We, From The First
#34. Broke
"There is no shortcut to happiness. Even a drama full of romance will not be able to avoid tears and wounds. Everything has to go through the deciduous phase in order to become whole."
...****...
While riding his motorcycle, Rakha hurriedly pulled over as soon as he saw the figure of Aira who was walking alone on the terotoar. Rakha then slowed down his speed until he could align with the steps of Aira who was walking gontai, as if he had no purpose. Today was still the same as the day before, he wanted to avoid Nico.
"Ra, let's go up!" Pinta Rakha is serious.
Aira turned her head to the side, instead of following Rakha's words, Aira kept stepping.
"Mira! You have to go up!" Rakha repeated more firmly.
When Aira did not want to hear it either, and considered it as if Rakha was invisible, Rakha began to care less. He turned off the motor for a moment before finally lifting Aira's body, raising it on the motor, then putting a helmet on his head. Aira who initially rebelled, after all could not do anything when Rakha took him away somewhere with his motorbike.
After driving for almost twenty minutes, they arrived at B-Cafe. While pulling Aira's wrist, Rakha took her up to the second floor and passed by Rio.
"Ra, elo here? Nico nyariin lo from earlier." Said Rio while staring in surprise at the two people.
"Don't say anything to Nico. Don't tell me we came here!" Rakha said as she continued walking without seeing Rio.
Rakha also brought Aira into a mini cinema that Rio functioned as a special place for himself, Rakha, Nico, and Natta. Once there, Rakha sat Aira down on the sofa and sat down to squat under her. Not only did she try to avoid Nico for these few days, but Aira also continued to avoid Rakha.
"Aira, you're beating me up, huh? What is happening now is not your fault. So you don't have to act like you're a criminal anymore."
Aira still refused to speak. But Rakha's words actually made her cry without cue. Slowly, his cries began to sound.
"Where could this not be my fault? I got Nico in trouble. Everyone's talking about Nico because of me, hiks..." Said Aira while sobbing sadly.
Rakha, who was running out of sense, finally used Aira's way on her to calm Aira down. Rakha raised her right hand, then closed both of Aira's eyes.
"Some say the same to me, if this way can calm even if only temporarily."
Seeing Aira constantly crying because she was more worried about Nico, made Rakha feel so bad. It turned out that it was painful to see the girl he liked very much, actually crying for others in front of his own face.
'If you can, I wish you would move a quarter of your feelings towards Nico for me, Ra. Until you don't have to be this sick.' Lirih Rakha in his heart while trying to quell the pain that hit his heart.
...****...
After waiting for Aira for hours, Nico finally saw the figure of Aira who appeared from behind the door. At that time, Nico waited for the arrival of Aira with a level of anxiety that was stronger than before. He even truant today just so he can meet Aira who disappeared almost all day.
Aira looked lethargic after returning. Both of his eyes were even puffy.
"Ra, where have you been all day? I've been looking for you since." Tegur Nico as he stepped closer to Aira.
Aira looked at Nico. His focus was immediately on the bruise on Nico's face. Fortunately, both of Nico's parents are not at home. So, they wouldn't worry about seeing Nico's current state, as well as his own.
"What is your injury? Is it okay?" Ask Aira.
Nico sighs. Why is this girl still worried about him when he himself is in trouble? He's even disappeared all day, and the only thing he's worried about is Nico's wound? That fact made Nico feel very angry.
"Ra, this doesn't matter now!"
"How can this not be important? You're hurt, Nico!" Aira replied with heightened emotions.
"You dodged me for two days, and didn't want to talk to me during school. That's trouble. And whenever there's a problem, you're always like this. This was twice, Ra! And this is worse. Today you even disappeared all day."
"Do we still have to talk in school after all this trouble? After I put you in trouble, do we still need to be seen together at school?"
"It's not your fault, Ra. That's why I need to get everything straight to you. I know you'll definitely blame yourself like this in the end."
Silent for a long time. How could everyone say that this was not Aira's fault when Aira felt that everything that happened was really her fault? Clearly mistake.
