We, From The First
#48's chat. Return to Banu Island

"We have entered one door, and have reached a new chapter. In this section, I want to erase all your bad memories with no residuals, to make you forget that you were ever hurt..."

...****...

"Ma, Pa. when I go to college, Iel will live alone."

Natta said to his parents as they enjoyed their breakfast together. Hearing the words that had just slid from his youngest child, both Hadinata and Aristy simultaneously stared at Natta with questioning looks.

"Of course you should stay with your brother." Aristy replied as she looked directly at Natta's eyes.

"No. Iel won't be studying in Germany with Bang Ian. Iel's going to college here, and live alone."

"What are you trying to say, Yel?" Hadinata asked with a raised voice.

"What is my lack of clarity? I will not be studying in Germany. I want to go to college here and live alone." Natta repeated with some emphasis while boldly looking back at his Papa quite loudly.

Seeing Natta's angry face, Hadinata tried to lower her emotions and try to understand with the wounds that Natta still feels today.

"Iel, don't speak with a high tone to your Papa." Aristy warned quite loudly.

"Then, what do you expect from Iel?" Natta asked with watery eyes.

His heartache has not been treated. Should her parents act like this to her? Moments later, Natta got up from his chair and looked at his parents in turn.

"Whatever Mama Papa wants from Iel now, Iel can't fulfill it anymore. For just this once, Iel will determine Iel's own way of life."

This time Natta's eyes stopped on his father. With a tremor he tried to resist, Natta again said, "Iel is sick of being a submissive child if finally Iel's trust is betrayed."

...****...

After leaving his house, Natta immediately went to B-Cafe and was alone in a mini cinema. There, Natta watched a movie called 'Finding Neverland'. It was his family's favorite movie they watched every year. But unlike previous years, at the end of 2012 yesterday, they did not watch the film simultaneously.

Not long after, Sheryl suddenly arrived. Slowly he sat down by Natta's side and looked at his face from the side. Just a moment ago, Natta contacted her and asked her to meet him immediately at B-Cafe. Sheryl, who already has a feeling that something is happening to Natta, goes to Natta without asking him anything.

Natta looked to the side. After finding Sheryl by his side, Natta immediately smiled. He then clasped one of Sheryl's hands and put his head on Sheryl's shoulder. It felt so comfortable that Natta closed his eyes. Although for a moment, when he was beside this girl, Natta could always forget all the problems.

...****...

May, 2013

The final exam was completed a week ago. Now, the students of Patuh Karya High School are just waiting for their graduation announcement while preparing for the college entrance exam that is their dream.

Too busy with their respective affairs, Nico and Aira, who usually have a lot of time to gather with their friends, are now rarely seen together. But even so, they still contact each other through their chat groups that are always crowded with their insanity. There are always stories they can share with each other.

"Nika, I..."

Call Adryan when he and Regina just got off the second floor, then took a position in front of Nico and Aira who were sitting on the sofa in the living room while fun to read a comic.

Hearing the call, automatically Nico and Aira immediately lifted their faces from the comic book they had been chasing, then looked at Adryan and Regina who put on a serious face mimic.

"Late Sunday, we're going to Banu Island, huh? It's the second anniversary of Nana's parents' death. We'll visit their graves together." Adryan.

The smile on Aira's face slowly faded away. Yeah, he just remembered. It's May. Exactly two years ago, both of his parents had to die before him in an accident that Aira had never thought of before.

Aira's hand suddenly lost its strength, until it fell just above her thighs. Nico who witnessed the change in Aira's attitude, had absolutely no idea what to say. After all, Nico would never understand the pain that Aira had suffered over the past two years. Nico might be a tranquilizer for Aira, but he will never really be able to understand the loss that Aira is experiencing.

In the afternoon, Nico saw Aira who was alone in the back porch hugging a teddy bear given by Nico. Nico was silent for a while, and watched Aira from behind the glass door.

Ever since her Mom Papa reminded her that this was May, Aira started to look moody. The thick fog that Nico had once managed to catch on his face, now covered it up again. Nico sighed softly. While thinking, it was enough that he left Aira alone in his thoughts. Now it was time for Nico to approach him.

Nico then stepped over to get to him.

"Ma?" Call Nico slowly.

"Eh, Nico? Are you here too?"

"You want to tell me the same story?"

Aira did not immediately agree. He simply smiled, then lowered his gaze with his two fragile-looking shoulders. There were many stuck in Aira's chest now. There were many things that he could never tell the whole world, even though he wanted to.

Nico sits just below Aira. He slightly tilted his head in order to see Aira's face clearly. At that time Nico knew that Aira was trying hard to hold back her tears.

"Sin'ana?"

"Of so many people, why should I, Nic? Of all the people, why my parents? What are we wrong?"

'We are wrong?', that's one question that has haunted Aira's mind, day and night, in every breath. But despite asking herself many times, Aira still did not know the answer and instead made her even more tormented.

