We, From The First
#33. Conflicts

While walking in the school corridor, Aira somehow felt that the atmosphere was very different from usual. All his schoolmates looked towards him with judgmental gazes, they also blatantly whispered in front of Aira. Aira who did not understand what was going on now, decided not to bother and still think positive. Aira continued her steps unburdened towards her class.

But once he arrived at the classroom, the same atmosphere as in the corridor was again felt. This time it was stronger. Faintly Aira could hear the voices of her classmates whispering to each other talking about her.

'He lived in Nico's house?'

'Aaah, so because of him Nico and Nana broke up? Nana kasian too, huh?'

'Kasian Rakha too. Rakha, right, has a heavy crush on Aira.'

'Yes, Nico deserves to have Nana break up then! The guys live with each other.'

'Think they ever did anything, huh? Papa Mama Nico is rarely at home. There is no way you can never say that until Nana mutusin Nico!'

'Ooh? Apparently an orphan's'

Aira who had seemed calm since then, now began to look worried. He could no longer control himself when he heard people talking about him. And the peak, when suddenly one of them said something that seemed to blame and demean Nico.

Aira can still hold anything back, but not if people start talking about Nico.

'Nico diem-diem so it turns out player, huh?'

When Aira was about to argue with them, Yumi suddenly came out of nowhere and took Aira out of the classroom.

"Follow me now!" Yumi said coldly.

...****...

Upon seeing Nico about to enter her class, Rakha just walked up to her and dragged her to the school's indoor court. Upon arriving there, Rakha immediately landed a punch that was quite hard on Nico's face. Nico who still did not know what happened, immediately looked at Rakha sharply.

"Rakha, what the fuck?"

"I said, right, same to be careful! Now look what happened!" Rakha said with a tone full of emotion.

"What do you mean, Kha?"

Feeling that Nico really doesn't know what's going on, Rakha immediately shows Nico his phone. Nico immediately takes over the phone, and he is immediately surprised to see a message from an anonymous sender in a class chat group that reveals that Aira has been living in his house.

The anonymous sender even included a photo as proof. The photo was taken when Nico and Aira came out of the house to work out in the morning. There is also a photo of Nico holding Aira on his back last night. In addition, the evidence was stronger when the anonymous sender also uploaded a photo of Nico and Aira student cards that had the same address description. Others responded with a variety of comments. Some say that it could have been because Aira, Nico and Nana broke up, some also assume that Nico and Aira were married because they were betrothed, and all comments for the sake of original comments and do not wear anything else.

Everyone suddenly sympathized with Nana, and chided Aira.

"Now you already know why I want to keep alert? I don't want these things to happen to Aira or Elo. And just so you know, Aira means a lot to me. I wouldn't accept that Aira would have to face a situation like this just because you're stubborn."

Nico was silent. Trying to digest all these situations even though it is difficult.

"Lo said you'd handle it, right? Now how do you handle all this?" Rakha. The anger has surrounded him

Nico who was in a state of blank suddenly passed from before Rakha without any intention of giving any defense. The only thing that came to his head right now, he had to immediately go to Aira and ask if she was okay.

But just a few steps Nico left him, Rakha immediately held Nico's shoulder, and for the second time landed a blow on Nico's face. Even in times like these, Nico is still petrified. Think Rakha.

"If you keep this stubbornness, you'll never be able to protect anyone, Nico."

...****...

Aira looked at her friends one by one after she said everything honestly. Bia who had seemed most disappointed because she felt unregarded, now looked soft. He just found out, that Aira turned out to have a life story that is quite heavy and sad.

Bia then hugged Aira who was still bowing her face. It was followed by Yumi and Sheryl.

"Gue will definitely find out who spread it to the group chat, Ra." Yumi said in earnest.

Hearing Yumi's words, Aira immediately released her embrace from her friends. He looked at Yumi and shook his head, "no, Yum! What's in the group is really. There's nothing we can do now. All of this will pass by itself. As time goes on, people are going to eat this."

"But the people thought that Elo caused Nico to break up, Ra. They all even accuse you of being non-non-existent. We can't afford it." Bia.

"They don't even know the real story, but they just keep mojokin lo." Sheryl then.

"What I'm most worried about now is Nico. I'm afraid people will think nothing of Nico. Nico has been so good with me. But right now, I'm getting Nico into trouble." Aira complained in the end.

"But I fear Nico the most."

Sheryl seems to think. From how Aira worried Nico so much now, Sheryl was able to draw a conclusion. Not to mention now that he already knew, that Aira and Nico had a past together. But he was not so sure considering Aira was very difficult to guess.

