RUN WITH ME
CHAPTER 33: FATIGUE AND WOUNDS

"Ke .. mother's grave?" ask Gavin again, confirm his father's words for fear of mishearing. Harris nodded, confirming his son's question. The adult man could catch a confused expression as well as disbelief on his son's face.

After Anahita's death, especially since Harris' marriage to Rebecca, Harris seemed very reluctant to mention the topic about Anahita. For years, Gavin was the only one who remained faithful to visit his mother's grave, even if only to say hello lightly or simply put a new flower in front of his tombstone. It was in stark contrast to Harris that even his arrival could be counted on the fingers.

"Why?" Gavin finally made a sound after a while of being busy with his head.

Harris casually replied, "dad wants to introduce Rebecca to your mother." It is true that Rebecca has never been officially introduced to Anahita, Rebecca has only ever seen the figure of the woman through photographs. Logically, it doesn't matter, either, because Anahita died ten years ago and Rebecca's position is now Harris's legal wife.

Gavin justified all logical thoughts, but his heart still felt pain in hearing them. The man regained his senses, his mother's existence had completely disappeared from his father's life and only he was still standing at the door of the room ten years ago.

Gavin smiled bitterly then nodded slowly, "alright, just do as you wish." After saying that, Gavin was ready to step back his legs. But one thing came to his mind so he delayed his steps. Gavin turned his back to look at his father.

"Father's arrival tomorrow will be the fifth time since mother's death, although the purpose of father's arrival is to introduce Rebecca, I beg you, do not say things that are too late. After all, she sacrificed her life to be with me." Harris was speechless at the plea, while Gavin had walked into his room with a sad face.

Without the two adam noticing, Rebecca quietly listened to their conversation from the direction of the dining room. The woman was actually quite surprised to see Gavin's uncharacteristic reaction, resisting with anger. But seeing Gavin accept the plan with a sad face also made Rebecca feel uncomfortable.

Rebecca understood Gavin's condition. Losing a very influential figure at a young age is not an easy thing, naturally Gavin is still imagined by the figure of his mother until now. Rebecca did not even understand her own husband, is this how she communicates with the child? Talking about sensitive things very casually as if the child's feelings are not important? Rebecca also understood why Gavin always talked with Harris.

My dizzy head looked at her, Rebecca's mind as she gently massaged her eyes.

...⁕⁕⁕...

"In what other way do I have to explain to you that I have never once neglected my courses? I just pushed back the clock because it collided with OSIS time, that's all" Arunika said in frustration at her parents who had returned home.

Arriving Arunika at home, she was greeted by sharp gazes from both her parents in the living room. Aaron—ayah Arunika— directly accused him of starting to ignore his courses because he was too busy being a member of OSIS. The accusation was reinforced by the words of his mother who received reports from the teachers of the Arunika course that the last few days Arunika resigned her course time. Arunika has tried to explain his condition, but the two do not want to understand.

"I'll just be busy until tomorrow because there's an event at the school, after which I'll take the course as usual. If I completely ignored it, why would I call my course teachers one by one to reset the schedule? If I really don't care about my studies, why do I study until twelvepm?" With all earnestness Arunika said that because that was the reality. Fortunately that explanation was acceptable to Aaron and Claris.

Claris crossed both hands in front of her chest, "but you know you have a midterm exam at the end of the month?" Arunika nodded in appreciation, but somehow an unpleasant feeling arose in her.

"Get a minimum score of 98 in all subjects, so that mother and father believe you do not ignore your courses," continued Claris who made Arunika widen her eyes. What the fuck? Arunika was ready to refute, her mouth had been opened to issue a protest.

"Fulfill that condition or get out of OSIS." The threatening sentence was thrown by her father, making Arunika finally only able to quietly accept.

"You remember your promise when you wanted to sign up for OSIS, right? Try saying it again now," asked Aaron in a command tone. Arunika closed her eyes while biting the inside of her lips.

"Good, remember the promise." Arunika exhaled slowly.

Arunika thought there was nothing else to talk about so she began to step her feet into the room, but again her mother's voice made Arunika's body sculpt.

"Who said you could go to the room, Arunika?" Arunika clenched her hands and swallowed her emotions, then went back to her parents.

"We heard strange news about you that spread throughout the school. A boyfriend?" Already Arunika thought her parents would bring this up. Arunika never knew where her parents knew the information about her that circulated in school.

"And he said the man was from the Kanagara family?" ask questions from Aaron.

Arunika again took a deep breath, then spoke, "Arunika is not dating the man, we are just friends." Arunika emphasized her last three words, hoping Aaron and Claris heard them clearly.

"I don't have any more feelings for her and I just want to add new friends, that's all," Arunika said. The couple also nodded in satisfaction.

"Good, you have to remember, you can't date before college. Your only goal right now is Harvard, okay?" remember Aaron with his flat face. Arunika again could only nod in understanding. He was sick of hearing the words that had been a doctrine to him since childhood.

Little information, the Bumantara family has always emphasized their descendants, the only university they can enter is Harvard so it is like a tradition for this family to send their next generation there. Even Arunika's two brothers are now studying there, as well as her parents who are graduates there. But it is common knowledge, the percentage of successfully entering Harvard medical school is quite difficult. Therefore, the descendants of this family are made "smart" since childhood so that the tradition can be achieved.

After that stressful conversation, Arunika was finally allowed to go to her room. Arriving there, after the door had closed tightly, Arunika leaned her body against the door body and her body slowly slumped to the floor. The girl sat on the floor with both legs bent and hugged. Arunika hid her face there.

Many times Arunika exhaled heavily, her mind filled with the orders of her parents earlier. Having to get a minimum score of 98 in all subjects, this is a really crazy condition. Various negative thoughts began to envelop him, what if he did not succeed? Should he leave OSIS? How did he explain this to the school? Who will continue his work as chairman of OSIS? And more importantly, he really did not want to leave all of his friends. He didn't want to wreak havoc on OSIS, nor did he want to be branded a troublemaker by the people who accompanied him for months.

Arunika raised her head and her face had been soaked by tears. His mind was completely stifled right now and his heart really felt tight. He really felt tired of being in this family, the family could only give him a relentless burden and a feeling of unforgiving tightness.

With the rest of his energy, Arunika moved out of place and walked towards the bathroom and stood in front of the glass above the sink. He could see for himself how messy his face was. Red eyes with tears that still flow until the nose that also begins to be blocked. Slowly his gaze decreased to his two hands holding onto the sink table, he alternately looked at the clingy hand.

Or ... maybe more precisely to the wrist that vaguely there are many incision scars. The former is already unclear if it is not seen carefully. But Arunika will always quickly find the traces.

Why surprised? Hasn't this kind of thing happened to people who live like Arunika?

...⁕⁕⁕ ...