CHAPTER 3

Richeza and Charlotte were sitting under a big oak tree in the schoolyard, enjoying the warm afternoon sun. The air was filled with laughter as they shared funny stories from their classes. Charlotte, who had light brown, curly hair, was the thinker, often reading books about mysteries or solving puzzles. They were the best of friends, and their bond was strong.

"Look at this one!" Richeza said excitedly, flipping her notebook to show Charlotte a drawing of a dragon. "I think it looks fierce!"

"Fierce, but it needs some fire! Dragons spit fire, you know," Charlotte giggled, her eyes shining with merriment.

Just as they were about to dive into another round of jokes, Astra appeared. With his smile that always seemed to brighten the room. Everyone at school knew him, and he never hesitated to join in on the fun.

"Hey, Richeza! Want to hang out after school?" Astra asked, leaning against the tree with an easygoing smile.

Charlotte frowned. "You should be studying, not fooling around!" she chided, crossing her arms. But Richeza and Astra laughed together, the sound making Charlotte roll her eyes in disbelief.

"Come on, Charlotte! A little fun won't hurt," Astra replied, joining in on their carefree attitude. "Besides, we can study later."

Charlotte sighed but soon found herself smiling. "Okay, just a little fun. But only if you promise to take your studies seriously too!"

Curiosity sparked in Astra's eyes as he looked at Richeza. "Is Charlotte your only friend?" he asked, his tone teasing yet gentle.

Richeza shook her head. "No, there's more! There's another guy, Andrian. He used to be my friend, but…" She paused, the smile slipping from her face as memories flooded back.

"What happened?" Astra's eyes filled with concern.

Richeza glanced at Charlotte before answering. "Andrian dropped out of school. It was hard for him after his older brother died five years ago. He changed a lot since then."

Charlotte's interest piqued. "Do you want to be friends with him again?" she asked, her voice softer now, as if she understood the weight of the question.

"Yes," Richeza admitted, her eyes reflecting a mix of hope and sadness. "But I think he hates me now. We didn't really talk after he left…"

Astra furrowed his brow, intrigued by the story unfolding before them. "What kind of relationship did you have with him?" he inquired, leaning closer, wanting to know more.

Richeza sighed again, looking down at her sketches. "We were really close. We'd talk about everything, play games, even draw together. But when his brother passed away, he stopped coming to school. I tried to reach out, but he just… pushed me away."

"I think he might need some friends now, especially after what he's been through," Charlotte suggested, her mind whirling with possibilities. "Maybe he's lonely."

"Maybe he still blames me," Richeza whispered, anxiously fidgeting with the pages of her notebook.

"Why would he blame you?" Astra asked, his voice gentle, trying to understand the tangled feelings. "It's not your fault."

"I don't know," Richeza replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sometimes when people grieve, they just can't see the good that's still around them. They feel lost."

A heavy silence fell over the three of them, each lost in their thoughts. Then, Astra broke the silence. "Maybe seeing you again will help him? You could apologize. Even if it wasn't your fault."

Richeza nodded slowly, her heart racing at the idea. "Yeah, that could work. But… what if he doesn't want to see me?"

"Then we'll just give him time," Charlotte said, her usual bright demeanor returning. "But at least try. You'll never know unless you do it."

Astra smiled again, feeling the warmth of the sun match the warmth of their friendship.

Richeza felt a mix of eagerness and fear. She wanted to reconnect with Andrian, but the thought of facing his pain made her stomach twist. "Do you really think it will work?" she asked, glancing at her friends.

"I believe it will," Astra assured her, reaching over to give her shoulder a comforting squeeze. "You won't be alone. We'll do this together."

Charlotte nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Solidarity! We're in this as a team."

Richeza smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope light within her. "Okay, let's do this together," she said, her voice gaining strength.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, Richeza looked at her friends and felt grateful. The road ahead might be uncertain, but she knew with Astra and Charlotte by her side, she was ready to face whatever awaited them, especially Andrian's heart, wrapped in shadows of his past. The mystery of his feelings and the journey to find lost friendship had only just begun.

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