Behind The Lies
Healing Heart

After completing the sentence, Iyash and Aruna came to the office to make a report to Pak Gusti. 

“Good. Kapok already? Won't skip again?” ask Mr. Gusti. “You shouldn't be allowed in, but later you'll even be happy.”

Iyash and Aruna bowed. 

“Iyash?” 

Iyash immediately raised his face. “Iya, Sir?” 

“You may be lucky because the principal is your Bude and this school belongs to your Grandma. But, you're Aruna?” 

Aruna was still down and did not want to look at Mr. Gusti. 

“As your homeroom teacher, honestly I am disappointed.” 

“We're sorry, sir,” said Aruna. 

“You know, how quickly the news spread?” 

“Sorry, Sir,” says Iyash. 

“You are outstanding students if it repeats events like yesterday. Maybe you'll reduce your value.” 

Iyash and Aruna nodded. 

“Now you can go.” 

“Thank you, Sir.” 

Iyash turned around, while Aruna had already stepped up. Iyash continues to follow where Aruna went, even though a year ago they seemed hostile. However, in one incident alone they became very close like this. 

“What message do you order?” aruna asked Iyash who happened to be standing behind her. 

“I want to order rice, laper.”

“I also.” 

Aruna then stood in front of the table. “Bu, rice sit two,” Aruna said to the Lastri Mother of the canteen guard. 

“Aruna wear sambal?” 

“Iya.” 

“Iyash?” 

“He didn't. Not strong pedes,” ledek Aruna.

“Really, Yash?” asked Miss Lastri to make sure she was afraid that Aruna was just joking. 

“Yes, I don't.” 

“Ya already.” 

Aruna brought her rice to the table, while Iyash walked behind her. He did not expect that Aruna knew enough about him. 

From a distance Naya, Dennis, Umam and Bagas look towards them. They do not understand why Aruna became distant and prefer Iyash, even though the two humans previously did not seem to get along. 

“From yesterday eat noodles continue, my stomach is great,” said Iyash while sitting next to Aruna. 

“Maybe you catch wind.” 

Iyash stared at Aruna. “Think because noodles.” 

“Every day time off eating noodles, it's okay, ‘kan?”  

 “Iya anyway.” Iyash looked back at the plate of rice sitting on the table. While Aruna had already devoured it first. 

“Run, I was curious, yesterday Bu Yuli asked you to meet your grandfather, ‘kan?” 

“Iya.” 

“You know who your grandfather is?” 

“Ngak.” 

“Name Ganjar Wijaya, ‘kan?” 

“Iya.” 

“You have no intention to meet him?” 

“No, justin. If you have a family, you may not be alone and live poor as you are now. Dad will also definitely introduce me to his family.” 

“You were the same dad last night, all right, ‘kan?” 

Aruna was silent, but still chewing. Recalling last night's events pisses him off. “Dad doesn't say anything.” 

“Hah?”

“It doesn't either. I'm confused facing dad.” 

“Then don't think about it, Run.” 

“But the problem I already know, Yash.” 

“Yes, but your father doesn't want you to know, that's probably why he didn't talk about this last night.” 

“Iya, maybe, Yash.” 

“You just act like you don't know anything.” 

“You can pretend like yesterday we got nothing. Just act like our trip yesterday was in vain.”

“Yes I understand, I'll try.” 

They enjoy rice and dried tempeh very greedily. Some people feel sorry because they must be very tired after cleaning the school bathroom. 

“I really like Mas Sugeng,” complained Aruna. 

“Hm. Me too.” 

“Tadi just want to go to school, he still brought up the incident yesterday,” Aruna shootout. 

“But, it was fitting that I met him, ordinary aja.” 

“It is, you are the grandson of his master.” 

Iyash smile. “But he has a point too, Run. Time in hospital mushola, ‘kan we sleep together.” 

“But, ‘kannya we do not do anything, Yash. Just sleeping doang.” 

Iyash smiled again while bowing to enjoy his rice. 

