DEAR
Episode 27's

This year is entering September, by the way today is Qhaza's 16th birthday, he wants to celebrate. Since the morning Lea and dad were busy preparing for the party, not a big party like you often see in soap operas when the antagonist is a birthday, but a small party that will only be attended by a few people. Qarima also helped, he was enthusiastic. But until now, he still hasn't spoken to me other than yes and no.

Ramona and Marlyn came early in the morning to my house, and Vicky brought a lot of Leah cakes, and they all came to help Leah and my father.

“Leva, help Qarima tidy up his chair.” Lea's orders to me, I just sat on the stairs watching them all.

“I can do it myself.” Qarima.

“You seem to be trouble.”

“I'm fine, if she helps ... she'll just mess up .. her.”

“Qarima!” Jerky Lea, the atmosphere stiffens.

I move, I go to my room.

“Leva, help Qarima!” Lea's orders with a firm tone.

I'm nodding. I went up to him, helped him lift the chair. Qarima kept his chair and did another job. She's upset. I kept wondering, what's wrong with her?

“Let him.” Said father.

“Yoooo!” Shouted Vicky‒all of a sudden.

I know he intends to melt the atmosphere, but ‘yoooo?’.

“Leva, we will tidy up the seats together.” He said then after everyone looked at him in wonder.

We went back to work, until it was all over and rested.

Evening has arrived. The house was already quite crowded by several people invited by the Qhaza. Including Fairel and El. All the children in the extra class were also invited, some of his friends Qhaza whom I did not recognize, as well as Gin and Tysha, attended.  Why should Tysha be invited? Now that my feelings for Tysha have settled, I don't like it!

Grandma and grandpa were also here, the two of them continued to be beside me, forbidding me from going anywhere. Parents always do it. I just want to go to the toilet, but Grandma's gonna pinch me if she moves away from him.

Also, I realized, this is the first time Fairel has come to my house. I feel happier than usual. Why, huh?

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to Qhaza …

They all sang her birthday song. Qhaza blew out the candles and cut the cake, he gave his first cake to father and Leah, then to Qarima and me. The others cut it themselves. Unlike birthday parties in general that after the cake cutting event is finished, usually people dance with their partners and accompanied by mellow music. But in my family, we rarely do that except when we celebrate the 17th anniversary of Qarima, last year, the yard was filled with friends.

But this time it's different. Lea has prepared a small event for all. We're going to play Truth or Dare. The game was very practical, involving everyone who then made a circular sitting formation, then turned the bottle and waited for it to stop and lead to one person.

The chosen one must choose honestly or courageously. If he chooses to be honest, we will ask him questions and he will have to answer them honestly. If he's brave, he'll have to do whatever we ask without fear. Just one question and command for one time the bottle rotates. Whoever is given the opportunity by the bottle-taker may ask or give orders. Very homely.

When the game began, Lea turned off the headlights and lit candles in several corners of the room, then turned the music slow.

I sat down near Vicky and Ramona, in front of me there was Fairel and El, then next to El there was Gin, then Qhaza then Qarima and next to him was Tysha, I hope they didn't pinch each other. Their enmity has been heating up lately since the incident at Tysha's house, they often have silly debates.

On the other hand, there was Abi side by side with Dawn, then Ono and Adit. Near Lea, there's Tiwa and Dad. Grandma and Grandpa went to sleep. The close friends of the Qhaza who had come had left, a few minutes ago.

Lea turned the bottle. Stop right in front of the Khaza. The end faces towards El.

“Qhaza, honest or dare?” Ask Lea.

“Honest!” Answer Qhaza.

“OK, El .. You are given the opportunity to ask Qhaza!” Said Lea. He looked at Qhaza.

“Among us all here, who made you fall in love?” Ask El. He looked at Qhaza seriously.

“Ohhh ..” Their comments were all at once, except me, Qhaza and El.

“What's clear it's not you.” Said Qhaza, he looked at El.

“Wow!” Mumbles Dawn and Fairel simultaneously.

“Qhaza, you did not answer the question at all!” Lea Protests. “Mom is very curious about how you feel about El ... ahem.” Lea held both of her cheeks, she blushed. How blushing!

“I answered. Lea, I love you!” Strictly Qhaza, they all laughed, I saw El blushing.

Of course Qhaza loves Leah, she's his mother.

“Honest!” Said.

Be honest? What do I want to know? I never thought about it before, what should I ask?

“It ... Qarima ..” Think Leva, think.

“APA!?”

THE FURY! I'm shocked. The vow!

Is he mad at me?

That's her! The question, I got.

“Qarima .. are you mad at me?” I asked, I was relieved. But the answer is, I hope it can also make me relieved.

“Hah? Angry you? Why am I angry? Being angry at a strange human is tantamount to wasting my precious time! Thinking you'd make my heart tear!”

I don't understand what he's saying. But, it felt those words―show that he was very angry.

“Qarima is angry?” Me, insisting.

“I TOLD YOU I'M NOT ANGRY.” He shouted while hitting the table hard.

“Then why scream?” I asked in a slow tone.

“Because you're crazy!”

“I'm crazy? Why?”

“Basic *****, stupid, damn!”

“Qarima was angry, saying I was stupid ..”. I'm insistent too, huh?

“Why ... why not just die there!” Say it in a flat tone. Not something I want to hear. Handak was angry, but, his tears were flowing.

“QARIMA!” Jerky Lea.

“You see, right, Leva! Lea is angry with me ... because of you!”

“Qarima!” Stomach Lea again.

“Why? Want me not to yell at your beloved daughter? Always .... always Leva is the concern of all of you ... what good is he? He's just a strange human who lives like a corpse! He is no different from the undead .. why? Why am I always the one to blame if she's the one doing the trouble, why is she always treated like a princess, why is everyone siding with her, why? Why can't I hate him, why can't I hate him even though I try, why his innocent face always makes me envious, his innocent face always makes me always and always likes him, Leva! why can't I hate you????”

Qarima was crying out, his words were confusing. But I guess, she revealed everything she wanted to say, I think she's fine now.

Lea hugged him, he sobbed. The game can continue. Although Qarima got out of the game and went to sleep.

The next round of bottles stopped in front of me. Why always me?

“Leva ..” Say Tysha. Why should he? His gaze was sharp, my premonition was bad about this. “Honest or dare, Leva?” Ask. A difficult choice, if I chose to dare he would have me jump from the 17th floor, then die, that was the worst possibility. If he told me to be honest .. well! I don't keep any secrets they want to know, to be honest.

Is this the right choice? I should have never been in this game, I was worried anyway. Seeing his very defiant look.

“Ju ... honest!”

“Good. So ... Leva ... between Gin and Fairel, who do you love?”

Not both!

Don't be weird dong Tysha. Why put Gin in the people I love? I would have gone crazy if that happened.

I was silent for a moment, looking at Tysha, then looking at Gin and Fairel in turn, the look on their faces changed. Expecting answers. Is it really important that my answer is this? Then, set back time deh .. so that their waiting period becomes panjaaaang. Haha.

I fell silent, pretending to think, then the next minute I decided to answer, “Lea ... she asked what?”

Yup! Yup! My answer is correct, right? Doesn't that make them shocked? Haha. Why ask me about love? I don't understand the problem, I've never felt it. Although it looks beautiful and fun when I see it in movies and anime, I really don't know what it's like.

The next second after their shock passed, they burst into laughter.

“Tysha! What question is it?” Ask Fajar while laughing.

Tysha was silent. He's trying to understand me, what am I like?