The Winter Promise

Chapter 26: The Promise of Winter.

Evening has arrived. Tonight is the first night and the last night we are on Mount Prau, because tomorrow afternoon we have to go down and return home. Right now we are outside the tent enjoying the night view full of stars.

As I told you, it would be better if you watched the stars on the mountain than on the beach. But make sure first if you want to see the stars on the mountain, you do not come here at the time of the full moon is perfect, because the light from the moon will cover the light from the stars. I suggest you come here while on a new moon or crescent moon, at that time you will see a lot of stars in the sky.

The situation was very dark and our lighting at that time was only one lantern carried by Riki. We do not make bonfires because it is forbidden on Mount Prau.

“Warmly.”

Lina was seen enjoying a glass of warm tea in her hands.

“What are you drinking it Mar?”

“This is coffee, do you want to taste it?”

I offered Miyuki the coffee I was drinking.

“Copy? I've never tried it. What does it feel like?”

“You just try it yourself.”

I gave my coffee to Miyuki.

“Alright then I will try.”

Miyuki also tried the coffee I just gave her.

“The bit!”

Miyuki couldn't stand the bitterness of my black coffee. His expression looked extremely cute, his eyes narrowed with his tongue slightly sticking out.

“Hahahaha..”

I laughed to see him who could not stand the bitter taste. Think of it as my revenge for what you did this afternoon.

“Why does it feel like it could be this bitter?”

“Indeed like that coffee flavor.”

“You're okay Miyuki, this is no water. Drink it to remove that bitter taste.”

Rina gives Miyuki mineral water.

“Thank you Rin.”

I drank coffee and enjoyed the view of the stars. Nothing beats my love for the stars today.

I just realized that Miyuki was dumbfounded to see me.

“What's up?”

“No.”

Miyuki also threw her face away occasionally holding her lips with her hands.

“You should be very excited to see the star of Ar. It turns out it was really beautiful.”

Rina was still stunned to see the cluster of stars that adorned the sky.

“Of course, although I often see this view while climbing the mountain. But somehow, I never get tired of making it.”

I looked at one of the brightest stars at the time. I don't even know what star I saw at the time.

“By the way I've been a little curious a long time. Maul is the person who helped you in catching the thief at that time, right Mar?”

Miyuki asked me who was seriously staring at the stars.

“That's how it is, he is indeed great when it comes to hacking. People at my school used to call him Hacker.”

Thank you to me Mul, I have raised your degree before Miyuki.

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“Is that true?!”

And now Miyuki was very interested to hear the story from Maul.

“Amar overestimates, I'm not very good at it. I know a little.”

While humble, Maul looks shy about saying that.

“What Kak Amar said is true... The name Maul in our school is Hacker. Even the boys in my class admire that ability a lot.”

“Iya, I alone often assisted by Maul in computer lessons.”

Kirana and Rina praised Maul which made her very happy, the fire of Maul which now seemed to have changed. In the past, when he was praised like this, surely he would be head over heels and boast of his skills, but now he looked more silent and calm.

“What about Riki? I heard from Amar that he won the national championship.”

After Maul, now Miyuki asked about Riki's skills.

It turns out that taking people like Miyuki is not bad either. Though a moment before his condition was very quiet and quiet, all of them were silent to watch the stars.

“That's right, when the first grade time Junior High, I once won a gold medal in pencak silat national level.”

Riki said that proudly.

“When I heard that I was grateful that Amar separated you from Takeshi. If not separated I don't know what will happen with Takeshi.”

“That's how it was, whereas back then I was very upset with that guy.”

Riki's emotions rose for a moment and she clenched her hand as she recalled the events of that time.

“What happened Miyuki?”

Rina was curious about it and Miyuki told them all.

“As usual your emotions are still out of control ya.”

Maul slightly mocked Riki back then.

“If you were me then, I'm sure you'd be hooked too.”

“It won't.”

Maul tries to look good in front of the girls.

“Kak Riki is also famous for being strong in our school. Even he was very feared in our school.”

Kirana recounted that very excitedly to add Riki's prowess in Miyuki's eyes.

“That's true!?”

“No, I'm not that great kok.”

Now Riki is shy about being praised by someone. Why are all my friends like that.

“There is only one person in our school who can beat Kak Riki.”

“Who is it?”

Rina and Miyuki looked curious and could not wait to hear her answer.

Kirana did not answer anything, she just pointed at me who was enjoying my coffee while looking at the stars.

