The Sanctity of Tarnished Love

Meet Ken

As the night breeze blows slowly over the body of Dusk who is still sitting on the terrace of his house. Her hair was croaking, and it was messy on her face. His head lowered, his eyes staring at the white ceramic that became the place to stand.

His mind looked far away, thinking about everything that happened in his life. He just let down a man who loved him. But how else, he really wants to survive with his solitude.

"Woi!" nina shouted while laughing.

Dusk gasped in surprise, not since when Nina had come. Suddenly the woman was sitting next to him laughing.

"Don't daydream, there's a demon through your sash." Nina sneered with a laugh.

"I'm not daydreaming. When did you come, who did?" ask Dusk while flirting here and there. No taxi, no motorbike. Could Nina be on foot?

"He didn't daydream, but why didn't he know?" nina Cibir.

"You came suddenly." said Dusk.

"Where I am, I'm taking Nja's taxi home. The taxi stopped there, and I kept walking here. I called you many times, but you just kept quiet." Nina said as she pointed to the side of the road.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, you're daydreaming, right?"

"No." replied Dusk while shaking his head.

"Just tell me what's going on, I'm ready to listen, and if I can, I'll come up with a solution. As a friend, and also as a sister, I will not let you bear your burden alone. Let's story!" nina said while embracing Dusk, and patted her shoulder.

Dusk looked at Nina with a smile. Nina was his best friend.

"Come story!" nina repeated her words.

"So Kak Dika here" said Dusk began his conversation.

"Oh yeah, keep going?"

"What continues." said Dusk.

"Well, what are you telling me?" nina asked while frowning in wonder.

"I've rejected Brother Dika, I told him to stop loving me. Am I wrong Nin?"

"The heart cannot be forced by Nja. If you can't love her, it's probably better if you say it early. The further he wishes you, the more hurt it will be if his expectations don't match reality" Nina said with a smile.

"That's what I feel for Nin, I don't want to give her false hope. But he seems to be very disappointed." said Dusk, looking down.

"Later she will definitely understand how you feel Nja" said Nina.

"Thank you, Nin."

"No need to thank you, we're Nja's best friends. Oh, can I ask you a question?" ask Nina.

"Just ask."

"If Ken's what, you have any hope of getting back to him?" ask Nina.

"No." replied Dusk while shaking his head.

"You're sure he still loves you" Nina said.

"Where might I be able to accept her love Nin. Because of my mistake with him, Brother Fajar has to leave so soon. His presence reminded me of what happened that night. Although he is the father of my son, but I cannot accept him in my life." said Dusk in his heart.

"Related." said Dusk briefly.

"You've thought about it well Nja, you guys have been in a relationship for quite a long time" said Nina. But there was no answer from Dusk, the woman was silent with a flat eye.

"Nja!" call Nina while shaking Dusk's shoulder.

"Yes." replied Dusk nervously.

"You're daydreaming instead" Nina said as she stared at Dusk.

"Nina, let's just go in, I'm getting sleepy!" said Dusk while talking from his seat.

"Ehm alright." replied Nina as she followed the steps of Dusk who started to leave her.

"I have to straighten out one more thing" said Dusk as he stared at his phone screen.

***

The afternoon breeze blew slowly, shaking the leaves he was wading. The sun began to crawl down at the foot of the western sky. A beautiful woman was walking towards the garden not far from her home.

She is Twilight, her tiny body wrapped in a loose yellow ivory dress. Her long hair was left to be severed just like that, covering her white neck, and level.

"Thank God I'm not late, so Ken doesn't have to wait for me." said Dusk, glancing at the circular clock in his hand. There's still 15 minutes left of the promised hour last night.

Dusk continues to walk towards the long bench in the middle of the park. His steps began to slow down as his eyes looked at the figure of the man sitting on the bench. Although only from behind, but Dusk knew clearly that the one sitting was Ken.

"Why has he come." Inner Dusk in his heart.

Dusk again stepped his feet, and approached Ken who was smoking.

"You've come, it's not yet four." said Dusk as he sat next to Ken.

"I don't want to keep you waiting." replied Ken with a smile, as he threw away the cigarette he had just lit.

"Why banished, I don't care if you smoke" said Dusk, staring at Ken.

At that time Ken was wearing long pants combined with a short blue shirt, two buttons on the top left open, showing the necklace pendant made of shell.

His hairstyle remains as long-spirited as it used to be, indeed nothing has changed from him. Neither his appearance, nor his feelings.

"Cigarette smoke is not good for pregnant women Aya" Ken said with a smile.

Dusk lowered, he did not answer Ken's words, because it seemed that his words also did not need an answer.

"How are you Aya? I'm sorry I've been a little busy lately, I can't visit you, I'm just asking you about your phone" Ken said, staring at Dusk.

The twilight lowered, whether Ken had called, and also sent him a message. But Dusk did not pay attention to him at all. Only last night did he reply to his message, and it was to invite him to meet here. Ken is still as attentive as he used to be, but again Dusk must disappoint him.

"I'm sorry Ken, this time I have to let you down. I really can't accept you. This guilt, and this sense of regret, stifles me even more every time I see you. Ken you will never understand how I feel." said Dusk in his heart.

"Yes!" call Ken, because Dusk is silent.

"I'm. I'm fine Ken. I'm sorry I never returned your message" said Dusk, looking back at Ken.

"It's okay, there's no need to apologize. Mmm Aya, actually why did you ask me to meet here? Is there something you want to tell me?" asked Ken while returning the Dusk's gaze.

"Yes." replied Dusk while nodding.

"What's that?"

"Before I apologize, maybe my words will make you disappointed. Ken, it's time you pursue your happiness. Stop loving me, because I can't return your feelings." said Dusk slowly.

"I'll wait for you Aya. I'm not forcing you to accept me now. Let me take care of you, until your heart can come back to what it used to be" Ken said as he stared deeper into Dusk.

"Don't Ken, you don't wait for me, you'll be disappointed!" sahut Dusk.

"Why?"

"I've decided to be alone. I will not open my heart to another love. I want to keep this love until later, I don't want to tarnish it anymore Ken." replied Dusk.

"You can't be like that Aya. I won't let you take care of my son alone. He deserves the affection of his father" Ken said quickly.

"He will remain our son, I will not hide who his father is. But I can't accept you Ken." said Dusk quietly.

"You can't be selfish Aya, think of our son's feelings! I knew that night I was wrong, I shouldn't have done that to you. But now it's done, so let me make amends. Let me take care of you, and take responsibility for your lives." said Ken, holding both hands.

"I can't Ken." whispered Dusk.

"Is that how much you love Dawn? I knew you first Aya, but why don't I get that much love from you. You left me, without giving me a chance to explain. And now you still reject me, but I can wait for you until then. Have you ever thought about my feelings Aya, you know it hurts Aya here" Ken said as he touched his own chest.

Dusk lowered, he no longer knew what to say. Ken was the first man to steal his heart. For a long time he put his heart on the man. But somehow, the feeling was so fast when Dawn was present in his life.

And now it was difficult for him to accept Ken's presence. The man reminded him of the most fatal mistake of his life.

Seriate....