Kei And Layla

Chapter 40: The greatest love

Days passed, the moon changed. Kei spends his day working and occasionally visits Yuda to make sure he is okay. Despite the ill-treatment and abuse, Kei had to accept it every time he visited Judah. Kei considers it all is karma that he must accept and must be lived well. Not only that, Kei also regularly made a pilgrimage to Dinda's funeral every Friday.

A year has passed since Dinda's death, his age is growing older but his love for Layla does not diminish in the slightest. He drowned himself with the silence and solitude that seemed to strangle his neck. Not infrequently the longing and desire to unite with Layla burst into his chest. But his all-misguided feelings make him unable to state it all to Layla. Kei prefers to be silent and keep his love and desire in his deepest heart.

Friday morning Kei intends to visit Dinda's pusara. He deliberately walked by carrying a bouquet of roses Dinda's favorite.

Soon, Kei arrives at the funeral, and Kei is unaware that Layla is on a pilgrimage to her mother and father's tomb.

Arriving at the center of Dinda, Kei immediately put the rose on top of the navel of Dinda and offered a do'a to the Owner of Life for his wife Dinda.

"Dinda, I brought you your favorite flowers, I hope you're happy with the flowers I'm carrying" Kei said slowly, as his hand pulled out the small grass that had just grown around the edge of the navel. Then Kei rubbed a tombstone that read Dinda's name. He looked at the name with all the feelings he had.

"Forgive me, forgive me" he said.

Suddenly Kei felt his shoulder being touched by someone from behind. He looked back and looked at Layla who was wearing a black veil.

"Laila?" hello Kei. He got up and looked at Layla.

"Yes, I've just come from Mom and Dad's bellybutton." Layla smiled at Kei, then turned to look at Dinda's tombstone. Layla squatted down and offered a do'a to Dinda. Soon Layla finished her prayer and stood up again.

"Do you want to go home now?" ask Kei.

Layla nodded her head, with a gaze continuing towards Dinda's tombstone. "Yes." Yeah."

"Then we go home the same" Kei replied.

Then they took their feet to leave the funeral on a slow walk.

"Lail."

Layla stopped her steps, looking at Kei. "Yes?"

Kei grabbed Layla's hand and grasped it tightly. "Do you mind?"

Layla shook her head quickly. "No."

Kei smiled, and they resumed their footsteps by holding hands.

"Citya..."

"Yes?" saut Layla with a straight forward look.

"When are you getting married to Raiden?" ask Kei.

Layla stopped her steps, then she let go of Kei's hand.

"Did my question offend you, Layla?" ask Kei again.

Layla just kept quiet, she didn't answer Kei's question. Then he just put his foot through.

Kei sighed deeply, he looked at Layla who left him, the next second he ran after Layla and immediately pulled Layla's hand. Layla stopped and turned to face Kei.

Kei immediately hugged Layla tightly, as if not wanting to let go again.

"Layla, I miss you so much. I miss the time we were together."

Layla just silently listened to all the longing words that Kei expressed. No tears fell from the corner of Layla's eyes.

"You know? I want us to be together again Layla, like we used to be."

Layla releases Kei's embrace, and pushes Kei's body away from her. After that Layla immediately turned around and ran away from Kei.

Kei was glued to where he stood staring at Layla's back until it disappeared from his sight. "Why Layla?" he said he didn't understand.

***

"I'm sorry Kei." said Layla Lirih. He was sitting in a park not far from the cemetery.

Layla breathed deeply. He looked up at the sky that looked overcast.

"I will always keep this love Kei, and I love you so much. But-is?" Layla lowered her head, "i can't possibly go back to you after Dinda's death, especially now that there's Raiden."

Layla raised her face and circulated the view throughout the park. He tries to distract her so as not to cry.

"Lail."

Sapa Kei from behind. Layla turned her head to look at Kei for a moment, then lowered her head again.

"I'm sorry." Kei sat down next to Layla then he grabbed Layla's hands and held her tightly.

"I'm sorry" he said again.

