CHASING ILLUSIONS

STORY WITH BAGASKARA

“I am a person who is reluctant to tell my problems to anyone, but for some reason with you I never hesitate to.”

lia Anindya Wulandari

***

This morning, the sunshine was quite warm. Each of his lights peered out from the cracks of the small house's windows. However, it seems that the warmth of the sun this morning did not apply to the residents of the house. The cold and hateful atmosphere is still felt in a simple dining table circle, with a simple menu as well. No one opened their voices, not even to greet each other.

That was how Anindya and her family felt now. Since the presence of Bram and his stepfamily, the girl is no longer able to feel the warmth of the family. In fact, to smile frequently the times they met only he was reluctant. I don't know, it's not unforgiving, it's just that the wound is still gaping.

“I leave first. There's an event.” This time, Anindya said quite sniffly. After gulping down a glass of water and shaking hands at Rita who was sitting next to him, the girl immediately got up from her seat. No matter what Bram looked at her angrily.

“Other times teach your son that manners. Here is me and my wife. Can't he be polite to us?!” bram's Sentak to Rita.

Hearing that, Anindya who had already reached the middle room turned towards the dining room. With a furious rage, the girl said, “Don't talk rudely to my mother once in a while! Remember you three just hitchhiked here. I can kick you out whenever I want!”

“Already. It's been. Anin, don't be so rude to them. They are also our family, son,” said Rita broke the debate between her ex-husband and son.

“I don't care, Mom. They are not the masters of this house. They must be self-conscious before demanding anything from me.” After saying that, Anindya immediately turned around. The girl left by slamming the door without the slightest care to Bram who was shouting furiously. For her, nothing was more important than the self-esteem of Rita and her family. Men who have dumped them have no right to ask anything of them.

***

The cafe near the Bina Bangsa campus is one of the places targeted by young people to spend their Sunday. And so is Anindya. This time, the girl chose to spend her time enjoying coffee while completing her scripts. The atmosphere of the cafe is conducive, seems to be very supportive of Anindya's activities this afternoon.

“Hai, Anin. Looks like I said in the park last night if we were dating was right. The proof, now without an appointment we meet again.” The voice from Bagaskara managed to make Anindya raise her head. The girl smiled very sweetly, even managing to make Bagaskara's heart beat fast just because of her smile.

“May I fill this empty seat, Miss?” ask Bagaskara gently.

Anindya nodded, “Please, Bagaskara. No one occupied it.” After saying that, Anindya refocused on the black object named laptop before her. The girl seemed to be drowning in the pile of manuscripts she was working on

.

“If I may ask, then I want to question something to you, Nin,” Bagaskara said.

“Wait. Another bit. I will finish my script, then we can chat freely,” replied Anindya.

“Nah, already.” Anindya closed her laptop then raised her head. The girl found the cool Bagaskara daydreaming while watching her, making her misbehave. I don't know, his heart beats pretty fast every time it's stared like this by Bagaskara.

“Ekhem, Bagaskara. What did you want to ask earlier?” Anindya tried to break the silence and awkwardness between them. The girl could not hold the hue on her cheek every time she was caught in silence with Bagaskara.

“Ah, yes. Sorry, I was daydreaming earlier.” Bagaskara sipped his coffee, then continued his sentence, “I want to ask you something, but I hope you are not offended by this question of mine, Anindya.”

Anindya scrunched her forehead confused. “What is it?” tanyakanya.

Bagaskara exhaled slowly, then began to ask, “Sorry, Anin. What motivated you to enter the world of writing? I mean, why did you choose to write? Is there a weight problem that forces you to write?”

Anindya smiled. This is not the first time he has asked such a question. Questions that force him to divert the conversation because he refuses to answer. However, for some reason this time the girl seemed to want to answer a question from Bagaskara. Somehow, it felt like he wanted to tell Bagaskara everything.

“Hey, Anin, why daydream? Did I say wrong? If yes, please forgive me. I just want to know,” Bagaskara said as she patted Anindya on the shoulder.

Anindya jerks. Instantly, the girl regained her senses from her daydream and then said, “No, Bagaskara. There's nothing wrong. However, if I answer it, will you listen to my entire story? If not, then I won't answer it.”

Hearing that, Anindya blushed in embarrassment. How not, Bagaskara always said sweetly and praised him like this. Dan, look! The girl's heart was flowery just because it was called beautiful by Bagaskara.

