We, From The First
#09. Wish You Were Here

"Natta where? Not coming anymore?" Nico asked when he had just arrived at the Coffee Shop while sitting in front of Rio and Rakha who had already arrived first.

Every Sunday night, Nico, Rio, Rakha, and Natta regularly gather at Rio's Coffee Shop which they have made a basecamp since a year ago. The place is the most comfortable place according to them to be used as a place to study together, do assignments, or just ordinary gatherings to spend time together like tonight.

But something is strange. Lately Natta has rarely been together since three months ago. He is difficult to contact and confuses his friends. Once several times one of them asked Natta why he began to rarely gather, but Natta could always give an excuse. At first everything was fine, but the more he got here, Nico and the others felt something strange about Natta's attitude.

"You guys don't feel it? Natta's been getting weird ever since he broke up with Sheryl." Rakha said while looking seriously at Nico and Rio.

"Even Natta suddenly broke up Sheryl was quite strange. Everyone knows, Natta loves Sheryl. In the same Sheryl, I'm sure that Natta's feelings are much greater. And we all never know why they broke up." Rakha.

"But we all know that Natta is not the type of person who likes to be messed with his personal affairs." Nico.

"It's because of that! Not wanting us all to know, so he started acting strangely like this. And we can't be fooled. What if something really happened to Natta? I'm just scared of Natta for nothing."

Hearing Rakha's words that really have a point, Nico and Rio seemed to think. And inevitably, they are increasingly worried about Natta's current state. Nico then sounded sigh while leaning his body on the chair. If something happens to Natta, and they don't know, Nico thinks he'll be very sorry.

Yumi, Sheryl, and Bia suddenly entered the Coffee Shop, and made the focus of the three youths crumble. Yumi and Bia are seen waving at them, while Sheryl spreads her gaze across the room in search of Natta's whereabouts. It is common knowledge that Sheryl still harbors feelings for Natta, and has not been willing the relationship that he has been living for two years suddenly broke up for no reason. And even if they don't want to show it, they can still clearly capture what Sheryl feels and thinks.

"Natta is not there, Sher." Rio said as soon as Sheryl, Yumi, and Bia joined them. Not only Rio, but they all realize, who Sheryl is looking for, and who Sheryl is coming for.

"Who's got Natta?" Sheryl answered with a ketus.

Upon hearing the answer Sheryl threw at Rio, Yumi and Bia glanced at each other while smiling wryly.

Bia then took a position right next to Rio then handed Rio the Math Book he had borrowed because he had left behind. "Thanks, huh, Yo?"

Rio smiled very sweetly at the girl, "sama-sama, Bii."

Another relationship between Sheryl and Natta, another is also the relationship between Rio and Bia. The two of them were very close since they first entered Patu Karya, they also paid attention to each other, but their relationship was only limited to friends. Not more. And that's what makes one school feel good. Questions like; "why don't you guys just date?", are the most common questions they hear. But as ever, both Bia and Rio always ignored the question, and remained comfortable with the relationship they were in.

Rio is very popular in school. All the girls admired him. But everyone also knew, that only Bianca was the one who Rio always noticed.

"By the way about the book missed, inget not really at that time? Rakha time with his cool ass giving Aira pinjem his biology book so that Aira is not excluded from the same class Mr Dharma?"

Sheryl's words, it's okay to make Nico who has been busy reading a comic immediately raised his face. He only found out about it, and Aira never told him anything. A strange feeling that Nico did not know what his name was, suddenly ignited in his heart, and caused a sense of heat. And this is the second time.

"And you know that too? After that, someone brought Rakha mineral water to the basketball court as a thank you." This time it was Bia's turn to take Rakha's melted rations.

Instead of being bothered by what Bia and Sheryl are doing, Rakha is seen enjoying the teasing, and laughing. Rakha is indeed not the type of person who will hide his feelings, except for one thing; his distress over his Papa treatment.

Rakha then lowered his head and smiled meaningfully when he saw that his index finger that afternoon was wrapped in plaster by Aira to cover his wound. Without saying anything, Rakha stroked her index finger slowly, thinking that if only Aira were here now with them.

And Nico who was still listening in that atmosphere, was getting stronger and more uncomfortable feeling in his heart. But unlike Rakha who is blatant, Nico is good at hiding his feelings very well.

'Nathusya Calling...'

That's one name on Nico's phone screen. And Bia who happened to see Nico's cell phone lying on the table, immediately told Nico.

"Nic, Nana's the nelfon."

Nico was still unconscious, and stared blankly at the comic that had been in his hands since.

"Hey! Nicolas Calvien!" this time Bia sounded a little jolting. And Bia's jolt, managed to make Nico's consciousness return.

"Eh yes, Bi?" Nico gasp.

"Lo nelfon girl," Bia replied as she glanced at Nico's phone.

...****...

It was ten o'clock at night when Natta came out of a minimarket, and locked the door. As soon as Natta turned around, he was immediately greeted by a wave of Rio's hand that stood sweet with his favorite sport bike. Natta smiled slightly, but his face looked very tired. Natta then approached Rio, and welcomed Rio's hand that was raised in the air.

"Rakha began to feel something strange about you. And inevitably, Nico also began to be sensitive. But I can't say anything to them." Rio said to Natta as the two of them sat side by side on a staircase overlooking the vast expanse of Marvi River, one of the largest and famous rivers in the city of Harsa.

Marvi River is one of the most popular tourist destinations by the people of Harsa City, as well as the Travelers who come from outside the area, that is why, until the time has shown midnight, too, Marvi River is still crowded by visitors.

Natta said nothing. He only heard a long sigh, then downed the soft drink Rio gave.

"And as always, Sheryl nyariin lo earlier."

Natta who had not shown any reaction since, now began to react upon hearing Sheryl's name. His heart was broken when it came to the girl. The girl he secretly loved, but could no longer have.

"Gue knows, it might be hard to sampein' this to Sheryl, but no matter what, Nico same Rakha should know, Nat. You can't keep hiding this lo problem from them, and I can't keep nyimpen this alone—" pause for a moment, "Nat..."

Natta this time turned his head towards Rio, and Rio continued his sentence, this time with a softer tone, "it's fine to look weak in front of your companions..."

Hearing Rio's last sentence, Natta slightly lowered his face while massaging his head slowly which began to feel heavy. For now, Natta really doesn't know what to do. The situation he is facing right now, is a pretty tough situation for an 18-year-old like himself to get through.

"Now, how do you feel about Sheryl?"

Natta did not answer the question immediately. He was still in a down position and his eyes closed. Then not long after, Natta finally sounded out,

"Gue still loves Sheryl. From then until now, my feelings have never changed. But for now, I can't make him a priority."

^^^To be continued...^^^