“You must be kidding Kirana?”

Miyuki doesn't believe that I'm stronger than Riki.

“I don't believe that either. Indeed I know that Ar is strong, but I do not imagine that he can beat Riki.”

Lina also did not believe in that.

“What Kirana just said is true. Since I was in elementary school, I never once beat Amar.”

Riki also helps Kirana so that Miyuki and Rina trust her words.

“You can explain that Mar?”

“Iya, I also want to hear it directly from you Ar.”

Now Miyuki and Rina are very serious about watching me.

“Riki just exaggerates it, I can't possibly be that great. You know for yourself, a lazy person like me, who might be able to beat Riki.”

“From the beginning I met you actually I was suspicious, if you must have a lot of mysteries that you have never told us, right?”

Miyuki becomes an impromptu detective who has just discovered a new mystery.

“You're right Miyuki. Even all this time he never told me anything about himself. I have been friends with him for a long time.”

Maul makes Miyuki's curiosity even more so.

“Hei Rik! You have to help me get out of this condition.”

I begged Riki for help, but she just smiled evilly at me.

“Do you know anything Rin? You've been with him for three years. There must be something you know.”

Miyuki asked Rina to satisfy her curiosity.

“Actually I've known Ar since elementary school.”.

“APA?!”

Everyone there was shocked to hear that except me and Riki.

“Can you tell me more clearly about it Rin?”

“Iya Kak Rina, I also became curious.”

Kirana is also curious.

“...Since long ago Ar nature is not much different from what is now. It's just that when entering Junior High, he is much more reserved and reserved, and he always gives off a sinister aura when we want to approach him.”

That creepy? It could also be the aura I let out.

“I agree with her words Brother Rina. His sharp gaze, often makes second-graders afraid if

noticed by him.”

Hmmmm... I just found out that my eyes are that scary.

“First time just entered many friends in the class who misunderstood Amar's behavior, but after talking to him, it turns out he is a very good person.”

Rina said that with a little smile on her face.

Help someone, please stop Miyuki with all her curiosity.

“I agree it's Miyuki!”

Maul also supports Miyuki.

“Come Amar, you better say here now?”

Now Miyuki's target is me.

“What should I tell you? I don't have anything to tell you anymore.”

“You must be lying, I'm sure there are a lot of your secrets that you still hide.”

Miyuki did not want to hear my words and still continued to ask me. I saw Riki who was trying to hold back her laughter looking at me who was made to bother by Miyuki.

What am I supposed to do? There is nothing more I have to tell them. What do they care about me anyway. That story is boring in my opinion.

“By the way how was your school Miyuki? Didn't you go to a special school. How to attend school there?”

Hopefully this topic of my conversation can distract him.

“Ah... He wants to try changing the subject.”

Riki tried to prevent me by reminding them.

“I'm quite curious about your school, surely your school has something different compared to our school right? Definitely it's interesting to talk about.”

Miyuki looked suspiciously at me.

“Truely, I went to school..”.

And Miyuki also managed to get distracted with the topic of conversation I made.

I breathed a sigh of relief and felt like I had won the match with Riki.

And we continued to tell stories until night .

***

“Finally I can be alone, now is the time to enjoy the stars peacefully and peacefully.”

I sat outside the tent alone cooking water to brew my coffee.

It was already three in the morning and they were all sleeping inside the tent. Because I was asleep this afternoon, so I can be awake until the morning.

I see a lot of stars in the sky right now. Every time I see a star, I want to buy a camera to capture this incident, but because of the high price, I can't ask my parents.

While I was enjoying my peaceful time, Miyuki came out of her tent.

“You're up?”

I reprimanded Miyuki who seemed to be still trying to gather her consciousness.

“Hmm... You haven't slept yet?”

“It would be a pity if I slept at a time like this. Such a sight is very rare to find”

“You really like stars huh?”

Miyuki was sitting right next to me.

Sfx : Ciiiiiiittt...

The teapot sounded indicating that the water inside was boiling. I immediately brewed my coffee and made tea for Miyuki.

“This is tea for you.”

I gave the tea to Miyuki.

“Thank you.”

We also saw the same stars – together.

“It turns out you're romantic too huh?”

Miyuki's words surprised me. Because I didn't know that giving tea can be called romantic. Isn't it only natural that you are on a mountain that has a cold temperature and you give something warm to your friend.

“...Mass?”

“Iya... I love the beaches and mountains that have a lot of beautiful things. It was very romantic in my opinion.”

