"Who is that person?" asked Dara, looking nervous too. And, I myself was also very curious as to what Niko would answer this time.
"You," Niko replied, looking at Dara's face intently.
Dara smiled slightly as she hugged Niko tightly. I could only smile wryly at the sight of Dara and Niko hugging like that. Seeing that ugly scene, I decided to leave. However, just as I was about to leave, Niko suddenly grabbed my hand and clasped it so tightly that I was surprised by her unexpected behavior.
"Don't go," he said softly, barely audible.
"Niko?"
"Please don't go."
My heart felt so happy that Niko wouldn't allow me to leave. However, on the other hand my heart also hurt because I had to hurt my best friend, even I had to hurt my own feelings. I didn't want to experience this, nor did I want to be in this position. What should I do now, God?
Since the incident earlier this afternoon, I ventured back home. When I got home, I could clearly see Niko sitting in the TV room pensively. I was hesitant to step closer to him, but how long would I stay away from my own husband?
"Niko, I can no longer hide the secret of our marriage from Dara. It's better if we tell her everything," I opened my voice.
"No way, I can't tell Dara about our status now, Nad. I'm afraid she'll think all kinds of things about you."
"But why, haven't I never been someone important to you?" I said, this time trying to look at her more deeply.
"Who said you weren't important to me?"
"That's . . . it's. . . ."
Suddenly Niko hugged me so tightly that I was very surprised by his sudden behavior.
"You are very important to me Nadia, you have come into my life. It's just that our current position is complicated."
I let go of Niko's embrace and looked at him softly.
"I do love you, but I also love Dara, she's my best friend too, Nik."
"Yeah, I see what you mean. Let's try together, okay?"
"Try what? I can't lie to my best friend anymore, I can't go through with this. I'm not as strong as you think, Nik."
"You're strong, Nadia. You can do it."
"I can't," I said lowly.
"Look at me, Nad!" he exclaimed, making me look at Niko's face with a heavy heart. "You can do it, rest assured. This time, help me just once. You want to, right?"
Reluctantly, I nodded my head slowly. My heart is currently so frantic and doesn't know what to do. My heart hurts so much to hurt my own best friend, I don't want to be selfish. But, I also want to have Niko, I love him so much. He's my legal husband, I'm his future and Dara is just his past. But. . . . .
"Wait a little longer, Nad. After it's all over, I'll come back to your side," he said softly, making me look at him sadly.
The next day, I saw Dara who looked so happy. Although Niko had told me the truth that he had dated me in the past, but now all he had in his heart was her. Seeing the smile floating on her lips, I could only smile a little and breathe a sigh of relief, even though my heart still ached.
I decided to leave. Dara, on the other hand, was so happy that she jumped up and down like a child on the edge of the campus road, causing her to slip and bump into Maxime. I, who accidentally saw them collide like that, immediately rushed over to the two of them.
Seeing Dara who hit Maxime until he fell into her arms, made me pause and stop my steps. For a while, I saw the two of them exchanging glances for quite a while.
"Is it possible?" I muttered softly when I saw Maxime and Dara together.
"Uh, sorry!" Dara and Maxime exclaimed simultaneously while breaking their hug.
"Sorry," Maxime said while scratching his head that wasn't itchy.
"Yeah, it's okay. I also want to apologize because I slipped earlier, so I hit you."
"Yeah, it's okay, ko." Maxime sounded nervous.
They both looked very awkward. They were also silent for a few seconds because they didn't know what else to talk about.
"Uh, you're Maxime, right? The one who's getting close to Nadia?" Dara said suddenly, making me, who didn't hear it intentionally, so surprised.
"Yes, I'm Maxime. Are you Niko's girlfriend?"
Dara chuckled and looked shy. "Yes, I'm Dara. Oh yeah, you like my best friend, right?" he said back which made me quite shocked to hear it.
"Huh, me?" she said looking nervous.
"Why, it's okay if you like Nadia, I'll help you get closer to your best friend. Nadia is a nice person, you know," he said excitedly.
"Yes, I know that Nadia is really nice."
"Yes, Nadia is so nice that she used to date Niko," Dara said with a short sigh, making me feel guilty again.
"Did you know they were dating? Aren't you angry?" asked Maxime, who looked curious this time.
"Why would I be angry? I'm happy if they're honest, so there's no secret between us anymore. After all, the only one in Niko's heart right now is me," she said, looking happy again.
"Yes, you're right," she said softly.
"Well, I'll go first, Max. See you."
Dara then left, making Maxime stare at her from behind. After Dara left, I decided to approach Maxime who was alone staring at Dara's departure.
"It's going to be hard for me, Max," I said, suddenly appearing and coming over to him.
I held my bag tightly. By now, I had resigned myself to what had happened.
"Did you hear my conversation with Dara?" he said with a sharp glare and seemed very surprised by my presence.
"Does it hurt, Max?" I said with tears in my eyes.
"Don't cry, Nad. I know you're a strong and resilient person. Keep smiling like you used to," he said as he held my shoulders and looked at me gently.
"Do you know what the cure for my heartache is? I don't think there is any antidote that can reduce my pain."
"There is one medicine that can heal your heart, Nad," Maxime replied as he looked at my face.
"What is it?"
"Me," he said softly, causing me to stare at Maxime's face intently. "I can heal your pain, Nad. Because I'm your guardian angel. And, I love you. My love for you is very sincere. Do you know how I feel about you? You don't need to doubt my feelings anymore, you know best how I feel about you all this time.
"You don't need to question my feelings anymore, Nad. I love you, I'm always there for you, I can protect you and also take care of you. I will never make you cry. Even if I make you cry, I hope it's a happy cry, not a sad cry. So, you can be 100% sure of me, Nad."
I was again dumbfounded by his words. I was touched and deeply moved by the words he said to me. But, I was still confused, should I give up on Niko and leave him or accept Maxime and come to his side?
"Max, I'm confused. I don't know what to do."
"What are you confused about, Nad? Everything is clear, right? How long do you want to be hurt like this by Niko?"
"But, Niko is my husband. I love him."
"Leave Niko, Nad. And, come to my side," he said again, making me silent for a while.