There's Mars in the Parish Heart Room

Part 3

Parish sat on a campus park bench reading the third book of one of the eight books she had borrowed in the library a few days ago. Two books he could finish in three days. Very short for the size of the thickness of the book which according to Starla his best friend can be used to throw mangoes. Parish could still imagine how satisfied Starla had said that.

Two books could be finished quickly because at home he was acting busy, finished dinner he immediately went to his room. Though usually the three of them tell stories first in the family room while Dad ngeteh, he and Spanish enjoy their favorite cup of warm chocolate.

He did it because he was lazy to discuss the wedding plans of his father and Aunt Jade. For some reason if the plan was started to be discussed by his father or anyone else, there was a tightness in his chest. Which made him want to leave. But it can't. He needs to face that situation.

*

"hey's the girl with my bookworm" Starla pulled Parish's hair and smiled sweetly in front of her.

"sick tauuu" Parish jutek.

His best friend just laughed at him.

"let's go" Starla asked.

"where ?" parish asked without looking at Starla, her gaze focused on her book.

Starla wonder. How could his friend forget this. He was always excited about this.

"why ?" parish looked at Starla.

"sure you forgot ?" ask Starla.

Parish frowned. What's up, he thought.

"this afternoon is the Meteor match against the next campus" Starla explained.

Jesus.I thought Parish in my heart. He forget. But, what was he there for. Marsha is no longer in possession. They're gonna be brothers. His days will be Marsha but not what he expected.

"hey.. why ?" ask Starla.

Parish shook weakly.

"i'm not feeling well. I go first" he said as he passed leaving Starla in the park still looking at her in wonder.

*

Parish came home in a taxi. Tobby, the doorman of his house, was astonished when he opened the fence.

"miss why go home alone ?" tanyakanya.

Parish just smiled. Rome, Toby's partner's doorman rushed over. Looks like he's from making coffee. It can be seen from the two cups of coffee in his hand. He seemed to want to ask the same question but once he saw that Tobby had not been responded to, he paled his intention.

"i came in first, brother" said Parish politely.

The two doorman who double the security of his house also smiled. They're out of the way to let the nona through.

The Parish House has a spacious courtyard with a fountain pool in the center. From where Parish stood, to his left was a garage. A family car that often drove her to pick her up was seen there. To the right of where he was standing, there was a Gazebo to relax. Usually he and the Spanish would steal out in the middle of the night to see the stars. Sometimes Parish thinks, maybe that's what makes him and Starla can be close and familiar as friends because Parish likes stars. The name Starla means star.

"i'm home" exclaimed Parish, opening the door.

With a hasty step auncle Tom approached him, "why miss is not on the phone. Auncle can pick it up"

"it's okay, I'm the one who suddenly wants to go home" Parish replied as he climbed the stairs that were a few steps in front of the main door.

"but miss, it's not that today Spanish has a match. Usually miss is there" said auncle Tom.

Parish. Usually, that word again. Yeah, he's always been there, but now for what's going on as usual.

Sometimes Parish is surprised. Why is he behaving like this. He was expecting Marsha but he didn't want Marsha to know. He hopes the taste comes to Marsha on its own.

"but how Marsha can there be a sense that you don't show. Just looking at him from far away. Not brave negur" said Starla complained when she knew Parish secretly liked on Marsha, the elder sister, the level, one of the best students in the academic field and also one of the favorite football players on the campus.

"yes he can see I'm coming to the game. I'll see enough of him" said Parish short.

"yes he could have thought you were there because there was a Spanish sister. Not because of him. Yes even because of both" Starla replied again.

Parish. Starla's right. But as a girl, she doesn't want to show too much.

"mona ate already ?" ask Aunt Lesly who just came from the kitchen.

"yes aunty, don't worry" Parish said as she continued to climb the stairs to her room.

A couple who have worked for years at the Mc family home. Millan just looked at each other. They feel some days there is something different from the nonanya. But they couldn't ask any further. They know their limits. Parish would usually tell her own story. Tobby and Rome's parents move back into the kitchen.

*

Parish slammed herself on her bed, after removing her bag on the floor. In his head continued to ring the Meteorclub match against the team from the next campus. It must be exciting, because it can be said from the first they are tough rivals in winning the RedRose City Sepabola Champion.

