A Light After Dark
Pardon

Morning had greeted me, but Chayra had not yet woken up from her deep sleep. There was a knock from Chayra's room. Several times someone knocked but got no answer from Chayra. Someone decided to go into Chayra's room. There he saw his daughter sleeping. Mother approached Chayra and stroked Chayra's hair. Chayra ripped from her sleep and opened her eyes.

"Mother" said Chayra typical wake up, he woke up from his sleep and looked at his mother.

"Today you want to go to school or get permission?" ask Mother gently.

"Chayra wants to leave Bun." replied Chayra. After that Mother told Chayra to get ready.

"Mother wait for you downstairs. Don't be long." said Mother. Then Mother left Chayra's room.

***

Once all is ready, Chayra immediately leaves for school. This time he prefers to go on public transport. Although Rey continues to force him to drive Chayra. But Chayra gave a reason that she wanted to be alone. With a heavy heart both parents Chayra and Rey let Chayra go to school on her own.

While in the courtyard of the house, Chayra saw someone standing in front of the gate. He could not see who the man was clearly. For the man stood his back against the gate. Not wanting to take too long guessing, Chayra immediately approached the man.

Hearing the sound of the gate opening, the man immediately stared towards the source of the sound. He smiled seeing the person he was waiting for finally come out as well. Unlike the Chayra who was staring resentfully at that person.

"Well, why are you here? Not satisfied also hiding the truth about Afnan. You know it's wrong but you're still doing it" Chayra said, upset by the man's attitude. The man did not explain, Chayra left the man first. Quickly the man grabbed one of Chayra's hands. Making Chayra stop her steps and stare towards the man.

"Please take my hand. Ardians!" chayra snapped at the man.

"Gue wants to make sure everything is the same. Come with me." said Ardian, pulling Chayra's hand to follow Ardian. Chayra tried to rebel, but his strength was not comparable to that of Ardian. Inevitably he had to resign to where Ardian would take him.

***

"From the beginning I didn't want to cover all this from you. But because Afnan himself asked so I have no right to refuse him. Anyway I have no right to tell all this to elo." Ardian explained to Chayra. Now they are in a cafe not far from their school. Chayra only heard Ardian's explanation lazily.

"Ra stopped being angry or resentful of Afnan and Khansa. They did all this because of their parents' request." continued Ardian.

"Now there is no effect will I want to hate them or not. It's all happening too." Chayra replied.

"But do not avoid me" said Ardian seriously. Chayra looked in wonder at Ardian.

"What if I hate you?" ask Chayra.

"Gue can't be far from you" said Ardian. The momentous moment made Chayra surprised. What does Ardian mean? Why could he say that?

Without a word Chayra left Ardian. Ardian tries to restrain Chayra, but Chayra whistles loudly and leaves. Now his feelings are getting messy after hearing words that should not be spoken by Ardian. Right now he really doesn't know what to behave like. Everything changes so fast.

***

While in class, Chayra sees her two best friends talking. Talina who saw Chayra's presence immediately told Chayra to join together. Chayra ignored Talina's invitation, she chose to sit at the back and at the end. Seeing Chayra's drastically changed attitude took Talina and Khansa by surprise. Khansa tries to stare at Chayra, but Chayra just ignores her by looking the other way.

Khansa walked towards Chayra. He was eager to solve his problem with Chayra. Honestly, he cannot be hostile to his own best friend. Chayra who saw Khansa's presence immediately cupped her head using both hands as a limp. Seeing Chayra's actions as if he did not want to see her face, Khansa held Chayra's hand.

"I'm sorry Ra. Love me a chance to clear it all up." said Khansa feeling guilty. Chayra just silently endured her frustration. Chayra got up from her seat and stared intently at Khansa.

"What with you clearlyin everything can return to the situation as before. Or you can return Afnan to me again. Don't you. So in vain you clear everything." said Chayra. After that Chayra just left. Several times Khansa yelled at Chayra for Chayra to stop her steps. Yet Chayra continued to walk without caring about the surroundings.

***

Shafiq walked over to Ardian and Afnan who were sitting on their seats. Arriving at Ardian's seat, Shafiq immediately kicked the table quite hard. The class stared at him. Ardian and Afnan. Unaccepting with Shafiq's behavior, Afnan stood up from his seat and stared intently at Shafiq. Shafiq blatantly returned Afnan's stern gaze.

"Ngapain lo nyamperin me. Not satisfied also you unravel our secrets" said Afnan began to emotion.

"Gue wants you two to stay away from Chayra. You've done enough for Chayra to suffer. This time I will not let it happen" Syafiq warned.

"Lo who would dare to disobey me" said Afnan while pulling the collar Syafiq. Shafiq simply went silent without wanting to answer. Of course, it makes Afnan even more upset. Without warning Afnan hit Syafiq's face tightly. Making the corners of his lips bleed.

Ardian tried to break up their quarrel. Thankfully Afnan did not fight back when Ardian injured them.

"Remember that is not how much" said Afnan as he stepped out of class. So did Ardian who stepped out. Syafiq stared intently at the two of them.

