Sun Princess & Snow Prince
Episode 49 - The Truth

~ That reality is sometimes very bitter. Too bitter. (Zaid) ~

As if unaware of Zaid's facial changes, Jaya continued while sitting down. He kept telling stories. "Their parents are divorced, Ajie goes with his papa to America and Ave goes with his mother to Sydney. Not long ago their mother died. Ave was brought back to Indonesia, had school here. But he went to Sydney again. I just graduated last year. Papa Ajie has denied media coverage of Ave. He always protected the freedom of his beloved daughter."

The chain of information reminded Zaid of everything he knew about Ave. Parents' divorce. High School diploma, her brother who was never seen. The girl's ignorance about various ordinary things in Indonesia.

"Gue heard from my wife, Ave wanted to wake up a cafe, but not his papa. So he is challenged to spend 50 million dollars a year, without using his real identity or the help of their extended family. That's why Ave got slapped in your office. He was helped by Natasha and yes... Including my wife."

Natasha, the name that later entered Zaid's memory. "Did Natasha know all this?" hissing slowly.

"Natasha? Oh of course. He's my wife's friend. He's that artist... You must know. The ads, the movies everywhere. Lily, Natasha, Tiar and Ave. The four of them are good friends."

Zaid sighed. He was reminded of IG Ave. All this time he never really noticed. Now he began to understand.

Zaid turned to his friend again. "Jay, thank you for your information. This is so helpful. But can this not be our secret? I don't want my problems and Ajie to be rame. Me and Ajie... You understand, right?"

Jaya nodded. Although he had hoped Zaid would be more open if he told everything he knew about Ajie and Ave.

"Lo's sister is very good. Very kind. My business helped him too. I respect your sister. But it seems like from now on your sister also has to keep her distance from everything that concerns me. I don't want it because of me, her relationship with her husband becomes problematic. I hope you understand" said Zaid slowly but firmly. Once again Jaya nodded while patting his best friend's shoulder.

"How about Ave? Don't you fuck him up. Ave doesn't even know anything about lo and Ajie's problems. He really wants to work. After all this has been years, your hostility is too long" Jaya reminded.

A bitter smile spread across Zaid's lips before he again grabbed his own soft glass. Drink up to toilet. Hope all the disappointed and confused feelings in his heart at this moment disappear. But in fact it's not.

If all the friends in their class at that time were asked, who was the most trusted among them to date, the answer would have been Jaya. The figure of the leader who until now is also still highly respected Zaid and also... Ajie. Only this time, Zaid had no idea he should follow Jaya's advice or not.

But... Like brother, like sister. Ave is just as crafty as her brother. He hides himself for money. Disguise an identity for the sake of the game. Another prejudice appeared in Zaid's heart, lest the girl also fake her feelings. For the sake of smooth play by the rich man's son.

"Gue go back, Jay. I have to go back to Jakarta tomorrow. I'll contact you again as soon as possible." Zaid rose from his chair. Jaya wanted to prevent it, but Zaid's gloomy face made her understand. The enmity of his two best friends is not over.

Finally after a slow fist fight with Jaya, Zaid returned to the park where the party took place.

The party is over. There were only a few catering maids and the hotel was tidying up the party equipment. But among them there was still Ave who was circling happily on the grassy ground. His feet are no longer in shoes.

From a distance, the girl's face was filled with laughter. Zaid could see the happiness on Ave's face, and usually Zaid's heart was also happy to see him. But now, it was like a small needle was creeping through his veins when he saw the girl.

After all that had happened, after all his doubts had vanished and he chose the girl as his companion in the future, it suddenly seemed like there was a huge and high wall between them. Zaid doesn't know how to break down that wall. It's been over ten years, but the relationship between him and Ajie has never been good. Not once. Even Zaid was sure, if all continued, Ave would be the next victim.

Long enough Zaid stood watching in a dark corner near the door, before he decided not to call Ave. The girl can go home by herself. He's Ajie's sister and everyone at the hotel knows him. This hotel belongs to Lily's parents, Ajie's in-laws.

If indeed this relationship must end, Zaid must end everything from now on. Now Ave is just his men, nobody. Maybe even soon Zaid will break that relationship. Ave didn't need himself just to collect the money. That kind of money won't mean anything to that little girl who's been pampered all her life.

"Sorry, sorry. Ave first yaaa!" he said half a screech, before running out.

Ave took off her shoes, wanting to feel the wet grass at her feet while waiting for Zaid. But because Zaid moved away so quickly, he no longer had time to wear his shoes anymore. Ave ran after her lover.

When he came out of the park, Ave was confused to find Zaid. Fortunately, Zaid is now walking at his usual speed until Ave finds him.

"Yes!" ave shouted while running. She screamed in shock as her bare feet stepped on the asphalt with a few broken stones. But he doesn't care. Ave is afraid of being left behind.

Seeing Ave running without shoes, Zaid turned around again. Ave's Meeting. For a moment he forgot his decision. All he had in mind was worry.

"Ve, already! Don't run!" prevent Zaid with increasingly accelerated steps.

Ave dropped into Zaid's arms, throwing his shoes away. "Where are you going? How was Ave left? Why go back to your own room?" her tan was spoiled as she looked up at Zaid.

Not caring about Ave's question, Zaid hurriedly crouched down. Check both feet Ave. The marble-white feet looked reddish with black traces of soil and dust sticking together. There were small lines that spewed blood on the soles of his feet.

"Why take off the shoes, Ve? It's bloody like this!" said Zaid a little high. His hands were busy patting Ave's feet full of dirt and checking his wounds. Ave had to put his hands on Zaid's shoulders so as not to fall.

When Zaid was busy himself, looking down at his feet, Ave's attention was on the tip of Zaid's head. He remembered the words of his late mother.

"Love is an amazing feeling, Ave. Love makes us feel pain when we see our loved ones hurt, feel sad when they are sad. Also when we are happy it is when he is angry because he is worried about us."

At that time Ave thought Mama was talking about their relationship. "Like Mama if you're worried and ngomelin Ave? Is it because Mama loves Ave?" She did not answer and just smiled meaningfully.

Now, as a man scolds her, Ave begins to understand what Mama means. Mama was teaching him about the love that would be present in his heart. Love for a man. And tonight, Ave realized his feelings. He loved the man who was crouching in front of him, Zaid Zabir Abdullah.

" .... That open wound on the leg can't be taken lightly, Ve. Even if it's just a blister. Could tetanus. Are you afraid of being amputated? Or it could be that his wound will be scarred." Zaid's still busy cleaning Ave's legs. Ave glanced at the end of Zaid's sleeve which was now stained after being used to remove the dirt. Ave's heart pinched.

Slowly Ave's right hand touched Zaid's hair before he pulled his leg. Then his hand came down to touch the man's cheek, accompanied by his crouching body. They faced each other, staring at each other.

Without taking off her touch and even both her hands were touching Zaid's cheeks, Ave smiled at the man. "Ave reckon Ave is now completely in love with Mas" he whispered.

Zaid. Staring straight at Ave. But his lips were tightly closed. There's no answer. There's not even a smile. Only a pair of grayish-black eyes looked like bottomless deep wells, staring at Ave.

Then Ave smiled happily before closing her eyes, boldly putting her lips on the lips of the man looking at her with a flat expression. Zaid's pair of eyes blinked, starting to moisturize as he felt the sweet scent of the gentle strawberry sweeping his face.

Zaid knew his life would never be like it was. The most important thing in his life, will once again go away from him.

*****