#2. Early meetings

(Dara's/D POV)

Interviewer: Mutya/M (author)

D: "Just call me Dara,

There's nothing special I can tell you about my life, and therefore let each page in this novel be more detailed to tell my story.

First of all, I'd like everyone to know that Kiki is my best friend from our one class of junior middle school (SMP) to now will graduate hight school (SMA). So, five years or so we've been best friends. She's very thoughtful, cheerful, intelligent, and speaks very wisely.

Anyway, she never lets people around her get bored when she's with her.

But, as much as she's fun as it is, there's one thing I've been wondering about about her, which is that, until recently, she hasn't dated even in a mere instance!"

M: "What kiki.. sorry before, was ugly?"

D: "no, not because she's ugly or even disfigured, in fact, Kiki is my best friend in my five hottest girls at school!

Many boys had a crush on her, but no one had approached her until now."

M: "Then, is Kiki cocky and too picky in her relationships?"

D: "Not really, not at all! She has been so kind to everyone, even because of her friendly, neutral manner, Kiki always rejects boys on reasons that have never offended them.

That's why even though she rejected so many boys she rejected yet they vied over each other and there were some who still flirt with her!"

M: "for what reason, then?"

D: "Hmm... Well unfortunately, for reasons why she doesn't want to date, she's never really opened up to anyone, including me or her parents, and I really don't know why she does that, because every time she's asked she'll just say:

'It's not that I don't want to date, just that I haven't met the right person yet!'

Always that and that's the answer.

Besides, what else do boys at our school lack? Can you imagine, from the handsome, the gallant, the very rich, and some, in fact super complete!"

M: "Super complete? What does that mean Dara?"

D: "So, there are a couple of guys at our school who, besides their good looks and their fancy looks and their filthy wealth, are also the only inheritors of their family's company!"

M: Woow! It was very difficult for me to get good looks and rich! But why would kiki refuse them? Suspiciously!"

D: "There you go! Always rejecting boys, there are few who "probably" feel jealous of her, often speaking out random words. For example, some say Kiki isa strange girl, an abnormal girl, and another notion that wouldn't be pleasant.

But because of keeping our friendship, I never again cared about or even mentioned whether she wanted a relationship! I'm thinking, maybe she's not ready or want to be in a relationship with someone, and that's her personal matter. For me, right now she's happy with herself!"

M: "but don't you feel uncomfortable or worried that others will suspect you're with her?"

D: "Not at all, I'm the one who's used to her being like this, but getting used to her status being single makes her always there for me without having to share time with her boyfriend! Hehehe.. Do I sound selfish?"

M: "A little, but it's okay if she doesn't feel lost, hehehe..! By the way, are your houses close to each other?"

D: "No, as long as kiki was my best friend, she only went to my home a few times, and that was if there was something urgent.

I live some distance away from we school or her house to the point of traveling an hour or So, vehicle travel covered.

Kiki's house is only about 100 yards away from school, so I stop by her too much almost every day after school!"

M: "Almost every day? Why aren't people at home looking if you don't come home?"

D: "I guess people at home are very familiar with my habits that I don't often go home at all, because my house is always empty.

My dad works out of the city and never gets home, often more than a month before he comes home, and on important days like a birthday or a holiday, he hasn't even been home for two months!"

M: "By the way, if your mother's going, isn't she upset by your frequent traffic habit?"

D: "If my mom, she's so understanding, so gentle, she barely gets angry, but unfortunately she's always busy with her bakery she opened six years ago, right when I was in middle school.

I can still remember dad buying mom ruko on the side of the road near our neighborhood, saying it was their 15th wedding anniversary."

M: "Fifteen years? If I may ask, how old are you now, why was it six years ago their fifteenth wedding anniversary?"

D: "I am now on my way to eighteen. So back then, when they were married, I didn't come for a long time, it was because my father didn't come back often, right? Hehee!"

Mutya: "What? Haha..! You look so innocent but you understand?"

D: "No, no! (shame) let's get back to my deserted house! (switching topics)

So my mama would take off most days after she'd finished cooking for me and my little brother, and come home till almost midnight, sometimes even she had more overtime on her plate. Because of all the bad things that happened, there was a room in the back of the store for mom to rest in."

M: "So you always feel lonely at home?"

D: "Yes, and to be honest, sometimes I feel sad because of the lack of concern of my parents!" (Dialing)

M: "But did you say you have a brother?"

D: "Yeah, I have one brother, he's smart, he's independent and he's mature, his main hobby is games! It's just that he misbehaved with me so many times, that nothing in me would have escaped his mischievous comment! But even so, he had a wonderful, compassionate side."

M: "Then shouldn't you feel lonely? And by the way what grade is he in?"

D: "He was only in the second grade of high school but left from morning till evening because she was so active! He follows a lot of extracurricular activities and also goes through several foreign language classes that are scheduled three times a week. So if I come home during the day, I'll be alone in a house that makes me feel bad.

