Love Lanterns
CHAPTER 18

Stars are scattered in space accompanied by the bright light of the moon. The leaves dance weakly because of the wind. Cold air envelops Arra's body, but Ben's warm hands make the cold disappear.

"Why bring me here?" asked Arra while looking around.

"The edge of the city streets is clean and beautiful, the trees are neatly lined around the streets, the stars are lined up beautifully in the sky, and the light mix between the lights and the moon. You like that, don't you, Arra?"

"Hmm?.." Arra still doesn't understand what Ben and Ben's real goal is.

"Didn't you remember? You used to say this when you were a kid. You always told me that you wanted to go to a place where there were so many stars scattered in space. You said it yourself, Arra... Can't you remember that?"

Ben's words filled Arra's mind and made him mess up. His head was always painful and dizzy when he remembered his past. Then suddenly a piece of memory just appeared in Arra's mind.

"*Tadaaa.." a fat boy spoke to Arra.

"Eh? What is this?." said Arra while looking at the paper containing the picture given to the boy.

"That's a picture of a place you'd really like to see Arra. I drew it myself.. How good is it, right? Hehe.."

"Wahh!! Did ya? This is a really pretty picture"

"Arra if I grow up, I'll take you to that place. You want to go to the best park in the world, right? I'll promise you to take you there. Take it easy I will keep my promise"

"really? My little chubby, you're the best!!" Arra and the boy laughed happily together*.

"Bright... What was?.. Huh.. Uhh my head hurts.." Arra awakens from his memory.

"Ara you look pale, what's going on? You okay? You've been daydreaming for so long..."

"I... Mm.. Ben?.."

"Yes?"

"Was.. Chubby little is you?"

"Little chubby? Arra you finally remember him. I've been waiting for you for a long time so you can remember me. And now you've managed to remember me again"

"really? Then what happened to you? Why just show up now? When I was a kid, what happened? I really can't remember Ben clearly.. I'm.."

"It's okay I'll explain it, but I still have one thing to tell you" Ben said, holding Arra's hands.

"One thing? What'sthat?"

"Fra... I like you" said a jarring word that made Arra's heart almost stop beating.

"I want to protect and protect you. Ever since we first met I've liked you Arra. Beautiful, intelligent, great, talented and genius. You really are a perfect and special girl. I love you Arra.."

Arra was really surprised by Ben's words. He could not feel happiness and sadness in the depths of his heart. His mind was completely muddled today. Arra can barely say a word because of Ben's words.

"You... Likes me?.." Arra said with a nervous tone.

"Yes, I really love you Arra"

"Ben... I'm.."

"It's okay, I understand how you feel. I'm ready to wait for your answer Ra. I am glad I said this. Whatever your answer I'll appreciate you" Ben rubbed Arra's head gently.

"alright.. Give me a week to think about Ben.."

"Just calm down, whenever you want to answer I'll be ready"

After a serious conversation, Arra decided to end it and immediately went home. Ben drives Arra home worried about letting Arra go home alone given that it's already night time.

"Thank you for today Ben." said Arra languidly and entered the house.

"... Yeah, thanks back.."

The house looks lonely, it looks like his parents and grandparents are not at home. Arra went straight into his room and lay down. Pleasure and sadness could not be felt at this moment. Maybe it's because it's too shock or maybe it's because Arra doesn't like Ben?

"Hey you came home too late, I thought you were only 2 or not 3 hours there" Aria said as she walked over to Arra's bedroom window.

Arra could not say a single word at all. I don't know why it's so hard to talk again. Silence and silence are all that Arra can do.

"Hm? Why not answer?" said Aria while looking at Arra who looks powerless.

"Arra, what's wrong with you? Are you sick? Your face looks pale" Aria approached towards Arra while examining Arra's state.

".... L'm.. Alrighty.. Alrighty.. Just.." replied Arra without looking at Aria.

"You think you can lie to me? Come on, don't you think of me as your sister anymore?.." Aria pulls Arra to wake up.

