Bonds Without Love
ITC #45

Flashbacks

That day was supposed to be Soraya's happy day because she finally met her media social friend, Erina came all the way from the wind city to Jakarta to meet Soraya. Even Erina said she wanted to settle in the same city as herself.

But, Soraya instead felt sad, the reason Erina came to Jakarta was the cause, Soraya's social media friends were trying to run away from her problem, Erina sat in front of Soraya with a chaotic look, she had been crying ever since they got there.

Now, Soraya and Erina are at Soraya's cafe, they are only there because the cafe has only been open for a few weeks and is still empty of visitors. While Soraya's husband deliberately gave them space by going to the kitchen.

Erina had just told Soraya the problem, the woman kept saying that the problem was stale because it revolved around the same thing, Erina told me about her father who had cheated again.

Well, Erina's father's affair did happen for the umpteenth time, before Erina also had a story of her father cheating and Erina said that time her father had apologized.

Then now, Erina told me her father was cheating again.

"Max ..." Lirih Soraya is not heartless. Soraya was eager to hug Erina and let her social media friend spill her grief on her.

Soraya wanted to, but was not so sure to do so, however this was their first meeting. Soraya felt a little awkward.

"I think I'm gonna give up, Ray. This pain never stops ..."

Soraya just kept quiet and looked at Erina with teary eyes, she tried to hold back the tears of knowing Erina's life story that was so ironic to her.

"Gue's tired! Why should I? Why is it always me? Why not someone else?" For Erina.

Soraya could not help her tears from coming out, she ended up crying in front of Erina, Soraya could feel Erina's pain.

Soraya knows the cause of Erina's mess is not simple, in addition to the affair of the father, Erina also often stories that she never get love and affection from her parents. Erina was among those who had a broken home. Erina was not as lucky as Soraya who could still feel the warmth in her family.

In fact, Erina once told me that the woman had been cursed by her mother, Erina a woman who said she did not need high school because it was useless. Erina's mother had the thought that no matter how high school girls are, women would end up in the kitchen and take care of their husbands and families. Ironic right?!

Not only that, there were still many sad things in Erina's life, and all that was not simple, no wonder Erina to look desperate like now, even Erina said she wanted to end her life. Soraya understood him so much, she could not imagine if she experienced the same thing as Erina.

"Max ..." Soraya could not say anything, she just continued to call out Erina's name in a soft voice. Then Erina suddenly laughed.

"Funny huh, Ray? I just came here to tell you about my family's stale problems!" Erina wiped her rough tears and sighed. They were silent for a while until Erina finally returned to speaking in her hoarse voice.

"Bryan wants a comeback, Ray?" Tanya Erina tried to divert.

Erina looked different just by discussing one name, Soraya felt Bryan was indeed the most appropriate medicine to relieve Erina's sadness, the woman even smiled when talking about Bryan.

In the past, when Soraya and Erina could only communicate through social media, Erina always switched their discussion and talked about Bryan.

Soraya knew that at that time Erina did not want to dissolve in her sadness, as well as Erina did now, Erina must have deliberately discussed Bryan.

"Yeah! Why do you cry? Raya, I'm sorry ..." Erina stopped talking when Soraya suddenly hugged her. Soraya was already not strong enough to see Erina.

"Why apologize? It's not your fault!" Soraya further tightened her embrace and sobbed, she already did not care even though this was their first meeting.

Soraya really could not imagine that she was in the position of Erina, being someone who bore the burden since she was sixteen.

Soraya was in high school when she was sixteen, and Erina? The girl was looking for her own money.

Soraya was once a pharmacist, she felt that working was hard despite her age was ripe for work, then how was Erina?!

Soraya believes Erina has been through a lot and it's not easy, Soraya believes Erina has other problems that have not been told.

Erina smiled and returned Soraya's embrace.

"Raya, thank you ..."

"Erin, God willing I will always be there when you need a friend to vent. Remember, don't ever keep a problem alone, you can tell me the same story."

"Yes, thanks again."

Soraya nodded softly in Erina's arms. "Never feel alone! Oh yeah, how about you stay at my house? Didn't you say you wanted to live in Jakarta?"

Erina let go of their embrace.

"Gue will ask permission ..."

"No need, Raya. I still have money to find a contract." Erina interrupted Soraya's words, a few seconds later someone came.

"Why should I look for a contract? You can stay in our house as long as you want, there happens to be an empty room, you can sleep there."

Farhan, Soraya's husband heard Soraya and Erina talk without the two women noticing. He also felt sorry to know Erina's life.

Farhan had often heard Soraya's story about her social media friends on that one and unexpectedly now they can meet up.

"But ..."

"You're my wife's best friend, how could I not like you being around us? Erin, you can stay in our house as long as you want!" Farhan smiled looking at Erina.

Soraya smiled at him, the woman immediately hugged Farhan and thanked him a lot. Erina was silent looking at them, her face turned sad again.

"Soraya is lucky to have a good husband, while I? Maybe it will only happen in a dream! The guy I love is just Bryan and I don't dare to love another guy!"

Erina spoke inwardly while holding onto the part of her chest that was hurting, Soraya and Farhan were unaware that their affection was making Erina feel hurt.

"Dad ... I used to always tell my friends that I had a good father even though my mother was fierce."

"I've always been proud of you, Dad. But now? I feel ashamed of myself!"

 ****

Later that night, Soraya woke up thirsty and her throat was dry, she stepped into the kitchen to get some water to drink.

Soraya's steps stopped when she saw Erina in the kitchen, Soraya felt hesitant to approach Erina because it seemed like her friend was crying.

"Bryan ..." Soraya could see Erina staring at her phone as she said so softly and called her idol.

"Thank you ..." Soraya saw Erina's tears getting louder even though the woman was only watching Erina from a distance.

"Thanks to you and the others, I met a good friend." Soraya still continued to listen to Erina who was talking to her idol.

"Bryan, I read an article about bipolar, is that possible? or ... am I just depressed?"

Soraya's hand clenched onto Erina's words, what did Erina say just now? A bipolar?!

"I want to get out of here, I'm afraid to trouble Soraya if I get bipolar."

"ERIN!" Soraya could not bear it, the woman finally approached Erina.

Erina flinched, she looked at Soraya with her own eyes, then Soraya grabbed Erina in her arms.

"Why crying?" Soraya asked, she pretended not to have heard Erina's words just now.

"Relax ..."

"Erin, whatever the story of your problem to me, you have to remember that you still have a confiding friend, that is me."

"Raya, I'm not crying ..."

"Stop pretending to be strong, Erin. You're just a human being."

 ___

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