"If that day the car we were riding in wasn't just hit, my parents would still be alive. Even my sister, who is still in the womb, had to give up her life before she was born. What's wrong, Nic? I had to lose them all overnight. Right here, Nic. It hurts so much." Lirih Aira pointed at her chest with a heart-wrenching voice.

Aira now lifted her face and looked at Nico who was sitting below her. While Nico, he was still staring at Aira softly. If he could, it felt like he wanted all the pain and burden that Aira was currently bearing, to be transferred entirely to him.

In his heart, Nico already had a determination. He will take away all the pain that Aira suffered during these two years. And she will make Aira the happiest girl, to make her forget that the wound ever existed.

In silence, Nico promised solemnly.

Nico's right hand then lifted, then landed on top of Aira's head. Gently Nico rubbed it, hoping that Aira's feelings could improve a bit afterwards.

"All this is not your fault, Na. You didn't do anything wrong." Nico.

"Keep, why should I be punished so severely? If I'm not wrong, why would that person take both my parents and my sister? Or why, that person didn't kill me? Why should I let me live alone, ke—"

Unfinished, Nico quickly sat down next to him, then pulled Aira into his arms. Nico then hugged Aira tightly, and said in a half-snouted tone, "sstt! Don't say anything else, Na. Don't ever regret that you feel alone, I'm here."

Aira hugged Nico back and cried so much in the young man's arms.

'I am grateful that you are alive, Na...' Lirih Nico in his heart while closing his eyes.

Until here Nico hopes, hopefully Aira can feel all her feelings that continue to flow endlessly.

...****...

Saturday afternoon, Nico and Aira along with both Nico's parents flew to Banu Island. They plan to stay there for three days, and will return on Monday morning. The time had already shown at seven in the evening when they arrived at Banu Island. There, they will stay at a penthouse owned by Nico's parents.

Once on Banu Island, Aira could not hide his happiness, although a few days ago he had felt down. After a year passed, he finally returned again to Banu Island. Even more so now, he could return to that place with Nico. For Aira, there was nothing happier than that.

"So, Brother Calvien Nicolas, how do you feel after returning to Banu Island after six years have passed?" Aira asked as she stuck out her clenched hand in front of Nico, as if her hand was a microphone.

Aira suddenly acted like a reporter. That thing, Kontan just invited Nico's laughter.

Ahhe... This girl! Just yesterday he looked so sad because he remembered the death of his parents, but now he has got his cheer again. Think Nico.

"Answer Brother Calvien Nicolas! Why are you laughing?"

And tomorrow morning, they went to visit the graves of the two Aira's parents. Aira carried a bouquet of baby breath flowers, and langusng placed them on top of the tomb. Aira sat on one side of her parents' grave with Nico, as well as Adryan and Regina sitting on the other side.

"Mom, Daddy... Nana's coming. Sorry, because Nana hasn't been visiting for too long."

...****...

As he passed through his Papa's study and saw his wide-open door, something from within him that Rakha did not understand suddenly pushed him beyond his consciousness, he stepped on his feet and entered his Papa's office which he had never entered. Once inside, Rakha circled her gaze across the room and found a photo of herself with Ranha as a toddler in a figura that perched sweetly on the table. Rakha held up the picture, then smiled as she looked at the portrait with her sister.

"Sir Rakha! Dinner is ready."

The call from Ranha, instantly made Rakha gasp. He put the figura back in its place.

"Yes, Rakha's going there." Answer then.

When Rakha turned around, her hand accidentally shifted an agenda book until it fell to the floor. Inevitably, Rakha finally cleared up the small mess she had just made so as not to be caught by her Papa. Rakha sat down and took the book. However, a piece of photo that poked out from inside the book suddenly caught Rakha's attention and sparked her curiosity.

Rakha then pulled the picture slowly. As soon as he saw his Papa posing with someone he did not know in the photo, Rakha's face automatically frowned. He did not know the man at all, but why his face was not unfamiliar in Rakha's vision. Rakha then flipped the photo, and found a writing that contained:

'Banu, April 13, 2008, with Bimantara Danadyaksa.'

"Bimantara Danadyaksa?"

After reading the name, Rakha actually felt increasingly foreign. He never knew before that his father had a friend named Bimantara Danadyaksa on Banu Island. And the date shown in the photo, coincides with the date of the Basketball tournament he attended with his mother. On that very date, he first met Aira.

That extremely unfamiliar face, suddenly reminded him of someone he was very familiar with.

"Why is this so similar to Nico?"

...****...

After from the graves of Aira's parents, Nico asked permission for Mama and her Papa to take Aira for a walk alone with him. Aira was able to become a tour guide for Nico in case Nico later forgot the direction. After getting permission, they begin their journey to their old school.

To make their trip today, Nico drives a yellow scooter and hugs Aira behind him. The clothes they used seemed to be in harmony without them planning as usual. Nico looked relaxed using a plain white oversize T-Shirt. He put the bottom of his shirt in his pants. While Aira, she looks quite casual with a white floral dress that covers up to her knees. And to cover her open arms, Aira uses a blue cropped cardigan that matches the color of the jeans that Nico wears.

