Chapter 30: Chapter 30

After quite a long time—not to mention fighting with Rian, finally arrived at his yard. Not forgetting, Zidan also insisted on coming along.

Cakra parked his bike near the mango tree. "This is where I live with Dan's grandmother," said Cakra while looking at his small house.

Zidan nodded slowly, then also noticed Cakra's house, until his gaze turned to the surroundings. Zidan smiled at Cakra.

"It's really beautiful Kra," Zidan said honestly. Although small, his grandmother's house was indeed beautiful and pleasing to the eye. In addition to the mango tree that grew large in her yard, which was not much, there were also hibiscus plants. In addition, there are also many flowers growing in pots on the front porch. Cakra's grandmother has been diligently watering them.

Cakra smiled. "It's small, Dan, I'm sorry if you're uncomfortable," he said, feeling bad.

Zidan nudged Cakra's body. "What the hell are you? Ah, I told you it doesn't matter, it's still being discussed," he said lazily. "Besides, your house is really cool, even though it's small, as long as it's comfortable, I also want it."

Nodding slowly, Cakra asked. "So do you know your grandmother?" he asked.

"What's the loss if you don't come here and meet your grandmother?"

Cakra chuckled. "I feel like an artist," he joked, shaking his head. "Let's hurry up and go in. Grandma's inside."

Zidan nodded his head, then followed Cakra into the house. After reaching the terrace, Cakra saw Zidan, who was about to take off his shoes. "Zidan, no need to take off your shoes."

Zidan, who was already holding his shoes and was about to take them off, then stopped his movement. He undid his intention while looking at Cahya in surprise. "Why?"

"It's okay, just go straight in."

"It'll get dirty," Zidan denied.

Cakra shook his head, not to be outdone. "Easy, I can sweep it up later."

"You're already tired, you'll have to do more work later."

"Protest all the time," said Cakra irritably. "Who's the host here? Me or you? If you don't obey, I'll kick you out right now."

"Yes, yes."  Finally, Zidan surrendered. He sneered for a few seconds, while Cakra just shook his head slowly while chuckling. The two of them then entered the house, not forgetting to say greetings.

Grandma's voice was heard from the kitchen while answering greetings. Cakra noticed Zidan, who was staring around the living room.

"Sit down first, Dan," Cakra ordered. "I want to go to my grandmother first."

After getting a nod from Zidan, Cakra walked after his grandmother. Zidan sat on a wooden chair, his eyes looking at the atmosphere of Cakra's house.

Although small, the room was very clean and tidy, making anyone who entered the house and sat like Zidan as a guest definitely feel comfortable.

Not long after, Cakra returned with his grandmother. Seeing the presence of Cakra's grandmother, of course Zidan behaved politely. The boy immediately stood up from his seat, walked slowly to his grandmother, and shook the wrinkled hands of the woman, who was more than half a century old.

"Hello, Grandma. How are you?" Zidan smiled politely after greeting Cakra's grandmother. He briefly glanced at Cakra.

"Who is this anyway?" Grandma looked confused. Her eyes narrowed, trying to see Zidan's face standing in front of her. Understandably, her age had caused her vision to begin to blur.

Before Zidan could answer, Cakra interjected. "Zidan, my friend at school," he said. "He said he came here to meet my grandmother, he wanted to see you."

Zidan smiled. "Yes, Grandma, I'm Zidan."

"Oh, you found it, Le." Grandmother turned her face slightly to the back, where Cakra was standing. "I thought it was Rian, the voice is a bit similar."

Zidan's forehead immediately wrinkled in confusion as he listened to Cakra's grandmother's words. Before he could ask Cakra, Cakra first told Zidan to sit in the chair again. Suddenly Cakra felt nervous herself. Of course, because grandma had mentioned Rian's name. Cakra also hadn't told Zidan about Rian, his half-brother.

Grandmother picked up her glasses from the small table. Then she looked back at the front, more precisely at Zidan's face.

"Did you come here by car?" she asked Zidan.

Zidan answered softly. "By bike, Grandma, with Cakra earlier."

Grandma didn't seem to mind and didn't ask any more questions. Both Zidan and Cakra were relieved that there was no need to explain.

The grandmother turned to Cakra. "Cakra, don't forget to give your friend a drink, you must be thirsty here. Incidentally, Grandma had just finished frying a chicken. You might as well bring it here, let your friend eat."

"Yes, Grandma," said Cakra obediently. He quickly stood up and smiled at Zidan. "What would you like to drink, Dan? Water or hot tea? Sorry, there's no syrup or coffee at home."

"Just water."

Cakra nodded briefly, then turned around and hurried to the kitchen.

