Chandanas

Kiwi (2)

Sunlight penetrates the glass roof, refracting its light in the form of light channels that are comfortable in view of the eye.

After making sure his shoes were sunk in a solid position and overwritten by the sun from all sides, Kiran shook both hands to get rid of the water that stuck to the skin of his arm white and clean. Since childhood Kiran almost never washed his own shoes, therefore he did not think if this activity turned out to be quite tiring for him.

With wide steps Kiran walked into the house. It feels like he wants to lie on a mattress while enjoying the cold AC in hot weather like this. A few days ago it was cloudy and cold still quite dominating, but the last two days of heat and blazing sun took over everything, shining and befalling all the inhabitants of the city with a stinging heat.

Kiran slammed herself in the bed. She looked up at her back against the soft, soft mattress after almost an hour of bending over to brush her shoes.

For a few minutes, Kiran just lay there doing nothing. He just kept silent while looking at the ceiling of his room carefully. His mind flew around uncontrollably, as if so many things he had to rethink lately.

Kiran was grateful that in the end Roka managed to solve all her problems in one paddle. She was happy that Roka no longer needed to live with the shadow of a mother's betrayal, no longer needed to live with hatred in her heart. In addition, Roka has also removed all the obstacles that will hinder her relationship with Naya. Kiran is happy for it all, but on the other hand Kiran is saddened by the fact that Roka's mother has a disease that can take her life at any time. Kiran could not imagine how much guilt Roka would have if her mother had to leave this world after all the misunderstandings she had brought to the woman over the past few years.

Kiran sighed while slipping both of her hands under her head. He misses his mother and sister. He wanted to meet the two of them and regroup as usual. Kiran thought that with no sign of danger, she could soon return with her little family. But it turns out he was wrong. He saw no danger not because it did not exist, but because he had not seen and found it directly, at least until today.

Kiran was worried about the people around her. He was worried that the criminals who carried out the terror were not only targeting Kiran and her family, but also those closest to her. Kiran could not imagine how her mental state would endure if she had to see someone again get hurt because of her. More than anything, Kiran is very worried about Chandana. So far the girl is the closest to him besides Roka, but the difference if Roka is a boy, Chandana is a girl. He is weak and helpless.

Kiran rubbed her face in frustration. He must stop all this overthinking. He should stop immediately. He must be sure that nothing will happen. Not his family, not his friends.

With both eyes still busy observing the ceiling of the room, Kiran pulled out one of her hands, fumbling the sheets that were stretched out beneath her, trying to find the phone that he just threw on the bed.

Successfully finding what he was looking for, Kiran looked at his phone in a sleeping position. He opened a gallery and looked at the shots he took himself the last few days. Previously Kiran was almost never using her cellphone camera because it did not know what to photograph if not schoolwork. Kiran doesn't even have a social media account other than a messaging app. Inside the expensive phone, there are only a few online gaming apps, streaming movies, music, and video, as well as some messaging apps.

But lately Kiran started to like photography. He began to often capture objects of nature, beautiful objects of which Chandana is one of them.

Kiran smiled as she looked at a photo she had taken while having a picnic with Roka and Naya a few days ago. Kiran's smile grew even more when she saw a photo of Chandana smiling faintly as she looked towards him appearing on her phone screen.

Kiran recalled everything that happened on that pleasant day.

It was already noon but the weather was relatively cloudy tend to be cloudy. After eating food and talking about various types of topics, they decided to go separate ways. Trying to touch the whole beautiful picnic area and then tell everything they meet to each other.

As usual, Roka leaves with Naya while Kiran leaves with Chandana. After setting the hour and place to meet, the four of them walked apart towards the opposite direction together with their respective partners.

Kiran who at that time brought a mirrorless camera owned by her father at the request of Roka also brought the object with her. Although not used to photograph something, Kiran tried it by starting to take pictures of other visitors or flowers that bloom around them.

Initially Kiran's shots look quite terrible, but as she takes more and more pictures, Kiran slowly begins to master and know where and how to determine the best angle to take a quality picture.

"Photography is hard too. I guess there's only one shot, "Kiran takes a quick glance at Chandana and then takes a picture of the scenery around her.

Chandana smiled, "If it were that easy, there would be no such thing as a good photographer because everyone could do it."

Kiran nodded in agreement to Chandana's opinion.

"You stand there, let me take a picture of this pack!" Kiran pointed at one of the corners for Chandana to be willing to stand there while Kiran would take her picture.

Chandana shook her head slowly, "No ah. I think the result will be bad. I've almost never been photographed."

"It's okay. I am also not good at taking pictures. Want huh? Yeah?" Kiran is still not giving up, she still wants to take pictures of Chandana.

Still with her stance, Chandana shook her head slowly while smiling calmly, "No, Kiran."

Hearing Chandana's second rejection makes Kiran give up. He sighed softly while showing a sad expression. Although Kiran did it naturally without any intention of persuading Chandana with it, it seems that Kiran's sad face made Chandana feel guilty. Doubtfully, Chandana stepped in the direction Kiran had pointed.

"Here isn't it?" ask Chandana who is now standing in the corner that Kiran previously wanted.

Kiran's eyes twinkled not understanding, "You want me to take a photo? Seriously?"

Chandana nodded, asserting Kiran's doubts over her decision.

