THE MENTARY FOR THE ESTUARY

CHAPTER 16, A BIG TRAGEDY

[Nico accident, is in the hospital now.] JG! That one-sentence message actually left Riana shocked half-dead. This morning, he just woke up. And that one-sentence message was sent from the night before. Riana hurriedly sent a reply to the sender of the chat.

[This who?]

[It's Carissa, ma'am. Can you go to the hospital now? Nico is critical!] Ow hell! Panic over Riana. What happened before, to the point that there was news of this accident and he knew it was late just because it was too important to work?

[In which hospital, Carissa? I'll be there.].

[Hospital of Hope, ma'am. Soon, ma'am, this is important.] Riana only had time to send “ok” before she finally really went to the hospital.

***

Riana entered the hospital waiting room with a breath of breath. The sweat was pouring, a sign that he was really going here at full speed.

“Carissa..” call Riana. Carissa nodded. He immediately came to Riana who had just arrived. His face was wrinkled and haggard. His eyes were red, probably from a night of not sleeping.

“Where is the story Sa? I was last night until the house took care of the job..”.

“Butnya mbaknya just returned from Bali huh? Financed Mas Nico? Right now, the guy's in an accident, and you're acting like you don't know anything? You have no heart!” exclaim Carissa beaver. Suddenly, his gaze turned cynical. He looked at Riana with an insulting attitude.

“Mbak tuh really do not know yourself yes..” he said. Riana just looked at him dumbly. What kind of girl does ABG enter? How can-can it be from the calm mode directly turned into a mosquito mode so?

“Heh, mbak, I should not thank you for being loved that much as Mas Nico, but why not even a little effort mbak to keep his feelings? Why mbak? Why am I not so lucky to be loved by someone I love? I love Mas Nico, but I never got his heart!” Riana nodded. He did not pause Carissa's speech in the least. However, he understood that Carissa's feelings were only because she was a teenager, and still had trouble managing emotions. As someone who had grown up, Riana had to give up.

“Eh, Carissa beefy, what the hell are you? Wong tuwek playing damprat wae!” alit exclaimed as he pulled Carissa's hand, sitting her forcibly on the hospital waiting chair.

“Jarno Mas Alit, jarno wes..” says Riana slowly.

“Yes is not like Ms Ri, until you are older.” protest Alit.

“Yo babah, I'm not the first time to take care of teenagers with emotions up and down like this. I'm a master mas, and the best experience I don't always have in the classroom, anywhere else I can. Yes kayak now aja.” explained Riana.

“Terus yoopo?” Alit scratching the head.

“Yo no lapo-lapo. Later I'll be clear with Carissa about the true condition between me and Nico. Wes quiet ae...” says Riana.

“Tenan yes mbak? Sepurane you know, the boy knows order i, chaotic.” Alit's nagging.

“Wes-wes, rasah think kene, Yoopo condition Nico?” ask Riana.

“Ya is still critical. Sek no longer there yes..” pamit Alit. Rriana nodded. Now, his focus returned to Carissa who was still looking at him with a completely unfriendly gaze.

“You want to hear my explanation, Sa? Can you hold back your emotions?” ask Riana. Carissa nodded. Riana looked at the girl younger than her seriously, and she tried to explain it calmly, although she was actually upset half-dead, because being attacked carelessly by her employee Nico was like that.

“I have to say this a number of times, not just to you, but to the people who are trying to match and match-up us both? We are different, we cannot jump over existing and created guardrails, even from us not knowing each other. I'm not a worship expert, I'm not a prayer woman, but I know, if living a love different religion is wrong. I never intended to discard or ignore Nico's feelings, because honestly I also had the same feeling as him, but this difference would definitely be a barrier for us, until anytime. Up here, you understand?” Carissa. This was a fact he knew nothing about; the fact that it turned out that the man he had been slammed a few minutes ago and that he had also kept a load as heavy as what Nico had borne, his puja. Only, this woman looks more formidable. And Oh My God, what did he just do? Hit this innocent woman just for the sake of her feelings?

“Ma-Af, Mbak Riri..”. Now he's crying. Riana approached the girl, and hugged her. Carissa crying. Perhaps this was the lowest point of his hope for his unrequited feelings. Indeed, if allowed, he wants to give up now; even if this is not a sinful thing, he is eager to ask God to take his life this very second, too, in order that this agonizing pain would not continue to be entrenched in this overly fragile and weak self.

