I Don'T Want To Be Cinderella #1
28. I love you, just the way you are.

I love you, just the way you are.

Siska arrived an hour later, with a worried face she entered Caraka's apartment.

“Where is Kirana?”

“In room.”

They walked towards the room and then went inside. Kirana was still asleep, her occasional restless face made Caraka immediately clasped her hands and whispered soothing words.

“What happened to him?” Siska crouched down next to Caraka who was silent steady Kirana.

Caraka stroked her head affectionately before answering Siska.

“Two people baj*ngan bothering him.”

“Interrupt?” Siska looked puzzled for a moment before her eyes caught the wound on Kirana's lips. “Yes Lord!” Siska closed her mouth, her teary eyes staring at Kirana. “How can it?” her voice trembled looking at Kirana's slightly swollen and injured lips.

“Kirana has the right to tell you everything, but I can make sure the baj*ngan are now in jail.”

They were silent for a moment, staring at Kirana who was back looking uneasy.

“Can I drop Kirana a minute? There is a pharmacy 24 hours below, I have to buy medicine, and maybe eat .. he has not eaten from lunch.” Siska nodded in understanding.

Caraka stood up and prepared to leave, but she returned to face Siska when she remembered something.

“The book is a little wet, can you please replace .. I'm afraid he catch wind.”

“Not to worry, I will replace it.”

Caraka nodded before finally going outside leaving Siska who was still staring at Kirana.

What happened to his best friend to look so miserable even while sleeping? Kirana is a strong woman.

If he is slapped, he will hit back .. if someone hits him, he will hit back. But when someone is kind to him, he will be much better .. That's why Siska can be friendly with Kirana for almost twenty years, because there is never any pretense of a Kirana.

But looking at Kirana's current condition, with wounds on her lips and arms flushed Siska could roughly guess what had happened. His chest hurt, his body trembled in shadow if his guess was right. With trembling hands he looked for the t-shirt that was with origin and quickly he put it in the bag.

Siska finally found a light blue t-shirt that would feel comfortable to wear to sleep. He was closing his bag back when a groan of anxiety from the direction of the bed made Siska quickly return to Kirana's side.

“Na, Kirana .. It's me Siska.” Siska clasped Kirana's cold hand. “Lo is safe now, there is my same Caraka here.” Siska's voice rang out trembling, she tried her hardest to hold back her cries.

Slowly Kirana's eyes opened, for a moment she looked confused because she was in an unfamiliar place until finally her eyes caught the figure of Siska sitting next to her with teary eyes. Siska revealed a smile that made her tears roll, and it reawakened Kirana about what happened a few hours ago.

For a moment they just looked at each other with teary eyes, their hands clasped tightly together, their chests were both painful, before they finally embraced and cried together.

As a woman and a friend, there is no need for a long explanation for Siska to understand how hurt her best friend is today. She would just hug him tightly, cry with him, without asking ‘why?’, she would be by his side until Kirana was ready to tell him a story.

I don't know how long they hugged while crying, until finally Kirana felt the burden slightly lifted, not as emotional as earlier. They let go of hugs, and wiped away each other's tears with lips flattering a slight smile.

“Why is it here?” Kirana asked in a hoarse voice.

“Raka contact me.”

“Raka?”

“Iya,” replied Siska while picking up the t-shirt she had prepared to change Kirana's clothes.

“She said you fell asleep in wet clothes, so she asked me to bring a change of clothes for you.” Siska handed the koas towards Kirana. “Change first his shirt, he's afraid you're sick.”

Without saying much Kirana started to change her clothes. “Did he tell you what happened?”

“No. And you don't need story now .. lo can story anytime after you're ready for story.”

Kirana silently looked at Siska then smiled. He knew without having to say anything Siska would have guessed, but he wanted to tell someone who could understand him. Caraka was not unable to understand it, she would definitely understand it. Only, the understanding of a man and a woman is different.

Because Kirana believes Siska as a woman can better understand what she is feeling right now than Caraka, that's why Kirana decided to start telling stories. As soon as she could see Siska wipe away her tears that kept coming out to hear what happened to Kirana.

“Everytime I remember how waji ngan it touched me .. I feel disgusted.” Kirana bergidig hugged herself.

“How about Raka, Sis?” Kirana's voice shook again, her eyes glazed over. “Gue alone was disgusted with myself, what about Raka? She must also feel disgusted every time she sees me?”

“Lo, by the way what the hell, Na!” Siska clasped Kirana's hand. “No one feels disgusted at you, what else Raka! He loves you very much, and you should see how sad he sees you like this.”

Kirana wiped her tears.

“From just sitting next to you, hold your hand .. earlier I even seemed to think that lo it was not Cinderella but the Sleeping Princess who was waiting to be kissed by the Prince.” Kirana smiled at Siska's words. “Or don't you just sleep just doang mode yes, let the Prince kiss?”

