RUN WITH ME
CHAPTER 15: THE PROGRESS

Arunika stood in front of a full-body mirror that reflected how she looked now. Its upper body has been covered by a dark brown crop-top with a black-brown baseball jacket, while the legs are quite level covered by black sweatpants and wear shoes from one of the world's leading sports equipment manufacturers in white mixed black. He also fused all his hair together and held it with a hair clip. After making sure there was nothing less than her appearance, Arunika picked up her shoulder bag and left her room.

Arunika walked down the stairs and went straight to the main door of the house, but a voice stopped her steps.

"Arunika, where are you going?" Arunika turned her back and found her mother sitting on the sofa in the living room with a magazine in her hand. Arunika was a little surprised to see the existence of her mother, she thought the woman would work. But because of this incident he had anticipated, with his calm face Arunika replied.

"I want to go to the mall because there is a need for OSIS to be purchased for school events." Claris was speechless hearing that while looking straight at her son, trying to find a sign of a lie. But the face full of confidence and calmness that made him finally believe so that he returned to focus on the magazine in front of him.

"Go home before dinner, tonight we'll be dinner outside." The command with a cold tone was Arunika retorted with a nod. He also knew what 'us' meant, who else he was if not himself, his mother, and his father. It has actually become a habit for them to at least eat together outside the house once every two weeks, with records of both parents at home.

Without saying anything more, Arunika walked out the door and entered the car that had been waiting for her since. A few seconds later the four wheels of the car turned and left the yard of Arunika's house. Due to the quiet atmosphere of the car, Arunika decided to take the airpod out of her bag and play her favorite song lately. His head swayed slightly to the right and left enjoying the song while occasionally his mouth muttered saying the lyrics.

"I have loved you since we were 18, long before we both thought the same thing ..." murmured Arunika in a very small voice, the driver in front of him could not hear. When his ears were pampered by the melody, his eyes only stared at the streets with empty thoughts. The bright brown netra stared at the people walking against the background of the skyscraper. It is not a beautiful or stunning scenery, but with this Arunika realized that everyone has a life with his own problems. This thought makes Arunika feel calm because it means not only her who struggles to survive in this world.

"Miss, we're here." The voice with a polite tone made Arunika wake up from her daydream. He thanked her and said he would call if he wanted to get home before getting out of the car. Afterwards, he walked into the largest shopping center in Indonesia casually. Without the woman knowing, the existence of Arunika is quite attractive to many people who pass by there. Not because she is famous—Arunika has never appeared to the public—but because her beauty is enough to make people focus wrong. But Arunika did not care, or rather did not realize, and continued to walk up to the second floor of the building.

Arunika continued walking until finally her eyes saw a street sign that read 'La Rose Residence' with an arrow pointing to the left. The woman followed the instructions and pushed the door that separated the area between the mall and the apartment where it stands now. Arunika again walked closer to the apartment lobby area, then circulated the view in all directions, looking for the person who was the destination to visit the place.

"Miss Arunika." Arunika looked back when she heard a heavy voice with a polite tone calling out to her. The woman smiled looking at the figure in front of her.

"How are you, doctor? It's good to see you back." Arunika extended her hand with a bright smile. The man in the age of 35 returned the hand of the woman.

"I'm good's. Nice to meet you too, Arunika." After saying that, Fayn invites Arunika to go to the park that is on the rooftop. Fortunately there is quite quiet so Arunika feels more comfortable to tell stories.

The two sat on a bench that presented a view of tall buildings as well as the blue sky in front of him. The wind blew quite strong, but was able to make Arunika feel calm. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, whereas since then Fayn just stared at the young man next to him with a sad look. He really knew how difficult Arunika's life was because he had accompanied her since the age of fourteen. And Fayn needs to emphasize, he always sees Arunika as a very strong and great patient, someone who Fayn secretly has four thumbs.

"Suddenly the dream reappeared." Fayn was silent to hear that, of course he knew what the dream meant. Dreams are the first step of all his struggles. The dream that made Fayn aware, it turns out that the Bumantara family is not that crazy.

"The dream kept coming during the week, made me wake up at three in the morning and go to school in a sleep-deprived condition until I finally fainted yesterday. Really sucks." Arunika continued while putting on an annoyed face. Fayn was still silent, letting the teenager take out his teething.

"And the doctor knows what's funny?" Fayn raised one eyebrow in return as Arunika turned to look at him.

"That dream came about just because of a small conversation with a man?" Now Fayn's brows rose both, a little confused yet also feeling funny. He remembers the nightmare appearing after Arunika experienced similar events in her dream, such as when someone pulled her hand out loud, when someone called her name out loud, saying, up to the loud noise caused by the swing of goods. He did not expect the dream to appear just because of the conversation.

