Aiden's villa stood majestically by the Landak River, its wooden structure blending seamlessly with the lush greenery of Borneo. The villa, a grand two-story house with wide verandas, overlooked the shimmering river. Tall, ancient trees surrounded the property, their branches swaying gently in the breeze, casting playful shadows on the ground.
The late afternoon sun bathed everything in a warm, golden hue, making the water of the Landak River sparkle like diamonds. The air was filled with the sounds of nature—the chirping of exotic birds, the rustling of leaves, and the distant call of creatures from deeper within the jungle.
On the expansive lawn that stretched from the villa to the riverbank, Aiden and his friends, Zach, Rayyan, and Kafka, were engaged in a lively game of toss ball. Laughter and shouts of encouragement filled the air as they ran and leaped, their youthful energy infectious.
As the boys played, a sleek car pulled up to the villa's driveway. I stepped out, followed by Tasha, Aurel, and Vira. I took in the sight of the villa with a strange sense of nostalgia. My gaze lingered on the wooden beams of the house, the wide steps leading up to the front door, and the sprawling garden. Memories from my past flashed before my eyes.
"Hey, girls!" Aiden called out, breaking my reverie. "Come join us!"
I followed the girls, though my mind was still lost in the past. Tasha linked arms with me, pulling me towards the boys. As we approached, the game paused, and Tasha introduced me to them.
"You guys, this is Fiona," Tasha said. "She's a new student at our school."
"I think we've met before," Zach said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Rayyan grinned, "Feel free to jump in. We could use some fresh competition."
I forced myself to laugh, "Maybe later. For now, I'd love to explore the villa a bit more."
Aiden nodded understandingly, "Take your time. There's a lot to rediscover."
As I wandered off towards the villa, the boys resumed their game, and Tasha and the other girls joined in with enthusiasm.
As I recalled my surroundings, I entered the interior of the villa. Here, in this very room, they had forced me... I couldn't bring myself to say it.
Suddenly, I felt nauseous and my vision blurred. I squatted down and covered my face. Someone tapped my shoulder.
Kafka...
Kafka knelt in front of me. "Fiona, right?"
I weakly nodded.
"What's wrong?"
"I... I feel dizzy..." I answered softly.
Kafka stood up, bent down, and extended his hand. He helped me to stand. Kafka supported me to sit on the sofa.
That's when Vira entered.
Vira screamed and quickly walked towards me. "Fiona, what's wrong?"
I shook my head slowly, "It's nothing, I think I'm just tired."
Kafka glanced towards Vira, "Hey..."
Vira only nodded, as if they were still arguing.
I got up, "Guys, I'm going to get a drink first, okay?"
I walked towards the dining area.
From the room's window, I saw Zach carrying Quinn on his back. Rayyan and Aiden were still tossing the ball to each other, while Aurel and Tasha watched them.
After a while, Tasha entered and found me sitting in the dining area. "Are you okay?" she asked.
I just nodded.
"We're going to make a bonfire and roast marshmallows. Want to join?"
I nodded.
I walked out. I saw Rayyan and Zach making a bonfire. From where I stood, I saw Aiden talking to Kafka. Zach hit Rayyan with a piece of firewood. Rayyan immediately punched him back. Aiden laughed, then turned his attention back to Kafka. He seemed to be discussing something serious with Kafka. Kafka folded his arms across his chest.
Seeing that scene, ... I was reminded again of what they did to me... back then...
Some guests began to arrive. Laughter, shouts, and music started to be heard. I chose to sit alone in front of the bonfire.
That's when Kafka sat beside me. "Are you team sunrise or sunset?" he said, staring straight at the fire.
I remained silent for a moment. "Sunrise."
"Why?"
"Because the sunrise on a new day, it's like bringing new hope."
Kafka nodded. "I like sunsets. Because ultimately, happiness and sadness will have an end. Just like the sunset, it ends a day."
To me, Kafka was the kindest. He never joined in the boys' stupid actions.
But he remained silent back then. And that was his fault. If only he had defended me, I wouldn't have felt this pain.
But I began to think, Kafka's words are true too, isn't sadness also have an end, right?