We, From The First
#64. Grief News
Aira exits her apartment shortly after she receives a call from Rakha telling her she is waiting below. Aira walked with steps and a feeling that was so light, immediately came out to catch up with Rakha.
"You're on time once, Kha?" Tempt Aira while approaching Rakha who was already perched sweet with his favorite blue vespa.
Especially for today, Rakha willingly took out his blue vespa after long enough not to use it since graduating high school. Aira stared in surprise at Rakha and his blue vespa alternately with a look as if to say, "are we sure to use a motorbike?"
Rakha laughed amusedly at the expression of Aira who was truly adorable.
"Why? You don't want to use a motorbike? Want to change cars?" Rakha asked in a joking tone.
"Not so, Rakhaaa! You understand what I mean." Aira folded her hands in front of her chest while putting on a face that actually made her look even more adorable. "Is it okay for people to know you?" Aira then continued. He really didn't want to see Rakha get into trouble because of him.
"Iakaang... Don'worry. I wear the same mask. No one will recognize me." Rakha said as she gently patted Aira's head. Rakha deliberately called out "honey" just to tease Aira.
In his heart Rakha laughed with satisfaction at how Aira started to misbehave.
"But! Don't call me darling!!" Kill Aira then.
What the fuck Rakha? Why could he casually call out to love while Nico alone never did it to Aira?
Rakha once again laughed. He then gently pulled one of Aira's hands and placed a helmet on the girl's head. "Run now, yuk!"
Aira nodded, then accepted as Rakha led her to ride on the bike.
Meanwhile, both Rakha and Aira themselves, did not realize that at that time did not even Aira reject the touch of Rakha.
...****...
"Al, your Papa... Papa you're gone, Al..." Princess Diana wept in a long cry as Nico arrived at the hospital where her father was being treated.
A few hours ago, Nico got a call from Dr.Arkha saying that his Papa might not be able to survive until tomorrow morning. Nico who received the news immediately left for Banu Island before even asking for approval from his mother.
Nico is late. As soon as he arrived, his father had already breathed his last.
Nico felt his chest squeezed as he looked at the stiffened body of his papa before him. Not a single drop of his tears came out, but Nico could clearly feel that something like it was being crushed deep inside him.
Nico approached with a cold but empty look. The memory of his togetherness with the Papa suddenly shimmered one by one in his head to make his heart feel like squeezed.
"You haven't even apologized to Nana, but you just ran away like this." Oozing Nico with a trembling voice. Both of his eyes seemed to be flushed withstanding his cries, anger, and also his untold sadness.
...****...
Aira admitted that she had long wanted to play kites. And Aira had absolutely no idea that Rakha would make her wish come true even without saying anything.
Aira must admit, that Rakha is indeed magical.
After being satisfied playing kites, Rakha also invited Aira to eat at a simple steak shop that is still available in the Marvi River area. Aira was cutting the steak on her plate as Rakha continued to chant about how exciting they are today. When Aira finished cutting her steak, she gently touched Rakha's right hand while holding a sweet smile on her face.
Rakha automatically stopped his chirping. The gentle touch of Aira in her hand was already enough to make her blood flow rippling in pleasant thump.
"Now you eat first, huh? The story can go on later." Said Aira with a tone of speech that was no less gentle with her touch.
Attentively, Aira placed her steak plate in front of Rakha and exchanged it for Rakha's. It turns out that Aira had deliberately cut the steak for Rakha.
The small but meaningful attention that Aira showed her, made Rakha's heart feel so happy. She was so happy that she had trouble holding her smile.
"Why, Kha?" Aira asked as soon as she realized that Rakha was trying to hold back her smile.
"Ra, I know you may not be comfortable, or even like what I want to say right now, but.. you know how much I love you, right? And thank you for today, too."
Aira who did not know what to say to reply to Rakha's words could only faintly smile. Aira herself did not even understand, why today she felt so comfortable being able to spend time with Rakha. Everything somehow feels so right, feels so right in every measure.
The clumsy atmosphere between them suddenly dispersed as Rakha felt his phone vibrate. Rakha grabbed her phone on the table and immediately opened the message sent by her Papa.
Rakha's hand holding the phone just fell on the table after reading a text message sent by her Papa. The news he received actually managed to surprise him.
Rakha then raised her face, then looked at Aira who was looking at her with a questioning look
Rakha sighed deeply, exhaled slowly, then said...
"Papa Nico on Banu Island died this afternoon."
^^^To be Continued....^^^