Secrets & Prejudice = Keep it secret, you will hurt

twenty-four changed

It was almost dark, but I didn't turn when I got home. I'm going to Ananta's house. The bad feeling still lingered in my heart, I couldn't ignore it.

It was late in the afternoon but the lights outside his house had not been turned on yet. Has he not come home yet? my thinking. Don't I just go to his house?

But I wouldn't be able to sleep if I hadn't talked to him yet. Moreover, I had already seen many wounds on his lips and cheeks. With the personality of stepmother and stubborn Ananta I believe Ananta will treat his own wounds or leave them untreated. Ah, can't. I have to meet him now.

I finally knocked on the door hesitating. I have to meet Ananta now.

"who?" ask a middle-aged woman. She's Ananta's stepmother, the one who ran amok in my house and was the cause of the Cold War for almost three months. I was a little surprised to think he wouldn't open the door for me, but now he's opened it wide and greeted me at the door.

"oh, Alana wants to find Ananta aunty" I said hurriedly. Suddenly I was scared just by looking at it. He must hate me so much.

"He hasn't come home yet" he said in a tone that sounded very cold. I told you, right. He hates me.

"i'm sorry I scared you a while ago" he said. I looked at him with a strange look. Was he a different person, how could he suddenly apologize so. I must have heard wrong.

"t-it's okay aunt." I'm still nervous. Even though he said that, there was still a chance that he might suddenly hit me or something.

"and wait a minute I have something for your mother. I just made it now" he said immediately into the house. I'm still standing at the door right now, but he just left me.

He's not going to come out with a blunt object or something, is he? unconsciously I have taken the horses if I have to run fast later. Or should I just go? but he would definitely be even more angry and hold a grudge if I did. Well, I'll wait here. I tried to express myself normally even though my heart was beating.

The woman came out after a few minutes. He brought out a parcel with a lot of apples in it. There were some envelopes and letters that I don't know what they were. I wouldn't dare to open it. He said it was for Mom.

"thank you aunt" I was still nervous, but I tried hard to smile. I mustn't look disrespectful, let alone with someone who once hated me. I don't want to get punched by him anymore.

"in that case, Alana went home first" I said immediately. I carried the parcel in the basket, carefully placing it as if it could explode if it was a slight scuff. Who knows, this is from Ananta's stepmother.

just as I had brought my bike home I saw Ananta standing there, at the gate of his house facing me who was about to come out.

He watched me silently. Maybe he made sure I was okay, because he was watching me and his mother in turn. After a long time he came to me in a hurry.

"Mom, I want to take Alana home first" he said without offering me first. Ananta left his bike before walking on my right side. Like he said, he drove me home. It was unnecessary actually because our house was only a few meters away.

But wait, I guess I missed something, instead of her calling her mom like that? is that a sign that their relationship is okay? ah, but I don't dare to ask now. Moreover, this gripping silent atmosphere continued to feel around me until I did not dare to say anything.

I just stared at Ananta who was suddenly also staring at me. There must have been a lot of things he wanted to say as well, but we ended up just standing still until I was already standing at the gate of my house.

"a drug." I said after seeing him sit down first. I became busy myself. Mom's still in the kitchen, maybe she didn't hear me come into the house so I didn't want to bother her. So I'm gonna go find the medicine box myself. I rummaged through the drawers in the living room, but I didn't see any of them at all.

"mom, where's the medicine box?" call me. Never mind, ask mommy to meet sooner.

"you're why baby" said Mother immediately went to the dining room to check on me. But after that mother fell silent when she saw Ananta's messy face. I immediately understood who to worry about, which was definitely not me. He took out a medicine box that turned out to be on the top of the closet.

Mom put it on the dining table that looked full of things that shouldn't be in the dining room. Mother returned to the kitchen with a faint smile as I received the medicine box and immediately opened it.

I took out cotton buds and red medicine, pouring them in a bit nervously. Usually I've never been this close to Ananta, I feel weird just looking into his eyes.

"here, I treat" I said. He immediately positioned his face even closer. Until our faces are only a few inches away.I rewind my body a little. Not that close, too, Nanta. I just want to be angry if I'm not nervous. I treated the wound with red medicine, then gave him a plaster on the cheek. The bright pink plaster made me unable to help but laugh. That's very funny.

"why laugh" asked Ananta a little confused. I put a small mirror on her. But the atmosphere turned awkward again as his cold-looking face faintly smiled for a split second.

"nothing else?" I closed my own mouth while shaking my head, still holding back from laughing anymore.

"yes let you be happy" he said in a flat tone.

"there's time?" ask Ananta. Why suddenly ask

"there, why?" many wonder.

"want to take you somewhere" he answered in mystery. Especially this. Is there another secret? I'm so tired of everything.

"may" I replied after thinking for a while. Never mind, I'd still be curious if I didn't say yes.

"tomorrow I'll pick you up" he continued.

Right after mom came from the kitchen, carrying rice and side dishes, today was a little simpler because this afternoon it seemed like mom was still busy doing something.

"Nanta, why is battered so. So ugly if you like to fight" asked the mother with a little joke. I agree anyway, luckily her face was saved with the cute pinky plaster I put on earlier.

"there's just a little misunderstanding aunt. Not intentionally crooked" he said casually. Not intentionally what. I who saw the incident can only gawk at the answer that sounded honest so calm he replied.