Two Lunar Luminaries

My Own Ekalaya's

Laya went into the house and found out she was reading a book in the living room, without saying that Laya intended to pass her father, the father had given signs of wanting to talk to Laya before, but Laya always avoided.

Laya knows what her father might say and she doesn't want to argue right now. As they talk, Laya has no choice but to deny her father, because what she does will never be enough in her father's eyes.

Laya prepares to walk straight to her room but her father's voice stops her

"Where is the clock coming home?" ask the father.

"There's a business for a while" replied Laya as usual.

"Come here for a minute" said the father.

Laya approached the father, sitting on the bench in front of his father.

"Dad hear you stopped shooting, why?" tanyakanya.

"Gapapa, it's cape, already 12th grade also wants to focus on the test." replied Laya

"Keep I'm sorry you didn't go to the Olympics, why?"

"You want to focus on the exam in 12th grade."

"Why do you want to focus on the exam why do you even read more fiction books?" asked the father, he put the book down and looked at Laya.

"Dad you know where I read more fiction?"

"Look, you're not trying to hide it either."

"And since when do you care what I read or do?" Laya asked while returning her father's gaze.

"And what makes you think you don't care?" ask the father back

Laya was silent unsure, should she answer.

"During this time I let you do what you want, I let you go to the school you want, I never forbid you, in which way you think you don't care,"

"That's exatcly way, you have no expectation on me. You have never been care." said Laya slowly, her eyes radiating sadness and disappointment.

There is a titi in Laya's life where she wants to scream and call attention from her father, but at this time, Laya is tired of begging for attention.

"Dad was never there when I needed to. Dad always focused his attention on Arjuna, I was never my priority. It's true that you've been letting me do what I wanted all this time, but I think it's really what I want."

"You envy your brother? You brothers, you shouldn't think so."

"Then you should treat us equally!" said Laya, let out the sadness that had been harbored.

"Dad never cared what I did! It's always Arjuna's sister who should take precedence! Always Arjuna's sister who gets attention! EVEN OUR NAME!" laya said, her eyes began to glaze over.

Laya remembered all her despair and fear, whenever she heard the story of Ekalaya, whenever she heard the name Ekalaya. He remembered Ekalaya's defeat and it haunted him.

"How do I expect me to live as Ekalaya knows excatly he will always lose to Arjuna" said Laya flatly, staring intently at the eyes of the father who was staring at him in confusion.

"Dad never know how much I fought all this time so as not to lose with brother Arjuna right. You never know about my fears, my confusion, my worries! You never care what happens to me!"

"NO ONE DOING DOING GOOD IN THEIR OWN WELL! I'm just a child! I need you! But you never been there for me."

Laya covered her face with her hands trying to wipe away her tears that had fallen.

"Now I will do whatever I want, whatever! All this time I was too busy being the Ekalaya that my father wanted and lost my true identity. I'm going to be my own Ekalaya now and you have no right to stop me" he said, leaving his father.

***

The next day Laya and Iris sat side by side in front of the library. It was already afternoon, Putra Bangsa High School students had scattered to their respective homes since 2 hours ago. There are only a few students left, busy with OSIS or extracurricular activities. The perpus is closed, their friends have also gone home. Stay Laya and Iris, both still silent, busy with their own thoughts.

“Please and sorry.” Iris broke the silence between them.

Laya looked at Iris who was sitting next to her. Iris's eyes looked shady. He looked far ahead, although his eyes looked a bit stern, he still looked beautiful. Laya again saw Iris who was full of charisma and confidence. He smiled as Iris managed to conquer his fear.

“So, you're going to join the social olympics right?” ask Laya.

Iris nodded steadily.

“No need to listen to what people say. There is no point of listening to people who didn’t really care about you. They just want to talk with no intention to help you. Listen to the one who really care about you. Who truly want the best for you.” Said Laya

“That’s why it hurt the most, it’s my own father who told me to stop.”

Laya was silent for a moment, at a loss for words and not knowing what to answer. Now he understands why Iris looked so bad last night.

Iris smiled seeing Laya's surprised face.

“No need to worry, i’m fine now. Well, the father always said that he wanted his children to make his way and become a teacher and for the first time the cave voiced and opposed that desire. The cave has its own cave dream. What he said hurt me but I hurt him as well, but there is no point of hurting each other, right?”

“Well, I didn’t think I can say something to you, It’s not like I have a good relationship with my father.” Said Laya

while smiling wryly.

“Ironis, right?” said Iris.

“You finnaly Admit it.”

They both laughed as if they were laughing at their lives.

“Gua plans to keep voicing opinions, whatever they are. But without exploding. Cave wants to be heard, after all father is not a person who likes to force a choking, he will understand if the cave of love a logical explanation.”

“Whatever you do, always inget if the cave fully supports you, whether it is about the Olympics or the future of lo.” Said Laya, then fell silent for a moment.

“Gua also intends to do what the cave wants to do, for itself the cave. All this time the cave did too much for others, because the cave sought recognition. But now, the cave wants to do something for itself cave.” Laya said.

“Whatever you do, always inget if the cave fully supports you.” Iris said with a bright smile.

Both of them looked back to dapan, looking for a future that would somehow be like. But for now, they want to try their best, for themselves. Either what kind of road they take, or what kind of obstacles they face. They want to live it with confidence, so

in time, they will shine in their own way. Shining as bright as the moon.