1000 Season of Dream Chasing

part 8's

No!" shouted Erika.

Laura again tried to snatch her HP from Erika's hands. But accidentally his hand pushed Erika's shoulder, then a second later Erika's body was piled up and fell to the bottom of the stairs. Laura's HP broke apart.

Laura's stunned. He didn't realize what had just happened. He quickly ran after Erika. The sound of someone falling down had made the disciples turn their attention to the lower floors of the stairs. "Erika!" said Laura gasping. "You okay?" Erika flinching.

Erika's friends run to her. They looked at Laura furiously. "You pushed him."

Laura shakes. "I didn't mean to push him."

"I saw you pushing him," accused one of Erika's friends.

"Geez! Erika. You okay?" Erika started to groan in pain.

"What's wrong?" ask Niko who then approached the crowd. Then he saw Erika lying on the floor. "Erika!" he panicked as he grabbed Erika's body. "What's wrong? Why are you down here?"

Erika said weakly. "I fell down the stairs."

Erika's hand hugged Niko's stomach. "My legs and feet hurt a lot."

Niko checked Erika's bruised leg. Then he looked up, looking at the panicked Laura in front of Erika.

Erika takes this opportunity to gain Niko's sympathy. "Laura pushed me."

Niko was surprised to not believe it. "What?"

One of Niko's friends confirmed Erika's words.

"I saw them fighting on the stairs. Then Laura pushed Erika to her knees." Laura felt her world was destroyed back then. Niko held Erika slowly.

Laura stepped forward. "I didn't mean to..."

Niko looked at Laura coldly. "Now I don't want to hear your explanation."

The students follow Niko's steps, leaving Laura alone.

Laura couldn't breathe. His heart feels tight. The pair of warm brown eyes he first saw two years ago are now turning cold. He fell down. Tears wet his cheeks. Laura cried sobbing sobbing sobbing.

After that, he no longer realized what was happening. Starting from the trip home from the beach to school until the trip home from school to home. When he arrived in front of his house, the time was already eleven o'clock at night. Laura opened the door of the house limply.

The living room lights are still on.

"Laura?" asked Mama who was sitting in the living room, looking worried. "Mama tried to call you a few times, but you didn't answer your phone. Mama was really worried....

Mama..."

Mama stopped talking when she saw Laura pensive and silent.

"What's wrong?" ask mama confused. "Why are you like this?"

Laura's feet were limp and sitting on the floor. Mom immediately realized something bad had happened to her daughter.

Mama immediately examined her daughter's entire body, as if making sure there were no injuries there.

"What's going on?"

Laura finally looked at Mama with a blank look.

"Mama, I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

My mother is getting confused. "It's okay, but what's wrong with you?"

"I don't know where my HP is" Laura said blankly. "It looks like I lost it."

"That's not important." Mama started poking Laura's shoulders tight. "What's wrong with you?"

Laura's tears flowed again. Laura cried loudly while hugging my mother. "It hurts so much, Ma," said Laura. "My heart hurts a lot."

Mama can only hug back. He let his daughter cry. A while later, Laura's cry turned into a slow sob.

Mama let go of her embrace and served a glass of water to Laura. "Drink," he said softly. "After that you should rest in the room." Laura nodded and drank the water that my mother gave her.

Mama helped Laura stand up and swept her into the bedroom. After Laura lay down on her bed, she covered him and kissed him on the forehead. "Sleep."

After mama left, even though the lights had been turned off, Laura still could not sleep. He still remembers the previous events. Erika fell down the stairs. Niko's cold look at him. Laura knew she was going to break up with Niko, but she didn't want her breakup to end up with something painful like this.

When Mama knocked on Laura's room door the next morning, she saw her daughter was up and in uniform.

"You're awake" exclaimed Mama.

At the dinner table, Laura had breakfast quietly.

"Yesterday mama forgot to say, our move accelerated by three days. We have to move tomorrow" he said carefully. "It seems you can't attend your graduation. But if you want to attend, Mama can book another ticket for you. You'll stay with mama".