In the spirit of 45, Kiran set up her camera lens and then photographed Chandana in several consecutive shots. He hurried to check his picture, beautiful. Chandana is so beautiful in this photo. The girl he loved looked very beautiful and innocent as well as the flowers around him even just by standing without doing any poses.

"Why smile? Ugly huh?" Chandana was embarrassed when she saw Kiran not stop smiling after looking at her photos.

Kiran shook her head loudly after hearing Chandana's question, "You're so beautiful."

Chandana shakes her head, feeling clueless, "What's the difference with a camera?"

Kiran pulled out her mobile phone and pointed the lens behind the camera at Chandana, "So every time I open this phone, you're there. Maybe I'm more excited to play mobile?"

Chandana smiled, "You're starting to sound like Roka huh."

Kiran checked the shots she had just taken. Really beautiful, her inner. Coincidentally Kiran took the photo just as Chandana was smiling knot.

"OKAY. It's done with the portrait. Let's go again!" Kiran smiled as she looked at Chandana who was walking slowly towards her.

The girl who was no more than Kiran's chin looked very happy when she saw flowers blooming almost all over the picnic site. Chandana always takes the time to touch every type of flower that is beside her. His two eyes sparkled happily, as if everything before him was a paradise he had long been craving for.

If Chandana is busy looking at the flowers around them, Kiran is busy looking at Chandana from the side. For Kiran, the flowers that spread on their left-right are indeed beautiful, but not as beautiful as the girl who is now beside her, the girl who was busy admiring the beauty of God's creation when she was also one of God's most beautiful creations for Kiran.

"Aah!" Chandana gave a stifled strangle, surprising the figure of the man who was engrossed in looking at her from earlier.

"What's? Whahuh? Why?" Kiran almost shouted as she asked Chandana. He thought Chandana was hit by thorns or something while holding flowers.

"Sorry, I surprised you?" Chandana smiled awkwardly as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

Kiran grabbed Chandana's hand, flipping through the smooth, white palm, "You're hurt? Why?"

Chandana let go of her hand gently, "That, that's a sandalwood tree. This is the first time I have seen it in person because this tree is rare and difficult to breed. I didn't expect this to grow in this place," Chandana smiled knotfully as she pointed at one of the groves.

Kiran narrowed her eyes, reading about the sandalwood tree a few days after discovering Chandana's name in two books she borrowed a few months ago. He thought Chandana's name might be taken from the name of the tree, so Kiran imagined the figure of Chandana based on the description of sandalwood trees. Is not the name a prayer?

After finding the tree that Chandana was referring to, Kiran smiled as she looked at the girl, "Your name was taken from the tree?"

Chandana nodded slowly, "Yes. Sandalwood trees have many benefits. One of them is the famous fragrant sandalwood. I once read that good wood can store its aroma for centuries. Isn't that awesome?"

Kiran nodded in agreement, "Yes, you are awesome," Kiran said involuntarily.

"What?" afraid that he might have misheard her, Chandana tried to confirm Kiran's words just now.

Kiran was about to turn to Chandana who happened to be looking at Kiran as well. Because you have to look down a little and stand in a certain position to be able to see clearly the existence of the tree, their faces were now aligned at such a close distance that Kiran almost fell down as her eyes met the two beautiful Chandana beads within such a close distance.

Kiran shifted one step then tried to neutralize her expression, "The Po-Tree is awesome huh. I also read that now the price on the market is really expensive. You truly reflect the beauty and benefits this tree has."

"But you know that initially this tree grows as a parasite in other plants because of its rooting is too weak. I might as well be like that," Chandana said softly.

Kiran frowned not understanding, "No. You're not a parasite on anyone, Chandana. Don't say that. Your parents named you by the name of this beautiful tree, hoping that you could provide benefits and be of great value in the eyes of people. Despite all the negatives this tree has, you are you" Kiran glanced at Chandana who looked down while playing her fingers.

"Did? Et et, this is whyaaaaaaa!" Kiran screeched as she grabbed Chandana's wrist, which was bleeding a little from scratching.

I don't know since when the wound was there, Kiran who saw it was suddenly worried not playing. With a swift glance, Kiran brought her lips closer to Chandana's injured wrist then sucked the blood that came out of it and spat it out. Kiran did the same thing many times until there was absolutely no more blood seeping out of the wound.

With a worried expression, Kiran looked at Chandana at a glance and took out her wallet to look for the plaster she always carried everywhere.

Kiran tore off the plaster wrap and put it in her pants pocket. Slowly, Kiran placed the plaster on Chandana's injured hand, "Hurt isn't it?" Kiran asked.

Chandana smiled bitterly as she wiped away a tear. Just this time someone was so worried about her condition, cared for her, and looked after her more than she did for herself.

Not realizing that Chandana had just shed a tear, Kiran, who was busy with Chandana's wrist, said, "You are. Why didn't you say it was Kegores? His blood's on your sleeve!" Kiran folded the sleeves of the sweater worn by Chandana so that as much blood as had hit the sweater was not visible to the eyes.

Before Kiran folded her sweater even higher, Chandana pulled her hand with a panicked facial expression. It was as if he had just realized something he should not have done.

"Thank you," Chandana said as she walked ahead of Kiran, lowering the arm of the sweater that had been folded up by the man.

All the memories of that day made Kiran wonder what Chandana was really hiding from her. For some reason, whenever Kiran felt closer to Chandana, the girl always tried to pull away and make them back away. Consciously or not, every step Kiran approached, every step Chandana also moved away.