Red Threads

Celebrations

Mika was unceasingly cursing herself in the heart. He cursed his stupidity who forgot to bring a Math package book. In fact, the math teacher who teaches in his class is famous for being fierce. He did not hesitate to punish students who forgot to bring a package book to run around the field.

He could only exhale, as Ms Retno's shrill voice forced him to drop out of class and run around the field. Today he woke up late, and forgot to organize the book he was supposed to bring. Last night, he was too busy thinking about what gifts to give on his mother's birthday.

The sun is shining quite. He stepped uninspired towards the basketball court. He gulped at the sight of a fairly ferocious solar flush in the field. It's not funny if he faints in the middle of the field.

There were no signs of fainting in the fourth round. However, the sweat had already soaked Mika's uniform and made her long hair fall apart. There are still six rounds left.

In the seventh round, Mika's movement weakened. His eyes began to darken bit by bit. His ears even had a little trouble hearing his own footsteps. The sun was not friendly at all. It just feels more powerful, when Mika lost almost all her energy.

However, he suddenly felt someone blocking his arm. Mika blinked her eyes a few times. Get rid of the sweat that hits the eyelids, and clarify his view. He was surprised to see Kai running with him. The guy held onto his arm, and slightly dragged it to make it run faster.

“Gue. Let you not faint on the field,” said Kai, without looking at Mika.

Mika just smiled a little. He no longer has the energy to answer Kai's words. Breathing one-one. It seemed like his lungs would explode, if he forced himself to speak.

Kai's arrival makes Mika feel better. His strength seemed to be refilled, so he could complete ten rounds of the field which was almost half the size of the soccer field. Mika's situation is already very messy. Her hair that was left unraveled, sticky exposed to sweat. His uniform is soaked. And, his breathing was like it was about to break up.

“Still, Brother Kai.” Mika tried to say with great difficulty.

“Anytime. How do you run this afternoon? No work?” ask Kai.

“I forgot to bring a maths package book,” Mika replied. Then, he landed his body on the cement floor, on the edge of the field. “And, now I can't enter until the lesson time is over.”

“We go to the canteen, yuk. Lo thirsty, right?”

Mika nodded. Then, follow Kai's steps towards the canteen. At first everything was fine. No one saw them wandering in the corridor. But when they were about to turn the corner that leads to the canteen, someone blocked Mika's arm.

Sontak Mika looked. He screeched when he found out that the one who blocked his arm was Raga. The guy's face was flat and stiff. His eyes were sharp, fixed on Mika's brown irises.

“Ngapain are you the same him?” ask Raga.

Mika bit her lower lip. Inwardly, he cursed the existence of Raga in that place. His brain spun rapidly, looking for an excuse for Raga's question. But Kai answered that question first.

“Gue wants to take him to the cafeteria. He ran around the field.” Kai smiled cynically. Then, walk one step closer to Raga. “Lo know? I wanted him to run until he finished. Less sweet what am I?”

Raga was silent. His face remained flat. However, the look in his eyes flared. There was anger buried in his eyeballs. Something that makes Mika have to take a step back, to protect herself from the anger of the guy.

“You know what exactly? Mika is my girl. You have no rights to near him!” said Raga, which sounded like a growl. His teeth rumbled to channel anger.

Kai smiled triumphantly at Raga's already red face. He walked closer, until they had only one inch left. Kai who was taller than Raga, made Raga look up slightly in order to be able to look into the guy's eyes.

“Gue just don't want him to keep stuck lo. I don't like to see her dating you. So, I want you to break him up now.” Kai said that in a whisper. No one heard, except her and Raga. The words Kai spoke made Raga's body stiffen. Meanwhile, Mika only looked at the confused two guys in front of her.

“Gue will never break him! I love him. And, I'm not gonna take him off. Know lo?” Raga replied to Kai with a whisper anyway.

Kai laughed as he clapped his hands at Raga's reply. It was as if that was the funniest joke he had ever heard. Raga's cold gaze, did not make her guts shrink at all. Kai was even more happy to be able to ignite the anger of the man. Kai just wants Mika to know, that Raga is not the right person for the girl. And, that right person is him.

“Sayang?” ask Kai. Her voice is cynical. As if behind the question implied something, like I-jijik-lo-say-it. “Gue won't stop interrupting your relationship with Mika until she wants to be my girlfriend. Or at least, until you break up him.”

