This Is It?

Chapter 15: The Seteru

I remember every word that came out of their mouths about me. Those who label me with various kinds of despicable nicknames. However, I also forgive those who are not massive mocking me. One of them is Metha.

He used to say I was like a zombie. Honestly, I was upset at that time – even though I heard it when it became Bagas. However, the attitude and behavior of Metha afterwards did not give too much judgment to Ardi. I also think that I am too vengeful for everyone who does not like me.

Now Metha stood before me with teary eyes. I am powerless to be met with sorrow.

“You like Mutia, Gas?” he asked after a moment of silence occupied our conversation.

“Em...” My eyes found Mutia peering behind the window. Either this conversation gets to his ears or not, but I have to keep up body language.

“Have you guys expressed your feelings for each other?” Metha confirmed the direction of the question.

“But.” I shook my head twice. “I haven't thought to express my feelings. I want everything to go as it was until I know Mutia has a taste for me or not,” my light is flat.

“You fit. You guys are a compatible couple.”

The Metha statement is not in harmony with the tone notation being played. He also pulled his right hand to wipe away the water pooled in both corners of his eyes.

“Why are you, Met?”

I bowed a little to see Metha's face. Is she crying? Because me? Whereas when I talk about my feelings, I think I will have additional support from the people closest to Mutia here.

“I'm fine, Gas,” stuffing.

The answer clearly implies a desire to be dug up. I also teased him with a small smile. “Tumben you so diem like this, Met. You are usually always cheerful. Hooohh…. Hehe...” I made the rounds like I was doing gymnastics.

“I like you, Gas,” he said as he looked at me. Tears increasingly seemed real drenched on his cheeks.

It was my turn to be silent. What response or sentence should I say? I don't know how to deal with a situation like this. Never imagined if it would be this fast I experienced a statement of love against the background of tears.

“Hahaha…. Met, you want to prank me for the story. Haha..”

I laughed, not not understanding how he said the truth from his heart. It's just, I'm so jaded and restless. Therefore, it immediately occurred to provoke joy. I show funny behavior back – develop a smile up to two cheeks slightly raised – to shift conditions.

“I'm serious, Gas. Maybe I used to joke about you. I often play dumb in front of you. But that's because I control my feelings. I realized I had a lot of rivals. They're prettier, smarter, more everything than me.”

I let out a breath. There's nothing more I can do to stop her overflow of feelings.

“When I saw you with Mutia, I tried to share my happiness. However, I cannot deny the hope of being with you someday. I know myself, Gas. I'm just a woman who's bullied, often yelled like Tarzan, and also always whiny. Sorry, Gas! I didn't mean to interrupt your closeness with Mutia at this time. I just don't want to bear the feeling without ever being able to say,”.

“Met...” I held both of his shoulders.

“Haaah! What the hell am I?!” Metha turned her head while building up a laugh. “Sorry yes, Gas! I'm getting emotional like this.”

“Met...” I tried to calm him down.

“Gas, you don't need to give me any answers. I just want to express my heart. I can compete with others, but not with my own best friend.”

I can't see anyone crying in front of me feeling. Metha, behind her thinly-depleted figure, she has corky emotions.

“Can I hold you, Gas? I probably won't be able to have you. However, I mohom let me hold you. Feel you as if you were once mine even in a few seconds,” pinta Metha. I am also in a dilemma.

If I say “no”, Metha will feel hurt more. If I say “iya”, Mutia still seems to be observing me and Metha.

“Forget it, Gas! Sorry, I don't mean how.” Metha turns the body while removing the rate of tears.

I blocked his steps. Then, I spread out both hands a sign of willingness to grant his wish. May the decision not to give an over-interpretation either to Metha or Mutia.

Metha hugged me tight. Should I repay him? But he said he wanted to hug me, not hug me. I held my hands behind Metha's back.

Then, my chest felt wet and warm in Metha's tears. My heart beats irregularly. This is the first time I've been hugged by a woman outside the nasab.

