The Times New Romance
Chapter 15: The Dilemma
Chapter 15
Dilemmas
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The first semester break is over. In this second semester, not much has changed about Ayna's friends. Gio remains nosy and annoying, Ranya remains scathing and satirical, Nino remains quiet, and Mira who is always positive thinking and likes to eat. Ayna begins to adapt to her classmates. Gradually his heart began to be able to accept that wrong majors are not bad things.
This Saturday, Ayna and Mira agreed to participate in SME basketball activities, routine training on campus. Ayna and Mira promise to meet each other in front of the basketball stadium. Ayna's good mood was instantly shattered upon seeing Zayn, Hari, and Pras busy chatting on the stand in front of the stadium. They would not usually gather there. After all, they do not join any SMEs.
Mira and Ayna, who felt threatened, looked down deeply. Equally intending to avoid those three rancid guys. The two girls made it past their backs. Ayna and Mira just had to quickly step before one of the three backs looked back.
“Antivirus! Where are you going?”
Ayna and Mira stop. Their guerrilla movement failed miserably. Zayn and the two men surround Ayna and Mira.
“You nyelundupin haram stuff? Hiding that,” chirps Day which was greeted with laughter from Zayn and Pras.
“Yes, Mir your body is not-” Pras makes a gesture like sumo with two curved hands and legs forming horses while puffing his cheeks. “–wrights obviously want to bump once.”
“Enak! I'm not fat to know!” sembur Mira makes Pras pop his tongue.
“You want basketball practice huh?” zayn asked with a smile looking at Ayna who turned the eyeballs do not like.
After they returned from the recreation park, Zayn closed his lips to tell stories and always said nothing. Ayna, who was touched by curiosity and worry, could only dampen her mind, which rotated on the same thing every night. The fear that was harbored turned into a sense of annoyance considering that Ayna should not have thought of Zayn! Why should Ayna also be worried about that guy? Ayna has no other relationship than a student and a tutor with Zayn, not even a friend. Is that so hard that Zayn couldn't answer? Zayn continued to act as if everything had been done and Ayna had no choice but to pretend she didn't care anymore.
“Yes next time the basketball stadium wants to swim, Zayn Abhicandra” said Ayna made Zayn tick. “Why did you come here? Didn't you guys agree that you won't be joining SMEs?" Zayn, Pras, and Hari glanced at each other then the three of them pointed at each other. Hari and Pras pointed at Zayn who was in the middle and Zayn crossed hands pointing at the two. Ayna satcap, “Zayn,” call her already know this Zayn's wits.
Zayn. “I'll watch you practice basketball. If you get caught even alone together with him.” Zayn pointed at the one man who was about to enter the basketball stadium, making all looks thrown at the person who immediately stopped stepping. He was Nata, who raised a questionable eyebrow. Zayn narrowed his dislike eyes before looking back at Ayna.
“I will pay attention to you.” Zayn pointed at her eyes with two fingers and then she pointed them at Ayna's eyes.
Ayna dropped her jaw. But there was no word he could say. He was too tired to face Zayn. Even on the day he thought it was Day Without Zayn, the guy instead came willingly to follow him. Ayna immediately stepped in with Mira ignoring Zayn who was waving his hand.
“Be careful, don't hit the ball! You'll have a concussion, Ayna!” it was Zayn's strangulation that made Ayna frown in shame.
They also separated. Ayna and Mira are joined by members of basketball consisting of various majors at the Blue Campus. Zayn, Hari and Pras walked towards the cafeteria area. Zayn will wait for Ayna to finish participating in SME activities.
***
“Lo actually likes it not the same Ayna?” investigate Pras while sipping his iced tea.
Beside him, Hari, come along. “Child class until interview to both of us to know your heart, Zayn!” reveal Day.
Zayn who was sitting before them only smiled. Zayn's not his name if he doesn't smile every time he can. Zayn felt the highest gratitude when his lips were so light to smile with. And as long as Zayn can do that, Zayn will smile. “You can say yes or no.”
“Hah?” debunk Pras. “What do you mean, Zayn?”
Zayn plays a straw on his iced tea. His mind felt deadlocked to answer, but Pras and Hari seemed to urge through the gaze for Zayn to answer immediately. Zayn shook his head a little. “Gue don't know.”
Day breathed in disbelief. “If you don't know, why do you tempt him every day, Zayn?" Seeing Zayn remain silent, Hari clucked, "My sister was once a victim given false hope as a bustling boy, he said, he was crying and did not want to eat until sick because his men never took their relationship seriously but my sister was already carried away feeling.” Day held onto both of Zayn's shoulders, making the blazing guy's eyes appear dim as he looked back at him. “Gue witness where a woman who has hurt her feelings, can not be the same again, Zayn. Maybe they can, but they need a lot of time. If you're just messing around, mending stops now.”
Pras advised, “Gue agreed what Hari said. We are often nosy, but if the affairs of the female heart, I do not want to follow. I bother Mira because I like her.” Prasat brought his face closer to Zayn who was looking down in lethargy. “Feelings girls tuh kayak hard stone that if dripped water continuously can soften as well. So, rather than the stone soften without you being able to account for your actions, mending away him.”
