We, From The First
#55. Wedding Plan

"Sooner or later, Nico will know the truth as well. So, please stop blaming yourself, Ma. It's time." Adryan.

For the past week, Adryan has been catching his wife's unrest ever since Nico learned of a secret they've been hiding. From that day on, not a day did Regina live in such tranquility as she had been on her path for the past sixteen years.

"Nico loves Nana very much, Pa. Although Nico didn't say it, Mama knows that losing Nana is Nico's biggest fear now."

"Then, do you think that Nana will leave Nico knowing the truth?"

"Nana may not leave Nico, but forever Nana will continue to live with her disappointment. And perhaps, every time he saw Nico's face, he would always be reminded of the killer who killed his parents. The only way left is, by keeping this secret from Nana. He knows who killed his parents, but he must not know that the killer is Papa Kandungnya Nico, Nana also must not know, that actually Bimantara was wrong target that night. But the biggest problem is, Nico will never want to live happily while hiding the truth from Nana. "

"Then —" Adryan hung up his sentence.

His heart felt heavy to convey his thoughts now, but for now, they really did not have a middle ground of the problems that were currently entangling them.

This is the only way Adryan can think of.

"Let's marry Nico to Nana when they graduate. After that, we send them abroad to continue school. They will also live their lives there, away from everything that might be the cause of Nana knowing the truth. If they live alone in the midst of people who do not know who they are, Nico will quickly give up this truth. "

"Pa... "

"Papa wanted to do this not simply because he wanted to hide the truth from Nana. But Papa wants to protect Nana's happiness. That'sthat's all. And Papa is sure, Aldy and Shania will agree this way. Because for sure, Aldy and Shania want to see Nana live happily without bringing back her pain."

Nico, who had been standing in front of his parents' room for a while, heard all the talk without exception.

And Nico almost faltered when his father talked about the wedding plans.

Before this, Nico already had the desire to take Aira away, and live life alone with Aira. But in the end, Nico had many considerations that he could not simply ignore.

If Nico followed his Papa's plan, it would certainly not be fair to Aira. And forever Aira will only live in a lie with Nico— Nico who she always believed in.

Nico then sighed deeply, trying to fill his chest cavity that felt empty.

In the end, Nico already had his own decision.

...****...

Aira came out of the thesis courtroom while cheering in excitement. Yumi, Sheryl, and Bia are waiting for her with flowers and dolls.

Seeing Aira who looked so happy after coming out of the courtroom, of course her friends immediately knew what the result was. Then without wasting any more time, Yumi, Sheryl, and Bia immediately charged towards Aira with a hug.

Not long after, Natta came with Rio and also congratulated Aira for successfully going through the thesis session with satisfactory results. They also congratulated her, as Aira became the first person to successfully complete her script among all of them.

Rakha who was in the dormitory even made a video call with Aira to congratulate her.

But among his companions, there was no presence of Nico, the one whom Aira expected the most.

For the past month, Nico barely had time for Aira. Aira actually knew that Nico was busy working on the script, but even so, Aira had felt a change in Nico since the day she met her Papa on Banu Island.

Even today, Nico still has not told about his meeting with his father some time ago.

During this period of time, Aira kept trying to hold back, waiting until Nico would open up and tell her.

Aira instills in herself that Nico is in her hardest time right now, and she does not want to add to Nico's burden of mind by whining.

"Hello, Nic? What else?" Aira asked Nico over the phone.

After coming from college, Aira went straight to her apartment. He refused to invite his friends to celebrate his graduation at B-Cafe. For Aira, in the absence of Nico, the celebration was not important at all.

"I just got back from the library. How was the trial? Smoothly?"

"Hm..." Aira replied with a murmur while lowering her head, trying to endure the pain in her eyes.

Aira did not immediately reply until it triggered silence within a few seconds.

"Na, you're okay, right?" Nico's voice is heard.

"Nico?"

"Yes, Nana?"

"I want to see you." Answer Aira with a sigh. Her voice raspy.

That answer, sounds more like a plea.

...****...

Aira ran as she saw the figure of Nico she missed standing waiting for her in front of her apartment building. Her tears were no longer broken. And as soon as he arrived in front of Nico, Nico immediately grabbed the girl into his arms. Letting Aira spill out all the overflows of feelings that during this one month tormented her slowly.

"Sorry, yeah." Nico whispered while gently rubbing Aira's long hair, then landed a light kiss on the top of his head.

In recent times, Nico has often apologized to Aira for never really being able to be next to him as he has done for the past four years. Nico consciously avoided Aira for not being able to see her face. The thesis work is just the excuse Nico used in front of Aira. Some time ago, Nico even deliberately stopped working on his script to avoid the test.

Things get tougher for Nico, when the sincerity that Aira showered on him actually makes his guilt and sense of unworthiness increasingly dominate him. Every time Aira smiled at him, Nico felt his heart being torn apart.

"Stop apologizing, and please don't stay away from me, Nic. You can be busy doing thesis work all day, and I will wait beside you all day without complaint. And if you don't want to tell me about your Papa, I won't be a problem either. But please, don't be away from me. Let me always be on your deck."

Nico didn't say anything. But Aira could feel Nico's embrace growing tighter in her body.

Unbeknownst to Aira, Nico half-deadly tried to hold back his cries from breaking again in front of Aira.

...****...

"Congratulations, yes, Na, it's successfully passed." Regina said to Aira when Aira had just arrived home with Nico.

Apparently, Regina had prepared a welcome for Aira who today successfully passed the thesis exam. Regina even cooked all her own meals after specifically making time for Aira.

"Thank you, Auntie." Answer Aira.

Not long after, Adryan came down from the second floor and congratulated Aira. After that, they also enjoy dinner that they have not done together for a long time because of their respective activities.

During the dinner, Regina's attention could not be separated from Nico who was the only one who did not look to enjoy their togetherness that night. Regina realized that Nico's mind was not being fused with her body at the time. Regina, however, cursed him.

Regina knows that Nico's position is the hardest right now.

Regina then looked at Adryan beside her, as if giving a sign that it was time to convey their plans to Nico and Aira. A moment later, Adryan nodded once he understood the sign his wife had thrown.

"Nika, I..." Call Adryan carefully

Simultaneously, Nico and Aira who were sitting next to each other immediately stared at Adryan. From his Papa's reaction now, Nico could already guess what he was going to say.

"Over these four years, we've noticed you've been close enough. You also seem to be dependent on each other. For that, after you graduate, Papa and Mama have agreed to marry you." Adryan gave a short pause to see the reaction of Nico and Aira. When Aira who initially looks surprised and then blushed, Nico actually looks flat. "So, what do you think?"

Aira looked at Nico beside her with a happy look that radiated clearly on her face. Despite not saying anything, Nico was one hundred percent sure that Aira would definitely agree to the plan. Nico then gasped as Aira touched his hand. Nico looked at Aira for a moment, before finally seeing her two parents in turn.

Nico's pair of eyes seemed to be glazed over, his roar of breath sounding heavy, before finally confidently answering...

"I'm sorry Nico, but Nico's not ready to get married yet."

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