Right now, Aira's head was completely deadlocked. He could not think clearly for a second. He was afraid that if talks between him and Nico continued, he would spiral out of control. And Aira didn't want that to happen.
Aira exhaled slowly and then looked at Nico. He really had to stop this before they both exploded.
"I'll go to the room first." Disconnect Aira later.
He stepped up and climbed the stairs without energy. While Nico, he chooses not to prevent Aira. Maybe this is what Aira needs right now. And for a while as well, Nico didn't want to tease him just yet. He will give time for Aira to be able to calm down, until it is completely calm.
...****...
Nico was looking for a physics print book on one of the shelves in the library when suddenly his eyes caught Aira talking to Nana. Although from the sidelines of the book, Nico can see the face of Aira. In addition, Nico was also able to listen to the chatter of the two girls quite clearly from his current position.
"You must really like Nico, Ra. To the point that you worry more about him than yourself. Aye, right?"
"The answer is my question. You like Nico, right?"
Unknowingly, Nico put up his hearing as best he could this time. And the reaction on Aira's face somehow left Nico disappointed.
Aira then shook her head, and replied, "no, Na. I don't like Nico."
Within seconds, Nico felt like a thorny object had just struck his heart mercilessly. His disappointment is already. Everything was suddenly quiet and stuffy. Nico's listener senses are no longer able to carry out their duties properly.
Then, feeling devastated, Nico leaves the place quietly before finding the book he was looking for.
Nico has been broken.
...****...
As Aira was aloof in one corner of the library, Nana suddenly came and stood before her reading a book. Aira then turned her attention away from the book she was reading, then looked at Nana.
Nana smiled so gently. And no matter what kind of magic Nana had, her smile could always make anyone's heart feel at ease the moment she saw it.
Actually during these few days, Nana had always been observing Nico and Aira. He begins to realize that Aira is trying hard to avoid Nico. And Nico who had no other choice but to accept, could only resign.
Nana was able to capture all the unrest that was engulfing Nico at the moment. And as soon as she saw Aira who was alone, Nana thought that it was time to ask Aira something about Nico.
"Hay, Aira! How themselves?" Nana asked as soon as Aira raised her face.
"Emmm." Answer the Aira.
"Don't bother me if I'm here too?"
"No, Na."
Nana then faces the bookshelf, pretends to sort through, then picks up one of the books at random, and flips through it.
"I'm sorry before, I knew our relationship wasn't so close that I had to talk about this. But for these few days, I kept catching all of Nico's unrest. The focus is a mess. Nico has never lost focus."
"Then?"
"Please don't stay away from Nico again, will you?"
Aira lowered her head after hearing the last sentence Nana threw. Not long after, he looked back at Nana's eyes. As before, even today Aira's eyes look sad.
"I don't shun Nico because I hate him, Na. I just don't want Nico to get in trouble every time he picks me up. You know, right? Nico is a very nice guy. He doesn't deserve to be treated like this."
"You worried about Nico?"
Aira nodded in response to 'iya'.
"You must really like Nico, Ra. To the point that you worry more about him than yourself. Aye, right?"
Both of Aira's eyes were wide. Nana's statement just now was so confident and so powerful. He even delivered it so calmly. It was as if he knew everything Aira didn't know.
"The answer is my question. You like Nico, right?"
Inside there, Aira's heart was beating so fast. Nana's statements and questions were successful in destroying her defenses. Aira clasped her hands tightly. With difficulty, he tried to calm down so that his brain immediately worked and gave an answer to Nana.
Aira then shook her head, and replied, "no, Na. I don't like Nico."
"Ra?"
"Where can I like Nico after I've caused trouble for him? He has been living his life well. But since I got back, everything's been a mess. When his parents gave me a place to live and gave me a decent life, how could I like Nico? It was the most ungrateful act, Na."
Nana smiled a little. His eyes showed the relief of his heart. It was not because Aira said that she did not like Nico, but because Nana finally managed to find so sincere feelings overflowing from Aira to Nico.
Nana already knows what the answer is.
"It turns out you really like Nico, Ra."
To Be Continued...^^^