Lara's Admirers

Episode 92

I rushed to the bus stop before the bus came. If I'm late, then that means I have to wait for another half an hour. Turns out today the stop wasn't as crowded as I thought.

Arka had already boarded the bus from the station before. And maybe he's waiting in the bus. Every half hour, only one bus stops at the bus stop. I can't wait to meet him. Maybe today we will spend a lot of time together. Or even a full day.

Should I be happy or just act normal? Today we decided to go to Sinheungsa Temple. It is located on the slopes of Seoraksan in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, South Korea.

No need to wait for long, the bus that was supposed to come had now stopped right in front of me. My two eyeballs were also directly fixed on a man sitting back there. He doesn't look foreign to me, even though it's been a while since I last saw him. His appearance changed a lot, but it didn't seem to have much effect.

I immediately approached Arka who was busy with her own world. He was seen staring out the window while listening to something from his headphones. I'm not sure if he's listening to music. He has no particular interest in music. I think he was listening to a podcast or something. He needs motivational words every day.

"Udah came as it turned out." he said in a flat tone.

I just nodded slowly, saying what he said. Our current situation is equally awkward with each other. I think that's normal, because we haven't seen each other in a long time.

Along the way to the next station, silence was a close friend of mine. On the bus, there is a ban on not speaking too loudly. It's okay to be quiet for a while. Because everyone's position inside is the same. We all kept each other quiet.

Wait a minute, I just remembered that I haven't had time for breakfast. I really didn't have the least time this morning. Even if it's to care about myself. It was all because of last night, and now it's all affected by it. My sleeping hours were reduced by two hours than usual.

Suddenly without being ruled at all, Arka looked at me with a gaze so unfamiliar. He saw it so deeply, through the ball of my eye. A second later, he removed one of his headphones. He placed it in such a way in my ear hole that his voice sounded so clear.

I didn't know how to react when the song came to my ear. I don't know when the man started listening to this song. But apparently, this isn't the first time. There's nothing wrong with that song. It's just that the rhythm really makes me die of fear.

I tried to fight it all, but in vain. I was acting ordinary in this fear. I don't want to let Arka down, because I don't like the song.

My chest was getting claustrophobic as I hoped to find one thing. I finally remembered something quite surprising. And that's the reason why I've been able to experience all of this. I can remember exactly if this was the last song I listened to on that bus. Just before the accident happened.

A few minutes later, we finally reached the stop. I feel relieved and happy at once. Eventually the song stopped playing in my head. I have to admit if the rhythm is still ringing. But it doesn't matter as long as it doesn't bother me. After getting off the bus, I sat on one of the empty benches trying to breathe.

Looks like Arka realized that I'm in a bad shape. He ran towards me with a worried look. The man squatted right in front of me, asking if I was okay. He looked at me from a lower angle than usual.

"Are you all right?" askinya.

I nodded slowly, saying what he said. I don't have much energy, even if it's just for talking.

"But your face looks very pale." he said.

"Lo's sure why not?" continued.

"Stop asking!" I said in a high tone.

The man then sat in place. He knows that I'm not usually like this.

"Let's go to the cafe" he asked.

We went from the bus stop to a cafe right behind him.

"We're talking here. There are too many people. What you did was just going to be a commotion." he explained.

"Sorry." I said briefly.

"Gue will be pesenin tea. Lo stay here and don't go anywhere." he said.

Shortly afterwards he came with a cup of warm tea in his hand. Then he put it right in front of me.

"Teh can help you calm down. After that, you can tell me everything. That's also if you want to." obviously.

I immediately drank a few sips. Wishing that what Arka said just now was true. Now I'm much better. Being on that bus really made me miserable. It was like something was trying to attack me secretly. My neck was really strangled.

"Actually.." I said.

I then did not continue my sentence, as the man began to stare intently at me.

"What exactly?" ask Arka.

I'm sure if he's upset because the trip has to be delayed for a few minutes. And it's all because of me. I also don't understand why I always bother everyone around me.

"Actually I'm still traumatized by the accident." I explained briefly.

"But don't you take the bus often? This isn't the first time, is it? You should've forgotten all that." he replied.

"Lo's real, but that's not what makes me feel good" I said plainly.

"Continue?" ask Arka again.

"Where did you find that song?" askaku.

"Yesterday I downloaded. Why emang?" said it.

"When did you like music?" ask me for the umpteenth time.

"Once again." he replied indifferently.

I took a deep breath before starting to explain everything.

"Have you ever heard the details of the accident that happened to me at that time?" ask me with curiosity.

The man seemed to shake his head. Looks like he really never knew about it. All he knew all along was that I was the victim of the accident. Arka does not know how the flow of events can occur.

