Love & Pain

When I arrived, I saw Joseph sitting alone at one of the tables. He looked like he hadn't slept all night. His eyes were red, and his hair was slightly messy.

He hadn't ordered any food there, only a drink.

So when I approached him, he immediately told me what had happened with May.

"So, what happened, Josh?" I asked.

"I just broke up with her. I caught her with someone else in a hotel room," he replied.

"That's terrible, man."

"I also saw you dating her at the restaurant last Saturday. Is that true?" My heart raced when Joseph said that.

Now I was forced to be honest because I also had a reason why I had a special relationship with May before.

"Yes, it's true. But I didn't know that at the same time, May was also dating you. She told me she was single," I explained.

"Bastian told me everything. But I didn't listen. Until I found out the truth myself when you called May on her phone. Your name was there, and I tried to answer the call, and it was really your voice. But I just stayed silent and hung up immediately," I continued.

Finally, Joseph realized. He had indeed experienced it. When he tried to call May, she didn't say a word. Because it wasn't May who answered the phone, but me.

"Where were you two at that time?" Joseph asked.

"We were at an internet café. She was still in the bathroom, but she left her phone on the table," I answered.

Joseph let out a heavy sigh. He was fed up with May. She wasn't a good girl, that much I could see.

"Josh, don't worry, I never did anything with May," I tried to reassure him.

"I believe you, Andra. I know you well. Besides, we've been friends since junior high. So, it's not your fault," he reassured me.

He then stood up and pulled me along with him.

"Let's order something, I'm really hungry. Let's just forget about this," he said.

"Alright," I agreed.

After ordering food, we sat back down and talked about our band, which hadn't had a chance to get together in a long time.

Yes, that's right, we formed an alternative rock band back in high school. Among us were Bastian as the guitarist, Joseph as the bassist, Rifky as the vocalist, and me as the drummer.

But we weren't very popular. We never really made any money, and although we tried our hardest to achieve our goals, we failed many times.

But it didn't matter, because we still loved singing and playing music, and we decided to keep doing it.

But lately, we stopped playing music after graduating from high school. Our music career was dead. We didn't have anyone to play with anymore since Rifky went to maritime school.

"How's life been after high school?" Joseph asked me.

"Not so great now. But I'll keep trying somehow."

"I wish I could help you, Andra."

"Thanks, but no need, Joseph. I'll be fine. Besides, it's not that important. Why don't you try finding a girlfriend again? I'm sure you'll find someone soon."

"Not that fast, Andra. Maybe I'll focus on myself first. Maybe look for a job."

"That's a good choice, Joseph. I really like your new life principle."

"Thanks, Andra. By the way, I'm moving to campus in a few days."

"Oh really? Where?"

"Seoul University. I plan to study Economics or Business Administration there."

"Really? You're planning to study Economics?"

"Yes."

"Wow, that's amazing, Josh. I hope you succeed in the future and become an influential person there. You should think seriously about it, man."

"Thanks for your support, Andra."

"You're welcome, Joseph."

After spending more time with Joseph, I returned to Aunt Julia's house. Everyone was already fast asleep in their rooms. Then I looked at my watch, which showed almost midnight.

"Oh God, I hope Aunt Julia isn't waiting for me," I muttered.

I quickly went back to my room and changed clothes. After that, I tried to sleep.

***

My alarm went off the next morning. I slowly turned to look at the wall clock. It showed 6:45 AM.

"Crap!"

I ran to get ready to take Vigo to school. It didn't take me long to finish and head to the kitchen, where I ran into my aunt.

"Morning, Auntie!" I greeted her cheerfully.

"Morning, Andra! Where are you off to?"

"Taking Vigo to school," I answered hurriedly.

"But today's Sunday, Andra."

Oh my God, I completely forgot that today was Sunday. My cousins laughed at me. So did Aunt Julia and Uncle Eddy.

"Let's have breakfast together, Andra. Maybe after breakfast, you can focus better for today," said Aunt Julia, laughing.

She always knew how to lighten my mood. "Alright, Auntie. Thanks."

We had breakfast together. Suddenly, in the middle of it, my phone rang. It was my mom calling.

"Yes, Mom?"

"Andra!" Luna's voice shouted.

"Hey, calm down, Luna, don't shout like that," I thought it was my mom calling, but it was Luna calling from my mom's phone.

"I miss you! When are you coming back here?" Luna yelled.

"Can you lower your voice? I can hear you," I said to her.

Luna went silent, meaning she was listening.

"Luna, I have to hang up now, okay? I'm still having breakfast."

"No! Don't hang up. Please, Andra. I love you," said Luna, her voice sounding sad. I could imagine Luna sitting there crying.

"I love you too, Luna. Stay strong. I'll be home soon. Then I'll buy you snacks and we'll watch a movie together, okay?"

"Promise?"

"Of course. You know I'd never break a promise to you."

"Promise?" she said again, almost crying.

"Yes, I promise. Now, please stop crying. I don't like hearing you cry," I replied.

"Okay. Bye, Andra, I love you."

Luna ended the call. Meanwhile, everyone was looking at me with their slightly annoying smiles.

"Oh, so Luna is your girlfriend, huh?" Vigo asked me, laughing.

"Yeah, it seems our handsome cousin has found his true love," said Cindy, my cousin.

"Well, that's good to hear. No wonder Andra has been coming home late lately," said Aunt Julia, teasing me.

"Hey, hey, no, she's not my girlfriend," I was at a loss for words about this. In the end, I ignored them and continued my breakfast.

***

Luna had been waiting at my house since 7 AM. She was waiting for me while watching her favorite animated movie, *Beauty and the Beast*.

