Chasing Stars

Special Relationship

The next morning, Laura woke up with a new spirit. He knew today was the day he had been waiting for. He was wearing his school uniform with great enthusiasm. Today he wanted to look neat in Niko's eyes. Her dress shirt had a roll of paper tied in red tape. Niko's Images.

He looked at his reflection in the mirror, and smiled. Today will be different from the days before. Today he will muster up his courage to talk to Niko.

During the break, Laura looked at Niko's back. The classmates went to rest. In class, there were only two of them. ''O Laura, only six steps towards her place, '' she said inwardly. Slowly, Laura got up from her chair and walked towards Niko.

His breathing is starting to get irregular. Three more steps. Two more steps. One more step. Now he arrives at Niko's desk. It seems that Niko is writing a report.

Gathering her courage, Laura took a deep breath and said, ''Niko...''

Niko stopped writing and looked at Laura curiously.

Laura put a picture of Niko on her desk. ''I found your picture yesterday.''

Niko looked at the red banded paper roll in front of her, then opened it. His eyes recognized the picture, Niko looked at Laura again. ''Thank you.''

Laura breathed a sigh of relief. ''Finally I can talk to him.''

Seeing Niko's eyes still looking at her made Laura nervous. He doesn't know what to talk about.

''Ehm.'' Her hasty steps almost nudged Niko's desk.

''Wait, Laura,'' said the voice behind him.

Laura turned her body towards Niko. ''What's up?''

Niko hesitated to say her next sentence. ''How come... can you not tell me about this picture of me to another room?''

(''why'?') laura's mind immediately responded to Niko's question, but what came out of her mouth was the opposite. ''Alright, '' he said slowly.

''Thank you again, Niko said with a gentle smile.

Niko's smile made Laura tremble. ''Sama-sama,'' reply slowly.

Five minutes later, in the girls' toilet, Laura smiled broadly. This time he didn't care if his heart was beating fast. He really likes this feeling. Finally, after a year and a half, he was able to speak with Niko, and Niko found out her name. The first time his name came out of the lips of the person he liked.

In the days that followed, when Laura passed Niko in the classroom hallway, in the cafeteria, or in the classroom, Niko smiled at her and Laura returned the smile.

***

Two days later, Laura stroked her wet clothes. A drizzle wetted the bus stop that would take Laura to her school. Laura glanced at her watch. There's still plenty of time. Usually the bus comes every ten to fifteen minutes. And the trip to school from the bus stop is usually about ten minutes.

Laura took out a jacket from the bag and put it on. While waiting for the bus, Laura's palm stretched out to feel the rain drops. Ten minutes passed, but the bus that was about to take her to school had not arrived yet. Suddenly a car stopped in front of him. The window glass is open

''Laura.'', greet a guy.

Laura gasped in surprise, that voice. He would recognize that voice anywhere. Niko's Voice.

''Niko. Hi.huh...''

''Are you waiting for the bus?'' niko looked at Laura.

''Yes,'' Laura nodded.

''Follow my car, ''' Niko advised.

Laura was a bit surprised, ''Huh?''

Niko smiled knot. ''Come on my car.'' Laura sees Niko pressing a button to unlock the door. ''Enter, ''' said Niko later.

Laura stands up and walks into Niko's car.

''It just so happened to meet you, '' said Niko starting the conversation.

Laura's dead flea. His heart was racing again. He had a hard time speaking and could only nod.

''Usually I go to school not this early, ''' Niko continued, ''but I have to arrange an event for next week's friendly match.''

After a while, Laura's heart returned to beating normally. ''You must be busy, Laura said slowly.

''Well that's it,'' said Niko smiling faintly, ''the risk of becoming chairman of OSIS.'' Laura joined in smiling, ''So.. your house is far from school, huh?'' ask Niko.

Laura nodded. ''Yes, how did you know?''

Niko smiled again. ''I'm the class president, when I don't know my classmates? Your phone number I know.''

Laura gulped, ''Right as well.'' Laura tightly gripped her fingers. ''Ehm... Niko, '' he said again, ''thank you for the spirit paper after last week's physics rework.''

Niko seemed to think for a moment, but then smiled. ''Oh, that paper, well, I see you've given up. So I want to give you some spirit. Your repeat value isn't bad right?''

Laura shook her head and recalled the number eight she received a few days ago for a retrial of her physics. ''No, my repeat value is pretty good.''

''Good then, '' said Niko, Laura seemed to be dreaming.

Moments later, Niko's car enters the school area. Laura hopes the bus stop trip to school is not this short. Niko's car stopped at the parking lot.

''Thank you for the ride, Niko, '' said Laura sincerely.

''Ehm... Laura, '' said Niko hesitantly, ''thank you for never telling me about my image, to anyone else.''

''I promised not to tell her, said Laura a little confused.

''No one knows about my hobby other than my parents. School gossip usually spreads quickly. But you really didn't tell anyone. I really appreciate it.''

Laura smile. ''Your picture is very beautiful, you should be proud.'' (''I know I was fascinated by it'') Laura continued inwardly.

For a moment Niko's eyes looked sad, then replaced by a smile. ''Thanks you. This is the first time someone has praised my image.'' Niko opens her car door and Laura does the same. Niko's words left Laura a little confused.

''Thank you again, said Laura slowly.

Suddenly a voice approached them. ''Niko'' said, ''apparently you've arrived.'' Laura turned her head towards the direction the voice came from, it turned out to be Erika. ''Hi Erika, '' said Laura politely.

''What are you doing in Niko's car?'' asked Erika suspiciously.

Erika looked at Laura with dislike. ''I don't like you with other girls in your car, Niko, '' said Erika ketus.

