30 DAYS WITH U
58. SEVEN WISHES 3
After hearing the long story from Liam, Keila who tried to restrain herself since then said goodbye to Liam. Before Keila actually left Andra's apartment, Liam told Keila. “Now, the Director will be back. For the time being, please be patient, Miss.”
“I know that, Liam. Once again thank you very much for taking your time to tell me this important thing. Andra will probably keep this a secret from me when I still don't recognize her.”
Liam smiled at Keila's words because what Keila said was indeed the right picture for Andra and Liam knew that well. Liam then says his last words to Keila and tells her why he dared her to tell her Andra's little secret. “Because directly I have a debt to Miss, this is how I pay that debt. Thanks to Miss, I was able to meet with the Director. Thanks to Miss, I have a best friend, a good boss, a good job and a good life. For that I should also thank Miss.”
Three days later. . .
Three days passed and since Keila heard “truth” behind Andra's actions so far, for three days Keila always sent a message to Andra.
\[Keila: I will wait for you. Waiting for you where we first met.\]
Three days since Keila heard the long story from Liam, each day after work Keila will spend the afternoon he had by standing on the bridge while waiting for the sun to set. Keila will leave the bridge and return to her apartment when the sky is dark.
During the three days of her waiting, Andra's shadow appears in Keila's view rewinding some of her memories of being with Andra. Every time that happened, Keila would smile a little as she looked back at her memories and would lose her smile as the shadow faded away.
“That human is truly a creature that never learned to appreciate. They only realized something on his side during this important value when losing it.”
Keila let out a long sigh remembering that sentence when she read it this afternoon in a novel in the editing process. True, humans are such creatures. They would never realize the value of something or someone when they were by his side. They only realize that value when they lose it.
Bukk. Keila hit the bridge's guardrail wet with rain before her because she was upset with herself. I'm really stupid. Keila cursed herself who had only felt that the current Andra who had been by her side for quite some time had turned out to be so precious to her.
The cold wind after the rain blew towards Keila who was currently standing on her favorite bridge. After a full day of rain, Keila remained determined to come to this bridge after the rain stopped and the sky was still darkened by the overcast.
“Huft.” Keila sighed again staring at the scene of the dark sky before her at this moment. “It feels like this sky understands I am missing someone, until it rains all day.”
“Who are you missing?”
The voice appeared not far from where Keila was standing and made Keila who heard it spontaneously turn her head, to look towards the owner of the voice. Keila then froze to see the figure smiling towards Keila. For ten seconds, Keila froze and forgot to answer the question the figure had asked her.
“Who are you missing? I'm curious to hear it, Key.” The figure repeated his question to Keila as he walked closer to Keila and put his jacket on Keila's body. “Didn't I tell you to always take care of your health? How can you wear thin clothes like this when it rains all day??”
Keila stared at the figure's jacket on her own body while giving confidence in her own mind. It's not a dream, is it? This is not a shadow that often comes to my mind, is it? Without Keila noticing, Keila's hand then touched the face of the figure and found that it faded like shadows that appeared for several days in Keila's gaze. “This is really not a dream.”
The smiling figure received a touch of Keila on his face and felt the coldness of Keila's hand on her warm skin. “True, it's me, Key. I'm finally home.”
Keila looked at Andra who was currently standing right in front of her: complete with the glasses Andra always used when meeting her, but the hairstyle and style of clothing that he currently wears is the style of the appearance of Director Rafandra.
“You!!!” Keila answered while pinching Andra's cheek where her hand touched Andra's face. “Whom do you think I'll miss, huh?? I only have one lover and that person is you.”
A smile appeared on Andra's lips when he heard the scolding coming out of Keila's mouth. That nagging was something of the many things that Andra of Keila missed so much. That nagging was one of the many reasons Andra liked Keila so much. “S-it's great to hear that phrase coming out of your mouth, Keila. Me too, I miss you a lot too, Keila. But before that can you let go of this hand that is pinching my cheek? This pinch of yours really hurts a little.”
Keila stared fiercely at Andra. “If I let go of my pinch, will you give an explanation for all the deeds you have hidden from me all this time?”
Andra nodded her head with a grimace. “Yes, I realize I have an explanatory debt to you.”
Keila then released her pinch on Andra's cheek. “Before you explain everything, I want to ask you one thing first. How's your dad doing? Is he okay?”
Andra then gazed at the originally cloudy afternoon sky beginning to show sunlight. Andra then saw a small, fine drizzling rain slowly descending. Andra then opened the umbrella she was carrying and pulled Keila's waist closer to take shelter under the same umbrella. “Close, this rain of small grains can make you sick.”
“You are! I'm not a kid who would fall sick just from a little drizzle rain like this!” firmly Keila.
“Hahahahah. Why do you always reply to my words and actions that seek to protect you as my woman??” Andra gave a small laugh staring at Keila who was under the same umbrella as her.
“Stop discussing that and quickly answer my question, how is your father doing?” Keila who was at a loss for words to reply to Andra's words then attempted to divert their conversation.
“My father is fine. You know, my dad was really a funny guy, Key.”
“Funny?” Keila's forehead shriveled in astonishment. “What do you mean by that?”
“She hates me because I have a face and a mat similar to my mother's. Since my mother's departure, my father even refused to meet me if it wasn't for something urgent. And now when he's sick, he'll always look for me by making a fuss with the rest of the servants in our house. And every time that happened, I had to take care of my father for about a week before he finally refused again to meet me.” Andra smilingly looked at the sky that was still pouring down a small drizzling rain along with the sunlight that was starting to pierce through the overcast clouds. “Isn't that funny his name?”
Hearing Andra's story that maybe not just anyone knows, Keila then pinched Andra's arm.
“Awwwww. .” cried Andra while grimacing in pain. “Why did you pinch my arm, Key?”
“Didn't you realize that your father actually loved you??” said Keila who then released a pinch on Andra's arm.
While grimacing, Andra then replied to Keila's words. “Just by hearing a short story from me, you said the same sentence as Liam. Do you really think my dad had any affection for me after my mom left?”
“Isn't that so?” Keila turned around to ask Andra. “At a time when someone is sick and feels like they are going to leave this world, the first person they think of is the person they love so much. You may not realize it, Andra, but it's your father's way of showing how much he loves you.”