Me, What It Is

CHAPTER 9 ~ Forgotten Memories ~

Reana walks through the park behind the campus. The garden bench that Alika had occupied was still empty as before. Reana's memory floated at the moment Alika asked her to speak two days ago.

It was the turning point of his relationship with Alika. Since then Alika never wanted to look at him again, Reana did not dare to ask him to talk. Even a simple relationship cannot be established between them. Reana felt that Alika must have hated her so much.

Reana sits on the bench that Alika once occupied. His fingers moved down the back of the bench. Alika's back was leaning there. That moment might be the last moment for Reana and Alika.

Reana went to the other side of the garden, there was a maze made of fence plants, not too broad, but big enough to pass. Reana was not brave enough to enter the labyrinth, unable to imagine herself trapped in it.

My life has been complicated enough, like entering the labyrinth and not knowing where the way out, whispered Reana.

Finally Reana just circled the outer side of the labyrinth. On each side are several park benches. Reana chose to sit on the bench facing the other side of the garden.

From there Reana could see another faculty building, which was quite a distance across the meadow and flower garden.

Reana took out the books she had borrowed from the library, starting to read one by one her pages.

Shortly afterwards, Reana heard footsteps not far from her seat.

Maybe a couple who are dating, Reana thought in her heart.

The girl was getting ready to get out of her seat. He had no interest at all in hearing the conversation of the lovers. Reana smiled to herself imagining what talk she could hear if she did not rush out of the place.

"I'm sorry Alika"

Reana was stunned, her eyes wide, the girl stepped off. Hasbi's voice apologized to Alika. Slowly Reana again occupies his stool.

Hasbi's voice was clear, as if they were sitting on the side of the labyrinth not far from Reana's bench. Their distance is very close only limited to closely arranged fence plants.

"You are the person I love the most. You are the most special person to me" Hasbi said.

"I'll be the first to get angry if anyone hurts you" Hasbi said.

No answer from Alika.

"But the feeling I feel for you is different from how I feel for Reana." Hasbi continued.

Reana was surprised, Hasbi mentioned her name in their conversation.

"Reana has a special place in my heart. I don't know since when he occupied it, but. ever since I knew him, I always wanted to see him, wanted to always be near him, always missed him" Hasbi said with a head down.

"But Reana doesn't care about your feelings, Reana chooses the upperclassman" Alika replied to Hasbi.

"His name is Nico, I've known him for a long time" Hasbi's memory drifted into a period of campus recognition orientation.

"You remember, you ever asked me for a cut on my arm? hasbi said as she showed the forearm near her elbow.

Alika nodded.

"Nico wrapped it up".

Alika was stunned, Reana was stunned.

"At that time of campus recognition orientation, I supported my group by taking part in basketball competitions on the open field" Hasbi smiled as she recalled that time.

"We were obliged to take off the shirt and roll the pants up to the thigh, funny, exciting" said Hasbi smiling.

"I had a bump with a teammate. He was fine but I fell down, probably because of my thin little body, I got hurt. My arm was scratched to bleed. I still remember the panic of the ospek committee back then" Hasbi sighed.

"Nico stood up from the back bench, offering to take me to the treatment room. Nico told me to bring my shirt and pocket so I could rest there" Hasbi said, imagining the situation.

The bag was the only bag that could be used at the time. Alika and Reana listened in silence.

"He took care of my wounds, comforting me like a brother to his sister. He said my wound might leave a mark.

This is a valuable scar, valuable because it is obtained from the struggle to defend the team. That's what he said at the time.

Words that impressed me. Words I can never forget. There was no sadness, even though my hands were hurt, there was pride, all thanks to his support" Hasbi stopped her story, taking a quick breath.

"Having a personality that cares for others, is selfless and loving. I even idolized him immediately.

It didn't matter if he was just an ordinary student sitting watching the match from behind. Not a student who has a position or ospek committee that bribes orders there command here, maki there maki here, snapped there snapped here" continued Hasbi laughed considering how arrogant the ospek committee with his position at that time.

