At Least I’M Free
XXV

Lilya stepped outside when the elevator door opened. With wide strides he walked down the hall dominated by white with a pungent carbolic odor.

With a feeling of annoyance, the words of the sister roared in her mind, continuously repeating like a broken black disk. It's been a long time since someone last called him a "bully". In the past year, Lilya has been trying hard to live her new life avoiding the dark shadows of the past that have destroyed her.

Although you must know, if what the sister said was not wrong.

Unknowingly, Lilya had arrived at the door she was pointing at. Not to forget, he washed his hands in a nearby sink before sliding the cream door bearing his friend's name open.

A warmer welcome. Lilya carefully stepped in and closed the door behind her. Unlike the patient room in general, the room has dim lighting and the constant sound of medical devices is heard. Even so Lilya was used to it, in fact she had come here quite often for the past year.

Slowly Lilya approached towards the curtain that covered the patient bed by the window. A silhouette appeared behind the curtain with a body lying on the bed. When he arrived, Lilya spread the curtain slowly.

"Yeah, Mira!" Cheerful sweep. He then sat in a chair near the bed. "Where are you?"

Silent.

The weakly lying thin body was trembling like it was sleeping so deeply.

Lilya who was used to it can only observe various cables and life support tools attached to all sides of the body, as well as monitors that monitor heart function and other vital signs.

"Well a long time, but since last I've been here to cake his cudgel bandages. Hehe.." kekeh Lilya until a while later his eyes narrowed to look at his friend's pain.

"You ain't no shit, this week's been a lot of weird shit." Tenderizing her body to the back of the chair, Lilya folded her arms around her chest and turned her gaze to the ceiling. "First there was a fire, the victim of the teacher died, the people thought it was due to an electrical short circuit when it was the work of people deliberately. I just knew that the teacher was my deket's father, there continued to be eccentric detectives working together to investigate one English club girl he suspected, and it turned out that the girl was the same friend of mine, too, there's still Udo..."

Lilya suddenly lowered her head and smiled.

"Why the hell am I.." he murmured.

He glanced back at the figure of the girl lying weakly on the bed. "I'm sorry, every date I work just complains."

Lilya held her friend's hand. "Wake up dong..."

While holding tightness in the chest, Lilya recalled with a memory that had always tried to bury her. The incident began a year ago before Lilya moved the city and school to Tunas Nusa SMK.

...* * *...

Since SD and SMP Lilya is notoriously easy to get along with anyone. Its friendly and easy going nature makes it quite popular among students even teachers.

Because of its reputation, Lilya's school life has always been smooth and enjoyable. Until he meets Mira, the loner girl who turned Lilya into her present self.

It was a big ball lesson, football. Lilya sat on the outskirts of the roomy, chatting with her friends while waiting for her turn to play.

"Eh I'm thirsty nihh... ga can't what buy aer to the canteen?" Complain one of his friends listlessly.

"That's it, you have to wait your turn first" replied another.

Hearing that, Lilya took the initiative. "Eh, I brought it from home. It's in class, the cave take yak."

"Eh seriously? You brought a mucum bekel from home? Wah Lilya is the savior!" Cheers of his thirsty friend.

Lilya smiled brightly and got up immediately running towards the classroom. During the trip he felt happy because he could help someone, even if it was troublesome.

When he arrived at the class, Lilya's attention was distracted by Mira who was busy reading the novel on her stool in the corner of the class. Among the empty benches, the girl appeared indifferent and unperturbed in the slightest by the arrival of Lilya.

Lilya was not aware that the girl was not in the field. Actually rumors about Mira who like to truant have often been heard, but Lilya did not think that the girl would also skip sports lessons which she thought was very fun.

"Why not play sports? Mr. Irwan again has an assessment, you know." Instead of taking a bottle of drinking water from her bag, Lilya instead approached Mira.

Hearing the call of the 'class clown' made Lilya shocked. This time someone called it that. Although something in Lilya's chest became uncomfortable, she tried to be as normal as possible in front of Mira. "It's okay. I was just telling you."

Mira turned the pages of her book without any intention of responding. Seeing that, Lilya passed to her desk and took a bottle from her bag.

"It's me first yak," said Lilya who again did not respond Mira.

While still smiling, Lilya passed back to the field. Along the way he unceasingly remembers if he ever made a mistake until Mira treated him like that?

Even so, Lilya did not find any fault. He was always nice to her, but why...?

The next day, as the break bell rang, Mira hurriedly approached Lilya at her desk before the girl went to the cafeteria with her friends.

"Did you tell Mr Irfan if I don't feel well anymore?" Mira's murmur doesn't take it.

"Eh?" Lily looked confused. Yesterday he did say that to Mr. Irfan with the intention that Mira be given the opportunity to participate in the following assessment. His intentions are good, but why is Mira's response like this?

"What the hell?" Some of Lilya's friends arrived equally confused.

"Ngapain nih boy nolep angry not clear?" Gulp his other friend while staring at Mira full of threats.

Realizing that the situation was mellowing, Lilya also tried to calm her friend. "N-nothing, this is just a misunderstanding."

Even so, it seems that Mira does not care and refutes. "What's okay?! I love truancy, but I'm not a fake cake lo! What else ampe boong to the teacher, why try? Let me thank you, clown?"

Suddenly friends of Lilya joined in shouting and defending Lilya who could only be silent while staring Mira melengos go outside the classroom.

His chest felt heavy again. Maybe Lilya was angry, but not to Mira or his sharp words, but to the realization she had just realized.

...* * * ...

A quiet night is Mr.'s favorite time. Lindberg to relax while enjoying tea on the terrace of the house. The Swedish man looked peaceful as he sipped his tea while looking up at the night sky.

Meanwhile, his eldest daughter, Lilya, looks tangled down like a lot of thoughts.

"Why reward, I have a lot of friends but don't feel like I have friends?" Ask the girl. "I've only realized lately. They want to play with me because I'm cool, well, equally useful doang. But if like I'm not that cake, do they still want to win with me? The cake is not."

"Why not try to find out for yourself? Humans cannot be forever good, cool, just as useful. It will be a long cape," said Mr. Lindberg is relaxed.

Meanwhile Lilya let out a long breath. "The thing is I'm afraid... If they really go how? I don't want to be alone."

"Why are you alone?"

"Ya-" suddenly Lilya imagined the figure of Mira who was reading a book alone in the corner of the class and his words when angry at the break.

"...at least I'm not a liar."

If you pay attention again, the figure of the loner seemed so comfortable with himself. It doesn't matter what people say and life follows its own rules. Lilya...

"Haha! Papah really! Why is it alone? I have cape mengabuin them all.”

The conversation made Lilya's determination to be round. If he wants a friend, he wants a friend who can accept it as it is, not just good things.

"So what's your next plan?" Ask Mr. Lindbergs.

"Of course I will..."