MY LOVELY AUTHOR'S

LITTLE SECRETS OF ARATA PART 3

            Unlike most of the scenes in the film, following and coming to Arata is not easy. I have to get through the traffic jam. I also had to feel impatient when the car I was driving was hit by a red light that required me to stop and wait. In addition.. . I had to pass cars parked near the Arata agency building because the cars belonged to reporters and Arata fans who almost filled half the street.

            To meet Arata as he requested, it took a hard struggle to do so. I have to make sure my car is in a safe place from the sharp spies of reporters and Arata fans. As soon as I got out of my car, I had to hide my face with a mask and a hat to be able to enter the agency building where Arata was conducting a press conference. 

            Unlike in movie scenes where someone easily catches up with someone else, in fact. . . I need a great struggle that may not be inferior to the struggles of the warfighters of the past and all that I did was just to meet Arata as he requested.

“If later after hearing my secret and Author feels moved when they hear it, can Author get out of that cage and run up to me?”

            Given Arata's words, I can only complain after my long struggle so that I can stand among his fans who are now hysterically shouting Arata. This request of yours is really troublesome, Arata!! You should have said that coming at you was as hard as the battles of the past!!! Should have. .. You said that before I actually came here with great difficulty!!!

            “Arata!”

            “Arata. . . Arata. . . . Arata. .”

“We love you, Arata!”

“We support you, Arata!!”

I wanted to run through the ranks and hordes of Arata's fan army, but. . . I was pinned in the middle of them along with their noisy cries and made it difficult for me to breathe. This experience that once happened to me, finally repeated itself back to me and this time in the same situation: because Arata fans were excited with Arata and trying to get the attention of their idol-Arata.

            Hosh. . . hosh. . . I was breathing faster than before because I was in a crowded crowd and the mask I was wearing to cover my face. My breath seemed almost disjointed because of the tightness I felt suddenly along with my head that was dizzy from seeing the crowds and screams in my ears.

            Buk. I fell in the middle of the crowd and made everyone look straight at me in surprise.

            “You okay??”

            “Mbak, alright?”

            Seeing me fall between them, Arata fans immediately reached out their hands towards me and tried to help me.

            “A-I'm fine,” I replied.

            I tried to get up with my own efforts and hands, but the Arata fans were kind and trying to help me. The guards at Arata's agency immediately came forward to help me.

            “Wait a minute!”

            The loud sound from the microphone instantly made everyone freeze in shock. The eyes of everyone including me instantly looked in the same direction - towards the direction from which the voice came. The voice came from Arata.

            “Can you all pull over and let me see who that fell over??”

            Arata asked all his fans and the guards at his agency to stay away from me. From a stage that was quite far away, Arata looked at me who was trying to get up from my fall. Arata narrowed his eyes and then got up from his seat. Arata stepped his foot and started walking towards me. His eyes kept looking at me and his lips made a smile towards me as if to say that he recognized me even though I wore a hat, mask and working glasses on my face.

            “Sorry. . I made a fuss.”

I bent my body a little to make Arata stop his steps and act like I was part of the fan Arata was crazy about earlier. But. . . Arata kept walking towards me and only stopped his steps when he was two steps ahead of me. Arata looked at me for a moment while I kept my head down hoping Arata would not recognize me.

“You really came, Author!!”  Arata said that with a smile on his lips along with his approaching footsteps and his hands hugging my body.

            “That must be Author Wallflower!!!”

            “I really didn't expect you to actually get out of that cage and run to see me, Author!!!” Arata tightened his arms at me.

            At the same time all the reporters got up from their seats and started throwing questions at me and Arata.

            “Are you guys really dating?”

            “Since when did you guys date?”

            “Is this the reason Arata defended you in public, Author Wallflower??”

            Arata hugged me tightly and hid my face in his arms. His treatment made me smell his scent mixed with Arata's distinctive favorite perfume with a fresh smell.

            “Guard!!”

            From inside Arata's deck, the, I peeked if Brother Rama moved beside Arata while asking for help from all the guards to protect us both from the attacks of reporters and Arata fans.

            “Arata, let's take Miss Asha inside first! I will ask our spokesperson to hold the reporter for half an hour!!”

            “Good, Brother.”

            Still in his arms, Arata led me through the guards to enter his agency building along with Kak Rama beside Arata. From within Arata's arms, I saw Arata's smiling face even though at this moment trouble might be coming at him. That smile was the same smile that Arata showed me when he asked me out of the apartment onto the balcony.

            “Come here, Arata!!” kak Rama shouted as he opened a room inside his agency office which I felt was a dressing room and dressing room for actors and actresses working in Arata's agency. “Nara!! Help Miss Asha change her clothes and apply makeup!”

            I was going to ask Brother Rama why I changed my clothes and put on my makeup, but Arata still held me and would not let go of my body even after I tried to break away.

            “Arata!! Release Miss Asha, we don't have much time!!” Brother Rama, who seemed to be aware of my situation, replaced me to talk to Arata.

            “I still miss Author, Brother. Can't I hold her any longer??”

            “No!” Me and Brother Rama shouted at the same time and finally made Arata give up to hug me even longer.

            As soon as Arata let go of his embrace on my body, my hand immediately pulled Nara into the dressing room and helped me change my clothes quickly. If Arata previously brought a long dress that seemed luxurious and expensive, this time I only need to change my clothes with a white knee-length dress that was memorable simple but elegant.

            “Please sit here, Miss Asha.”

            As soon as she finished changing my clothes, Nara pulled my hand to sit on the makeup chair she had chosen. Next to me sat Arata who kept looking at me with a smile on his face. I glanced at the mirror and looked at Kak Rama who was busy talking to some people who I think they had something to do with Arata's press conference.

            “Arata go back to the podium first. Reporters are waiting for an answer to what you did today!” said Kak Rama who approached towards Arata and stared intently at Arata.

            “Can't I go back there together with Author?”

 At a time like this Arata still had time to whine to Kak Rama and make Kak Rama almost out of stock calm.

“No haggling, Arata!! Hurry back and in ten minutes, I will escort Miss Asha to your side, Arata.”

Arata got up from his seat and looked at me. “Fast follow me, Author! Don't make me wait too long!”