We, From The First
#59. Heart Direction
"Papa you have end-stage stomach cancer, Al. He doesn't have much time left to survive. He didn't ask to be forgiven, he just wanted to see your face for the rest of his last breath."
That's what Aunt Diana said to Nico exactly a week ago. The reason why Nico disappeared during this one week as well, was because he always accompanied his Papa in the hospital.
Nico can't deny it, he hates his Papa, and still hates him. But on the other hand, Nico was unable to ignore the fact that he was the only son Bimantara had. Nico can't just leave him alone, as he realizes that he's the only one his father has.
"Stay alive, and live your punishment properly. It's the only way to pay for all your sins in the past." Lirih Nico with a trembling voice beside her Papa who was in a state of unconsciousness in a hospital room.
Nico's tears were slowly dripping. Simultaneously, the memories of his childhood that he had gone through with his Papa in the past, further made his chest ache.
Along with the strengthening of Nico's concern for his Papa, the stronger his guilt towards Aira.
Nico seemed to feel, that all his guilt for Aira was eating away at him and making him almost die in terms of feeling.
"For a week yesterday, you went to Banu, right?" Ask Regina to Nico.
That night, after returning from her business trip, Regina went straight to Nico's room for an interrogation. Since Nico began to rebel, Regina has asked her co-workers to keep an eye on Nico's every act.
"Lecture you mess up, you break up Nana, and you always go to Banu whenever Mama and Papa are not home. What do you want, Nic?"
"Then, did Nico have to leave that person alone? He's dying, Ma. And Nico's the only one he's got."
"And Mama only has you. Do you have to do this to Mama? You simply live your life now comfortably, and do nothing for that person! Is it so hard for you to just shut up and do nothing, Nico?" Regina's tone began to sound furious.
Nico did not answer this time.
"If you keep worrying about that person, Mama will send someone to take care of him. Mama will also prepare the best Doctor Team for him. So, you no longer need to sneak to Banu like a thief just to meet him. You gotit?"
Shortly before Regina came out of Nico's room, she said, "and Mama asked Nana to move back here. After you graduate, Mama and Papa will still marry you, with or without your consent."
Not long after Regina came out, Aira who had been secretly listening to the chatter between Nico and her Mama from outside immediately entered Nico's room. Aira looked at the figure of Nico who was sitting languidly at the side of his bed with his face down. The shoulder that always looked sturdy, now looks so fragile and as if it is ready to collapse at any time.
Aira then sat down under Nico. He took both hands and held them full of warmth. It turned out that Aira had misunderstood Nico for the past week. Nico disappeared not because he wanted to avoid it, but because Nico had to keep his sick Papa company, in order to fulfill his obligations as a child.
"Nic?" Call Aira slowly.
Nico, who had been silent since then, now pulled his hand from Aira's grasp. Nico then got up, then stood behind the door, "Nana, can I ask you a favor?"
Aira stepped closer to Nico.
"Please get out of my room, and leave me alone." Nico continued later. His voice sounded firm and cold as well.
"Nic, can you stop to push me away? I just want to be by your side, not bother you. I know how painful and stifling it is to be in a situation like this, which is why I don't want you to be alone."
"You can't compare your situation with my situation now, Na. Because in any case, and in any respect, our situation will not be the same. You will not understand my suffering, and I will not understand your suffering. So, please stop trying to understand my pain now. It's torturous for me, Nana!"
Aira jerks. It never occurred to her mind that Nico would be able to say such a painful thing to her after what they had been through together for the past five years.
"Nico?" Lirih Aira with a face of disbelief. A drop of his tears fell, as if to show how much Nico had hurt him.
"Now you're out, huh?" There was no longer the same emotion that came out of Nico's tone now. He just looks so exhausted.
Aira wiped her tears before finally coming out of Nico's room with a torn feeling.
While Nico, without needing to linger, he immediately locked the door of his room and slammed innocent objects in front of him so fiercely. The big mirror that at that time did not escape his sight, he just fists with his bare hands. Fresh blood flowed from the wound he had just obtained, but Nico could not even feel the slightest pain.
Anger filled him completely.
...****...
Natta, Sheryl, Rio, Bia, and Yumi scream as Tim Rakha wins the basketball game. At that time, they all gathered at the mini cinema B-Cafe and watched with Rakha matches live through television channels. There was also Aira. But for now Aira was too scared to be able to shout like her friends.
