The Season of Reaching the Stars

CHAPTER 27

LUKI noticed her family eating together with a happy feeling. He wanted to stay in this feeling forever. I saw my mom and dad laughing happily. Saw Laura smiling because of one of the jokes papa told me. But there was one problem that stuck his heart out. Niko Fareli's. Luki has a strong feeling that Niko already knew Laura before her. When recalling Laura and Niko's first meeting at the jewelry store, Laura was a little upset. Luki grows suspicious when Laura lets Niko drink coffee from her cup. Laura did not tell him that.

While Laura was taking a bath, Luki approached the brrada mama in the kitchen washing dishes.

"Mom doesn't need to wash dishes. Just let one of the maids do it" Luki said.

Mom laughed at Luki. "It seems like you can't break old habits. My mom is used to doing it. It feels strange that someone else is working on it. Mom is happy to do this anyway. Wash family dishes after meals. It feels good."

Luki smiled. "Let me help you." Luki took a rag and started drying the washed dishes and glasses.

"Ma, can I ask you about Laura?" ask Luki.

Mama turned off the water tap. The task of washing the dishes is done. "Of course." "Did Laura ever like someone this long?" ask Luki directly.

Mama frowned. "Why did you suddenly ask that?"

Luki covered her curiosity with a smile. "I've never seen Laura date. So I wonder if he ever liked someone before?"

Mama smiled at Luki's question. "Laura focuses too much on cooking. But... Laura used to love someone, once when she was in school." 

Luki was expecting it. "Do you know the name of that person?" His research on Laura's past gradually got a bright spot.

Mama shook her head. "Mama doesn't know his name. Laura never told me. He likes the guy but he already has a girlfriend. So Laura likes to clap one hand." "Laura's heartbroken, isn't she?" Luki could already guess correctly now.

Mama nodded. "Yes. He was constantly chasing after that person. Even trying to get into the same class as him. He said it was fine for him that the man was not his girlfriend. But he wanted to be his friend and get to know him. One day, Laura cried for hours. He said he lost that guy. Mama never saw it that sad. Laura must really like that guy."

"Laura never met that person again afterwards?" ask Luki.

"Mama doesn't know," said the honest mama. "We moved town after Laura passed the final exam."

Luki understands now. "Mama, do you remember where Laura went to school?"

Mama nodded and told me the name of Laura High School. Luki remembered it in her heart.

 

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After returning to the apartment, Luki immediately opened her computer and searched all the information about Niko Fareli. Especially about her past, like where she went to school. When she saw the name of the school Niko was the same as the name of the school that mom told her, Luki thought hard. Laura and Niko one High School. Luki is looking for more information about the SMA. He looked at the alumni page of the High School. Alumni graduated eight years ago. Laura's name is in the same class as Niko's.

Luki took a deep breath. She's already found the common thread of Niko and Laura's relationship. Her lower floor neighbor was the man Laura had once liked. Luki now knows everything. Most likely Niko Fareli has broken Laura's heart. That was why Laura always looked into Niko's eyes with sadness. Luki will not stay silent to let Laura drag on in grief. The wall clock in his apartment showed at one in the morning.

It was too late to wake up the neighbors downstairs. Luki will let Niko sleep comfortably tonight. But in the next few hours. Luki will make Niko Fareli uncomfortable again.

 

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The phone in his apartment sounded. Luki opened her eyes that were still half sleepy. He saw a wall clock in his bedroom. It's just 06:00. Luki had just woken up for three hours.

"Hello" said he. He yawned and tried to cover with his hands.

"It's me Niko".

Luki was instantly awake. He had intended to contact Niko this morning, but it turned out that Niko had contacted him first.

"Meet me in half an hour at the apartment restaurant". Niko laly hung up.

Luki hung up her phone as well and rushed to the bathroom.

Half an hour later, the two met face-to-face in an apartment restaurant.

"What do you want to talk about, Niko?" asked Luki directly without any stale bases.

Niko looked at Luki sharply. "I don't want to pretend anymore".

"What do you mean?" ask Luki again.

Luki folded her hands in front of her chest. "I already know".

Luki's words made Niko flabbergasted. "you already know?".

"I just found out yesterday" Luki said. He looked at the man in front of him with a cold look.

"Laura told you?" ask Niko confused. She did not expect Laura to tell Luki, especially after her hard efforts to pretend2 did not know her.

Luki. "I know it myself. You guys go to the same school. The same class"

So surprised, Niko also felt relieved Luki to know the truth. "Good then. I'm calling you here because I'm not giving up on Laura".

Luki frowned in astonishment. "What do you mean? Isn't your relationship with Laura over?".

Niko laughed short. "No. My relationship with him will never end. I came to give you a warning. I don't like chasing Laura quietly behind your back. That's not my style. I want you to know that I'm after your lover. And I won't apologize to you for that."

