We, From The First
#28's. Alvin Dafandra's
The time had already shown at 05:30 am when Aira woke up from her sleep. But something's weird. He is not currently in his room. It's not his bed, it's not his pillow, it's not his blanket. Then when her scattered life had been collected again, Aira gasped and rose. He now realized that he had been sleeping in Nico's room all night.
Aira then spread her gaze to all corners of the room. But he did not find Nico. Not long after, Nico suddenly just opened the door, and entered with his leisure.
"Are you awake? Come on, siep-siep. We're jogging." Nico said as he opened his closet and tried to find a jacket.
Aira was a little confused, only last night did Nico look so scared. But right now, he seemed ordinary, as if nothing had ever happened. But Aira had no intention of asking Nico anything. He didn't want to make Nico's mood break this morning.
"You're the one who put me in bed? Where do you sleep?"
"Sleeping in Mama's room. Come get ready. After all –" Nico hung up his sentence. After finding the jacket he was looking for, he turned around and scanned Aira's entire body with his two eyes, "you should exercise even more vigorously. You're so heavy." Continue Nico calmly.
Nico then smiled slanted, and passed leaving Aira who was still dumbfounded in his place.
"Hey! Did you just say I was fat? NICO!!"
No response from Nico. Because now he's gone missing behind the door.
After finishing their morning exercise, Nico and Aira sat on a long bench in a park, each eating a loaf of bread and milk.
While enjoying their breakfast, Nico's vision was somewhat disturbed when he saw Aira's lips were slightly troubled by the milk he had just drank. Nico then naturally rubbed Aira's lips with her thumb.
"What age are you? I still love the straw."
But Aira did not respond, nor did she show any reaction. He remained focused on his meal, Nico then sighed while slowly scrambling the Aira bangs.
...****...
"Don't know yet?" Said Bia who suddenly appeared and joined Aira, Yumi, and Sheryl who were gathering at Sheryl's class.
"What?" Ask Yumi who is not so interested. And so did Aira and Sheryl.
Bia is closer to his friends. Then in a whispering tone, he said, "Nico same Nana broke up."
"Huh?" Yumi, who was not interested, now began to feel that this was quite interesting.
How can, the famous sweet and most adem-ayem couple can suddenly break up?
Aira who heard what Bia just said also felt very surprised. Nico never even said anything to her. Then now suddenly, he knew the news that Nico and Nana had broken up. Andwhy?
"Can't you?" Said Yumi who was quite curious. Yumi's question just now, as if representing the contents of Aira's head.
Before Bia could answer, Sheryl suddenly preceded him, "yes that's the relationship between girls and boys. It's hard-to-understand. And don't need to be coined either. It's none of our business."
Upon seeing Nana entering the classroom, Aira immediately appealed to her friends and approached Nana who had just dropped her body on the chair.
"Na, can you talk?" Ask doubtfully.
Nana who was like being able to read Aira's thoughts just now, just smiled and nodded.
They then went to a rather quiet place in order to be more comfortable talking.
"Na... Are you the same Nico actually broke up?"
"Well, it's spreading, huh? Also spit." Answered Nana casually with her always calm carriage –ralat, trying to calm down.
"So right? So why?"
Nana sounded a soft sigh before finally answering Aira's curiosity.
"Yes, that's it. We are in the last year now. I just want to focus more on learning. That's it."
"Ma?"
"Can I ask you a favor?"
Nana raised her face, then looked into Aira's eyes. "Can you please not ask me anything? I'm sorry, but this is between me and Nico. I don't want anyone else to know. You all know enough that we broke up. That's it."
Before Aira replied to Nana's words, the entrance bell suddenly rang loudly. At that moment, Nana who was starting to feel riled up, could now be a little relieved. And without saying anything, he walked past Aira just like that.
Upon entering the classroom, inadvertently his eyes flashed with Nico. Nana, who had been covered in confusion after a short chat between herself and Aira just now, made her unable to manage her facial expression.
Nana then turned her face away from Nico for a while, trying to manage her emotions as best she could. Then when he felt that his emotions had been slightly regulated, he again threw his gaze at Nico while smiling.
But Nico did not smile back. As Nana did, Nico also turned her face away.
Somehow Nana began to feel, that since the beginning Nico had been waiting for this farewell.