Without waiting for Raga's reply, he turned around and approached Mika. “Some time we go to the cafeteria together. Pets you've been berserk this.”

♥

“You why are still close with him?” ask Raga.

Mika did not answer. He just looked down, watching the soto bowl in front of him. Compared to seeing the look of Raga's eyes, he prefers a bowl that only contains a spoon of soto sauce. Right now, the look in Raga's eyes was too terrifying.

“I don't mean anything close to him, Ga. Is it wrong that I am the same brother Kai?” Mika said hesitantly. When angry, Raga can never be guessed. And as long as he was dating that guy, this was the first time Raga got angry.

“Wrong! I don't like him.”

Mika ventured to look at Raga. His forehead was faintly wrinkled. “Why do you hate him so much? Not that you've never been this angry when you see me talking to other guys?”

Raga's eyelids widened for a moment. Then, he sighed softly. His hand rubbed his face, looking a little frustrated facing Mika.

“I don't like him, Mika. Don't like! No need for any other reason, right?”

Mika tilts her head. Why does Raga look so weird today? Doesn't the word dislike always have a reason? Is Kai too much?

Indeed indeed. He thinks Kai is a little overrated. The guy was blatantly showing his feelings in front of Raga. In fact, after finding out if he and Raga are dating. Yet, I don't know. He seemed to not accept when Raga said he did not like Kai.

“You're weird, Ga.” That's all that came out of Mika's lips. Before finally, he decided to leave the place. Leaving behind Raga who dropped a sharp look at him. There was concern in the look in her eyes that was not captured by Mika. The guy sighed softly, after Mika took one step away.

“Kai is dangerous, Ka,” said Raga, barely resembling a hiss.

Mika stopped the move. Turning back his body facing Raga. Then, raise one eyebrow. “Dangerous?”

Raga simply nodded, without giving any further answers. Then, he left Mika who cast a questioning gaze.

♥

Mika couldn't help but think about Raga's statement at school a few hours ago. The shadow about Kai meeting her on the first day of school, until Kai running with her ran across the field this morning, running around in her head. Of all the attitudes Kai showed her, none of them indicated that the guy was no good. Kai looked a little naughty. Uniforms are often removed. Her hair that was only cut a little shorter than when she first entered SMA Pelita, was always left in a mess. However, is that all that led Raga to conclude that Kai is not a good guy?

Mika's mind was too late in everything about Kai, until she subconsciously hit someone's back. He rubbed his head. Then, look up to see who has blocked his path.

He screeched and took a step back, when he found out that someone was someone who had made him daydream. Kai stood in front of him. Look at it with facial expressions and eyes that are difficult to understand. The guy didn't give her such an annoying smile as usual. Or, scold him who is not careful.

“Sorry, Brother Kai. I was not on purpose.” Mika decided to open the conversation first. Kai gave no answer at all. The guy was busy watching her. And, that made Mika shudder. The memory of Raga's statement a moment ago flashed back inside his head. What is Kai thinking about himself?

However, a few seconds later, his fear evaporated instantly. Kai gave a big smile. The annoying smile that Mika has always seen whenever the guy is bothering her, or when dealing with Raga.

“If the road look around yes, Deck. Fortunately, you did not hit the fridge. Can bump that head,” said Kai. The guy did not look towards Mika. His hands were busy picking out some instant noodles on the shelf.

Mika's view fell on Kai's grocery basket which only contained instant noodles of various flavors. “Kakak buy instant noodles that much, make what?”

Kai raised one eyebrow when he heard Mika's question. “Make love to eat rats at home. Yes, make me eat.”

“How much is so?”

Kai was silent for a moment. Then, he laughed a little. “Because, I have no money to buy pitsa or other good food.”

“Sister parents where?” Mika immediately closed her mouth, after that brazen question slid off just like that. It violates the privacy limits of others. Perhaps, Kai was offended by his statement. Seen from the attitude of the guy who scratched his head with a huff. Mika could see Kai's facial features harden, for a few moments.

“My parents are busy. Out of town. I don't know when to go home. Wh why? Do you want to meet them? Not now, though. I'm not ready to make a living on lo.” Kai laughed loudly, after that.