Alika also smiled to see Hasbi whose spirit imitated the style of the ospek committee at that time.

"You remember too, right? if we're ordered to collect senior signatures at that time"

Alika nodded.

"We must collect signatures in a book containing the names of students following their posts in the organization" replied Alika.

Alika remembered vividly and immediately came to comment.

Hasbi nodded in confirming.

"I thrust the book at him, he laughed when he saw the book. She said I used my handsome face to get the senior student's signature, because most of the ones who signed me were senior girls"

Reana smiled, Alika pinched Hasbi, the smell of jealousy felt because Hasbi was often surrounded by senior girls at that time.

"She rubbed my head and said, big later don't be a playboy huh" Hasbi said with a laugh.

"It's like a sister's advice to her sister, isn't it?" tanya Hasbi was still laughing.

Alika nodded, she also laughed, while Reana smiled on her stool. Reana disengaged the intention to leave the place because she was interested in hearing Hasbi's story.

"Someone with a warm and handsome personality. If I was a girl, maybe I was in love with her" Hasbi said, Alika smiled at her.

"Then he signed her autograph for you?" ask Alika.

"He wrote his signature, when I read it, on the name of Nicholas Rayne, Chair of the University Student Senate"

"really?" Alika jumped in shock.

Hasbi nodded.

"Unexpectedly, the guy who just sat quietly in the back seat. Guys whose attitude is far from arrogant impression, actually have the highest position on this campus.

I made sure he didn't write his signature wrong.

But that's him, the guy I thought would have a hard time getting his autograph, the guy who took care of my wounds" Hasbi told me smiling in amazement.

He may not remember me but I will never forget him" Hasbi continued.

"Ironi no, the person I admire the most, is now the person I hate the most" Hasbi said, looking sad.

"Nicholas Rayne ?" ask Alika, please,

"Rayne ?" resetting again

Hasbi looked astonished at Alika.

"From earlier that name bothered my mind, that call, like I've heard... Rayne... Rayne... that upperclassman.. Could it be Senior Rayne ?" ask Alika suddenly.

"Senior Rayne?" Hasbi also asked in wonder.

"Ah... The senior who gave the bench that time" Alika recalled.

"Who's the guy? but it's possible that, when the upperclassman took care of my wound, I had a good impression of him, his face seemed to evoke a feeling of awe towards him, maybe I forgot, we only briefly met him, we, we don't even believe his words" Hasbi continued.

"We don't even thank him" Alika continued, nodding.

"really right? brother Nico is someone who cares about others, not arrogant, not proud of his position, he gave the bench to us without the need to know who we are, he gave the bench to us, he doesn't even care even if we don't thank him" Hasbi said as if he still regretted.

"But since then we have never met him again just to say thank you" continued Alika.

"Maybe it's because of his busyness, or our schedule is different from his" Hasbi thought.

"Now that we have remembered him, and have also met him again, will you thank him for his kindness at that time? " ask Alika.

"Well, with our present condition, with the feelings we have now, it seems impossible to recall the events of that time, let that gratitude be stored in our hearts" hasbi said he was sorry because of the bad relationship between himself and Nico.

Hasbi fell silent, there was regret in his heart when he remembered the incident in the basketball hall. It never occurred to him that he would one day throw his fist at the person he admired.

Emotions, jealousy, are the beginning of a loss of common sense.

"Don't hate Reana, because she's innocent" Hasbi said, turning to Alika who was just downcast.

"Even though Reana didn't choose me, still I can't be with you, because you're not a backup woman. You're more valuable than that. Far more valuable than that" Hasbi said as she stroked Alika's hair.

Alika bowed her tears dripping.

"One day you'll find someone better than me. Someone special, just like you" Hasbi continued wiping away the tears dripping down Alika's cheek

A gentle yet sure form of rejection from Hasbi. There was no hope for Alika to get her love.

Reana shed tears, not the end she expected.

Alika, Reana and Hasbi, were silent at the same time. Shut up with their thoughts and sadness.

...*****...