The Azkia Wound Flakes
Meet with Ardila

Azkia can't concentrate working today. Meeting Nicolas earlier in the lobby made him imagine the past. A past he wants to forget and not remember.

No, I have to forget it. There's no way I can meet that depraved man again. Where possible....

It is different with Nicolas. Instead he wanted to know what happened to Azkia thirteen years ago. Where's Azkia? Why did he disappear without news? It might sound cliche. But Nicolas was at that time had not yet graduated from school and there was still much to do. Sometimes, a feeling of guilt enveloped his heart.

****

Azkia's classmates did not hear from Azkia at all. Ardila could not answer anything more Nicolas begged him when to deliver if Azkia was.

"Please, Di, help me, where Azkia is now" said Nicolas.

"I don't know, Brother Nico. Azkia also did not give any news to me. If I knew I wouldn't worry either." replied Ardila.

"Azkia didn't see you or anything, Di? She didn't tell me anything?" ask Nicolas.

"Hmmm..." Ardila hesitated and considered whether he should tell her or not.

"Could you meet, right, Di? Ceritain, Di, how is he? How did Azkia meet you?"

Ardila did not have the heart to tell Nicolas. Of course he did not think that Nicolas would be this worried for the size of a man "who would be happy".

"Sister, what are you doing with Azkia?"

Nicolas. He thought of the right answer to answer it. Nicolas did not reply, Ardila asked again.

"Is Brother dear to Azkia? I mean in the true sense. Not just a momentary emotion."

"This, Di. I am guilty of crossing the line with Azkia. I also didn't know at the time we were getting carried away." Nicolas did not dare to answer while looking at Ardila.

"When did it happen?" Ardila looked at Nicolas seriously.

"That was about two weeks ago. And we also had a chance to talk about this..."

"What talk?"

"Azkia positively pregnant, Di... And I don't want to be irresponsible. But I'm still in school and when I wanted to answer about how we should be, Azkia didn't give me a chance, Di..."

Ardila limps to hear Nicolas's statement. Yes, last night Azkia came to tell me what happened. But Azkia passed the part where she was positively pregnant.

"I'll try to find where Azkia is as good as I can, sister. But if I don't see Azkia, it's brother's fault. I don't know until when, someday you have to take responsibility for everything that happens."

Nicolas felt very guilty about what happened and he could not answer Ardila's words.

Ardila and Nicolas searched everywhere for Azkia to go but could not find her. They even came to Azkiah's house, but it was empty. There's no one. The next day, Ardila and Nicolas try to visit Azkia's house again. Empty again. Same with the next day again.

"The emptiness keeps his house, brother."

"Where is the same hape?" nicolas asked in despair.

"Dead, Brother. Maybe it was intentional."

Nicolas squeezes his head and he can't find Azkia anywhere.

*****

Nicolas grabs the hape and calls Ardila. Nicolas hasn't called Ardila in a while. The last time he asked where Azkia was.

The phone was picked up and Ardila's voice was heard on the other end of the phone.

"At..."

"Yes, sister, why Sis?"

"I met Azkia, Di..."

*****

But Azkia's steps came to a halt when she met Ardila in front of her office building.

Ardila looked at Azkia who was hurriedly carrying a bag and some documents. Ardila felt a deep longing for Azkia. His best friend who arrived - suddenly disappeared, now he is grateful to be able to find his best friend again.

"Ardila...."

Ardila approached Azkia and hugged Azkia tightly. The sadness in his heart overflowed and Ardila's cries broke out right then and there.

"Azkia..."

Azkia felt awkward with Ardila. Probably because I haven't seen each other in a long time.

As much as possible Azkiah did not show his awkwardness to Ardila.

Ardila takes Azkia to a cafe to be more comfortable talking. He still could not take Azkia for granted because for thirteen years he disappeared without news.

"So, how are you doing now, Ki?" ask Ardila who has ordered coffee and some snacks for them. Azkia tried to act as relaxed as possible.

"I'm good, Di. How are you?"

"me too. Now you work there Ki? In what company?"

"I'm in a company that manufactures water heaters, Di. You alone, Di?"

"I'm digital marketing. How awkward we gini yeah. I'm not ordinary."

Azkia smiled slightly.

"Do you know where I work there?"

"From Nico."

Azkia fell silent and did not comment anything.

"Don't be surprised, Ki. I'm the same Nico I've been looking for you everywhere. But not met. Thirteen years, Ki, I'm looking for you. You just disappeared." said Ardila sipping his coffee.

"I'm..." Azkia. Somehow he had to answer Ardila's question.

"So I can ask, where have you been all this time?"

"I'm in Kediri, Di."

"Huh? Where's?" Ardila was shocked and could not believe Azkia's answer.

"Yes. I stayed there for a long time to finish my high school."

"What's up, Ki? It all happened - arrived. Does it have anything to do with Nico?"

"I don't know, Di..."

"Ki. Sorry, I don't want to interfere with your business. But I think there's a misunderstanding here between what Nico means and you." Ardila tried to clear up the misunderstanding that had not been resolved all this time.

"I don't want to hear anything about, Nico, Di. I don't want to be hurt or anything." Azkia replied before Ardila defended Nicolas in front of him.

"You're pregnant. I'm really, right? And you ask Nico for responsibility, your position is also labile and frustrating. Same. Nico is too. He's confused what to do. He also has not graduated from school. Keep asking me, are you sure Nico really does not want your responsibility? Try to answer me."

Azkia. It was as if he had been stabbed with a sharp knife in his heart. Ardila's question made him unable to dwell on anything.

He thought again, could Nicolas not have thought so thirteen years ago?

"I'm..." Azkia hesitantly answered Ardila's question.

Ardila was still waiting for what Azkia would say. Clearly, doubts were implied from Azkia's eyes when talking about Nicolas.

"I... I'm not really sure." replied Azkia lowered her head and her feelings were now becoming jumbled.