Allow Me to Be With You

CHAPTER 3

Nico stepped quickly down the street in his compound. Not like Nathan has a motor. Nico always takes the bus when he goes to college. It's not that Nico never asked, but he 'unwilling' to ask anything from his father, and also whatever Nathan had. Dad gave the bike to Nathan because he passed UAN with an average score of eight, not because Nathan asked for it. And Nico could do nothing but stand still and swallow his round red average.

Realizing, Nico looked at a park located not far from his home complex. Nico paused for a moment, and stared at the garden that had never changed since he was a child. The park is so beautiful with a basketball court in the middle and several garden chairs on the edges. The park holds many memories. Too many memories.

Nico decided to enter the park. I don't know what force is pulling him there. The last time he went there was when he was nine. Since then, he has never been there again, to wait for the ten-year promise he made with the little girl in two.

Nico forced himself to walk to a tree, where the promise was in a chisel. After many years, the writing was still there. Written 'Nico-Frisca-Nathan'. Nico looked at him expressionlessly. To him, this promise was just silliness. Just a child's prank job. That girl will never show up again. Never again after he reneges on his own promise.

Friscas. The little girl went to London two months after they promised to be together. He just left after they made the application letter. And now, it's been ten years since the deal was made. February 14, 2018 is still carved there.

There is no way that this is Frisca's old writing, Nico thought. Nathan must have been sculpting it for ten years. Nathan still believes the girl is coming. In the past, the stupid boy had even mentioned the name Frisca appeared on a forum in cyberspace. True is full of imaginations. It's really a joke. That girl will never come again. Frisca can't come anymore.

Nico is convinced, Frisca does not even remember this agreement anymore. Nico looked at the tree hatefully, then hit it so hard that his knuckle hurt. Nico doesn't care about his past. There is nothing more to expect from his past. In fact, there is nothing more to expect from the present or the future. It's all just bullshit.

Nico left the park immediately after kicking the tree.

*****

"Nat, help mom dong."

Nathan jumped off the couch as soon as he saw his mother appear in the doorway, looking like she was carrying groceries.

"What did you buy anyway? Very excited" Nathan commented, bringing the groceries in and putting them on the dinner table.

"Food," replied the mother briefly while Nathan scrunched his forehead.

"Aid for a year?" Nathan looked at the large package before his eyes. "This is What Ma'am?"

I didn't comment much and just put my shoulders down. "There's..!" replied the mysterious mother while arranging the vegetables in the fridge.

Nathan tries to open a package, but his hand is immediately brushed by the mother.

Nathan grimaced as he stroked the back of his hand. "What the hell is mom? Do you want a party, right?"

"Oh, you watch there. Don't ask too many questions. Ntar will also know really" said mother, who is still in her mysterious tone.

Nathan also obeyed the word mother even with a grumble.

"Lecture time ma'am." replied Nathan lazily, his hands were still busy changing TV channels.

"Loh, keep him breakfast what? there's nothing in the fridge" said mom again.

Nathan shrugged his shoulders "The most he had breakfast on campus." he muttered.

Mother nodded her head, then observed Nathan moving closer to pick up an apple from one of the opened grocery packs.

"Nat, I'm actually worried about Nico.. These few days he's been fighting more and more with dad" said mother slowly.

Nathan looked at his mother who seemed older than usual, then sighed softly. "Mother, calm down. Nico is big. He can solve his own problems" Nathan said, then moved to pick up his basketball lying next to the sofa. "I played basketball, Mom!"

After saying goodbye to his mother Nathan walked out of the house and breathed fresh morning air. The weather was a bit cloudy today. Nathan sighed softly.

That Nico, Nathan thought, Always pisses off mom and dad. Always make money in order to be noticed. His actions will not bring sympathy from anyone.

Nathan then dribbles the ball into the park. Nathan paused for a moment, staring at the garden full of memories of his childhood. After sighing, he steadily began to run to the basketball court and put his ball into the ring.

Fifteen minutes later, he was sitting under a large acacia tree located right next to the field. He raised his head, then saw the inscription 'Nico-Frisca-Nathan' engraved on the tree. His mind drifted into his childhood.

Friscas. The two braided little girl who is always present in her dream. Nathan should have forgotten about it, but every time he thought like that, he was increasingly unable to do so. A Frisca grows bigger and bigger in her wildest fantasies and becomes a very beautiful girl. I want Nathan to think that all this is ridiculous and absurd, but he can't. Never been able to.

He has that belief. The belief that Frisca, her beautiful little girl will return someday.

Nathan got up, picked up a sharp-tipped stone, then scratched it into the same place where the inscription 'Nico-Frisca-Nathan' was sculpted. He carved it back so it wouldn't disappear. Nathan's been doing that for ten years now. He still hopes that the promise ten years ago is still valid, even though it has passed the deadline set.

A few months ago, Nathan had thought about dismantling the bottle buried in the ground, with Nico's approval. But Nathan never did. Nico. It seemed like that fellow had even forgotten about the agreement. That makes Nathan a little reluctant to join thicken his 'Nico' writing. But for some reason, his hand moved beyond his will.

Nathan broke his green grass body. For ten years, Nico never spoke of Frsica or the tree, nor the covenant. In fact, Nico didn't say much about anything to Nathan. Nico had forgotten all his childhood memories. There is no curiosity. In fact, there was no response when Nathan mentioned Frisca in front of him about two months ago, when an e-mail went into Nathan's mailbox.

The e-mail shocked Nathan and evoked all the memories that had been buried deep in his brain. The e-mail was from Frisca, her Frisca. The e-mail said everything Nathan wanted to hear. That Frisca was okay, that Frisca had not forgotten the agreement, that Frisca would return, although not exactly on February 14 because she had not received school holidays.

A big smile adorned Nathan's face. That girl is still in high school. Nathan often forgets about her, assuming Frisca is the same age as him. But all that doesn't matter. The important thing is that Frisca will be back, even if I don't know when. And later tonight Frisca will go into the chat room to chat with him. Again. Routine for the past two months. The activities that made her forget Lisa.