UNEQUAL
24

. "Do you know each other?" Ask the man who witnessed the scene.

"Ma-sorry om. But. I'm excited to see Arisa's fine." Bayu replied with his nervous attitude.

"How do you know she's Arisa?" Ask the father again as if he wants to test the sight of a stranger on his two daughters.

Bayu smiled casually.

"I've known Arisa since college, although Arisa is my junior, but I can recognize her is Arisa." Answer Bayu with a very high level of confidence.

"What if he's the one you saw first? Are you gonna recognize him?" Father pointed with his eyes at Raisa who was walking down the stairs. Again Bayu smiled after turning to Raisa for a moment and turned to look at father.

"They are different." Arisa gasped at that simple word.

"It looks like your son likes my daughter, Arya." He laughed and patted his co-worker on the back.

Arisa just looks down not denying the fact that Bayu likes her. It is true, Bayu had expressed his love for Arisa when Arisa in ospek by him. But his love is unrequited because at that time Arisa has a lover, who is none other than Rama. And when Bayu hears that Arisa's boyfriend is dead, he approaches Arisa again. But not to take her heart, but to strengthen Arisa's broken heart.

Bayu seemed to have forgotten his feelings even though his heart was also slashed to see Arisa who was sad for others.

When the two families talk to each other in the living room, Arisa and Bayu choose to talk in the garden in front of the house.

"You haven't changed Arisa. It's still as cold as ever." Sayu said with mocking intent even though she thought Arisa would not laugh. But unexpectedly, Arisa smiled in response to a joke that made Bayu feel stunned because the first time Arisa smiled so sweetly in front of him.

"Some." Call Bayu hesitate.

"Yes?"

"If we're in a match, would you agree to it?" Tanya Bayu turned her gaze away from Arisa. Arisa again drew her smile and both turned her face away from contact with Bayu.

"Will you be happy with me?" Asked Arisa who refused to turn her face.

"I'll be so happy Arisa." Bayu answered looking at Arisa expectantly.

"But I'm afraid I'm going to leave my sister." Arisa whined her head and showed her tear-jerking face.

"Why are you crying? If you're the one leaving brother, it should be the one crying. Not you." Bayu grabbed both shoulders of Arisa.

"Say. Do you have a lover?"

"I'm..."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to remind you of him."

"Sir Bayu thought to Rama?"

"Aris.." call Raisa.

Arisa and Bayu got up from her seat as if they immediately understood the call of Raisa.

. In the dining room, all were already in his position, as usual, Dad was as if a king sitting with the most separate seats. Arisa and Bayu sat facing each other. The two heads of the family exchanged lyrics and then threw smiles at each other.

"It has been agreed, seeing your closeness, we have decided to match the son of Bayu and our daughter, Arisa." Arisa looks harshly at the father who she thinks just made a decision without asking for her approval.

"But father.how about..." Tio did not continue his words and turned to Raisa.

"Raisa we've already made a bet with Rayyan." All speechless. Although whatever the circumstances, even though there were no feelings that exceeded the limit, Arisa still felt devastated at this time.

Raisa shook her head looking at Arisa who was looking down. Either he should be happy or sad. Indeed Rayyan is the person he loved a long time ago, but if he had to take it from his sister, he felt it was too outrageous. What else is it that Arisa is dying.

"Dad.. I..."

"Why? Isn't it obvious you and Rayyan like each other? And the proof is that he went to see me to pick you up." Father interrupted the silent Raisa with teary eyes.

What is not known to everyone, Arisa dropped a clear circle from her eyelids, but not visible because she lowered her head to avoid the faces that she thought had been the umpteenth time separating Arisa with her happiness.

Tio looked at Arisa who turned her face away. Tio knows that Arisa is crying because of her parents' misunderstanding.

. After dinner, Arisa returns first without finishing her meal. It made his family worried. What else when Arisa gave an excuse that she was not healthy.

Bayu invites Tio to talk with four eyes only. Of course Tio took Bayu to his room so that no one would hear their conversation.

"Did Arisa have a lover?" Ask Bayu without a stale ado.

"You think?" Answer the cynical Tio.

"Tio. I'm serious."

"You think I'm kidding? I know you like Arisa. But this time alone, let Arisa choose her own happiness." Tio pleaded with Bayu who was astonished by Tio's current attitude. Why beg like this?

"All I know Arisa's boyfriend is-"

"Ray-Rayyan?" Bayu frowned as if he could not believe that Rayyan Tio meant was the same person who was called by Yugito.

"But why didn't Arisa refuse to be betrothed to me?"

