Aira And Aria

8. A Reality

“Kak! Brother Ari! Brother!”

I was surprised by the sudden appearance of two tenth-graders who confronted me on the way home from school. They ran while shouting my name. Of course I stopped and felt very confused.

The two girls stood before me with their breaths cut off. “What's up?” my many.

From the look on his second face I can catch that something bad is happening.

“Kak, please! Aira, Brother!”

“Aira why?”

“He dragged same upperclassman to school warehouse. I-we're confused as to what to do. So we nyusulin Sister.”

Hearing that made my feet immediately shot back to school. Without even commenting after hearing the stories of the two tenth graders.

At this time the school must have begun to be quiet, because indeed the time to go home from school has passed a few hours. I know today Aira does have artistic experience. But I regretted not waiting for him and going home together. I also recently finished basketball practice.

Behind the school—near the sports field—there is a small warehouse where to store sports equipment. It was definitely the place that the tenth grader meant earlier. Without buying any more time, I rushed towards the place where the door seemed to be slightly open.

Before entering, I noticed the momentary state. From the outside I can catch the voices of some of the people who are talking in there.

“It's good you never seem to be in the canteen. Now dare to nongol in front of my eyes with Aria! Don't know yourself!” I'm sure it was Mira's voice. “This is the third warning! And you're really stubborn! So don't make a mistake if today you won't be able to go home!”

Third time?

I couldn't stay silent any longer, and barged straight in. “Enough, Mir!”

In the dark enough warehouse, I was able to catch the presence of Mira with her two friends, as well as Aira who was sitting helplessly with her head bowed. His head until his body looked soaked. There was even a lot of rubbish scattered around.

“A-aria?” Mira looked very surprised when she saw me suddenly appear.

“He wasn't back yet?”

Mira's two friends whispered to each other before finally deciding to leave. Leaving the three of us in the barn.

“You've gone too far, Mir. Why do you do all this?” I still hold back the feeling of wanting to get angry as much as possible. Luckily she was a girl, because otherwise I might have beaten her to the ground.

“A-I don't mean to do any of this, Yes..”

“But in fact already, right?”

“All this is because you never want to be horrified how I feel about you, Yes! I'm sorry. And I just want us to kayak first again!”

“I've told you that you can't reciprocate with you.”

“But I still love you.”

“Could not. The only thing you love is yourself. You never want to accept me for who I am. You are just forcing me to be the one to live up to your expectations.”

“Because of that..Give me a chance once again, Yes. I really can never understand you.” Mira walked closer to me. He grabbed my shirt while putting on a parched face that made me sick.

“Lah be, Mir. I don't want to hurt you by pretending to love you.”

‘Plak!’ Mira slapped my face very hard. I saw him crying while he was away. I don't know why I didn't take it a little, 'cause he should have gotten the slap.

Now my attention is distracted by the figure of Aira who is still silent in place. I can't see his face at all.

I crouched down so that I could look at the face of Aira who seemed forced to smile while looking at me. I could see bluish bruises on the corners of his lips. Her forehead slightly shriveled, describing that she was holding back the crying.

All I could do was hug Aira. I couldn't say anything anymore and even wanted to cry. My heart is suddenly in pain at this moment. “Sorry, Ra...” I said slowly.

I felt Aira holding me back. She finally cried in my place. We just kept quiet for a while, until things got a little better.

I think this is the worst time I've ever been through. But as it turned out, at this moment another more painful surprise was still waiting for me.