Orang-orang to Aratha

Chapters. 23 - Last Meeting

Hi, Sonya.

Sorry for what happened this morning and before.

This letter will probably be the last for you and for me.

Tomorrow I will go to Palangkaraya because of Father's work and settle there for a few years.

I was a little disappointed because we couldn't pass together and couldn't see each other face to face anymore.

Even so, I'm still happy to meet you. Especially when you say my name for the first time.

I really enjoyed the days with us. It's not enough to just say thank you to you. I still want to say a lot to you. I still want to be with you longer. But, it seems like there is already someone else in your heart.

I won't force you.

I will not appear in your life.

Even though I wish I could see you again.

I'm glad to know you and I will never regret it.

Thank you for coming into my life.

Good bye, Sonya.

It was a letter that Alrez left behind last time in his desk drawer. Sonya can't imagine life as an Alrez. His father had a bad temper and his mother decided to part ways by bringing along his younger sister. He must have felt very lonely and lost. Sonya remains hopeful, Alrez finds someone new when she moves in.

Sonya walks out of the classroom and already finds Aratha standing in the doorway. He folded his hands like he was upset over something. At first glance, the two looked at each other and did not even say the first words. Sonya lowered her gaze then walked away behind him.

It seems that Aratha is already upset and does not want to listen to any explanation about the letter in Sonya's desk drawer. He quickly pulled Sonya's wrist and pulled her away in the opposite direction.

”Ouch! Slow down a little!” Sonya pulled her wrist and her second step instantly stopped. In one look, Sonya already knew that Aratha was currently in a bad mood.

Aratha looks sweaty. His breath was breathless as if he were exhausted. Both of them just ran for a while. The corner of Sonya's heart ached, imagining what was currently happening to Aratha. He wanted to do something for her. However, he could not carelessly do so.

Silent. They both wait for each other. Until an incident, made Sonya finally say first.

”Aratha! Your nose is bleeding.”

Aratha looked surprised. He immediately wiped down his nose using his index finger. Sonya was horrified as the blood dripped all the way to the surface of the floor. Seeing Aratha's state, making Sonya forget the math exam that will be done tomorrow. Anxiety and fear finally reappeared in his heart after Sonya lost her mother.

Slowly Sonya walked up to him and Aratha immediately moved behind him. He still rubbed his nose and wiped the blood on the floor using the traces of his shoes.

While Aratha's back was still visible and only a few meters away from her, Sonya immediately shouted, ”Ak-I love you, Aratha! Don't go!”

Aratha stopped and slightly turned her head towards Sonya. He seemed like he wanted to say something however, his doubts were much greater than what he had expected. Aratha did not want to waste the opportunity of confronting Sonya. She did not want Sonya to be curious about what she wanted to say. However, the pain throughout his body further tempted him to leave rather than make Sonya worry about his condition. In the end, he didn't say it and left.

Sonya bit her lower lip. I don't know what made him think like this. Sonya felt this was her last meeting with Aratha. The words I love you, are the words Sonya accidentally said. Her lips moved on their own and she did not know why it could happen.

”No! That must be wrong! She must be fine!”

...~o0o~...

Aretha entered Aratha's room without permission while she was still at school. He looked around at objects there including a family picture frame placed on the table. The photo didn't look dusty at all because Aratha rubbed it every day.

While holding it, Aretha sat on Aratha's bed. She noticed her mother's smiling face and Aratha's face when she was still healthy. Aretha missed her old family. He hoped to be able to repeat the time to avoid any bad events in the future.

”Mother, what should I do for her now? Does Mom really miss Aratha and want to meet her in heaven? Please don't take Aratha from this family. I still want to see him for a little longer. Please, just give us a few years. I've been hurt enough to see Mom go.”

Aretha lowered her head, putting the picture frame next to her. Sometimes he breathes air and throws it away violently. His heart screamed every day and yet, no one noticed it. The fear of losing him every day. Moreover, in a few days time, he and his aunt will return Makkasar. He could not meet Aratha for several months.

Just as he was daydreaming for a while, the sound of falling objects suddenly sounded from the vestibule. Aretha quickly ran out of the room to see how she was. Once there, the living room was so cluttered with a few broken glasses and glass jars on the floor. Not far from the shards, Aretha looked very surprised because there she saw Aratha lying weak.

”Aratha! Getup! Aratha!”

Aretha shouted in front of Aratha. He tried to turn Aratha's body over on the floor. He looked pale and his face was filled with bruises. Her nose was bleeding again after Aratha tried to remove her tracks repeatedly. This time, he looked even worse than before.

”Aibi! Come quickly! We need an ambulance!”

...~o0o~...

”It feels like time goes by so fast. Just yesterday I met Aratha and now I'm separated again. I want to take another walk with him. Hearing him nag the cheating merchant and how he argued with me just for trivialities. He's the one who made me have the spirit of life.”

Whenever contemplating, Sonya always sat in the corner of the room and away from the middle. He was sad because of something. Aratha was not like the Aratha she used to know. If only, Sonya had not tried to avoid Aratha just because of her aching wrist, would she still be able to talk to Aratha for a very long time? What was he trying to say to the point that he hesitated to take it out?

His chest felt narrowed so that it made him tight. His cold sweat continued to flow from above his head like there was no end to it. There was not a single sound other than the sound of a fan blazing above his head.

The flower given by Aratha a few days ago seemed to wither in a vase of cold water. Some of his petals continued to fall and then turned black. The flower no longer has a fragrant and no longer looks beautiful even though Sonya has taken good care of it. Meanwhile, the brown teddy bear that Alrez gave him at the time seemed fine even though Sonya never took care of him and was left alone on the table.

Sonya picks up her phone and from under the pillow and tries to call Aratha. His phone rang however, he did not hear any sound. There was only the voice of the operator saying that this number was inactive.

”Aratha Basar! Don't make others anxious dong!”