The 2nd Rules (Part 2)

My room felt quiet, only filled by the slow ticking of the wall clock. The afternoon sunlight crept through the window curtains, illuminating the room with a golden glow.

I sat on the edge of my bed, while Luna stood in front of me, her small hands tightly clutching her favorite blue and pink lion plushie that I had bought for her before.

The atmosphere between us was a bit tense. This was a conversation we needed to have, even though I wasn't sure how Luna would respond.

"Luna," I began.

"We need to talk about something important."

Luna lifted her head, her big curious eyes staring at me. "What? Did I do something wrong?"

I immediately shook my head, trying to reassure her. "No, Luna. You didn't do anything wrong. It's just about a new rule we need to follow."

"A new rule again?" Luna frowned, her face showing confusion and unease. "Alright, what's the rule?"

I took a deep breath, trying to choose the right words.

"We need to be careful in public, Luna. For example, don't call me 'darling' in front of others. It might make people misunderstand."

Luna was silent for a moment, then her face turned into a pout.

"But why? You love me, and I love you. Why can't I call you that?"

My chest tightened seeing Luna's hurt expression. But I knew it was important for her to understand.

"I know, Luna. But people outside might not understand our relationship the way we do. They might think things that aren't true, and that could cause problems for both of us."

"But I don't care about other people!" Luna protested, her voice rising. "I just want to be honest about my feelings!"

I sighed, trying to stay calm. "I understand how you feel, Luna. And I really appreciate that. But we have to think about how others see us. It's not about hiding our feelings, but about protecting both of us."

Luna looked at me with an expression that was hard to decipher. There was anger, confusion, and a bit of disappointment. "So... I can't call you 'darling' anymore?"

"You can, but only when we're alone," I explained patiently.

"When we're at home or in a safe place, you can call me whatever you want. But in front of others, we have to be more careful."

Luna let out a small sigh, then sat down on the bed next to me. She hugged her lion plushie tightly, as if seeking comfort. "I don't like this rule," she whispered softly.

I gave a small smile, placing my hand gently on Luna's shoulder.

"I know it's not easy, Luna. But trust me, it's for the best for both of us. I don't want anyone to hurt us or think the wrong things."

Luna was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright, I'll try. But I still love you, Andra."

I felt relieved hearing that.

"I love you too, Luna. And I'm really proud of you for being willing to try to follow this rule."

Luna finally gave a small smile, though she still looked a bit disappointed.

"Promise me, we can still play together like usual?"

"Of course," I replied.

"We'll still play, laugh, and spend time together like always. This rule doesn't change anything about our relationship."

Luna nodded again, this time with a bit more confidence.

"Okay, I trust you, Andra."

I gently patted Luna's head. "Thank you, Luna. You're such a good girl."

We sat together in comfortable silence, enjoying the quiet afternoon. I knew this was just a small step, but I felt relieved that Luna was starting to understand. I knew there would be many challenges ahead, but as long as we could communicate honestly and with love, I was sure we could get through everything together.

***

POV Luna

I sat upright on my classroom bench, gripping my pencil tightly. The morning sun shone into the classroom of Harapan Baru Elementary School's 4th grade, casting long shadows from the open window.

The sound of my teacher explaining a math lesson filled the room, but my mind wandered elsewhere. My eyes were fixed on the blackboard, but my thoughts were unfocused. Then Sally, my desk mate, suddenly asked me.

"Luna? Is that handsome guy who often takes you to school your new dad?"

I was startled and embarrassed, immediately gripping my pencil tighter. "No... Not really," I stammered, trying to avoid Sally's gaze.

But Sally didn't give up. "Oh, come on! You've never had a dad before. And this morning I saw Andra taking you to school. He must be your new dad, right?" Sally's voice grew louder, and some of our classmates nearby started listening.

I wanted to answer, but the words seemed stuck in my throat. Andra always took me to and from school, but he wasn't my dad. He was my boyfriend. But how could I explain all that without making things more complicated? Besides, Andra and I had already agreed on the rules of our relationship.

"Luna doesn't have a dad! Luna doesn't have a dad!" Sally's voice suddenly grew louder, and some of my classmates started laughing at me. I looked down, feeling like I wanted to cry, wishing I could disappear from their sight.

Then my teacher, who had been busy explaining the math problem, finally noticed the commotion.

"What's going on? Why are you all making noise?" she asked sternly.

Sally immediately fell silent, but a small smile still lingered on her lips. I just kept my head down, trying to hold back the tears that were starting to well up in my eyes.

For the rest of the lesson, I couldn't focus. My mind kept drifting back to Sally's question and my classmates' teasing. I felt like there was a heavy weight on my chest. Andra wasn't my dad, but he was the only male figure who was always there for me, and I loved him so much.

When the school bell rang, I quickly left the classroom, hoping to avoid my classmates who were starting to whisper about me.

I hurried to the school gate, looking for a quiet place to calm down. Here, under a shady tree, I sat alone, waiting for Andra to pick me up.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching.

"Luna, what's wrong?" the voice was soft and full of concern. I looked up and saw Andra standing there with a worried expression.

I couldn't hold back my tears anymore.

"They said I don't have a dad," I whispered, trembling.

Andra sat down beside me, hugging me tightly.

"Who said that?"

"Why?"

"Just tell me, Luna. Who said that to you?"

"Sally," I answered tensely.

"Is she still here?" Andra asked with a serious expression.

"I don't know. What are you going to do?" I asked anxiously.

"Don't worry, I'll just have a talk with her."

"I don't believe you," I replied, because I had seen that look on Andra's face before, when he acted harshly towards May and Vivi.

"Let's just go home, Andra," I said, pulling his hand.

"Wait here, Luna," then Andra quickly walked through the school gate, his steps a bit faster than before.

Now I was worried about Sally. I was afraid Kak Andra would be rough with her, because I knew exactly how Kak Andra acted when he was angry.

"Andra! Don't!"