The First Curse of Love
10. A Secret Kiss

"Gue again at Campus Night Run, Cel. Before ten, I'll be there. Just calm down." Arga explained to Celine who was calling her and asking for her whereabouts.

Knowing that Celine was going to grumble, Arga immediately kept her phone away from her ears while closing both her eyes with a grimacing face.

Tonight this week, the four of them were already planning to gather at Celine's house. Both of Celine's parents are on a tour of duty out of town, which is why Celine forced her ' minions' to accompany her tonight.

And it should have been that, Arga did not go anywhere because he had to help the others prepare everything, but Arga just ran away, and follow Campus Night Run which is routinely held every year for all students from all campuses who are interested in following it.

In the midst of Celine's tirade that was quite deafening, Arga's attention was knowingly fixed on a beautiful girl who was warming up not far from her current position.

In Arga's view, the girl actually looked ordinary and not an Arga type at all, just that something had caught his attention and made him feel a little distracted.

Arga then turned off his phone and approached the girl with the number 301 chest slowly.

Not knowing what to say as an opener, Arga just stood in his place with a look of confusion and occasionally cleared his throat.

And the thing that Arga did was, of course, make the 301 girl turn to him with a questioning look.

"Hey!" Sapa Arga awkwardly waved her hand.

The 301 girl who turned out to be Alisha, now feels surprised by the strange man who is beside her now. Feeling that the young man was not a good person, Alisha decided to stay away. However, just as he was about to step away, Arga hurriedly blocked his path, standing right beside him as if covering something.

"Elo who? Why do I keep following me?" Alisha asked at the end who was secretly scared, but still trying to look calm.

Arga bit his inner lip. He was increasingly confused as to how to start so that the girl did not feel ashamed. Arga then scratched the back of his nape. Noteable! He had never felt this ugly before.

"Gue apologized in advance, t –but... emm..."

"What the hell?" Alisha is getting more and more disturbed.

While Arga, he's dead-end now. He was unable to take out a word to convey what he wanted to say.

Then without realizing it, Arga opened the jacket he was wearing. That, of course, makes Alisha more frightened because of thinking no-no now.

When Alisha is about to step away again, Arga holds her back. Unexpectedly, Arga wrapped her jacket around the girl's waist and tied it.

"Lo what the hell?"

"Once again I'm sorry, but you have to wear this. I'm leaving."

And Arga really left, went back to where he was and left Alisha still confused.

A moment later, Alisha suddenly thought of something. His feelings are starting to get bad. With trembling hands, he slightly revealed Arga's jacket tied around his waist, and how surprised he was when he saw the leggings he was wearing torn on the side and revealed the skin of his thighs.

Alisha grimaces shame. At the same time, he also felt bad for Arga because he had been thinking non-no.

With a slow movement, Alisha raised her head and looked towards Arga. Not long after, Arga turned to her while smiling awkwardly. At that very instant, Alisha instantly threw away her gaze while covering her face with both hands.

Damnit damnit! Alisha is really embarrassed now.

Once again Arga smiled. But this time it was not an awkward smile.

...****...

"Even obeyed! Look out, Ga!" Chew Celine in annoyance as soon as Arga turns off her phone.

This time, Celine turns her attention to the dreamy-looking Danny after he finishes his task of setting up two tents in Celine's spacious backyard.

The idea of building a tent came from Celine. Actually the idea had already gotten a pretty harsh rejection from Danny, Qiara, and Arga, but Celine remained steadfast with her wishes and managed to make the three men in the end succumb.

"Dann, have you called Qia yet?"

Danny gasped, then turned to look at Celine, "huh? Not yet." Danny answered briefly while collecting some scattered firewood.

"Don't tell me, you're still fighting! It's been almost a week."

Danny put his shoulder down. He himself was really confused how to solve his problem with Qiara. Danny still feels angry, even though he does not know the reason why he should be this angry.

"Why are you angry with Qia?" Celine asked in a pretty slow tone.

"He lied to me. He said he was sick, but it turned out to be the same way Dean's sister." Answer Danny.

"Where does the problem go?"

"He made me anxious until Prissy's birthday party, Cel."

"Why do you have to leave Prissy's birthday party? Let's just say Qia is really sick, but why do you admit it?"

"Gue's anxious. I said it."

"Why should it be that hot?"

"Because Qia's my best friend. Like you or Arga." Lirih Danny pleaded, hoping that Celine would stop her interrogation.

Danny's really upset right now. But this insensitive Celine just adds to the burden of her mind.

"Dann, beat me up, huh?" Celine looked into Danny's eyes seriously, as did Danny.

"The first to know that Qia was sick was Arga. If we use your point of view in this matter, Arga should not have left Qia at that time. Arga was supposed to keep Qia because she was Qia's best friend. But Arga didn't do that, did he? Do you know why?" Celine then.

Danny remained silent. Deep in his mind, he knew exactly what the answer was.

"Because Arga Pure considers Qia as his best friend. No other feeling followed him. Now understand the difference where?"

