Prison of Love

Let go, Let Him Be Happy

65

Hengky heaved a sigh of relief then put his right hand on the same cheek, his eyes unblinkingly looked at me, “So, what did you want to tell me earlier, Darling?”

“Honey? Naya, you..” Joseph's eyes widened, his mouth open in disbelief.

“All students on campus know that Hengky and Naya are an inseparable couple, Bro! So when you said silly things in the cafeteria earlier, you think you again play the role as what?” Andy grinned.

My eyes kept staring at Andy, trying to figure out what game he was trying to run at us. There was no way he would suddenly support our relationship like this.

No, Andy must have had ulterior motives.

“Wait first. Does Abah know about your 90-degree-changing appearance? Then now you say you're dating?” yusuf's face was upset. He does not care about Andy's words that are very clear to corner him.

“Why? Any problem with that?” Hengky said quietly with a smile. The domineering smile he let out was exactly the same as when he smiled as he interrogated Gilang.

“Of course this is a big deal for me! You want to know, Naya? I even willingly did not join Dad and Mom moved to Bandung during the 2nd grade of High School just because I knew that you would attend the same High School as me. I.. I almost got you if Abah did not come to my house at that time and then threatened me while saying that until anytime you will not be allowed to date any man!”

“And now, in front of my eyes, suddenly you are walking hand in hand with a foreign man with an appearance that.

“My wait for decades suddenly ran aground, Naya! For God's sake, it feels like I want to pull you out of here right now!!” yusuf's tone of voice rose by three octaves. As he spoke earlier, his neck veins looked stiff. It seemed that he could no longer hold back his emotions.

I don't believe in my ears right now. What I just heard was like a high wave that washed me away with memories five years ago. Slide together during High School used to be like dancing in my eyes.

A gentle swipe of Hengky's hand on the back of my hand instantly pulled me back. It dawned on me that whatever Joseph said would never take the place of Hengky in my heart.

“Are you trying to blame me now? Big brother who is a coward but why am I to blame?”

“What? Coward?” The hue of Joseph's face turned red. His eyebrows were linked together as if fused, while his chest rose and fell to the rhythm of his heart which was suddenly quickly hunted by emotion.

“I am not a psychic who can predict or know the contents of someone's heart, Brother. After all, how could Big Brother think of getting angry? even the struggle has not started. Did you say that brother was waiting for me? Waiting for what? Did I ask Brother to wait?”

“C’mon, Brother. Brother thinks I can be here, can be with the person who really loves me because Abah approved of our relationship?”

I turned to Hengky, “Love is not about who we know the longest, not who comes first or the most attentive, but about who comes and doesn't go.”

Hengky smiled, he stroked my head gently. Without her replying to me, her eyes represented everything.

“This is unfair, Naya. How can... ? You do not know how many things I have sacrificed,” Joseph's voice sounds soft. He lowered his head.

“The world has never been fair on something God knows is not in its place, Bro. Trust me, love will always win when you try to let go,”

Andy looked at me, “And your heart will be more relieved when you can still see a happy smile engraved on his lips than tears that will continue to flow if you force your presence in his life.”

When my eyes and Andy met, I understood why he wanted us to sit here together. He just wanted me not to suspect him anymore, he just wanted me to know that he had already released his hand on my hand, letting me go paddling life with Hengky.

My lips automatically smiled at him. The smile that I wished for when the scratch on my lips was gone, then the bad memories along with the accompanying trauma went along.

“You how else? I was too late,” Yusuf raised his head, he looked at Hengky with a smile, “You are with a much loved woman in our extended family. Then if you hurt him, it means you hurt us.”

“You can trust me,” replied Hengky briefly but full of confidence.

Waiters came to deliver our order. He politely let us enjoy the meal and smiled kindly before leaving.

Andy chewed his food. But suddenly he stopped, “By the way you came all the way from Bandung to Lampung want to say what, Bro? Any business on our Campus?”

Yusuf smiled bitterly, ”Pursuing a dream but it turned out to have been hunted away.”

Each of us was silent. There were many questions I wanted to ask Joseph but I held them on my lips. Next time we meet again, I'll ask her a lot of questions. With better conditions, a more airy state and a calmer heart.

Before leaving, Joseph rubbed my head gently and said, “You rest easy, Naya. I won't tell anyone about today's incident. You can count on me, whenever you want.”