Since morning, Nadine still couldn't stop thinking about Rafka's question from the night before.
Are you busy tomorrow?
He hadn't explained anything afterward. He hadn't said why he was asking. Even when Nadine tried asking him in return, the man had only replied, “Later,” before going into his room.
As a result, Nadine ended up thinking about the question longer than she should have.
But by noon, there was still no sign that Rafka planned to bring it up again.
Nadine had been stuck in her room since morning and was finally starting to get bored. Dita was out, and the boarding house was pretty quiet too. She'd stepped out several times to get something to drink or just look at the yard, but she hadn't found anything interesting.
At two in the afternoon, Nadine finally gave up.
She went back to lying down while playing on her phone.
Only a few minutes later, there was a knock at the door.
Knock. Knock.
Nadine turned.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
But it wasn't Dita who appeared.
Rafka stood in the doorway.
Nadine immediately sat up.
“What are you doing?”
Rafka didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked around the room first.
“Where's Dita?”
“Out.”
“Oh.”
“Why?”
Rafka leaned against the doorframe for a moment.
“Are you busy?”
Nadine stared at him for a few seconds.
“Didn't you already ask me that last night?”
“Yeah.”
“And?”
Rafka pulled his phone from his pants pocket.
“Let's go out.”
Nadine furrowed her brow.
“Where?”
“I want to get coffee.”
Nadine waited for him to continue.
Rafka said nothing.
“And?”
“Maybe drive around a little too.”
Nadine looked at the man in front of her.
“That’s it?”
“Does there have to be a plan?”
Nadine shrugged.
“Not really.”
“So?”
Nadine thought for a moment.
Actually, she had nothing to do that day. Since morning, she'd only gone from her bed to the kitchen, then back to bed again. Stepping out for a while sounded much more appealing than spending the rest of the day staring at her phone screen.
“Fine.”
Rafka nodded.
“Fifteen minutes. You want me to wait?”
“No.”
“Fine, then hurry up.”
Rafka chuckled before closing Nadine's bedroom door.
Fifteen minutes later, Nadine came out of her room.
Rafka was already waiting in the boarding-house yard, standing beside his large motorcycle. As soon as he saw Nadine approach, he picked up the helmet he'd placed on the seat.
“Put this on.”
Nadine accepted the helmet.
“Don't you have another one?”
“I do.”
“Then why am I wearing that one?”
“Fine. If you don't want to, don't.”
“Who said I don't want to?”
Rafka only gave her a small smile.
Nadine put on the helmet, then climbed onto the back of the motorcycle. Unlike the first time, she didn't have much trouble finding a comfortable position this time.
Even so, she still looked down at the seat beneath her with a hint of suspicion.
“What?” Rafka asked.
“Nothing.”
“Are you worried it'll be slippery again?”
“I'm not scared.”
Rafka laughed.
“Just hold on to me.”
“No.”
“Nadine.”
For some reason, Rafka's voice sounded a little frightening. Hesitantly wrapping her arms around his waist, Nadine answered softly.
“Okay.”
The motorcycle then left the boarding-house yard and the small lane in front of where they lived.
Their first destination was a coffee shop not too far from the boarding house. After parking the motorcycle, Rafka ordered coffee while Nadine chose a different drink.
They sat in one of the chairs outside.
At first, they didn't talk much.
Nadine simply watched the vehicles passing by while Rafka occasionally played with his phone.
But as usual, Rafka was the first to start a conversation.
“Are you really in your room that often?”
Nadine turned to him.
“Why?”
“Nothing. Since yesterday, every time I see you, you're in your room.”
“Where else am I supposed to be?” Nadine replied curtly.
Rafka laughed.
“I mean, don't you like going out?”
“I do. If there's someone to go out with.”
“Dita?”
“Sometimes.”
“Your college friends?”
“Sometimes.”
Rafka gave a small nod.
“So now you have me.”
Nadine fell silent for a moment.
“Have you as what?”
“The person who asks you out.”
Nadine looked at him.
“You've only done it a few times.”
“That's something.”
“It's not.”
Rafka laughed again.
For some reason, a simple conversation like that went on for quite a while. They started talking about other things, from college and food to the habits of the boarding-house residents that often annoyed them both.
After they finished their drinks, Rafka stood up first.
“Done?”
Nadine nodded.
“Going home?”
Rafka picked up his helmet.
“Not yet.”
“You said we'd only go out for a little while.”
“Yeah.”
“And?”
“Let's drive around a little first.”
They got back on the motorcycle.
This time, Rafka didn't immediately take the road to the boarding house. Instead, he took Nadine along several other roads she rarely traveled.
They passed through the city center, several rows of shops, a tree-lined road, and finally a quieter area.
Nadine didn't know how long they'd been on the road.
Every now and then, Rafka asked whether she was cold. Nadine always gave a brief answer while the afternoon wind continued to strike her face from behind the helmet.
Strangely, Nadine didn't feel like going home right away.
She simply sat behind Rafka, letting him take the motorcycle wherever he wanted.