...****...
"Well, we'll suffice the material today to get here. And for the task of Appreciating Prose Fiction, to be fair, I've distributed the group to you. Each group will have two people. Your names are here." Mery's mother said, pointing out a paper.
Mery's mother placed the paper on the table and left the classroom. As soon as Mery's mother came out, Natta, acting as the class president, immediately picked up the paper and read out the name of each group.
And as soon as Rakha found out that she was in a group with Aira, Rakha immediately shouted in excitement, and made one class look at her with a slack look. Rakha did not care. He is happy today.
On the idea of Aira, they agreed to go straight to work on the day's task without delay. Rakha gladly accepted the idea. When else could he be alone with Aira?
...****...
Aira was waiting for Rakha who was picking up her bike in the parking lot when Nico came to her and said, "come on, Ra! We're home."
Aira did not have time to answer, Rakha then came while honking his motorcycle horn.
"Come on Aira, leave now!"
Aira this time looked at Nico with an uneasy look. While Nico looked at him with a questioning look, asking for an explanation.
"Nic, I'm with Rakha on group duty. So I can't go straight home. You go first, huh?"
Nico seemed to think. Within seconds, a sense of disappointment arose within him. Nico looked at Rakha. Lately, Nico and Rakha started to rarely talk since Rakha found a truth, that the two people in front of him today, apparently secretly liked each other. Rakha could not hide her true feelings, nor cover up the turmoil within her at the moment.
After getting 'forced approval' from Nico, Aira then rode Rakha's motorcycle. He had time to wave his hand towards Nico before Rakha run his favorite vespa.
As they usually do, Rakha and Aira are doing their group chores at B-Cafe. They took positions next to the window. And before doing the task, they had lunch first.
The task this time is quite difficult because they have to do appreciation level 1 and 2 in a classic novel. They seemed so serious about discussing, and exchanging ideas with each other.
The time was 5pm when their task was finally completed. That's when, Ranha –adik Wanita Rakha came suddenly and approached them. Ranha sat next to Rakha, then greeted and invited Aira to get acquainted with her cheerful face.
"Hay, Brother Aira! I know Ranha. I'm Rakha's sister." Ranha said as he extended his hand.
Aira then welcomed Ranha's hand. He just found out, that Rakha has a sister as sweet as this. But wait a minute! Did Ranha just say his name? Ranha knows where her name is?
"K—you know my name?" Ask Aira wonder.
Ranha nodded her head steadily. "Obviously know dong! In a day, Rakha can say Kak Aira's name up to ten times."
"Huh?" Aira was astonished. He now turned his gaze towards Rakha who was just chuckling. Rakha also nodded her head, as a sign that she confirmed her sister's words just now.
"Don't go home too late. Papa will be angry."
"Quiet down. Papa's got an operation schedule tonight." Ranha said casually as he passed from before Aira and Rakha.
"But still, don't go home!"
"Sister Rakha is chatty!!" Typal Ranha who instantly made Rakha and Aira laugh.
As soon as Ranha had gone upstairs, there was a moment of silence between them. Aira suddenly wanted to ask Rakha something.
"Your sister's funny too, huh? You must have really spoiled Ranha."
"That's how! He's his only brother. My dad was always busy in the hospital. Yes, I automatically besides being a big brother to Ranha, I'm also her Papa."
"What's your mom?"
The question that Aira had just thrown out immediately made Rakha's heart hit. He had not expected before, that Aira would ask that question.
Looking at Rakha who was instantly speechless, Aira's feeling was suddenly uneasy. He must have just asked wrongly.
"I was wrong, right? Sorry, Rakha..."
Rakha smiled bitterly while shaking her head. He sighed softly, then answered Aira's question honestly.
"They've been divorced for a long time. And for 4 years now, my mother's been in America."
Hearing Rakha's reply, Aira felt even more unwell. He should not have asked that, when perhaps Rakha had tried to bury him deeply. Aira already knew too many things about Rakha. And he thought this was not the right thing, considering that he could not even return Rakha's feelings that he had expressed.
...****...
Aira insists on going home alone, and asks Rakha to go home with her sister. It took a long time to convince a Rakha, until now Aira was already on the bus.
