Joy: A Hope's
Chapter 27: Dreams

“I don't like you being close to him, Ran. I'm jealous of your closeness with Joy.”

“I want you to stop connecting with him!”

“I can't do that, Gan. Sorry.,,”

“Why can't you?”

“Ya, because—”

“He's good with you, isn't he?! Is that why you get asked every time?”

Joy was stunned on the spot watching the heated debate before her eyes. Even when the two people who had just stopped the fight were gone with their respective goals, Joy was still faithfully standing there. Staring blankly at the sight ahead.

Joy who wanted to calm down from Aletta and Arga in the back garden was even shown with such a thing. Some facts that should not need Joy to know are now all contained in the eardrum.

So Joy's guesses have been right all along. That foreign man has a special relationship with Rani? They dating?

That one fact is painful. However, there is another fact that is more painful than the fact that Rani already has a boyfriend. Apparently, all this time Rani was good to him just because she wanted to repay Bang Ari's kindness. No more than that. Rani only considers him a friend as well as a neighbor of the boarding house. The thing that makes Joy's heart feel broken into pieces.

The teenager looked down inside. His head shook slowly. “Not me wrong, but this sense of falling on the wrong person,” softly murmured.

Amidst Joy's slump, someone came to embrace the shoulder from the side. The gentle rubbing on Joy's back felt so soft. Tranquilize.

“I know that position is very painful. Because I am in that position now. I love someone who even glances at me for a moment she's reluctant. He was too focused on chasing the beautiful angel before his eyes, until he was unaware that there was another loyal angel accompanying him. And, that person ... you, Joydev Arhan.”

Joy turned her head. His eyelashes blinked several times trying to digest the situation. The girl with the lashes just expressed her feelings, didn't she?

Highlight those sad eyes as if bewitching Joy to dive deeper.

A smile slowly adorned his lips. “But, just relax. You don't have to worry. I will help you slowly rise from that pain until you forget that you have fallen this deep. I'm always by your side, Joy.”

Joy's heart rate is racing faster. I don't know because of what factor. Maybe if Rani says it to him, Joy will be happy or even moved. However, she is not the figure that Joy craves like Rani. Instead, a figure that Joy never thought her presence would contribute to her love story that clapped one hand.

Him, Aletta. Joy's first best friend on a white bench of ashes.

***

Snuffling. Joy wakes up with a hunting breath. The sweat soaked the teenager's face and around the neck. His jakun who seemed to start bulging up and down gulped. The gaze he was circulating to all sides with a puzzled wrinkle clearly sticking out on his forehead. Whitewashed walls, several circles leaked on the ceiling, as well as a thick blanket that was still curled to cover half the body.

Joy flabbergasted. His eyes were empty. “It turns out just a dream,” muttered monologue.

Joy glanced at her bedside. Blank. Then, he turned his eyes out of the house. The faint smell of nicotine was faintly smelled followed by a puff of cigarette smoke pouring into the air. Joy snorted on the sidelines of her furious breath. The man took the blanket off his body and got out of bed.

Joy rubbed her eyes as she walked to the front porch. Without permission immediately take over next to Bang Ari who is playing online games.

“Smoking again, Bang?” reprimand Joy without judgment.

Ari's eyes turned to her. The young man looked to frown. The two ends of his eyebrows almost met. “So late again you? Want to be late yesterday?” cerca Bang Ari. Joy's reprimand just now Ari ignored.

Without a voice Joy replied. Just a little head bobble. From the look of his face was guessed Joy's mood was not good.

Why else this one kid? Ask Ari in my heart. Deliberately harbored the question, because he thinks Joy is an adult. He will definitely share his grievances if Ari needs to know that. Ari only hopes that Joy can solve whatever problems she faces well.

Joy ruffled her hair in frustration while drowning her face in the folds of her hands. His mind was really fucked up. Maybe think about it too much until it all gets carried away to Joy's subconscious. The man got up from his seat and went back inside the house without leaving a word for Bang Ari.

Ari just stared in silence at the departure of his sister with one eyebrow raised, then accompanied by indifferent shoulder endings.

***

“Joy departs together, yuk!”

Something was different this morning. Joy was even surprised. It is not usual like this, the inner man is in the heart.

Joy frowned when suddenly a hand hooked her arm from the side as soon as Joy walked out of the room. As Joy turned her head, Rani's cheerful look greeted warmly.

A slight faint smile slanted on his lips. I don't know what other scenarios God is planning for Joy to have to experience scenes like this. Although Joy can't deny that Joy is happy.

“Ran, let's go!” The firm, flat-pitched order diverted the attention of the two.

Joy turned her head and at that moment she immediately understood the situation. Regan stood before them with an expressionless look. Rani stared at him with a veil of anger from the look in those eyes.

Rani shook her head, balking at the man's invitation. “Sorry, today I went on public transport only. I'm leaving with my sister.” Rani replied by emphasizing the last two words. It's as if her relationship with Joy is just that. Sisters.

A soft sound from Regan. Joy noticed the two men's hands were already firmly clenched down there.

“Come, Joy. We're goin. Entar first the same angkotnya, late deh.”

Joy looks over at Rani's invitation. A wry smile rose on his lips. Joy understood all this. Rani only uses it as a shield in order to escape the men in front of them. Either they get into any kind of trouble to get angry like this and Joy doesn't want to know anything about it.

“Sorry, Brother. But, I'm in a hurry. It's good Kak Rani left with her,” said Joy took Rani's hand off her wrist.

Don't forget to give Regan an awkward smile as Joy passes the man's body to leave.

“But, Joy—” Rani was about to catch up to Joy, but her steps were held back by Regan. The man tightly intercepted his wrist.

“You didn't hear him say what?” Regan glanced at Rani cynically through the tail of her eyes. His tone is flat.

Rani grunts dislikes. He fights to escape from Regan until his efforts succeed. “No way I leave with you!” reject Rani raw.

“Too possessive,” sneer Rani right in Regan's face before leaving to chase after Joy who was lost from sight.

In the doorway, Ari witnessed all that. Seeing the three students reminded Ari of the white age of his ashes. His mind felt empty and let the memory of the memories he wanted to forget was twisted freely. A love triangle that sacrifices friendship. Will Joy, her sister feel that way too?

...****************...