The Side Away

Misunderstand

That night, Laura does not expect Mario to return to see her at the apartment. Lucy's not there, meaning Mario won't let Lucy stay in his apartment. Awkwardly, Laura sat down on the chair opposite Mario while pressing on his palm nervously. Uncomfortable with the situation, Mario has been cold since he saw him with David.

"I'm leaving New York" said Mario, drawing Laura's attention.

"Why?" laura asked like a fool.

"I want to forget the memories of Jason, and Lucy needs someone next to her. He wanted me to keep him company until his feelings improved. Actually, not only Lucy, but I need that calm. Thinking about all the things that had happened, I almost went crazy and decided to leave my job. Stop being a writer."

Laura does not believe in Mario's words, quitting the job she likes must be because the man is getting tired of life. And go through days without purpose after losing the person closest to him. Realizing that, Laura felt guilty until the corner of her heart hurt.

Why can't he love Mario?

Unknowingly, her tears trickled down and Laura felt Mario wipe away those tears with a gentle touch.

"Laura, don't cry, I don't like to see you like this" said Mario, almost like a whisper.

"Mario, I'm sorry."

"I love you so much and almost went crazy for ending this relationship, but what can I do?" mario asked with a bitter smile, his facial expression showing deep sadness. "I can't give you anything but lies. Lala, you deserve the best because I'm not good enough for you. Four years with you, I'm so happy despite the fact that we're not a match. May God give you someone better than Gino and you can heal your wounds" said Mario.

"Mario, me," Laura did not continue her sentence because her tears were rushing and she had trouble breathing. The sadness comes from losing someone who used to pay attention to him, keeping him lovingly.

"I'm leaving. Laura, take care of yourself."

Mario almost headed for the door before Laura held the man in a hug from behind. He is selfish for wanting Mario and Gino together, the solitude scares him like losing both his parents and Laura has no one to lean on.

"Don't go." said Laura.

"Laura, I can't let you go if you're like this."

"I don't have anyone, I'm afraid of myself like I used to."

Laura cries, letting her tears wet Mario's back, she can't help but be sad and ignore Mario who is also injured.

Laura felt Mario embrace her and put his head on the man's chest. Giving her the calm that she used to be, when Laura almost gave up on her life.

"Don't be sad, I don't like seeing you cry" Mario said.

"How's Lucy doing?" laura asked after her crying subsided, she was still in Mario's arms because the man did not want to take it off.

"She needs time, her relationship and Jason started as a child. Losing it, I understand because I feel it too. Jason's a good man, but unlucky to love my stupid brother. Actually we are both the same, loving someone who loves someone else. However, I was luckier because my body was healthy before the accident. While Jason has to struggle with one kidney and finally gives up as Lucy begins to ignore him. He kept that condition a secret not just to Lucy, but to everyone including me. His departure left many wounds because I did nothing to repay his kindness."

"Jason must be happy to see you all remember him, I don't want you to be sad about his passing" Laura said.

"Lala, I'm glad you're starting to open up and Gino has an important role to play in that change. I who was next to you didn't even know your favorite before he came into your life."

"Gino will marry my best friend, his name is Ajeng."

"If you love her, don't let her marry someone else" said Mario, then took off his arms, rubbing Laura's hair. "Because I don't want to see you sad."

"I don't want to be the third person in their relationship" Laura said.

"Laura, I really don't want to see you with anyone else."

It was too late to realize that Mario had already kissed her lips and pushed her towards the wall. Laura had trouble breathing with Mario's hasty actions. He had never made physical contact other than kissing and that night, Mario looked different than usual. Laura had trouble escaping the kiss because Mario hugged her tightly. Long enough Mario kissed her until he sensed the presence of someone in his apartment.

Gino stood there with a stiff facial expression, as if he had caught his partner cheating on him. Laura cannot understand the situation because Mario continues to kiss her and is unaware of Gino's whereabouts.

Laura turned her face away when the kiss was over and Gino had already left her apartment with a disappointed look.

"Gino saw it" said Laura.

"I know."

"Why did you do it?" laura asked disappointed.

"Because I don't want you to be with him. Your attitude just meant you didn't want me to leave you. Laura, don't be ambiguous and make me misunderstand. If you love her then let me go because I can't be with someone who loves two people at the same time." Mario distanced himself then rubbed his face rough. "I love you Laura, but I don't want to be an option. Pursue him before I change my mind" Mario said, pushing Laura to the door.