"Eh not like that... Of course Aria is the best sister I've ever had.." Arra got up and lay weak again.

"Haahh Arra's... Tell me what happened just now? Why is your face so moody and lethargic like this? Did Ben hurt you?"

"Ben?.. Gee whiz... It's grim! Argh what should I do? Ariaaa give me some ideas now..." Arra pulls Aria forward and backward.

"Hey hey enough! How am I gonna give you an idea if I don't know what happened to you, huh?.."

"Ah right too, alright alright don't be angry. I'll tell you.. So then.. Earlier.. L'm.. Ben's.. Parkland.. Star.. Streetlamps.. Chubby small.. Like it.. Home.." Arra's speech became irregular and unclear.

"What are you saying this??!! The park? The star? Going home? Are we playing vocabulary?!" aria's emotions are becoming more and more.

"Aghh!! I don't know what happened to meuu!! Aaaa... Aria.. What's wrong with me.. Huwai..."

"Yes, yeah... I'll guess your vocabulary. You're... Shot Ben?"

"Huh? How do you know that? Oops.. Argh Ariaaa" Arra closed both eyes with flushed cheeks.

"Huh-ha.. I just guessed and it turned out to be true"

Arra did not reply, he simply turned his face away in embarrassment. Aria who saw Arra's behavior made her laugh amusedly.

"Alright Arra, so what's the problem? You got limp because Ben declared love to you?"

At first Arra was embarrassed and a little nervous to tell her, but because he could not bear to say it in the end Arra also explained everything. After long Arra told the whole incident, Arra also felt a little relieved. Maybe because the disturbing feeling can not be kept continuously.

"Yes I see, you're actually comfortable with her but your heart is still not open to her?"

"Uhh.. Yes, it can be said that way"

"The "comfortable feeling can come anytime and anywhere even from anyone. But you must be able to understand which includes genuine comfort. You need to be able to tell which people love you and which ones like you"

"Love me. And like me?.."

"You don't understand? Love and liking are different. I am not an expert in the science of love. Yet.. According to how I feel.. Love comes from the bottom of your heart, bringing you to feel the great vibrations that make your heart feel what you feel too. And.. Love that, admire because you are great and talented at something. These two things are different, but.. Love is more powerful. The one who loves you will sacrifice everything for you.."

"to be honest.. I've never been in a romance before. I was too busy with my own world. Reading books, studying the science of education, science is always present in my mind. I care less about love or anything other than studying. For the first time in my life I felt restless and anxious because someone told me he loved me face to face. I don't really understand the true meaning of love.."

From a small age, Arra is always taught to understand about knowledge quickly. Over time Arra became a smart girl in seeking knowledge. Being with books all day makes Arra his best habit. He did not know that the outer life was so fantastic from a book.

"I understand.. You from childhood have been pressured to become a smart girl in a short time. But now it's different, you're here with me. You do not need to be friends with books, you also have to be friends with LOVE. In books there is an understanding of love, but love does not need you to learn but you need to feel it yourself. Not everything in this world you need to learn and study, you also need to be able to feel, create and find something of yourself..."

"From.. Myself?..... Yes that's true, from myself. I understand now, I will slowly make sense of the outside world without having to learn from a book again. I have to start with myself!" Arra steadied his heart and began to gradually rise up.

"Good, start being yourself. Rise up with all the effort you have now! Get what you have to achieve! Don't stop in the middle of the road to find your dreams"

Arra hugged Aria with happy tears flowing. The uneasiness he felt slowly disappeared and faded. Nothing beats the love of a sister. When hurt comes to heal and when happy comes to give the same happiness. Yet.. Will it all end as they imagined?

"You don't have to feel depressed anymore Ra. I know the feeling of wanting to smile is even given a wound. You won't feel like you used to. I want us to be together even if differences keep us from shining. Although our world is different I will definitely be with you. You're the greatest sister I've ever had" Aria thought.