Dika accepted the handshake. "Dika."
There was an awkward pause before Dika finally said, "Okay then, I'll get going. See you around, Nad."
After he left, Evan turned to Nadira with a raised eyebrow. "Who was that?"
Nadira shrugged. "A friend."
"What kind of friend?" Evan narrowed his eyes, studying her.
Nadira smirked. "A curious kind of friend?"
Evan clicked his tongue. A faint discomfort stirred in his chest, though he wasn't sure why.
Nadira let out a small laugh at his expression. "Relax. I'm here with you, aren't I?"
Her words were enough to quiet Evan, though deep down, a question lingered. Who exactly was Dika? And why did he feel unsettled?
After that meeting, Evan became more alert. He realized Nadira wasn't the kind of woman one could easily pursue. There was something about her that made him want to know more—especially after Dika's appearance.
A few days later, as Evan stepped out for lunch, he spotted Nadira sitting alone at a small park near the office. She was engrossed in something on her phone, occasionally typing a reply.
Evan walked over. "Busy?"
Nadira looked up and smiled. "Oh, Evan. Not really. Just replying to some messages."
Evan glanced at her screen, but she quickly locked it. He chuckled. "Top secret?"
She shook her head and slid over slightly, gesturing for him to sit. "Just chatting with my community friends."
"Community?" Evan frowned.
Nadira nodded. "I'm part of an environmental community. We organize events about plants, greening the city, or just casual discussions."
Evan leaned back on the bench. "So Dika's one of them?"
Nadira turned to him, a little surprised, then laughed softly. "Oh? You remember him?"
Evan shrugged. "He's not easy to forget."
"Dika's a senior in the community. He's the one who invited me to join," she explained casually.
Evan nodded, then probed a little. "He's just a friend?"
Nadira looked at him for a long moment before smiling. "If I say yes, will you believe me?"
Evan stayed quiet. Nadira was hard to read. But that's what made her so intriguing.
"So, when do I get to see your community in action?" he finally asked.
Nadira narrowed her eyes at him, suspiciously. "You want to join?"
"Why not?" Evan replied, teasing.
Nadira chuckled. "Alright, I'll let you know when we have something planned. But don't think you'll just stand around. If you show up, you're working too."
Evan smirked. "I'm not afraid."
They locked eyes for a moment, and for the first time, Evan felt like he'd taken a small step closer to Nadira. But he also knew—she wasn't someone who would fall easily.
And that only made him more eager to try.
Evan watched Nadira as she typed on her phone. From the look on her face, she was clearly serious about her community.
"So... if I show up, do I get any special treatment?" Evan teased, leaning his arm on the bench's backrest.
Nadira raised an eyebrow, giving him a deadpan look. "Sure. You'll get the heaviest hoe."
Evan laughed and leaned a little closer. "That's it? I thought I'd get a special welcome from the community leader."
Nadira pretended to think for a second, then gently patted his shoulder. "Oh, there's more. I'll assign you to weed the entire field."
Evan made an exaggerated shocked face. "That's harsh. I'm a guest, you know."
Nadira gave a sweet smile. "Guests who act too important need tasks to keep them out of trouble."
Evan chuckled. "So I'm trouble now?"
Nadira rolled her eyes. "Not trouble. You just make things... weird."
Evan tilted his head. "Weird how?"
Nadira glanced at him briefly, then returned to her phone. "Just weird. Most people who join care about the environment. You can't even tell a rose from a jasmine."
Evan leaned a little closer. "I do care. I care about you."
Nadira choked on her own breath. "What?"
Evan held back a grin. "I mean, I care that you have such a great project at work. That's why I want to see your community firsthand—who knows, maybe we can collaborate again."
Nadira gave him a skeptical look, then lightly smacked his arm. "Why didn't you just say that? Why the cheesy line first?"
Evan rubbed his arm, chuckling. "It's fun to see your reaction."
Nadira sighed and went back to typing. "Alright. If you want to come, I'll let you know. Just don't bring any drama."
Evan gave a crooked smile. "Drama? Me? I think you were the one who got flustered."
Nadira shot him a glare, but her cheeks turned slightly pink. Evan just laughed, feeling like he'd won a small battle today.
Evan Does Something That Touches Nadira PersonallyNadira had one favorite place in the city—a small piece of land she and her community had nurtured for years. It wasn't just soil; it was a home for children eager to learn about gardening and the importance of the environment.
But last week, bad news arrived. The land was going to be sold and turned into a commercial center. Nadira had always known they were only temporary occupants, but it still felt like losing something precious.
That day, she sat on a wooden bench at the edge of the land, watching the children run around, still unaware that their beloved space would soon be gone. Her chest felt heavy. Her mind raced for solutions, but everything led to a dead end.
Then a familiar voice called out.
"Why do you look like you just lost ten million rupiah?"
Nadira turned and saw Evan standing by the wooden fence, hands in his pockets. No suit or work shirt today—just a plain T-shirt and a light jacket. Still neat—and irritating.
"No need to pretend you care, Van. This isn't your problem," she muttered.
"If my problem is you, then this is my problem too."
Nadira glared. "Corny."
Evan chuckled and sat beside her. "Seriously, Nad. What's going on?"
At first, she didn't want to talk. But eventually, she sighed deeply and opened up. About the land being taken away, about the kids losing their learning space, about how powerless she felt in the face of it all.
"So now you're just waiting for a miracle?" Evan asked after hearing everything.
Nadira gave a small, bitter laugh. "Pretty much."
Evan didn't say anything after that. He just sat there, staring at the field of plants in front of them.
A few days later...
Nadira was busy at her nursery when Dita, one of her community friends, called her in a voice that was both panicked and hopeful.
"Nad! Something weird just happened! Our land... they're not going to build on it!"
Nadira nearly dropped the pot in her hand. "What? What do you mean?"
"I don't know! Suddenly there's a revised permit, and the developer backed out. They said someone offered them an alternative site. I don't get how it happened, but... we're safe!"
Nadira stood in stunned silence after the call ended. She couldn't believe it had actually happened.
And then, as her thoughts began to clear, one name came to her mind.
Evan.