'He will be gone when the bruise goes away. So, I just have to be patient until this bruise disappeared and then my life will back to normal. Nothing will bother me anymore.'
Tasia tied her white shoelaces and lazily got up from the wooden chair on the terrace of her house. The morning was the same as usual. Quiet, without anyone accompanying her steps to school. The days are getting longer and more burdensome for Tasia. She still remembers what it was like to say 'Papa, mama! I'm going to school! Bye!' and seeing them smiled to cheer up their little girl to go to school. Beautiful memories that she will not be able to experience again, forever. She should never have wasted a single moment of that precious moment.
Suddenly, a motorbike horn sounded behind her.
Tasia stopped her small steps when a motorbike approached from her back. Shattering her daydream of beautiful memories with her family when she was a child.
Even though it was covered by a helmet, Tasia immediately knew who was riding the motorbike.
"Hadyan? M-morning," She greeted awkwardly as recalling last night event.
Hadyan opened the glass of his full-face black helmet, "Morning. Who are you going with? Why are you walking alone?"
Tasia thought for a moment. Today, Patra go to school very early because of student council business, and actually, she was left because she woke up too late so the others had already gone to school without her.
"I'm alone," She grimaced.
"Oh.. If you don't mind, you can come with me. I brought an extra helmet. But, I'm not insisting if you don't want to." He offered. Even though in his heart, he felt like he could do anything to get the girl to climb into his bike seat.
Tasia smiled slightly seeing Hadyan's innocent face, "Okay if it's not a bother."
Hadyan cheered with joy in his heart, but tried to cover it up for fear that Tasia would feel uncomfortable. He immediately took the yellow spare helmet located at the back of his motorbike, then gave it to Tasia, and she put it on.
"I'm going up." Tasia gave the signal.
Hadyan held Tasia's hand, because he was afraid that she might fall and as well to be a grip so that she could easily climb up the tall bike.
"You ready?" He asked.
"I'm good," Tasia replied.
"Ok, we are moving now. You can hold on to my bag." Hadyan said and Tasia followed. A little smile subconsciously etched on the girl's sweet lips.
Along the way, Hadyan couldn't hold the smile on his lips. He was very happy that his relationship with Tasia is getting better. Tasia was willing to accept him even though it was just as a friend. But it means a lot to Hadyan. On the other hand, now the girl already knows who Hadyan is, so he no longer needs to hide his true identity.
"Why don't you go with the others as usual? Where are they?" Hadyan asked, opening the conversation.
"Actually, I woke up a bit late. So they left me."
"Why won't they wait for you?" Hadyan asked, couldn't accept it.
Tasia laughed, "Because they can't be late just for my sake. Do you want to get in trouble because of someone else?"
"How about you? Do you want to?" Hadyan asked back.
"For someone important to me, I think I'll do it." She answered.
"You're too kind, Anastasia. Your kindness doesn't worth the way other people treat you." Hadyan said, inviting the girl to laugh.
"I think I've heard you say that a lot. Are there no good people in your world?"
"Hm.. I don't know. I didn't pay attention to that. Maybe because I was too busy fighting on wars and I was always surrounded by obedient ladies-in-waiting. So, how do I know if they are good or not? All I know is their loyalty." He explained.
"Wars? What are you fighting for? And war with whom?" Tasia asked curiously and was surprised at the same time. She didn't know that in the supernatural world, there was a war until today.
"With rebels or other kingdoms that trying to seize my territory," He said.
"Wow?! Really? That kind of thing still happen today? I've never heard of any occult wars." She chuckled.
"That's because you don't live so long. Long for you, a little for us. Do you know, when there's a storm in the middle of the sea? It's because there's a war going on in the kingdom of the ocean."
"To think that such a thing is happening in this world. It feels very strange as if you are making up a story." She laughed again.
"So you don't believe me?" Hadyan chuckled.
"Of course I have to! After everything I've been through and seen. Can I not believe your words? Even now I feel like I'm dreaming that I'm being ridden by a supernatural being." She shouted.
"That's fine then. I'm not forcing, you know," He smiled.
The trip was felt short because the two young people were chatting along. Even though, Hadyan deliberately slowed down the speed of his motorbike so that he could be closer to Tasia for a longer time. Finally, the motorbike they were riding entered the school gate. Nearby, Marya and Tata had just come out of the administration room and caught their arrival from the lobby.
"What? Isn't that Tasia? She comes with Hadyan?!" said Marya, stunned.
"Wow.. it seems that Tasia has made up with Hadyan. That's good. After all, we left her to go by herself." Said Tata.
"Hey!!" Marya exclaimed while waving her left-hand high. Hadyan immediately stopped his motorbike while Marya and Tata approached them.
"Morning!" Greeted Tasia, after getting off the motorbike.
"Good morning too," Tata answered while fixing Tasia's messy hair after removing the helmet.
"Why did you two come together?" Marya asked curiously.
"Because our house is pretty close. I just happened to run into Tasia alone on the street, so I gave her a ride." Said Hadyan.
"Oh, I see." Said Marya.
"Sorry, Tasia. I'm afraid I'll be late so leave first." She said to Tasia who was still busy tidying her hair that was a bit damp with sweat.
Tasia shook her head, "Oh, It's okay. Don't mind it." She answered in surprise, because she was used to being left behind if she was late for school. Her friends, especially Marya, had never considered it.
"I'll park my motorbike first. You girls could just go." Hadyan immediately rode after getting a nod from the girls.
Marya put her arm around Tasia's shoulder, "Wow, wow.. it's good that you could have a ride with Hadyan. Haha.."
"Eh.. It's nothing special. It's because I just happened to meet him on the street, really." She answered.
"Yeah, I know. Hadyan is a really good guy. There's no way he wouldn't give a ride when his friend is walking school alone. Uh! I admire him even more!" Marya held her cheeks in a flirtatious manner.
"You two became close. Are you not afraid of him anymore?" Asked Tata.
Tasia was a bit surprised to hear Tata's question, "R-really? Well, I'm not afraid of him anymore after.." She stopped.
"After?" Tata repeated with a questioning face.
"After what, Tasia?" Marya asked impatiently.