Les Laches

Breaks

Tian watches over Meda's Mustang until it disappears from his sight before following Bella walks into the house. After saying good night to Adler who was sitting in the living room, the girl went up to her room. Bella and Adler who were aware of Tian's change in attitude compared to when he said goodbye to go with Meda were only able to exchange eyes without any intention of interfering. Tian is indeed not a figure who likes to keep secrets from both parents, only he will just share the story when he feels the time is right.

Arriving at his room, Tian threw his body onto his bed. He looked at the high ceiling of his room while thinking about his quarrel with Meda during the return trip. Until the end the young man refused to respond to Tian's request to return to discuss the topic he had raised himself.

The after-travel of activities involving the meeting of Meda and Afgar again ended like this. So thought Tian.

Comparing the two quarrels made Tian a little anxious. The girl recalled how the previous quarrel had only ended after weeks. It was because Tian fell down the stairs. Otherwise, he doubted that Meda would be willing to meet him right then and there.

Does he have to deliberately harm himself in order to make peace with Meda? Tian slightly shuddered as the extreme idea flashed through his head. Finally, he decided to get up to grab the phone from inside the wallet he had placed on the dresser. He was going to contact Meda at that time. Procrastinating for too long will further make his brain think of strange things.

While waiting for Meda to pick up her phone, Tian looked at the reflection of her face in front of the mirror. The memory of the kiss that Meda had given him decades ago suddenly burst back into his head and made Tian's face turn red again. His first kiss may not be as intense as the kisses he always sees in movies at the cinema. Meda's lips, which only touched her lips for about a minute, may not show any meaningful intimacy in the eyes of anyone who sees them. However, to Tian, the pounding in his heart as soon as the moment ended proved that what Meda did would be an important step in his relationship with the young man.

“The number you are heading to is unable to receive this call. Please try a few more moments–”

Tian pressed the end button and decided to change his clothes first before trying to contact Meda again. However, just as he was walking out of his walk-in closet, his phone rang aloud signaling an incoming call. Tian threw the pajama suit he was carrying onto the bed before grabbing his phone. Unfortunately, the ID name displayed on the screen of his phone is not the name Meda.

While sighing, Tian pressed the answer button.

“What's up, Gar?” tian asked the caller, Afgar. 

His tone was slightly taut as he opened the conversation with the young man. Unknowingly, he blames Afgar as the cause of his quarrel with Meda. Tian realizes that Meda can indeed be very jealous when talking about the figure of his best friend. Much more jealous than when other men openly show interest in him. However, Meda is not a person who likes to start a commotion without cause. 

Therefore, Tian suspects that Afgar has done something to upset Meda. Something further than what Meda told her.

“Already at home, ‘kan?” ask Afgar.

“What's up, Gar?” Tian repeated his question again. This time with a more resolute tone of voice.

It was silent for a moment before Afgar finally spoke again.

“Sorry.”

Tian clucked in annoyance. He had not heard anything that made his friend apologize. However, that one word alone was enough to make him even more convinced that Afgar was guilty.

“No need to apologize, Gar. Everything is too. I can only tell you to be more careful when you talk to Meda. Because he's been a little sensitive to our relationship since..” 

Tian decided not to continue because the incident that triggered his quarrel with Meda last time was clearly still imprinted on the memory of anyone involved, including Afgar.

“Sorry.” 

The word came back from across the phone, making Tian suddenly feel bad.

“What does this mean you also agree to Meda's request that we keep our distance?” ask Afgar again.

Perhaps because Tian took too long a pause to decide, Afgar finally returned to speaking.

“If that's your wish, I'll make sure not to get involved again with the affairs of the two of you. I will not appear again in the places you or Meda used to visit, but I will not guarantee that we will not meet in public spaces such as campus or–”

“Shortly, Gar. You don't have to go that far. We can–you can try to keep a little attitude in front of Meda. No need to get away from me. After all, you are still my best friend.” Tian quickly interrupted Afgar's words before the young man said more words that left him torn apart in guilt.

There was a faint laugh from the other end of the phone.

“Friend? You still think I am, Ti? After some quarrels that forced you to choose Meda over me, do you still consider me a friend?” Afgar let out a breath. “I don't understand why our relationship can be this complicated. In fact, it is not once twice that we are faced with a situation that makes others misunderstand our relationship. We can usually get through this easily. Even Sapphira understands our closeness. Despite all that, I always try to understand you as Meda and behave as you are in front of you. However, it seems that I will continue to be misunderstood. Therefore, it would be wise for me to give up, Tian. You can find me if you need to, but I won't do the opposite. Not at the risk of ruining your relationship with Meda.”

Tian had no chance to answer because Afgar cut off the phone after he finished speaking. Tian was about to call him back when the next turn of Meda's call came into his phone.

“Will receive a phone call from Afgar?” meda asked without answering the greeting spoken by Tian.

“Assalamu’alaikum, Meda.” Tian repeated his greeting.

“Wa’alaikusalam. Right from Afgar?” ask Meda quickly.

Tian sighed tiredly before assuring.

“You don't appreciate my opinion at all huh, Ti?” ask Meda cynically.

In a moment her tears also fell. His mind was so claustrophobic with the insistence given by the two men closest to him after his father. Meda demands Tian to stay away from Afgar and Afgar blames Tian for his inability to make Meda understand the closeness between the two.

“I... What should I do, Meda? You think it's easy to stay away from people who are obviously important to me. He's my best friend. The one who comforts me when I am sad, who helps me stand up when I fall, who defends me when others judge me.” Tian said all that with a trembling voice.

Meda took a deep breath before answering. This time with a softer voice.

“From now on there is me, Tian. I can do all that for you.”

“So, you mean, I can throw away everything that Afgar has ever done at will? As if our past was just an insignificant phase of life in my life? Why are you so heartless?” 

Tian could feel his body trembling with anger. He began to feel Meda wanted to monopolize his time and life. It was like seeing his real father in the past. Tian hurriedly expelled those horrible thoughts before continuing his words.

“Medic. I appreciate your request to keep your distance from Afgar. I won't let him touch me as he pleases if you think it makes our relationship look suspicious. But, please, don't ask me to throw him out of my life.”

However, Meda's voice when answering her request was again cold. 

“Sign up, Tian. Looks like we both need time to rethink our complicated relationship.”