We, From The First
#51. Truth or Dare
June, 2017...
Aira was making the final edits to her script in the campus library when suddenly as she raised her face, her eyes were fixed on Nico standing in front of the window and asking her to come out immediately.
Aira smile. Miraculously, all his fatigue was gone when he saw Nico. Aira then quickly tidied up the book and laptop and immediately walked out following Nico.
"Geez, Na. It must be heavy." Nico said anxiously as he took over the Aira bag that was slung on his shoulder. And sure enough, as soon as Nico held Aira's bag, it felt really heavy. Now Nico was thinking, how could such a straight body withstand such a heavy weight?
Aira immediately patted on her bed as soon as they arrived at Aira's apartment. When Aira was resting her tired body because since morning struggling with the revision, Nico painstakingly helped clean Aira's apartment and took the time to cook for Aira.
After the homework was done, Nico went to Aira's room and was able to see Aira who was sleeping comfortably. Nico approached and sat down on the side of the bed, right next to Aira.
"Na, let's eat first. I just cooked you soup." Nico murmured softly.
"Enghh... ten more minutes, huh, Nic?" Aira bellowed quietly with a hoarse voice. He also resumed his sleep. For some reason, today he felt more tired than usual.
Nico smiled understandably as he shook his head slowly. Without any intention of interrupting Aira's rest again, Nico's slow movements flattened her body beside Aira. He stuck out one of his arms and gently pulled Aira's head into it. Now Aira's head was already leaning against her chest. Afterwards, Nico pulled the blanket over and covered both of their bodies. Nico rubbed Aira's shoulder to make her feel more comfortable.
"I like this. It feels comfortable." Aira muttered, still with her hoarse voice.
Sometimes, there are some moments where Aira feels that her friendship with Nico feels so unreal. He feels like he is in a beautiful dream, and at times reality can ponder it. And as soon as he woke up, Nico wasn't next to him anymore. Imagining that, it was enough to make Aira feel extremely frightened.
Aira then tightened her embrace. While Nico, he immediately landed a warm kiss on the girl's forehead. Aira smiled in her sleep, along with that, Nico slowly closed her eyes.
For Aira, being in the arms of this young man was the best thing.
...****...
Since officially joining the national team a year ago, Rakha has been really busy. Not only busy with the affairs of the lecture, but he was also busy because he had to wara-wiri to one country to another nagara to do the match. The intensity of his encounters with his friends was greatly reduced.
But it was also that, which led Rakha to become a Top Star in the basketball arena. It has a huge fan base, and one country complains about it. However, the success he achieved did not immediately make him turn into a different figure. He is still Rakha who used to be for his friends, as well as for his Papa who is now starting to support him. Even though Rakha spent more time with her Mama, Arkha no longer minded.
Nico is focused on his studies. He along with Rio, Yumi, and Natta took the Informatics Tech Lecture. While Aira, he chose the Literature Lecture. While Bia was taking a Business course, Sheryl took a Fashion Design course.
The older they get, the more they find their own way, and struggle in their own way while still supporting each other.
As always, Nico, Aira, Yumi, Rio, Natta, Bia, and Sheryl will gather at the B-Cafe rooftop. They discuss many things, including memories of their High School years that never get bored for them to retell. But at tonight's meeting, they are suddenly struck by Rakha's arrival which is completely beyond their expectations.
"Because we're full members tonight, what if we play Truth or Dare?" Challenge Rio who instantly made all eyes point at him. Among those gazes, one disapproving look from Nico seemed to be radiant towards him. Rio did not care.
"OKAY! Let's play!" Imbuh Rakha is full of spirit.
He decided to put a glass bottle in the middle of the table.
"Who starts first, right?" He asked while twirling the bottle.
"Because you're holding on, you've already started." Natta gave me an idea.
Rakha nodded steadily and turned back around the bottle as soon as the game started. And shit! Aira was the first to get the question. One of Rakha's eyebrows is raised when he finds out he is on target.
"Naira Kelana's.... Why is Nico better than me?"
Rakha conveyed that somewhat awkward question quite calmly. It was as if he had no burden in his heart. However, another case for others who automatically feel uncomfortable after listening to Rakha's questions.