"That's the song I was singing the last time, before the accident" I said as is.

"Lo know?! That one really made me look like an undead!" my continue.

"I'm sorry, too, because I'm traveling so late." I reply.

Now there is really nothing more that can be done to fix everything. Be it me or Arka, we can only shut up. I really look like a coward right now. I can't fix anything, even when I want to do that.

"How come?" ask me carefully.

"Well, how else, we missed the train, right?" reply so lightly.

I feel guilty for ruining his day. We should have been in the car by now instead of in the cafe. But the universe always has unexpected surprises. I don't know how much longer he'll stay here. What if tomorrow or the day after tomorrow I can't fix my mistake. What if in the near future he will return to Australia and we did not have time to visit there. I'm afraid he won't come back here again.

I wish there was one thing I could do to fix everything. I tried so hard to turn my brain. But I seem to be too weak in that.

"When do you go back to Australia?" ask me with curiosity.

"Lacking to know. I also have to look at the current situation and conditions" he explained.

"Lo also knows that now going anywhere is not as free as before" he continued.

"How about we go there sometime?" my many.

"Or maybe tomorrow, or the day after, or when you want me to always be ready" I said.

"I'll be sure." he replied.

I nodded and said her words while trying to smile at her.

"Now we're already here, what do we want?" ask the man to me.

"Are we going back?" askaku.

"Don't dong." stop him.

"Where are we going to go for a walk here?" his proposal.

"As far as you go, I'll follow you." I reply.

"OK if that's it. Now we eat first but it's here again. I also had breakfast by chance." he explained.

"What message do you want?" ask Arka.

"As far as you go. Just like you are also nothing." I replied.

Arka nodded in agreement to my words immediately. Then he checked the menu list there. In the past, this one has never changed. He could always take advantage of the remaining opportunities. This man is also famous for his stance that does not want to bother about one thing.

After ordering two servings of medium-sized bibimbap, we resumed the topic of a completely random conversation. We talked about everything we could talk about. While it is still within our reach. Until this one sentence was spoken out of Arka's mouth and silenced my mouth abruptly.

"Do you have a new girlfriend here?" ask Arka carefully.

I answered without saying a word. I can only hint at it with my body language.

"What was the last time you dated when I did?" ask Arka again.

I just answered him without a sound.

"Why are you doing all this?" abugn.

"Gue just don't want to waste my time." I replied.

In the end after he had silenced my mouth, he also managed to make me make a sound.

The current situation really became so awkward after he discussed it. Why did he ask such a thing after so long without saying it. I think this guy has lost most of his memory, just like me. But it turns out that some sweet memories will last for a while. It will be difficult to leave, especially if you are forced to leave.

I think he doesn't care about all this shit anymore. Our story is not at all touching like a love story in general. There are too many dramas played by the characters, to make other characters stay in the story. Because they know the consequences if they are left unchecked, then this story will lose the characters one by one.

Why would such a stupid thing happen to me. I wish I could go back in time and change some things I want to change. If we hadn't fallen in love with each other before, maybe now the situation would have been different. We were able to chat comfortably like a conversation between two close friends.

After the story we wrote together yesterday, I hope it's done. The story has now lost all its characters. He will not be able to walk alone and continue, if the only two main characters in it. Everyone wants this story to end. I hope there's no second part to this story. I hope none of us intend to write it. This story should not continue in a new setting.

I or anyone else can't write it anymore. Even if I wanted to do it and all the characters in the story supported it. This story was supposed to end here. The story of two high school kids who fell in love with each other is over. Somehow in the end, no one could guess. Because it's still a secret until now. His epilogue is the only part of this story that has never been published.

Now the high school boys have taken on their new lives. Walk on their own paths. Only they knew where the end of the street was and what they would meet in the end. I shouldn't have expected more of this. We're managing each other's lives and I have no right to interfere. Especially if it's about the heart. Not everyone has the right to like anyone and even they have the right to hate anyone.

“Gue pay first yes.” I said after I finished eating.

“No need, let me aja.” prevent Arka at that time.

“Gue wants to do something different than usual, so you always remember that I have done this.” I explained.

I immediately headed to the cashier to pay for it all, even without the need for approval from the man. Yes, I left before he could even say a word. When I finished, I went back to the table. Arka looks to be waiting there.

“Where are you going?” my many.

“What if you go to the market near here? There are many selling knickknacks so he said.” reply Arka.

“So you want to buy make souvenirs huh?” ask again.

“More precisely for mementos sih.” replied the man.

“So later I remember that I have ever set foot in this place together lo.” he continued.