Mika pursed her lips. He couldn't hide his reddened face hearing Kai's words. His heart had even been pounding incoherently in his chest.

“Lo buy what here?” Kai dropped a glance at Mika's grocery basket containing a wide variety of cake ingredients. “You make a cake? Should I help you, no? Although guys, I'm good at making cakes.”

Mika weighs Kai's offer. “If it's not good, how?”

“If it's not good, you have to be my girlfriend,” replied Kai origin.

“Then it's good?”

Mika chuckles. “Kak Kai, what the hell? Not very clear.”

Kai scratched his nape clumsily. “We look for other ingredients only yuk.”

Mika nodded. Then, walk first towards the shelf containing ingredients to make the cake.

“By the way, I've never seen you laugh that wide.” Kai said softly.

“What? Brother Kai said what?” ask Mika. Kai responded to the question with a slow slit and a brief smile.

Mika did not realize, if there was someone who had been watching her every little movement. He did not realize, if there was someone half-dead holding back the vibrations in the chest. He did not realize, if there was someone who looked at him with a gaze as dark as the lake in the mountains. He also did not realize, if there was someone who was secretly injured when he saw Mika laughing. And, that person is Kai.

♥

There was one impression Kai got when he set foot in Mika's house; empty. His eyes looked around the entire corner of the house. Expensive furniture adorns each side. A large lamp that almost resembles a lamp in the Disney kingdom hangs on the ceiling. The 40-inch LED television stands upright on a sturdy intricately carved buffet. There is nothing unattractive not to look at in the house. Only floor tiles look ordinary.

However, all that beauty is simply not able to replace something that is missing from a house. Warmth. Kai himself had no idea what the house should be like. The condition of his house is also not much different like Mika's. Empty and cold. Only, his house was much simpler. Can not be compared with a house that almost resembles a palace.

Kai walked behind Mika. Following the girl towards the kitchen that borders directly with the backyard. There was only a large glass door that separated the room with a spacious courtyard containing various kinds of flowers.

“Lo's house is always quiet like this?” ask Kai. His eyes went all over the kitchen.

Mika laughed blandly. “Always. And, never change.”

Kai nodded. Choose not to ask further. He immediately helped prepare various cooking utensils.

Since childhood, Kai has learned to cook from his mother. Not infrequently, he made his mother upset because she often destroyed his mother's cooking. But from there, Kai learned. Cooking is not only about beauty and taste, but also about patience.

Her mother was upset, but the woman never complained and scolded Kai excessively. His mother actually taught him to mix various ingredients, to produce a dish that is quite decent to eat. At least, it was the only thing he could still remember about his mother. Before time changed everything he ever had.

“Can, no? Stirring gini doang difficult very.” Kai felt anxious to see Mika who had difficulty stirring the cake dough. He immediately took the basin containing the dough from Mika. Deftly, he twisted, mixed, and pressed the dough several times.

“Kakak can make me too, yes.” Mika's eyes highlight implying admiration. If it was Nagra who always made him wonder at the man's ability to cook, now Kai who replaced that position. Seeing Kai shrewdly put the ingredients into the dough and mix them up, made Mika recall the figure of Nagra.

Brother Nagra, it's birthday mama now. Don't you want to bikini mama cake again like you used to? Mika smiled softly. Had the boy been around, he would not have planned his own mother's birthday. He certainly will not be hassles himself, because it must prepare a variety of materials and forms of the birthday cake. And if Nagra were still around, his mother's birthday would be even more festive.

“Why lo? Fondling. Are you fascinated by me?” kai's question breaks Mika's daydream.

Mika did not even realize, if her gaze had been fixed on the guy since. Mika immediately turned her eyes away, before Kai saw her face that might have been flushed red.

“Gue can ask something?” ask Kai. Then, Mika responded with a nod of her head.

“Lo have been dating Raga?”

Mika seemed to think for a moment. So, he answered slowly. “Since four months ago, maybe.”

“Lo know not, why did he move to lo school?”

Mika frowned faintly. He didn't know where Kai was talking. But he still gave an answer. “Ndon't know. He never told me about it.”

“Lo never try to ask him?”

“Why did Brother Kai ask about that? Something wrong with him moving to SMA Pelita?” Mika asked impatiently. His eyes were suspicious of Kai.