Actually many of the neighbors around my house, even those in front of my house were like family to us, but they also had their day to do. So that's why I stall for time every time I get home."

M: "Why don't you choose to help your mom at the store? Wouldn't it be better to kill time for your studies?"

D: "That's what I want to do, I want to help my mom at the store every day, but my mom tells me she doesn't like the employees, as if I'm taking over or telling them I'm doing a job that makes them look useless during working hours!"

M: "You see how things went wrong? I heard you have a boyfriend named Arga? Would you please tell me about him!"

D: "About the Arga? (Dejected)

Mmm.. Actually I don't want to remember, I'm just heartbroken because of her.

And this is what it feels like?

It hurts here!" (Sakitnya tuh disini)

M: "That sounds like a title song? Sorry, hehee!" (Awkwardly)

D: "Yeah, I feel really hard to express!

It's like I can't breathe when all around me is so full of air, I can't speak when my tongue is so flexible, and I can't hear when the sound around me is so loud.

My bones feel brittle, my veins and joints feel weak, my mind is empty as if I've lost my memory.

Even if I could lose my memory, I just want to forget all those parts, yes... all those parts about him!!

And what's been adding to my pain, because this afternoon, I accidentally walked in on Arga, and she was alone with amira." (Heads down)

M: "Mmm... Who's Amira anyway? Why do you look so haggard, and why don't you just plain talk to both of them at the same time?"

D: "Amira too, she is one of the prettiest five girls in our school. Back when we first started school, both of us were classmates, 1b while in kiki 1a.

And she and I have been on pretty good terms ever since, although not as close as kiki's, but we've always been on hand in working on a school project.

It's just that, ever since the second grade, things have started to change, because we were in different classes, she was in the 2b class while I was in the 2a class, and from then on, we haven't really talked much like we used to, except for the student council stuff.

But this afternoon, I saw with my own eyes that she was alone with Arga, and also very clearly I heard her sexually harassing Arga, who has been dating me for almost two years, and she certainly knows about it.

I've always been used to seeing them talking together, because Arga and Amira knew each other before they knew me. They've been in the same school since middle school, so I think it's only natural that they be friends with or even friends like me with Kiki.

And I can also say that Amira was the one who introduced me to Arga for the first time, but Amira isn't the matchmaker between us, because Arga hisself approached me without any help!"

M: "Awesome wooow! May I tell you how it was when you first became close?" (wishing smiles)

(Hesitating) "Mm... Okay, so it starts off like this:

Back then, when we were just in second grade, amira was elected new student council President, because the old one had to focus on getting ready for the graduation exam next year, and then without the election, she immediately designated me as her representative, but because I still didn't have the confidence, I turned down the offer.

So, Donita was chosen, who came from the 2c class, who happens to be the daughter of one of the best teachers at the school. Anyway, Amira kept asking me to be an organization, so she put me as a secretary for her. She's acting like that, probably because Amira knows I'm doing my job very carefully, so she keeps insisting I join her as a member.

And kiki, she doesn't like being in an organization like that, she prefers to pursue art painting as an ecstasy for her.

At that time, as usual every year, our school was going to have a graduation party for third graders. And we new student council members must be very busy even after receiving the guidance of the old student body.

I'm the secretary not to mention the mounting task of helping the other members, and one of my primary tasks is to draw up the order of events. As a result, I work more in the field with the recruits.

And to fill out the senior showcase, Arga and his band mates, will also be performing on stage. So, it wasn't just one or two times that we saw each other, even though he practiced in the hall.

That Arga, his people are known to be very cool when it comes to strangers or just friends, but when he's close and good friends with his, he's very understanding even considerate. That's why sometimes we work together to get some unfinished work done, even though the expressions on his cold face still scare me!

Yeah... You might say, he's the one who's been helping me out, because he's actually just rehearsing with his band.

But then one day, there was an unexpected and truly unexpected event that occurred, a traveling treasurer, who had just suffered a traffic accident that required her stay in the hospital for a long time.

So, I could not help but take away the rest of her job.

Because Amira and her representatives, they have been very busy moving about, and the remaining time is only three days away, we finally get very overwhelmed day and night. 'cause I got a lot of work to do to get home!

Long story short,

I was going through all the financial records along with the property bills, all of which are the result of a financial report that should immediately be submitted to the chairman of the committee as a budget report before the day of the event.

Coincidentally, Arga's exercise came over and he was sitting next to me.

"Hey arga, by chance you came. Can I take a look at this for a second? I have to go to the bathroom!" I said

"Yes, go on there!" he replied casually. I'm the one that's been holding back the bathroom, so run.

By the time you get there, there will be many people waiting in the queue. Be advised that they are gathering for training together.

Within about ten minutes I returned to the property room to continue my work that was so close, yet what do I find?

The space that had been so chaotic, now suddenly became empty, only remnants of the dust!

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***