Chandanas

Cold

The sound of small birds sounds earthy, giving a calm and peaceful sensation to those who hear it. The sun was still not fully rising, only visible as bright as a light that seemed to be peering coyly from the east.

I blinked a few times, trying to gain full consciousness after falling asleep for several hours. After being fully conscious and fully awake, I unfolded the blanket while getting up and stretching. I was sure that my break time and Kiran was no more than three hours. However, somehow I felt quite fit and energetic this morning.

Satisfied stretching my body, I came out of the room and went downstairs. Kiran is still sleeping. He slept sideways, his knees bent to his stomach, it seemed like Kiran was cold.

I went back to the room and picked up the blanket to then bring it down. I spread out the blanket so that Kiran's body was covered perfectly. He must have been holding the cold all night.

After making sure Kiran's tub was covered in blankets - except for her head - I sat next to Kiran or rather on the floor while Kiran lay on a sofa that was tens of inches shorter than Kiran's.

I sat down cross-legged, looking at the face of Kiran who was now sleeping in front of me. I smiled as I noticed the twitching on Kiran's forehead. Is it even in his sleep that he is still restless?

I touched Kiran's forehead, rubbing her slowly so that the pain soon disappeared. Afterwards, I pulled my hand and looked at him in silence.

The last time we met before in this forest was a hospital. At the time, I was in the biggest dilemma of my life.

Honestly, hearing the news of Kiran wretched made me so devastated and sad. Imagining him hurt makes me worry and restless instead of playing. Kiran's safety is much more precious than my own, her safety is far more important than anything else. Therefore, hearing the news made me almost faint on the spot. Moreover, he had a terrible accident after he learned the truth that the father was the one who hurt his sister. That father was one of the reasons that made his life chaotic and filled with sadness.

At that time, I could think of nothing more than going to the hospital immediately. I had to see for myself how Kiran was doing with my eyes because otherwise I would never be able to feel calm.

I was still sitting on the porch uneasily waiting for the online taxi I booked through the app. At that time, I was no longer picked up by the driver because the only car in the house had damage and had to get repairs.

I don't know how long I waited on the porch, which is for sure I never really took the taxi or went to meet Kiran in the hospital because before I could go, I was sure, a motorized man came to the house and introduced himself as my older brother. He is Edy. He was still wearing a futsal uniform when he came to me.

Until before then, I really had no idea that he had been that close to me all along. I didn't even realize that he had been that close to Kiran. It felt so horrible to know that he had been watching and was around us all along. I cursed myself for not recognizing him at all. How not, all this time I never pay attention or care about men other than Kiran. I even avoided them all. After all, Edy really looks different than I can remember.

After hearing his words, I ran into the house and tried to lock the door from the inside. I can still clearly remember how scared I was then. How not, all this time I tried to resume my life thinking that it was over. That dark and bad past is over. And then, my worst nightmare came back when I thought that my life had started to come back into order.

After making sure the door was locked, I walked back in tears. The fear I felt back then was completely indescribable and explained with anything at all. Moreover, while I was still not fully recovered after being shocked and shocked by Edy's sudden arrival, the door I had made sure was locked properly was opened from the outside.

I screamed as I saw Edy step inside with her horrible grin. He showed off a key in his hand that was none other than the spare key of my house.

I was still busy crying and walking backwards as Edy said, "Don't see ya? I'm upset that you didn't know me at all this time when I was always there wherever you were. At school, in the library, wherever you are, I'm there."

I'm getting sobbing. I shook my head slowly, begging him to get out of here.

He smiled again, "Where is Dad? A while ago I stopped by anyway. Sorry yes, the house at that time I let it fall apart. I was so busy about it. Didn't have time to help clean up" Edy still stepped forward, constantly trying to erode the distance between us.

"Oh yes, I also give a gift to my father. How was your expression when you saw the gift? He must have missed the Pradipta family he had destroyed. Kiran's family, boyfriend.. You."

I'm stunned. I just remembered that a few days ago, after I had spent a day with Kiran, my father had a tantrum and had a panic attack. So he's the cause. So, he was the one who brought the photo home and made me know all the things I should have known for a long time. Also, because of her actions I chose to end my relationship with Kiran because I could not let Kiran know everything. I can't stand Kiran hating me for what Dad did. And instead of getting Kiran away, she came to the house and found out everything from my own mouth. Now, when everything has been destroyed like this, Kiran must actually experience one more bad event with an accident that hit him on the field.

I cried, I could only cry thinking about everything that had happened. I was still in tears when a far more terrible possibility came to my mind. With some hesitation, I looked at Edy and said, "Don't tell me.. You're the one who made Kiran experience.."

Edy smiled, almost laughing. On his face and arms, there were some scratches. It seems he was at the scene when Kiran was hit by a light, and Edy's minor injuries must have been the result of a broken light accidentally hitting him.

I'm hysterical. Once again, he ruined my life. Once again he brought nightmares into my life.