Luki leaned back in the chair. His eyes looked at Niko with a bit of confusion.

Why does Niko think I'm Laura's boyfriend? But the confusion only lasted a little. 

Niko doesn't know that Laura's my sister.

Luki's smile expanded slowly. He only found out about it two years ago. How can Niko now know Luki decided not to tell Niko the truth. Other than that it was none of Niko's business, he also wanted to know how far Niko would challenge him. Luki always likes a new challenge.

"Do you think you can take Laura away from me?" her fishing line. Niko's smile expanded slowly. "Yes. I can definitely get Laura back. He never forgot me."

Luki smiled briefly. "Did you say that to make me jealous?". Niko shook her head. "I said that because that's the truth. I love Laura. You do love him. But... You don't love her". Luki looked at Niko in disbelief. "How could you possibly know I don't love Laura?". Niko smiled faintly. Then his smile widened. "I don't actually know. But your question convinced me. You don't love her".

"What?" tanya Luki was getting confused. Niko laughed lightly. "I just said that I love Laura. And you answer my questions with questions, not with punches. You didn't even realize I had said that. If you really loved her, you'd already hit me in the face when I said I loved her."

Luki was silent not. He got a comparable opponent. "I'm not gonna let you get Laura. You broke her heart."

"I know". Niko's gaze turned sad. "That's why I won't make the same mistake again." "Laura is happy with me," Luki said resentfully. "Why do you insist on taking it from me? Wouldn't loving her you let Laura be happy? With anyone?"

Now it was Niko's turn to look at Luki coldly. "Laura is unhappy. Did you know Laura doesn't like coffee? Coffee makes his stomach nauseous. He cannot tolerate it. But yesterday you asked him to drink the coffee you ordered. You can't take care of him. That's why I'm not gonna give up on Laura".

Luki was shocked to hear Niko's revelation. Laura never told him that she could not drink coffee. Luki remembers when she handed her homemade coffee in the hospital and Laura drank it without hesitation. Luki stopped breathing. At that time Laura tried to hold back her dislike just to make Luki happy. Luki thought about what else Laura hadn't told her. All this time he tried to make Laura happy, but what happened was the opposite. Laura is trying to make Luki happy. Luki had no idea her sister was suffering behind her happiness. Luki never realized Laura's feelings after the accident. About the scar on his leg. And why Laura was unwilling to let a single man get close.

"I think I've made my point clear." Niko stood up, then left Luki who looked in languish alone. After Niko left, Luki's guilt crept back into her heart. Luki grasped the coffee cup in front of her tightly, until her hands trembled so much that the cup fell and broke. 

The waiter behind her looked worried and asked Luki. But Luki didn't realize anything. The other servants cleaned the broken cups and compressed Luki's hands with cold water. Luki only regained her senses when the coldness touched her palm. His hands did not hurt, but there were some scratches. She imagined the pain Laura was experiencing. The pain in her hands was nothing compared to what Laura felt in her legs. Her sister harbored pain without anyone knowing, including herself. In her apartment room, Luki looks at Laura on a photo of her desk. Luki could already master her guilt. Now he really2 wants to make Laura happy. A message came into his cell phone. Luki saw the contents. By Laura.

I made lunch for you.

I put it on your desk.

Don't forget to eat, yeah.

After reading the message, for the first time after such a long time, Luki shed tears.

 

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Laura decides to return to work after delivering Luki's lunch. He realized he could not be separated from his work for too long. Although she was still a few days away, Laura missed her restaurant kitchen. So, after returning from Luki's office, he headed for Antonio's restaurant. His friends were a little surprised to see him coming. They knew Laura was supposed to be on leave.

"What am I supposed to say...?" sigh Laura. "I miss you guys. I can't linger apart from you guys.

Laura smiled looking at her kitchen. Still clean without food stains. Only he was alone accompanied by his cooking equipment. Laura closed her eyes and opened them again. He was always happy in the kitchen. In this place, he could be a chef who made delicious food. He can be himself. Not the fragile woman in front of Niko, or the adim who hid the misery in front of Luki, nor the princess who felt a little envious of the happiness and togetherness of mama and papa.

Laura walked around the kitchen slowly. Just as he was about to pick up his cooking utensils, his right leg tripped over the iron chair. Laura cringed in pain. Breathing gasps. He leaned against the table until the pain in his leg subsided. He tried to catch his breath. Laura took the medicine from her bag and directly swallowed it. Slowly the pain in his leg disappeared.

Laura stood up slowly, then took the white apron from the top of the closet and put it on. A little relieved feeling. When he cooked the first meal of the day, his heart had already returned to normal. The aroma of cooking in the kitchen reassures his feelings.