Layla remained silent not answering Kei's apology. But Layla chose to go and leave Kei alone in the park. Layla's silent attitude made Kei ask inwardly. Did he speak wrong?"

Kei sighed deeply, for a moment he was silent and he decided he would meet Layla later that night. Then he got up and put his foot back home.

****

Tonight the sky looks bright, the moon is shining brightly. Layla took her foot to the garden where she used to paint. Just as he was about to sit on a chair, someone greeted him.

"Citya..."

Layla turned her head towards the voice, seeing Kei already standing before her.

Kei walked closer, so close that there was no longer any distance between them. Kei cupped Layla's face and looked at Layla's two eyeballs.

"Are you mad at me?" ask Kei.

Layla shook her head, then she lowered Kei's hand from her face.

"Then why did you run away from me?" tanya Kei looked at Layla's lowered face.

Layla just shook her head, without answering Kei's question.

"Key, me-?"

"Srrr." Kei cut off Layla's words by placing his index finger on Layla's lips. Kei began to understand Layla's silence.

"I know, you don't have to explain anymore."

"You mean, Kei?" ask Layla.

"Raiden, don't you think?" Kei asked back.

Layla gave a small laugh in response to Kei's question. "It turns out you're jealous too."

"Of course, Layla." Kei tucked the hair in Layla's ear. Kei took a step closer to Layla. His face was close to Layla's face until Kei's breath was felt on Layla's face.

"I miss you so much Layla."

Slowly he kissed Layla's lips calmly. But Layla pushed Kei's body away from her.

"No, Kei."

Kei frowned his two eyebrows staring at Layla not understanding, already there was no longing in his eyes?

"Sorry."

Layla nodded her head, looking at Kei's gloomy-looking face.

"Go home, it's night." Layla sat on the chair staring straight ahead.

Kei sighed deeply, lowering his head for a moment. Then he walked over to Layla and kissed Layla on the top of her head.

"All right, I'm home" Kei said.

Layla nodded her head, she smilingly looked at Kei's face.

"Bye."

Kei looked at Layla for a moment, then he stepped foot with various questions in his mind regarding Layla's cold demeanor.

Layla was glued to Kei's back until she was out of sight. Then he lowered his head staring at the ring that was coiling on his ring finger. The ring Kei gave her as she promised to be faithful at her wedding first.

Layla's tears fell from the corner of her eye, wetting her fingers.

"Began crying again."

Layla was shocked when she heard Raiden's voice greeting her from behind. Layla looked at Raiden.

"You?" Layla wiped her tears. "When are you here?" ask Layla.

Raiden walked over and sat down next to Layla.

"Since there's Kei."

"You,tadi?" layla kelu.

Raiden nodded his head, looking at Layla with a faint smile. "Yes." Yeah."

Layla lowered her head for a moment, then looked back at Raiden. "You don't get me wrong, it's not what you see."

Raiden smiled, he lowered his head and grabbed Layla's right hand and rubbed it slowly.

"You know?"- Raiden sighed deeply-"without the need for you to talk, I can understand" Raiden said.

"You mean?" ask Layla.

Raiden got down from the chair, he squatted down in front of Layla with both hands tightly grasping Layla's hands. His face looked up at Layla's two eyes that were emitting sadness.

"Go back Layla," Raiden smiled sweetly. "I know you love her so much so, come back to her." Raiden smiled faintly and nodded his head many times to convince Layla. That he's okay.

"You're serious?" ask Layla.

Raiden nodded his head many times. "You said you loved me so much and wouldn't leave me, would you?"

"Yes" replied Layla quietly.

"You can still love me as your family, Layla."

Layla smiled looking at Raiden. He took Raiden's hand off his. Then he cupped Raiden's face.

"I love you so much, as my brother."

Layla hugged Raiden tightly. But for Raiden, Layla's words that regard him as an older brother. It was like a razor sharpening his heart slowly. But whatever the power, Raiden can't divert Layla's love for Kei, for himself. Perhaps letting Layla go with her loved ones is a testament to Raiden's love for Layla. Love is painful, but there is a pleasure in wiping it with affection.