"What's? Who ruined whose life? The only person who keeps ruining other people's lives is you. You've even ruined your own life by being like this! Not realising it? No one killed my mother! My mother died because her time was up. I am sad, my father is sad too, but that does not mean we have to blame others for something that is beyond our control! Also, don't call my parents father or mother. You don't deserve that. You are not and never have been part of our family" I shouted.

It felt, all the annoyance and frustration that I had been pending all this time came out at that moment. Not lost the sadness and anxiety in my heart because Kiran had an accident, now I actually have to deal with the babing*n man. I couldn't help myself, I took everything out in front of Edy and unfortunately, it made him even more angry.

He walked towards me and pulled with me firmly. He grabbed me and brought our faces closer. I refused, but he was too strong and rude.

He put his lips close to my ears then whispered in a tone laden with threats, "Today I am happy that Kiran will finally die! I came just to say hello to you and not to fight or mess up my fun. Look, I remind you. Never go near Kiran. Never let anyone touch you but me. Never get in touch with Kiran or anyone else. Otherwise, I kill Kiran and father. And after that, I'll take you and your brackets for the rest of your life. Understood?"

I'm choked. My body is trembling. However, I cannot give up that easily. I am no longer a resigned and stupid Chandana, I will not be consumed by the false threats he says as he was in the past.

"There's grandpa! Grandpa will protect us and arrest you!"

"Stupid huh? The old man could do nothing. Even if I kill you here, he won't get anything. I won't be able to catch me. Not without evidence. And I, never leave evidence anywhere. So, if you still want Kiran and your stupid dad alive, follow everything I say. Right now, just stay away from Kiran and never see her again. Otherwise, just look for yourself at the consequences," Edy pushed my body hard, he then went out and left my house just like that.

Honestly, I was really scared at the time. Edy's not a kid anymore. It must be much more dangerous than it used to be. He must have been much smarter and smarter than before. Therefore, I have no choice but to obey everything he says. I couldn't risk my father and Kiran's lives just because I wanted to see Kiran and make sure she was okay.

From that day on, everything felt so heavy and tiring for me. Every day feels like a nightmare. I kept worrying that Edy would come at any time and harass me and my father. I would love to call my grandfather and tell him everything. However, as Edy said, without evidence, the man could never be caught. There is only danger. He would probably assume I was betraying and doing something bad to my father and Kiran, or maybe to my grandfather.

At that time, I decided to move on with Edy's shadow. Once again, I live under his control and control. Every day I always feel watched, wherever and whenever I am, it feels like there are always eyes looking at me. Whether there is or is just my feeling, that must be all very stifling.

One week after Kiran's accident, I found my father covered in blood in the living room with a stab wound to his stomach. I don't understand what's really going on, though, what is certain since that day I continued to be in the hospital and waited for my father there by continuing to cry and lament the fate that was increasingly uncertain direction.

When my father started to recover, my grandfather told me to go back to school and leave all of my father's problems to my grandfather because I hadn't been to school for too long.

And that day, the first day I went to school, a beautiful girl who was adored and valued by the whole school came to me. It was Ratih.

I have always been impressed with the coach. She is a smart and smart girl. Everything is based on the way he behaves and speaks. In addition, Ratih is also beautiful and cheerful. It is really bright and makes everything around it look shining. It is like an antonym for me. I was the opposite of everything that Ratih had. I don't talk much, I'm a loner, I'm always moody, and even tend to dim those around me.

I know that Ratih likes Kiran. Who does not know how Kiran rejected Ratih's love statement. The news was really a hot topic that was always discussed by almost all students for approximately one full month. Wherever I was, Kiran and Ratih were mentioned.

To be honest, I felt happy that Kiran did not accept Ratih's declaration of love. But as a woman, I feel sad too. Ratih must have been very brave and extraordinary because he was able to express his feelings to Kiran in front of many people, he must have felt very nervous and also embarrassed at that time. And of course, Kiran's rejection must have hurt Ratih a lot.

And after all that, Ratih came to me and said that he wanted me to solve all the problems between me and Kiran. He said that Kiran needed me and he wanted to make sure that Kiran was happy with the person he loved and loved. At that time, I felt both sad and amazed.

I admire how mature and great Coach is because he can say all that to me. Somehow he felt when he heard Kiran tell me about us, or the problems we were facing, which must be all that Ratih did really made me feel amazed and speechless.

On the other hand, hearing Kiran waiting and waiting for my presence made me feel sad. I didn't go to see her not because I hated Kiran or because I didn't want to see her again, I really wanted to see Kiran's face and embrace her, crying on her shoulder and saying that she should get well soon. However, I can't. My presence will make Kiran hurt, make dad hurt.

I was in such a big dilemma. Ratih's words kept rolling in my mind. Same with Edy's words before.

If only I had listened to Edy and not gone to the hospital, maybe Kiran and I would not have been in this forest. Maybe Kiran wasn't lying cold in front of me like this. Maybe we've really ended and not been left out at all.

No, Chandana. You're already right. You made the right decision. Kiran, we can definitely get through this soon. This morning, we are leaving this forest. We're... We must have survived. Isn't that right, Kiran?