THE GUARDIAN OF THE HEART

Chapter 25, A Piece of the Past Story

After Hendra's departure, Besty invites Shaka into the house. Shaka felt bad because he was soaked. But Besty insisted on forcing her in so she was somewhat forced to follow Besty into the house.

"Sir, please get me a towel and make some warm tea for Shaka" Besty said.

"Yes, non." said Bik Imah.

"Sir, I'm sorry for making the house wet and dirty" Shaka said.

"Yes Mas Shaka, it's okay" Bik Imah said with a smile and then went to the back.

Besty smiled at Shaka's words. Very polite sounding. There is not the slightest tone that seems to rule or discredit a housekeeper so far. So different from Hendra, he thought.

"Sit down, Shak. I tried to get you a sweater and training pants" Besty said as she walked into her room.

Shaka just nodded and remained standing near the living room sofa. He didn't want Besty's sofa to get wet.

Shortly afterwards, Bik Imah came with a towel and a glass of warm tea for Shaka.

"Let's drink, Mas Shaka" said Bik Imah as he served his warm tea on the table and gave his towel to Shaka.

"Gapain standing up, Mas Shaka? Sit down for nothing." said Bik Imah.

"Thank you very much, Bik. I don't get anything up. I'm sorry for bothering Bibik so much" Shaka said.

Bik Imah smiled widely while saying :

"It's okay, Mas Shaka. Don't be confused with Bibik. Yes, yes, my aunt stayed inside. Call Bibik if you need anything."

"Good, Bik. I thank you very much for Bibik's help." replied Shaka.

Bik Imah smiled then went back to the back to finish his task in the kitchen.

Just as Shaka was about to grab her warm tea on the table, Besty came up with a set of sweaters and pink training pants.

"Now, hopefully it fits" Besty said as she thrust it into Shaka.

Shaka just bengong see Besty and not so drink the tea.

"Ngapain dumbfounded? Wear it, rather than catch a cold. Change in the bathroom" Besty said with a big smile.

"Later for your wet clothes, take it to Bik Imah for dicleaning yes." he continued.

Shaka just smiled. He sipped one warm tea and then put the tea on the table. Then he took the pink sweater and training pants from Besty's hand. After that, he went to the outside bathroom that was near the sofabed in the living room.

Shortly after, Shaka came to the living room wearing a sweater and pink training pants. Besty who was sitting on the living room sofa held her mouth as tightly as possible. He tried to hold back his laughter when he saw Shaka wearing the clothes. Shaka also came shyly because it was the first time he wore full pink color kayak clothing like this.

"It fits, what I'm saying." Besty said with a laugh. He could no longer hold back his laughter.

Shaka could only look at Besty while blushing in embarrassment.

"His laughter, shame." said Shaka as she watched Besty laugh.

Finally Besty stopped her laughter. She looked at Shaka smilingly and said :

"For a long time if I notice, you're handsome also use pink" said Besty.

Shaka could only smile while looking at Besty.

"Where did you get this training sweater and pants?" ask Shaka.

"My father bought it last year" replied Besty who was still smiling.

"Papa knows I like pink, but no size fits me. Finally papa bought a large size." said Besty while still smiling.

"Sorry, I don't know that this is from your father" Shaka said.

Shaka was silent for a moment then he looked at Besty :

"I'm sorry about that. I don't know if you have any guests" Shaka said.

"I also don't know if he's Hendra" he continued.

"I called you because I didn't want you guys to fight. I'm afraid you got beat up by him." said Besty

"It turns out you beat him" he continued.

Shaka smiled at Besty's words.

"Thank you for worrying about me. But next time, call me if there's him." Shaka said.

"You don't have to worry. I have a lot of skills, one of which is to take care of myself." he added.

"And gombalin me." said Besty accompanied by the laughter of the two of them.

"Btw, what's true about Hendra?" ask Besty full of probes.

"What do you think?" Shaka asked back to Besty.

"Do you believe that?" continued.

"I believe you're not a coward" Besty said.

"What makes you believe and believe?" ask Shaka.

"Because that's the first reason I like you" Besty said.

"What's the other reason?" shaka asked with a smile.

"There's a dehhhhh." said Besty.

"I'll say it if you tell me about your past" Besty said.

Shaka was silent as he looked at Besty then he sighed.

"I did withdraw from the Inter-school Championship, but I'm not a coward" Shaka said.

Shaka then told Besty everything. He tells how he started his career in Taekwondo. He also recounted how he was so eager to train and follow the match from the first time up to last year's Taekwondo National Championship. He also explained how he tried to withstand the wounds in his heart and had to struggle to adapt to the patterns and conditions of life outside his circle of thought. He told me so clearly and with simple words to understand.

Besty just kept quiet while listening to Shaka's story. He did not think that Shaka was a simple and passionate person. Yet all his bitter experiences have left him eroding bit by bit his true identity.

Shaka closes his story with memories as he defeated Hendra at the Junior National Championship last year. He tells in detail how he beat Hendra without giving Hendra the slightest chance to score a point. And Shaka's twisting kick to Hendra's head ended the championship with a landslide victory for Shaka.

"That's the real story, Besty. So I think you don't need to feel guilty about Hendra" Shaka said.

"He lost not because of you, but because of his immature ability and preparation" he continued.

Besty then remembered the times before the National Championship game. Hendra is not busy practicing, but instead busy accompanying Besty who is having photoshoot activities in Jakarta. Besty then realized it and could make a series of puzzles little by little that had been worrying in his heart.

"Again trust me, Besty. You are not involved in his defeat. I also did not contribute to the breakdown of your relationship" said Shaka.

"Life is a choice. And life is too short to pass up with the wrong choices" he continued.

Besty was very fascinated by Shaka's words. All of Shaka's words are very meaningful and touch his heart. She was grateful that Shaka was by her side. Always comforted her with her mature and soothing words.

Besty then shifted her seat. He is right next to Shaka. Then he put his head on Shaka's shoulder and said :

"I believe you, Shak. More than you know."