Red Threads

Statements

"Love does not need an explanation. However, don't likes need at least one reason?"

♥

Four months after Nagra's death...

If for most people waking up is a way to be free from nightmares, then that is not the case for Mika. He often wished that he would never wake up again. At least, in a dream he does not need to face the abandonment of his mother, feel the pain of staying away for eternity, and feel the difficulty of surviving alone.

The sound of dishes breaking from the kitchen makes Mika have to welcome her nightmare once again. Without looking at the calendar, he already knew if today was the 12th. His mother would always break the plates on that date. Every month. He doesn't know the reason. But it has become a routine. 

Mika got up from the bed. Then, walk into the kitchen with staggering steps. He approached his mother who was crouching to collect glass fragments. Yulia caught a glimpse of Mika. Then, rub the corners of the eyes roughly. Yulia brushed off the rough hand of Mika who was trying to help clean up the fragments of the plate. “Let mama clean. You take a shower. It's noon.”

“Nothing, Ma. Let Mika help,” Mika said with a small smile. Every time she talked to her mother, Mika would put on her most cheerful face. With hope, her mother will return to her normal state. Her mother will take her back.

“Didn't you hear what Mom said? Just go! Don't care about mama!” Yulia yelling. Mika froze when she saw her mother's face red. The sharp gaze of the woman was fixed on him, making Mika could only gulp with difficulty.

Without waiting for a second clash, Mika got up from her position. Then, back off slowly. Not once did her mother do that. However, Mika never got used to it.

♥

Mika does not have two personalities. He's just too good at pretending. The quarrel with his mother some time ago, did not make him an instant gloomy. She will remain the usual Mika. It was Mika who made others laugh with her behavior.

Just as he had set foot in the school, a furore had already occurred in the corridor. Actually, the furore only happened to him. He walked while dancing in the school corridor, making him slip.

“Ka, I think you need to follow dance lessons deh,” Abi said while holding back a laugh.

“Tomorrow the red carpet along the corridor. Let you not fall again,” added Ronald. Then, he chuckled.

“It must be you two that my doain fell, right?” Mika shows a fierce face to Ronald and Abi. He ignored the amused looks of his friends. “Gue is now happy. Naturally dong if I nari-nari.”

“Indeed, when have you ever been unhappy?” ask Abi. Mika was silent for a moment, after hearing the question. But one second later, he laughed loudly. Louder than Abi and Ronald's laugh.

“Iya yes. I am always happy every day,” said Mika. Then, he laughed again. “Then I go to class. Bye.”

Mika leaves Abi and Ronald still laughing. Two classmates Raga was always fond of mocking his absurd behavior.

Mika's footsteps stopped in front of Raga's class. He looked into the classroom, through a wide open door frame. His face was faint, as he looked at the man in the corner of the room. Raga was unaware of his presence. The guy is still busy with rubrics and earphones in the ears.

“Again, Ga.” Mika showed the sweetest smile in front of Raga.

Raga turned her eyes to Mika. “Pagi.”

Mika landed a body in the front seat of Raga. “Three weeks did not meet you, it feels really bad yes,” said Mika, who only responded to Raga with a small smile.

“You didn't miss me?” Mika pursed her lips.

“Kangen,” Reply Raga. Although it was only one word, at least it was able to make Mika happy.

Raga observed Mika's face. Just by looking into the girl's eyes, he already knew that something had happened. “Why you?”

Mika gelagapan's. He tried to throw away his face, but Raga's movement was faster. The guy was holding his chin up, so he couldn't move. Her brown irises collide with Raga's dark irises. And, that made him short of breath. It had been almost three months that she was dating Raga, but she was not used to the guy's gaze. He did not know why the gaze of the eyes that once made him upset, now became something that made him most nervous. “I'm okay.”

“Not lie.”

Mika closed her eyes for a moment. Too long to see Raga's eyes, it would be dangerous for his heart. Mika stripped off the pretended happy look she put on. The shadow of her mother this morning flashed back inside her head. “I fight again same mama.” Mika forced herself to laugh, as if the statement was a joke. But it was the tears that melted on her cheeks. His hands moved to cover his face. He didn't want anyone to see him cry, including Raga. He still wanted to be known as the strong Mika. Mika is always happy.

“Other times do not have to pretend to be happy, if you do not want more pain,” said Raga. That guy did nothing. But knowing Raga by her side, already made Mika feel better. In the midst of his pain, at least he still had a place to go home. He still has someone to share with. He never even thought, if Raga could be someone who made him feel happy when he did not want to laugh.

Mika brushed away her tears. He knew that his face was now very tangled. Not very pretty, because it was filled with traces of tears. Mika forced a smile. Then, he stood up from his position. “I go to class first yes.”

From tomorrow, it looks like Mika should start bringing masks to school. He was very uncomfortable with his appearance. His face was wrinkled and eyes were reddened, making him only able to walk with his head down while leaving Raga's classroom. He didn't want anyone to see him cry. However, his attempt to hide ends when he crosses paths with Anggita and Raya in the corridor.

“Lo why nduk only, Ka? More money?” ask Anggita. His head lowered towards Mika. “No money fell. Or, your neck just sprained?”

