Blue Light
THIRTEEN

Lana looked at her phone dumbly, still unable to believe she had just thrown Luke's invitation.

I must be completely insane!! Lana screamed her despair in her heart.

Lana wants to keep insisting on refusing, but Luke is not an easy opponent to argue with.

All the reasons expressed by Lana were easily repelled. After spending nearly twenty minutes in disputation, Lana lost heavily and gave up.

Lana could only smile resignedly as Luke's exclamation of excitement rang out in her ears.

But once the call is over, Lana's common sense settles, and the idea of spending time with Luke begins to sound dangerous.

Lana's finger again felt the name of Luke on the screen, she just had to touch it and tell Luke, if not want to go. But there is an impulse in the heart that forbids it to do so.

The motivation that comes from joy.

Excited because after almost a week of not hearing Luke's voice, Lana could finally hear it earlier.

Excited because the shadow of walking to enjoy the festival with Luke looks fun.

Lana was not used to feeling excited, a strange warm feeling slipped into her heart and made her want to keep it there.

He loved that warmth.

Peace while enjoying breakfast, never came in line with Lana's expectations.

He spends more time in the morning glancing at Luke's cabin uneasily.

Various questions swirled in his head. Is Luke home? Is he resting enough?

These few days, every time he passed through Luke's cabin on his way home, Lana always saw him in complete darkness. Marking Lukas still working at Merian, he was really busy.

Upon realizing the existence of such an inappropriate thought, Lana immediately put it away, not her business as to how Luke was. He doesn't have to worry about it.

It has been some time now, Lana concluded it is likely that Luke had separated from his wife.

The married man will not move to a new house with his cousin.

He never saw the ring on Luke's finger, and the only possibility is that Luke is no longer with his wife.

And Lana was happy with the fact. Lana of course has tried hard to get rid of that inappropriate sense of joy. Again it is not his business whether Luke still has a wife or not.

But whatever the circumstances, a walk with Luke was a crazy idea, he could not do the deed that made his relationship with Luke even closer.

Lana should have stayed away from him.

How could he forget? Aaron's painful face was clearly reflected in Lana's eyes. He had done a reckless deed by accepting Luke's invitation.

"Lanaa!! You haven't slept? In a few hours the sun will rise. You'll be exhausted tomorrow"

Aubrey broke through the door of her room while nagging.

"Yes, I'm going to sleep soon" said Lana, pulling her blanket over her head.

"You should really sleep. I'll stay here to make sure"

Lana closed her eyes when she heard Aubrey's threat. He never jokes about it like that, Lana can only obey him, and try to

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Doubt continued to whack Lana until the next day.

Lana was like eating the simalakama fruit, she could not decide what to do. That day Lana deliberately busied herself to make her forget all the anxiety.

In the midst of Lana's worry, somehow, Joan can find out about Luke's plan to take her around at the festival.

For this reason, Joan kept urging her to get ready.

Joan had promised a half-day holiday on the last day of the festival, as she wanted Lana to also enjoy her first festival at Grindelwald.

Joan excitedly explained, according to her, the times Lana enjoyed the festival will be more perfect because Luke will accompany her.

"Lana! how many times have I told you, leave that thing on the floor! You need to get ready, Luke has come" exclaimed Joan, who left Lana a little aghast.

Joan clenched her teeth seeing Lana still trying to fix the pile of boxes containing food in the warehouse.

"Let's hurry!"

Joan couldn't wait to see Lana's slow movements put the box on the floor.

Joan's passionate spirit actually makes Lana more doubtful. But it's too late, he can't cancel it anymore. Luke was waiting for him in front.

So clenching her hands she followed Joan and stepped out to take the coat from the hanger.

"What are you doing?!" decak Joan behind Lana.

Apparently he followed Lana forward.

"Don't tell me you're going around at the festival wearing that shirt, Lana!"

Joan pointed all over her body wrapped in a thick, unmodeled coat.

"I thought!" joan said, when he saw Lana's nod.

"Come here!" Joan pulls Lana's hand, invites her into her room.

On the bed, Lana saw a large thin cardboard tied to a rope.

Joan thrust the box at Lana who still looked confused.

"Change your clothes with this. I won't let you walk around looking like a dough grinder" Joan said.

Impatiently, Joan took off Lana's coat, which was brown as a wooden bread dough grinder. She also began to forcefully open the loose t-shirt worn by Lana.

"Well, all right, I'll wear it" Lana exclaimed frantically.

Lana was about to refuse, but Joan's hand didn't stop taking her clothes off. Joan only stopped after Lana agreed.

With a satisfied smile, Joan stepped out of the room while giving her a final warning, "Don't be too slow, Luke won't like waiting long"

Lana opens the box, and finds a turtleneck red wool dress with a length exceeding the knee and a black short jacket. The dress was very soft to the touch, and definitely warm.

