A Light After Dark
Trying to Let go

Ardian continued walking down the corridor at the school. He has absolutely no purpose, the most important thing is that he can forget the events in UKS earlier. Where he saw Chayra holding Shafiq's hand. There was also a part of his body that felt pain. I don't know what's going on with him.

In the middle of the trip suddenly the phone sounds a sign of a call coming in. Ardian immediately stopped his steps and answered the phone. The phone was from Afnan.

"Entar malem elo come to my house. I don't want to be late. One more thing, I don't want Chayra to know." said Afnan across the street. Ardian could only sigh at the request of his best friend.

"When you hide your status from Chayra. But it's the same way he decided. Better to be honest with him. Before he really gets mad at you." suggested Ardian. His advice was ignored by Afnan. Afnan still refused to tell the truth. Even on her mind she didn't want to see Chayra and Khansa fighting.

"I don't want to tell you. But you knew Khansa was Chayra's best friend. I don't want to ruin their friendship." explained Afnan.

"As far as you go. The important thing is that I already ngingetin lo." said Ardian tired of facing the stubborn Afnan attitude. After that, Afnan cut off his phone connection with Ardian.

When Ardian wants to continue his steps. From the right, there was someone blocking his steps. He is Shafiq. Shafiq continued to stare at Ardian with his sharp gaze. Feeling uncomfortable with that gaze, Ardian asked the reason why Shafiq was blocking his steps.

"Did you stop my steps?"

"Lo same Afnan hide behind Chayra? I'm sure it's not a trivial matter, is it?" ask Syafiq full of search.

"It's none of your business." replied Ardian ketus.

"Obviously that's my business. Moreover, this concerns Chayra." retorted Syafiq who continued to urge Ardian. This time Ardian did not respond to Syafiq. Without a word Ardian immediately departed from the presence of Shafiq. With such an annoyed feeling he stared at Ardian's departure.

"Without you telling me the truth, I will find out the truth myself." - Inner Shafiq.

***

Chayra is in her room tonight. After school, he felt something was going to happen. Makes her feelings even more unpleasant. Chayra is still trying to contact Afnan. But still he did not answer his call. So did Khansa who disappeared. What's with those two guys. Why they suddenly disappear and are difficult to contact.

A few minutes later Chayra's phone rang a sign of an incoming call. He immediately picked up his phone, and wished Afnan had contacted him. But it turns out the assumption was wrong. His name is Shafiq. With a lazy feeling Chayra answered the call from Syafiq.

"Gue wants to see you now" Syafiq said to the point. Tumben once he invited Chayra to meet nights like this.

"What's the tumben?" ask Chayra curiously.

"Gue wants to show you something. It's about Afnan. I'm waiting for you in the usual place." said Syafiq. After that, he immediately disconnected his phone.

Hearing the speech from Syafiq made Chayra speechless. How could Shafiq know anything about Afnan? Where'd he know that? Than he guessed it was unclear. He immediately prepared to go to meet Shafiq.

***

The Chayra at the place where Syafiq invited him to meet. He saw Shafiq sitting alone in a long chair in the park. He immediately approached Shafiq and sat down beside Shafiq.

"How can I make sure I meet here?" ask Chayra.

"Gue wants to make sure you meet with Khansa and Afnan" said Syafiq staring at Chayra firmly.

"How can I expect to see them?" ask Chayra again.

"Lo does not suspect that Khansa and Afnan have a relationship" explained Syafiq. Chayra was silent. Obviously he suspected that Khansa and Afnan had a relationship.

"Back now we go to Afnan's house" Syafiq said. Then he got up from his seat, then he pulled Chayra's hand. They also went to Afnan's house.

Arriving in front of Afnan's house, Chayra immediately got down from Syafiq's car. His body suddenly felt stiff. His gaze continued to look toward the house Afnan beautifully decorated. Like a wedding in general. Chayra tried not to think badly of Afnan. It might be his brother's wedding.

Shafiq approached Chayra and embraced her. Wishing he could calm Chayra down. Not wanting to linger in front, Syafiq invited Chayra into Afnan's house, and ascertained what was going on. Along with Chayra's footsteps towards the house. The more his feelings are uncertain. Many wild thoughts entered his brain.

Chayra's steps stopped right in front of the entrance of the house. He heard someone say Ijab kabul. The man's voice sounded familiar to him. It was like he knew the man well. But he's not sure who that guy is. The Shafiq standing beside Chayra again led Chayra to go deeper into the house.

The voice of the SAH was heard so loud, coinciding with the time Chayra managed to enter the house. His view cannot be separated from the man who uttered kabul ijab. Anger, annoyance, disappointment, everything mixed into one in its mind. Everything is hard to believe. Everything happened outside of her expectations. Chayra tried to hold back her tears, but they escaped. Now his eyes are on that man. Even the bride was staring at him. It was obvious that they were looking at Chayra in surprise. While Chayra looked at them with nanar.