"Because Raisa likes Rayyan, and Arisa knows that."

"Sorry Tio, but I don't intend to release Arisa. I've let it go once, but this time-"

"You're selfish Bay."

"What's? Selfish? Where do you think his egoism is? I loved her a long time ago, but I let her go because she had a lover, and when her lover died, I patiently accompanied her and healed her heart wound. And now, God answered my prayer to be united with him. And this is the way, I accept it even if by being betrothed. Have you found out where my selfishness lies?" Bayu is no less emotional.

---

. "Aris. I'm sure something's wrong here." Said Raisa who followed up to Arisa's room. Arisa, who was lying down, now moved up and threw a smile at Raisa. Arisa clasped Raisa's hand, and rubbed Raisa's tear-jerking cheek.

"Why did you become a crybaby? And what do you mean? Me and Bayu love each other. Why do you think I like Aray?"

"Aris, don't pretend. I know. I know you love Rayyan and Rayyan the same." Arisa still shakes her head in denial of the facts said her twin sister. Maybe this way he could die peacefully.

"But Aris...." Raisa couldn't help but cry. Raisa sobbed with Arisa's hand on her forehead.

"If you say, I do care about Aray, if I continue to be with him, I'm afraid I'll really love him. And at that moment, I hurt your heart. I don't want to die with regrets, and sadness." Arisa said so calmly.

"But Rayyan loves you."

"And that's what I'm afraid of. If I get closer to Aray, Aray may love me more deeply, and I can't imagine how sad she would be when I die."

"Stop babbling about dying. I'm not gonna let you die. You used to tell me to be strong to fight my illness. Even you say, find anyone you want to keep forever with so you have a reason to live. Know it? You're the reason I survived and fought my illness. So why don't you do what you told me to do?" Raisa cried out with a cry that never stopped.

"Stop crying. I beg you.." said Arisa staring at meu Raisa who continues to sob.

. The next day, Rayyan approached Arisa who was sitting in the campus garden. Predictably, Arisa is waiting for Vienna.

Unlike usual, Arisa moved as if in a hurry as Rayyan sat next to her. Rayyan understood and just laughed a little. But the days change and almost 1 week at his college meeting, Rayyan begins to realize that Arisa is not busy, she is deliberately avoiding Rayyan. But it is different from Daffa. Arisa is still friendly and even always talks with Daffa. This time, Rayyan held back Arisa who was about to pass from her sight.

"Why do you keep avoiding me? I know you're not busy." Ask Rayyan. His face is serious now.

"Sorry Rayyan..."

"You didn't even call me Aray. What's wrong with you?" Arisa looked Rayyan in the eye. The look made it seem as if he stopped breathing. Feels claustrophobic. Rayyan must have hated him. Rayyan was surprised when she saw the change in Arisa's attitude right in front of her eyes. Arisa suddenly turned cold, and her gaze was no less sharp than her. Rayyan was silent and let Arisa pass and she had no heart to look back. Arisa stopped right behind Rayyan.

Rayyan turned her head when a hand pulled the tip of her jacket. Seeing the face of the owner of the tiny hand, Rayyan immediately looked up to find Arisa's face that had been torn by tears. Rayyan grabbed Arisa's face with worry.

"You love me?" Arisa asked softly and almost inaudibly by Rayyan.

"You're just asking now?"

"Just answer Rayyan." Arisa looks a little upset. Honestly speaking, Rayyan felt claustrophobic when Arisa called her by that name.

"Yes.I love you." Resolute Rayyan who hopes not to find an unwanted answer.

"I love you too." Arisa is still in a soft tone.

"Why have you been avoiding me all this time?"

"I want you to erase your feelings. I don't want to get too close to you."

"What do you mean?"

"From this moment. Don't ever be with me again. I'm sorry!" Arisa hurriedly moved and again passed leaving Rayyan who was sculpting.

Daffa continued to watch Arisa closely.

"What's wrong with them? They quarrel? But because of what?" Question after question now popped up in Daffa. Because as he remembered, Arisa and Rayyan were not in trouble.

Daffa pursues Arisa without Rayyan knowing. Daffa approached Arisa who was sitting on her stool.

"Arisa.." - Daffa made Arisa look up.

"You had a fight with Rayyan?" Tanya Daffa made Arisa hold back her tears.

"Ehh ja-don't cry. I-I just ask."

"I'm the one who silenced her Daf." replied Arisa with regret. Hearing that, Daffa tried to calm Arisa down by gently rubbing Arisa's hair and slightly holding her.

And the scene was seen by Rayyan in the doorway.

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