THE ALEXIS
CARNATION, DAISY AND TULIP

Arriving at Khiara's house, she immediately kicked Alex out without allowing him to enter the house. But it's not Alex's name if he just complies. Of course Alex insisted on going into his house as if it were his own.

The man held a bridal-style Khiara and entered the house. They are immediately greeted by Khiara's servants who are already very worried about her mistress.

“Already, go! I'm it's okay. There are those here who will take care of me.” As if Khiara's words were just a wind then, Alex remained there. Take off Khiara's shoes and massage them slowly.

“Take ice water and sanitary napkins!”

“Hah?” Khiara didn't hear wrong, did she? Just this guy say pads?

Alex raised his face as Khiara stuffed him with widened eyes and a hint of red pseudo on his face. Realizing that his speech was ambiguous, he immediately corrected it.

“I mean elastic bandage.” Why is language so difficult? The curse in the heart. Naturally, if it causes misunderstanding, pronunciation is the same. “Ah, just bring the medicine box!”

“Ba-good!” The waiter immediately picked up what Alex asked for.

“Why do you order my servant like that? You scared them!”

“You also command my servants as well as your eels.” Jaw drop's. Alex really scaled it. Ok, Fine! That's absolutely true. And Khiara was lazy to admit it.

Alex immediately compresses Khiara's ankle with ice water, then sprays pain medication and bandages it. The man did it very deftly and very carefully. Like a medical professional.

“Do not walk much for 2-3 days! Including going to campus.”

“I'll still be going to campus!" sergeant Khiara with a suppressor in every word.

“I don't accept rebuttal, Khiara.”

“I also don't accept orders, Alex!” Alex breathed his breath out violently. He knew that the woman was stubborn. If no one gives up, it will not be finished. “Tersohilah! But don't ride in your own car. Surely you are also not stupid to go to campus with your wheels.”

“You think I'm stupid, huh?”

“You always do stupid things in my eyes.” Khiara just grunted annoyedly. “Where are you from? Why go without telling?”

“I won't tell you.” Alex could only clench his hand holding back the anger. And once again, Alex could only contain his anger in front of this woman.

“And why did I tell you?” Right now, there is no reason to tell him.

“You avoided me, huh?”

Alex does not realize that the accusation is true, because Alex himself does not think that there is a reason for Khiara to avoid it. Even if there were, there would be no woman who would bother to come back just like that after avoiding it. Maybe there's something he needs to do out there.

“For what to avoid you?”

“Good! Because there is no reason for you to avoid me. If there were, I would definitely find you.”

Do you know Alex if Khiara actually avoids her own feelings? And his need to return made him unable to dodge it anymore? Khiara just pinched her lower lip.

“All right, I have to go now.” After seeing his watch. “Remember! Don't move too much. Take off the band when you want to sleep!” Khiara clucked to hear it.

“What did you learn was just a command line, huh?” the question made Alex smile.

“At least it makes people submit to me. Already, tomorrow I invite you to go to campus,” he said while rubbing Khiara's hair and passed from there.

Khiara noticed the back that started to disappear behind the door.

Before exiting, Alex's corner of the eye captured two photos that caught his eye. Photo of Khiara and her four best friends, and another photo of Khiara with a woman. His forehead creased, but soon passed from there.

Out there Alex felt a sharp glare piercing his nape. But he passed as if he felt nothing. Once in the car, he glanced at someone standing on the rooftop of Khiara's house.

Someone with both hands in his pants pocket, just standing there. His eyes kept staring at his car. Alex was wrong, not the stern look he was throwing, but a peeking gaze. Alex ignored him, and immediately darted from there.

...***...

“You're here?”

“Emm... What's with your feet?”

“Slightly sprained. Since when are you here?” tanya Khiara switched the conversation.

“Since before you came home.”

“Emm... What's up?”

“No, just looking for you. Where are these weeks from? I didn't find you at home. Last morning it seemed like you went home straight away again.”

“Aah, just a walk to Paris. Refresh the brain.”

“You found Adit?”

“Not really, it was he who met me.”

“Hemm..”.

“Why? Anything you want to talk about?”

“Actually not really, just... I just saw you with him, you guys look so close.”

“But what if I am jealous?”

Suddenly Khiara fell silent, this was what she least expected. He really did not like being trapped in the friend zone, it was very tiring for him. How many years has it been since he confirmed that he did not want such a relationship in their friendship? 4 years? 5 years? 6 years? I don't know if he doesn't remember.