Zayn took a long breath. He never knew loving someone could be this complicated. Ayna's tears that slid the other day, really made Zayn afraid to step again. The girl was so worried that she shed tears just from seeing Zayn's relapsing illness. What would happen if Ayna knew Zayn was born with the disease? What would happen if Zayn stuck Ayna with a sick person like her? What happens when Ayna falls in love with him? Still would he accept Zayn who makes medicine his true friend?
The thought struck Zayn mercilessly since his return from the recreation park. His heart nearly throbbed just from thinking about Ayna's feelings. He doesn't want to destroy the girl's hopes because Zayn isn't the normal guy he is. “Gue likes Ayna. Even more than you think, but, “ Zayn held back his words, his lips blocked. "Gue does not dare to hold her hand, I will make her hurt later.”
Because in the end, the difficult choice that Ayna will face when together with Zayn. Letting go or maintaining the pain of seeing a loved one is always on the verge of life and death. Zayn should have never met Ayna. Zayn should never have set foot on this campus. It should have been and should have been the others who dropped Zayn to the brink of regret.
Zayn still did not know what his heart really wanted. He just wants to be close to the girl, for now.
***
“You are a basketball hero,” praise Nata on Ayna who sat next to him when the basketball break of the prince and princess was done together. Mira, who came with two bottles of water, handed the girl a bottle of water before sitting cross-legged by Ayna's side.
Ayna smiled as she accepted it. Then he looked at Nata. “No, just ordinary. I haven't played sports in a long time.”
Mira integeupsi, “But lie, you are still proficient in that until just throw the ball just go straight into the ring. You got a basketball courtesy, Ay at home?” Mira close her body with Ayna. “I want dong learn.”
Ayna kept Mira's body away while screeching amusedly, “Ngak, Mir. Since joining SME, it was the first time I held basketball again.” Mira snatched in disbelief.
“Ayna,” call Nata makes Ayna turn her head to look at him. Mira who followed closely interrupted Nata's voice, also looked at the man. But, looking at Nata who thinned her lips when her gaze collided with Mira. The girl understood that Nata did not want Mira to hear this. The girl also went to chat with other members even though in her heart she grumbled.
“Why, Nat?” ask Ayna.
“What do you have to do with Zayn? One rich campus already knows you have a special relationship.”
Ayna reflexes choking on hearing Nata's speech. His eyes widened. He thought the rumor was only interrupted in the Informatics Engineering child, but it also spread to all corners of the Blue Campus. “Nothing really,” refute Ayna fast.
“If there's nothing ..., why haven't you answered my feelings yet?" ask Nata.
Ayna. He had already silenced Nata's statement until the first semester was over. Ayna also did not understand with her heart. He felt comfortable with Nata, but Ayna could not interpret the comfort. Does Ayna really like or just admire Nata. "I'll tell you later."
Nata was not satisfied. Her gaze shifted from Ayna on the pair of legs that suddenly appeared behind the girl's back. "If you have nothing, why is he here?" nata asked as he pointed at Zayn with his chin crossed, making Ayna turn her head quickly.
The girl exhaled a rough breath as soon as Zayn waved at her with a hostile face. Ayna returned her gaze to Nata. “He's crazy, Nat," lamented Ayna.
Zayn glares. “Who am I going crazy for, Ayna?” Zayn bent his knees and whispered to Ayna. “You are like a wifi that is protected with complexity. I could never break the password.” Ayna slacking off. Zayn started again.
“So, what is the password to login to your heart?” gombal Zayn displayed his sweet smile. For some women it may be charming, but for Ayna now it seems laughable.
Ayna pushed Zayn's shoulder and stood up. “I'm not done yet. There's still one more exercise.” Ayna looked at Mira who rejoined her because she saw the appearance of Zayn. “Yes right, Mir?”
Mira shakes her head. “Hah? Not that I've finished staying waiting peng–” Ayna hastily smothering Mira's mouth with her hands. Zayn had already smiled broadly at Ayna as the girl grimaced. He failed to escape because of Mira. Basic Mira can't be compromised!
Mira chuckles as soon as Ayna is caught she has lied. Mira ignored Ayna who was cheating on her. “Come, Ayna. Don't judge Zayn. Zayn is a good guy.” Mira glanced at Zayn who immediately flicked his finger confirming that.
Zayn also grabbed Ayna's arm. Ayna hardened her jaw and instantly misuh-misuh. The man looked at Nata who was now standing. “Gue said, Nata Baskara,” said Zayn who replied with a slanted smile by Nata. Zayn rode and took Ayna.
“Let him make a decision, Zayn. You're not the one.”
Zayn froze the steps. He chuckles tastelessly. Although Nata did reveal the facts, but Zayn did not want to accept it. Zayn again faced Nata still with Ayna in his grasp. “Dare to play basketball with me? You have to promise me that you will stay away from Ayna if I win,” challenge Zayn without thinking twice.
