The Rain

The morning was not as bright as the previous morning. There was no warm sunlight that greeted the morning, and there were no birds that sang melodiously. That day it seems the sun chose to rest for a while, maybe she was tired because it had been shining all day. The rain that took over that morning.

The rain slowly fell more and more. The wind was blowing so hard that some leaves fell from the trees and filled the road.

Many people refused to leave their homes because of the rain but what could they do, they couldn't skip school or work just because it was raining.

Different from the others, that morning Ella woke up to the sound of rain that she heard, the clock showed six in the morning, but she was ready with her full clothes. Her mood this morning was great because of the rain. She loved the rain. If people avoided and didn't want to be caught in the rain, she would be the one who would run and dance in the rain.

Ella sat at her study table facing the window. She stared at the rain without doing anything else. She loved to watch the rain and hear the sound. Peace, that was what she felt at that time. It felt like all the troubles and burdens, that she thought of, were free and fell with the rain.

Sometimes when we have a big wound, no one can understand, because some of them just listen without trying to understand at all. They only know that we are hurting without understanding why we feel that way. It's a human thing.

We won't entirely know what someone is going through even if they tell us. We have to accept that.

In the end, the only person who can save us is ourselves. Others are only our reinforcement. Those who are always there, holding and helping us at the edge of the deep hole. But the only person who can get us back up is ourselves. On our effort, because this is our struggle, not theirs. Without it all, we will fall into a dark deep hole.

So why did she like rain? It was complicated.

Ella was the type of person who rarely said how she truly felt. She just buried it.

At that time, she could only open up with two people, Jeremy and Daffa, even though there was still something she couldn't tell them.

And sometimes it tortured her. Really tortured her.

It felt like she wanted to scream out loud, but all she could do was cry, that was all she could do. And at those times, she didn't need anyone, because that wouldn't help her. At that time, she just needed to be alone in the rain. The rain made her feel better because she thought that the rain felt what she felt.

The rain accompanied her in every cry, accompanied her in every pain, and it said nothing, it just kept quiet and attended her. That was all Ella needed.

"ELLA WAKE UP!" shouted Daffa, opening her bedroom door without knocking.

Ella stood up and sighed, "You know that you have to knock the freaking door first right?" replied Ella.

Daffa grinned, "Right, I forgot about that. I thought you were still asleep as usual," Daffa said as she walked in and sat beside Ella.

"What made you ready so early, hm?" asked Daffa

Ella just smiled without answering a word. She just looked back out the window.

Daffa followed Ella, who was staring at the rain outside. He then smiled faintly.

"when we were kids, every time it rained you always pulled me to dance in the rain with you, you remember? You don't want to miss one rain, even when you are sick. And in the end I was scolded by Jeremy," said Daffa smilingly remembering their past.

"You know what, at that time I knew you were sick and you shouldn't play in the rain. But I knew how much you liked the rain and you were always happy when it rained. I didn't want you to lose even one chance to feel that way," continued Daffa who made Ella smile too.

Daffa stroked Ella's head gently, "Meet me downstairs in fifteen minutes, I'll make breakfast first."

"No it's okay, I'll make breakfast this morning," said Ella.

"Okay, cool."

That day everything went smoothly. She was not late for school. She was also able to follow the lessons well. That day was quite supportive of her mood.

When the recess bell rang, she and her friends, The Navaraude, walked together towards the canteen.

"Why are so many people here," complained Vanya when they arrived at the canteen.

"You are so smart. It's break time, what do you expect? an empty canteen?" replied Daffa.

"Oh yeah? I just said it, I didn't really ask," said Vanya.

"And I just answered with logic," replied Daffa.

"You know what, honestly I'm not asking you to answer my words."

"Oh yes, you are right. you have to thank me, then. because I saved you from people who would say you are crazy for talking alone," replied Daffa, not wanting to budge.

"Whatever you say, Daf," ​​said Vanya ending their arguing.

Ella and David just laughed and didn't want to interfere because they knew Daffa and Vanya could never stop arguing.

They took their place in the corner of the canteen and sat there. From that day to the next, that place will be their place. How come? Of course, they could. They were The Navaraude. They had two of some of the most adored people in the school, Daffa and Vanya.

Daffa went to order food for the others, while the rest of them sat and talked.

"Hey, look at that girl, I can't believe she still wants to go to school with us," David said with a chuckle, pointing to a girl who was sitting alone in the middle of the canteen.

"Who?" Vanya asked, unable to see clearly because the canteen was very full.

"I never remember her name to be honest. But she was sitting alone in the middle."

Vanya seems still looking for that girl.

"The fat girl who always braids her hair, I'm sure you remember her," continued David.

"Oh that girl, hmm I forgot her name too. Andrea? Amara? Alina?" She asked, trying to remember.

"Audrey," said Ella.

"Audrey? Really? I thought her name was Daisy," David said confusedly.