Suddenly Aruna breathed. The girl then got up. “Lupa buy drink.” He then went to order two bottles of tea and gave one to Iyash.

“Still,” says Iyash while holding his head up. 

“Not paid, don't say thanks first,” said Aruna while sitting down. The flat face and the word without intonation made Iyash smile. The young man really did not expect that Aruna was always full of surprises. 

***

Since their trip to Jakarta they have become closer. Going home from school always together, resting always together, even they so sit down. Aruna was no longer moody and Iyash was proud to be able to contribute to helping her heal her heart. 

    However, there is something different from the four friends of Aruna. Umam has looked uninspired since Iyash and Aruna became so close, he felt that Aruna had forgotten about him, and with Dennis, Bagas and Naya, they felt that Aruna had changed.  

    Naya is upset when Aruna is no longer sitting with her. He is jealous and calls Aruna like a peanut forgetting her skin. 

“You know, ‘kan nut forgot skin? Now everywhere the two, like classes, canteens, parks, even roads have them, while we are just ants that are meaningless,” said Naya when she happened to pass by Aruna.  

However, Aruna did not realize that what Naya said was intended for her. He passed by and sat down in an empty place regardless of his four friends. Just as Iyash had just finished queuing for food, Aruna waved her hand. 

“Hai Nay,” greet Iyash while passing Naya and her three other friends. 

Naya did not reply and acted judes to Iyash, but before that she was the friendliest among the others. 

“Suddenly forget your own friend,” says Naya in the end.  

Iyash stopped stepping. “Who forgot?” tanyakanya. 

“That's proof? You are busy courting, busy together,” said Naya while getting up.  

    Aruna stopped chewing, but did not look at Naya.

    Iyast even smiled. “Why are you, Nay?” 

    “Naya jealousy,” says Bagas. 

“Naya likes you too, Yash,” says Umam. 

“Oh.” Iyash nodded, he then looked at Aruna who was still bowed. 

“Times just oh?” say Umam again. 

“I have to answer what?” 

“Don't say that you like Aruna too.” Umam again who spoke as Dennis, Bagas and others fell silent staring at Iyash. 

“Why?” asked Iyash after a long silence. 

“You have the same feeling Aruna, ‘kan?” tanya Umam returned, seeming to really want to ascertain what Iyash felt. 

“Not your business,” replied Iyash without staring at them and chose to sit next to Aruna. “Partially what I feel does not harm anyone.”

“You said what you feel doesn't hurt anyone?” Bagas took over the conversation.

Iyash nodded as well. 

“Naya feels aggrieved by how you feel,” timpal Bagas suddenly. 

Iyash laughed. “Nothing is wrong with what Naya feels, but if she feels aggrieved she shouldn't have decided to like me, because I also never felt aggrieved by what Aruna felt, whether she liked Mas Iqbal, or liked one of you. I don't have a problem. If you think you can control the feelings of others, you are wrong, why not try to control your own feelings? Why should you regulate people's feelings, hm?” Iyash said at length. 

 “You will never feel aggrieved because Aruna also likes you,” said Naya while rising.  

All this time pretending to hate, even though they both like. So, hate really is love?" umam Ledek. 

"Purely!" added Naya. 

“You hypocrites," said Aruna. "I know that you never sincerely love me because I'm the son of a tea picker. Did I not know that you like to talk about me in the back?” accuse Aruna.

Iyash bowed and could not see Aruna's face. To be honest he was disappointed as to why Aruna should think so. 

“You don't forget when Iyash vilified you in the cafeteria at that time.” 

“No, I didn't forget. Precisely I was amazed by him, because only he never talked to me while whispering.” 

Iyash. 

“So what does our friendship mean all this time?” ask Naya. 

“Ya, you think to yourself.” Aruna left and slowly one by one they left leaving Iyash sitting dumbstruck on the chair. Everyone's gaze made Iyash uncomfortable. Why they had to fight in the cafeteria was watched by all the students. As if you have no privacy?