“Have ngaku, I will know what you want in kiss Prince.”

“Damn it! Slander, lo, hahahaha.”

Siska laughed, it was good to see her best friend laugh again. They looked at each other with smiles on their faces.

“Lo has taught them a lesson, right?”

Kirana nodded with a smile. “Gue slammed them both, keep me kicking!”

“Good!” Siska cheered happily. “Gue sure lo won't let them just like that.”

Kirana, Siska and Kayas are often taught basic martial arts to protect themselves by Oka whose notation is a black belt karate holder and holder of several national level medals.

“Not to mention they can rampage from Raka.”

“If I was there I followed, Na, beat them up!”

Kirana smiled then nodded. She was grateful that Caraka contacted Siska to come over tonight, at least by talking to Siska she could slightly forget about the incident earlier this afternoon.

Tock-tock.

I heard the door knock before it finally opened. Caraka walked in with a smile while looking at Kirana who was sitting on her bed.

“Available?” Caraka walked towards Kirana who nodded with a smile. “Hungary? You haven't eaten since noon, have you? I bought fried rice, now we eat first let you have energy to cry again, and I have energy to hold you again.”

Kirana glared at Caraka who instead made the man smile. Caraka was grateful at least Kirana was better. When he came home, Caraka was surprised to hear the sound of Kirana's laughter in the room, making him stay silent in front of the room for a while letting Kirana with Siska who tried hard to restore Kirana's brilliance.

The three of them were now sitting in front of the TV while eating fried rice, occasionally Kirana would grimace feeling pain due to her injured lips, and every time she felt pain Kirana again looked sad considering the reason why her lips could be hurt like that.

“Hot full.” Kirana put the plate that was still filled with half the fried rice on the table.

“Spend, Honey, do I want a bribe?”

Kirana shook her head. “Totally full.”

Caraka looked at Kirana's half fried rice plate. It's better than not eating at all.

“Ya already, later do not forget to take the medicine.”

Kirana nodded while drinking, but then she grimaced back when she felt a pain on her lips.

“Sick?” caraka asked, her right hand cupped next to Kirana's cheek and her thumb stroked her lips softly.

Speechless Kirana just nodded in response.

“You want me to take medicine?” Caraka asked again, while Kirana was still at a loss for her words. “I guarantee my medicine is very efficacious.”

Their gazes locked onto each other for a moment, Caraka's face started to approach when suddenly a very loud deheman sounded.

“EHM! So thirsty,” said Siska standing up and walking towards the kitchen. “Continue treatment, let's just say I'm just a cactus tree kitchen table decoration ... or a ketchup bottle? … Or cracker jar? … up to you guys, I'm flexible ko can be anything.”

Siska continued to babble while walking towards the kitchen leaving Caraka and Kirana who were looking at each other before they finally laughed while shaking their heads. Caraka suddenly hugged her making Kirana flinch for a moment, but then she regained her composure in Caraka's arms.

“So glad to see your smile again (so happy to see your smile again),” whispered Caraka made Kirana smile. “I love you Kirana Az Zahra.

Kirana's heart trembled at Caraka's love confession, had she heard it before it was possible she would have been very happy, but now it all felt different.

“But I .. baj*ngan it already is..”

“Ssttt ..” Caraka let go of the hug, she was now staring at Kirana softly. “Where did he touch you? Here?” Caraka stroked Kirana's arm gently making a strange rumble felt by Kirana. “Here?” Caraka's right hand now touched her nape, Kirana's heart started to beat fast looking at Caraka's soft-eyed eyes. “Dan ... here.” Caraka's lips now kissed her softly, very gently making Kirana forget to breathe for a while.

The gentle touch seemed to wipe away all the disgust, contempt and filth that Kirana felt just a moment ago, changing with a feeling of being loved immensely. Re-grow the feeling of confidence that had been destroyed.

“I Love you, just the way you are, Kirana Az Zahra.” Caraka again whispered the word love with confidence to make Kirana smile.

“Thank you for loving me .. I love you too, Caraka Continent.”

They smiled with eyes looking at each other, their faces coming back closer when suddenly.

“Ehm! Excuse me...” sounds coming from the kitchen. “Treatment is finished yet?”

Kirana and Caraka gasped in surprise for a moment before they looked at each other and laughed.

That day Kirana felt the lowest point in her life, abused both physically and verbally, feeling dirty, despicable and disgusting. But he should also be grateful to be surrounded by people who care deeply about him, people who will always be there for him, such as Siska, his true friend, also Caraka, he said, the man she once thought was impossible to have, is now the man who stands at the front to defend her, hugs her for comfort, and whispers a word of love that again gives warmth in her heart.

She may not be a King's Daughter, but she is a precious child, sister, friend, and lover to those who love her. He should be grateful for that.

*****