"Yeah, there's a girl named Daisy but not her," said Ella.

"Oh, I didn't know that."

"Of course you don't remember it, you never tried to care for other people around you," said Ella, only inwardly. She never said what she truly wanted to say.

"I'm so bored, I need something fun," David said and walked away from their table.

"Oh my godness, can you stop messing around?" said Vanya a little shouting to David who was walking towards Audrey's table.

"I'm sure he can't," Ella replied.

David walked over to Audrey's seat and sat down beside her.

"Hi," said David.

Audrey didn't answer at all, not even to turn to David. She seemed not aware that someone besides her was talking to her.

"I'm talking to you," David said again.

Audrey only glanced around and continued eating her meal.

"I like your braids, by the way," David said without giving up. It was very challenging, he thought.

"why are you ignoring me?" Still not getting an answer, David tugged at Audrey's braid with one pull.

Audrey was just silent, not having enough courage to fight back.

"HEY! WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM WITH HER?!" shouted someone who caught all the attention in the canteen. He walked and stood right in front of David.

David smiled and stood opposite the person who had shouted at him.

"what's your problem with me, then?" asked David defiantly.

The guy named Jackson seemed to show his smirk. "Audrey is my sister. Maybe in middle school you could be free to make fun of my sister in public. But now, she has me. And I won't let you do the same thing again," said Jackson.

"Oh really? For your information, I just asked your sister to talk. And for the problems in the middle school that you mentioned earlier, yeah about that. Hm, I was not the only one who made fun of your sister. Because honestly, who wouldn't make fun of her, though." David replied, without feeling guilty.

"SO STUPID, WHAT THE HELL HE'S DOING," yelled Vanya, who had been watching what David was doing. She immediately walked over to David, as well as Ella.

Daffa who just finished ordering food heard a noise, immediately went to the place too. There already stood, Daffa, Vanya, and Ella beside David.

"woah woah, wait I think you misunderstood what David just said," defended Daffa.

Jackson shows his smirk again.

"Here we are, I finally meet The Navaraude. You know what, I've always wanted to meet you all when I heard you guys used to make fun of my sister," said Jackson.

"You think you are at the top, hm? You all just have a very good looking, that's all. Oh wait, my bad. Not all of you have a good looking," said Jackson, looking at Ella.

Daffa immediately stood in front of Ella with an unfriendly face. "What did you just say?"

At that time, Ella restrained herself from running away from that place. Her hands suddenly shook so fast, she looked around and realized that many people were watching her. She tried to breathe smoothly and didn't think of anything that would make her more panic.

"Woah woah, I think you misunderstood what I just said," Jackson replied with a sly smile.

"I was just wondering, why are you so obsessed with making fun of my sister? there is one person in your group that you can make fun of," Jackson said fearlessly.

"I mean, look at her. Everyone also knows she does not fit on you all. Just look at her, she doesn't have a physique that is as attractive as you guys," continued Jackson, who got a glare from Daffa.

"Hey, you know what, go fuck yourself," said Vanya, who couldn't help but get angry.

Daffa was desperately trying not to cause a fight in the middle of the canteen.

"Am I lying? I'm talking facts," Jackson provoked.

Ella gripped her hand so hard she tried to stop her hand from shaking. She also held back her tears.

"Just stop, she's not the one who has a problem with you," said David defending his friend.

Jackson chuckled.

"what? hey I did not talk to you. I spoke to...hmm, what's your name? I don't remember you are one of the Navaraude that people always adore," said Jackson as he walked to approach Ella.

"Watch your fucking mouth, dude," Daffa said, pushing Jackson away from Ella.

"You kidding me right? There's no way you have the type like her. I mean she's kinda ugly, though," Jackson answered right in front of Daffa's face.

Daffa smirked, then punched into the corner of Jackson's lips.

Jackson chuckled and wiped a little blood that came out, "I did not think you would punch me that fast," said Jackson Daffa provoke emotions.

David immediately held Daffa when he wanted to punch Jackson again.

"Oh I remember, you are Ella, right? Have you ever realized something? I will just tell you right now that many people make fun of your body too, oh yes and your face too of course."

"Hey Jackson, you know that Daffa can kill you right now in this place, right? So fuck you. You better go right now," said David while holding Daffa who literally wanted to punch Jackson.

Jackson smirked.

"Yeah you right, I think that's enough for today. Anyway, I know how you can pay for all what you have done to my sister," Jackson replied and walked over to Ella.

He grabbed Ella's shoulders and whispered right in her ear, "I know you know everything I said is true, honey."

"Do not touch her," Daffa said then pushed hard on Jackson's chest which only got a small laugh from Jackson.

The day did not go as smoothly as she thought before. It was much worse. She thought the rain this morning would signify that today would be her lucky day. But the fact is, today was terrible. She couldn't even smile until she came home from school. Her friends have tried to help Ella not to think about Jackson's words in the canteen. But everything has already entered her mind.