Then, why can't I reach you rather than see your silhouette or your figure?
“It’s cool if
you walk around the street by yourself, but you can’t understand how the
feeling of walking around in this messy country with high crime rate. Do you do
martial? It’s good, no worry about safety.”
I didn’t know
why I liked go everywhere alone. I just enjoyed it. I couldn’t tell my detail
identity to others, except if I have already found who would get the award of
being my best friend.
ƒƒƒ
I told you, I was sixteen years old. Every Friday after school, I went to my dad’s office to accompany him until he did his work and I chose to go away from the rush in this city. The most favorite spot that I liked was the rooftop of my dad’s building office.
“Honey, where will you go? Don’t go
too far.” It was my dad’s message before I left his room.
“It’s too flat to stay in front of
computer, Dad. I will go to the rooftop.”
“Be careful, then.”
I left him and
got to the emergency exit. For your information, that building consisted of
eight floors, my dad’s was on fifth. With a very good physical condition, I
didn’t need the lift and started to up the stairs. Enjoying the breeze,
“Hey, why don’t you take my call?”
“Zefa?! I don’t know that you called
me. My phone is in my dad’s room. What are you doing here?”
“Hmmm… That should be my question. I
make it mine. What are you doing here?”
“I am entertaining myself, Zef. You?
Why do you come? Do you miss me? Haha.”
“Yes, a lot. Let’s have a dinner
together.”
“Only the two of us?”
“Exactly not, the answer is three of
us. You and me, then?”
“He is the most handsome creature of
the world, my boss, my dad, right?”
“Ay! Let’s go to his room. It’s time
to have a dinner.”
I went to a
plain seafood restaurant. Zefa was great at choosing the best restaurant which
had delicious dishes. He was like my mother. He ensured everything that was
beyond the luxury. We ate properly, didn’t take a lot of dish. Then, we talked
about Zefa’s academic. Honestly, he always got a better grade than mine. Sometimes,
I hated it when dad started to ask him. I knew, my dad loved him more than he
did to me.
ƒƒƒ
Wednesday, 3rd
of July was a bad day. My best friend tried to make a mess with me. His friends
asked him whether I could join their showcase in the school ballroom this
Friday night or not. He told them that I was a nerd girl and it was impossible
to me to attend that event. He knew that I liked to be alone everywhere. That
was the cause why he said that. It was embarrasing thing if he told them so. I
thought, why he didn’t tell other reasons to explain. Actually I’ve been tried
to socialize with friends, but at the end I would left them. It was always like
that and I didn’t know why. Teachers knew that I was different. Therefore, they
let me did everything I loved.
I met Zefa after class and satirized, “I heard that. Thanks, Zef.”
“What for?”
“I am a
nerd girl. Maybe you have said to them that I was crazy too.”
“Hey, I
tried to help you. Then, you don’t have to talk with them. I don’t want you
talk with others, just keep being you.” He tried to explain, rather than annoy
to me.”
“Words that
you have said to them didn’t help me. I wish I were nerd.” I was mad of him and
he tried to stay calm. Zef looked at me. Later on, he chose not to say anything
else.
What Zef
has said to my friends really embarassed me. “You have already known me, Zef. I
want to socialize. It is the truth. I want to joy with friends, with many
people out there. If you want to help me, let me try to do that. Just let me,
Zef.”
He sighed,
“Okay, it is my fault to tell them like that. I am so sorry. Can you forgive
me, princess?”
“Yeah….
Good, then. I’m sorry too.”
“So, will
you come this Friday?”
“Let’s see
what will happen.”
I went back
home with Zefa by my bicycle. It was always fun on the way home. He always sang
while cycling. I saw someone from distance. He was a boy. He stood up in front
of Zefa’s home. I didn’t recognize who that person was. Nevertheless, he was a
tall boy with brown skin, wavy hair and fashionable.
“Zef….” I
touched Zef’s left shoulders.
“Yep?”
Stopped sing.
“Who is
that? Is he your new friend? Someone is standing in front of your home.”
“I don’t
know. Maybe a fashionable criminal stopped by my home. Hahaha. Do you want to meet him with me? Do you want
to come?”
