Journey To Arshila's Heart
Chapter 2: Memories Embedded Between Book Pages

The day was bright, dotted with sunlight that radiated cheerfully in the blue sky. The son and Eric walked to the school library. In his hands, Son holds a list of package books ordered by their teacher for this semester.

"We should look for these books and complete the task given by the teacher before the holidays begin" Eric said, winking to the Son.

The son simply nodded, but his mind somehow continued to drift to somewhere far away. They arrived at the library and began to search for the requested books.

While picking up the package book, the Son's eyes accidentally turned to a novel tucked between piles of books. The novel reminded him of the memories of the past that had sprinkled in his mind.

Flashbacks: flashback:

The morning sunlight shone on the school grounds, creating shadows that danced around them. The atmosphere was fresh and bright, exuding a new spirit in every step. The son walked with the books in his hands, preparing himself for the first day of the new semester.

However, amidst the hustle and bustle of students passing by, his gaze was unintentionally fixed on something different. In a corner of the school library, there was a girl with a pile of books that looked rather disorganized. He seems to be trying to bring the books.

With careful steps, the Son approached the girl. As he tried to tidy up the books that were about to fall, his eyes and the girl's eyes met. His bright face and full of smiles instantly hypnotized the Son.

"Thank you," said the girl in a soft voice that made the Son's heart beat faster.

"Together," replied the Son with a nervous smile. He felt like he was in a strange state, like he was fascinated by the presence of the girl.

The girl looked at him sincerely. "I'm Nisa. I just moved here."

"Son" he said, grabbing Nisa's hand to shake her hand. Her hands were warm, and the feeling was still felt to this day.

They talked for a moment about school, subjects, and many other things. The light conversation felt so natural, as if they had known each other for a long time.

However, time goes on and the school bell suddenly rings, signaling that they must return to their respective classes. The son felt like time was going too fast. "I have to go to class now" he said with a slight disappointment.

"We'll definitely meet again, right?" asked Nisa with a hopeful smile.

The son nodded, a smile that he could not bear appearing on his lips. "Surely."

They parted amid a crowd of students who rushed to their respective classes. However, in the Son's heart, the memories of the meeting became so precious and unforgettable. The scene depicts the moment where the Son first met Nisa in the library, a memory still alive in his mind.

Returning to reality, Putra felt her heartbeat speeding up while recalling the moment. Her heart still held memories of Nisa's smile, of her sincere eyes.

However, without lingering, Putra returned the novel to its original place. He realized that the past was the past, and their task in this library had to be completed.

"Get all the books ordered by the teacher, Put. Let us not be late in completing this task," Eric scolded as he pointed towards the pile of other books.

Behind his solemn expression, there was a sense of bitter and raging feeling in the Son's heart. However, he knew that he had to stay focused on his duties and responsibilities now.

After successfully obtaining their books, Son and Eric walk back to class. They chatted about assignments and plans for the semester, while carrying a heap of books that were quite heavy.

However, their steps came to a sudden halt when Andi and a few of his companions suddenly appeared in front of them. "Well, the nerd is going to study again!" Andi smirked, her voice filled with a condescending tone. The son was used to this kind of ridicule, but today, he did not want to stay silent.

"Don't bother us, Andi" said Eric calmly, trying to avoid conflict.

But Andi did not stop there. He approached the Son with an arrogant attitude. "Don't go near Nisa once again" Andi said as he pulled the collar of Putra's shirt and cornered her between the walls.

The son was angry. He no longer wants to be treated like this. Without hesitation, he smashed a fist into Andi's stomach, making him topple over and groan in pain. As an act of self-defense, Son suddenly showed that he had more martial skills than just "bookworms".

However, Eric soon realizes that the fight will get worse if it is allowed to continue. He approached the Son and tried to defuse the situation. "Udah, that's enough" whispered Eric as he tried to prevent the Son from taking his penknife.

The son finally decided to calm down and withdraw from the fight. Eric managed to persuade him to leave the place before the situation heated up.

However, as they walked away, Nisa who had apparently been waiting in front of the class, witnessed the scene. His eyes opened wide, surprised to see the Son who previously looked soft and cold, now looked fierce and creepy with his sharp gaze. Nisa felt like she was looking at a side of the Son she had never seen before.

After Son and Eric left the scene, Nisa walked up to Andi who was still in pain on the floor. His face was full of concern and concern. Although Andi was once the cause of various problems between them, Nisa was still a friendly girl and did not want to see anyone suffer.

"Nisa, are you okay?" ask one of Nisa's friends who came closer.

Nisa nodded, her gentle gaze fixed on Andi who was moaning in pain. "Andi, what's going on? You all right?" asked Nisa with a worried tone.

Andi, who was still in pain, looked at Nisa with a mixed gaze. "I'm fine," he replied in a gasping voice.

Nisa felt the need to help, even though she did not know exactly what was happening. "Maybe you'd better go to the teacher's room for medical help" he suggested politely.

Andi nodded weakly. "All right."

As Nisa turned to leave, her eyes accidentally caught the shadow of the Son who was moving away from the place. Even though it was only an instant, he saw a look of despair on the Son's face. However, Nisa did not know for sure what was going on between them, and she felt trapped in a complicated situation.

After Andi went towards the teacher room, Nisa pondered for a moment. His heart rippled with questions and doubts. He wanted to help, but he also did not want to cause more trouble. Finally, he sighed and went back to the classroom, trying to ignore his confusion.

The son, in a distant place, sees Nisa helping Andi. His heart felt sore and heavy, but he knew that he had to stay away from the situation. He chose to leave everything behind, letting them solve their own problems. Her decision made her heart feel empty, but she understood that in this situation, the best course of action was to keep her distance.