ARSHAKA
Handkerchief

I breathed a tired breath. Seeing the crowd of women scrambling over clothes labeled discounts made my head dizzy.

I am currently standing at the entrance of one of the clothing outlets located in the famous Mall. I chose to stand with both hands in front of my chest, from a distance I watched Karin who was busy tearing clothes in a special basket labeled 50% discount%.

This Saturday I got a day off work, although actually I prefer to work on weekends.

After Karin got the clothes she wanted, we switched to a Suki restaurant. Since I've been with Karin all day, all the food I ordered was treated by her.

During our meal, we were busy chatting about everything we could talk about.

"Bi, Arshaka chat I nih nanyain you again same me or not,"

That this one I'm lazy to talk to Karin about.

The more days I was getting overwhelmed handling the man's attitude. Every day Arshaka will always come to me both at the Campus and at the Cafe. In accordance with his promise last time, Arshaka always picked me up at the cafe and drove me home.

It's not just that. Every time Arshaka ordered a drink he wanted to call his girlfriend Bianca, thanks to which the majority of Cafe customers were my Campus friends started to assume that I was Arshaka's girlfriend.

Arshaka is like an invisible creature that continues to haunt me, not enough all day he met me, he also often sent me white Roses, also sending me messages every morning, every morning, day and night. If I haven't returned the message, Karin and Samuel will be contacted to ask about my situation.

Sometimes Leo also gets a message from her, asking if I'm home or not.

"let's just say I'm not with you anymore" I asked Karin to tell a lie. Soon Karin replies to Arshaka's message.

Shortly after, Karin said something to me after her phone shook again.

"Arshaka asked me to share the location where I am now,"

I immediately prevented Karin from replying to her message, my feelings were not good to hear Arshaka ask her to share the location, "no need to be baled. Let's just!"

Don't let Arshaka know that I'm with Karin.

I was intentional and tried hard to avoid him. I just don't want my feelings for her to really grow.

Although hesitant, Karin nodded obediently, then she put her phone in her bag.

Soon Karin and I got up from our seats and went back around the Mall. This time I want to visit an outlet that sells the best cookies here.

"Mulettes,"

I gasped in shock when I saw Arshaka was already beside me.

"you." I said stutter and looked at him in disbelief. How did he know I was here?

"you come home with me." he said and took my hand and he held it, but immediately I patted.

"what the hell are you?!" let go after I managed to let go of his grasp.

"you're coming home with me, Bianca." he forced it as he took my hand again.

Without my consent, Arshaka pulled my hand forcefully to follow her leaving Karin who was still gawking at us leaving.

I moved to ask to be released, but Arshaka did not also loosen her grip on me. Even I shouted to him, Arshaka did not speak as if he had not heard me.

Get us in the car park and Arshaka opens the car door so I can get in the car.

Arshaka's car came out of the Mall building and through the area along the road at high speed, I was in a panic because Arshaka was not about to precede other riders until the sound of horn floated in a row.

I yelled at Arshaka to stop the car immediately. But it does not stop unless the speed is getting faster. Arshaka's face also turned stiff withstanding the anger. His gaze stared straight ahead without even looking at me.

I can't help but start dropping my tears. I fear. I'm afraid to see Arshaka like this. My bad thoughts started to go everywhere.

To where Arshaka's car stopped by the side of the road. I immediately threw away my face as Arshaka started staring at me.

"why crying?"

My feathers immediately goosebumps in fear hearing Arshaka's hoarse voice held back as if holding back the anger.

I should have been angry because he forced me to come home with him.

I should have dared to look at him with a look of anger.

I should be able to scold him right now.

I shouldn't have cried.

And I should have brushed off his hand when he cupped my cheek, rubbed my face and my two eyes gently with both of his thumbs.

"i said Bee, why are you crying?"

Now Arshaka's voice has weakened, but it has not changed my feelings. I pushed him hard to stay away from me.

"away. Please open the door, I want to go home by myself." I snapped while opening the car door, but it did not open because it was locked.

Arshaka just looked at my activities that kept trying to open the door, even though I knew Arshaka would not open the door.

"Bee, please shut up."

"no!" I screamed loudly.

"you've gone too far with Arshaka. You think we'll be all right if you speed the kayak? Do you think if later we have an accident how? Do you think that later many people become victims due to your actions? It's not the racecourse you used to do, it's a public street." I am at length.

