Kei And Layla

Chapter 34: Maturity

Friday at 8:30. Layla leaves her home alone on foot to her parents' funeral. It's Layla's custom every Friday to make a pilgrimage. It didn't take long for Layla to arrive at the funeral. Arriving at the navel of Father and Mother, as usual Layla cleaned the leaves scattered on the navel, after which she prayed for her parents.

Thirty minutes passed, Layla finally finished praying and decided to go home and take a detour. Because Layla intends to buy a painting tool that has been used up in her home.

Arriving Layla in the painting shop yard, Layla went straight into the store and bought the tools she needed. When it was all finished, he bought it. Layla decided to go straight to her house.

In the middle of the road Layla stopped her steps. He saw Judah and two unknown men. Layla took a step back and hid behind an unused cart by the side of the road. From behind the wagon Layla could notice what Yuda was doing with the two men.

'I didn't think that Om Yuda could be that bad to me.' Layla said in her heart.

Layla keeps paying attention to every move even though Layla is unable to hear their conversation. But she could see Yuda giving the two men a brown envelope. After Judah gave the envelope, the two men left.

'Is Judah hiring a mercenary to hurt me or Raiden?' layla said inwardly, her gaze kept watching Yuda.

Shortly after the two men died, Layla could see Dinda coming towards Judah, and they were walking towards the direction where Layla was hiding.

"What should I do?" layla looked around. Finally, he decided to continue his steps towards home.

Layla came out of the hiding place and walked her feet casually as if nothing had happened. Layla stops her steps while on a hotbed with Dinda and Yuda.

"Hi, Layla. What are you doing walking alone. Where's lover?" asked Yuda chuckling, his eyes staring around looking for Raiden's whereabouts.

"Oh, I've been shopping for stationery" Layla replied as she showed me the bag she was holding.

"Oh, I see" Yuda replied watching Layla.

"Sorry Om, I have to go home soon." Layla lowered her head for a moment looking at Yuda and Dinda who looked annoyed at Layla. Then Layla stepped out of her legs, just two steps Layla heard the word inappropriate from Dinda's mouth.

"Old maiden!" Hardik Dinda . Followed by Yuda's laughter that sounded scornful.

Layla stopped her steps and looked back at Dinda and smiled.

" What about you, Dinda? isn't it?" layla.

Dinda widened her eyes looking at Layla, she was offended by Layla's words. Then he walked over to Layla.

"How dare you talk like that Layla!" dinda's hand was about to slap Layla in the face. But Dinda's hand restrained because Layla swiftly gripped Dinda's arm.

"If you don't want to get hurt, then don't humble yourself with inappropriate words" Layla said as she slammed down Dinda's arm.

Dinda took a deep breath, her eyes glaring at Layla. "You don't have to lecture me Layla, whatever happens to me is all your fault!" answer Dinda in a high tone.

Layla smiled, there was a desire to reply, but Layla chose to leave and did not want to know what others thought of her.

"Good day Dinda, have a good day" Layla said. Then he turned his body and put his feet together. But Layla's steps are restrained when Yuda's hand pulls Layla's collar from behind. Layla takes a step back, parallel to Dinda and Yuda.

Yuda took off his grip on Layla's collar, and looked at Layla furiously he said. " I've warned you so many times Layla, don't you ever hurt my family. Or you-?"

Layla cuts off Yuda's words. "Or you're gonna kill me and Raiden, aren't you?" ask Layla smiling cynically.

"You?" yuda was furious.

"Already Pah, there is no benefit in serving a crazy woman like her" interrupted Dinda pulling Yuda's arm and forcing Judah to leave.

"Take care of you." Yuda looked at Layla as if he wanted to swallow her alive.

Layla was silent looking at the backs of those who walked away until they were out of sight.

'So easily he blames mistakes on others, how hard it is to open his mind and realize that what happened to him is the consequence of every life choice.' Layla said in her heart.

"Titttttt..!!

The sound of the horn on the side of the highway shocked Layla who stood glued to look at Yuda and Dinda. Layla took a step back and turned her head towards the sound of the car horn. Layla saw Raiden coming out the car door and coming straight for her.

"Nothing, I finished my pilgrimage and stopped by the painting shop" Layla replied, clutching Raiden's arm firmly.

Raiden stared at Layla's hand which gripped his arm for a moment, then turned to look at Layla who looked agitated.

"Are you okay, Layla?" ask Raiden.

Layla nodded quickly. "We're home."

Layla pulls Raiden's arm and forces him to walk. Finally Raiden followed Layla's steps while watching the surroundings, Raiden was very curious to know what caused Layla to become agitated. Layla and Raiden get in the car and return to Layla's house.

Arriving at Raiden's house, Layla sits in the garden where the children paint, because on Friday the children had a holiday to paint, Raiden has plenty of time to talk to Layla in the park.

"Sit down" said Raiden pulling Layla's hand to sit next to him.

"What's wrong?" layla asked curiously looking at Raiden.

Raiden is silent, hesitant and afraid to tell the truth that Raiden wants to get engaged to Layla.

"What's wrong? why silent?" ask Layla again.

"Layla, I. I want us engaged." Raiden took out a small red box from the front pocket of his shirt.

"Wedding?" Layla raised both her eyebrows looking at Raiden.

"True Layla" Raiden replied staring at Layla.

Layla chuckled, she understood why Raiden wanted to get engaged so quickly.

"I don't want to get engaged to you" Layla replied smiling.

Raiden was stunned by Layla's rejection, he had expected it from the beginning. If Layla would refuse. Raiden lowered his head staring at the small box that was inside his hand.

"You know why I turned down a fiancee with you?" ask Layla to Raiden.

Raiden raised his face and shook his head looking at Layla with a disappointed look.

Layla stood her back to Raiden and said.

"You know? without a fiancee I wouldn't leave you. And you know what? without love, I will not leave you. You know why? because I love you as much as I love myself" Layla said at length explaining why she refused to marry Raiden.

Hearing Layla's words, Raiden got up from his seat and stood glued behind Layla.

"Love comes only once, and we feel in love only once. But my love for you will never go away even if the storm hits."

"Greepp!"

Raiden immediately hugged Layla from behind as Layla finished speaking.

"I'm sorry, I'm just too scared to lose you, I'm afraid you'll walk away from me and leave me" Raiden said, still hugging Layla from behind.

"Fighting, differences, differences of opinion and different ways of behaving are certain. To unite two different things will be difficult if lived with the ego. But if we live it with love. Whatever happens we'll understand each other without having to talk." Layla gently rubbed Raiden's arm that was coiled around her chest.

"I understand Layla, it turns out I misjudged you."

"Human" Layla replied as she let go of Raiden's embrace and looked back at Raiden.

"I won't do it again, I won't force you again Layla." Raiden reinserted a small red box containing two rings.

"I'm hungry, let's go inside. Let's see what Mbok Darmi cooked." Layla pulls Raiden's hand and invites him back inside the house.