"Have you touched on that?" fayn asked the answered slingshot.

"She's just asking me things that I think are basic ... or maybe not." Arunika paused her sentence slightly as a result of remembering her conversation with Gavin at that time. He recalled the questions that the man asked and there was one question that Arunika realized, that was the cause.

Fayn noticed the change in Arunika's expression and smiled faintly. True to his expectations, the teenager subconsciously touched on the thing that happened in his dream.

"He asked about the course, not the details, but I explained that since childhood has been included many courses. That's the trigger," said Arunika with a look as if just realized something. Fayn nodded in understanding, while Arunika exhaled a rough breath.

"So stupid, can I not be aware?" Fayn laughed at Arunika's emotional complaints.

"Who is that guy? You didn't even knowingly tell her that" Fayn asked curiously, this was the first time Arunika had unwittingly been open to anyone other than herself. Even Arunika needed two months to finally be able to tell her everything.

Arunika glanced at the doctor and Fayn continued to give a curious face so Arunika gave up, "doctors know the Kanagara family?" The psychiatrist was silent for a moment and then nodded.

"A smart family plays music, right?

"You close to him?" fayn asked again, "he's the new kid at my school two weeks ago and we're just friends." The doctor again gave a slightly uncertain look, especially at the words 'we are just friends'. But Arunika did not realize it because her eyes were focused on looking at the scene in front of her. Fayn smiled too.

"But Arunika, it's actually a good development for you." Arunika frowned, but soon she understood the meaning of the psychiatrist. Right too, this was the first time he could open up to someone.

"You can't hold it all by yourself forever, you need someone who can and will listen to you all your life. And certainly not me because I'm just your personal doctor, you need more than that" Fayn advised in a soft voice.

Arunika chuckled after Fayn finished his sentence, leaving the doctor confused. "I remember one person, he just said the same thing as you," said Arunika still with his piety.

"Your grandmother, huh? Doctor Eleonora?" Allegedly Fayn answered a nod by Arunika.

Arunika stretched her legs that had been bent and left them in an elongated position with her heels attached to the floor, while Fayn placed her right foot on top of her left foot and crossed her hands in front of her chest.

"Doctor Eleonora I've considered myself a teacher and she told me that when I was down. And then I'm grounded, there's one person who's always with me even though I'm in a really bad state." Arunika smiled hearing that. He could see Fayn's sparkling gaze when offending the person he loved most. Arunika became wondering, roughly when she could feel that as well.

"Grandmother said it long before I was aware of my mental health, when I didn't even know what love was." Arunika recalls her memories with her grandmother, the only sane adult in the Bumantara family, the only adult Arunika can hold onto.

"Tomorrow the fifth anniversary of his death, right?" fayn asked after recalling the date of the woman's death.

Arunika nodded, "tomorrow I will go there."

"Only?"

"Nobody cared about him after his death, they were too busy with their respective affairs. I also have no problem going alone, anyway more comfortable." The words with that indifferent tone made Fayn grimace in heart. This patient's family is really something.

"Doctors don't come tomorrow?" Arunika looked at the doctor.

"I'll come the day after tomorrow because there's a patient who wants a consultation." Arunika nodded in understanding, then checked the clock from her phone. It was three in the afternoon, he thought.

Having been relieved, Arunika stood up from her seat, as well as Fayn. They stood face to face with Fayn who put both his hands in his pocket.

"Oh, yeah, you've been taking your anxiety medication for a week? That dream must be triggering your panic attack, too, right?" asked Fayn with a serious face.

Arunika gave a five-fingered smile and shook her head, "not at all. My panic attack only relapsed once and I decided to calm it down in the way you taught me." Hearing that answer Fayn smiled proudly and patted Arunika on the shoulder several times.

"Good then, do not drink it often if you do not want your body to become weaker again," advised Fayn who answered a nod of understanding by the patient.

"Thank you for listening to me, doctor. I'll send it later." The second sentence Arunika let out in a whisper, made Fayn laugh widely, then shook his head slowly.

"This time you don't have to pay, you've paid with your progress. That's enough for me" he exclaimed with a gentle smile. Arunika also smiled.

"Then I go home first, yeah. Say hi to your wife!" Arunika began to step away from the doctor with her arms waved. Still with his smile, Fayn returned the wave while nodding.

"If Dr. Eleonora were still here, she would definitely be very proud of her granddaughter. Very strong and brave."

...⁕⁕⁕...