"I'm sorry Ra, I shouldn't have brought you here" Syafiq said, wiping away Chayra's tears. Chayra tried to get Shafiq's hands off his cheeks.

"Gue wants to be alone. Don't follow me." said Chayra. After that Chayra left the house. All he needed was to be alone without anyone.

***

Chayra is located in a park that is not so many visitors. He immediately sat down in the garden seat that had been provided. He hoped that the incident he had just experienced was just an illusion. But things go back to waking up if this is all real.

"Why weren't you guys honest with me from the start? Why do you hurt me Nan? I hate you guys. I hate!" chayra shouted out her emotions. Her tears are now falling more and more. For the first time she felt betrayed by her best friend and boyfriend.

Without Chayra realizing there was someone sitting next to her. He was Afnan who was still wearing a bridal outfit complete with his attributes. He continued to look at Chayra with a guilty look. Chayra kept looking ahead. No matter who is sitting next to him.

"I'm sorry Ra, I should have been honest with you from the beginning" said Afnan who still looked at Chayra.

"Gue doesn't want any explanation from you. I think what I saw was pretty clear. Don't you ever see me again. I don't want to squirm your face" Chayra said without looking at Afnan.

Chayra moved from her seat. He slowly moved away from Afnan. But Afnan quickly pulled Chayra's hand and made Chayra fall into his arms.

"I'm sorry Ra. I'm sorry, I can't make my promise. Sorry Ra." that's what Afnan always said. Chayra felt Afnan's embrace so tightly.

Now that Chayra's defense collapsed in Afnan's arms he cried with a hiccup. This was the hug he had longed for. The hug that had disappeared for a few days. And maybe this is the last hug Chayra feels from Afnan. He will try to let Afnan live happily with Khansa.

Chayra immediately let go of Afnan's embrace, and she stared intently at Afnan.

"I consider this our last meeting. After that, I will not disturb your life anymore. Vice versa. I hope you can understand my current situation. May you live happily." said Chayra trying not to cry in front of Afnan. He immediately left Afnan. This time Afnan let Chayra go. He knows Chayra's condition is not okay. Now he is fragile. Same with Afnan. She was so fragile seeing Chayra as if she hated herself. Now let time restore the state of their hearts. I hope that time can bring happiness to them.

***

Her tears did not stop dripping, though Chayra tried several times to remove them. It is hard to accept a situation like this. If the ends of the heart are the victims. He tried to break everything. But everything feels so heavy. His chest was so tight as if there was a big rock pressing down on him. The trust he had built up all along collapsed easily. It was not the end he wanted. He wants everything to end happily. Not like this.

Chayra started walking her study desk. He also sat in his study chair. His hands stretched out to open the drawer under the study table. He took out a medium-sized box with a heart motif. He immediately opened the box. With a heavy heart he took several photos of himself with Afnan. There they seemed happy to enjoy their company. Chayra looked at the photos one by one with tears. His carved mind vividly illustrates the moment when Chayra and Afnan were still together. Now all these are memories.

"Gue hope I can forget you. I don't want to dissolve in sadness like this. Why do you have the same I Nan." said Chayra interrupted sobs.

A knock on the door was heard from outside Chayra's room. Chayra immediately wiped away her tears. A little while later Rey came in and approached her sister who was sitting in the study chair. Rey rubbed Chayra's shoulder, as if she felt what Chayra was feeling.

"If you want to cry, cry if it can make you a little relieved" said Rey calmed her sister. Because he saw his sister coming home with a situation that could be said to be not okay. At that time Syafiq called Rey and explained the true state of Chayra.

Chayra from her seat and immediately hugged her brother. All she needed right now was someone's embrace and now it was her brother's embrace that could calm her down. Rey returned Chayra's embrace tightly. And let Chayra cry in her arms.

I couldn't bear to see her sister crying. Rey invites Chayra to sit on the bed. Rey painstakingly wiped away the tears that had soaked Chayra's cheeks.

"Now you cannot be sad anymore. You cry enough. Look at your swollen eyes already like they've been beaten up by people all over the village." entertain Rey while laughing. Chayra who heard Rey's words was annoyed and immediately hit Rey's arm.

"Can I ask you a favor, can't I?" ask Chayra seriously.

"What?" ask Rey curiously.

"I want to change schools. I don't want to go to Red and White High School anymore" Chayra said. At first, Rey was surprised to hear his sister's words. Then he gave understanding to Chayra.

"Chayra you consider again. You're third grade and you're back on the exam. Don't be rash about moving. Not for reasons Afnan you so have thoughts to move. Try to think again. If you move, it's the same as running away from problems. You have to be strong Ra, I'm sure you're a strong man" Rey said.

"As long as you're still here. Brother will help you." Rey continued.

After hearing what Rey said made Chayra sober. However, he must continue to attend Merah Putih High School. All he has to do is learn what happened. He has to prove to everyone that he is strong. He was not as weak as others thought.