AST
PHASE 5 . CONGRATULATIONS

Coughing a few times was heard even hoarse voice again ejected from Jo's mouth since a few hours ago they arrived at a ruined building. He almost vomited if he did not hold back the tumult in his stomach. Now, he could only lean weakly against the wall of the building that was already filled with those cracks.

Long story short, Jo takes Jun and Adara to escape from the camp during the attack some time ago. They ran without knowing the direction. Jo only hopes that he can save his sister and the girl he never even thought he could meet. Fortunately, there are still a few bottles of the antidote—Jo does not know what the name is—so that Jun can be cured.

“Kakak is okay, ‘kan?” Jun approached Jo's increasingly weak body. The young man's breathing was hunting with his heartbeat. Cold sweat started pouring out a few minutes ago. “Kakak takes his medicine, yes?”

“You should drink it too, Jo.”

Adara retrieves a small bottle from inside the backpack that Jo carries.

“No. No need.”

Jo threw away his face, dodged the bottle and tried to get up as hard as he could. But again it collapsed.

Lunglai and numbness began to reach his senses joints slowly.

“I told you, you should drink it!”

“Kak, taken the medicine.” Jun answered worriedly. The little girl's round netra began to glaze over at Jo.

Adara bit the edge of her lips. I feel how difficult the situation is now. “You should drink it, Jo. If not ...”

“If not?” Jo interrupts while grimacing to control her increasingly tight breathing. “You yourself haven't drank it

since then. I only brought five and you have to drink two bottles if you don't want the effects of the poisonous gas to hurt your body.”

The girl flinched. His lips locked for a moment.

“Give me just one!”

Jo snatches the coarse bottle of petite in Adara's grasp and rushes to gulp it down. A few minutes he flinch, regulating the rhythm of breathing and heartbeat. His mind was complicated, but he tried to ignore it. For Jo, it should not be a man who is involved in feelings when being with women, or even children. At the very least, he should be brave and able to bring Adara and Jun to another spot in this already eternal hell-like region.

“I will look for water,” said Adara while rising.

“Where are you looking, huh?” sahut Jo's. “Don't go alone! You don't know if all this time the Western alliance has been

sending troops to attack the latent Eastern alliance that is still alive. There was no sound in the attack, and it was quite dangerous. So don't go anywhere while I catch my breath, Adara.”

“Then what should I do?” lirih the girl in the pigtails. Half lowered his head to show how anxious and fearful he was at the moment.

Jo looked at the girl, pervading every second the sense that flowed on her. A long breath of air came from

both nostrils were a moment later. “Sit!” her word whimpering. “There are a lot of wild animals out there. Sit near me if you don't want them to lure those sneaky people here.”

Adara turned around and looked at Jo full of bitterness. Jun was already asleep in his brother's warm embrace. In order to

the other time, Adara was afraid to see this situation again. Getir full of hope. He looked out for a moment, looking at the twilight that was expanding. Followed by the chirping of birds that are maneuvering in the sky.

The girl bowed. Sirat please return to sea in the apparently. He again bit the lip. His feelings are over

messed up, expecting someone who doesn't know where he is now.

“Adnan. Where are you?”

***

Adnan sat right next to a thick glass window that could make himself look at the void of space

limited out there. There is only a barren desert with some of the ruins of the buildings still visible. Various plants and trees can still grow and survive with the remnants of nutrients there. It is still a few months since the mega disaster occurred, and this region has not seen a definite development to rise from the slump, even coupled with the power of the western alliance that managed to occupy some parts.

The young man in black was still wearing a military suit after carrying out his duties. I can't refuse, and

nor can it be considered resigned. Adnan did so solely because he himself did not want the two counter-stricken alliances to judge him. Holding a dual nationality identity was the hardest for now, and it had to be completely hidden if he did not want the situation to get even more chaotic.

Again. His memory is reminiscing about a girl. Yeah, the girl he's known for a long time. Someone he loves and does not know his whereabouts. Adnan looked down, wailing at the cup of warm milk coffee in front of him. His eyes probed every bubble of foam that was still left there.

“Adnan?”

“What are you doing?” Erick asked as he placed himself in the seat opposite the seat

that partner. “Last-lately you've been daydreaming a lot,” he added.

Adnan remained silent. He nodded weakly confirming Erick's statement.

“You still think about it?” ask the brunette again.

Adnan nodded back. He was also called by Erick.

“I'm looking for valid data on your living citizens. They should have sent him to Cosmo for the record. But ... I did not find it at all,” Erick said a little doubt. “What east alliance is planning something to change the situation?”

The young man in black was still unmoved.

“Adnan?”

Erick frowned, trying to understand every inch of his partner's thinking. Since that big event, Adnan has locked his mouth more often and seemed to hide something from him. He clearly knew the boy's true identity.

What ... because this concerns Adara—the girl who is always messed with by him?

***

Those bright eyes that were now a little faint looked up at the sky of the world. Dark with stars scattered

fill the void of night. The two netra now bowed softly, thinking about every second of life he lived. At least—for tonight—ia managed to collect a cold that increasingly pierced the pores of the skin.

Adara shuddered, getting cold. His arms crossed, hugging his body. He occasionally

exhaling to regulate body temperature so as not to hypothermia. Meanwhile, not far from where he curled up, Jo fell asleep hugging Jun who had been wanting to cry. Several times Jo was seen trying to calm her frightened little sister. For a boy of Jun's age it shouldn't be

to feel the bitter tingle of this kind of life. Abandoned by their parents and living a long life. Adults often feel sad and want to end their lives.

The girl now faces the sky again. Think about how his next life will be. Wrongfully

one hand was raised, like it was about to reach the sky. The fingers are circular like forming a binocular. A few seconds later, his index and thumb seemed to be reaching for a huge star that was shining brightest in the sky.

Adara smiled bitterly. “You're like a star. Reach even I can't. Then how can I be together

with you?” muttered.

Elsewhere, at the same second, Adnan also looked up at the sky after he finished his chatter

with Erick. He chose to lean on the edge of the base he was currently standing on. A big star caught his attention, increasingly making his mind again melanglang buana referring to the girl he is still looking for until now.

Damn it if I were that star. I will always be far away and not be with you. Adara.

Adnan stared at the star. The night wind blew on the strands of his black mane to the brink,

cover part of his face. The breath was created the next split second. Upset, and also wanting to feel like running away right now.

Will I be the star that always shines on you? I'm too stupid to love you at a time like this. Even I assume if this feeling is just anxiety.

However, Adnan again looked at the sky decorated with galactic fibers on it. Both her netraces slid her blips

the stars there.

“Anxious and longing,” murmured, “what am I feeling both?”

***