The scooter that Nico was riding on, split the road in front of him. While right next to them, their eyes were spoiled by the sight of a stretch of blue ocean that looked extremely beautiful.

After a brief nostalgia in their old school, Nico and Aira go to a tavern in front of their school. In the past, they often went to the store to buy fried bread which has always been their favorite snack.

"What's that about?" Nico asked Aira who was busy chewing her bread.

"Chocolate contents. Wanna try?" Aira then stuck out the bread right in front of Nico's mouth, getting ready to feed him. Nico then took a bribe from Aira, and chewed it slowly.

"Where? Like?"

Nico just nodded. "Would you try the beans?"

This time it was Nico's turn to feed Aira who was immediately taken for granted by Aira.

"It's better that chocolate." Seloroh Aira while laughing softly.

Attentionally, Nico rubbed the edge of Aira's lips that were smudged because of being exposed to chocolate. Accepting Nico's treatment, Aira just looks ordinary. He's getting used to it. After all, this was not the first time Nico had done such things to her.

"Slowly eat, Ra. No one will take it from you."

Aira did not care, and still chewed her food at the same speed. Nico could only shake his head when he saw the girl's childish side that was beginning to recur.

The time had gone up in the afternoon, when Aira invited Nico to go to a large canola flower field. They stepped on the trail while enjoying the afternoon view. The twilight sunlight that hit the yellowish canola flowers makes the atmosphere feel warm.

After feeling tired, Aira also invited Nico to pull over. Aira then sat on a long bench on the edge of the field, while Nico, he preferred to sit on a wooden guardrail. Their positions face each other.

"I just found out that in Banu Island there is a place as beautiful as this." Nico said as he spread his eyes.

Aira smiled a little. He who had looked so excited was suddenly silent. That, of course, raises a question mark in Nico's mind.

"Ra, how come it's diem? You're tired, aren't you?"

Instead of answering Nico, Aira's thoughts drifted away at the moment Nico's feelings expressed months ago as they enjoyed the new year's holiday. At that moment, Aira realized that he did not give a decent enough answer to Nico. And the fact that Nico understood her so much without asking much questions made Aira even more guilty.

In his heart, Aira thought that this was the right time for him to express his feelings that he had been pending very neatly for Nico. Nico probably already knows that Aira has the same taste as he feels. But according to Aira, Nico has the right to listen directly from him.

"Nic?"

"Hm?"

"Inget, right? On my birthday, and when we're on our new year's vacation, you're perfect for the feeling. Now, it's my turn, shall you?" Aira raised her face. But at the same time, Nico looked down with a small smile on his face. His feelings suddenly felt warm.

"As long as you're gone, there's never been a day since you left I haven't thought of you. I always miss you. But, it's not an easy thing for me to bring feelings to you after putting you in trouble. You know that, right?"

Nico did not reply and just nodded slowly.

"Nic, I'll take my turn now. It's my turn to make feelings for you real."

Nico looked forward to full anticipation. He then lifted his face, and returned the gaze of Aira's eyes that seemed to hit his heart.

Aira sighed for a moment, two seconds later, with great courage she said, "I like you, Nico. I really like you. Sorry, it's too late to say this."

Nico smiled with relief. If he could, it felt like he wanted to run right now and surround that flower field while shouting. But finally, Nico was only able to reply with a smile that was so wide. While the entire cell in his body, was already cheering with excitement.

"Nic, why are you silent now?"

Nico then got off the guardrail. Simultaneously, all the small lights in the field started to light up. Then with a definite step, Nico approached Aira. He then lowered his head while bending his hands above his knees in order to see his girl's face clearly. As Aira stared at Nico's face in such a close distance, she seemed to be able to see the aura of happiness emanating clearly from her pair of eyes.

"Now it's my turn to give an answer.." said Nico softly with a smile that did not want to fade from his face.

Aira automatically stood up, and she quite snapped when Nico suddenly grabbed her slender waist and rewarded her with a gentle yet quite bold kiss on her lips. When he felt Aira's body goosebumps because he was not ready, Nico got closer and closer to him. Soon enough, Aira could feel her hands raised and she rested on Nico's chest.

All the turmoil that has been held back, spilled already.

Aira was able to breathe properly when Nico finally let go of their link. After that, Nico went back to tracing every inch of Aira's face in awe. He did not even think that today Aira had officially become his. Then again, Nico kissed one of Aira's eyes that were still closed.

"Hey, look at my eyes..." Lirih Nico softly as Aira did not also look into his eyes.

But Aira shook her head. He was too embarrassed to just lift his face now.

Nico was heard chuckling before finally pulling Aira back into his arms. Realizing that Aira was very nervous, Nico stroked her shoulders gently.

Without being able to take out a word, Aira further drowned her face in Nico's embrace.

"Thank you for liking me, Nana."

To Be Continued...^^^