We, From The First
#44. Because It's You
"Mom Ningsih, Nana's home yet?"
Nico asked Bu Ningsih who was watering the plants when he arrived home. Nico's face looked very anxious. Many times he tried to call Aira, but there was no answer. Nico also sent him a text message and asked for his whereabouts, but Nico still did not get a reply.
"Yet. Mba Nana hasn't come home yet." Ms. Ningsih replied while stopping her activities for a moment.
With anxiety growing, Nico entered his room. This time, he tries to contact Yumi, Bia, and Sheryl, just in case they are with Aira, or at least they know where Aira is. But just like before, the results are nil.
Even so, Nico did not want to give up. A moment later, he tried to call Rakha as he remembered that Rakha had left in a hurry after he read a text message he had received near Nico. Nico's current provisional assumption; aira is with Rakha.
But again, Rakha also could not be contacted. He continues to reject calls from Nico.
Nico sat on one side of his bed thinking. He folded one of his hands on his stomach, the other hand, he used to support his chin. When he does not get a single enlightenment regarding Aira, Nico immediately grabbed his jacket and without thinking long out of the house to find Aira.
...****...
"WHAT?" Pekik Yumi and Sheryl simultaneously after hearing the announcement from Rio and Bia that they have officially dated since two weeks ago.
As usual, they gathered in their bascamp. The Coffee Shop Rio.
While Yumi and Sheryl look so surprised, Natta just looks ordinary.
What happens next is, Yumi and Sheryl continue to ask for explanations from Bia as detailed as possible. They wanted to make sure that Bia would not miss a single thing. They need the full story right now.
"So so..." Said Bia ending his explanation with a red face. The unusual sight of a Bia is what makes them all crazy, not least Natta who has always looked like a herd.
"Whatever it is, even though we're very late, congratulations!" Yumi said with a facial expression that still holds a little disappointment.
"Thank you, Yumi kuuu..." Bia answered while hugging Yumi.
Not long after, Nico suddenly came up with a tangled face. He even wears his school uniform.
"Nico, you know what? Rio's the same Bia." Sheryl said enthusiastically as Nico walked up to them. But Nico did not press Sheryl at all.
"Didn't Aira come by here?" Ask Nico, I don't know who will answer.
"Aira hasn't seen you yet?" Yumi asked back, which Nico answered with a slab.
"The number hasn't been active until now either." Nico said without being able to hide his anxiety and uneasiness.
Then he spread his eyes. After realizing that Rakha was also not there, his assumptions became even stronger.
"Where's Rakha?"
"Eitherway. He's also been hard to contact since." This time Rio answered.
"You mean Rakha isn't here either?" Nico's tone of voice began to rise without him noticing.
Rio looked at Nico in surprise, then put his two shoulders together.
"Why? What's wrong with me?"
Rakha's words suddenly appeared right behind Nico. Everything automatically gazed towards Rakha who at that moment looked very leisurely walking towards them. With a face that was no less casual, Rakha stood beside Nico and looked at him calmly.
"Are you the same Aira?" Ask Nico.
Rakha nodded steadily then replied briefly, "yes."
"Where is Aira now?"
Without saying anything more, after hearing Rakha's final reply, Nico immediately turned around and walked half-run to immediately meet Aira at home. His worry now was no longer in control.
Rakha stared at Nico's back nanar who started to disappear behind the door. The next second, he smiled bitterly. His memories rolled back at the moment of his farewell with Aira two hours ago...
...****...
2 Hours ago...
Rakha told me about the conversation that happened between her and her mother a moment ago to Aira. Rakha told me everything without holding anything back. And that thing Rakha did, miraculously made her heart calm. Despite having to tell Aira her deepest injuries, not a single bit of Rakha felt frightened. Instead, he gained a power.
"It hurts even more, when today I finally know, if the reason Papa and Mama separated, just because Papa misunderstood. And all this time, I've been living by hating Mama without knowing the real story."
Aira did not say a word, and only allowed Rakha to vent all her emotions that had been held back for so many years.
"As long as Mama's gone, I've lived under Papa's constant pressure to make me the best I can be. I endured it all, knowing that all of Papa's ambitions were an outlet for her pain."
After Rakha ended the story, Aira then gently rubbed Rakha's shoulder in hopes, Rakha can become calmer and will feel better afterwards.
"And soon Mama will be back in New York." For this one, Rakha could no longer hold back the pace of her tears.
He looked at Aira with a smile on his face, but deep inside, Aira knew that Rakha was very hurt right now. The fact that he had to part with his mother again after he knew the truth, had of course brought all his wounds to life.
"Thank you, Ra? Thanks for helping me out so much today. Thanks, too, for listening to my stories."
"Together, Kha. I also know, that this must not be an easy thing for you to tell me everything."
"Therefore you are, Ra. That's why things just feel so much easier."
Aira simply replied with a smile.
"Well, I'm anterin home, yuk!"
Aira took one step back when she heard Rakha's last words. He lowered his face, and unhappily said to Rakha, "I'm going home by myself, okay?"
"But, Ra..."
"Please..." Said Aira in a pleading tone. This time he dared himself to raise his face and look directly at Rakha's eyes.
And Rakha knew that Nico was the reason for all of Aira's rejection of her. During this time, Rakha always pretended to be stupid and chose not to want to know. For the next time, Rakha was determined to keep acting that way. But for today, it seems like Rakha has to give up. Aira had even begged him. Rakha would not have the heart to refuse his request.
With a heavy heart, Rakha nodded. But as soon as Aira stepped away, Rakha immediately chased after her and stood right in front of her.
"Wait a minute, Ra..."
"Why?"
Rakha then opened her bag and took out a gift box from inside.
"This is your birthday present. From yesterday I wanted to give you this, but I forgot to keep going. Sorry."
Nah! Rakha did not forget. How could Rakha forget the most important part for this girl? Merely, Rakha could not say that since yesterday, her courage had suddenly shrunk in front of Aira after Aira rejected her feelings for the second time.
Aira received a gift from Rakha with a smile.
"Thank you, Kha." Aira muttered while showing the gift in front of Rakha.
^^^To be Continued...^^^