***

When Ardian and Afnan were near the school park. Afnan stopped his steps and looked at someone sitting alone in the park. He could feel that someone was sad. He seemed to cry until he had a hiccup. Afnan did not have the heart to see the girl, he wanted to come over. But the girl must be angry if Afnan approaches her.

Ardian, who was beside Afnan, wondered why he stopped his steps. So curious Ardian followed the direction of Afnan's view. Ardian finds Chayra sitting alone in the garden crying.

"I can't possibly samperin him. Yesterday he was angry with me. So I ask you to please entertain him. I don't want to see him sad because of me." explained Afnan. Ardian is eager to help Afnan but he is also hated by Chayra. So he wasn't sure if Chayra was accepting her presence.

"Your mistakes are not equal to my mistakes. I'm sure Chayra will be sorry. Plis this time help me again. I just want you to always be there for Chayra" Afnan said.

"But Chayra is still the same me. I'm afraid he hates me even more." said Ardian a little hesitant. But Afnan continued to persuade Ardian to comply with his request. In the end, Ardian complied with Afnan's request.

When Ardian stepped a few feet. Suddenly his steps stopped, he saw that Chayra had leaned her head against Shafiq's shoulders. Yes, he lost quickly to Syafiq. At that time, Ardian felt unwilling to see Chayra with Syafiq. Could he be jealous? Is Ardian starting to like Chayra? To this day, he still does not understand his own feelings.

***

The morning has now changed a slightly cloudy afternoon. Not long after the rain fell so hard on the earth. Chayra is trapped at a bus stop near her school. He forgot to bring an umbrella. Where the day gets darker, if Chayra waits for rain to subside maybe until night. He finally decided to rain it. When he got out of the stop and was about to run. Suddenly the shoelaces came off. So that makes Chayra inevitably have to dig his shoes. And let his body get wet from the rain.

A few minutes later he did not feel his body being exposed to rainwater. Curious, he stood up and raised his head. How surprised he was when he saw Ardian was wearing a jacket. Without them noticing, they were staring for quite a while.

"Lo wants to go home or you want to shower me." said Ardian broke the silence.

"Yes gohome. I can go home by myself." said Chayra coldly.

"Lo sure wants to go home gini rain. I'm getting back home now." suggested Ardian.

"Whatever." replied Chayra. For the first time he was lazy to argue with Ardian. They finally came home together.

In front of Chayra's house. Chayra immediately told Ardian to enter the house. Because he saw a bedraggled Ardian.

"No need to Ra, I just go home" said Ardian.

"Lo is very difficult to say" said Chayra. Without waiting for a word from Ardian. Chayra immediately pulled Ardian's hand and invited him into the house.

"Lo wait here for a moment" Chayra said after they reached the living room. Then Chayra headed to her room and looked for dry clothes for Ardian.

For ten minutes Chayra cleaned her body. He immediately went to see Ardian while carrying clothes for his brother's. There Chayra immediately handed the clothes to Ardian.

"Lo change your clothes instead of you getting sick" Chayra said.

"Thank you Ra." reply Ardian. Chayra simply responded with a nod.

***

Tonight Chayra is in the garden next to her house with Ardian. There they sat in the chair provided. At that time Chayra prefers to enjoy the view above the sky. Unlike Ardian who prefers to look at Chayra. She herself did not understand why lately she had been more than happy to stare at Chayra. It feels more calm and comfortable. It feels so hard to explain.

Aware of Ardian's gaze that continues to lead to Chayra. Chayra returned Ardian's gaze, and Ardian looked the other way.

"Why did you think of me from earlier?" ask Chayra, annoyed.

"Gue's just a mastiin you're still in an angry or non-aggressive mode." replied Ardian jokingly.

"I'm angry because people are useless." Chayra replied.

"So you're not angry with me anymore?" ask Ardian.

"No, where can I be angry for a long time at you." replied Chayra as it is. He could not be angry at Ardian. Because only Ardian can understand Chayra's current condition.

"If it's Afnan." continued Ardian. But Chayra was silent. He was still confused by his own feelings. If I can be honest one side he can let go of Afnan. But one side still refused to forgive Afnan. Maybe he just needs some time to get used to it. That way he'll get used to seeing Khansa and Afnan. Slowly he could forget his love for Afnan.

"There mending lo go home. It's late." said Chayra trying to dodge Ardian's question.

"Yes, I'm home. I'll see you at school tomorrow." said Ardian. Before Ardian stepped away, he ruffled Chayra's hair. To make the master angry. After that Ardian rushes away before he gets a tantrum from Chayra. Chayra could only stare at Ardian's departure feeling so upset.

When Chayra was in the park. He overheard someone talking over the phone. That person's voice sounded so clearly in Chayra's ear. Out of curiosity Chayra eavesdropped on the person's conversation.

"I want to know how you should make the young man stop approaching my son. Understand you." said the person firmly.

The voice was familiar to Chayra. Chayra tried to turn to the source of the voice. How shocked when Chayra found her father talking on the phone. Who is the young man that Dad meant? Why can you be that strong?

Seriate...