We, From The First
#18. Girl No. Back 88

"Ra... would you, so my girlfriend?" Said Rakha full of earnestness while still hugging Aira.

Aira who was shocked, immediately broke away from Rakha's embrace and looked at Rakha with both eyes wide open. Although he could hear it very clearly, but Aira still could not digest it properly. And even though Rakha's statement was fully supported by Bia's remarks to her this afternoon, saying that Rakha liked her, Aira still could not fully believe it. Nay! Rather, Aira refused to believe it.

"By!" Call Rakha while waving one of her hands in front of the face of Aira who was still looking at her with a look of disbelief. Errata, refuse to believe.

Rakha knew this would not be easy from the start. And he knew, that surely all he got was rejection in the end. But Rakha really wants this girl to know how Rakha feels about her.

After a long period of silence, Aira began to be able to act calm. He then approached Rakha, and touched Rakha's forehead which did feel a little –just a little warm. Aira nodded, then said, "Kha, I don't think you're feeling well anymore. It'll be a break soon, huh?"

"Hahaha, Ra, don't take the topic. You know I'm serious."

"I'm serious too." Reply Aira convincingly.

Rakha then looked up his head while sighing. It seems like Aira is starting to know how to frustrate her. They stared into each other's eyes for a while, before they finally laughed together. The atmosphere that had been awkward, now began to melt. And Aira did deliberately choose this way to divert the atmosphere.

He knew Rakha really. But he also knew for sure who the true owner of his heart was.

And Rakha was not stupid, he also knew it was a form of rejection that Aira gave subtly. But Rakha will not give up until here. For Rakha, this was just the beginning. Rakha will keep trying, until this 'Back-Numbered Girl 88' can see it and accept his feelings.

"Back, yuk! It was afternoon. I'm anterin." Said Rakha who started to control himself.

As Rakha stepped up and passed by, Aira suddenly said, "this is the gift you want?"

"No. It's a punishment because you rejected me!" rakha replied as she turned around, then walked back. He then singled out a smile of death his mainstay on the face of his handsome.

Aira immediately descended from Vespa Rakha after arriving in front of the house. And when Aira was about to unscrew her helmet strap, she had a little trouble. Rakha then pulls Aira's arm, and helps her unlock the helmet strap. At that moment, in such a close distance, Rakha was once again amazed at how beautiful this girl was.

"Thank you, Kha." Aira said after Rakha opened her helmet while fixing her somewhat messy hair.

Rakha was already about to raise her hand to touch Aira's hair, when she suddenly paused her intention. To this day, it is enough until the statement of feelings only. Rakha had to hold back to be able to keep Aira comfortable beside her. After all, Rakha already knew, if the girl he had liked since the beginning, was the 88-Numbered Back Girl who had once been his protector.

...****...

That night, Rakha was checking the photo file of the Last Game documentation last day when he accidentally found a candid photo of Aira who was running into the middle of the field while tying her hair. Aira's face in the photo looks very beautiful even though it was taken from the side.

Rakha then slightly distanced herself from her laptop. He leaned his back on the chair with both hands folded on his stomach while continuing to stare at the photo in front of him barely blinking.

"Did you even want to be with me, Ra?" Rakha muttered slowly.

He resumed his activities, and found a photo belonging to Nico who was looking at Aira with eyes so deep. Rakha has been close friends with Nico for almost three years. He knew that it was not the eyes of a friend to his friend, but the eyes that Nico showed was the eyes of a man who loved his woman. Rakha then fell silent for a while. His memory was now fixed as Aira and Nico stared at each other as Aira was in the middle of the field earlier.

Rakha then sighed softly, while trying to hold back the pain that suddenly infiltrated the wall of his heart. And the next photo is a photo of him hugging Nico while laughing so wide. Rakha stared at the photo coldly, and muttered back in her own right...

"Sorry, Nic. I won't give up."

^^^To be Continued...^^^