The Luster of Stars in Moscow
⁇ 58
Drizzling rain poured down on central Moscow as Cheri left the Tsar Dramy building.
The girl walked quietly while being immersed under a transparent umbrella that glittered in the light of the street lamp.
His talks with Leah Denova had made a deep impression and made him think a lot about the dream Leah had said.
The biggest dream of my life…
Cheri tries to investigate his heart and mind, trying to find his own dream. Dreams are very important to motivate him. But the contents of his head and his feelings were filled by Rafael and.
How humiliating!
Cheri nodded at himself. All I kept thinking about was Rafael.
Suddenly he suspected that his biggest dream was neither ballet nor theater. But Rafael.
This is not true! said the critical side of him, the side of him that had helped him become stronger and independent.
What harm? The other side of her wise self simply brushed aside the critical gaze that made her feel unworthy and guilty.
What is wrong with loving someone?
That's not a sin!
You don't love her, refute her critical side. You're obsessed with him. And it's dangerous!
Meanwhile, her fragile side continued to wail.
Is the dream too high?
Why is it so hard to reach it?
Will he return safely?
Even if he comes back, can I be directed by Rafael more often?
Then suddenly Cheri imagined the man hugging him, calling his name and whispering…
"I love you…"
Tried convincing.
"I love you, Cheri!"
It was just wishful thinking.
Cheri shook his head, as if trying to wake himself up. He blinked his eyes, trying to drive the man's high shadow out of his head.
But that figure felt real in his vision.
Now the figure was standing across the street under the rinai of the burning rain. The tall figure was wearing a thick white long coat with a high collar. Her long, shiny black hair dangled the straight of the ruler and reflected the grains of light created from the rainfall hit by the street lights. Too real to be said as a fantasy.
Cheri blinked once more, then squinted his eyes. But no matter how many times he tried it, the tall figure across the street was still unwilling to disappear from his sight, proving that it was not a hallucination.
Maybe someone similar to Rafael, he said in his heart.
Probably also…
"Rafael!" Cheri couldn't help but call him.
Then spontaneously the man turned to Cheri and gasped.
He is Rafael! pekik Cheri in heart.
It's miracle!
Without a second thought, Cheri immediately waved his hand at the man and shouted, "Wait! I will cross first" he said, rushing to the footbridge stairs. He glanced across the street to make sure the man was still there.
And, yeah. The man is still there.
He has returned!
But…
Suddenly and without warning, the man turned his back to Cheri and walked away.
Please, don't go!
I just found you.
"Rafael!" Cheri spontaneously turned around and rushed through the vehicle. Her umbrella was thrown from her hand, which automatically made some motorists surprised and shouted while honking.
The sound of car tires squeaking noisily followed by the sound of car horns that scream loudly.
Rafael flinched and looked back.
The girl crossed towards him with wide steps without crossing the pedestrian bridge.
Rafael held his breath and closed his eyes. Then he sighed violently and stopped his steps.
In the next instant, the girl had already reached the pavement, and a few steps in front of Rafael, raindrops mixed with tears flooded all over her face.
Rafael gulped and looked at him sadly. His heart feels sliced. Everything inside her wanted to grab the girl's tiny body and hold her. But the other side of her who was steadfast tried to restrain herself.
Cheri now looked at her, his eyes glazed over. His lips and chin trembled withstanding the cries.
"I've read the article," said Rafael flatly, trying to shift his raging feelings. But he failed to control his racing heart.
Cheri gulped with difficulty. Staring at Rafael between sad and curious, sorry and hopeful.
"I told you to go back to St. Petersburg, when I told you not to come after me, when I told you you would be in danger if you were by my side."
Cheri was immediately bowed, avoiding Rafael's sharp gaze, trying to hide his tears that began to spread.
"Why don't you want to hear me, Cheri?" Rafael lowered his voice into a soft whisper.
"I'm not a marionette who will just move following your orders" Cheri, trying to brace herself to raise her face and look into Rafael's eyes. "It's all your fault, Rafael," he sizzled. "For you to keep treating me like a marionette, I can't walk on my own like I should. I've been constantly failing."
"I don't want to involve you in my problems, Cheri!" Rafael raised his voice.
"Aku sudah jauh terlibat!" Chéri menaikkan suaranya lebih tinggi lagi.
Rafael fell silent.
"I can't go to St. Petersburg, Rafael," Cheri sizzled. "I can't go anywhere."
Rafael gulped and bowed. Sighing heavily and exhaling slowly, almost imperceptibly.
"I can't forget you" Cheri whimpered, his voice stuck in his throat. Then it exploded crying. "I can't live without you, Rafael! Why don't you understand?"
"Cheri," Rafael stutters in the distress between not being able to hold himself back and not being able to see Cheri's cry.
"Whatever happens, I'm not afraid of you by my side. Please don't leave me alone" Cheri gasped among his sobs.
Rafael extended his hand towards the girl, his heart racing, a pleasant pain tapped all over his nerve points. Now he can't hold it anymore. The urge of longing that instantly rose from within him made him completely helpless. His body was shaking and wanted to touch the girl.
"Let me be by your side, Rafael!" pinta Cheri lirih.
Rafael scooped the girl's tiny face and ducked. Closer his face to Cheri's face with a stingy breath that continued to be muted.
Cheri looked up in surprise, his gaze warmed as Rafael's breath swept across his face.
"Even if I run and run, you'll still come after me too" whispered Rafael, smiling sadly. "Now I can't run anymore. I'm not running anymore."
For the first time since their meeting that night, Cheri finally smiled.
He looked at the man's lips towards his lips and gently clenched his mouth.
The bodies of the two were now trembling under the rain.
But it was not the cold weather that made them tremble. The warm feeling had stung the two simultaneously and bound them. The bodies of the two did not feel the cold anymore now. The tremor came from the bubbling of their longing longed for long.
Cheri wrapped his hands around Rafael's neck.
The man wrapped one of his hands around Cheri's waist and closed the distance between them, while the other hand moved to Cheri's nape. The lips of the two were still intertwined, sweeping each other.
A sense of freedom knocks on each nerve endings both. Their tongues are joyful.