We, From The First
#08. Tiba Bad Mood

After dinner, Aira went to a Mini Market not too far from Nico's house to buy snacks and other necessities. Aira seemed comfortable wearing an over size t-shirt that had always been her favorite, she also wore a subordinate of a shorts. Aira's current appearance seemed to make her tiny body sink. Her hair was completely curled, and she let some strands loose freely with thin bangs dangling, but it was precisely that that made her look so sweet even in a simple dress.

After he finished his business, Aira came out. But at the same time when Aira opened the door, he met Nico who was just back from Bimbel. The two of them were both silent for a while before Aira finally took the initiative to approach Nico first.

"Today you came home late..." Said Aira while looking busy reaching into her plastic shopping bag, "more pulp?", continued Aira who was still busy looking for something. He did not even look at his interlocutor.

But instead of answering, Nico just stared at the astonished girl in front of him. Then when Aira found what she was looking for, she smiled. He looked into Nico's eyes and handed him an ice cream cone he had bought. "I'm glad I bought two. Nih! I'll deal with it."

Nico chuckles before receiving Aira's ice cream. Actually, Nico was a little tired today. Today's schedule has been pretty tight since morning. But somehow, as soon as he saw Aira, Nico miraculously felt less tired. The fact that Aira was no longer awkward with him, made Nico feel very comfortable being near Aira for a long time.

But instead of directly returning home after from the minimarket, they prefer to stop by first to a playground that is still around the housing complex. Aira and Nico sit opposite each other on a swing with their own ice cream in hand.

Since Aira moved into her home almost a month ago, this is the first time there has been such a long and exciting conversation between Nico and Aira. Every now and then, Aira is seen laughing after hearing a silly story from Nico about his friends, and occasionally, Nico is caught smiling to see Aira laughing so late tonight.

And Nico knows for sure, that it's not easy for Aira to be able to show the other side of her like she is today. As Nico recalled, Aira used to be very cheerful, she was also very chatty and always asked about this and that when she was a child. But Nico too long lost the figure of Aira. He also missed a lot of things about his childhood love, making Nico have to start everything again from scratch, from the bottom.

Nico wasn't even in the toughest moments of Aira's life. A year ago, when he learned that both of Aira's parents died in an accident, Nico was not so worried about Aira. And the memory that he had rejected Aira's presence in his house because a little forgot about Aira, made the guilt rise again in Nico.

Amidst their chatter, a cold night air suddenly blew. Nico who realized that the clothes that Aira was wearing could not protect him from the sweep of the wind at night, without thinking straight to open the basketball club jacket that he had been using since. Nico drew closer to Aira, then draped the jacket on both of Aira's shoulders, "pake nih. It's getting cold."

"Thank you, Nic." Aira said as she fixed the position of the jacket on her body. When Nico's jacket is neatly attached, Aira can smell Nico's fragrant scent hugging her whole body and warming her up.

Then suddenly Nico chuckles amusedly as he sees Aira who is increasingly seen drowning in his jacket that looks oversized on Aira's body. For some reason, Aira looks like a penguin now in Nico's vision.

"Why laugh? Is something funny?" Aira glared at Nico.

"Hahaha there is none. Go, yuk! It's getting cold, huh."

Aira simply nodded, then followed Nico behind without saying anything.

"Where are you guys from?" Regina asked as soon as she saw Nico and Aira entering the house when time almost showed at half-nine p.m.

"Let's get some wind, Ma." Nico answered as he passed.

He immediately went into his room to clean himself up. Then about fifteen minutes later, Nico came down again and joined his parents and Aira who were gathered in the TV room.

The four of them who already looked like family, talked about many things. Nico and Aira alternately told me about their school today. Adryan and Regina listened attentively.

Since the death of her parents a year ago, Aira had never felt this happy. It is true that both of Nico's parents said when they picked up Aira at that time, that Aira only needs to make peace with the past, and try to accept the present with a roomy heart. By doing so, Aira's wounds will gradually heal and heal over time.

In his heart Aira secretly hoped, that her circumstances this time would endure. That he will not feel loss again. Aira's happy now. And he didn't want this happiness stolen from him anymore.

...****...

