We, From The First
#71. Little by Little

It had been an hour since Aira stood in the yard of Evelyn Lim's house when she finally saw Rakha's car coming. Aira smiled afterwards, then ran over to Rakha who came out of her car. While Rakha who saw Aira so enthusiastically welcomed her arrival, making her feel like flowers.

"Why aren't you asleep? It's one o'clock, you know! You're not comfortable?" Cecar Rakha as he and Aira were already standing face to face.

"You can be honest, I'm not comfortable. You know, I'm an introvert soul. But you left me both with your mother. Good thing you sent Yumi, Bia, as Sheryl made me here."

"Sorry, yeah..."

"But I like Aunt Eve. Aunt Eve was really good."

"Hmmm, what did you say to Mama?"

Before answering Rakha's question, Aira stared at Rakha for a while with a single mischievous smile on her face. "Obviously, Auntie told me a lot about your childhood disgrace, hahaha..." Aira laughed at the end.

Inevitably, the laughter that Aira rolled away stupefied Rakha. For the first time since Aira and Nico have completely ended their relationship, Rakha can finally get back to hearing Aira's laughter, though. For Rakha right now, it was fine if her Mama dismantled all the disgrace of her childhood if it could make Aira laugh like this.

Rakha then grunted his laughter before finally leading Aira inside. "Yes in, yuk! The air here is cold. I don't want you to get sick later."

Aira just nodded. And he complied as Rakha embraced his waist and walked hand in hand with him.

But without them knowing, not far from the gate of Evelyn Lim house, Nico who was watching them secretly from inside his car. Rio told Nico that Rakha went to take Aira to his mother's house to hide temporarily from reporters. For this reason, Nico quietly followed Rakha's car from behind. And Nico did just that so he could see Aira one last time before he went to America and maybe not come back.

"Looks like you're fine without me, Na. Now, I can go, right?" Lirih Nico was among the darkness of the night before finally starting her car, and left the place feeling claustrophobic.

...****...

The next morning, Rakha takes Aira for a walk to a meadow that pampers Aira's eyes with its refreshing green feel. In the middle of the field, Aira can also see a group of cows that increasingly drag his nostalgia on Banu Island, where he spent his childhood, and half his adolescence with his late parents.

"Kha, I can scream, right?" Aira's whisper in front of Rakha's ears which actually made the young man chuckle amusedly.

"Yes, may. Shouts to me." Answer Rakha.

Slowly Rakha began to hear the sound of Aira's cries that were getting longer, the more clearly heard. Rakha then approached, then sat down beside him while twisting both shoulders of Aira until the girl faced directly with him.

"Ra?" Call Rakha slowly.

"I miss Dad and my mom, Kha. It hurts so much when I can't even see them anymore." Said Aira with a trembling voice. Her crying was getting stronger.

Rakha then raised Aira's face. When the teary face was lifted, Rakha wiped away the tears of Aira with her right hand. "It's okay. You can cry here too, hm?"

Without needing to linger any longer, Aira's cries broke even more as Rakha gave her permission to cry, and that was indeed what Aira needed the most right now. He just wanted to scream as loud as possible, and cry as hard as possible until all the weight on his chest came off. Rakha then hugged the fragile girl, and let Aira cry as much as she could in her arms.

About two minutes later, Rakha let go of Aira then looked into her eyes. The cry was no longer heard, but Rakha could read from both of Aira's eyes that she needed Rakha to strengthen her.

And somehow getting a boost from nowhere, Rakha suddenly just kissed the soft lips of Aira. Aira who was initially surprised when she felt Rakha's lips touch the surface of her lips, now slowly calmed herself down and closed her eyes. Following a supportive atmosphere, Aira ends up getting carried away by her own flow of feelings, so beyond the command of her brain Aira begins to return Rakha's kiss with her heart pounding.

Rakha knew that Aira was just getting carried away. But for just this once, Rakha wanted to be selfish and think only of herself. Rakha who began to get emotional, pressed the head of the back of Aira so that their link deepened.

Seconds passed, when Rakha finally let go of her kiss and gently rubbed Aira's lips with both of her thumbs. Rakha slightly lowered her face so that she could see Aira who was still in a blank state with a downcast look.

"Raa, give me another chance, will you? I won't force you to accept me now, but please... Give me one more chance to win your heart." Rakha whispers with a wiry.

Aira did not say or give any gesture to Rakha except to remain silent. Rakha who tried to understand that, now slowly led Aira to stand up. When they had faced each other in a standing position, Rakha opened the hat she had been wearing and put it on Aira's head. After which, Rakha pushed down Aira's head slowly and once again landed a brief kiss on her head. Lastly, Rakha took the girl into her arms, and let Aira hide in the chest of her field.

And for some reason, for the first time when he was with Rakha, Aira did not even think of Nico. Nico completely disappeared from his heart and mind.

Little by little... The door opened slowly for Rakha.

...\=\=THE END\=\=\=...