"please don't kayak it again, I'm afraid Arsha,"

I dropped my tears back.

My whole body was goosebumps when I imagined people lying down with blood.

I have a memory of not wearing, where I witnessed myself there was a car accident between a mini bus and a private car on the highway and all the passengers in the private car died on the spot.

It can be said that I have trauma, but fortunately my trauma does not interfere with my daily life.

But I'll avoid seeing any accident victims on television news. Or hearing from other people's stories about an accident.

"sorry Bee,"

Arshaka embraced me and hugged me tightly. Her hug made me feel her heartbeat beating quietly.

One hand was stroking my back which was still trembling, but slowly I started to feel calm.

"sorry Bee. I couldn't think clearly, I was emotional because you kept avoiding me. I'm sorry,"

Arshaka let go of her embrace, then she cupped my face again and looked me in her eyes with a deep look.

"i hope you no longer shy away from me Bee," pleaded with me in a soft tone.

But I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked that question just now. 

"because I don't want you to stay away from me Bee,"

"i love you, Bianca."

The answer he gave made my heart beat faster.

**********************************

I contemplated looking at the dark sky decorated with the blink of the Stars and the Moonlight.

For a moment I pinched the base of my nose, thanks to Arshaka's words that kept ringing in my head.

"i love you, Bianca."

Is it easy for a man to fall in love and easy to say the word love to a woman he has not known for a long time?

Arshaka, a man who has not even turned 18 years old is so steady say the word love to women older than 3 years.

I don't understand how he thinks about the meaning of the word love. I still don't understand why he likes me. And I don't yet understand why he was willing to waste his time, money and energy chasing me.

I still can't believe all this.

But I admit, his sincerity to me does not look kidding. One of them by tracking my whereabouts through his cell phone, for me it is the result of his efforts.

Though I think his actions were pretty terrible.

I glanced at my phone, saw Arshaka make a video call.

The first ring I haven't responded yet. But I'm curious.

If I get the third ring from Arshaka. I'll pick up the call.

The second ring still has not been responded to. But my heart was already pounding waiting for the third ringing.

Before long my phone rang again, I immediately picked up a video call from Arshaka.

"what's up? Why just lifted?" I immediately got the protest question. I could see Arshaka sitting relaxed while leaning on the Sofa.

"from the toilet" my alibi. Seeing Arshaka look comfortable leaning there, I leaned in on the bed.

"do you want to sleep?" asked when he saw me justifying the blanket.

"yet," I said.

"do you want to sleep?" ask me back.

"yet. I still want to see you, still missing."

I turned my gaze in another direction, more precisely so that I did not show too much of my blushed face. But I think I diverted, because he smiled amusedly watching me move awkwardly.

"Bee, man,"

I looked back at him on the phone.

"after returning from the cafe, will you accompany me tomorrow?"

"where?" ask me.

"to the Mall for a moment. I'm gonna buy something."

"buy what?" ask me again. Before replying, Arshaka confirmed his sitting position for a moment.

"want to buy a gift for Grandpa. It's his birthday soon,"

For a moment I was stunned and then I nodded.

Just this time I heard about the other side of Arshaka.

"do you still have Grandpa?" ask me a curious.

"yes," Arshaka nodded.

"later I'll introduce you to my grandfather."

I just nodded and came back and we discussed general things that were quite fitting for us to make the topic of conversation.

The topic of our conversation was not very important, but I was quite satisfied chatting with him.

While discussing each topic, we connected together. I was also quite appreciative with the broad insight that Arshaka had.

Also he asked about me, one of them about the incident last afternoon where I was crying because Arshaka was struggling.

I told him, not too detailed but he caught my explanation.

"it's night, sleep!"

I glanced at the wall clock, already showing at 11 p.m. 

"tomorrow afternoon I'll pick you up at the cafe,"

I nodded while closing my mouth as it evaporated.

"night Bee, uh,"

"night too,"

For a moment Arshaka was silent, then he smiled broadly. Maybe he was surprised because only this time I returned a good night from him.

Immediately I turned off the unilateral video call and put the phone on the nightstand.

Then I touched my chest that was pounding quite fast earlier. Feeling the debate for the sake of the more day-to-day debaran becomes.

The longer I always brush off my assumptions, the more powerful and clear my assumptions become.

It's free that I continue to avoid and stay away from him, because I will also lose with his persistence.

And her persistence also made me lose to my own feelings.

I started to like Arshaka.

**********************************