NOT AS BEAUTIFUL AS HEAVEN S1/S2

Chapter 18 S2. Forgive

He looked at Gafi with a smile. The man seemed to be stunned with a dazzled smile. The girl looked even sweeter with her smile.

"Funny yes, Brother. I never wanted to be friends other than Axel. To me, he is my world. Only now do I realize that the world is so beautiful and diverse. I've never left other than with my parents, or Axel. Very sad for my life first" said Dita with a smile.

"It's okay, Dita. It is better for a woman. It's also not good for women to travel a lot" said Gafi.

"Kak Gafi is delicious, used to live abroad, now can settle in Indonesia again. Lots of experience" said Dita.

"If you want we can take a semester vacation tomorrow abroad" said Gafi.

"Sister and family'd have moved here?"

"You forgot that mama Nazwa is still in Singapore" Gafi said.

"Oh, yes. I forget. It's nice to have a big family. I'm just on my own. Father and Mother are only children."

"Next year's wedding of Sister Shella, you want to come to Singapore?" ask Gafi.

"It seems I'm not coming. Just mom and dad" replied Dita.

"Why? Don't tell me you don't want to see Axel" Gafi said.

"That's the reason. Axel asked me to get as far away from his life as possible. I had to do that even though it was hard at first. But now I'm used to it without him. Instead I was grateful, because he asked me to stay away I got to know a lot of friends and know more about this world." Dita said softly and stammered for holding the sebak in the chest.

Dita still remembered Axel's words. Not a grudge, but to forget it all takes a long time.

Dita then told me everything that happened between her and Axel. All this time he just kept to himself. With her parents alone, Dita never said all of Axel's hurtful remarks.

Gafi who heard the story from Dita alone became astonished, why his cousin could say so rudely. He and Dita have been together since they were little.

"On behalf of the family I apologize, for what Axel said and did to you" Gafi said sincerely.

"You must be very vengeful and will not forget everything" said Gafi.

"Why should I get revenge? Isn't AXel's right to choose another woman" Dita said.

Gafi seems to be getting more and more amazed with Dita. He could keep all his heart wounds alone.

"Why do I know Dita now, I never paid attention because she was very closed. Always willing to be near Axel," muttered Gafi in his heart.

The two were silent for a moment, not knowing what they were thinking.

"I now understand why you chose to study here and don't want to say where you went" Gafi said.

"I stayed away because I didn't want this heart to go any further to get hurt. Staying away does not mean hate or dislike someone. But it's more about respecting yourself by not letting others trample on this."

"I agree with your words. You must be very angry and vengeful" said Gafi.

"I've forgiven everything.Pardoning doesn't mean forgetting. It is to let go of heartache.Apologies do not mean wrong. Giving up does not mean losing or being afraid. Give praise to those who insult.Throw a smile must not be reciprocated. Reply to hatred with compassion. Patience does not mean not able to reply," said Dita with a soft word.

After a long conversation, they finally went home. Gafi escorted Dita to the boarding house. An hour's drive, they arrived at Dita's boarding yard. Before going down Dita gives a message to Gafi.

"Sister, please don't tell anyone I know, if I go to college here" Dita said, pleading.

"When is my Mama?" ask Gafi. He asked, because all this time whatever he did, always told his parents.

"Yes, Brother. I'm sorry, if it's because I have to lie to my family" said Dita.

"All right." That was the only word Gafi spoke in response.

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