Mika shook her head slowly. “Gue again amoeba feed for biological practicum.”

“Life, I have never known any amoeba that can be seen with the naked eye.” She complains about Mika's statement.

"Ngapain lo of his class Raga?” ask Anggita, regardless of the strange words of Mika and Raya.

“Gue didn't ask lo!” Anggita threw a sharp look at Raya. Then, switch to Mika. “Still at home lo dating that cold guy?” Angita whispers. If he used to like Raga, then it doesn't happen anymore. Knowing Raga's attitude that was too cold, made his admiration for the guy slowly decrease. Moreover, after knowing Raga likes Mika. Mika just laughed a little. Whenever someone asked her that, she would always remember the day when her relationship with Raga began to change.

♥

*“Lo know who the guy is?” Raya pointed at a guy who had just come out of the teacher room.

“He's a new student, right? Very handsome, jeez!” I don't think we're taking our eyes off that guy.

Mika clucking. I don't know, he's not interested in the guy who's been the talk of two days at school. Just looking at the appearance alone, Mika already knew that the guy was the arrogant type.

“Why can he move in mid-semester huh?” Raya's question was answered by Mika with a shrug of the shoulder.

"He looked here!” Angita screaming.

“Jeez, he's actually here! I have to look beautiful in front of her.” She straightened her hair with her hands. Then, staring at his reflection in a small mirror that is always taken anywhere.

Mika just shook her head at the behavior of her two best friends. He was too focused on the furore of Raya and Anggita, so he did not realize that the man was already standing in front of him.

“You're Mika, right?” ask the guy, all of a sudden. Making Anggita and Raya spontaneously turn towards Mika with a questioning look.

Mika nodded slowly, a few seconds later. Why did the man already know his name at their first meeting?

Mika scanned the man's appearance from top to bottom. The eyes of the man seemed to show a cold and annoying impression. The guy just left after getting a response from Mika. Without a word. Without a smile as a greeting.

“See, right? He is the type of songong guy who must be destroyed on the face of the earth,” grumbled Mika on his two best friends.

“But, he's handsome.” says Kingdom. He did not take his eyes off the guy's back that was getting further away.

“The name is Raga, right? I have to find out, which class is.” Assume that it's out of place. Without wasting any time, he immediately ran towards the ordinance room.

Mika thought, she would only meet Raga at school. However, it seemed like the guy was always nearby. Anywhere, except at home. He even had time to think, whether he and Raga have an inner bond so they always meet in the same place. Like today, he accidentally met the guy at the bookstore.

Mika ignored Raga's existence. He has nothing to do with that guy. And, don't want to deal. He just needs to find his target book, then go home. No need to say hello to Raga, let alone mince words. The guy will also not be aware of his existence.

But Mika was wrong. The guy actually approached him, when he had trouble taking books from the top shelf. “That's it, drink milk. Do not take this as well as can not,” said Raga.

Mika held back her sense of regret. He forced a smile as a sign of gratitude. Although, it looks more like a sneer. “Thank you ka—” Hasn't had time for Mika to finish her speech, Raga has already left her.

“Why is there a model guy like that?” Mika grumbling.

Not only that once, Raga came all of a sudden to help him. The guy even bought him meatballs in the canteen— in front of his school friends.

“Make you. I know, your short body makes you trouble nerobos queue.” Raga put a bowl of meatballs on Mika's front desk.

Mika threw a clueless look at Raga. He did not know why the man always came when he was in trouble.

“You want to help me, or want to cheat because I'm short?” mika asked, in an annoyed tone.

Raga raised her eyebrows next to her. “Eat aja. Let the spit high. Let's not take people on.”

“Who wants to take someone out? You are the one who suddenly came. And, pretentious hero of bad luck!” Mika could no longer bear to not curse Raga. He didn't care, even though the guy was being nice. Still, Raga had annoyed him these few days.

“Who wants to be a bad luck hero? I can't wait to see you clamped in there.” Raga stopped her sentence. His eyes were still staring at Mika with a flat expression. “Udah eat only. I know, you're hungry.”

“Udahlah, Ka. When else did you buy meatballs with the prince? I also want kali.” Raya elbowed Mika's waist. Then, Mika responded with a sharp glare that seemed to say more carefully.

“Eat!” That was all Raga said, before finally leaving Mika. Makes Mika even more furious, and wants to throw shoes at the guy. But two steps later, Raga stopped and turned back around to face Mika. “Oh yes, there is one more thing. With so many people here, I want to tell you one thing. I like you.”

Mika sculpting. Raga's statement made the originally enveloping irritation, instantly vanishing without rest. He did not understand about the reason Raga said that. In fact, they haven't even been in the same school for two weeks. And they have met three times.

It was not only Mika who froze hearing that sentence. Almost all the students in the cafeteria stopped their activities. Their focus was only on Mika and Raga who looked at each other. There was no expression on Raga's face. Meanwhile, Mika looked surprised with her mouth slightly open.

“Not to think about. I don't need an answer. If you accept me, you can meet me in class tomorrow morning.”

Tomorrow morning the set Raga arrived. Mika did not understand the reason she came to Raga in class that morning. All he had in mind was one. Why did the guy say he liked her when they met for less than two weeks?*