Turns out that's what he meant.

“How else, only in those two places can I rest my mind. When I went to that place, I felt that all the fatigue in my mind was gone. Just like this time. What's more watching it with someone who is very special to you, it's just getting better.”

Miyuki was speechless after hearing what I said just now.

“Why are you silent? Is there something wrong with my words?”

“...No, I'm just confused as to what to say now. Sometimes I see you as a very good person, but on the one hand I also see you as a very bad person.”

I smiled after hearing that. I don't think my efforts to avoid Miyuki had any impact on her. It turned out that he realized that I was trying to keep myself away from him.

“That might just be your feeling, I'm not a good person you know.”

“But in my opinion, the way of life like you is very suitable in this day and age.”

“No... The way of life like this is very risky.”

“Again, why do you have such thoughts? What else about love. You've never told me that. It would be a cheat if I was the only one to tell you my reasons.”

Miyuki was so upset, she threw her face away from me.

“You yourself told me.”

“But..”.

It seemed like there was no harm in telling him that.

“Well if you want to hear it, actually I don't want to tell this to anyone, but how else. Think of this as my gratitude because you saved me from last night's talk.”

"Kok you know?"

Miyuki was a little surprised.

"Of course, it's possible that a curious person can be easily distracted by such a subject."

"Hehehe... All right, I'll listen to it."

Miyuki looked very serious and she focused her eyes on me right now.

Now where should I tell you...

“...I used to have a friend, he made friends with me when we were in kindergarten. We used to play together a lot back then, even then we went into the same SD. Until finally in fourth grade, I only knew that he had a disease in his heart and could not do activities like a child in general. A year later, when we were fifth grade. His illness worsened and made him have to be treated at his home, since then he never went to school..”.

Oh shit, I don't want to remember this anymore.

“Then what happened?”

Miyuki's face looked sad, but in her eyes there was still a hint of curiosity.

“...I used to go to his house to play and tell him what happened at school. Sometimes I comforted him so that he would fight against his illness. At that time he was reminded of a story book that he often read while still in kindergarten. The book is titled Winter Promise.”

“It seems that I read the book, a book that tells the story of a daughter who was sick from childhood until she had to be cared for inside the house so that she did not know what was going on with the outside world. But one day, a man appeared who often visited his room to tell the princess about the outside world.”

Miyuki knew the book I was talking about.

“You were right, the book ended happily with the princess recovering from her illness and finally marrying the man. Then my friend said that I look like the man in the book.”

“What is your friend female?”

“Yup... Hearing that made me promise him to always accompany him and always encourage him to recover from his illness like the man in the book.”

Loincloth... I think my tears just want to come out.

“Then what happened?”

Miyuki asked me in a very slow tone, it seemed like she knew that my mood was not good.

“...Destiny is not as sweet as what is in the book. A year later, he died because his heart was unable to function normally. I loved him and I wanted to protect his smile. After his death devastated me, I didn't even go to school for three days. Since then I no longer want to use my feelings when doing anything and put forward logical thinking. Although it can make a dispute, but that's the best... And that's the reason why I can be like this.”

When I finished telling that, I saw Miyuki who started to shed her tears. He could not say anything and just looked at me with his mother's gaze.

I took a very long breath to return my emotions like all and calm my mind.

“I'm sorry... I shouldn't have asked you that.”

“Calm down, indeed I plan to tell this to someone.”

I also gave Miyuki a tissue to wipe her tears.

“...Does anyone know this?”

“Nothing, only you know.”

“Why didn't you tell Rina?”

“So please, I feel uncomfortable seeing Rina cry like you.”

Miyuki also looked annoyed after I said that.

“Not to be sad anymore... We do not make a beautiful atmosphere like this a place of mourning.”

I also told Miyuki to get excited again.

“You are so great Mar, after saying such a sad thing, you do not look sad once.”

“Really?”

I wanted to cry earlier. It seemed like this expressionless face was already attached to me once.

“If it was my mood so you maybe I've been crying with shock here.”

“Hahaha... You're overreacting.”

For some reason after telling that to Miyuki, my burden lifted slightly and my mind became light. It seems like what Riki said at the time was true, I should not hold this thing alone.

Never mind, don't get too drawn out in grief. I better enjoy this beautiful view.

And we chatted while enjoying the view until the morning. Although we have been seen closer than before, Miyuki still I consider as a troublesome woman.

the End Chapter 26