In the afternoon, Aira, Sheryl, and Bia sat together on the edge of the school field, watching Yumi who was practicing basketball with her friends in the middle of the court. Aira felt that she was getting used to this activity, and she enjoyed it a lot. While from next to Aira, Sheryl and Bia heard screaming in excitement for Yumi. And Yumi who was in the middle of the field there, bowed with reverence to her friends as if she was a royal princess.

Watching what Yumi did, Rakha who happened to be walking behind Yumi on a whim pulled Yumi's hair to make the ball in Yumi's hand come off. Sheryl, Aira and Bia laughed at the scene they thought was quite funny.

Feeling annoyed with Rakha's mischievous behavior, Yumi ran after Rakha who was then running to the edge of the field while shouting loudly enough, "RAKHADITYA ARYA, WHEN DO YOU STOP BEING CHILDISH?!"

Rakha ran faster and faster with a stifling breath. And when Rakha just passed the position where Aira was now, Yumi managed to catch him. Rakha sat on the side of Aira with a distance that was almost erased, while Yumi continued to 'brutally 'gave her' Rakha.

"Yum! Yum! Stop dong! I'm sorry. Okay?" Rakha pretended to be bland. But it certainly does not work for Yumi. He still landed punch after punch on Rakha's shoulder.

"Lo hasn't escaped, Kha!" Threaten Yumi to Rakha before approaching Rio.

But what Yumi said was, was not caught by Rakha at all. Because right now, he and Aira were both looking at each other after feeling their skin touch. Aira's eyes were slightly widened. He was quite surprised by what had just happened.

Sheryl who is sensitive to the situation, and has pledged herself as a supporter between Rakha and Aira, immediately took the idea to invite Bia away. Sheryl pulls Bia's arm without saying anything. And now, they only left Aira and Rakha in that place.

"Sorry..." Lirih Rakha after trying hard enough to retract his consciousness. Rakha could not deny, that the little thing that had just happened between her and Aira just a moment ago, was enough to have an effect on her heart right now.

Every time he was near this girl, Rakha could always feel her heart work growing twice as fast as usual. And this is not good for Rakha.

Instead of answering Rakha, Aira's attention was on one of Rakha's injured index fingers. Aira could see the blood around Rakha's wound starting to dry up because it was left too long.

"This why?"

Rakha gasped, "aaah this? This was a scratch when I moved the table with Natta." Rakha answered while looking at her index finger. If Aira had not asked, Rakha would not have remembered that her hand was injured.

Without saying anything else, Aira took out a piece of tissue in her bag and cleaned up the dried up blood on Rakha's index finger. After that, Aira opened her pencil case and found a plaster. Without thinking, Aira grabbed Rakha's hand and glued the yellow plaster with a picture of the dinosaur on Rakha's index finger.

Rakha again froze and fell silent. For a moment, Rakha forgot how to breathe. Did he really like this girl to such a degree?

"Udah done. Next time be careful, huh?"

Rakkha nodded a few times while smiling. "Thank you, Ra." Rakha.

A moment later, Nico who was out of nowhere suddenly appeared between them. At the same time, Aira and Rakha both raised their faces and looked at Nico who looked bad in mood.

"Ra, it's late afternoon. Come home! Salim is ahead." Said Nico softly. But without anyone realizing, there was such a powerful emotion hidden behind his words.

"okay." Aira answered briefly, then now turned to look at Rakha and said, "Kha, I first, huh?"

Rakha's face looked disappointed. Inwardly it felt like he was sinking Nico to the bottom of the deepest sea. It could be that Nico came at the right time and brought Aira home.

It sucks! Rutuk Rakha in heart.

"Nic, isn't the rehearsal unfinished, is it?" Aira asked Nico who was walking a step ahead of her.

Inevitably, Nico finally feels that he has just become a bully between Aira and Rakha. And it just disturbs his mind now and makes him unable to think clearly as usual.

"Salim's father has been waiting for this." Answer with a ketus.

But really, that's not what Nico wants. He himself did not even understand why he had to answer that one. Suddenly he lost control.

Nico then accelerates his pace and increasingly makes Aira feel confused with Nico's attitude.

"Why the sudden bad mood, anyway?"

Aira cursed slowly. He runs to catch up with Nico.

To Be Continued...^^^