We, From The First
#01. Misjudge
"Time passed for so long. I've been through my long picnic without you. Once we meet again, I can't escape the joy that afflicts every cell in my body. But I'm too bad to show it to you. But let me ask you this;
how are you doing?"
...****...
June, 2012....
"RIO! RIO! RIO! RIO!"
The cheers from the audience who filled the outdoor field stands of Patuh Karya High School in the morning before noon were increasingly blaring when Rio was about to make a shot in the final seconds of the basketball game that was done in order to enliven the event Meeting Class. He lay-up perfectly and then put the ball into the ring with a style that always looks elegant.
All the spectators, especially the audience from his class were getting crazier. And when the referee blew the whistle marking the end of the match which was also a sign of victory for the Rio class, all his classmates immediately ran to the middle of the field to storm Rio.
"GH ****!!" Erang one of the guys from the opposing class team was upset. Although upset, he was also happy for the victory achieved by his best friend. He is Rakha, one of Rio's best friends who is also a member of the Patuh Karya High School basketball team.
Even though Rakha is the captain in the first team, but still he can not beat Rio in the class meeting this time.
Rio looked at Rakha, he was smiling mockingly towards that handsome-looking guy while flipping his thumb. Rakha grunting. This time Rio can be arrogant, but in the first team, Rakha is still the captain. Just watch out later, Rakha will punish Rio for this defeat.
In contrast to Rakha, Nico who was also one of their best friends, ran towards Rio and congratulated him. Of course, it makes Rakha who is one team with Nico rather upset. Not long after Rakha let go of his frustration, he then ran after Rio, Nico, and Natta who were gathering at the time, and embraced the three friends of his thick with joy.
Just act like an opponent. It's time to be friends again.
In the midst of the celebration of the Four Sekawan, Nico's attention was knowingly focused on a girl who was not wearing a uniform, who had just come down from the second floor. Feeling that he knew the girl, Nico said goodbye to his friends. He said, "dare. I have business."
Nico ran a bit fast, and made Rio, Natta, and Rakha who had not known anything felt a little astonished. But Rakha's eagle eyes, managed to catch the figure of the girl who was being chased by Nico now. Rakha seemed to be thinking, and slightly tilted her head. Vaguely even without him noticing, the girl had already managed to attract his attention.
"Mir!" Call Nico with a slightly wheezing breath.
Aira stopped her steps, then turned around. "Nico?" Greet Aira who is a little surprised to see Nico now.
"Where? Did you sort out the business?"
"Udah." Answer the Aira.
Nico was heard regulating his breath. After some control, he again said to Aira, "wait for me to pause, huh? I'll change clothes first. We go home together."
Without hearing Aira's reply, Nico passed from before her and immediately went to change her clothes. Aira nodded her head slowly then looked for a comfortable place to wait for Nico.
While from a distance, Rio, Rakha, and Natta who had indeed since noticed Nico began to wonder about the girl who had just been approached by Nico. Rio asked his two best friends if any of them knew who the girl was. But both Rakha and Natta were as curious as Rio was now. They both don't know.
As Rio and Natta passed away following his other friends, Rakha instead stayed in his place while watching the girl Nico had just approached. Realizing that Rakha is not with them, Rio turned his head back and called Rakha.
"Rakha, come!"
"Yes, yes."
Rakha gasped for a moment, then immediately caught up with Rio and Natta.
...****...
"You shouldn't bother me. I don't like to bother others." Said Aira opened a chat with Nico who was focused on driving through the streets.
Still vividly remembered, how yesterday Nico seemed so blatantly rejecting his presence. But not for days, Nico actually be nice to him. Aira thought to herself, does Nico have two sides?
"He's Aira. His son is the late Aunt Shania. He'll stay with us. Starting today." That was Mama Nico's answer when Nico asked about Aira's sudden presence in their home. Feeling uninvited by the discussion first, Nico felt a little annoyed.
It was not that Nico was unwilling to accept Aira's presence, but all this was too sudden for Nico. Both of his parents did not even tell Nico from far away. Nico, who has mature thoughts, feels the need to be told about whatever the decision of his parents. He wants to always be involved in anything that has to do with him. But Aira who did not know the figure of Nico even misunderstood the meaning of Nico. Aira had come to the conclusion that Nico did not accept his full and sincere presence.
"Same Papa should have talked to Nico. Nico also has the right to know whatever you're planning as long as it has something to do with Nico."
"But she's Nana, Nic. Nana temen your childhood first. Mama just thought that this would be a surprise for you."
Nico was silent for a moment. He also remembered the figure of little Nana who had once been very close to him when he was a child. It could be said, that Nico was very attached to Nana first. But somehow Nico could have been unconscious from the start. Now in his heart began to regret. He was too emotional about the problem this time.
And then, how could he easily forget about Nana? Nana who used to be very close to him, and so he loved.
After knowing the truth, Nico looked somewhat softened although still a little disappointed. Then suddenly his attention was fixed on the back of Aira who was walking away from the living room. Nico, who had felt sorry before, now felt even more unwell. Aira must have heard everything.
"Sorry about yesterday." Nico said with regret. "And you're not taking me at all." Next later.