The bicycle
was mine, then. I left Zefa with that stranger and gave a bye. It was a no for
his offer. I arrived at my home in a minute. By the way, actually, it wasn’t my
first time saw ‘the stranger’ in front of my best friend’s home. I thought last
week I saw him and also two days ago. I didn’t care about that, though. I ate
my lunch and got an orange. Then, I enjoyed my daydream.
Something
shocked me at the evening, I heard it. I thought someone threw some stones to
my window. I ran to my room and checked it. I looked at the window and found no
one. When I left my room, it happened again. My window was broken. Then I ran
out and shouted out to my daddy, “Dad, I will go to Zefa’s home. Bye!”
I felt
something strange. I went to Zefa’s home without an appointment. I had to tell
him about this and asked him about someone who stood up in front of his home
this afternoon.
“Zeeeef!
Come out! Zefa!” I shouted, waited for minutes, but nobody came. I was home at
twenty o’clock.
However, the strange thing on my mind could not go. I faced
the following days with a bad opinion about Zefa and his new friend.
ƒƒƒ
Everyone was very busy discussing about this evening. Yes, it was about the showcase. I didn’t feel any excitements. I met Zefa and he forced me to join that event. For sure, I refused it. Actually, if he didn’t do that to me, I would try to come. Then, I did it.
“I am here.” I whispered to myself and nobody heard that.
“You come in?”
“Zef?! Well.. you see?”
“Yeah. Haha. Enjoy the show! I have to meet someone! I’ll
see you soon!”
Zefa went away, I saw his back. He went with a tall and thin
boy. They looked very close. I could only saw their silhouette and disappeared,
then. I tried to socialize. When I moved to friends in two steps, the light was
gone. It turned into dark, too dark. I chose to stay at my position. Suddenly,
a knife pierced in my back. I didn’t feel any pain. When the light on, I was
off. Zefa, I heard him screaming loudly, calling my name. Later on, everything
was dark again.
I opened my eyes, let my body on the bed of a hospital room.
There were my dad, Zefa, and someone that I hadn’t known yet.
“Hello, I’m Shaan. Do you feel better?” I couldn’t answer
him and chose to close my eyes again.
It was hard time. I couldn’t do anything by myself. I didn’t
know what my mistake to person who hurt me was. For years, I didn’t talk with anyone.
I thought I didn’t have any problem with others. I faced my life with my dad
and my new best friend, Zef, also loneliness and silence. Days left, and I
still wondered why someone did it to me.
“You are getting better, Allene.” A boy who had mention his
name was Shaan started the conversation.
“You? Why are you here for days? Where is Zef?”
“I will protect you, Al. You can forget Zefa.”
“What?!”
“He is a traitor. He has hurt you, a lot. That should be me,
being at your side.”
“What traitor? What do you mean?”
“He is….” He explained more and more.
“You mean, he attacked me at the showcase? But, I heard his
sorry shouts. It is impossible! Why did he do this?”
“Sorry to say that it is a yes he attacked you and I don’t
know the reason.”
“Where is he? I have to kill him! He has made a big deal
with me! Oh my God!”
“He is imprisoned. Forget him, Al, and always remember me.
“Wait, I think you are familiar figure for me.”
“I am who saved you. It’s
me who came to Zefa’s home to ensure you that you were okay at that time. It’s
me who dragged Zefa from terrored you. He is the person who has ruined your
window. It’s me who tried to safe you from Zefa’s attack at the showcase. But,
I am sorry. I couldn’t handle him. He could hurt you.”
I
was touched. I didn’t realize that it was he,“Why did you do that? Why did you
want to protect me?”
“It
is because I want to do it. I need you, and I hope you need me too. I want to
be your friend. I love you, Allene. Will you be the one that I always protect?”
“Then,
why can't I reach you rather than see
your silhouette or your figure? Why don’t you come to me?”
“Because I want to make sure that you are okay first. I
want to protect you first. I am sure, God will bring us together. I will come
to you, and you will reach me.”
Your worst and most dangerous enemy is the person that injures you under the pretensions of friendship. - NORMAN MACDONALD
It wasn’t important again, because I’ve found new friend in my whole life. A superhero who you could only see the silhouette or the figure. Shaan is my beloved superhero who accepted the award.