But again, it's just a game. Of course they should not take it as something serious. Departing from that, Aira who was awkward began to look able to control herself and answer Rakha's questions.
"Because you're not Nico." Answer Aira briefly. A moment later, he threw a smile at Rakha as well as at the others.
Aira glanced at Nico, then grabbed Nico's right hand and raised it before all of them. The thing that Aira did was, of course, to trigger a commotion in her group because the others were amused to see what Aira was doing. Rakha as well, he looks shudder. He seemed to regret having kept expectations that were too high on the figure of Aira who had always looked cool in his eyes. While Rio, he blatantly pretended as if he wanted to vomit in front of the two lovebirds.
The game continues, until Sheryl turns the bottle. The bottle that Sheryl turned, directly led to Yumi who automatically made Yumi aghast in shock.
"Yumi... during Rakha's friendship, have you ever fallen in love with our Top Star?" Sheryl asks Yumi while lightly embracing Rakha's shoulder.
Yumi's two eyes instantly widened to the maximum listening to the question Sheryl had just thrown. Until finally Yumi replied resignedly, "gue choose from!"
As if commanded, they all looked surprised to hear Yumi's answer, not least Rakha. Of course, if Yumi had never fallen in love with Rakha, she could have told her friends the truth without consideration. But Yumi's answer just now seems to confirm that it is true that she fell in love with Rakha, or at least once liked Rakha.
"Look at Rakha for a minute!"
This time it was the turn that Rio sounded giving 'dare' to Yumi. Yumi was surprised. Then he saw Rakha who was sitting sweetly right in front of him. Rakha looked at Yumi with a pretty mysterious eye.
"Let's do it now!" Rio's Word.
Yumi who did not want to feel cornered again due to her friends, immediately improved her position and prepared to continue the 'dare' given by Rio. Then on the count of three, Yumi and Rakha stared into each other's eyes accompanied by a countdown from Rio and Sheryl.
Rakha is not someone who is insensitive to friends he has known for half his life. Yumi's eyes on him had said everything very clearly and straightforwardly. However, Rakha did not know how to behave after this to Yumi.
Exactly one minute passed, Yumi became the first person to turn her gaze away. At the same time, Rakha sighed softly. Rakha was like he had just removed a stone that was pressing against his chest.
Yumi then turned the bottle following her turn. And as expected, the tip of the bottle was pointing at Rakha. Rakha did not show any reaction. His face looks so flat.
"Truth or Dare?" Asked Yumi confidently unsure.
...****...
Rakha and Yumi walked side by side without a word. After B-Cafe, they immediately went home together because their home was one way. Ever since the Truth or Dare game they had done earlier, the atmosphere between them had instantly turned awkward. Yumi realizes that she has expressed her feelings for Rakha indirectly earlier. And Yumi didn't want to dodge. It was time for Rakha to know about her heart.
As Yumi was about to enter the gate of her house, Rakha suddenly held her wrist to make the girl undo her intention to open the gate. He froze for a moment while looking at his hand which was already in Rakha's grasp.
"Yum?"
"Yes?"
Rakha did not answer. He just looked down and thought.
"Elo.. my best friend, right?" Rakha finally heard himself making a sound.
The question that Rakha had just thrown out suddenly turned into thousands of needles that pierced in Yumi's heart simultaneously. Of course he understood the meaning of the question. It's obvious, isn't it? Yumi's feelings clapped one hand.
And Yumi tried to accept the rejection with roomy chest and without drama.
As much as Yumi's energy trying to shine a smile on her face. He then slowly removed Rakha's grasp from her hand.
"obvious. Nothing will change that. We're friends."
Unthinkable to Yumi in the slightest, surprisingly, Rakha grabbed her body and held it tightly enough. The only thing Rakha was afraid of now was, her relationship with Yumi would change after this. While on the one hand, he never wanted to lose Yumi as his best friend for any reason.
"Sorry." Lirih Rakha.
"Hey, don't apologize. You make me feel so pathetic now."
"sorry. Sorry."
Yumi who had been heartened since the beginning raised her hands and patted Rakha's back like a friend.
"It's okay, Kha..." His word.
^^^To be Continued...^^^
...Pict Bonus:...
Rakha hugs Yumiđź’‘