Imagining it makes Parish so carried away in the first time to meet Marsha. The guy who adorns his beautiful dreams.

*

Parish set foot on the famous RedRose campus. He looked towards the campus.

The storage room where yes. He murmured in his heart.

There's no one.

Hmmm he should have accepted the Spanish offer to accompany him in the debriefing. As Maba she doesn't yet know the atmosphere of the campus.

First time here, he was still Junior High. At that time he accompanied his father to the Campus Council meeting. They haven't lost Mom long ago. And his father still asked to be accompanied by his favorite daughter everywhere.

Parish reached into his pocket to pick up a cell phone. He wants to contact Spanish. But that tiny thing doesn't exist. He then searched inside his bag. Then. he patted the eel, a sign of forgetting something.

"provisioning regulations prohibit carrying a cell phone" he said.

"what are you doing here ?" ask someone.

Parish. A tall, well-built, athletic guy, with beautiful glowing brown eyes standing in front of him. For a while, Parish felt her world filled with fallen petals in the morning, then replaced with colorful balloons that flew into the twilight sky, then change again with colorful lights decorate the night like a flick of stars.

"hey" the guy dashed Parish's delusion.

"sorry, I'm Maba. The supply room where ?" ask Parish.

"from here go up the stairs to the second floor. There was a large room with two doors written down the hall, it was the room" the man said, pointing to explain.

Parish nodded in understanding. But his gaze still led to the guy not in the direction pointed at the guy.

"let me drive" the guy pulled Parish's hand.

Parish follows where the guy takes him.

*

They arrived in front of the hall room.

"you're too late. You must be in the law" said the man.

Parish nodded. That's what he was afraid of until he woke up an hour earlier than usual, and and still ordinary because he did not like how-to, breakfast rush, and so on, even to tell Tom's auncle to be faster, very fast than usual.

Suddenly the door to the hall opened from inside. The tall guy, almost as tall and statured as the guy next to him.

"you're Parish Mc. Millan ?" tanyakanya.

Parish nodded.

"i was just looking for you. Spanish was asking you, I checked the attendance list but you haven't come" he explained. Looks like he's the orientation committee.

"sorry, I don't know the room. Good to see this sister" Parish said.

The guy looked at Marsha.

"fortunately there is you Mars, can hang the captain if his beloved sister is welcome" he said while laughing.

Marsha just smiled.

"let's go in" the committee boy asked.

"thank you brother" Parish told the man who had entered the hall following the steps of the committee.

Parish took a quick look, the guy who just smiled. Not answering anything.

*

Parish felt a soft hand touch her forehead. He slowly opened his eyes to confirm who was next to him.

Mark Mcs. Millan smiled, "sorry Dad woke you up baby"

Parish.

"do you want Daddy to call the doctor ?" tanyakanya.

"for what ? I'm fine" Parish said.

"so Dad met Starla at the game. Said you came home because you weren't feeling well"

Ooo so Starla keeps watching. Her thought.

"so how was the match ?" ask Parish.

Dad shrugged his shoulders.

"as the new captain, Marsha was less than the maximum. Almost got a yellow card" Dad explained.

Parish thought hard. All this time every Marsha match was always good. He and the Spanish are a matching fusion as Meteorclub's spearhead.

"maybe Marsha's brother is less fit Well" commented Parish.

"yes Father and Spanish think so too" said his father.

"now you take a warm bath, and come down. Aunty is preparing dinner" his father continued.

Parish agreed.

Mark Mcs. Millan kissed his daughter's forehead affectionately. Patting his daughter's cheek gently. Then to the door, out of Parish's room.

Parish was silent for a while. His father loved him very much. And vice versa. He loved his father very much. Especially since his mother died, Dad tried to always be there for him and Spanish in between his busy busy taking care of the company. Trying to be a father and mother for both of them.

There were no tears dripping from his brown eyes. Parish is determined. He's the one who has to let go. He has to end, even if the story has not yet begun.

"for the sake of Dad's happiness" he said.

In a hurry he went to the bathroom. Immediately take a shower, get ready, decorate minimalist and then head downstairs. Dinner with his father and brother.

"Welcome new family" he said, stopping at the stairs.

Parish took a deep breath and smiled. Decisions to try. Because everything has to be faced.

Happiness may not be for him. Maybe later. In time.

***