Her hasty steps cause Laura to almost stumble when she sees Gino walking away from the apartment building. He sped up his pace until he finally managed to get close to Gino and walk beside the man.

"No?" call Laura with a loud breath.

Gino. "Racid?" tanyakanya.

"Why did you come?" Laura asked back.

"You take a cell phone, that fucking David fucks me. Sorry La, disrupt your time, David said you were alone in the apartment. So I came back here without the bell because I have the keys to your apartment. It was about to make a surprise even I was surprised" said Gino continued to move aimlessly.

Laura did not respond to Gino's remarks and lined the man's wide steps with her short legs. They had already left the apartment building and were on a pedestrian-only street.

"No?"

Gino put his hand in his pants pocket, reluctant to look to the side and prefer to see the crowd on the street. "Why?" tanyakanya.

"You jealous?" ask Laura.

Gino shook his head. "No."

Laura stopped her steps and let Gino continue to go far ahead. Apparently true, Gino and Ajeng have a serious relationship. There was no point in Laura asking something that was impossible to feel by someone who was about to get married. Although, at that time Gino liked it, but the position was replaced by someone else.

And that person is Ajeng.

***

The shadow of the incident continued to stick in his mind, Gino threw his body on the sofa as soon as he arrived at the apartment. His phone was already lying on the table and David did not show the trunk of his nose. The foolishness of believing David's words bore fruit on misfortune and had to see Laura's scene with Mario. Looks like they're going to do something and Gino's arrival messes things up.

Heh!

Gino smiled wryly, it was only natural for the lovers who lived together to do something more than just kiss. Sleeping together in one room is not uncommon in America and the liberal lifestyle is not Gino type. Why did it have to be Laura?

In the middle of his tangled mind his phone rang. Calls originating in Indonesia. Gino grabbed his phone and stuck it in his ear, waiting for someone across the street to make a sound.

"Next year you must go home."

His father's tone remained the same.

"Gino doesn't want to go home." she refused quickly.

"Your cousin wants to get married, I don't want to go home, it doesn't feel good to you. Go home, I miss you."

His mother's voice with a thick Javanese accent was soothing in Gino's ears. Luckily his father let his mother do the talking, otherwise Gino prepared for a fight amid his emotions that culminated after the incident. However, hearing her mother's gentle voice, the warm feeling flowed so quickly as to ease the lingering emotions.

"Gino is also kangen" said Gino honestly, the last time he left the house with a tone that was so loud to his mother. Now he regrets that.

"You should go home with Laura, two years should have met. Don't look for reasons not to marry before meeting Laura. I already know everything, you're not good at keeping secrets le."

The conversation leads to Laura and her mother's desire for the girl to be his wife. Gino did not have time to explain about Laura who had a lover and the possibility to marry her is very impossible.

The connection ended after a long talk from her mother about taking care of herself. Gino is not a girl and the message doesn't apply if one day, she starts to become interested in wildlife in New York. Because it seems Laura is also starting to be affected by that free lifestyle so that Gino does not have to bother taking care of himself.

Damnit.

That principle should not be lost just because of her disappointment in Laura. Even so, Gino should not dirty himself by doing a one night stand with a stranger.

That long night, Gino spent standing on the balcony staring at the snow falling in the darkness. The cold temperature and the blowing wind caused Gino to shiver, but he did not move from there. Letting the cold bring a sense of disappointment to Laura.

Maybe it's time, Gino let go of his feelings for Laura. Because the girl had already found the right person and Gino's job of keeping the girl was done.

Including keeping his feelings for Laura.

At three o'clock in the morning, Gino went into his room and saw David sleeping in his bed. He lay down next to David with a focused look at the ceiling of his room. The apartment he bought five years ago because of a coincidence, maybe it's time for Gino to sell the apartment.

To David.

Gino wants to leave New York, forget all about Laura and of course will not settle in Indonesia. Jogja has many memories of the girl, every corner of Malioboro, or the legendary Jogja square. In fact, they had vacationed at Prambanan temple and immortalized the moment in the form of photos. Too bad, Gino didn't find the photos because Laura had taken them away. With that disappointment.

Five years ago.

The feeling he had felt for so many years was already the final stage to endure. Gino is willing to let go because Laura deserves to be happy and that is with Mario, the man Laura loves.

With a heavy heart, Gino got up from the bed and took his suitcase out of the closet. He began to stuff his clothes into the suitcase, neatly arranging them together with his other belongings.

At five o'clock the work was done and David woke up from his sleep and sat down next to him. Staring at him was concerned as if understanding his unease.

