Love In Silence
Studying Religion

Ara sat pensively on the living room sofa. Accompanied by his favorite guitar that he just let go. His mind no longer fused with his body.

It was still about Afi that he thought about and daydreamed about. About Afi's question this morning that made him nervous.

Is there a specific meaning to that question? Because ... Not usually Afi asked that, especially about girls.

"Why do girls prefer flowers or chocolates, huh? Does he have a crush on someone? Or just a regular kayak question?" inner Ara dilemma.

Ara loves Afi. But, he did not want to be a hindrance. Not wanting to be someone who selfishly forbids Afi not to fall in love with other women. Because Ara is aware, Afi also has the right to be happy, with or without her.

Ara knew that Afi also had a personal life, which she could not all live. However, Ara could not deny, that he would be sick if later Afi along with other women. But, Ara can what? She's just a teenage girl with a sense of hiddenness, that she shuts down tightly without anyone else knowing. So, inevitably, ready or unprepared, he had to accept all the risks.

Afi is Ara's first love. For Ara, first love is magical. How not, the more he tried to forget and eliminate his feelings for Afi, the stronger the sense of it looked.

"R. Make your tea brother, dong!" Ridwan, Ara's brother, came to his sister who was busy with her daydream. In fact, Ridwan's speech was not he gubris. Ara was silent.

"The most beautiful brother, make a tea brother!" Ridwan raised the volume of his voice for Ara to hear him. However, the result remains the same. There was no response even if it was just a nod.

Seeing the attitude of his beloved adek, Ridwan also smiled ignorantly. Dimples in the dark-skinned young man appear to be starting to look clear. He also eroded the distance created between himself and Ara. Shifting the sitting position and getting closer towards Ara. And ....

"Fra! There's a cat next to you!" ridwan shouted right in Ara's right ear. With reflexes, Ara was shocked.

"Yes ...!"

Ara who was phobic with the cat, immediately jumped in fear on the shofa. That's where Ridwan's laughter broke out.

While Ara. His face looked pale for a moment. His breathing was roaring rapidly irregularly. Cold sweat started to splash through his body. His eyeballs are sharp.

Realizing that, Ridwan's laughter also stopped instantly, especially when he saw the face of the pale sister. Guilt rippled in that moment as well.

Realizing that she was only a victim of the brother's ignorance, Ara got off the sofa with a slightly trembling step as well with eyes that began to glaze over. Ridwan immediately rose from his seat and approached Ara who was still sculpting.

"Ara, you're okay, aren't you?" The cold hands of Ara. Anxiety was clearly visible from Ridwan's face.

"Sorry Brother, yes!"

"The evil thing." Ara said softly, with tears slowly beginning to wet her cheeks. Ridwan immediately pulled Ara's plan into his deck. Spreading warmth to the sister he loved so much.

"Abang's sorry, Ra. No one wants you to be this way." Gently stroked the head of Ara. Ara's cry spilled in the brother's warm embrace.

"Jointly, I won't like that anymore." Ridwan said with regret.

For some people cats are adorable animals, funny, even suitable to be friends. Initially, Ara agreed with the statement. She is one of the many people who love cats. However, the events of that day, more precisely two years ago, made this smooth-skinned white girl even feel the opposite.

Yeah, two years ago. When Ara was cycling with Ridwan also Afi. Intriguing the city park that is still awake keasriannya. It was there that he met a colored cat blend of orange and white.

The cat that Ara saw was adorable was indeed really attracting attention. Not only Ara, other people who in fact cat lovers will certainly think the same.

Enthusiastically, Ara got off her bike and approached the relaxed cat. While Ridwan and Afi are still perched on his bike watching Ara who is engrossed in playing with cats.

At first it seemed okay. The cute cat still looks calm even like it feels safe Ara elus-elus.

However, a few minutes later, either the cat is too sensitive or indeed feels himself starting to be threatened. Suddenly, the cat bit Ara's wrist until it bled.