Uncomfortable with each other's silence, Zidan also took the initiative to ask Grandma, just to get rid of the awkwardness and so that it wouldn't be very quiet.

"You only live with Cakra, Grandma?" Small talk is better than locking your mouth, right? Although, actually, Zidan didn't need to ask Grandma about it because Cakra had already told her.

Grandma gave a small nod. "Yes, I only live with Cakra."

Zidan nodded. "He really loves you, grandma, as a friend, I salute him."

"Yes."

"It's rare for teenagers nowadays to take care of their grandmother. I'm really lucky to have a grandson as good as Cakra. You must be very proud of him, right?"

"Yes, I'm happy for you. Actually, I'm also worried, I'm afraid that he'll get sick because he's tired from work. I wanted to help, but he told me not to. He didn't want me to get tired." Grandma took a few moments to fill her lungs with air again.

Then she continued. "If I could, I would be able to wash the neighbors' clothes. Once I was caught by my grandson, and he got angry and said that I didn't need to earn money, and he also said that he would leave if I insisted on working. I finally gave in and followed his wishes, I didn't want to lose Cakra."

"Cakra is like that because he really loves you, grandma."

Grandma smiled. "What about you? I'm sure you're just like him."

"No, Grandma," Zidan replied with a chuckle. "I'm so far away when compared to Cakra. Our levels are different, he's at the top, while I'm still at the bottom."

Grandma and Zidan laughed simultaneously. "I'm happy for Cakra to be friends with you. I'm sure you're also a good boy. I'll pray for both of you to succeed together in the future."

"Yes, thank you, Grandma?"

"How are you doing at school? Did you misbehave there?"

Zidan shook his head. "It's safe with me around," he said, patting his chest. "If Cakra misbehaves or gets into a fight, I will immediately report it to grandma."

"Where do you live anyway?" Grandma asked again. At the same time, Cakra appeared and put down a plate of chicken, three small glasses, and a pitcher of water.

"Zidan is a long way from here." Cakra answered her grandmother's question before sitting next to her.

"Yes grandma, it's quite far from here," Zidan continued.

"Zidan is a rich man's son, his father lives out of town. He has a big house and many cars."

Zidan, who felt bad, shook his head. "No, Granma, don't listen to what Cakra says."

"It's a sin to lie," said Cakra with a joking glint in his eye. Zidan just let out a long sigh.

Cakra embraced his grandmother. "I promise you that I'll become a successful person, so I can take you on trips. So that grandma will be happy and proud of Cakra. I just pray that I can have a big house like Zidan's family."

Zidan smiled a little at the familiarity of the pair of grandchildren in front of him. Cakra watched Zidan again. "Eat it, Dan," he pleaded.

***

Cakra invited Zidan to sit on the bamboo chair on the front porch after telling his grandmother to rest. The sky was cloudy this time, surely it wouldn't be long before the rain hit the capital soon.

The black clock on Zidan's wrist was already showing five o'clock in the afternoon. For a while, only silence greeted them. Until finally Cakra turned to his left side, watching Zidan, who was focused on staring ahead.

"Dan, you're not coming home?" Not intending to drive him away, Cakra just reminded him. Zidan did not answer immediately, making Cakra feel bad.

But in the fifth second, Zidan exhaled softly, looking at Cakra for a moment through the tail of his eyes. "Later," he replied shortly.

"It's already five o'clock, you'll be late for school if you get your bike," Cakra replied. "It's cloudy too, what if you get caught in the rain, Dan?"

"Are you kicking me out, Kra?" Zidan asked while raising one eyebrow. He squinted at Cakra.

Feeling guilty, Cakra hurriedly shook his head. He rubbed the back of his neck while trying to find the right words—at least so Zidan wouldn't misunderstand.

"It's not like that, Dan," he said with understanding. "I just don't want you to get hurt on the road, I brought you here, so I feel guilty too."

"Just relax." Zidan smiled slightly while embracing and shaking Cakra's body. "There's still time, I think it's also cloudy just passing by. It won't rain."

"How did you know?" joked Cakra, his forehead furrowed.

"Because I can read weather predictions, maybe?" Zidan shrugged his shoulders. Both of them then chuckled softly together.

"Seriously Dan."

"Yes, yes, I'll be back soon," Zidan replied. "What's wrong with you? Why are you so scared of me staying here?"

Cakra let out a long sigh. He shook his head slowly. "That's not what Dan meant."

Zidan laughed quite loudly. "I'm just kidding, Kra, relax," he explained. "Hmm ... Actually, there is something I want to ask you, before I go home."

"Ask what?" Cakra's face now looked curious, interested in the questions Zidan was going to ask.

Zidan thrust his little finger in front of Cakra. "Promise me that you'll answer honestly."