Unknowingly, Lana's tears were flowing.

Joan's kindness is so excessive, she doesn't deserve any of this. Not after all his rejection and cold attitude towards Joan.

"Hurry Lana. Wear black boots next to the bed. I also prepared it for you" Joan's cry came back from the door.

Lana instantly wiped her tears, and immediately put on that maroon red shirt.

"Virtually perfect, there's still a bit of a shortage" Joan said, as Lana walked out of her room. He took Lana back into the room and sat her down at the dresser.

Lana never studied or thought about makeup, she looked at the row of makeup tools on the table. Joan shook her head in disbelief to see Lana even silently peeking,

"You've never worn make up before?"

Lana shook her head, Joan closed her eyes at Lana's reply.

"We'll discuss this sometime. How could--" Joan shake her head.

Joan's hands deftly began to daub various beauty products onto Lana's face, and lastly she chose cherry-flavored lipstick for her.

"Perfect!!" joan said, in a satisfied tone.

Lana turned her head in disbelief when she finally saw the reflection of her face in the mirror.

He barely recognized his own face.

The shadow in the mirror looks so beautiful and beautiful.

Joan did not give a sharp color to her make up, Lana liked how her lips look natural pink, although Joan had swept it with a brush many times.

"What--"

"Yes Lana, you're so pretty, aren't you?" Joan answered before Lana finished asking.

She gently stroked Lana's hair which had also been tidy. Joan pinched it high behind the head, to make it more concise.

"Thank you, Joan. You don't actually need to...."

"Ssttt.... save that greeting for later, OK? Luke's waiting" Joan covered Lana's mouth with her index finger.

"And don't cry, Luke will scold me if you see your eyes reddened" he continued, wiping the tears that pooled in Lana's eyes.

Lana could only nod, and slowly stepped into the lobby, hoping that nothing bad would happen today.

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This is not fair!!!

Luke cried out loud in heart. It's unfair because Lana can be more charming than usual.

The red dress Lana wore was perfect for her. The red color makes the black hair that is pigtailed high behind the head look more shiny, and the white skin contrasts sharply with the red color.

With a slow step, Lana walked across the lobby.

Luke becomes misbehaved, as his eyes go through Lana's entire body.

The dress was not only very beautiful to wear by her, but also very fitting, leaving no gaps. Lana's body that has increasingly contained looks-beautiful.

Only that word dared to be raised by Luke's mind. Because the other words made her feel as low as Petra.

Luke slapped his right cheek, so that his eyes and mind could be diverted from the curves of Lana's body.

"What are you doing?" Lana, who came before Luke, looked at him with wide gray eyes.

Lana pointed at her flushed right cheek.

"Ah--it's okay" Luke shook his head in embarrassment.

Lana seemed to have seen his ridiculous actions earlier. "We'd better get going" .

Lana answered the call with her head.

The cool and fresh autumn air greeted them, as soon as it left Joan's house building.

"You better put on your jacket. The air will get colder later" said Lukas, looking at the black jacket Lana was in.

The woolen dress is enough, but Luke won't let anyone see Lana's curves. Her nightmares may repeat.

"Oh..." Lana complied, and immediately put on the black jacket.

Luke looked at it with satisfaction, he thought it was better. Lana's most inviting body part, safely covered.

Luke begins his autumn festival tour with Lana seeing a costume carnival taking place on Grindelwald's main highway.

Their journey there was quite a long time, other than because of the distance, the human crowd that had the same goal started to fill the road.

But because Luke knew the streets of Grindelwald as well as his own, he easily took Lana down the small streets deserted from the presence of tourists.

Lana who has never been through that road. His eyes slowly began to live looking at the scenery around the path he passed.

The path chosen by Luke is fascinating. The usual Grindelwald was already quite beautiful, with the start of the festival, all the villagers put out more power and effort to decorate the village.

The lanterns hanging across the street had not been lit, but the beautiful shape was enough to impress Lana.

The walls of the building in Grindelwald are also covered by a variety of beautiful murals with various colors.

Luke tells Lana that the paint will only last for a few weeks. The paint will be lost to water once it snows.

When they get near the highway, Luke pulls Lana into the salutation of a house by the road.

"Where are we going?" lana asked confusedly. Shouldn't they be standing on the side of the road?

"We won't be able to see anything from the side of the road because of the large crowds. Believe me, my chosen place will not disappoint you" Lukas said with a smile.

Up to the second floor, several people were already there. They were enjoying the carnival from the balcony.

"Lukas--- good to see you!!" they all scream almost simultaneously.

They all greeted Luke kindly. This house belongs to one of his aunt's friends - the mother of Neff--. They are happy to give a special place to Lana and Luke.

Lana looks awkward because she suddenly has to get acquainted with other people.