Ara who was annoyed even angry because her arm was bitten, immediately pulled the long tail of the cat who was about to leave, and hit the head of the cat with a stone several times without mercy. As a result, the adorable cat died horribly, fresh blood seeped out of his head.

When he realized what he had done, Ara was helpless. I don't believe what he's doing. Her crying broke unbearably.

"I shouldn't be like this. This cat is innocent. Why would I kill him? I'm evil!" Sorry, tightening chest cavity.

Since then, Ara phopia with a cat name. Feeling like a killer who hit the cat to death.

Events that until now are still very imprinted and cause deep trauma for Ara. What else saw his form, hearing his name Ara was already frightened.

***

Ridwan knocked on Ara's room door. But, from that moment there was no answer. Since Semalem Ara did not leave the room. Feeling worried about his sister's situation, Ridwan took the spare key and opened the door to Ara's room.

Ara was still lying on the bed with a thick blanket wrapped around her body. Ridwan approached Ara and sat down on the side of the bed.

"R. Build, Deck. It's morning. It's late, you know, to school." Ara remained motionless.

"The most beautiful brother, wake up!" Still no answer.

Just wiping Ara's forehead, Ridwan felt the stinging heat of his palm, making Ridwan frown in shock.

Drawing a blanket covering the face of the sister, Ridwan was made to gasp when he saw the pale face of Ara with trembling lips.

Putting back the back of his hand to Ara's forehead, made Ridwan's worry even more domineering.

"Oh God! Your body's hot, Ra." Ridwan said worriedly. Without waiting for a long time, he rushed to the kitchen to get water. However, just as his feet were about to step into Ara's room, from the main door, there was the sound of someone calling Ara's name.

"That must be Afi!" guess Ridwan. With quick steps, Ridwan rushed to open the door. And sure enough, the one who came was Afi.

"How come you've left yet, Bang? You see I called several times not lifted," asked Afi, who was ready with her school uniform.

"It hurts, Fi." Hearing Ridwan's answer, Afi was shocked.

"What's? Ara's sick, Bang?"

"Yes. Oh, can you ask for help?"

"By, Bang. Can." Afi answered quickly.

"Please compressin Ara, yes! Brother wants to make porridge first for Ara," replied Ridwan.

"Yes, Bang. Let me pass her school late."

"Thank you, Fi. Here's compress. Sorry for the nicotine." Without waiting for long, Afi went straight to Ara's room with a compress.

Afi drew closer to Ara, with an unbecoming feeling. Just like Ridwan, worry begins to ponder him.

Sitting on the side of the bed, staring at his best friend who was closing his eyes. Afi can't say anything. It was as if she was feeling the pain Ara was suffering from.

"Why are you sick, Ra?" lirih, Afi said. His hand painstakingly pressed a small towel that he had soaked with water onto Ara's forehead. However, just as Afi's hand was about to move away from Ara's forehead, it was unexpected. Ara held the hand. To make Afi want to not let Ara hold her hand tightly.

"Here, my brother helped me. Then I'll change the doll. Kasian. Anyway, right, you have to go to school." Ridwan pointed to a medium-sized doraemon doll that was near Ara's head.

"No need, Bang. Let alone. Kasian Ara, afraid of waking up." Afi refused.

"But you, right, have to go to school, Fi. What time did you try?"

"I've got the same permission, Bang. Relax" said Afi.

"Izin didn't go to school?" Afi.

"Just because Ara's sick?" Again, Afi nodded.

"Ciye .. with all his side," said Ridwan.

"Apaan, hell, Bang. Ara, right, my best friend. So for today, I got permission to go to school. Take care of Ara. You're going to college, aren't you, today?"

"Oah, yes. Good thing you're taking it, Fi. Yes, that is it. Brother, take Ara, yes! Later, if Ara has woken up, you take her porridge in the kitchen. After that, force Ara to take medicine. Tau himself, how's Ara."

"Ready, Bang."