“Your journey is still long, Carissa. And I think your life will only end in vain, if you use your time only to hit people who do not know anything about your feelings.” Riana said seriously. Really, he has no grudge with this girl, only he wants to remind where the wrong place this girl is in his own way.

“Family Nicolas Fernandes..” the voice of a man in a white suit breaks the silent barrier created between Riana and Carissa.

“I, doc...” Riana advanced.

“I'm just saying, patients lose a lot of blood. While the blood supply here is running out. Does anyone want to donate blood to a patient? His blood type is AB..."

"I want to, doc. The doctor can check my blood type first, while I send a broadcast message to each other, so there are many additional blood stocks.” said Riana steady.

“Good, please come with me. On whose behalf?”

“Riana, doc. Riana mentari..”.

“Good, then, we will have a check now yes, mbak..” said the doctor. Riana just nodded. Then, Riana and the doctor went from the waiting room to the laboratory room, leaving Carissa alone in awe.

***

Riana opened her eyes. The smell of typical hospital medicines is now firmly attached to his sense of smell. And what he saw now was just white. Riana – who is half conscious, is now trying to reach something. But not affordable. And he just realized... The infusion hose is now stuck in his arm.

“Mbak is conscious? Do not get up first..” the voice of a boy is heard. Riana tried to look at it; it turned out to be Dyo.

“Why are you here? I guess Milia, Maura or Selena. Where are they?” ask Riana.

“Mbak Mili and Maura are still at work, while Mbak Selena is again tutoring, so I was told to come here... Ma'am need something?” Tanya Dyo was attentive.

“I can ask for water?” ask Riana. Dyo nodded. He immediately got some water and helped Riana drink.

“Slow-slow, mbak..” says Dyo.

“Where's Nico?” riana asked, after she drank some water.

“It was next to mbak, but he was not aware yet.” replied Dyo. Riana glanced at the one bed next to her, and right, there was Nico there, and her eyes were still closed.

“Mbak rest again yes, I want to go out, tell you something else. He said his father's mother Mas Nico also wanted to come here, if so..” said Dyo.

“Wadd... Case nek iki..” Riana muttered softly.

“No, I'm already a hero for Mas Nico. I'm sure, father and mother Mas Nico will definitely thank you mbak.” said Dyo while stroking the top of Riana's head.

“Bolebakin mbak bag no? Ma'am wants to call Ganesh, his sister mbak.”.

“I close the curtain, phone out Ganesh, mbak must rest again..” said Dyo, just before he left the nursery.

“Iyaa, relax aja..” Riana smiled, showing off her thumb as a sign of okay. Dyo also smiled. He should go out immediately, and tell others what is going on.

***

The blond woman stared at the two human children who were both asleep in their vaults. The journey he took from New York to Jakarta was really exhausting; and his fatigue did not diminish at all even though he had slept many times and woke up on the plane on his way for a dozen hours. And whose heart is not broken to see the child he wants to meet turns out to be in a state that is not okay?

“Thanks for your help, sweetheart.” he said sincerely while looking at Riana who was so calm in her sleep. Riana moved her body slightly, then she opened her eyes. And he was surprised, seeing who was sitting by his bed, waiting for him.

“Aunty Aline?”

“Hi, dear... You woke up?” tanya Aunty Aline – Nico's mother.

“Aunty when to come?” riana asked as she hurriedly sat down. It was better, but he still had to stay overnight in the hospital for a day or two.

“Not too long, my dear... How's Nico? Is he awake?”

“But, aunty..” Riana shook her head weakly. His expression was still the same; sad, as sad as when the first news came to him through Carissa.

“Do not worry, we can still do’a for him.” Aunty Aline smiled, rubbing dear the top of Riana's head. Riana nodded, feeling Aunty Aline's sincerity being so great to her. And for the sake of the woman, he finally forced a smile, trying to channel his happy energy that was not so much, so that Aunty Aline still had more confidence for the recovery of her son.

“You know what, sweetie? Basically, Nico was indeed his hobby of sleeping, it was only natural that until this second, he was still lazy to open his eyes,” Aunty Aline rubbed his eyes. Really, he really tried hard to keep looking tough in front of Riana.

“Everything will be alright soon, honey. Trust him, he is a strong boy.” said the husband who suddenly was behind him.

“Louis!” fun Aunty Aline. She hugged her husband so tightly.

“Sssst... Keep your voice down, pity Riana,” he said. Riana shook her head, then smiled at the different couples of the continent.

“It’s ok, uncle.”.

“How are you doing?” louis asked as he looked at Riana.