Meanwhile, I only arrived at 9 AM.

When I got home, I opened the door to my room and saw Luna sitting on the bed.

"Andra!" She jumped off the bed and hugged me.

"Sorry to keep you waiting so long," I said, returning her hug.

She looked adorable in a pink tank top paired with a light blue denim vest. Her brown hair was tied in two pigtails. Her eyes sparkled, and she smiled happily at me.

"Come here, Andra! I want to show you something," Luna said excitedly.

"What is it?" I followed her. She led me to the living room.

"Look, I drew a picture of you and me here."

She showed me a picture drawn with a pencil and colored with colored pencils. In the picture, she had drawn a grown man dressed like a prince, holding hands with a little princess wearing an elegant blue and pink dress, and they were standing in front of a grand castle.

I smiled when I saw her artwork. It was truly beautiful.

"Thank you, Luna."

"You're welcome," she replied proudly.

"I hope one day all of this becomes real," she continued.

"But I'm too old for you, Luna," I replied, chuckling.

"Who cares? I've liked you since the first time we met," she said.

I laughed and blushed because I remembered how our first meeting went a few days ago. She also remembered and smiled mischievously.

"Well, you're not old enough yet, but thank you."

We both laughed at each other.

"But I'm serious," Luna suddenly said, her expression turning serious.

"About what?" I asked.

"My feelings for you," Luna's face remained serious.

Then I explained something important to her.

"Listen carefully, sweetheart. I'm not stopping you from liking or loving anyone. But if you like someone you don't know at all, it's very dangerous. Even if they're very nice to you at first, it doesn't mean they'll always be nice to you. They might take advantage of you or worse."

Luna listened to me carefully. That was good. Because she seemed to like me obsessively. And I thought it was very dangerous if she met someone else who wasn't like me. I hoped she could learn from what I just explained.

"Yes, I understand. But I like you because I have a reason," said Luna.

"What is it?"

"You're kind, friendly, calm, and handsome," Luna answered shyly.

"I also like you because I feel safe with you."

"Feel safe? What do you mean?"

I could conclude that because she managed to control my anger toward May that night. But I tried not to bring it up again.

"I don't know, I just feel it," I said briefly.

I couldn't believe it. I didn't know Luna liked me this seriously. I felt happy. Very happy. At least there was someone who genuinely liked me. I was truly lucky and grateful to have met Luna. Even though I was a few years older than her, I still considered her my little sister.

***

A little while later, Luna took me to one of her favorite places. It was the best place for her to be alone, reflect, and enjoy the sunset in the evening. That's what Luna told me.

The place was a wide grassland, which also had a small river with a wooden bridge in the middle of the grassland. We walked leisurely around the grassland during the day, talking about something.

"So, this is your favorite place?" I asked her.

Luna nodded while closing her eyes, enjoying the gentle breeze in the afternoon.

"Is it safe for you to be here alone?"

"Who's going to kidnap me? Besides, I already know some people here who collect grass for their livestock feed," Luna answered.

"I hope you like it here too."

"Oh, yes, of course, I like this place," I answered awkwardly. Because usually, I preferred dark, cold, and quiet places to calm myself down from the world's civilization.

Maybe I should get used to places like this. Honestly, the air here was very fresh, combined with the warmth of the sun.

Then, Luna invited me to rest for a while on a small wooden bridge. We both lay down on it.

"Andra? Can I ask you something?" Luna asked.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Was May your girlfriend?"

I thought she had forgotten about the incident that night.

"Yes, but not anymore," I answered.

"I thought you two had made up."

"I don't think I'll ever be okay with her again. Because she's a liar."

"Now it's my turn to ask, why did you look so scared of me that night? Your hands were shaking so badly," I asked Luna.

At first, Luna just stayed silent and lowered her head.

"Are you okay, Luna? Just tell me, what really happened to you?" I held Luna's shoulders gently to keep her calm.

"It all started with my mom's boyfriend. They met at their workplace. He was the boss at that company. Since my mom met him, she often left me alone at home every evening until midnight. Until one midnight, the boss yelled and screamed at my mom in our yard. I heard loud punches and also screams of pain from my mom. Then I quickly ran out of my room. And I saw the boss pushing my mom until she crashed into the front door glass of our house, shattering it into pieces."

"Then, what happened next?" I asked, even though Luna seemed unable to continue telling the whole story. I could see her struggling to hold back tears behind her eyelids.

It wasn't that I enjoyed seeing her like that, but I just wanted her to tell me everything so her heart would feel relieved and she wouldn't be afraid anymore in the future.

"I saw the boss's figure clearly. He was fat but muscular and had neat blond hair. His eyes were wide open, staring at me while clenching his fists, as if he was going to hit me too, like what he did to my mom. Meanwhile, my mom had fallen in front of him with bruises on her face. One of my mom's hands tried to reach me, as if she was asking for my help. But I just stood there, trembling in fear, looking at the boss. I couldn't do anything."

Finally, Luna's tears fell and wet her soft cheeks.

"What did the boss do to you?" I asked, starting to get emotional about the situation.

"Nothing. He just left, without any guilt. I thought he was going to hit me like he did to my mom."

Luna's crying broke out after telling everything. Then I hugged her tightly, trying to calm her down by gently rubbing her small back.

"The important thing is that you're okay, sweetheart. I promise no one will hurt you or your mom again. I promise," I said softly to her.

Even though I couldn't hold back my own tears.

I couldn't bear to see her in this condition. Living without complete parents and lonely without anyone caring for her except her own mom. I also wondered, what was Luna's life like before she met me?

But I admired her. She was very strong to face all of that alone.