"Thank you, yeah! Then you want to get ready first." Afi.

Ridwan and Ara are often left alone at home. Their parents often went out of town. Working demands. Only at certain times do they come home. So, when conditions like this, the existence of Afi is very helpful.

Left alone, making Afi more haunted by worry. Moreover, the heat in Ara's body was not down-and-down.

Afi breathed a heavy sigh. Look at the face of his friend who is still pale. In fact, it had already lost its hue on its face.

"I'm afraid ..," Ara said softly, with her eyes still closed. Afi who heard was shocked. The top of Ara's head is gently held with the right hand, because the left is still in the warm embrace of Ara who is delirious.

"Don't be afraid, Ara. There's me here who nemenin you," said Afi calming.

Ara was sick from being haunted by her guilt. More precisely because of the trauma and phobias to the cat. Ridwan's indecency that last night made Ara immediately fall ill. Maybe for some people it sounds more and more, but that is the reality.

"Cheal fast, Ra. I am sad that you are like this" said Afi. Unknowingly, it turns out that Ara heard it. However, Ara was reluctant to open her eyes. He just wants to sleep longer. Because, being near Afi made him feel comfortable.

"Let this be so," said Ara. The more he blurted his arms.

***

Ara opened her eyes which actually felt heavy. Seen around. Until finally, his eyes stopped on Afi who was asleep in his study chair. Putting his head on the table.

How could? Did Afi let go of her hand when Ara was asleep?

"Kasian Afi. He slept there because he took care of me. He must be tired" said Ara slowly. Look at his friend with great affection. Her smile flinched in light of Afi's concern for her this morning.

"Thank you, Fi. You take care of me, "inner Ara.

Shortly thereafter, Afi awoke from her sleep. Realizing his best friend had opened his eyes, Afi immediately got up and approached Ara who was still lying weak.

"Are you awake? Sorry, yes! I fell asleep" said Afi.

"Yes, it's okay. I'm the one who wants to apologize to you."

"I'm sorry for what?"

"Because it's been taking care of you."

Afi smiled faintly hearing Ara's words.

"I've never felt repotinated, Ra. You are, right, my most beautiful friend. If you're sick, I'm sad too." Look Afi's eyes shone softly. It shows how anxious he is to see his best friend sick.

"Where are you now? Do you feel good?"

"Yes, I'm okay, okay. Just a little dizzy."

"What are you sick about? The feeling of yesterday is still healthy."

"If I can choose also I don't want to be sick times, Fi."

"Yes too, anyway." Afi chuckles.

"Oh yeah, I'll take the porridge first yeah, in the kitchen. After eating, take the medicine. No, no, no!"

"Eat the porridge yes. Take no medicine."

"Should! Otherwise, I won't buy you ice cream again." Hearing the word 'eskrim' called, Ara's eyes rounded excitedly.

"Really?" ask Ara. Afi nodded confidently.

"That's a lot, Fi."

"Yes, if it heals later. But, now it must be willing to take medicine, yes!" persuade Afi.

"Yes. Forced."

"Bas with you, Ra. A turn of ice cream is a lot of spirit!"

"Yes, dong. I wait, you know, yeah! Watch out if you break your promise."

"Yes, baffles! Yes, you are not going anywhere. I'm going to the kitchen to get you some porridge. But, I think it's a bit old because I have to get angry first."

"Ready, Mr. Boss."

Donna rushed to the kitchen. Leaving Ara alone.

Being sick makes Ara happy. Because Afi was painstakingly willing to take care of and care for him. Especially considering Afi who defended permission for his sake.

Ara didn't know how she was without Afi that day. Because he only lives alone with Ridwan. Ridwan also had to go to campus, because Ridwan is currently busy taking care of his script.

"I love you, Fi. Drop with me. Although I know, you only consider me your best friend. But I'm happy enough."

Afi is good at making Ara happy. His care was always able to make Ara feel comfortable. Treated like that, Ara's affection for Afi doubled.