The First Curse of Love
4. We Are Injured (2)

Today Qiara did not see Dean's presence on campus. After searching for Dean almost everywhere Dean went, Qiara was determined to go to the Photography SME room to look for him. But there, again he did not find Dean. Besides the house, that's where Dean spends a lot of time.

Since last night Dean hasn't even contacted him. Qiara tried to send him a text message, but there was no reply. And when Qiara tried to call, Dean's phone number was off. Qiara was out of her mind. The only thing he had to do to check on Dean was, Qiara had to meet him at home.

"Having been hanging out in the photography room?"

Danny suddenly appeared from behind Qiara, and made the brown-eyed girl slightly aghast. Qiara turned around, then hit Danny's chest softly as a reward for having shocked him. The small punch that Qiara gave her, was instead reciprocated by Dean's laughter which inexplicably sounded empty. Not long after, Danny's laughter slowly subsided. He then looked at the room in front of him, and slowly recalled his quarrel with Dean last night.

Then Danny turned his gaze to the worried-looking Qiara while continuing to check his phone. Danny tries to connect it up to finally get an answer as to why Qiara could be in that place.

"Sister Dean didn't go to college today" said Danny flatly.

"Why?" Qiara asked reflex. His eyes flashed more and more anxiety, and Danny was able to catch everything very well.

After listening to Qiara's question, Danny looked puzzled. He doesn't know how to explain everything.

"My gals are with Brother Dean—"

"Biantem?" Sela Qiara's.

"Can you please don't cut off my conversation first?"

"Yes, sorry..."

"Sister Dean still can't seem to forgive our family's past, I don't know what I have to do to be able to lighten the wounds in his heart just now. For that.. I really-just ask for your help to always be on the side of Brother Dean, because only you can do that." Danny's tone in his last sentence sounded rather heavy. It was like there was such a heavy burden behind it. But Qiara did not realize it.

Qiara seemed to think for a moment before he patted one of Danny's shoulders as if giving strength. Qiara said with sincerity, "we will do together. I and you...."

...****...

Danny and Qiara stood side by side in front of Dean's room. Qiara brought lunch for Dean who a while ago was entrusted by Faradina. After a long time together silent, Danny finally open his voice.

"From Semalem Brother Dean did not leave the room. Now try to meet him, have a chat. He wants to."

"Okay, I tried." Said Qiara hesitating but trying to sound brave. He stepped closer to the door of Dean's still-closed room.

Qiara sighed a few times to gather her courage. After feeling that her courage was gathered enough, Qiara knocked on Dean's room door.

"Sister Dean, this is Qia. Please open the door!"

There was no reply from Dean, only the sound of footsteps approaching the door. Not long after, the sound of the door opening was heard slowly. Just then Danny stepped back after previously patting Qiara's shoulder gently, "gue for help, huh?" whispered slowly.

The door of Dean's room slightly opened, which was when Qiara immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Qiara rubbed her chest then stepped inside Dean's room which looked slightly dark. In that room, only the light from the sunlight that was pouring through the window slit became a bit of a light.

Qiara placed the tray she was carrying on one of the tables and approached Dean who was standing facing the window.

"Hey, Brother Dean!" call him softly.

Dean was still speechless and did not respond, but Qiara was reluctant to give up.

"Why didn't Dean come in today? I did it Brother, you know."

Dean still didn't respond and stayed with his silence.

Qiara then grabbed one of Dean's hands and grabbed it as tightly as possible. This time Dean responded even if just by staring. Dean looked at Qiara with a hollow, luminous look.

"Sister Dean, I don't know what the big brother's problem is, but I don't care. No matter what kind of trouble you are facing, I will still be next to Brother. I won't let you feel alone. And Brother must also know, if Brother will never be alone, here there is still me who will always nemenin Brother. So, Brother Dean doesn't have to feel alone anymore."

Without Qiara guessing, Dean knowingly pulled his hand and then pulled it slowly into his embrace, a hug that Qiara felt was so cold. Dean hugged Qiara tightly as if he didn't want to let go again, as if if he let go of the hug, he would fall for not having any more grip.

From that embrace, Qiara was able to feel how fragile this man was, and after this Qiara promised to always strengthen him.

Slowly, Qiara returned Dean's embrace and rubbed his shoulders many times.

"I'm here for Dean. Always..."

Danny, who had been standing in front of Dean's room, slowly stepped back and turned away. His chest suddenly felt tight.

...****...

November, 2012...

"Qi, we broke up, huh?" Said Danny lightly and as if without any burden.

Qiara, who was working on her Physics PR with Danny in the backyard of Qiara's house, immediately raised her face and looked at Danny with a look of wonder. It's really too sudden for him, because last night, they were still fine.

"K—why?"Qiara asked slightly stammered, while trying hard to neutralize her chaotic feelings.

"I'm sorry before, but I don't know why, after almost two years, I feel that we are more suitable. Sorry..."

"That's all?"

Danny did not answer, nor did he show any response. He just looked down deep. He really did not have the courage to look Qiara in the eye right now.

Almost two years ago, Danny expressed his feelings for Qiara for the second time seriously and asked Qiara to be his girlfriend. At the beginning Qiara was hesitant and upset. He was afraid to imagine days like this would come, days when their relationship finally broke up, and their friendship was threatened. But at that time, Danny promised that everything would go fine no matter what happened to them.

And yes, those days that Qiara was afraid of were actually happening. In real terms, Danny completely broke off their relationship.

"Danny, look me in the eye and answer my question honestly! Is that the only reason? After almost two years of dating, you said that we were more suitable for the position? Am I just a joke to you?" Once again Qiara tried to assert that she could find one certainty from Danny's eyes. "We haven't dated in two months, Danny! Next month we've even had these two years. TWO YEARS!" Then, full of anger and disappointment.

Within three seconds, Danny finally raised his face, then stared squarely at both of Qiara's eyeballs boldly.

"Gue.. like other people." Danny replied at the end of the day that just made Qiara's heart as if it was slipping.

Qiara sighed then threw her face the other way. At the same time, Qiara laughed. Suddenly, he felt very sad.

"OKAY. Let's break up!" Said Qiara with certainty. He finished his books off the table and got up from his seat, leaving Danny there alone.

Qiara went inside her house and immediately went to her room. Upon arrival in the room, Qiara continued to work on his Physical PR which he had not done in half. Qiara was trying to focus and trying to control herself so as not to spill her tears at that moment.

Yet, failed!

After the great effort he put in to ward off his cries, his defense finally collapsed. He lost control, as one tear after another fell on his to-do-book. Slowly, along with her tears that kept crammed into each other out, her stuffing sounded softly, then broke.

When everything was not restrained anymore, Qiara slammed her ball hard on the floor. After that, he folded both his hands on the table and slapped his face there.

His two shoulders trembled violently, following the cracks after cracks in his heart. He only hoped that his friendship with Danny did not experience the same crack as his heart now.

And Qiara, spent the rest of the night crying so hard that her chest was tight.

This is the first wound that Danny presents to her.

To Be Continued...^^^