Nevermind! I don't need to dissolve in feelings. It's just as a consolation.

“Thank you very much, Gas! See you tomorrow,” Metha said after holding me for a long time.

I replied with a smile. My eyes were busy looking at Mutia's position which was no longer visible taking cover behind the curtains.

I've tethered my heart to Mutia. I cannot turn to another love. I will be faithful to wait for his feelings.

***

The next day, I saw Mutia and Metha looking unfamiliar. They come to the campus alone, as well as when out of class. Is it because of me? Was Metha's declaration of love to me last night that strained their friendship? Then, what does Metha's expression of my speed with Mutia mean? Is he just throwing, not flirting?

I wanted to ask Mutia or Metha about the sight I saw. However, I was afraid of being considered ignorant and potentially straining their friendship. Wait for those who will tell you. Hope in my heart.

“Yo, Dy, I give the registration files first yes to Adisty,” my light when going down the stairs.

“Yes already, I'm the other one first to White Horse huh. Hopefully you don't win so you don't get more busy like a Korean artist,” chirped Leo.

“Damn you, Yo!” I responded with a joke under the guise of a curse.

“Gas, I come with you deh,” Andy said.

Andy and I rushed to meet Adisty at the faculty cafeteria. Adisty's trying to hold me back. Fortunately there was Andy I could make excuses to leave immediately.

Off the canteen, we headed to where my car was parked. However, it suddenly sounded boisterous from the direction of the garden.

“What's up Gas rame-rame?” ask Andy.

“Entaih! I was the same as you. If you don't know, I'm the same.”

I don't care about the crowd that looks in the eye. Anyway, I don't really like crowds. It might be the exclamations of the style of the children of Literature who are playing a role.

However, a student who was often with Dita came to me with a look of panic. “Gas…. Bare, Gas. Confiscated…. Confiscated...”.

“Why?”

“Dia...”.

“Quiet! Breathe in first, just talking!”

After following my orders, he gave me an explanation that surprised me so much. “We fight Gas in the same park of your classmates.”

Fighting with my classmates? What did he mean Mutia? I galloped towards the alleged location.

“Wait, Gas!” shouted Andy.

I don't have time to wait. Dita is absolutely outrageous. I'm sure he's the one who started the fight.

“Bagas,” says Dita and Metha together.

Yeah, luckily it wasn't Mutia. Nah! I came to break up. With whoever Dita fights, it's still not a commendable act.

My anger rose and looked around unmoving to separate. Turns out, the cheers I just heard were sparking the spirit for the “gladiator”.

“There are people who are physically fighting, but you are watching instead. You guys think this is entertainment?!” my voice is loud. “Bubar!!! There could be a fight just left, and instead you spark the spirit. Where's your brain? Huh?”

This body gave me strength and courage cursing the indifferent behavior plastered before me. Truly, I can imagine if I were made a sheep to be pitted against.

Then, I glared at Dita and Metha in turn. Their behavior should also be given a harsh reprimand.

“Gas, this girl who started first,” said Dita while tidying up her long hair.

“He lied, Gas. He started first. He who suddenly attacked me for no reason!” Metha defended herself in a high voice.

“Lu tuh emang girls less aja, kegatelan, just like your pretentious friend,” pekik Dita.

“Basic girls stress. No wind, no rain, no no talk. Basic you mental disorder!” reply Metha.

“Lu tuh the mental disorder.” Dita does not want to lose a fight.

I was also caught listening to their roars. “Cukuupp! I don't care who starts first. My question is one, you think not with what you do? This is not a MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) ring. How about if you were fighting someone who was grumbling kept being uploaded to social media? Are you ready to go viral because of this kind of stupid thing? You guys want to get kicked off campus?”

Dita and Metha bowed. Andy stroked my shoulder – trying to stimulate my brain so as not to get provoked by emotions.

