Ratih Widyatama's

3. Daniel

For about 6 minutes I was in his arms. Now his shoulders are full of tears that flood him..

"Udah okay?" ask her while stroking my shoulder. I moved away from him and nodded slowly, my eyes were puffy and my snot came out. My mouth can't stop as much as a person who hasn't cried in a long time.

He reached into his pocket and gave me a small packet of tissue and picked it up for me. "Wear this" she said as she stroked my face slowly.

A few minutes' delay. I started to regulate my emotions and started asking her something else.. "Why aren't Tria and Alvin surprised to see you?". "I told them first. I moved here about 2 months ago and met Alvin by accident near the library" now his face was no longer staring at me, he lowered his head with his hands clutched together over his thighs.

"I didn't mean to hide any of this, I just wasn't ready to meet you. You mean so much to me. I'm afraid you hate me and don't trust me after all this.., so I can't tell you when I get home from here.."

His face grew grim, no more light of happiness implied in his emotions. His tone was filled with emotions of sadness so deep. I took a deep breath preparing to give me the best answer..

"I never hated you. Although I was annoyed at you at first, but I admit your courage to tell me. 10 years.. long enough for you to build confidence again after going through all the things that are beyond the initial prediction. Therefore, I will accept that excuse" I said turning towards him. Our faces face each other now,

I stroked the back of his hand and gave a little smile that I would only give to those closest to me.. "Promise me, never to leave me again. And. love me like I did for 10 years ago till now"

It seemed that now he was the one who could not hold back his tears. The fragile side that I'm sure he'll never show anyone. Now it's all crumbling as soon as we speak from heart to heart like this.

"Yes. I promise. I will love you. until whenver.. I will not leave you again"

I smiled and stroked her hair which was now falling apart in the wind. The atmosphere became silent, only the sound of his sobs and the wind seething. Tria and Alvin came towards us with bawling breaths.

"In cariin too! it's time to enter, it's too late for us to get angry!" tria said with her face turned crimson due to running out.

"Ratih,ayo" said Alvin then pulled Ratih's hand and ran. He did not even look back and just followed Alvin's footsteps.

"What do you feel now? feel better?" tanya Tria then sat down beside me

"Why should you lie if you've seen her all this time?!" reply upset

"I'm sorry I forgot to tell you about this man~. But trust me, he's not leaving again. That's why I always doubted if you said you wanted to move on from him. He had his own plan, sorry I'm like this too because he told me to tell you a secret from you" he answered while holding both of my hands and grasping them tightly as if the words he spoke were really serious and I had to trust him

".... the longer I doubt who your close friends really are" I stood up and cleaned up the rest of the tissue and threw it in the trash near the bench.

" Oh. come on! trust me! he'll do it all for you! Well, I certainly support you more as Ratih than the same guy" said Tria fishing

" ... You three talk about what is being bagged? tumben he did not come with you" I asked to look at him with a surprised face.

Tria just smiled and didn't answer anything. He just walked ahead of me without looking back. It was my mark that this time had to act giving all my explanations to the child.

Sometimes I'm grateful that they're always there for me. But on the other hand, I feel like they're both too dangerous to keep doing things like this.

But.., it was this kind of thing that brought me closer to them, I understand their intentions. And they know what limits they have to do for me.

Daniel

"Going to school, to the school park. I'm waiting"

^^^Adel^^

^^^"All of you want to talk"^^^

Daniel

I patted him on the shoulder "Thanks" he just nodded and then the two of us ran towards the direction of the class.

...----------------...

School hours come. Ratih and I walk together, while Tria and Alvin head to the OSIS room for a meeting on the school festival.

As I promised Daniel. I immediately met him and headed towards the park, a place that always made me feel calm. Is this the change I got after going through it all?

"If you don't want to say, I can represent" Ratih clasped my hand tightly like someone about to disappear

"Aman" I said in an uninspired tone. It seems I'm too tired to pretend to be indifferent to circumstances like this. The train that suddenly appeared had made me lose the calmness of self that I could usually control easily. And now, coupled with a Daniel who liked me since Junior High.

"I'll wait here. You come in and talk to him. I'll wait, if there's anything scream, I'll run towards you" she stroked my hair softly and smiled.

How long have I not seen this soothing smile of his? I feel like I want to cry just by looking at it. I nodded and immediately entered the garden, where I saw a man squatting and feeding a stray cat.

"Sorry to keep you waiting" I said as soon as I got behind him. He immediately stood up and turned his head towards me, only this time did I see an impassioned expression from him. "I just arrived too. Just relax" then he sat on the bench and I immediately followed to his side.

"To the point, what do you want to talk about?" ask me without looking at it. It seems he knows that my mood is not good for casual conversation.

"What... All this time my effort to you is lacking? am I really that pantes for you?" ask without looking at it a bit. He just looked at the orange sky with a natural pattern that is so beautiful. "No, your effort is too good that I always feel guilty about you. Because it likes women who still have residents in it".

She smiled bitterly and looked down "Well, I didn't expect a sweet answer from you. Moreover, words of encouragement, even during these 3 years, I have never once made you smile. I should have known that"

"All I can say is thank you. I really feel grateful to you for coming close to me for 3 years. I consider everything you give me precious, a moment where we both play. It's just that, I can't accept you as a substitute for the old one. And now someone who can't be replaced is back. I hope, after this you can find something better than me. Daniel.., you're a good man. Look for a good woman like you"

After saying that, I stood up for a moment and looked towards him "All is not in vain. I'm the one who can't accept you, according to my answer 3 years ago. Sorry and thank you for liking me. I hope you find someone who understands you and gives you the feedback you deserve and more than you give me" slowly I started running my legs, stay away from her who was staring did not say anything.

Outside, Ratih was waiting while reading a novel that I did not know the title of. As soon as he glanced at me out, he immediately closed his novel "Have it? want to go straight home?" ask her with a worried face

" Yes. go home directly. I... tired" I held her hand in a comfortable position like a child who needs a hug. Ratih hugged me for a while and stroked my back.

"Get my bike. We'll go to the parking lot first"

Along the way, there was no conversation between us. Ratih just kept quiet, and I dissolved in my own thoughts. What the hell is going on right now?

After a few minutes, Ratih has arrived in front of my house. I immediately got down and took off my helmet and was about to give it to her "No, that's for you. I just bought it"

"Well, ga delicious dong. Time to buy the helmet?" I just don't feel good

"Watch me a reunion gift. I go home first. If there is any chat I just. I'm always online for you" from his eyes.he looks like he's smiling at me. I just returned with an ordinary smile.

"Don't stop by?" ask me a stale base

" That's not ready. If it's deadeng, I'll be there" he replied and then immediately left in front of the house.

Even though I don't know what he means. I just smiled and hugged the helmet he gave me.