But as much as possible he was polite. Some of them also tease Lukas about his friendship with Lana, but he accidentally gives a floating answer.

It would be better if there were rumors circulating about his relationship with Lana. Because there will be no young man in Grindelwald who wants to compete with him in terms of getting women.

Lana will be safe from the crowd of intruding flies.

Unlike yesterday, the current togetherness with Lana through the normal approach phase. If they had seen Lana in Merian before, the rumors circulating would not have been that light.

Lana herself was not paying attention to the surrounding situation once the carnival began.

A sea of colorful clothes, a train with flowers of various shapes, frenetic music, come together to form an atmosphere full of euphoria, which makes Lana leave her feelings of anxiety.

Lana's face, which was full of smiles, made Luke feel excited. All the clumsy and restless feeling that Luke saw on the way here, was no longer present.

Lana freely, laughing at her story, waving at the butterfly costumed woman on the train, even capturing the millions of flower crowns that participants deliberately stocked.

After the carnival ends, Luke takes Lana to a market that provides food and souvenirs.

Many shops and cafes were closed, but they moved their wares in the field with large tents specially built for them.

"It's amazing!!' Lana exclaimed happily when they got there.

In the usually empty field, there stood a giant tent in red and green. Luke could understand why Lana was doing it, all sorts of colors and frenetic, making Luke feel like he was visiting a circus.

The fragrant smell of food and flowers filled the air under the tent.

"It's just a festival" said Lukas, inhaling a mouth-watering scent that came to his nose.

"Well!! Lana, what food do you want. Almost all kinds of food are here"

"Cheese--- cheese fountain" Lana pointed at one of the stalks with round and sparkling eyes.

"Of course, ha.ha.ha"

Luke pulled her into the stal queue while laughing brightly.

Lana is a cheese enthusiast. Luke realized this from his habit while living in Merian.

Lana never said it directly, but any food that contains cheese, make it more excited, the plate can certainly always be slippery.

"Mmmmm... This is so delicious!!" Lana looked like she was about to drift, as a soft piece of bread wrapped in warm liquid cheese entered her mouth.

Luke was greatly comforted to see how Lana's eyes were tightly closed, enjoying the meal. Lana came to the right place, at this festival she could enjoy all kinds of dishes from cheese.

After spending a large bowl of cheese founde, Lana pulls Luke to the next stal that offers racchelete.

The racchelete form that is usually served on a plate, slightly transformed into a practical take away food. The meat used has been cut into small pieces before doused with spiced liquid cheese.

And of course Lana cheered happily as the piece of meat disappeared into her mouth.

In front of his eyes, Luke saw how Lana seemed to be detached from the bond that had bound him all this time. Lana is free to be herself.

Smile, laugh, rejoice as you should.

Supposedly Neff saw this, he would see the other side of Lana's personality, Luke's inner self. The other side of Lana is very impressive according to Luke.

Lana's laughter was so melodious, and the smile formed on her tiny lips was also beautiful. Lana looks glittering under the sun.

"You want it?" lukas asked, when he saw Lana was observing a row of snow globes sold outside the tent.

Snow globe on sale is also very typical of Grindelwald, because there is a miniature view of the Eiger mountain is quite detailed.

"One of my acquaintances said that the Eiger is the most beautiful mountain he has ever seen. He has climbed it many times, but every time he climbs, he always brings memories of new beautiful scenery" Lana said, lifting one of the snow globes and glaring at it in the sun.

The fake snow granules that were inside turned around for a moment, before finally calmly falling down following gravity.

"I totally agree. The view of this mountain that I could never leave Grindelwald. Every time I want to leave, the mountain calls me back"

Luke follows Lana shaking one of the snow globes on the table.

In Luke's heart, who was the friend he meant? Lana never seemed to get along with anyone.

Did he meet her at Joan's? Many climbers stayed at Joan's place, especially men. Did one of them ask Lana to get acquainted?

"You ever want to leave Grindelwald?"

Luke put away the wild jealousy that had suddenly grown in his heart, and smiled faintly at Lana's question.

"Of course, everyone has the lowest point in their life, right? The moment where you question what you want to do next, the moment when it's as if the world has turned away from you"

"It was weird, I always felt that way" Lana said, and the words seemed to be the switch that turned Lana off.

The glistening eyes that Luke had seen from earlier were suddenly extinguished. Grimly Lana put down the snow globe she had in her hand and passed out of the field.

"One!" lukas said, in a hurry to pay for the snow globe Lana was holding and followed her walking.

"I'm sorry if I said something that offended you" said Lukas, full of regret, as soon as he caught up with Lana.

Lana shook her head, "There's nothing to forgive"

Luke was eager to slap her cheek again.

She must have triggered something unpleasant for Lana. And seeing Lana's attitude that had returned cold, it was impossible for Lana to tell the cause.