And on the way, it rained suddenly in the afternoon leading up to that night. Ten minutes later, Aira arrived at the stop. As the distance got closer to the stop earlier, Aira thought hard how could she break through such heavy rain to be able to reach home? He didn't even bring a jacket, or anything that could protect him from the rain.
As soon as he was about to return home in the rain, both of Aira's eyes miraculously caught the figure of Nico standing at the stop with an umbrella. Aira stared in disbelief at Nico. For some reason, this situation felt unreal to him.
As Aira got off the bus, Nico went over and paddled her without saying anything.
"Nico's? How come it's here?"
"The rain suddenly fell. And I have a feeling that you're going home alone."
Aira snorted, while walking on Nico's side she said in a soft tone, "what is this? Are you a psychic?"
Nico who did not know what else to say, finally decided not to answer Aira's ledge.
They walked without a sound. All that was heard was the sound of the rain and the crackling of their steps that they intentionally slowed down. As if buying time so that their togetherness can be a little longer.
Right now, there is one question that disturbs Aira's mind, about why Nico and Nana suddenly broke up when they were okay before. But then Aira thought again, would it not matter if he asked Nico? Will he not be impressed too meddling and make Nico upset? And all that doubt endlessly swayed Aira's brain.
"Ra?" Call Nico out of the blue.
"Hm?"
"I.. broke up with Nana."
Aira now stopped her steps, as did Nico. They also face each other.
This was exactly what Aira was waiting for. Without having to ask first, it was Nico who would say it himself.
"Why?," asked Aira quietly and carefully.
"I'm not good enough for him. Like you said, I suck." Nico laughed at the end of the sentence.
The answer is honest. Nico feels so bad. He couldn't even handle his own feelings from the start, until it finally made things messy now.
Supposedly, Nico never started anything with Nana. Supposedly, Nico did not give him empty hopes with frills he would try. Supposedly, Nico never filled Nana with those beautiful dreams that she herself had not even had since she was born. He should have been quiet from the start and done nothing.
Nico felt like he had created an illusion as if Nana could be happy with him, but in reality, only the wounds he was able to give. He wastes a lot of precious Nana's time. That's why now, he feels bad. So sucky. Lousy.
Aira was a little tiptoed to be able to reach Nico's height. His right hand raised and landed on Nico's head. Aira rubbed it gently.
While Nico was receiving the treatment, it froze instantly. Usually, it was Nico who often did that to Aira. But now turn around. Nico then looked right at the two eyes of the girl who looked so warm. He tried to dive into it, and found the same twinkle there.
"Whoever it is, including you, no one has the right to say that you suck. Only I can. If anyone else said that other than me, I'd be mad."
...****...
Banu Island, 2002
Aira approaches the little boy who a few days ago was introduced as Nico to her.
Nico was sitting alone in his backyard holding a large pack of Gummy Bear in his arms. During these three days, Nico had always been alone.
Once aware of Aira's presence, the fragile-looking little Nico lifted her face. He simply followed each movement of Aira with his eyes. Then Aira sat down before him, looking at him with both sparkling eyes.
"Hay! I like Gummy Bear too. May I have?" Said Aira while occasionally glancing at Gummy Bear who was in the Nico's embrace.
Nico nodded slowly, then handed everything to Aira.
"Everything for Nana?"
Nico nodded again. The smile on Aira's face widened. He then reached out his tiny hand after previously thanking Nico.
"You didn't name me yesterday. I know Nana. Naira Star Kelana."
Before answering and replying to Aira's hand, Nico seemed to think for quite a while. Because Aira was very small at the time, she certainly did not understand the fear that was clearly drawn on Nico's pair of eyes. And Nico as well.
At that time, Aira only knew that this boy was very shy.
"Nico..." Nico answered cautiously while welcoming Aira's hand. He was afraid of being discovered, no matter by whom.
"It's okay. You can be honest with Nana. Nana likes an honest friend." Said Aira frankly. As said from the beginning, Nana knew for sure that Nico who was now in front of her, was not the Nico she had known all along.
Nico then smiled faintly. For a moment his fear can be a little dimmed. The doubt in his eyes slowly turned into courage. For the first time, he discovered his power.
"A—aku Alvin's. A—Alvin Dafandra."
To Be Continued...^^^
...Pict Bonus:...
Aira and Nico while jogging 🏃