Cakra stared at Zidan's little finger for a few seconds. "What do you want to ask?"

"Promise me first," Zidan said, shaking his hand. "I'll ask after that."

Cakra snorted softly. "There's no need to use this, you idiot!" After finishing his words, Cakra slapped Zidan's hand away. "Hurry up and ask, the time is up. You also have to hurry home."

"Just be patient." Zidan rolled his eyes lazily. "But will you really answer honestly?"

"Yes."

"About earlier, Kra," Zidan began to ask. Cakra looked at Zidan seriously while furrowing one of his eyebrows. His eyes narrowed slightly. "When I shook hands with your grandmother, she thought I was Rian."

Cakra held his breath for a split second. He looked at Zidan straight, and he was a little shocked to hear that that was the question Zidan was going to ask. Cakra was silent while thinking. Really, he was too confused to explain it. Plus, he was also not good at lying.

"Kra, the Rian that your grandmother meant is not what I think right now, right?" asked Zidan. However, Cakra did not answer his question. Instead, he turned his face away. Making Zidan even more suspicious.

Zidan tapped Cakra on the shoulder. "Kra, explain to me," he urged. "Tell me that the Rian your grandmother is talking about is not that Rian." Zidan thought Cakra understood what he was saying.

Cakra let out a long breath. Lying was pointless, he himself would have difficulty finding an alibi. Besides, Cakra has also promised to tell the truth to Zidan. Although it feels heavy and reluctant to reveal the information right now, Cakra must convey it immediately.

Cakra changed the direction of his eyes, until his gaze met and locked with Zidan's eyes. Again, Cakra sighed heavily.

"Your guess wasn't wrong at all, Dan." Finally confessing, he nodded his head firmly. "Yes, the Rian that grandmother is referring to is the Rian that you have in mind right now. The Rian who is our senior, the Rian who likes Inez, and the Rian who hit me in the stomach after school."

Zidan was wide-eyed with surprise. His mouth opened, and he gaped in disbelief. "Ha?" That was all that came out of his mouth. Confusion immediately hit him hard.

"How come? Your grandmother? Rian? What's the connection, Kra?" Zidan blinks his eyes repeatedly. "Explain everything to me now, I'm really curious, Kra. Hurry up and explain everything. Why does your grandmother know Rian? What does that have to do with you?"

Cakra shook his head slowly.

"You can't do that, you promised to answer my questions. How come you suddenly don't want to? You broke your promise." Zidan, who was already curious, immediately became angry. He gave Cakra an annoyed look.

"That's not it, Dan." Letting out a long breath through his mouth, Cakra continued while shaking his head. "You should go home now, it's half past six. The school is closing soon. You won't be able to pick up your bike."

"I don't care about that!" Zidan snapped. "I'll go home if you tell me."

"It's a long story, Dan."

"I'll listen to everything."

"How will you get home?"

"Don't change the subject, Cakra." Zidan was annoyed with himself, his teeth chattering in frustration. "I'm never going home until you explain everything."

Dead end. Cakra had no other choice but to tell Rian the truth. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He tried to calm down.

"Okay." He stabilized himself, pressing his lips together. "I'll tell you everything, but now you have to promise Dan. Promise not to tell anyone else."

"Deal!" Zidan immediately pulled Cakra's hand, then immediately shook it. Even though Cakra didn't want that.

A second after that. Cakra told everything from beginning to end. He exhaled tiredly after explaining.

"I'm sorry for the deaths of your father and mother, Kra," said Zidan. He felt sorry for forcing Cakra to tell the story.

Cakra shook his head. "It's okay, just relax."

"So Rian is your half brother, Kra?" Zidan confirmed it again. "I'm sorry, but before she died, did your mom get married to Rian's father?"

"Yes."

"Then why did Rian's father throw you away after your mother was gone? Actually, you were already Rian's father's responsibility too. Wow. That's not right."

"No problem." Cakra tried to smile despite the pain in his heart. "I'm happy to be living with my grandmother. I don't feel good about them either, they're not my real family. I was a nobody there after mom died." Cakra sighed. "Rian's presence also makes me uncomfortable, he's always making noise with me. I'm tired, I'd better leave."

"So what made you fight with Rian in the parking lot?" asked Zidan. "I wanted to ask that, but I hesitated, afraid you'd get angry too. So I held back. But now I'm even more curious."

"Let's not talk about him anymore." Cakra waved his hand in front of his face. "The point is, at that time, I was angry with his words."

"I'd probably go crazy first if I had to switch positions with you, Kra," Zidan said while hugging himself because the air was getting colder.

"That's too much." Cakra nudged Rian's shoulder.