''Sorry', Laura interjected, ''Niko really just gave me a ride.'' ''I'm not talking to you, '' said Erika coldly.

''Erika, come on, '' said Niko a little annoyed. ''You're being childish.''

''Anyway from tomorrow you have to pick me up every morning before you go to school. We go together, said Erika ketus.

''Don't you always use your own car to school?'' niko asked as if Erika's request made no sense.

''Well, from tomorrow I want to be picked up by you, said Erika a little hearty.

Niko who could not bear to see the look of Erika as it immediately agreed. ''Alright, tomorrow I will pick you up first.''

Erika hugged him. ''Well, that's my new boyfriend.''

Niko just shook her head while sighing. Laura listened to the conversation sadly. He knew Niko wouldn't like him more than a friend. Niko already has Erika. But still the feeling of sadness in his heart could not go away. It was sad to expect something that was not his. But, seeing Niko smile with Erika makes Laura's feelings improve again. No matter who you are with, as long as Niko can smile happily, she is also happy.

 

***

 

But the following days were hard for Laura, as it seemed Erika had already set her as the number one enemy in school. The next morning, in the girls' toilet, Erika's friends accidentally run her down without apologizing. Laura could only stand up and be silent. He knew it was a warning from Erika not to approach Niko again. And he could not blame Erika. He certainly wants to protect his own, although maybe the way will not be the same as Erika did. Fortunately, a few days later there was a friendly match with another school so Erika was busy helping Niko prepare, and she forgot about Laura for a while.

The basketball court was filled with screaming students. Each student gives encouragement to his school. Laura saw the crowd from the dining room. He knew Niko was fighting. His hands meticulously printed the wheat dough into a star, After one baking sheet was fully filled, he put it in the oven. He likes to wait for moments like this.

The screams on the ground are getting louder. Laura smile. He believes Niko's team will win. Shortly after, the match was over. Laura looked towards the field. 24-21 for Niko's team.

 

**

 

The sound of the timer resuscitated Laura to open the oven. The smell of the cake he made. His lips smiled with satisfaction. He took the star cakes from the dough one by one, then put them on a large plate. He will offer his cake to Niko's basketball team who have won the game.

Laura came out of the bog room while carrying a plate of her homemade cake. There are no basketball games on the court anymore. The students were surrounding Niko Basketball team to congratulate.

Laura waited until all of Niko's friends were done, then walked over to her. ''Niko survived ya.''

Niko who was still wearing a basketball club uniform and sweating, smiled at Laura, ''thanks.

''Ehm... would you like to try my cake?'' laura asked while thrusting the plate in front of her.

Niko took one of the star cakes on the plate and called it.

''Your homemade cake is very tasty, '' said Niko praising.

Laura then offers the same to all of Niko's friends at the basketball club. ''Please try'', he said kindly.

Without a second thought, Niko's friends took the cakes on the plate while praising Laura after eating them. ''Your cake is delicious'', said one of Niko's friends. ''My sister likes to experiment with cookies, can I have a recipe for the cake?''

Laura nodded, Of course. I'll give you the recipe in class later''.

Niko's friend smiled. ''Thanks.”

Suddenly someone bumped into Laura from behind so the plate she was carrying dropped and her cakes splattered on the ground. ''Oh..I'm sorry, '' said Erika, who obviously accidentally bumped into Laura. ''I was not accidentally.”

''Erika'', Niko's nagging, ''why can you be this reckless?''

''I'm really sorry, Laura''. Erika looked at Laura with a smile.

Laura does not know if Erika accidentally or tidsk hit her, but she is sad to see the results of her work end up on the field. ''It's okay'', he said later.

Erika smiled broadly, I was completely unintentional, '' she said again, then her gaze turned to Niko. ''Niko, soon my marching band will be performing in the hall. Come on, come on over there.'' Erika pulls Niko's hand to follow her.

But before leaving, Niko spoke to Laura, Forgive Erika, yes.''

Laura nodded. ''It's okay'.

After looking at Niko's back that disappeared behind the hall, Laura collected the cakes scattered on the field and placed them back on the plate. He walked slowly, then threw away all the cookies. When all the cakes had moved to the trash, his heart languished in sadness.

On the way home that day, Laura was pensive for a long time. Maybe he should stop being friends with Niko. And this desire she expressed to my mother.

''Should I stop being friends with her, ma?'' ask when they do the dishes in the kitchen.

Mama looked at her daughter gently ''Are you willing to stop being friends with her?''

Laura shakes.

''Laura'', said the mother as she closed the water tap, ''why don't you come clean with this guy if you like him?'

''She doesn't like me Laura replied.

''Wouldn't it be better for you to say your heart to her. Then once you find out she doesn't like you, you can start to stop feeling good about her and start a new relationship.''

''I know, but it's hard to let go. Especially now that we are friends.''

''You want to be his girlfriend?'' ask mama again.

Laura looked at my mother sadly. ''That's an impossible hope, Ma. He likes his girlfriend now. But, do my feelings like it wrong, ma?''

Mama shook her head. ''Love is not simple. You're not wrong to like it. It's just that you like the wrong people at the wrong time''.

Laura scolded. ''Give me some time until I graduate high school. At that time, I will decide to let go. After all, we will certainly split up. He must have gone to college in a different place than me. I've been chasing him for a year and a half. School graduation is 7 months away. Let me have this time to like it.''

Mama hugged her daughter, ''OK. Just until graduation, yeah. After that you have to let go. Believe me, sooner or later, time will heal the wounds in your heart.''

''Thanks, Ma'', Laura replied as she hugged and inhaled the fragrance of my mother's body. Laura smiled, mom's embrace always made her feel better.