"Just..."

"Danny, it's your birthday party. If Qia is just a 'just' friend to you, why should sampe be so? Okay, it's natural that you're anxious. But leaving your girl's birthday party is already quite late. You can do it, right, meet Qia after the show is over?"

Danny is still silent. But the cells in her brain justified all of Celine's words without exception.

"Gue won't ask about your feelings for Qia now. Because I don't think that's my capacity. But you should know, you're too hard on Qia, Dann. Anyway, Qia is your ex-boyfriend. He broke up a long time ago, but he still has a heart. Regardless he still has no taste of whether you are the same, but it is not an easy thing for him to be present in your girl's birthday party. And just so you know, this is my point of view as a girl, not as your best friend or cousin."

Danny was heard breathing heavily. He then lowered his gaze, then closed his eyes for a while. He was heard muttering, "then, what should I do now?"

...****...

At half-eleven in the evening, Arga came to Celine's house with Qiara walking with an annoyed look beside her. Because, Qiara was annoyed at Arga for making him wait too long.

Before that, Arga promised to pick her up at nine, but the man instead made her wait for an hour.

"Good, huh, you guys? What time is it?" Celine said to the two men.

"Arga is late. He said he'd pick up at nine. But the date's ten o'clock." Answer Qiara. He then naturally took a seat right next to Danny.

"Away, Qi. I'm sorry. I was clear as well, I suddenly had some business." Reply Arga who still does not want to lose as well.

Celine who indeed felt the need to leave Danny and Qiara alone to be able to solve their problems, immediately got up from her seat and stepped towards Arga who was just about to sit down.

"Ga, I haven't bought a drink. I'm going to the mini market." Celine said as she forcefully pulled Arga's wrist.

"Yes aampuun, Cel. Not even breath. Anyway, why isn't Danny the same, anyway?" The Arga protest was not directed at all by Celine.

Then, Danny and Qiara stayed alone in that place. They sat side by side in front of the campfire without one taking the initiative to open the chat first. Qiara was busy with her phone, while Danny was busy with his own thoughts.

Five minutes passed. But they are still both silent. Eventually Danny began to feel embarrassed by the situation between them. He then surprisingly turned his body towards Qiara and made the girl aghast in shock.

Now the position of their faces facing each other in a fairly close distance. Qiara's breath was choked. Both of his eyes were wide. Everything gets out of control, as Danny leanes his body to the point of almost making the distance between them erased.

Qiara closed her eyes tightly. Seeing Qiara's behavior, Danny snorted while smiling sideways. He then reached out his right hand and grabbed Celine's guitar, which was right behind Qiara.

Qiara had misunderstood. After this, he would definitely be very ashamed of Danny.

"Lo can open your eyes now, I'm done." Said Danny indifferently. He then plucked the guitar in his hand, silently smiling.

"Say you want a guitar!" Qiara sneered after he opened his eyes and managed to control his heartbeat.

"Why? Lo nervous? Flashback same moment?" Reply Danny.

Hearing Danny carrying around the 'moment', Qiara grew increasingly nervous. His brain suddenly stops working to make him confused how to reply to Danny's innuendo. He has already lost. After all, why did Danny suddenly bring up 'the moment' in this awkward situation?

And even more annoying, Danny suddenly played the song 'Can You Feel Love the Tonight', to make Qiara continue to curse in the heart without stopping.

One empty for Qiara's stupidity.

...****...

January, 2012...

It was already dark by the time they were done with all their preparations. When everyone was busy with their respective affairs, Danny and Qiara were actually part of the task to guard their tents.

The two of them sat side by side in front of the campfire. Danny picks up the guitar while occasionally playing it, "Qi, horrified, huh?"

Danny then sang Elton John's 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' for Qiara. 

From the song that Danny was singing with all his heart, Qiara could feel the feelings that Danny wanted to convey to her. Everything flows softly.

"And can you feel the love tonnage?

It is where we are

It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer

That we got this far

And can you feel the love tonnage?

How is it laid to rest?

It's enough to make kings and vagabonds

Believe the very best..."

After finishing the song, Danny immediately turned his head and looked at Qiara beside him. 

Danny smiled so sweetly, that suddenly, unexpectedly, Qiara boldly kissed his lips at a glance. Danny froze in his place. Trying to digest what just happened.

"Hehehe... I love you." Said Qiara timidly with a face that was already as red as a tomato.

That was his first kiss.

Seeing Danny who was only speechless and did not show any reaction made Qiara feel uncomfortable and immediately regretted what he had just done.

Not wanting to hang on for long in this unpleasant situation, Qiara slowly distanced her face from Danny. But a second later, Danny cupped Qiara's face with both hands, and kissed the girl back very gently. 

Simultaneously, Qiara raised one of her hands then touched Danny's arm.

...****...

Danny is shocked and wakes up, and a moment later he remembers sleeping at Celine's house with the others after they watch a movie together.