"The relationship between Laura and the man is very good" David said.

"I've seen it, Laura does love it. I was the one who had too much hope in this relationship, since the beginning my place had been made clear. However, I still tried and ended up like a loser. David, I want you to buy my apartment because I decided to leave New York." Gino said. "Lusa" he added again.

"What about the case you're working on?"

"I've passed the case on to someone else."

"Your work is not over" David said in disbelief.

"That problem, you don't have to worry. I'm a responsible worker" Gino said, patting David on the shoulder.

"Laura must be sad, you must say goodbye."

"Of course." said Gino.

The conversation just flowed away, maybe after leaving New York, Gino wouldn't meet David and spend his time talking in the gray winter. It's heavy, but it has to be done because it's the only way to forget Laura.

***

Go back to the apartment and find Mario still waiting for him in the living room. Laura smiled bitterly, she had already made the mistake of letting the man kiss her and then Gino saw the incident. That stupidity puts him in trouble, between wanting to let go, or staying in a relationship out of return.

"Have you met Gino?" ask Mario.

"He misunderstood."

"Sorry,"

Laura shakes. "I was wrong to keep you here and Gino saw it. It's okay, after all Gino will marry someone else. That feeling sooner, or later must end before it hurts others."

"You're not willing to take it off" said Mario.

"Forced to let go because he married someone else."

"If so, I'll let you go with someone else. It's night, Lucy's definitely waiting for me. Tomorrow afternoon we're leaving New York, before he takes you to see my mom. Mom insulted you in restaurants and hospitals, I'm really sorry. Laura, live well with the one who loves you and you love her." Mario got up from his seat and walked over to Laura, giving her a final hug and a brief kiss on the forehead. "Good night."

Now, the story and Mario are over. Laura only saw Mario's back move away until it disappeared into the elevator. The silence in the apartment became a friend to Laura, awakening to the folly. He who chooses to live in loneliness and let go of those who used to pay attention to him.

It's okay, everything will improve with time in response.

The apartment has many memories with Mario. Laura decides to rent another apartment and tomorrow, she will start her new life without Mario and Lucy.

Really, a bitter life.

***

At Mario's request last night, Laura meets Lucy and Jean at the restaurant where they used to meet. He refused when the waiter handed over the menu book, his arrival to the place was not to enjoy the dishes. Although actually his stomach has rung since the way to the restaurant.

Lucy comes with Jean, the two of them sitting in the opposite seat. Laura did not see a smile on Lucy's face and the woman pretended to be busy with a cell phone. Losing Jason causes Lucy's personality to change and Laura is unaware of it.

"I heard that your relationship with Mario ended" Jean said.

Laura nodded.

"I'm sorry, if my attitude offended you. I've heard everything from Mika, she's also hiding the secret of your relationship. For that matter, I assume it has passed and you can live your life as usual. Nor did I force Mario to marry Mika, he could be with anyone he loved. However, Mario refuses and chooses to leave New York with Lucy. Whatever the decision I can only support because Lucy needs Mario by her side. Laura, I'm really sorry for that." said Jean touching Laura's palm with a sincere expression.

Jean is not a bad guy.

Laura smiled thinly. "Mrs Jean, I should be the one apologizing" Laura said.

"Hearing you say something like this, I feel like a bad person."

"Mother, go. I want to talk to Lala" said Lucy pulling Jean's hand from Laura. "Your boyfriend's waiting outside."

A boyfriend?

It turns out that Jean is the type of woman who easily forgets others after divorce.

"Laura, come visit my house when you're free. And take Gino along, he knows my home address in Queens" Jean said.

"Lala, I want to forget the memories of Jason."

Laura looked at Lucy, there was a sense of loss in the woman's eyes. However, moving away from those painful memories would not solve the problem because Laura had already experienced it. He hurt someone who loved him to keep his feelings for Gino. Although Laura finally could not have any of them.

But, she and Lucy are different.

"Do as your heart says, I support all your decisions" Laura said.

"Lala, you're my best friend. When my feelings improve, I'll come back to see you."

"Tell me wherever you are."

"Of course, Lala you won't lose us even if Mario has cut off your relationship" said Lucy, with a small smile. "Because you've been a part of us, like Jason who won't be forgotten."

Lucy's embrace was different from Mario's that night, with the fear of losing the most important person slowly disappearing. Lucy still considers him to be a best friend and Laura is grateful to meet them.

"Give my regards to Mario, tell him I miss his soup" Laura said, nodding Lucy.

***