Les Laches

53.

After almost a day trapped on a flight from Bristol to Indonesia, Afgar finally set foot on the mainland again. In fact, all the joints in his body kept shouting the word rest, but Afgar ignored his fatigue and walked hurriedly towards his blue Jaguar F. He immediately drove the vehicle at high speed towards the Tian residence. On his way to Indonesia, he did hear about the news that befell the Adler family from his father.

His journey towards the Tian house was quite smooth as the time still showed at 03:00. He deliberately planned his trip so that he could arrive in Indonesia in the morning. It would allow him to talk to Tian before any busyness would interfere with the conversation.

Afgar's car arrived at the Tian gate just after 23 minutes of travel. The tall fence was wide open before Afgar honked his horn. Afgar drove his car a little and stopped near Diro who got a guard turn last night.

“Live in, Mas Afgar. Mbak Tian has been up since 02.00,”, Diro said after exchanging greetings with Afgar.

Afgar nodded quickly and drove his car back. He stopped the car right in front of the porch of Tian's house and knocked on the half-opened door. It didn't take long for the door to fully open and Tian's figure appeared from behind the door with a careless and pale face. Afgar could not compose words to open the conversation as the girl wrapped her arms around Afgar's back and gave the young man a very tight hug.

Afgar's heart skipped a beat thanks to the physical contact that occurred between the two. Since the two stepped on the Junior High, the two never hugged the seintens. The leaflet on Afgar's chest that he could not control made him almost punch himself. His mind should not be distracted from the real problems that his friend is facing. Therefore, he tried to distance himself a little from the distraction that was still lingering in the front of his body.

“We talk inside yuk!” take Afgar along while gently pushing Tian's body to enter his house.

The two then sat side by side on a sofa located in the corner of the family room. Tian simply lowered his head and used both of his hands to cover his face. A clear liquid flowed from between his fingers. Afgar did not see the heart of his beloved girl crying. Hence, he put aside his previous worries and pulled the girl to lean against his chest.

Tian's cry did not subside because of Afgar's actions. The girl was even more suffocated by her own grief. He was indeed relieved because at times like this there was a person who could hug him and calm him like this, but deep down he missed another figure. That was what made Tian even more miserable. Even in moments like this that repeatedly crossed his mind was the shadow of Meda.

Tian pulled Afgar's body closer as if drowning himself in the young man's arms could help him forget anything related to Meda. He was completely unaware that his actions were increasingly making Afgar hotter and colder. He was too distracted by the shortness of mind in his head and mind to the point of not realizing the pounding of Afgar's heart that even the young man's own ears could hear. 

Luckily, Tian let go of his embrace as Afgar got used to controlling his feelings and facial expressions. Afgar tries to check Tian's condition from the look on his face, but the girl hides her face with both hands. Afgar thought Tian would come back crying. Hence, he forcibly pulled the two arms of the girl and made her show her face. However, what he saw was not tears, but Tian's reddened face.

“Why—?” Afgar was unable to solve his question because Tian gave him a view that more or less means “don't ask about that one”.

Afgar cleared his throat slowly and began to compile more important questions. “I got word from papa that Adler had an accident in Sweden and was in critical condition. Is he still there now?”

“I don't know, Gar,” Tian said in an almost whispered voice.

Afgar frowned. “No idea what you mean? You're already there, right? Or you also just heard the development of condition om Adler from aunt Bella?” ask the young man.

Tian then began to convey the events experienced by himself, his mother, and his sisters in Sweden. Regarding the chronology of Adler's accident, then the detailed information about Adler's condition he last saw, the actions of the Oberon extended family to keep his father away from his mother and younger siblings, also about Marcela who was made “sandera” to make Bella obey Mathis Oberon's orders.

Afgar's hands clenched tighter as the longer the string of sentences came out of Tian's lips. However, it was not just anger that filled his brain. He was also trying to think of the best move to help Tian. Unfortunately, all the roads were dead ends for him. 

His father could not be willing to help, because meddling in this matter would certainly make his company face to face with the large family company Oberon, which is the, not to mention he has not managed to gain his father's trust completely after making a mess by breaking off his engagement to Sapphira.

Afgar is also unlikely to ask for help from Alvin and Hera. Hera's family does not have enough strength to deal with the Oberon family, while Alvin will obviously not be willing to ask for help from his family who despite having the same power as the Oberon family, will not be able to, but it will obviously make the young man do more dizzying things to repay their help.

Afgar's head began to feel dizzy. The stress of going through several business meetings with his father's clients in Bristol; the exhaustion that accumulated due to the long journey from Bristol to Indonesia; then the problems of the Tian family, the, everything accumulates into a great burden of mind that clings to his head. Unknowingly his hand moved massaging his forehead.

“Sorry to stress you out because of my problem yes, Gar.” Tian gently patted Afgar's arm while getting up from his sitting position. “I made hot chocolate, yes. You rest in my room.”

Tian passed towards the kitchen without waiting for an answer from Afgar. Afgar decided to follow Tian's steps and sat down near one of the kitchen counters.

“Your face is really tangled. Can't sleep on the plane?” tian asked as he put down a cup of brown liquid that was still emitting hot steam.

“Ti, I'll think of a way to help you with your problems. Sure. Trust me.” Afgar ignores Tian's attempts to change the subject from his problem.

Tian smiled weakly. “There are many, Gar. But you don't have to force yourself. I've been quite cool because you were there when I needed to be remembered.”

Afgar grabs Tian's hands and intends to repeat his promise to wipe away the grief on the girl's face. However, the sound of the doorbell ringing several times stopped the intentions of the two.

Tian walked first towards the already wide-open front door, but stopped his steps midway when he saw the figure of Zaira Oberon standing there while folding his hands in front of his chest.

“Where is your mama?” asked the old woman in her bow style.