Me, What It Is

CHAPTER 28 ~ Self-Submission ~

Reana examined one by one the papers attached to the notice board. All sorts of information is there. Races, papers, seminars, even job openings.

But there was one announcement that always made the girl exhale heavily. List of scholarship recipients, this one announcement always made him envious.

Try my name there, Hu-uh competition gets a very tight scholarship, how do they learn ? how did they get such a big GPA ?

Am I not studying hard ? or my small brain capacity ? inner Reana while banging her own forehead.

Reana was startled, suddenly her hand was grabbed and grabbed by someone. Reana's hands were pulled and placed behind her back. The girl's body was drawn closer, when looking at the person who dared to do that, Reana smiled.

"Why hit your own forehead, feel not smart ?" ask Nico while paying attention to the list of scholarship recipients that Reana had seen.

Reana smiled shyly.

Even Brother Nico can guess the contents of my head, inner Reana.

Nico turned to look at Reana.

"Don't push yourself too hard, you'll get tired and get sick. They're people who focus on college, while you, have to work while you go to college"

Reana nodded in understanding.

"Aren't you finished college?" ask Reana.

Nico nodded.

"Mmm, you want to go home or wait on campus?" nico asked, if Reana wanted to go home the man was ready to drive her.

Of course Reana chose to wait for work hours on campus, this girl did not want to bother Nico who had to drive back and forth to the boarding house and pick him up again when entering work at the restaurant later.

"Wait on campus, why go back and forth boarding" choose Reana.

"When you eat in the cafeteria, you haven't eaten, have you ?" nico asked very attentively to Reana.

Reana shook her head, the girl was used to having lunch with the employees at the restaurant. After all Reana felt uncomfortable in the cafeteria, the place gave a bad impression to Reana.

Even to pass through the canteen alone, Reana felt reluctant if not forced to go to the library. Many times the girl experienced unpleasant events around the canteen.

"Does Brother Nico want to eat ? do I want to accompany you ?" ask Reana.

"I've eaten before going to college" refused Nico smooth.

"Where are we going ? to the perpus or to the mall ?" ask Nico again with a smile.

"Streetings in the back garden" Reana finally made the choice to fill the time.

Nico nodded in agreement, while still holding the girl's hand, Nico and Reana walked towards the back garden of the campus.

"You know what ? there used to be a girl crying there, maybe you know her guy ?" tanya Nico pointed at the wooden lesehan under the shade of a large tree.

Reana stared at the direction Nico pointed at, the girl laughed.

"Unacquainted" the girl replied shaking her head while laughing.

The girl still clearly remembered crying alone because she was confused about not being able to pay tuition according to the time she promised. The choice of college leave was almost taken if at that time Nico did not come to help.

Or worse than that, Reana is forced to ask Mr. Malvin for help. The girl shook her head strongly, unable to imagine her life under the control of Mr. Malvin, if she had already dealt with the rich young executive.

At first glance, Nico angrily ripped off Mr. Malvin's business card and threw it into the air. Reana looked back on what happened back then.

Nico rubbed Reana's hair to disperse the girl's daydream. Reana tidied her hair back with a pouting face.

Nico laughed at the cute expression of the girl. Whatever face Reana is showing still looks sweet in Nico's eyes.

"Your hair is getting long, do you want to be delivered to the salon again ?" ask Nico while taking Reana for a slow walk around the park.

"No ah still not so long, usually even longer than this" Reana said as she touched her hair, recalling her habit of twisting her hair every day.

"If you don't want a haircut but still can other treatments, right ?" ask Nico again.

Reana just laughed a little, the shadow when Nico took her for the first time to do beauty treatments in a luxury salon at that time actually happened shortly after Reana cried alone in the wood.

"Oh yes, brother, when in the salon, the officials told me that first sister Nico liked to bring a girl named Angela, who is she ?" reana asked suddenly remembered the conversation of the salon employee at that time.

"She's my girlfriend, my first love" Nico replied softly.

Reana was stunned to hear Nico's reply, there was a strange feeling running through her body. The girl was dumbstruck, her body frozen for a moment, bowed, not knowing what to say.

Nico looked at the silent Reana, the man tightened his grip, gently tucking the back of the girl's hand. Reana smiled awkwardly.

"Where is he?" reana asked hesitantly, her intention was to ask to eliminate the awkward atmosphere, but it just increasingly looked awkward.

"There, with Him" answered Nico, looking up at the sky.

Reana follows Nico's path. The girl's forehead shriveled, but a moment later she understood Nico's intent, the girl regretted asking the question. But curiosity began to take control of his mind.

"What's going on?" ask Reana slowly.

"He gave up Leukemia, a month and a half before his seventeenth birthday" Nico continued.

"She is a beautiful, cheerful, confident, hard-hearted and very spoiled girl, all her desires must be obeyed. Have a strong will if you want something" Nico recalled to Angela.

Reana noticed Nico's expression that looked sad. Although Nico smiled but there was a longing tucked away from the tone of the male voice.

Brother Nico must have lost the girl very much, he must have loved her very much, although always looked happy but brother Nico turned out to save the sadness in his heart, Reana's mind looked compassionately at the man.

