About Taste

Visiting Ella

Kairi was still silent as she continued to drive forward her car. It had been more than half the journey, but only silence was created, for there was not a word they spoke.

A few minutes later, Kairi suddenly pulled over his car on the side of the road. Ella was a little surprised, why Kairi suddenly stopped, but her house was still less than two turns again.

"Why stop, Kai?" ella asked while looking at Kairi.

Kairi exhaled violently, her hand gripping the steering wheel of the car tightly.

"Don't you want to tell me something, Gabriella" Kairi said.

"Your relationship with Mama is quite close, and Andra's gaze on you is also different. I don't think you and him are just familiar" Kairi's inner self in her heart.

"You must have expected it, Kai, what my relationship with Andra is. All right, I'll answer. Isn't being honest at the beginning better," Ella's inner voice while looking at Kairi.

"Your guess is right, Kai, Ella said.

"What do you mean?" kairi asked while looking at Ella.

"I know what you're thinking, and it's all true" Ella replied. What if Kairi is angry, disappointed, and unwilling to accept her past.

"You and Andra" said Kairi.

"Yes, we're friends" Ella replied.

"So the man you once loved." said Kairi.

"Yes, it's Andra. Now you want to be angry or blame me, I'm not banning you, Kai. I accept it, because that's the reality, and I can't change it" Ella said with teary eyes.

Kairi exhaled violently as she grabbed Ella's head and carried her into her arms. Even though he was very disappointed in his heart. However, he could not blame Ella, all of which happened long before they knew each other.

"I'm not angry, honey, it's your past, I have no right to blame you. Because at that time I was not present in your life," said Kairi while gently rubbing Ella's hair, she did not want to see her woman crying.

"You disappointed?" ask Ella slowly.

"No, in this case I'm wrong. If only from the beginning I had been honest about my family, it might not have happened like this" Kairi replied.

"Then what was it like?" ella asked as she let go of her embrace, she stared fixedly at Kairi.

Kairi fell silent, not knowing what to answer. Know now, or know long ago, it will not change the situation. The reality will remain the same, Ella once loved her sister for quite a long time. One reality that makes his chest feel very tight, why should Andra?

Why not another man?

Why not that ugly guy they met in Jakarta, or Vino Ella was talking about back then?

Why even his sister?

"Why are you quiet, Kai? Wouldn't you love me, if you'd known all this in the first place, since you didn't have any plans to meet my mother here," Ella said, staring at Kairi.

Kairi realized from her daydreams, the answer had made Ella misunderstand.

"Of course not, I will still love you, no matter what. It's just that, if I had known from the beginning, I wouldn't have been as shocked as before" Kairi replied quickly. He tries to convince Ella that he really accepts his past.

"Is it true you're not angry? I see your relationship with Andra is pretty bad" Ella said, looking down.

"His presence made Mama hate me even more, of course I didn't like it. But it has nothing to do with you, even though you've loved her, but I still love you" Kairi said, cupping Ella's cheek with both hands.

"Kairi, I'm sorry, even though you're trying to look okay. But from the look in your eyes, I know you harbored disappointment. Just get angry if you want to get angry, it will make you relieved, Kai," Ella said in tears.

His heart was sliced with grief at Kairi's still so gentle demeanor. Although Kairi was disappointed, he still treated her very well. If only she could choose, Ella would rather see Kairi scolding her, than see her keeping her disappointment all by herself.

"I'm not disappointed, honey," said Kairi, wiping Ella's tears.

"You lied, Kai, I know you're disappointed. You're trying to keep it to yourself, so I don't feel sad. But you know Kai, your attitude like this makes me cramped, makes me want to cry and scream" Ella said between her lines.

"Honey calm down, trust me, I'm not disappointed" Kairi said as she hugged Ella again, and let the woman cry in her chest.

Kairi knows, Ella is not a stupid woman. His tongue can lie but not his eyes. Ella could definitely see the chaos of unrest and disappointment, in the deepest corner of her eyes.

