Nadine hadn't expected to be talking with Rafka again so soon.
That afternoon, she was getting ready to leave the boarding house to buy some supplies. After making sure her wallet and phone were in her bag, Nadine opened her bedroom door and headed for the stairs.
She had only gone down a few steps when she saw someone standing below.
Rafka.
The man was playing with his phone. As soon as he heard her footsteps, he looked up.
“Oh, Nadine.”
“Hi.”
“Going out?”
“Yeah.”
“By yourself?”
Nadine nodded.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m just going to buy some boarding-house supplies at the shop out front. Why, bro?”
Rafka slipped his phone into his pocket.
“Let’s go together. I’m heading out too.”
Nadine paused. She was fairly surprised to hear Rafka invite her along for a second time. They weren’t close enough to be going out together again. She had thought yesterday’s conversation would be their first and last. Tired of thinking about it, Nadine decided to ask.
“Where to? The shop out front too?”
“Yeah. Let’s go together.”
Nadine had no reason to refuse. Besides, they lived in the same place, and Rafka had helped her yesterday. What was wrong with saying yes again this time?
“Sure.”
“Okay, then.”
They walked out together.
However, this time Rafka didn’t use Nadine’s motorcycle. Instead, he headed toward a large motorcycle parked in the boarding-house yard. Its body was black, and its shape was completely different from Nadine’s automatic scooter.
Nadine watched it for a moment.
“Whose motorcycle is that?” she wondered.
Only when Rafka picked up a helmet and stood beside the motorcycle did Nadine realize the answer.
“His?” she wondered.
“Get on,” Rafka said.
Nadine nodded.
She put on the helmet, then climbed onto the back seat.
And that was when she realized the problem.
The motorcycle’s back seat was incredibly slippery.
Nadine had barely sat down when her body slid slightly forward.
She quickly caught herself.
Nadine adjusted her sitting position.
Rafka started the motorcycle.
“Why is he using this motorcycle?” she grumbled inwardly.
The motorcycle began moving away from the boarding-house yard.
After they had gone only a few meters, Nadine’s body was pushed forward again when Rafka passed over a slightly downward-sloping section of road.
Nadine instinctively braced herself.
“Oh, God.”
She really wanted to swear under her breath.
She tried shifting her body backward again, but the seat made her slide slightly forward once more.
In the end, the distance between her and Rafka became much closer than she had planned.
Nadine fell silent.
Not because she was embarrassed.
She was simply trying to find a position that would let her stay seated without constantly sliding forward.
“Why is this motorcycle’s seat so slippery?” she wondered.
Nadine finally gave up.
She chose to sit closer to Rafka so her body wouldn’t keep sliding every time the motorcycle moved or went over an uneven stretch of road.
Her hands were still gripping the back of the motorcycle.
Several seconds passed.
Rafka suddenly said,
“If you’re uncomfortable, just say so.”
“I’m comfortable.”
Nadine’s answer came out quickly.
Then she added inwardly,
“The seat is what’s uncomfortable,” she told herself.
Rafka said nothing else.
The motorcycle continued speeding away from the boarding-house area.
Nadine was still sitting behind him, this time with less distance between them than before.
She didn’t know whether Rafka had noticed or not.
For the time being, Nadine chose not to think about it.