Chandanas

Section 16

Roka reflected the basketball in his grasp to cause a thumping sound that managed to attract the attention of several other basketball children. Now they are taking shelter in the classroom corridor which is right next to the basketball court. The rain that flushed this afternoon was quite heavy and also long when compared to usual. Counted for an hour they waited for the rain to subside, but during that time also gurgling rainwater no stop broke the silence around them.

Sparing against the neighboring High School that had not even walked a round was forced to stop for the safety of all team members. Unlike football, in the rain like this the basketball court will certainly be slippery. Not to mention if you have to play with a heavy ball accompanied by a very heavy rain. Therefore it has become an agreement of all people that in the rain, basketball games must be stopped because the safety of the player is the main thing.

Time shows at 5 pm more than a few minutes. Roka looked blankly at the center of the court with a hand that did not stop dribbling the basketball. Since then he could not stop thinking about Kiran who had not yet seen the trunk of his nose. It would be a lie if he said he wasn't worried about his best friend. Not to mention the matter of changing Chandana's attitude that Naya had conveyed to him this afternoon.

"Well... I told you what not to say about this afternoon. If I say, it's a child who must be thinking more," Roka lowered her head to put the basketball from her grasp onto the floor.

"But if I don't say... It's also a pity, son" he continued in a voice that sounded desperate.

From a distance, Naya who saw Roka was staring blankly at the field with a restless facial expression decided to come closer and talk to the man, "Think what lo?"

Roka turned her head quickly, "Buset. Since when are you here?"

"Must. I asked again, why is your face so tight? What else do you think?" Naya stood beside Roka, watching the male face that was a dozen centimeters taller than her carefully.

It had crossed Naya's mind that Roka was handsome as well. He is tall and athletic, his jaw is masculine and his skin is clean although it cannot be said to be white. His nose was also pointed when compared to Naya's. "Remain? Fascinated with me, huh?" Roka turned to look at Naya, raising her eyebrows after finding the girl staring at her.

Naya threw away her face. Her cheeks were blushing with embarrassment, "What a fact you are. Gu-I salfok the same panu on your chin."

Roka chuckles. Naya is really adorable when embarrassed, "Heh, sori ya. I'm gonna take a bath of a bottle of rice, it's good to say I'm a role model." Roka rubbed her chin with a pouting face.

Naya refrained from smiling, after being able to neutralize her expression again, she looked back at Roka, "So what dong is on your chin?" Naya asked doubtfully.

Naya knew very well that it was a scar, but she had no other choice. Rather than having to endure the embarrassment of being caught looking at Roka, it was better to pretend to be stupid in order to talk longer.

Buset, I just thought what the fuck. Satan is the mane who has possessed me.

Roka touched the scar on her chin, "Oh, this. When I was a kid, I fell on the highway again playing a bicycle. My chin is nyungsep on the asphalt and instead of spitting away I'm crying it doesn't stop." Roka smiled little considering her childhood.

Naya raised her eyebrows, not understanding. "Certainly? There are lots of cars on the highway? Is it okay after that?"

Roka smiled, "There I met Kiran. I still cry when he pulls my bike to the sidewalk, that's why he's back again, helping me stand up and say 'I have candy'. He took off his socks to wipe the blood on my chin and the worst I had a lot of talk was just iye-iye aja."

Naya laughed crisply. Roka smiled as she took a quick glance, then continued the story, "Since then I've been following Kiran everywhere. In my eyes he is cool. She's really nice. Always smile wherever and whenever, always nolongin others. Different from Kiran who since childhood is already neat, handsome, and his style has been macem noble boy, I used to be cupu and snot. My body is flat and small, I'm always dirty and tangled because my parents are busy themselves. I am also a whiner and a coward, there is no peace. And there Kiran wants me to go everywhere. He asked me to eat well at his house, he taught me to swim, he told me to call his mother Mother so that there was no gap between the two of us." Roka smiled faintly recalling all those memories.

"You guys are so jolly." Naya looked at Roka fixedly. No one thought it turned out that their friendship was indeed that strong even since they were children.

Roka smiled wryly, "Gemes what the fuck. In SD, we have one school or even one class. I was still catapulted and he immediately had a lot of friends. I'm still always intending on her, and not a few say I'm Kiran's lackey, and you know what she says to everyone?"

"What?" Naya put on a curious face, impatient to hear the continuation of their story.

"He said, 'He's not my lackey. He's my family.' " Roka stopped her sentence, it felt very emotional considering how much good Kiran had done for her all along.

"Since then, I've always said to myself that I will always protect Kiran, always there for her. But in fact, even after I promised myself, Kiran protected me, who was always there for me. He taught me to read, taught me to clean myself, taught me all the macem things that I had not learned from anyone even my own parents. He was always standing there when everyone was going somewhere. He's the one who always pacifies my path, but when he's dim I can't do anything for him." Roka felt her eyes start to glaze over so she immediately blinked so many times as to not cry.

Naya fell silent. He had no idea what Kiran and Roka had been through all this time. To be honest Naya also felt strange to hear Roka's description of how cheerful and kind Kiran was as a child considering Kiran who she knew was a cold, indifferent, and talkative figure.

"Don't beat yourself up. You have tried, after all who have the right to determine the success of our efforts is not ourselves. I salute you both. I salute you." unconsciously Naya smiled sincerely while rubbing the top of Roka's head.

