We, From The First
#27's. Not Nico

Banu Island, May 2011

In the afternoon leading up to that night, the rain fell so heavily in the city of Sina. Aira and her parents were on their way to a restaurant. Aira sat in the back seat in a semi-conscious state while listening to music. The song that runs softly in his ear makes him sleepy. She yawns occasionally, and makes her mother laugh.

"Don't sleep, Na! We'll be there soon." Said Shania while looking back and fix the blanket position on Aira's body.

"Nana's so sleepy, Mom. Nana said, Nana will not come. Rain is so good to sleep." Aira complained at length.

"You wouldn't protest if you knew who we'd meet." Sahut Geraldy –Ayah Aira, who apparently deliberately provoked the curiosity of his only child.

But soon, the throne of the only child puppet that for 17 years Aira sandang will soon change into the firstborn. Her mother is 6 months pregnant now. And once she found out her mother was pregnant, Aira was overjoyed. He was very impatient to wait for the birth of his sister.

"But Nana was really sleepy. It will not affect Nana want anyone we will meet now. Want to meet Zayn Malik even though it won't be." Answer Aira ogah-ogahan. He pulled the blanket over his entire body.

"And whose car are we using now? Where's Dad's car?" Aira asked from under the covers as soon as she remembered that the car they were using right now, was not theirs.

"long story. You'll know for yourself." Answer Geraldy.

But Aira did not sound like a sound anymore. He's already asleep.

Geraldy smiled at her adorable daughter's behavior. Geraldy this time looked back, and tried to pull the blanket that Aira was wearing to nudge her. But unexpectedly, Geraldy's negligence made him not aware that there was a truck that was traveling so fast in front of him, then hit the car he was driving until it bounced far and hit the road barrier. Everything happened so fast. The front of the car that Geraldy was driving in was destroyed, and fresh blood from inside the car flowed along with the torrent of rain.

"T—please.. se—save, My daughter."

Wiry Geraldy with stammering and tearful eyes at a mysterious man, who now stands looking at him lying on the street with a face that is not so clear in Geraldy's vision that has begun to blur.

...****...

When the time has shown at 12 pm, Aira still looks busy doing her job. That night, the rain fell very heavily accompanied by strong winds. Every now and then, Aira looked surprised upon hearing the sound of lightning striking.

Aira then put headphones on her ear and play music with a volume loud enough so that the noise of rain out there no longer bothers her. But as soon as he remembered, that Nico had a fear of the sound of the rain in the middle of the night, he immediately opened his headphones and walked out towards Nico's room to see his condition.

Aira knocked on Nico's room door several times, but there was no answer. At that moment, Aira decided to go straight in. And he immediately ran towards Nico who at that time looked very tormented in his sleep.

"Go! Don't hurt, Mama! Go!" Igau Nico moved his head. Sweat in his temple.

"Nick! Up, Nic!" Said Aira while patting Nico's shoulder so that the young man could come to his senses immediately.

"Nic, wake! It's Nana."

Nico then woke up and immediately hugged Aira who was sitting on the edge of his bed. Aira who had understood Nico's condition for a long time, immediately returned Nico's embrace.

"Na, he's coming again, Na! That guy's coming again." Lirih Nico who was already cowering in fear in Aira's arms.

"Udah, yes, Nic! You're okay now. There's me here." Aira said as she stroked Nico's hair to calm her down.

Five minutes later, Aira was already sitting under Nico's bed holding one of his hands. Nico curled up with his head facing right into Aira's position. Aira simply looked at him, as she occasionally rubbed her hair, and wiped the sweat on her temples.

When he felt Aira start to move and was about to get out of his room, Nico clasped her hand even tighter. He then said in a hoarse voice,

"I want to make peppermint tea for you for a minute."

Nico shook his head with both eyes still closed.

Aira then relented. He fixed his position to be more comfortable. Then he put his head on Nico's bed. Their faces are now facing each other. Aira then raised her other hand, then patted Nico's shoulder gently to calm her down.

Usually, it's his mom who does that every time Nico has a bad dream. But since at this time, her mother was accompanying her Papa to a meeting outside the city, it was Aira who took over the task.

Nico has always been like this since childhood. Every time it rains in the middle of the night, he will have nightmares and feel very scared. Aira always remembered that.

"Then, how can you handle this situation alone when your Papa Mama is no more, Nic?" Aira muttered softly.

The fact that he and Nico both often have nightmares due to past trauma, makes him understand what Nico is feeling now. At first Aira thought that Nico had recovered, but it turned out that he was wrong. To date, Nico is still tormented by that trauma. Just like her. But even so, Nico is the only one who can calm him down when he also has nightmares.

While looking at Nico's face, Aira's memory suddenly spun back when she first met Nico ten years ago. At the time, they were 8 years old.

...****...

Banu Island, 2002...

"Know, Na! It's Nico. From now on, Nico will be Nana's friend." Said Shania to Aira who was hugging her rabbit.

Aira observed Nico's face for a while. He seemed to think for a moment. And with a surprised face, he looked at his mother.

"But he's not Nico, ma'am."

Nico who heard that, directly bowed his head with a sad face. Shania approached Nico and hugged him on the shoulder.

"So from now on he's Nico. Calvien Nicolas's. He's Aunt Regina and Om Adryan's son. Call him Nico."

Aira did not answer. He still seems to think. But despite thinking how many times, he knew that the little boy now in front of him was clearly not the Nico he knew since he was a baby.

Until finally, Aira approached Nico, then extended her hand.

"Sorry Nana, huh?"

Looking at Aira's outstretched hand, Nico raised his face. He was immediately greeted by a smile that was so wide Aira. Nico then returned Aira's hand and shook his hand.

...****...

Aira closed her memory while smiling bitterly. His hand, which had rubbed Nico's hair, now came down and traced his face. In the silence of the night, Aira again muttered softly.

"Alvin... You must have suffered so much all this time, right?"

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