“Anindya Wulandari! I know I'm handsome, but there's no need to look at me like that!” This time, Bagaskara's voice again dragged Anindya into his consciousness. The girl came back to curse her stupidity. How many times has he daydreamed in front of Bagaskara like this? Oh, myGod! How humiliating!

“Ah, sorry. I'll tell you everything.” Anindya sipped a cappucino that stayed half to the end.

“You know, Bagaskara? Life is often unfair to some people. And maybe I'm one of them. You know what, Bagaskara? God gave some people a happy life and others were given the strength to face the blasphemy.” Anindya's voice began to sound. Bagaskara looked at the girl seriously. Every word that came out of Anindya's mouth was easily digested by her.

“If you want to know what my reason for writing is, then I will briefly tell you about my life. Because, if I tell you everything, you will get tired of hearing it,” Anindya said shortly after silence.

“Why is that?” ask Bagaskara.

“Too long.” Anindya answered briefly. Upon hearing that, Bagaskara nodded in agreement. “Good. Just tell me, Miss,”.

Anindya exhaled slowly. For a moment, the girl's eyes glared. Woeful memories of his past begin to come to light. All the pain and suffering he endured came back. I want him to cry right now. However, the girl realized, if the tears that were dripping would be useless now.

“Shortly, I write because I feel pain that may not be felt by others. I write to vent my emotions, nourish my mentality and vent my tears. I write for myself and I write to reduce my injuries. I know, writing will not be able to cure me of the intense pain, but by writing I can pour out all my pain without having to hurt others.”

Bagaskara. This time, what Anindya said was enough to make her think hard. Pain, tears, wounds and medicine. The man didn't even know what each word meant. It's not that he's never felt it, it's just that he'd rather not care about everything.

“You must be confused what I mean.” Anindya's guess was right on target. A moment later, the girl smiled sincerely and said, “Bagaskara, every human must have a wound and every one who has a wound must have a way to treat it. Easy, I write to reduce and treat my wounds a little. Although it will not heal completely, at least the wounds dry out and reduce pain.”

For a moment Bagaskara gaped at the girl's words. It turns out, every writer must have a story hidden behind his writing. That was what he could deduce from Anindya. The girl had experienced many things that made her fall, get hurt, cry even suffer many times and writing was her way of treating the wound.

“Alright, but why did you choose to write as your medicine? Why don't you choose to return all your pain to someone else?” This time, Bagaskara asked no to know the answer. However, to find out how big Anindya's heart was.

Anindya smiled again, “For a wise man will heal without hurting others. Being able to avenge pain is cool, but being able to forgive the people who hurt us, it's great, Bagaskara,” Anindya replied as she stared fixedly at Bagaskara's eyes.

A moment later, the girl again said, “If we know what it feels like to hurt, why should we hurt back? If we know every human being must have wounds, why should we increase the wounds of others? Bagaskara, if we believe in God we will definitely believe in all of His plans. We must be sure that whoever hurt us will be hurt in time. We don't have to dirty our hands to hurt others. Because, we also know, God will not make sinners escape from his karma.”

“So, the point is I don't want to hurt others for the sake of healing from my wounds. I don't want to make people shed tears to wipe away my tears. Because, I myself also understand, treating wounds and smiling after being injured is not easy.” Anindya smiled faintly after ending her sentence. For some reason talking to Bagaskara made him feel relieved. At least, for a while.

Bagaskara. For the first time, the man was amazed by a woman. Out of nowhere he came from, the man had faith that Anindya was a very sincere figure. The man even felt ashamed of Anindya. How not, for the first time he met a girl as good as Anindya. A girl who thinks she's not selfish, not stupid.

“Ekhem, don't look at me like that, Bagaskara. I know I'm beautiful,” Goda Anindya.

“Ah, shit! I'm exploring your story and you're ruining my imagination.”

“Hahaha, sorry. I'm kidding.” After saying that sentence, Anindya let out a laugh. The burden seemed to disappear when with Bagaskara like this.

Bagaskara smiled looking at Anindya. For some reason, she felt that Anindya was very beautiful and sweet while laughing freely like this. The man was even fascinated by everything Anindya had. Is he getting interested in the girl? Or, the feeling in his heart that had died, now came back to life because of the girl? Bagaskara shook his head slowly. Nah! This is impossible. There was no way he would fall for a girl he didn't even know as well as Anindya.

***

connect ....

see you soon in next part🖤