"This" Luke thrust the bag containing the snow globe earlier at Lana.

"Oh.." Lana's lips rounded in shock. "You don't need--"

"It doesn't need to, but I want to give it to you. I don't have to ask permission to give you a gift, do I?"

Lana shook her head and smiled a little. "Thank you, not just for this snow globe, but for everything that happens today. It's so fun, I'm enjoying it"

Lukas nodded with relief, Lana may still not be as happy as before, but her spirit was slightly lifted because Lana was not as dark as before.

All Luke can do is continue the plan according to the schedule, with the hope that maybe later Lana will return bright.

For the next event Lukas will take Lana to watch opera and fireworks show that will mark the end of this year's festival.

The opera will be held on an open stage next to the hill, and will tell the history of the beauty of Grindelawald. The show is worth waiting for because it is usually performed by a major opera artist from Switzerland.

Unfortunately, because the show was performed in an open space, the sound of the wind sometimes interrupted the singing of the performers.

Therefore, along the way to get there, Luke tells the outline of the story to Lana, so that she can enjoy it better.

The stage that became the center of the show was in a valley surrounded by low hills. The spectators will sit on a rocky hillside, which has been forcibly transformed by heavy equipment, forming a row of chairs like those inside the stadium.

They occupy the front row and get there right at the time the show will start.

Lukas was very satisfied, when Lana was seen enjoying the opera, especially after knowing this was the first opera performance watched by Lana.

Lukas could not bear to offer him a drink, when he saw how seriously Lana's face enjoyed the show.

He was just giving drinks when the show paused to change the stage for the final scene.

"Thank you" Lana said as she received the drink while exhaling a deep breath.

"I didn't know we could enjoy eating and drinking in the middle of an opera performance" Lana said, looking around.

Some of the spectators next door also started to open the packet of snacks and enjoy it.

"It can't be if the opera's official performance is inside the building. But this festival, Lana, the audience is free to do anything. If we were in the back row, we would probably see more than just an opera performance. Many half-drunk couples decide to make a blue movie after sunset"

Luke explained with a slanted smile.

Lana needed a little time to understand Luke's explanation, her face flushed red as understanding approached her.

"Oh My--why are they doing it here? Are they crazy?" Lana exclaimed in disbelief.

"Well, alcohol has been shown to make people stupid. But there are still many people who drink it. I always thought we might not be the smartest species on earth" the bitter smile that formed on Luke's face caught Lana's attention.

"Do you like to drink alcohol?"

"I used to drink it, when I was a stupid young man, but I never really enjoyed it. I haven't tasted it in years, not wine or champagne"

Luke breathed a deep breath as he answered.

He's actually lazy to talk about alcohol, but Lana seems interested.

"What about you? What kind of alcohol do you enjoy?" tanyakanya.

Lana immediately shook her head "I never drank alcohol. And I'll never try"

Luke turned his back on disbelief, he had never met anyone who had never drank alcohol, except perhaps those with religious reasons. And clearly Lana doesn't belong to any of them.

"Never? Not a single drop?" reworked.

Lana nodded "I don't like to be in an unwary state. Anything can happen when we're drunk, and I'll feel better in my waking state"

Luke was stunned to hear it, not expecting to get such an answer.

Luke thought, maybe Lana has a certain body condition that makes her unable to accept alcohol. But that unique answer will make anyone think Lana lives on the battlefield.

Be alert? anything could happen? Lukas strongly agrees with the statement, but now he becomes curious, what makes Lana feel the need to always be vigilant?

"Oh... it's already started!" Lana's excited cries and applause, bringing a smile to Luke's face.

He would ask that at breakfast with those next.

"Good, soon the sun goes down. That way the fireworks can start as soon as the show is over"

Luke could see how the blood seemed to drain from Lana's face as soon as she finished speaking. The reddened face was excited, instantly annihilated not until a second later.

With a deathly pale face and eyes full of fear, Lana turned her head towards him.

"A few more minutes? But the mood is still bright?" Lana now looked around in panic.

Lana looked at the already reddened sky, and closed her mouth in shock. Lana looks just realized it's dusk.

And the panic spread to Luke, "What's Lana? The atmosphere is still bright because the lights around this stage are automatically arranged to turn on according to the surrounding conditions"

"I have to go home! I'm sorry, but I have to go home" Lana had already risen from her seat, not caring about the grievances of the audience behind her blocked view.

"Wait, we can't go back now!!!"

Luke shouted to Lana, who surprisingly walked away very quickly leaving her.

It's not just that Lana would miss the fireworks show if she came back, if she tried to get out now, they'd be twisted by the human flow,

Hundreds of tourists who are not interested in enjoying the opera, are certainly marching to this location. They want to enjoy the fireworks from the best location, which is around the opera stage.

Luke can only curse, while following Lana who has not heard anything else, and continues to advance through the crowd.