Aira suddenly thought, that it could be the reason Nico drove her home now because she still felt bad about yesterday's events. Aira nodded in understanding. Yesterday Aira did take the heart of Nico's words, but not anymore. He was trying to understand Nico. Although there was a bit of disappointment in his heart when Nico did not recognize him at all.
"It's okay. I got it. And if I had been in your position yesterday, I would have had the same reaction." Aira answered airily while looking at Nico's face from the side. Nico turned to look at Aira and gave a small smile. Even so, Nico still felt bad.
As Nico looked back to the front, Aira turned her attention to the side glass. He sighed softly, then muttered inwardly, "but you shouldn't have dyed me."
When they got home, and Aira was about to get out of the car, she said to Nico, "don't worry. I've only been here a year. After college, I'll move. And one more thing, I know my limits."
Aira came out and closed the car door. Nico was stunned to hear Aira's statement just now. But the guilt, it doesn't want to go away.
...****...
"Why should Papa look at the value of this trash, Rakhaditya Arya?" Arkha said in a tone full of anger while throwing Rakha value paper loudly. The entire cell in her body was enveloped by the emotion that erupted when she learned that Rakha was only able to rank 3rd
Yes, this is the other side of Rakha's life that is unknown to many people. At school, or in front of her friends, Rakha always wears her mask. He behaved as if his whole life was fine, he was famous as a cheerful and humorous figure. However, no one knows, that he is secretly living a stressful life from his Papa. His father always demanded him to be the best, and when his father felt that Rakha did not meet his expectations, he would spit out his anger at his Eldest Son, not even rarely Rakha was showered by his Papa.
And this time, Rakha got a slap strong enough to leave a reddened mark on her right cheek.
"You're like this now, because you're playing around too much! The next semester, Papa won't see you play basketball again. Focus on your values! The pleasure you get now, will not help anything for your future. Understood?"
And as he had, Rakha simply nodded and agreed to all the words of his father even though he remained in rebellion. At least he tried hard. Rakha does everything she can to satisfy her Papa without having to leave her life. But in the end, all the efforts made by Rakha none of them got a decent appreciation from his Papa.
Rakha sat on the sofa a while after her father left. He clenched his hands tightly, trying to endure the anger and pain he had been craving. Then all of a sudden, his little sister came and held his clenched hand to calm him down. Rakha turned her head to the side, and suddenly her anger could subside a little when she saw the soothing smile given by Ranha, she said,
"Sir Rakha has tried hard. Ranha is proud of Brother."
Rakha smiles. Quietly feeling moved by the simple thing that his sweet sister did. He then gently stroked Ranha's head, and said, "when have you grown this big?"
...****...
Rakha was sitting alone in Rio's Coffee Shop. One of his hands supported his face, while the other hand he used to stir his Ice Coffee without exertion. His mind drifted away. This semester is really messed up. Although Rakha did not show any fear for the words of his father this afternoon, in his heart he was worried.
Amidst Rakha's daydream, Rio just suddenly appeared and sat down before her. Rio watched Rakha's face carefully, and as soon as he saw the scarlet scar on his best friend's face, Rio immediately raised Rakha's chin. Pandangan Rio looks so serious.
"This time because what else? Because your ranking dropped a lot?" Rio's tone sounded quite furious.
Rakha who had looked gloomy since then, immediately changed the look on his face and glanced at his eyes until it seemed everything was going well. He smiled broadly at Rio, and replied half-jokingly, "how? I'm cool, right? You should have seen my Papa's face earlier. He's really angry, hahaha..."
Rakha ended his sentence with a laugh. But the thing that Rakha did was, it made Rio even more upset.
"Rakha, I'm serious! You can't keep believing this. Lo's depressed, Kha! You can't keep being nice. As if in front of me, Nico, the same Natta lo should be open. We may not be able to help you, but we can listen to your stories. And that's gonna reduce the burden on your chest right now." Rio sounded softened at the end of his words.
A moment later, Rakha let out a long sigh. People do not know what burdens Rakha is sitting on at this time, but his friends know correctly, that not a day Rakha can breathe a sigh of relief, that not a day did he miss without the feeling of anxiety in him.
"Gue has done my best, but why Papa I never feel satisfied with the effort I have done? When I got first place, never once Papa praised me, and said that I have done my best. But once my first rank slumps, my Papa will vent his emotions heartlessly. The one who was sick was not this slap, Yo —" Rakha gave a pause while pointing to his face.
Rakha looked at Rio with a smile. But both of his eyes described his fatigue. And Rio can catch him.
"That pain is my heart." Rakha continued later with a painful feeling that he tried to fainter.
Not long after that, Nico and Natta came together and joined his two best friends who may have been waiting for their arrival long enough. However, just as Nico and Natta were sitting down, Rakha got up from her seat and walked towards the toilet without taking a word.
At the same time, Rio gave the code to Nico and Natta to remain silent and not say anything. At that time they both understood that Rakha needed time alone. At least for now.
And later, after Rakha comes out of the toilet, he will return to his usual attitude, bury all his fear, anxiety, and disappointment, then return to being Rakhaditya Arya who hides behind his mask.
^^^To be Continued...^^^
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