Episodes 153. Concern

Zzzzssssrttttt!

"Arghhh!"

Astra's leg felt a powerful shock.

His leg immediately went numb, causing his body to collapse as it couldn't support his weight.

His knees hit the asphalt, his eyes trembling while glaring downwards, right toward Samuel's fallen body.

Their eyes met and conveyed opposite expressions. Astra gritted his teeth and clicked his tongue several times, while Samuel only offered a smile that looked both cool and foolish at the same time.

"Damn you, Mr. Samuel...!"

Astra's anger seemed to be subsiding. His tone of address returned to the polite manner it should be. However, it wasn't over yet.

With Samuel having done this, it was clear that the young man was actually very angry with him.

"I told you, I would stop you from doing something foolish..." That foolish smile was still plastered on his face.

"What do you mean?! Everything I've done -"

"Please, wake up! There's nothing more you can do!"

Samuel's shout made the empty snowy land rumble.

The cool smile he had been wearing turned into a look of pity towards the young man. The student couldn't face the reality that he couldn't do anything now, but his anger kept gnawing at his heart.

The usually talkative Astra suddenly fell silent and froze, tears began to fall down his cheeks, his gaping mouth turned into a snarl, and his open hands clenched tightly.

This reality was too hard for someone as young as him to handle. Especially since they were still fixated on eternal life and unafraid of death.

This incident seemed to shatter all those thoughts instantly.

....

The sound of footsteps approached the two of them.

Samuel immediately looked at the crowd behind the kneeling, helpless Astra.

They all wore relieved and satisfied expressions with what Samuel had done to the student council president. They thought Samuel had calmed Astra down, but in truth, Astra had forced himself to accept this reality.

*Tap... *Tap... *Tap...

The teachers stood amazed at the students daring to approach Astra.

They initially tried to stop the students, but seeing they were peers who understood Astra's current feelings, they remained silent and watched to see what would happen.

"Astra~" Moka tried to call out softly to the young man.

His shoulder was gently touched by Moka, but in an instant, he threw the handoff.

"Please, don't lecture me any further..." He spoke without looking at them, still facing the asphalt road. "This is embarrassing... and painful..."

The short sentence carried many meanings, but Hakam, who had been lectured by his teacher before, immediately understood the intent behind those words.

He then turned towards the adults and took a deep breath.

"Sir, ma'am... Could you give us a moment? There are many things that might become sensitive if adults are around."

The teachers immediately understood the intent of his words and nodded in agreement.

Tesi walked over to Samuel to help him stand, while Widodo moved to the side of the road to pick up Bahar's pitifully unconscious body.

"You're big and heavy, such a hassle!" Widodo lifted the man's body with all his strength, even his arm muscles seemed to deflate from the effort.

Should I drag him like Astra did? Such thoughts even entered his mind.

As Widodo walked alongside Tesi, Samuel turned to the cowboy-hat-wearing man.

"What exactly are you two hiding?"

Samuel recalled what Astra had said during the fight, the statement instantly raising a big question in his mind.

Upon hearing the statement, neither Widodo nor Tesi responded and continued walking in the determined direction.

Some things are better left unsaid to protect someone's expectations.

"You must understand, right? There are times when lying is necessary for the good." (Widodo)

"So, what really happened?" (Samuel)

"You will not only be shattered by your expectations of us, but also by Rasyid. The truth is more disappointing than all that." (Tesi)

"If that's the case, I understand, then you better not say it. Hearing Astra's statement alone made me fall, let alone hearing from you two."

Sometimes, keeping a secret as a secret is for the best. No one knows how devastated those who trust Rasyid will be when they hear the truth.

....

On the other side, Tasya walked alongside Haran, who had been silent all this time. The short woman felt awkward being with her.

"Um... Ms. Ha-Haran..." Tasya spoke hesitantly.

"Yes?" Haran responded casually, ignoring the awkwardness in Tasya's words.

"Yo-you've been silent all this time, is something wrong with you?"

"Ms.? You're too formal... Just relax."

"No, you're older and taller than me, so I can't be that casual!"

"Then just call me big sis (laughs)!"

"Alright then, Big Sis Haran!"

Tasya immediately saluted her with a silly expression.

A feeling of nostalgia-filled Haran as she saw Tasya calling her big sis. Whether it was from Rasyid or from her younger sibling, that nostalgic feeling kept churning in her heart.

"So, what makes me stay silent?" Haran held her chin while giving a small, silly smile. "Maybe because I'm nervous with such a cute little sister beside me!"

Tasya immediately blushed at that statement, her cheeks flushed and she couldn't dare to look at the woman.

"Ah- Big Sis!" Nonetheless, Tasya knew something was wrong with Haran. "I've often seen many people's traits and always tried to follow their flow, but when I try to follow yours, your flow changes suddenly."

"Does it still have to do with Rasyid?" Tasya added.

At the mention of that name, Haran immediately turned to look at Samuel and the others ahead of them. Her face turned gloomy and full of anxiety upon hearing the man's name.

"More or less like that, although the full control is gone now, I still feel his 'charm' magic lingering within me. I can't stay still when he's in trouble."

"Do you feel pain?"

"If I must say, it's in the between, if I resist then the pain is still there, but if I let the magic corrode me, then the pain disappears, but it feels like my mind is being taken over."

"What kind of magic did Rasyid use to do this? Does it have anything to do with Anitya's upgrade?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure those three, Nova, Rizki, and Doni, the mayor's son, know the answer."

Her voice was soft but filled with resentment towards them. If Haran had met one of them by chance, she might have attacked without thinking.

....

Back to where Moka, Hakam, Gita, and Astra stayed.

The three of them circled the helpless student council president, their faces looking very weary knowing how sad Astra was right now.

At this moment, the only one who might act as a spokesperson was Moka, while the other two men were not that type.

"Astra... Let it all out!" Hakam suddenly opened his mouth and said something unexpected.

Even Moka, who was about to speak, was surprised by Hakam's command. She didn't expect Hakam to give such an absurd order.