THE BARA OF THE PAST

The Faithful Promise

What sounds more sinister than leaving a best friend at the lowest point? Sashi realizes his departure makes Liodra think he is not a good friend. Is it wrong to go to pick up a dream? 

Sashi and Liodra have been best friends since High School, then they decided to be together again in one campus. Sashi has big dreams, being a world-class designer. Three of his siblings had to be financed by his school. When Liodra invites him to establish Liodra Moda, despite being actually half-hearted, Sashi accepts. Half-hearted because with Riva, Sashi will fly the Liodra flag. 

As time rolled on, Liodra was luckier because her parents were supportive. On his travels Sashi considered the Liodra Moda market segment too exclusive. She only produces expensive dresses that cost tens of millions. While Sashi wants to make clothes that are affordable.

She wanted people like her sister to be able to buy her dress. There was a disagreement he could never say to Liodra. The first years are years of struggle for anyone just starting out in business. Sashi was just waiting for the right time to talk. 

There never seems to be a good time, or maybe the other way around. All times are appropriate if the goal is to make matters easier. Liodra agrees that Sashi joined not just as a worker. They partner with an agreed share. The business now belongs to both of them. Sixty percent Liodra, forty percent Sashi's.

Since the arrival of Ela everything has changed. The three of them are more planned. Ela has excellent managerial abilities. All the work in his hands became fine.

Sashi is busy designing dresses, Liodra is busy handling promotions while occasionally making plans if she wants to. Ela who regulates the smooth running of all financial affairs. Seeing Ela with her seriousness and ability Liodra took off ten percent of the shares for Ela, so too did Sashi give up ten percent of his shares for Ela. Liodra Moda belongs to the three of them. 

Sashi is inexhaustible, what makes Arnette offer him the opportunity to join his company. Arnette only says if he's free to be himself. Sashi is free of expression to make the cheapest dress to the most expensive dress.  Arnette's company is larger because the fashion house is a relic of his mother who settled in France. 

Sashi did not want to be labeled as a traitorous friend. If he had mastered the Paris market, he could have easily collaborated with Liodra.

This consideration made him excited to leave Liodra Moda. Sashi believes Ela can bridge her communication with Liodra. He recalled the moment they had just graduated, Liodra unfurled his dream. 

"Sashi, have you ever imagined that artists would wear our dresses?" liodra asked at the time.

"Oh, I don't like artists. That means artists who only diligently appear in infotainment. I like character artists. Artist with three initial letters dibold."

"ART-is? Haha... I know what you mean. Just wait, later our design dress will enter the artist market with a large ART in quotes as you wish. We make Liodra Moda a character." 

Now Liodra's desire has been realized, even with the consequences of the lure of popularity as it now bears. Popularity is the same as opening yourself up into the public spotlight. Their rupiah coffers continue to be fully filled, but Liodra's private life also seems legitimate to start being abducted by the public.

The tragedy of an aborted marriage went viral, leaving the young desaigner sprawled. 

Sashi thinks if he flaps wings to Paris, there will be more opportunities for him and Liodra advances Liodra Moda.

Their brands can later co-exist.

Sashi smiled as he dragged his suitcase towards gate 23 where his plane was about to take off. Let now Liodra hate himself, ah maybe too much. Isn't there Ela who can explain everything? The girl strolled steadily to visit her dream. 

***

Where is there a world without sound? A truly silent world never existed. Liodra did manage to hide from the world, but he could not silence the voices in his head. Being alone, instead of making his heart calm. There are precisely questions after questions recorded without an answer. 

One corner of his heart was filled with longing for Devano. A longing that is no longer the same, although honestly the same, even more crazy.  Somehow he changed the love of lovers into the love of a sister to her brother. Only a madman can do it fast. Liodra repeatedly tried to come to terms with his feelings. 

He said it over and over again, scratching a pencil to make a sketch. Liodra pours the voices in her head into sketches of dresses with various patterns and models. 

With Devano yesterday he became a hitchhiker that almost finished. Perhaps negating the memories is the only way to get everything back to being okay. Although Liodra realizes falling in love with Devano is as sweet as heartbreak, no need to grudge, he and Devano are both bruised. 

"Liodra open the door. Mama wants to talk. You've been alone too long, open the door!" 

Dewanti banged on Liodra's bedroom door with her right hand, while her left hand held a tray filled with food.

"Open or mama break the door!" This time his shout was stronger, his hand continuously pounding on the teak wood door. Dewanti's hand hurt but she didn't care. Liodra must immediately come out to face the dunua, if necessary by being dragged. 

His efforts succeeded, Liodra opened the door of his room. Dewanti immediately rushed into Liodra's arms, after putting the tray on the table, but the girl refused. He shook Dewanti's hand, then inched up onto the bed. 

"Darling, you can't keep going like this. You're a smart girl, you have a career and a job. If you need a vacation, we are all ready to accompany you. Or you want to take your own vacation, go. Please don't be like this. Disappointment is natural, heartache is okay, but don't be stupid by continuing to lock yourself up."

Liodra was silent and listened to his mother speak at length. He must get used to the ears.

When he was ready to leave the house, Liodra knew he would face many questions, or pity stares. He doesn't need that.  Today she had to learn not to listen to the voices of others, especially her mother.

"Liodra! You heard Mama, right? Here's your favorite food. Corn soup, chicken crispy, also milk pudding." The girl just kept quiet. His eyes looked straight at the ceiling. 

"If you're done talking, you better get out." The girl tilted her body, turning her back to the grunting Dewanti. 

"If you keep acting this way, not only will your marriage fail, but your whole life will be ruined. Ryo will be here tonight. You know, from the beginning you told me that Ryo was a decent guy for you. If you can't do this for your mom, do it for yourself. You deserve to be happy, Ryo will be your husband. Move On, Liodra!" The Dewanti rose after waiting for a while. He exited Liodra's room with an annoyed face. 

Liodra closed his eyes. He has the right to be happy, but to submit to destiny is an obligation. Happy with Devano. Without the man, he was not sure he could go back. The world cannot be confronted by pretending.

How's Devano doing now? She must be the same as him. His heart must be both full of wounds. Liodra wants to know how Devano got through this. 

***

Devano needs some alone time. Only three days later the young man disappeared. Then he went back to work. Faster to deal with the pain more quickly resolved. Work is his escape. Devano occasionally tried to call Liodra, but he paused before connecting. 

On one occasion when his heart was fine, Devano contacted Liodra. There's a lot they have to talk about. However, it turned out that Liodra's phone was off.

Devano knows Liodra needs to be alone. Liodra had to get used to being able to, like he was trying, because time did not heal wounds. Time just hides it. That is why the wound is easy to heal, easy to recur. 

"Would you teach me how to drive, or just keep daydreaming?" The voice of the girl with my eyes shocked Devano.