"Where have you been?" Marya repeated.
Hadyan immediately hid his injured left hand behind his back, "I was out for a walk."
"See! I told you he just wants to be alone. It's just you girls are worrying for nothing." Said Patra with his arms folded in front of his chest.
"It's up to us! We are worried about Hadyan because Hadyan is a good guy, not an annoying guy like you!" Marya answered.
"That's just you who coquettish," Patra stuck his tongue out.
"It's not just me though. Tasia was worried too. Weren't you, Tasia?" Marya looked at her best friend.
Hadyan immediately looked at Tasia who suddenly had goosebumps and became stiff.
'What the hell with those guys?! Why even fight and then drag my name into it?!' Tasia grumbled in her heart. But she felt there was something odd about Hadyan. The guy simply didn't talk to her. He's been silent ever since.
"I.. I joined the search because I wanted to help Marya." Tasia looked at Hadyan with unfocused eyes, "Don't suddenly disappear like that, Hadyan. At least tell Marya first if you want to go alone."
Patra looked at the girl beside him carefully in silence. Then, he turned his gaze back to Hadyan, wanting to know how the guy reacted.
"Okay, Marya, I'm sorry for worrying you. Next time, I'll tell you if I want to go alone." He smiled faintly at her.
Marya nodded gently with a light laugh, "I'm good, really. I just worry a little bit. You are free to go anywhere, Haydan. I will not restrain you."
The phenomenon that took place in front of her eyes made Tasia feel sick. She felt like she wanted to get out of there quickly, instead of having to watch a scene that burned her heart.
"Then, I think we both should go now. Come on, Patra!" Tasia said while grabbing Patra's hand and dragging him away. Patra just obeyed with a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Very funny.
It turned out that Hadyan had actually turned his ship. It turned out that it was that easy for him to change his anchoring destination. Tasia felt sad and upset. But she could not do anything and she was also trying to know herself. Because, she didn't want Hadyan in the first place. She even wanted him to get out of her life and stop chasing after her anymore. Maybe, it was true that Marya was more worthy of the handsome prince. Because.. don't mind Hadyan's, even Tasia could feel how much Marya liked that guy.
***
That early morning,
All the participants have been awakened and ordered to get ready. As planned, they would depart for the next location and start hiking.
Tasia's face looked lethargic and shabby. Last night, she could not sleep because the same dream as on the bus that time returned to haunt her sleep. Actually, it didn't have to disturb her sleep that badly, because everything was just a dream that didn't give her body any pain. She was also quite used to the dreams that often came in her sleep. But..
'How can I forget the relationship between those two, if Hadyan keeps popping up in my dreams?'
Tasia tried and tried a thousand times and was also forced to convince herself that it was a dream from a re-emerging memory. It was not because she liked Hadyan that much. But, she began to doubt that thought because her heart began to beat strangely every time she saw Hadyan's face in her dreams. It was as if the moment was no longer scary, but carried a unique feeling blooming in her chest.
"Last night was like seeing the sky and the earth. It was the very opposite. Marya came into the room with a smile on her face, even there was a little jump in her steps. Then after that, you came with a gloomy face and limp steps. What actually happened between you two?" Asked Tata in the middle of their preparation.
Tasia looked around. There were only the two of them around the bus and she felt safe enough to start telling Tata about the events related to Marya and Hadyan.
The girl with straight, silky hair was nodding as her best friend told the story so excitingly.
"Hem.. I don't know what to say.. I'm also confused if the case is like this." Tata scratched her neck that didn't itch.
"You know, don't you? What kind of person does Marya be when she likes a man? Now, it all depends on Hadyan. Even if you didn't stop them at all, if at the end Hadyan still chooses you, then your friendship would end just right there."
"Hufft!" Tasia looked desperate, "Why did everything become like this just because of a good looking guy? Is our friendship that cheap?" She complained.
"No matter how hard we deny it, but that's what often happens. Friendships were destroyed because of the opposite sex. No one survived from a love triangle." Said Tata.
"Tasia," Called Tata seriously and got the full attention of her best friend. "Indeed, you like Hadyan. And, indeed, hearts can't be forced. However, I know you and Marya so well. I also know what kind of person you are. That's why I'm sure you will be able to maintain our friendship. Because you are different." she nodded, asking for agreement.
Tasia was silent, trying to digest Tata's words properly. What should she do? Was letting Hadyan really be the best way? After all, Tasia would also not follow the guy away to another realm, and she had previously flatly rejected Hadyan.
"Y-yes, I wish I could do that," Tasia answered half-consciously.
'So now I finally gave in? Should I be proud of myself if I did that? Or will it hurt myself?' Tasia thought in her mind.
"OKAY, Then!" Tata smiled, "Let's go back before the committee team looks for us." said Tata by pulling Tasia's arm.
Not long after, the committee asked all participants to line up and take attendance. At the Rose base camp, they were again given brief socialization of instructions and rules during the hiking.
Since the beginning, Tasia had always been side by side with Tata. And Marya kept trying to cling to Hadyan. It was as if there was no longer any gap for Tasia to interact with Hadyan, even just to say hello. And more sadly, the guy also seemed not interested in approaching Tasia at all. But even so, the two of them were always romancing around near Tasia. She didn't know if they intentionally wanted to upset her or something.. What was certain was that Hadyan and Marya were like a magnet and a refrigerator door, inseparable.
"It seems that Hadyan is not bothered at all by Marya who has been clinging on to him." Tasia smiled sadly. Luckily, at first, she was not in a hurry to like Hadyan and fell in love with his beautiful face and kind attitude. But despite all, the aching beat in her chest felt pretty good. So, is this what is called heartache?
'Prince, huh? Now I doubt whether he really came here to approach me or is just looking for a future empress. All men are the same! May you find the most suitable spouse, Hadyan!'