“Artha..." Khira reminded with a saturated expression.

“I know, I know. Just kidding honey.” Khiara snorted annoyedly at her making. It's not funny to him at all. “Oya, looks like Krishna will be home in two weeks. Be prepared. Looks like you're gonna get to spray the grout.”

“Hahaha.... Can you be my shield?”

“Hahahah... I don't want to be your shield constantly if in front of Krisna.” Khiara throttled at hearing that. Why is his friend so unfaithful to him?

“tha... Want to take me to the florist?”

“You want to buy flowers?”

“No, I want to buy poison.” Artha patted Khiara's leg wrapped in bandages.

“Akh! Stupid pain!”

“Solah herself, who told you to be funny, huh?”

“Mistakenly your question is not of quality.” Hells! This woman always answered him.

Artha got up from her seat, this would not be finished if she did not end it. He perfectly memorized the nature of Khiara who was unwilling to budge and had a myriad of words to argue with him.

“Hey, don't you want to help me stand up? My leg is hurting, Artha! No sympathy at all with his own friends.”

“Wooho! Turns out a Khiara still needs help after upsetting her opponent.”

“Whispering! Shut up!” But Artha still helped Khiara as well. He would never allow this dear friend of his to be truly in distress.

They both headed to the nearest flower shop. Artha helped Khiara out of the car and accompanied her to pick out the fresh flowers that were there.

“Why did you choose carnation?”

“Because this represents my feelings.” Artha's forehead is wrinkled. Artha did not understand the meaning of a flower like Khiara. “Dianthus caryophyllus, when translated means flower of the gods, this flower of love.”

“You love someone?” Khiara smiled sweetly hearing that.

For some reason for Artha the smile was just like the smile of a mother to her child. Khiara looks mature and motherly at this time. So different from what was annoying. A very drastic change.

“Sure!”

“That guy?” Khira's forehead is wrinkled.

“Pink carnation is always associated with the never-dead love of a woman. So this flower usually symbolizes the eternal love of a mother,” explained the florist when giving up bouquet carnation that has been completed. The flower looks so pretty. “Do you want to give it to your child?”

“Don't be crazy! She's even young to have a child.”

“Oh, forgive me. Because this lady's smile is so motherly, I think you two are a married couple who already have children.” Artha cleared her throat to cover up her misdeeds, while Khiara let out a big laugh. And his mother's face was gone.

“What now does she look motherly?” Artha's cynical gaze leads to the florist and ends with Khiara.

“Don't be like that! Women are designed to be mothers. Although not all have the opportunity to become mothers.”

“You are right," said the florist full of admiration with Khiara's remarks.

“Tante is not here, then who will you give it to?”

“You'll know later.” Khiara rolled her eyes at Artha. “Thank you for the flowers" Khiara told the florist and dragged Artha out of the store.

“Thanks for the visit, please come back another time," said the florist accompanied the departure of the two of them.

And at the destination, Artha could only stand sculpting. Khiara placed the bouquet carnations on a mound of soil filled with daisy plants of various colors. Red is more dominant there.

“Pink Carnation is an expression that I will never forget you" Khiara explained.

Artha now understood why Khiara chose that love flower. His love for the one who has been quietly lying down there will never die. Although the body can no longer be near him, but his soul is always in Khiara's heart.

Artha glanced at Khiara. There was no face of sorrow emanating from his face. There were no tears there, just like before. On the contrary, a sincere smile and longing seemed so clear to his face. Has he been able to fight back against the bitter memories of his past?

“Why did you plant so many daisies there?”

“Because that's him. Daisy flowers symbolize innocence, purity, purity, loyalty, tenderness and simplicity. He considered himself a plain white daisy. But actually it's a red daisy. Beautiful without her knowing, loving, sincere, simple, and make people around her love her without excessive passion. It's just... There is one daisy trait that he does not have. The child does not love people secretly.” Khiara chuckled at the end of her explanation.

They've been there long enough. Khiara and Artha prayed for the man lying there with a kushuk. There was no more conversation between them until the two of them left the place.

After their departure, someone approached the tomb and placed a bouquet of white tulips. A flower that symbolizes perfect love and apology. The perfect love of the man who lay there. And an apology from the florist.

“This is an apology from him," he said, then left the tomb like a flower garden.

SHASHA ARDHIANI BRAMANTYO

...***...