Why am I emotional? The answer is, because the commotion that Dita and Metha made had something to do with me. Huh!!!

Mutia suddenly came. I think he's home.

“What is this, Gas?” ask Mutia. The softness that flowed from his question made my head cool.

“I also just came, Mut. I don't know what really happened.”

Mutia turned the view. He watches the appearance of his best friend. “Metha, why is your hair disheveled and your hands chafing like this?”

Mutia checked the condition of Metha. However, Metha instead rebukes the hand of Mutia who tries to drain sympathy and empathy.

“Basic carmuk (look for face)!” Sounded Dita throws insinuations fixed to Mutia.

Dita still act. I wanted to slap him in the mouth, but I had to be able to hold back. My reputation would be ruined if it followed my passions and emotions.

I decided to calmly solve their problems. “What is it that underlies you guys acting silly like this?”

They're speechless. No one gave an excuse. I waited until a few minutes, it was silence that materialized.

“Jawab!” I raise my voice.

Dita raises her head, looks at me. “I don't like him hugging you, Gas.”

Dita stuck out her phone to show me my scene with Metha last night. I didn't expect the root of the problem. Huh! I forgot Dita's cabal was everywhere.

“Dit, we are also not in a relationship," I said, annoyed again. "Why do you have to be angry to act this far?”

“Lantas, what is your relationship with this gatel chick?” point Dita to Metha. Then, his index finger moved towards Mutia. “Do you also have a relationship with this cute pretentious girl?”

Metha sniffled behind me. I took a deep breath. I have to clear up this matter in front of Mutia.

“How much love are you with me?” lontarku to Dita.

“I love you so much, Gas?” Dita put on a face. Unfortunately, I was angry with him.

“To be this possessive? Are you sure that you love me?”

“Gas.... i...” Dita was also covered in tears.

Enough's enough! I couldn't bear to see that there were so many tears in front of me.

“Mending now you trim your appearance and mind first, Dit!”

I gave the code so that Dita's friends immediately brought Dita up.

After Dita left, I was confused. There was Mutia and Metha standing around me – Metha behind me, Mutia in front of me.

Mutia looked saddened at being ignored by Metha and probably because of this commotion. Meanwhile, Metha appears to be in pain and needs to be taken to the clinic as soon as possible. Huh!

“Dy, take Metha to the car. We bring him the clinic!”

“Iya, Gas.”

I'm approaching Mutia. “Mut, sorry if...”.

Suddenly Ardi came to break my sentence. “Muuu... Mutia, do you want to go home with me?”

Mutia nodded while looking at me. I really want to say the word to prevent Ardi's invitation. But I don't want him to get it wrong.

“Bent a minute, Di. I love you, Cape Metha first. Earlier it seemed like he had unknowingly dropped it”.

Mutia's following Metha. Ardi replaced Mutia. Yes, we both face each other.

“Bagas oh Bagas! Acting you getting better and better. I swear, I noticed you're really cool.” He was talking in front of Mutia. Now, he's perfectly fine giving me “pujian”.

“Gue will learn from you,”.

“Lu appears like a hero in divorcing Dita and Metha. However, you are now just troubled to see the relationship of Mutia and Metha, right? Suddenly they were not familiar. It's because of you, Gas. Duh! It's a shame, Gas. Just yesterday ate the loving Pudding of Mutia, but now have to swallow the bitter bile of reality.”

“What do you mean?”

“Metha likes you. You like Mutia. Well, what about Mutia? Okay. Let's just say Mutia likes you too. It's just that, Mutia would have preferred a best friend over you. Do you think Mutia would be involved in any problems that could come if she was with you?”

“And you are now confident to captivate Mutia?”

“Gue is slow, as I currently do.” Ardi floated a satirical smile. “Gue go home first yes Mutia. Next time we talk again. I don't want Mutia waiting for me for more than 30 seconds.”

Damnit damnit! Ardi is becoming.