His quarrel with Nico this afternoon still continued to overshadow his mind and made him not eager to do anything.
"Lecture you mess up, you break up Nana, and you always go to Banu whenever Mama and Papa are not home. What do you want, Nic?"
Now it was Regina's turn to say that shimmered in her memory. Aira also began looking for ways to help Nico out of one of his problems so that there was no need to worry Mama anymore.
And while Aira was busy thinking of ways to help Nico, her mind was all the rage as she felt her phone vibrate. Aira hurriedly grabbed her phone on the table and immediately received a call that turned out to be from Rakha.
Yumi, who was sitting right next to Aira, immediately showed a different facial expression when she knew that Aira was the one who Rakha called the first time after winning her match.
"Hello, Kha?"
Even when Aira could not see her face at this moment, she knew for sure that Rakha's two eagle eyes were sparkling with happiness right now. Imagining that, inevitably make the feelings of Aira who had been upset since now began to improve.
Aira then chuckled. Before answering Rakha, he activated his phone loudspeaker so that others could also hear Rakha's voice.
"Selamet, yes, Kha! You were so cool." Aira.
As Rio was about to chimed in, Rakha who at that time did not know that Aira was activating the loudspeaker hurriedly snatched, "does that mean my wish will be realized as well, Ra? What does that mean, my feelings for you will soon be reciprocated as well?"
"RACHA!!" Aira's screams while patting her forehead.
Rio, Natta, Sheryl and Bia were yelling again. Rio also snatched the phone from Aira's hand. "Kha, Aira just broke up from Nico. But you've already taken the gap."
"Yo, why you?─"
"Aira nyalain loudspeaker from earlier, bego!" Natta Timpal.
"Ciyeee Rakha's..." Celine added.
"Rakha and Aira must have gone to the lantern festival, so mention the desire." Said Bia.
Yumi, who had just been silent, tried to control herself as best she could. But despite trying his best, Yumi finally failed.
Yumi also chose to leave the room, to at least be able to relieve her chest that began to feel stuffy. It was only after Yumi came out that the others instantly came to their senses. They suddenly remember Yumi confessing that she liked Rakha when they played Truth or Dare some time ago.
Those who had been stirring since then instantly fell silent while glancing at each other.
"You guys..." Gerrutu Aira while taking back her phone from Rio.
"Kha, it was before, huh? I'll call again." Aira said to Rakha. He then turned off his phone first and soon caught up with Yumi.
At one of the tables located in the corner of the room, Aira looked at Yumi who was sitting by herself while looking out the window. One of his hands he held up on his chin.
"Yum?" Call Aira quietly while patting one of Yumi's shoulders.
Yumi who gasped immediately turned to Aira then smiled faintly. "Eh, elo Ra? Just ngagetin."
"Yum, about earlier─"
"Udah, don't think about it. I'm used to it."
"Yumi." i...."
"Gue is the first person who knows that Rakha likes her elo, Ra. I knew it first from Rakha. But, yes, I can't do anything. I can't change Rakha's heart just because I like him." Yumi smiled bitterly between her sentences, "which makes the situation feel different now, because you all already know how I feel about Rakha. So, I can't hide anything else from you all."
"I'm sorry, Yum." Aira said full of earnestness with her head bowed.
For the time being, just that one sentence was all Aira could say to Yumi.
...****...
Nico walked over to the door of his room as someone knocked. As soon as Nico had opened the door, he was a little surprised to see that it was Aira who was standing in front of the door with her cheerful face.
"Second request!!" Aira said excitedly as she showed her two fingers forming the letter 'V' in front of Nico.
Nico let out a long sigh while looking up his face on the ceiling of his room.
"Now tell me what your request is." Reply Nico with resignation.
One sneer went straight over Aira's face before she replied, "let's go out and be my girlfriend again for a week."
Nico was again surprised. What kind of request is that?
But even though he did not accept it, in the end Nico could not dodge. He had agreed from the beginning that he would fulfill whatever Aira's request was to him. Nico won't dodge, anything else escape.
"Okay, let's date and date again for one week."
Nico reached out his right hand to shake hands with Aira as a sign of agreement. With pleasure, Aira also welcomed Nico's hand.
^^^To be Continued...^^^