"I just didn't think your best friend was Andra. I thought that your best friend was Vino, the person you were talking about at the party at the time" Kairi said, hugging Ella.

"Why would you think that?" asked Ella in a soft voice.

"Because you used to say your best friend was your high school friend. And when I saw the list of High School Harapan alumni in 2015, I didn't see any name Andra. All I saw was the names of Riky and Vino, so I thought your best friend was Vino" Kairi replied at length.

Because he is also an alumni of High School Hope, so it is not difficult to find out who the alumni are in the following years.

Ella let go of her embrace and wiped her tears dripping down her cheeks.

"Andra is not a Harapan High School alumni, because he was expelled from school four days before the exam" Ella said while looking at Kairi.

"What!" kairi said, she was shocked to hear Ella's explanation. Why did Andra get kicked out of school, and why didn't her mother defend her?

"Why was he expelled?" kairi asked in curiosity.

"There was a woman who came to school and claimed to be pregnant with her son Andra. All the evidence tells us that he was guilty, because he did, '" Ella replied.

"Then where is that woman? Is that how Andra is involved?" ask Kairi.

"I also don't know, the child conceived by the woman was not Andra's child. However, Andra can uncover it when the graduation party has passed. His lifestyle was indeed free, as no one paid attention to him. The first time I knew him, his relationship with Aunt Mirna was not as good as it is now" Ella replied.

"really? But Mama loves him so much, there's no way Mama's ignoring him" Kairi said, frowning.

"But I know like that, Kai, Aunt Mirna is rarely home. Aunt Mirna was always busy with her work, so rarely paid attention to Andra" Ella said.

"It's fitting that Gabriella is so worried about Dimas and Yura's divorce. Perhaps she was reflecting from Andra's life," Kairi's inner self in her heart.

"Hmmm," Kairi muttered as she looked at Ella.

"How can you be what you are now, I know your past is not easy either, but you can grow into an amazing man" Ella said, holding Kairi's hand.

"I went through my teenage years with great difficulty. Papa used to go back and forth abroad, while Mama never considered me, and my sister, she never cared about me either. He hates me so much, he thinks I've taken Papa. I was lonely, I used to cry alone" Kairi said with a bland smile.

Ella clasped Kairi's hand tighter, knowing how hurt Kairi was when she told him about her past.

"But ever since Papa took me to France, I've been able to think positively. Although Mama is not there for me, but at least there is still Papa who loves me very much. I also promised myself that I had to be a great person, I had to surpass Andra, so that Mama could see me" Kairi said.

Ella still did not answer a word. He only rubbed Kairi's hand, so that the man felt more comfortable and did not think too much about his injuries.

"You know, Gabriella, I was so embarrassed when I found out your father was gone, but you could still continue your education all the way to London. Compared to you, I am very weak, I am a man, but I often cry and also curse fate, just because I did not get the attention of Mama. I'm not as good as you are, Gabriella" Kairi said, staring at her boyfriend.

"Don't go down, for me you're great. You can keep your wounds, while thinking about your future. You're a very amazing man Kairi" Ella said with a sweet smile.

"Having you is a most beautiful gift, Gabriella. You are like the light in my life, you lead my way and take me out of the darkness" Kairi said, cupping Ella's cheek and bringing her face closer.

"Don't praise me too much, I'm not that good, Kai," Ella said with a fast-paced heart. Their faces were so close together that Ella could feel Kairi's warm breath on her face.

"For me you're the most perfect, I love you so much, Gabriella," Kairi said, then he kissed Ella's forehead long enough.

"I'm happy you can accept my past, Kai, I hope we can always be together" Ella said, closing her eyes. Enjoying the touch of Kairi's lips that feel soft and warm on her forehead.

"We go home, yes" Kairi said with a smile.

"Yes," Ella replied while nodding.

Ella can breathe a sigh of relief, it turns out that Kairi can understand and willingly accept her past. Ahh how lucky she is, to have such a perfect lover as Kairi.