For a few seconds the two fell silent in the same position, until Naya finally realized what she had just done so she quickly rushed to throw her face and pulled away two meters from Roka.

"Thank you for horrifying me." Roka smiled. Naya was the first person who could make him tell a story. The first person to make her feel safe to say everything.

---

Kiran took off her shoes that were wet with rainwater. He put his bag that looks still dry because it is made of water repellent. The sounds Kiran made on the doorstep apparently attracted the attention of the Mother so it did not take long until her mother screamed because she saw her eldest son drenched like a rat.

"Jeez Kiraannnnn! Why not take shelter first? What if you are sick? Aduuhh, it's wet all from hair to feet." Kiran frowned as the Mother threw the towel right on her face.

Still rubbing his head with a towel, Kiran glanced at the Mother, "Yes, Ma. It's already wet, so all the trials."

"Ck, yasudah. Abis this shower there, keep eating right away. Mama cook corn soup today," said Liliana - Mother Kiran-Slowly.

Kiran gave a small nod then rushed towards the bathroom to take a shower and changed clothes. The memory of what just happened in the minimarket makes Kiran feel happy and sad. He is proud of himself because he can say everything he has felt. He was also pleased that in the end Chandana found out his heart, knowing the underlying reason for Kiran's actions to keep trying to get close to Chandana despite not getting a positive response from the girl.

But on the other hand Kiran was feeling sad. He had said everything, and that meant that there was nothing left of the two of them. She no longer had any reason to approach Chandana, "May she get home safely." Kiran whispered softly as she sighed.

After completing the ritual of cleaning himself and changing clothes, Kiran walked casually towards the living room, "Where are you, Ma?"

Hearing Kiran ask made Liliana rush her head towards her eldest son, "Arda is at the grandmother's house. Tomorrow you will go there."

Amazed, Kiran then canceled her intention to go to the kitchen and ran to sit next to her mother who is now sitting in front of the television, "Kok tumben. Not a vacation yet. What's up, Ma?"

Liliana turned towards Kiran. The look on his face was agitated and serious and made Kiran feel confused, "Why, Ma?" ask Kiran impatiently.

"I don't want you to know." Liliana whispered softly, sounding despair at her tone.

"That man is free, Kiran. The man who destroyed this family, is free."

Kiran's body stiffened. He tried to digest his mother's words with great difficulty. Suddenly he felt a lump stuck right in his throat. He can't speak. Even to blink he felt unable, "Mama does not know for sure, but said your Papa's men, he came out recently."

Kiran closed her eyes for a moment. The horrifying memory of the events of that night was rewound in his head. He trembled with fear and anger, inexhaustible how the terrible criminal could be released from prison.

"Why, Ma? Why is he free?" Kiran tried to be calm and clear-minded. He was angry, he was sad, he was afraid. But more than anything, he was worried for his sister and family.

"They said the man behaved well in prison. He had many acquaintances and also had a lot of money, so a few days ago he was released on condition." Liliana let out a long breath. Just remembering the face of the criminal alone he had trouble sleeping, now he was actually faced with the fact that people who had snatched away the happiness of their families had breathed free air.

"Papa decided to move Arda to your grandmother's house for an undetermined time. My mom will be there from tomorrow. Papa's worried that guy's going to get his revenge, he could have come here or to your sister's school. No one knows what that madman can do." Kiran shuddered at her mother's words. Imagining Arda and his family in that makes Kiran's stomach feel nauseous and her body bristles.

"You take it easy, papa has paid people to take care of this house and grandmother's house. But you know your grandmother's house as tightly as her guard, so moving there might be safer for Arda and Mama. You are now in 2nd grade and want to take the exam, after the exam you can decide to come with us and move there or stay here with Papa until you graduate later." Liliana grabbed Kiran's shoulder, hugging her sobbing.

It was hard to leave his eldest son in such difficult times. He knew how Kiran, his son would not be willing to leave here and leave his father alone. He was sure that Kiran would insist on taking care of her father and staying here because she did not want to make her parents feel difficult to take care of her move. Kiran was always like that. His eldest son always bore everything alone, he never wanted to share his sorrow with anyone, he never allowed anyone into the great wall that Kiran created, he said, no one knows what and how the heart of Kiran is, not even the Mother.

"Ma, don't cry. Kiran will be fine. Kiran will often play there. And Kiran also believes that Papa must be there every day nyamperin Mama." Kiran smiled mischievously, trying to comfort her mother.

Liliana hissed softly while wiping her tears. "You're this. Yeah-yes. Some mama sure you will not want to go to grandma's place. Someone else falls in a leech."

Kiran blushed to hear her mother's words. He himself did not even dare to interpret his feelings for Chandana, but the Mother actually blatantly called Kiran in love, "Enggaaakk Maa. Yaudah Kiran wants to eat."

After seeing his mother nod slowly, Kiran walked towards the dining table. He pulled a chair and then opened the hood so that it was plastered various kinds of food that his mother had prepared. Kiran picked up one by one the side dishes that sat before her while staring blankly somewhere. His mind did not stop to think about the fact that the safety of his family might be threatened.

Kiran lowered her head, laying her head on the dining table. Not lost mind about Chandana, now he must think about the safety of his family and act alert and careful because he does not know how and when the criminal will launch an act of revenge on his family.