The Grief of the Two Red Lines
Extra11

"Are you sure you want to go home?" Andre asked who saw Brian stacking his things into a suitcase.

"Yes. I've been thinking again. Zaira's been there to guard. So I guess, I don't have to worry anymore." Brian sat on the edge of his bed. "I've been thinking about my feelings all along and not thinking about Zaira in the least." He said and then looked down inside.

Andre sat next to Brian, patting the man on the shoulder. "You'd better find another woman, so that your mind stops Zaira."

"Good advice, but not before." Brian stood up, continuing to compile his things.

"The man hasn't been good himself for long".

"You're longer alone than I am. How dare you newly married counsel me on that."

Andre giggles. "If I had known marriage was that beautiful, I would have been married. But, meeting her Yuna was also late, anyway."

Brian smiled. "You watch. Make me a lesson. Don't waste it, you'll regret it". He said to Andre, who was silent. Brian took a suitcase and put it on the floor.

"What time do you leave?" Ask Andre.

Brian glanced at the clock on his wall. "Hour 9 nights."

"That means there's 12 hours left, right? Wanna go for a walk?"

Brian took a long breath. "I'm not interested in traveling. You take your wife, I'll drive around to miss this town."

"Whatis that? Like it's not coming back."

Brian pulled a smile with a sad look. "I might not be here anymore. Better not at all than to see Zaira living with another man." Brian let out a rude sigh, "just thinking about it has already cut my heart."

Andre nodded, "May you find a good path for you, yes. Think of what I said to find a replacement. I'll go first, I'll take you to the airport. You call me if you need anything". Andre said as he patted Brian on the shoulder and passed away.

Brian opens his phone, looking at the photos of himself and Zaira he still keeps. He pondered his fate now that he would continue to be alone, he could not think of anyone else when his heart and mind were full of his ex-wife.

"Well, this is how it ends, the wrong one will accept his punishment. And as patient as you are, will find his happiness." He muttered as he gently stroked Zaira's face on the screen of his phone.

Brian stood up, continuing what he needed to do.

~

Zaira was contemplating, whereas Revi and Hani were engrossed in telling stories in Hani's room while chewing some snacks.

"Ra, why stay quiet?" Hani asked who had been watching Zaira.

"No, I was just thinking about Yara."

Hani clasped Zaira's hand. "Yara must be fine. You've been thinking too much lately, Ra. Don't be too forced."

Revi looked at Zaira with something different, for some reason Zaira looked like she was holding something.

"Yes, thank you, Han."

"Gio how, huh? Is it coming again?" Hani asked again and Zaira just shook her head.

"He must have felt so guilty for not being able to look after Yara." Connect Revi.

"I don't blame him, though. I've told him that many times." Said Zaira who went back and forth to get an apology from Gio.

"Pity him too. Must have kept thinking and become afraid of being close to you again." Tukas Hani sipping his drink.

"If so, I go back first. Yara may have woken up." Zaira gets up and leaves her two friends, she heads to Yara's room and finds her little girl still asleep.

Zaira goes into the bathroom in the room to wash her dull-looking face for keeping Yara overnight.

He looked at his face in the mirror and thanked himself for fighting alone for hard things. Zaira closed her eyes with a drop of water on her face, suddenly she kept feeling like her heart was depressed, sick, and something she couldn't reveal.

Zaira took a peek at his face and came out and found several helium balloons tied to the edge of Yara's bed, but found no one inside.

Zaira noticed the balloon was still swaying, meaning the person was not far away.

He exited the room to find out who put the balloon. He's headed towards the hospital exit. Zaira walked quickly, her eyes looking back and forth, looking for a face that had been painted in her mind. 'Surely he.' Inner Zaira.

Zaira came to a halt when she saw a different person from her mind was in front of her, chatting with Revi.

"Bec.."

"Who are you..."

"Yes, I put the balloon. Sorry, I was afraid to wake Yara up". Her speech softly, while Zaira only nodded slowly, it turned out that her guess was wrong.

"I came to see Yara. I hope he recovers soon." Said Gio and Zaira just smiling thinly while holding her head up again.

"I'll go first." His appeal to Zaira and Revi.

After Gio's death, Zaira touched the nape of his neck with a rather sad look.

"You why?" Asked Revi who had noticed since.

"Huh? Me? It's okay." The answer is a little confused.

Revi put both of his hands into his suit pocket, staring fixedly at Zaira. "Are you able to lie to me? You look for something."

Zaira chuckles. "Search what? Nothing, it's yes." Zaira said then moved and Revi held his arm.

"Aren't you tired, Ra?"

Zaira looked at Revi wryly, then smiled faintly clasping her best friend's hand. "I'm fine. I'm serious."

"Stop saying the opposite. You've been holding everything yourself back. Stop, Zaira. I know, you thought it was Brian, right?"

Zaira threw out her face while exhaling. "I'm..."

"Are you going to continue like this, Zaira?"

"I don't know." Zaira looked down, and cried. I don't know why his feelings are so painful when he's okay.

Revi hugs her and lets Zaira cry. He gently stroked Zaira's shoulder and whispered something into her ear until Zaira's eyes were rounded.

"You.." Zaira let go of her embrace, looking at Revi who was now smiling in front of her.

Revi nodded, "I'm sorry, but I felt, You must be tired of always being alone with your hard problems."

Zaira looked down and sobbed again.

"I'm afraid you're sorry, Zaira. Finish what's still in your heart".

Zaira nodded even though she didn't know what to do.

Zaira returned to Yara's room after successfully wiping away the tears and a hiccup.

He opens the door and finds Brian sitting next to Yara's bed still asleep.

Brian stood up when he found Zaira standing at the door.

"Sorry, I just want to see Yara's progress. Looks like he's getting better."

Zaira closed the door and walked slowly. He stood not far from Brian and began to recall Revi's whispers to him earlier.

They were silent in each other's minds.

"I'll be home tonight." Said Brian breaking the silence between them.

Zaira nodded slowly and there was another silence between them.

Brian wanted to tell a lot of things, but seeing the look on Zaira's face when dealing with her made him reluctant. "If so, excuse me. I'll stop by tonight before I leave, will you?"

Zaira nodded.

Brian looked at Zaira for a moment. His heart was heavy, but he had to do it.

Brian then left without seeing Zaira who had just stared at Yara who was asleep.

Brian came out of the room, his hand still on the door handle. She hugged the woman just once before she left. But it was impossible, because Zaira would definitely not allow it.

Brian stepped up, leaving the room without him noticing that Zaira had been crying all along.

Seriate....