Kai shook his head, then laughed softly. “Ngak. I just want to know,” he said. The movement of Kai's hand that stirred the dough paused for a moment. This time, his focus was only on Mika. “Lo love her?”

The darling? Mika never even knew about it. All this time, he only knew that with Raga his life felt better. With that guy, it was like rediscovering a house. However, until this moment he has not confirmed to his own heart, does he really love the guy? Or at least, does he love that guy? Moreover, after the presence of Kai which makes his feelings increasingly vacillate.

“No idea,” replied Mika, in the end. “Why?”

Kai took a long breath. “If you can't be sure of your own feelings. How can you believe that he really loves you? Really dear same lo?”

“But, doesn't love need no excuses?”

“Love does not need a reason, Ka. But, you must have a reason to still love him. At the very least, you have a reason why your heart will survive with him.” Kai smiled a little. “If now I say I love you, how?”

Mika's eyelids widened hearing Kai's words. It was as if he had just gotten word if he won a prize of tens of millions of rupiah. However, on the other hand he seemed to have just received news if his house was hit by a Molotov cocktail. Feeling floating. Not necessarily direction.

He was at a loss for words. In fact, staring into Kai's eyes at this moment made his joints seem to be slumping. There was no demanding look from those eyes. There was no forcing from that face. However, Mika felt cornered. He seemed to be someone who was forced to confess, even though he really did not want to. He didn't understand, how was he feeling at the moment?

“Kak Kai said what the hell? Not funny to know, brother.” Mika pursed her lips. Pretending to ignore Kai's words, even though in his heart, his heart was like it was about to explode.

“Gue is not kidding. I'm serious,” insists Kai.

Mika was silent for a moment. Then, he laughed widely. “We've only met in less than three weeks, sis.”

“If Raga can love you in just two weeks, why don't I?” Kai stopped his sentence. He turned his attention back to the cake batter in front of him.

♥

Mika smiled happily, as she saw her homemade cake and Kai matured perfectly. There were still thirty minutes, before his mother arrived home. Carefully, Mika applied butter cream and added some decorations on the cake. As per Nagra's message every time they made a birthday cake for her mother, Mika gave quite a lot of strawberries at the top.

Kai seemed busy preparing a place for the cake. Today, Mika is really happy for Kai's presence. In addition to helping prepare the cake, the guy also helps to clean the living room and stick some decorations on the wall.

“Kak Kai can go home, really. It's also done,” said Mika, without seeing Kai. His hands were still busy composing strawberry pieces on the top surface of the cake.

“Let's aja. All right, I want to meet the future-in-law.” Kai chuckled, which Mika responded to with a sharp glare.

“Kakak used to playboy huh?”

Kai laughed loudly at Mika's question. “Ngak. I went to lo doang.”

Their conversation came to a halt, as the creaking of the door rang out from the direction of the living room. Mika's body stiffened, as the clattering of her mother's shoes sounded against the floor. He never felt this tight when he celebrated his mother's birthday. In his heart, he hoped that this plan could make his mother's heart melt. At least, a little.

“Sana, take it forward. Nyokab you haven't entered the room. I'll wait in the kitchen.” Kai whispered. His hand quickly stuck two candles with the number thirty-six on the top of the cake.

Mika nodded. He took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. Carefully, he brought the cake into the living room.

“Mama sure likes.” Mika smiled back. He could already imagine the happy face of his mother. He could imagine his mother hugging him tightly. And his mother will take him back.

Mika looked at her mother who was sitting on the sofa. The woman looks very tired. Mika reviewed the sweetest smile, as her mother looked towards her. Their eyes clashed for a while, before their mother first broke contact.

Mika put the cake on the table. His view shifted several times between the cake and his mother. The woman did not react at all. Still sitting on the sofa of the family room, with a gaze fixed on the cake made by Mika. Nothing changed from that look. Keep it flat and cold. In fact, it was much colder than usual. This made Mika's feelings riled up. He bit his lower lip a few times. A series of questions began to fill his head.

Did your mother not like this?

Does this cake look bad?

Did your mother forget her birthday?

The series of questions finally found an estuary along with the sentence spoken by his mother. The words that destroyed Mika's little happiness. A sentence that paralyzed Mika's entire senses for a few moments. And, the sentence that made Mika's hopes barren without rest. “Throw that cake.”