We, From The First
#70. Lapang Dada's
"Aira, let's go. Dinner is ready." Said Evelyn who suddenly opened the door of the guest room occupied by Aira.
Aira, who had been busy with a cell phone in her hand, looked at the door as soon as she knew that Mama Rakha had come to call her.
"Good, Auntie." Aira replied politely, then took off her phone and immediately walked out of the room. When Aira was at the door, Mama Rakha immediately grabbed her back and walked to the ground floor to have dinner together.
Last afternoon, after Rakha left Aira to his mother, the young man just left because he had to do training to prepare for the match. Many times after Rakha left her, Aira kept sending messages to Rakha. Rakha who realizes that Aira is feeling awkward at her Mama's house calls Aira, and says that she will be back soon. That Aira doesn't have to worry about anything because everything will be fine.
"You must be awkward, huh, same Auntie?" Mama Rakha said as she and Aira were having dinner together.
"Hehehe, a little bit" Aira replied briefly and honestly who was immediately greeted by a warm smile from Mama Rakha.
"You know why Rakha brought you here?"
Aira who was a moment ago busy stirring food in front of him immediately raised her face and looked at the interlocutor in front of her.
"Because Rakha doesn't want to see Aira being bullied by reporters?" Aira replied hesitatingly.
This time Mama Rakha shook her head, then explained, "if an athlete or celebrity is exposed to a dating scandal with ordinary people, then the reporters will maintain the privacy of the person. So, that's not why."
"La─lalu?"
"That's just Rakha's excuse so you can meet Auntie."
Aira suddenly misbehaved without realizing it. He then scratched his head slowly with a smile on his face.
"Aunty's son is really in love with you, Naira. He even asked people at his agency to sue journalists or fans who were trying to find and reveal your identity."
"Rakha, he has always been Aira's best friend all along."
"So, Rakha will still be a friend to you?"
Aira this time was confused as to how to answer. He certainly can not tell clearly that he just broke up with his girlfriend, who is also Rakha's closest friend, because of one problem that is so severe. Aira did not have the ability to explain such things to someone not so close to her.
"When your heart is ready, please consider Rakha's feelings, huh? Aunty had left Rakha long enough and let her stay with her Papa who had a cold and hard attitude in educating. Aunty had worried that later she was confused how to love someone, but Aunt's worry was finally broken when she found out that Rakha was in love with you, Ra. You give a lot of laughter and happiness to Rakha when she lives under the pressure of her Papa. That's why Aunt is so grateful to know that the person Rakha loves is you."
Aira was silent for quite a while, before finally looking back at Mama Rakha, and said, "for now, Aira can't promise anything. But Aira will try to reciprocate Rakha's sincere feelings with Aira all this time. Rakha has done a lot for Aira. Without Rakha, Aira couldn't be as strong as she is now."
...****...
Aira was sitting on the front porch with Mama Rakha when a black car suddenly entered the gate and stopped in the yard. Seeing the car, Mama Rakha smiled and said, "your friends have arrived. Rakha brought them here."
Aira immediately got up from her seat as she saw Bia, Sheryl, and Yumi coming out of the car one by one. Aira then approached them, then hugged the three of them at once. Ever since they returned from Banu Island, this was the first time they had met again in person. Frankly, Aira missed her friends very much.
"Elo seems to be better, Ra." Knot Bia when he saw the face of Aira who had not been as nice as before.
Aira smiled, though not so but she hoped that it would be okay again as before. Aira knew for sure, that both her parents must have expected the same as her.
After greeting Mama Rakha, they are all welcome to gather in the backyard while enjoying a dish that has been specially prepared for them.
"You guys just relax, okay? Consider this your own home." Mama Rakha said kindly.
"Thank you, Tantee!" Bia, Sheryl and Yumi answered simultaneously.
After Mama Rakha left from before them, Sheryl was immediately amazed to see how beautiful Evelyn Lim was when seen in such a close distance.
"Fix, from now on I'll take care of my body. Let's make it fitting I've entered my 40s I can be as beautiful as Aunt Eve."
And as long as they gathered, none of Bia, Sheryl, and Yumi brought up the matter on Banu Island some time ago. Their presence at that time was really just to entertain Aira alone.
"Eh, my phone's lowbat, nih. Ra, I'm charging, huh?" Said Yumi.
"Oh, yeah. You go up to the second floor. My room is right next to the window. Or do I need anterin?" Tawar Aira's.
"No need, Ra. Lo diem is here. I can do it myself."
"okay."
Moments after Yumi shuffled from her chair, she immediately stopped her steps when she heard Bia teasing Aira.
"Ciyee, Airaaa! You look like a son-in-law in this house, you know?"
"Ck, what the hell, Bi? No need to be lebay." Aira's voice clearly sounds misbehavior in Yumi's hearing.
A while later, Yumi Langung took a slow breath and resumed her steps that had just stopped.
"Eh, yes! From now on, Yumi has nothing to say about my dating scandal with Rakha?" Aira asked who had been most worried about it.
"No. Yumi said nothing. I'm the same Bia also did not dare to rashly discuss it in front of Yumi. We all know how Yumi is, about the contents of her heart she is really closed. And it has entered into a realm that we cannot touch even if Yumi is our closest friend." Answer Sheryl.
"Some of us also immediately know that the news is a lie. We know, if it's just Nico you love." Bia added.
Aira chose not to respond to Bia's last words. But for some reason, his little heart seemed to reject Bia's idea of his feelings for Nico.
...****...
"Why is diem here?"
Aira's voice instantly drew Yumi from her long daydream. Yumi immediately turned her head and looked towards Aira who was already sitting next to her with a forced smile.
"Here, I just called my mom, Ra." Yumi's true alibi from earlier was just trying not to get involved in the chatter of her three best friends.
As much as possible Yumi wants to avoid things that will only make her hurt. At least, this was the only way Yumi could do to save her heart.
"Oh, yeah... About the scandal─"
"Please calm down, Ra. I know that news is not true. What about after Rakha's scandal?" Yumi held back her smile after finishing her words. He seemed to deliberately want to tease Aira, just like Bia did earlier.
"Yumiii!!" Aira pretended to be furious which only made Yumi finally break her laughter.
"Hahaha, have I said same elo, you do not need to feel guilty with me. Why do I like Rakha, but Rakha likes you? Ra─" Yumi gives pause. He then grabbed both of Aira's hands and continued, "from now on you don't have to worry about my feelings. My heart's business, let me handle it myself. You do not have to take any responsibility for something that is not your fault. After everything that's happened, I just want to see you happy. And I'm sincere about that."
Aira just looked down while listening. He did not feel his tears slowly dripping down his face. Now, she feels really grateful for having friends like Bia, Sheryl, and especially Yumi.
Yumi also touched both shoulders of Aira to make Aira look at him with tears that were not unstoppable. Yumi gently rubbed her best friend's tears, saying, "gue knows, if your dating scandal with Rakha is not real. But I also believe, if your heart has now started you hand over to Rakha. Okay, maybe you're still confused between Rakha and Nico, but then you'll slowly show the truth. And whatever truth is in your heart, I will always support you, Ra."
Without wasting any more time, Aira immediately threw her body into Yumi's arms, and cried as if there.
"Gue's okay, Ra. As long as Elo and Rakha can be happy, I'm happy too." Lirih Yumi with a heart full of spaciousness while gently rubbing the shoulder-length hair of Aira's.
^^^To be Continued...^^^