***

The hour hand showed at 08:00 a.m., Andra was still sitting under the window of her room. Since last night his eyes kept awake, he did not sleep for a second. Andra sat down while hugging her knees, her mind glaring deep into the past. He was so late in his daydreams that he did not care about the sound of a cell phone that from last night continued to ring. I don't know who called him, Andra doesn't want to know. For the moment no one is considered important, except Ella.

Not long after, Andra got up from her seat. He stepped towards the chair in front of the mirror, he sat there staring at his reflection. His eyes were a little red, because he had cried last night. His hair was messy, as he had ruffled it a few times violently.

"You really messed me up, El," Andra muttered softly. He rubbed his face violently, hoping that Ella's shadow could go from his memory. But the truth is not, the shadows about Ella are even clearer.

"You're really driving me crazy, El!!" andra shouted while standing and kicking the chair she had just sat in.

Andra pinched her temple, her head feeling dizzy just because of a woman.

Then Andra grabbed her phone, she noticed there were 58 missed calls from Nadhira. But Andra ignored him, now he even contacted someone who was none other than Ella.

Once, twice, up to three calls Ella's number remains inactive.

"Armghh!!" Andra growled in annoyance, and almost slammed her phone. Fortunately he still remembered, if the phone was storing some important data related to his business.

Holding her head, Andra put herself in bed. Staring at the ceiling of the room full of pictures of Ella. Ahh was wrong, not the sky of his room that was filled with images of Ella, but his own mind. There was already nothing else in his brain, other than Ella, Ella, and Ella.

"I can't keep going like this. Ella's not married yet, why am I giving up. I've known him for ten years, while Kairi, only a few years. I know more about Ella, so I deserve her more" Andra said with a big smile.

Then he got up from his sleep, and he quickly headed to the bathroom.

And exactly at 09.00 am, Andra is neat with a long pair of jeans combined with a light blue T-shirt, Ella's favorite color. Not to forget he sprayed perfume with the scent of mint, the aroma that used to be his favorite Ella. Andra smiled as she grabbed a chocolate bar that had been decorated with ribbons. The chocolate she originally bought to give Nadhira, but now no, Ella deserved it more.

"My relationship with Ella used to be pretty close, I'm sure she'll consider me" Andra said with a smile.

Then Andra grabbed the keys to his car lying on the table, for some reason last night he could not find it, maybe because fate did not allow him to go with Nadhira.

Andra stepped out of her room, she went down the stairs, and soon she passed Bik Surti.

"Where's your mom, Bik?" ask Andra.

"Just leaving, sir," replied Bik Surti.

"Oh," Andra said as she walked away from Bik Surti.

Bik Surti looked at him in wonder.

"Every night Mr. Andra looks very angry, why now it looks so happy yes, strange," said Bik Surti as he looked at Andra who began to disappear behind the door.

***

The sunlight began to warm up, giving a golden color to every object it struck. Ella sat among the colorful roses and pulled out the weeds growing there. At that time Ella was wearing knee-length jeans combined with a black shirt, her hair rolled carelessly a little messy. Her face looks beautiful without makeup.

Ella was too busy with the little grasses in front of her, that she did not realize that a pair of eyes were staring at her without a blink.

He is Andra, the man who used to be his best friend. Andra was standing looking at him with a smile. Very beautiful, inner Andra at that time.

"Girla!" call Andra as she steps closer to Ella.

Ella turned her head, she was a little shocked when she saw Andra was already standing near her, since when did she come?

"Andra, since when did you come?" asked Ella as she moved from her seat.

"just now. El, this is for you" Andra said as she offered a chocolate bar to Ella.

"Thank you" Ella replied as she received the chocolate. He smiled at the smile on his lips.

"Kairi doesn't mind my past that once loved Andra. And now, Andra has accepted my presence as her sister-in-law's candidate. Thankfully it turned out that everything could go smoothly," Ella's inner self in her heart.