Laura shakes. "No need, ma. I'll go with mom tomorrow."

"Are you sure?" ask mama to doubt. "You didn't attend your graduation?" Laura looked at my mother with certainty. "I'm sure."

Mama knew her daughter had just broken her heart last night. "Well, mama's gonna call your homeroom teacher to give up your diploma first."

Laura agreed. He took his bag from the room after breakfast. The chocolate envelope containing the picture of Niko is still there. He took it too and came out of the room.

 

***

 

At school, the news about the fall of Erika from the stairs became news. The moment Laura entered the school environment, all eyes looked at her scornfully. Laura doesn't care about any of that. It's his last day of school.

As Laura entered the 3rd grade of IPA 1, everything fell silent. Laura sat in her chair without looking at anyone. The classroom guardian distributed the yearbook to the students. Afterwards, the students were busy exchanging yearbooks for one another to sign.

Laura used the time to get out of class and surround the school environment. He saw his former class, the ordinance room, the school hall, the basketball court, and the last school garden. He wants to remember everything.

After that he returned to his classroom which was deserted. He saw Niko's yearbook on his desk. Niko did not come in this morning. According to Laura, Niko did not enter because she was accompanying Erika in the hospital.

He opens Niko's yearbook and arrives at IPA 3rd grader 1. He saw Niko's smiling face ("I'll remember you like this, '") Laura said.

Laura took a deep breath. Opens the last page of Niko's yearbook, then begins writing.

 

(I like you).

 

Laura closed Niko's yearbook. If anyone says heartbreak feels like thousands of needles piercing her heart, Laura can't agree. His heart was not only injured but crushed like concrete weighing thousands of kilos.

Laura realized one thing. Until the end of the day, he still could not express his feelings to Niko directly.

Laura stood up and was about to return Niko's drawing on her desk when she felt that someone had entered the classroom. Laura turned around to see who was walking behind her. Apparently Niko.

Both looked without speaking.

But Laura finally dared to ask. " How's Erika doing?"

At first, Niko refused to answer. "He can't walk for a week."

Laura really felt guilty. "I'm really sorry. Please convey my apology to Erika."

Niko looked at Laura straight. "Take my question this one. Is it true that you pushed Erika off the stairs?"

Laura's heart ached hearing that question. Because he knew the answer would make Niko hate him forever. But he knew he still had to say it.

"Yes," Laura replied as she hugged a picture of Niko on her chest. "pardon me."

Niko looks sad. "I thought you were different.. Why? Why are you pushing Erika?"

Laura desperately wants to explain to Niko that it was all a coincidence that started when Erika seized her HP. But Laura realized there was no point in explaining it all. He does not want to destroy Niko and Erika's relationship. He won't see Niko again after today.

"Sorry," Laura replied later. "I can't explain it."

Niko looked at Laura again carefully. "Can't or won't?"

"Both," answered Laura slowly. "At first everything means nothing. Now I want to ask you. Who are you gonna trust? The girl you've known since childhood or the girl you've only known for a year?"

Niko was silent at Laura's question. No answer came out of his mouth.

Laura smiled softly. "I think you answered my question."

It's all over. Laura walked out of the classroom. He could not be next to Niko any longer. Otherwise, his heart could be broken.

"Laura," said Niko before Laura stepped out the door, "i don't think I can be your friend anymore."

His embrace of Niko's image grew tighter. Laura took a breath and turned around. "I knew. Ii'm sorry. Goodbye, Niko".

After Laura died, Niko sat on her stool without moving. He knew he shouldn't be this sad. She always considered Laura as her friend. But why did Laura's passing just a moment ago make her heart ache? Then, he recalled the face of Erika who was in pain last night. He knew he loved Eric too. He was worried when Erika frowned painfully and held her hand during treatment at the hospital. But why was the sadness in his heart that time was not as sad as now?.