“I'm fine, uncle.” replied Riana slowly. Suddenly, either way because of hearing the voice of the people's conversation, Nico moved a little finger of his hand, then a while later, his eyelids moved open. And Aline was the first to realize that.

“Hey, she's up!” in the flow of happiness. Louis and Riana turned their heads, then both smiled and looked at Nico who was confused to see all of them.

“What is this? Kok... Mom, Dad, here... Riana too why is it here?” ask Nico weakly.

“You were in an accident last night, and you were treated here. Oh yes, said the doctor, you lost a lot of blood, and someone very good has helped you,” explained Aline.

“S-Who, mom?” ask Nico. His eyes scanned the entire room, looking for who the mother meant.

“She is next to you,” Aline replied again. Nico turned his head, coinciding with Riana who was looking at him, while smiling full of relief.

“R-Ri..” said. Riana just nodded. As if she knew about something, Aline gestured for Louis to take her out of the room. Louis also understood, so he complied with his wife's invitation, and quickly closed the curtain of the room.

“Ma-I'm sorry..” Nico broke the silence. Rriana did not respond. He wanted to know, what he had to forgive, it seemed that so far, Nico had never done anything wrong to him.

“Why apologize anyway? You are not wrong Nic,” said Riana.

“Remember yesterday's incident at airport?” ask Nico again. Riana massaged her forehead for a while, a sign she was thinking hard, trying to remember something that had just happened yesterday.

“Don’t be a stupid, Nic. At any time, we will never be together!” exclaim Riana.

“I know, Ri, I know. Without you saying anything, I've understood that.”.

“N-Nic..” Suddenly, a huge sense of guilt assaulted Riana from all directions. It's not the wrong Nico, it's him. It was him who hit Nico on that reality again; the painful reality they both felt, the reality they both had to accept and they faced.

“Gue is wrong, Nic..” Riana's crying. He covered his face with one free hand, unobstructed by the infusion.

“Riana... Sststtt..” Nico stroked the top of the girl's head. Thankfully, their beds are set to be close together, at least so it is not difficult if there is a moment like this, which can never be expected.

“What you said yesterday is true. I have no right whatsoever to you, I should be able to keep protecting and guarding you, without any other foolish desires from this dirty heart of mine. The barrier between us is obvious, but... For some reason, I can not forget this feeling as easily as removing the dew on the window glass.”.

“To be honest, I did too, but... I think, in a moment, you will be able to forget and or eliminate this feeling altogether. Because, there is one heart and one woman that you must consider every struggle, sacrifice and feeling.” Riana said.

“Carissa?” guess Nico. Riana nodded.

“Hhh..” Nico sighed. He looked at Riana so deeply.

“Gue doesn't know, but, I feel my heart is divided, one for elo, and the other, for the cute one. Call me anything, as much as the treasury of dirty and rude words that you have, but I love two people, two women, indirectly here. I'm comfortable with you, but, I'm also comfortable with Carissa. You're two different people, you give me two different colors and two different flavors in my life. Sorry, Ri, this love is no longer just for you now.”.

“Nothing, Nico. It's supposed to be like this, because, we can't jump over those barriers. If we talk can, yes it can actually, but, kebayang not feelings of our parents each will be like what?” ask Riana. To be honest, his heart ached a little at hearing this confession, from Nico himself, again. But isn't this what he wants; Nico is focused on his happiness, Nico moves on from him?

“I'm sorry, Ri... And please, give me the time to completely eliminate my feelings similarly lo..”.

“There is nothing to forgive, we are not wrong, love is not wrong. Only, God wants to play around for a moment with us, testing whether our love for Him is much greater than our love for the creature he created? I am not a prayer woman, I am not a worship expert, but I believe, there is a beautiful plan God is waiting for us.” said Riana. Nico nodded. Grasping Riana's hand that can not move anywhere because it is attached to the infusion.

She contemplated all the things in her life; including the words of her mother, that Riana had become her savior, donating some of her blood to herself. And Riana, still so good, though in silence, Nico had betrayed her by sharing her heart with Carissa.

“We're sisters, right now? Your blood, some of it has flowed in my body. And I'm really-really grateful for that. If there is no lo, either, I can still survive or not. Thank you, sis...” said Nico sincerely. Riana nodded. He rubbed softly the tears that flowed down past his cheeks. The matter of letting go, it has always been this difficult. Sometimes there are situations where one is afraid of loss, and the other is unwilling to let go. But all the great events of today have taught them enough; that good love is enough love, good love is love that does not hurt anyone.

(BBC).