I'm Making You Bend Your Knees
KKBL Chapter 4

Kiara stood looking out the window. Heavy rain is pouring out there. A big wind hit the trees making Kiara's tears begin to fall. He misses his parents now. He was far from his parents because of whom? For what? Kiara hated the reason.

Since the door was slightly open, Aunt Mita came in and brought warm tea and warm fried tempeh to Kiara. Looking at Kiara's eyes, Aunt Mita could feel a feeling of sadness that was touching Kiara's heart at this moment. Slowly Aunt Mita approached offering the tea to Kiara.

Kiara took the tea glass and pretended to smile. "Thank you, Bi."

Aunt Mita smiled and put the fried plate on the table not far from their current position. Suddenly Aunt Mita let go of Kiara's ponytail as well as her glasses.

"Auntie what's Aunt doing? I can't see clearly." Kiara tried to snatch her glasses from Aunt Mita's hand.

"What is completely invisible? Auntie knows how minus your glasses are. Look in the mirror, Kiara!" Aunty picked up the makeup mirror on the table near the fried plate that Aunt had placed.

The traumatized Kiara did not want to look at herself in the mirror. His appearance right now must be very bad. A puffy face, messy hair, she must be getting disgusting.

"No need to reflect, I know I'm ugly, Bi." Kiara turned her face away with a frown, annoyed at herself.

"The physical ugliness can be covered," Bibi said confidently.

Kiara furrowed her brows. Auntie Mita smiled then picked up something in her room. When she returned, Auntie Mita brought her makeup kit. Then Aunt Mita started putting on Kiara's makeup. The makeup of the make-up can actually change the appearance of Kiara to be more radiant.

"Look if you don't believe!" Aunty positioned the mirror right in front of Kiara's face.

Kiara was surprised by the beautiful face in the mirror. He held both cheeks and said, "Yes. It's very pretty. If my face is like this maybe I won't be insulted, won't Bi?" Kiara smiled wryly looking at her own admirable face.

"Face can be polished, Kiara. Tangled hair can be combed and styled, the body can change with diet and regular exercise. But–"

Uncompleted Aunt Mita explained, Kiara had already cut her words. "I want to be as long as I don't have to listen to insults and don't have to feel hurt every day. I'll polish myself as much as I can."

"Kiara, everything can be changed, but what determines you are beautiful or not is only you."

Auntie touched Kiara's long hair. Suddenly Kiara remembered when Diska grabbed her hair all the way to the field. Disgust suddenly came to his mind.

"What if we cut your hair?" aunty Mita asked as she clasped Kiara's hair.

Kiara hesitates, her long hair has long accompanied Kiara's days. However, he also did not want to remember a bad memory every time he saw his hair.

Finally, Aunt Mita tidied Kiara's hair and started cutting it. Kiara closed her eyes. The rain that fell increasingly heavy, the earthy sound of lightning brought Kiara to remember everything that had happened. Bad treatment, pain, humiliation and all those bad things, Kiara hopes everything disappears along with the fall of each strand of hair. Kiara threw away the bad luck that happened to her, and replaced it with a better life.

***

Kiara has returned to school, of course, in a new place. He began to have many friends, circumstances that differ 180 degrees with his condition some time ago. In a new school, no one is excommunicating him. All accept the presence of Kiara, especially Kiara is a smart student.

The more days, that confidence grows. Kiara is no longer down with her condition. He got along well and even planned to go to college with his friends.

Aunt Mita smiled as she saw Kiara who had just returned home from school smiling, it seemed like the girl was very happy today.

"Well, someone else is happy" said Aunt Mita as Kiara kissed the back of her hand.

Kiara smiled, then sat down next to her aunt. "I've got the right campus, Bi. Many of my friends are going to college there too. And the good news is, Dad and I let you go to college here" Kiara said with enthusiasm.

Aunt Mita rubbed Kiara's head slowly. "Good dong, so you can accompany Auntie when there is no gini work," said Aunt Mita. The woman was relieved that Kiara had managed to rise from her slump. She is grateful that Kiara's trauma is gone.

"Surely." Kiara hugged Aunt Mita before saying goodbye to her room.

Kiara always obeyed everything Aunt Mita said. He is now diligent in washing his face with warm water, doing skin care with a scrub. He also eats healthy food and does not snack carelessly. Kiara also never again studied until late at night, she will sleep on schedule.

***

A year has passed since he dropped out of his old school, Kiara's performance has gotten better. He is now a student. When her parents ask her to come home, Kiara takes the time to see her old friends.

Kiara visits the campus where Diska and Xavier and some of her old friends are attending. From a distance, Kiara could clearly see Diska and Xavier looking happy. They were joking, joking, as if they had never felt guilty about what had happened to Kiara.

Why are they so happy? I had to be in trauma. I won't let them keep laughing. I will repay them, especially Diska.

Kiara's hands started to clench. He was very angry to see the traumatized perpetrator was fine. Kiara has to fight to cure her trauma. Kiara had to separate from her parents to treat the wounds they had inflicted.

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