"Ra, do you like Nico?" Sheryl asked in the end to ascertain whether the conclusion she drew was correct or not.

Yumi who had just listened to Sheryl's question suddenly felt like something was blowing inside her. If Aira really likes Nico, she is afraid that Rakha might be heartbroken for a long time.

Aira was silent for a moment. For the first time, someone finally asked about his feelings for Nico. Aira wasn't so sure. But as soon as he returned and found out that Nico was already with someone else, he felt his heart ache.

Then when both his parents died and Nico's parents asked him to stay with them, there was a happy feeling that he felt because he could finally meet Nico again after a long time.

Then when Nico steals his first kiss one night, Aira feels very grateful because that person is Nico.

He always missed Nico. Even when Nico was next to her, she still missed him. Never for a second did he go through without thinking about Nico for so many years Nico disappeared from his sight. Nico has always been his first love, and his only source of happiness. Get here, then how should he share his feelings for Nico?

Aira nodded uncertainly. Then without looking at his friends, he replied, "i don't know."

...****...

Just like Aira earlier, as soon as she entered the corridor, Nana heard and saw her friends talking about Aira. Previously, Nana had also seen messages from anonymous senders in group chats. Feeling her name being dragged into a whirlpool of trouble, Nana feels the need to straighten out what really happened. He also could not stand if everyone continued to talk about Nico and Aira.

Nana is also one of the people who knows Aira's past. That was why he felt so bothered by these kinds of things.

Nana then approached a group of people who were openly talking about the matter when Aira and his friends suddenly passed by them. Yumi was about to speak up, but Nana was going to get ahead of her.

"What did you say? Did Nico break up because of Aira? What right do you have to judge the decision I made with Nico? Aira's not why I broke up with Nico. And I knew from the beginning that Aira lived in Nico's house."

This time they all fell silent. The atmosphere of the corridor that had since been boisterous, suddenly quiet. Nana deliberately raised the volume of her voice for everyone to hear. Nico, who was also going down the stairs with Rio, stopped in the middle and listened to what was going on down there.

"You don't know the real story about Aira, but you all keep raving like you know it all. And remember this, Aira's not the one you guys can pick up. Aira also never cheated on you, or hid anything from you, why did you act like a deceived victim?"

The silent atmosphere again broke. They were whispering to each other again, some of them were ashamed of what they had done to Aira. The rest of them just remained silent. Nana's words just now, completely subverted them in a single blow.

When everything had dispersed, Nana immediately approached Aira. He looked at Aira attentively but also anxiously, "Ra, are you okay?"

Aira shook her head as the answer.

"Na, thank you for straightening this out." Said later.

Nana smiled and replied, "they're dragging my name, Ra. And I can't stand that."

Nana then patted Aira softly on the shoulder to give her strength. A moment later, Nana passed from before Aira. And when he was about to climb the stairs, he was a little surprised because Nico was already standing there accompanied by Rio.

Actually Nana was worried to see the wound on Nico's face. But he understands his capacity now. He no longer wants to go beyond the limits. After all he knew right, who was in Nico's heart right now. And Nana didn't want to act like she didn't know anything.

Nana once again smiled, and resumed her steps that had stopped. This time, Nico's attention was on Aira who was looking at him with a look that was no less anxious than Nana. Seeing the wound on Nico's face, Aira somehow felt her heart ache.

"Ra, you're fine, right?" Nico asked as he approached Aira. He did not care at all about the trouble that had just befallen them. All he thought about now was Aira's condition after the matter had spread.

"I'm fine" Aira said in a voice that sounded raucous.

Aira then turned her attention to Rio who was standing not far from their current position. Aira then said, "Yo, please take Nico to the infirmary, will you?"

After that, Aira passes from the presence of Nico followed by Yumi, Sheryl, and Bia. Actually Aira really wants to treat Nico's wounds. He was really worried about her dying half now, but their current condition was not allowing them to be seen together too often. Aira intends to keep a distance from Nico from today so that Nico is no longer involved in problems because of him.

But Aira never realized that her intentions would hurt Nico in later days.

And Aira really proved it. He began to stay away from Nico, and as much as possible try not to be seen in Nico's view. Although it was difficult to do it at home, at least while at school, Aira had to try as much as possible.

As soon as the sign bell came ringing, Nico hurried to Aira's class. But upon arrival, the students from Aira's class had left five minutes earlier. Nico immediately walked out of the school building. There instead of finding Aira, he meets Rakha who just got out of the parking lot.

Rakha, who was still angry at Nico, chose not to reprimand Nico at all and just passed him by.

Nico resigned. After all, he was guilty of not pestering Rakha's worries before. It was only natural that Rakha was now furious at him.

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