Reana's steps stopped, without realizing there is a labyrinth before him, Nico felt surprised Reana stopped her steps.

"Why don't you want to go in ?" ask Nico to Reana.

Reana shook her head, clearly the girl was afraid to go inside.

"Don't be afraid, is there me ? I can't let you get stuck there alone" Nico teased Reana.

"No way" said Reana, shaking her head strongly, about to turn the other way.

"You've been traumatized?" tanya Nico was curious about the phobia that the girl was experiencing.

Reana just kept quiet, the girl did not want to tell the incident while playing in a labyrinth. It was a family gathering held by the company where his father worked.

Five-year-old Reana invited the children of company employees to play together. Upon entering a labyrinth the little girl was separated from the other children.

Confused, scared and panicked, little Reana tries to find her own way out. But never found a way out until finally papa Reana found the little girl crying alone in the middle of the labyrinth.

His father tried to teach Reana how to get out of a labyrinth but Reana was still too small until her father promised to teach her when she was older.

But the opportunity never existed until finally Papa Reana left the world.

"Trust me" Nico assured Reana.

The girl thought hard, between defeating fear and the desire to trust Nico. No, there's no doubt to trust Nico. The girl believed one hundred percent in the man.

Slowly Reana stepped into the labyrinth. Once inside, his eyes immediately looked panicked, the wall of plants that blocked here made the girl experience excessive anxiety.

Reana almost turned around, but slowly Nico placed her hand on the wall of the plant beside her.

"Tracing this wall with your hands, sooner or later you will definitely find a way out" Nico said with a smile, making the girl's feeling calmer.

There's a curiosity proving Nico's words. And that sense slowly made the girl's fear fade away. Nico smiled at the look on Reana's face that no longer looked tense.

Next to Reana's hand down the wall of the labyrinth, next to her was held tightly by the handsome man. Nico laughed, feeling like his existence was no longer needed, Reana was busy tracing the walls of the labyrinth plant.

Reana laughs when she realizes that Nico is laughing at her behavior. Not wanting to be laughed at by Nico anymore, Reana looks for material to talk about.

"How did sister Nico and Angela meet?" ask Reana.

Nico astonishedly looked at Reana, suddenly the girl returned to talk about Angela. But Reana was so cute, at least now Nico no longer laughs at him.

"Alena was running towards school, because the drizzle was getting faster I finally offered to piggyback on my bike.

He was willing and we finally met upon arrival at school" Nico recounted while recalling the moments of his first meeting with Angela.

"The next day he waited at the intersection towards our school.

He said yes, although he was not sure, he would still be waiting for me, he wanted to enjoy the fear and anxiety while waiting for my arrival.

Weird, right?" ask Nico to Reana.

Reana nodded slowly.

It must have been the most memorable memory for Nico. Someone waited and believed fully she would come and take them both to school, Reana whispered.

"Since then our relationship has been getting closer, until one day a father came to me and wanted to speak to me with four eyes.

That's when I realized, Angela wasn't a simple girl who took public transport to school but a girl from a rich family" Nico stopped her story from seeing Reana's expression, the man was afraid that the girl was tired of hearing his story.

"Then ?" reana asks, suggesting the girl still wants to hear Nico's story.

"After asking about my family's background, Angela's family finally approved of our relationship" Nico continued.

Of course it is condoned, rich families meet rich families, where it may be opposed that there is actually supported, thought Reana.

The girl walked over while stomping her feet, Nico stopped her steps making the girl's daydream scatter.

"How could sister Nico think that she's a girl from a simple family ?" reana asked, not wanting to be looked at by Nico with an astonished expression.

Getting the question, Nico's mind was again distracted. The man was astonished by Reana's walking. But because Reana asked again, Nico so forget the sense of her nature.

"That's also the problem, I don't accept, I feel cheated.

Angela tried to explain that she did not intend to cover her family background.

At that time he was angry at his father who forgot his birthday party.

Her father tries to persuade her by taking her to school, but Angela refuses and escapes on public transport.

The incident actually brought us together and Angela felt grateful for deciding to reject her papa offer at that time"

"Angela can always melt the atmosphere, she can always ease my frustration. I could never shirk his indulgence, his cheerful nature, couldn't make me angry for long.

Our family finally became very familiar, I was already considered a child for her family, and Angela was already considered the princess in our family" Nico bowed, the man let out a long sigh.

"But our family's happiness did not last long, quickly the disease began to eat away at him. Angela who does not want to look weak hides the pain she suffered, until it is too late.

Doctors diagnosed advanced leukemia, even a spinal cord graft was no longer able to cure it" Nico stopped, as if he was gathering strength to continue his steps.

"Sorry sister, I shouldn't have asked about Angela, I've opened up Nico's old wounds" Reana said regretfully.

Nico smiled looking gently at Reana, the girl was too sensitive. Always feeling sorry, always feeling guilty.

"Nothing, anyways the feeling became relieved after telling the uneg-uneg who was buried for so long" replied Nico smiling.