Danny then raised his left hand to look at his watch. And he was even more jumped when he found out that the watch in his hand had shown at two in the morning.

As Danny was about to get up, he knew he felt his right arm was heavy. At that moment he realized that Qiara had fallen asleep comfortably in his arms.

Danny tried to calm himself down. He dropped his head on the pillow with his body facing Qiara. Danny was silent for some time as he continued to browse through every curve of the girl's face. Danny's breath that was hunting is now slowly tranquilizing.

"Dann, if we break up later, will we have a legal position?" 

One voice belonging to Qiara shimmered in Danny's memory and made him smile.

"Why did you suddenly talk about breaking up, anyway?"

"I'm just nanya."

"We will not break up. Even in the unlikely event that we break up, we keep the position."

"Lo promise not to go as far as me?"

"Why do I have to go so far as you? I said we're not gonna break up. We're gonna keep it like this. In the future, you are the only girl I will marry. You're the only girl who has the right to give birth to my children."

As the voices from his memories began to disappear, Danny smiled bitterly with pushy eyes. At times like this, he misses the naive version of himself who only likes Qiara and always wants to be with Qiara.

Danny misses the times when they were 18, when things were still looking pink and blooming.

Without Danny noticing, he suddenly loses control of himself. Following the orders of his heart, his face continued to descend close to the peaceful-looking face of Qiara in his sleep.

Let it be for once, Danny bent his knees under the whim of his heart.

Then between two o'clock in the morning, Danny gently kissed the girl's lips. Letting all her past memories shine through as warm feelings run through her body.

"I miss you, Qi. Even when you're next to me like this."

...****...

Qiara flinched before finally waking up from her long slumber. The time was right to show at six in the morning. He got up, and sat down for a moment to collect his life which was still scattered.

Last night's dream somehow felt so real and embarrassing at the same time. However, there was a feeling of relief in his heart once he knew, that every scene after scene was only happening in his dreams alone.

Fucking danny! The dream must have haunted him because last night Danny had brought up about their first kiss two years ago.

Qiara then turned her gaze to Celine who was still asleep beside her, then at Arga who seemed comfortable falling asleep on the sofa.

Qiara then massaged her little forehead. After gaining her consciousness completely, Qiara took herself walking to the kitchen to pick up a drink. Once in the kitchen, it turns out there is already Danny who is making coffee.

"Where are you sleeping, Dann?" The question was thrown from Qiara as he poured water into the glass.

The shocked Danny heard the question instantly shifted his focus for a moment. Is he now found out?

Danny's brain was quick to think. Trying to find the right words to avoid.

"Sleep on top. In the guest room." Danny replied lying while turning his back to Qiara and then refocused on the coffee machine in front of him.

Qiara breathed a sigh of relief. In my heart of gratitude, because all those events were really just dreams, even though it felt so real.

"Semalem, you watch the movie until it's over?" Ask Qiara again. He then drank his drink.

"Yes." Yeah." Mumbled Danny.

After trying to arrange his face to look relaxed, Danny then turned around, he stepped towards Qiara and handed over the coffee he had just made.  "Morning coffee's..."

"Thanks.." -..." Qiara said as she lifted her cup and drank her coffee.

Qiara admitted, Danny's coffee is the best.

"Why am I suddenly sleeping where?"  This time it was Danny's turn to throw the question.

He stood opposite to Qiara as he crossed his side, and leaned his waist against the kitchen set.

"Yes, because I woke up and there wasn't."

"Related because of that? Not because of your indecent dreams about me, is it?" Tempted Danny on purpose.

He slightly lowered his face in order to see Qiara's reaction which would definitely be very funny.

Hearing Danny's words, Qiara immediately choked and almost spouted his coffee into Danny's face. He looked hard at Danny. I don't know why he felt so caught.

"Lo ngaco!" Qiara's flinch with a wrong attitude.

"Hahaha kidding!" Danny laughed with satisfaction.

After that, he held onto both shoulders of Qiara then twisted the body of the girl to face her. The thing that Danny did, inevitably made Qiara feel like there were millions of butterflies dancing in his stomach.

Danny then fixed Qiara's messy hair. Not long after, both of his hands turned on Qiara's chubby cheeks and then frowned.

"Danny, did you get out?" Pinta Qiara with a voice that is not clear enough because Danny's answer is quite hard on his cheek.

Millions of butterflies that had just danced in his stomach, suddenly disappeared in just a matter of seconds.

"Look at your face now! For what's sake you're so ugly, hahaha..."

"cnbmphh... Danny's out!"

Qiara beat Danny's hand to get his cheek off, but to no avail.

"Where else can I find such a fun toy? Hm?" Said Danny while keeping looking at Qiara's cheeks.

Qiara who was out of sense immediately took the initiative to reply to Danny's cheek. But before Qiara's hand landed on her cheek, Danny swiftly distanced his face so that Qiara could not reach her.

Danny's laughter sounded louder and louder over Qiara's already-peaking annoyance.

To Be Continued...^^^