WHEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SELL THEMSELVES FOR SCHOOL EXPENSES
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SELLS HIMSELF CHAPTER 32
Chapter 32
That afternoon, after spending enough time at Alden's residence. Binar delivered home by Mr. Handika. While Alden decided to return to his apartment because there he felt more comfortable to think when he had to solve many problems that had recently been so time-consuming. He drives casually, the afternoon streets look quite crowded especially at night. Some pairs of young people seem to be in tails with affection . Alden then pressed the horn so that the couple could bring the bike more relaxed. It would have been a tragic sight if both of them had to be hit by a car that afternoon.
Taking a journey of about an hour, the car immediately pulled over on a tall building where he used to spend a lot of time in solitude. Busyness and a fairly solid office schedule make the figure need a lot of space to rest, to calm the heart and mind that is not in rhythm. Alden stepped casually, staring at some of the apartment residents who had also just arrived from their busy lives. A few more steps into the elevator, Alden stopped when someone called his name. He looked, following the direction of the source of the voice. Again he had to be irritated when the two men caught the same woman, the woman who suddenly appeared at will in his life after disappearing for years.
" Alde ..., let's talk for this time only," Leony pleaded. Alden breathed again.
" This time alone, Alden ...," asked Leony again.
Alden stared at the figure.
" This time, Alden. I've been waiting for you for over an hour here. There's a lot I have to tell you" Leony said.
" Well .., then come with me," Alden felt that he no longer needed to avoid this problem. I don't know what Leony really wants to say but it looks like he has to give the figure a chance to express his point. Both of them re-entered the car. The car drove fast, splitting the road that began to be crowded with vehicles. Alden was silent, focused on looking at the road in the distance.
Not long after, the car pulled over at a cafe. Alden rushed down followed by Leony.
" Speak ...," Alden said as he sat in one of the visitors' seats. A woman came to them, asking what they wanted to order.
" Alden, do you want something to drink?" ask Leony.
" Just like you ordered," Alden replied briefly.
After recording his second order, the waiter said goodbye. Leony nodded kindly while Alden looked cold and did not want to linger for long.
" I'll give you 20 minutes to talk ...," Alden said. Leony seemed awkward with this situation. He tries to figure out which words he should say first.
" Speak .., Time to start walking" Alden said casually.
" Well .., actually, I came to Indonesia at my sister's request. Arumi. A 16-year-old student attending a high school funded by your company. I'm sure you already know about this ...,
Alden, Arumi told me that she was dishonorably expelled from school for doing something, something that to you this is absolutely inexcusable" Leony took a breath. Alden listened to every word.
" so?" Alden commented.
" I'm meeting to talk about this, I mean to make you change the big decision you've made, Alden. I know ..., I know Arumi was wrong. But don't you give him a chance to fix all this. He's a kid, Alden. He deserves a second chance" lamented Leony.
" But Alden .., I beg you this time. Give Arumi a chance to learn more maturely. Is this misunderstanding over? You and the girl were found innocent. Why should it be extended?" ask Leony again.
" Leony, this is my problem and Arumi's so in this case only I can make a decision! and you must have known about my decision!" firmly Alden. Leony shook his head weakly.
" Alden .., Arumi is still a child. He's not an adult yet. It's a form of juvenile delinquency. You should have understood this!" Leony didn't give up on all his assumptions.
" so? Just because he's a kid, I should let him make a mistake without any sanctions?" Alden asked back.
" Alden .., you may give him a sentence but it is lighter than that" Leony replied. Alden pulled the corner of his lips.
" Nobody can change the decision I made! Whoever it is, it's either you or your parents!" Alden looked at that face. A beautiful face that was once part of her dreams.
Leony took a breath, tired of having to argue with someone so stubborn as Alden.
" You weren't like this in the past, Alden ..," said Leony.
" In the end everyone will change, Leony Atmajaya." Alden replied.
" This afternoon, my sister did not come out of the room, she did not eat or drink anything since morning.., Alden, Arumi is different from me, she said, she was so pampered since childhood because that's how she behaves sometimes out of bounds." explains Leony.
" It's none of my business and I don't care at all" Alden said short.
" Do you know why Arumi did all this? She's in love with you, Alden ..," said Leony. Mentioning that sentence really made the woman's chest rumble.
" Love doesn't mean he has to sacrifice others. Really, I couldn't even imagine having a lover like that" Alden smiled and glanced at the watch on his left arm.
" There are still 5 minutes left, Leony ...," Alden said later.
" I'm sorry, Alden. I'm sorry ..., all these years I've harbored regret for leaving you first. When I found out that Arumi was in love with you, my heart hurt even more than before, Alden. I'm really sorry, Alden. After I got married, I was not happy with my marriage. I had even intended to get a divorce but when I remembered that there was an innocent baby that God had placed in my womb.., I became fragile, Alden." The pair of netra was dewy, the tightness in the chest was finally coming out after years of rotting in the chest cavity.
For a while Alden did not comment, he looked fixed on the face of the woman he loved so much first. That even if Leony knew that he suffered the same as the ex-lover. Forgetting that woman takes days, days, months and even years to wish her back, but unfortunately, time finally proves that the two are not meant to be together. Leony was the owner of his heart in the past but tomorrow and beyond there was another girl who had replaced that position. And once again that Alden must reestablish hope in someone he finds will be part of his life in the future.
those 5 minutes felt like a year, every second Alden felt pain. Each woman's speech was like a chorus slicing each side of her heart that had just healed.
" Leony, I'm gonna tell you something that after you're gone there's someone sneaking up inside my heart. The second girl who had managed to open the door to the balcony of my apartment and stood there in your place ... I'm in love with her."