"really ? brother doesn't regret telling it ? was my brother sad ?" ask Reana sparkling.

Nico shook his head, wrapping his hands around the girl's waist.

"I'm happy to tell you everything" Nico said.

"Oh yeah, then what about the girls after Angela ?" reana asks relieved, the girl is getting used to poking at Nico's personal life.

In his mind there must have been many stories of girls who stopped by in Nico's life.

"Why is your question like that? why think so many girls after Angela? ask Nico while continuing to take a slow step.

"Sure as it is, sister Nico is very popular among girls, it must be very easy for brother Nico bergonta change partner, they do not get the position, must have been many victims" said Reana slowly.

Reana remembers, the one who can't let go of Nico is Rebecca. To this day, the girl is still expecting Nico's love.

"What sacrifice ?" ask Nico to laugh.

"The victims of false love, brother Nico, they do not know, if in the heart of sister Nico there is only Angela" replied Reana as her hands continued to explore the labyrinth plant, her eyes dodged Nico's gaze.

"You're wrong Miss Reana, I've never played any girl.

I never gave any girl hope.

I couldn't escape Angela's shadow myself until without me knowing, I started to forget Angela because I knew her" Nico realized something.

"If you think it feels strange, the girl is 180 degrees different from Angela. Not at all similar, Angela is cheerful, confident and spoiled, while the girl's personality is introverted, happy to be alone.

Want to do something without the help of others. Quiet, far from a confident impression.

But why would the feelings I have for Angela get distracted ?" ask Nico to himself.

"Maybe sister Nico, looking for a different figure from Angela, as an escape from the disappointment of not being able to live happily with Angela" replied Reana.

Suddenly Reana's steps stopped, in front of the dead end, there was no way anywhere, around it there was only a fence plant, Reana's eyes began to glaze over.

The girl pulled her hand from the side of the labyrinth plant. Like stop believing that his hand can find a way out. The girl's body suddenly went limp.

Nico immediately grabbed Reana, pressed the girl's hand back against the wall of the labyrinth and invited her to turn, back down the road they had been on.

Nico wants the girl to keep believing that she can find her own way out. With Reana's hands still tracing the labyrinth plant, now they had found another different path.

Reana stopped her steps, adjusting her breathing that had felt heavy. Nico stroked Reana's hair, the girl's feeling began to be relieved. Nico helped him overcome the fear of being trapped that he had felt earlier.

"That girl couldn't have been just an escape, because I was so happy to be around her.

Although it was difficult, I would always try to get him to accept me" Nico said slowly, half whispering to Reana.

It doesn't make sense, men as good as Nico's sister find it hard to get the heart of a girl, the inner Reana.

What kind of girl has melted her heart ? where is he now ? is she a student at this college ? why do I not know at all ? haven't I been with her all this time ? I never heard him mention a name ? reana's question is inward.

Strange feelings spread within Reana, there was a sense of disbelief, the feeling of men as good as Nico was ignored just like that by the girl.

At the same time sincere if indeed the girl can make Nico happy. But also envious, if the girl accepts Nico, then Reana can no longer be near the man. Reana lowered her head.

"Did the girl accept Nico's sister ?" finally the question that came out of the girl's mouth from the many questions that disturbed her mind.

Nico's steps stopped staring at the bowed Reana. Reana's question is the same question as her.

The man raised Reana's chin, forcing their eyes to meet.

"I don't know, ask yourself, only you can answer" whispered Nico softly in Reana's ear.

Nico raised his hand, putting the girl's hand on his chest. Letting the girl feel the beating of her heart.

Reana again bowed, misbehaving Nico's words. The man was waiting for an answer from her.

The girl doesn't know what to answer, she doesn't want to misunderstand, Reana doesn't know what answer Nico wants. Reana trembled, subconsciously the girl bit her lips.

Don't bite your lip, Reana, Nico's scream.

But the girl kept biting her lips. Seeing the girl's behavior, Nico was no longer able to hold back. He approached, directly sticking his lips on Reana.

Slowly Nico bit the girl's lip. Something she desperately wanted to do whenever she looked at the girl's tiny lips.

Reana closed her eyes, enjoying Nico's gentle treatment, the girl wrapped her arms around Nico's shoulder, the body language that showed Reana wanting the man, without realizing Reana was returning Nico's kiss.

The man smiled at Reana's soft-lipped pull, the girl resignedly letting Nico who wanted to****** her lips deeper. The man tightens his arms, Reana's resignation makes Nico even bolder.

Slowly, gently, repeatedly, the longer Nico's kiss goes deeper. Chasing, finding the tongue soft and sweet like a strawberry, Nico addicted, he wants to find that taste again.

His tongue moved agilely, again, Nico wanted it again, until finally finding the sweet taste again, slowly the man stretched his arms, giving them space to breathe.

Nico cupped Reana in the face, the girl looked down not daring to look Nico in the eyes. The girl was embarrassed by her courage to return Nico's kiss.

Nico smiled happily, gently tucking the peak of the girl's hair.

"Terimakasih sayang, terimakasih untuk penyerahan dirimu" ucap Nico sambil memeluk Reana.

...*****...