasks.

"That's fine. I'd be happy too." Adimasta smiled.

They walked out of the library. It was time to go home. While walking, Clarissa felt her phone vibrate. She took out the cell phone in her bag.

"Daddy?" Clarissa stopped and immediately accepted the call.

Adimasta also stopped and watched Clarissa's face suddenly tense up, slightly reddened.

"Dad ...." said Clarissa. Her heart was beating to be able to talk to her father again after so long without contact.

"How are you, Girl?" That voice, Clarissa missed. Clarissa also misses seeing her father.

"I am good," Clarissa answered with teary eyes. "How are you, Dad?"

"Fine. Where are you?" Arlon was relieved his daughter said she was fine.

"Still on campus, Dad. I'll be home soon." Clarissa wiped the corners of her eyes that were getting wet.

Adimasta continued to watch Clarissa.

"Okay. Are you studying well?" Arlon asked again.

"Yeah ... Kinda. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not." Clarissa pursed her lips, smiling faintly.

"When is the day off? Can you come here?" Arlon also misses his daughter. And it was not easy to meet her. Due to the situation and he was busy with his job, so it was difficult to manage time to meet Clarissa.

"Dad, don't ask me to come. If you want to see me, I wait for you to come. You know I can't meet your family. Sorry." And Clarissa hangs up.

She was upset. She still has a hard time accepting the fact that her father belongs to someone else. The cause was the anger in her heart that she had yet to get rid of.

Adimasta was still staring at Clarissa. Another side of Clarissa, he just knew. This cheerful and slightly haughty girl was hurt. And she didn't want to treat her wound. She just didn’t care about her wound.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Clarissa asked, looking at Adimasta.

"I know you have a problem with your father. May I be your ears? Just helping you relax, Clay. And your cheerfulness will be genuine. Not only to cover your painful heart."

"What did you say?! A misery in my life you think? Wanna bet?!"

"Adi ..." Clarissa's hand waved in Adimasta's face. Adimasta stutters. Again, he was daydreaming. He was dreaming Clarissa was mad at him.

 "Is it your hobby, dreaming? Or are you fascinated by my beauty?" Clarissa fiddled with her eyebrows. Adimasta smirked.

"Answer me, Sir," Clarissa said.

"Let’s go home." Adimasta walked ahead of Clarissa.

"Well, this is Mr. Adi, he likes to act in a mysterious way," said Clarissa. She followed Adimasta.

"We are a match. You like to act in an antique way." Adimasta glanced at Clarissa. He raised his glasses.

Clarissa smiled widely. They parted in the parking lot. Clarissa headed for her car, Adimasta stepped into the row of motorbikes. Adimasta didn't leave immediately, he waited until Clarissa left first.

"It's right I love you, Clay. I want to treat your wounds. I will definitely make you smile. A sincere smile." Adimasta's heart whispered.

Now Adimasta got on his two-wheeled vehicle. Soon he was speeding down the increasingly crowded streets. Fifteen minutes Adimasta arrived home. Just as he parked the motorbike, his sister came out of the house.

"Are you going, Sis?" Adimasta greeted the women with the same white skin as Adimasta. Her hair was jet black, straight, and wide.

"Hi! You just get home?" The woman asked again.

"Yes. Are you teaching this afternoon?" asked Adimasta again.

"Yup. I'm in a hurry. I haven't had time to prepare dinner yet. Mom and Dad will arrive tonight. You cook yourself or order online food. Okay?" Adimasta's sister spoke as she continued towards her motorbike which was next to Adimasta's motorbike.

"Alright!!" Adimasta replied then he entered the house.

Arriving in the room, Adimasta just remembered something. He had to call Clarissa. Adimasta called the girl. He tried several times, but Clarissa still did not pick up her phone. Was Clarissa still on the road?