Chapter 50: Chapter 50

Inez's birthday ceremony had been going on for fifteen minutes, she had received various birthday greetings from her friends, but the girl who was wearing a blush-red knee-length dress with flat shoes was still standing and looking back and forth.

There was only one problem, Cakra hadn't arrived yet. Several times Inez checked the watch on her wrist, the time was ticking away. But, Inez had yet to see Cakra's nose. This made Inez both anxious and annoyed.

As the night wore on, Inez's birthday party became more and more lively. Moreover, the sound of DJ music and newcomer singers that Inez hired enlivened the atmosphere. But, the owner of the event was not having fun. Inez was troubled, her feelings had started to go awry.

"Why hasn't Cakra come yet?" Inez grumbled, her lips smacking repeatedly. But, Inez didn't give up just yet. She continued to look around, hoping to find Cakra among the crowd of her friends who were busy swaying to the music that was so thrilling to the body and soul.

Biting her thumb, Inez finally chose to pull over, she wanted to avoid the crowd. On the way out of the crowd, Inez's hand was pulled hard by someone. Inez let out a small squeal and staggered, When she realized that the culprit was Rian, she gave a long snort, not forgetting to give him a sharp look.

"Let go of me!" Inez snapped when Rian was still holding her hand. Inez tried to calm down, she didn't want her emotions to get the better of her.

"Don't be sensitive to me, Nez, especially since it's your special day. Let's dance with me?" Rian offered it to Inez with a big smile.

Inez smiled sarcastically. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm not interested. Why don't you invite someone else? I want to leave here." Inez then turned around and hurriedly avoided Rian. She did not wait for an answer from Rian.

"He's not coming?"

Rian's question successfully made Inez stop walking. Inez didn't turn around, but the sentence that slid successfully from the boy's lips made Inez hold on. Inez stared straight ahead, her hands clenched at her sides. Taking a deep breath and trying to calm down, Inez finally resumed her steps.

Inez wanted to avoid the crowd, more precisely, she wanted to win herself over. If Cakra really didn't show up here, it meant that Ines' expectations for her most special birthday would remain a memory.

Even so, Inez still had high hopes that Cakra would suddenly surprise her, appearing beside her.

***

Cakra glanced at the clock on the wall, it was already eight o'clock in the evening, which meant that Inez's birthday event had been going on for an hour.

An hour and a half ago, Cakra had prepared to come to Inez's house, to attend the event. But, there was one thing that prevented him from going. And he was forced to cancel his intention to go to Inez's birthday party because something was holding Cakra back, requiring him to stay at home.

Grandma is sick.

Cakra couldn't leave her grandmother. His grandmother's body felt very hot, and Cakra became very worried. His grandmother had told Cakra to stay away, afraid that Inez would be disappointed in Cakra, or worse, Inez would be very angry with Cakra for not fulfilling his promise. But, Cakra didn't want to do what his grandmother wanted. He couldn't bear to leave his grandmother in pain. He was too scared.

Instead, various questions branched out in his head. What if he left and she needed help? What if her illness got worse and he wasn't there? What if she fell and couldn't get up, but needed his help? And there were many other questions that filled his brain.

Until finally, the boy's choice remained one, to be loyal at home and accompany his grandmother. About his words that he couldn't come to Inez's birthday party, Cakra would think about it later. And Cakra hoped that Inez could understand and forgive him. Although, in the bottom of his heart, Cakra really felt sorry and guilty for Inez. But, what can we do now?

According to Cakra, Grandma needs Cakra's presence more.

"Cakra ..."

Cakra quickly climbed onto his grandmother's bed. He looked at the wrinkled face in front of him. "What do you need?"

His grandmother's warm hand touched his wrist. "I'm better, I can sleep by myself, I'm fine. Will you meet Inez, okay?"

Taking a deep breath, he shook his head in doubt. No, her grandmother was not fine. She knew that. "Grandma, you sick. So if I leave and yoy needs anything, who will help? I know, you saying that to get me to leave. Grandma hasn't recovered yet, let me stay here and take care of you."

"Cakra ..."

"Grandma, Inez will definitely understand if I explain why I'm not coming. Already, don't worry about this anymore. You should just go to bed and rest so you can get better quickly. You've just taken some medicine, so it's better for you to sleep now, right?"

"I'm sorry, I've been a pain."

"Grandma, don't say that." Cakra reprimanded him as he fixed the location of the compress on his grandmother's forehead, which was slightly tilted, out of place.

***

"Nez, why are you here?" Ghea reprimanded Inez, who was moving away from the crowd at her own event. Ghea touched Inez's shoulder and said, "I've been looking for you, only to find you here. What's wrong, Nez? Let's go inside."

"Cakra is not coming, Ghe." Instead of obeying what her best friend said, Inez said something else. Inez's gaze was straight ahead. "He didn't come to my party, even though he promised to come."

Ghea smiled sadly, stroking Inez's shoulder. Ghea tried to comfort Inez. "Don't think about it, Nez, just think positive, maybe Cakra will arrive soon. He seems to be late. You know, he's a busy guy, I'm sure he'll be here."

"But the show has been starting since seven, and what time is it? It's nine o'clock! And he's not here yet!" Inez spoke sharply to Ghea. "How impatient am I, Ghea? How long do you want to wait?"

"But the show isn't over yet, right? You still have hope. Just wait, I'm sure Cakra won't disappoint you."

"If he really doesn't love me and makes me disappointed?" Inez asked Ghea a counter question, making Ghea a little confused at first because she didn't have an answer. But afterward, Ghea smiled slightly and won Inez over again.

"I don't think you should think anything else, Nez, you have to believe. Let's join the others first while waiting for Cakra to come."

Inez's head refused. "You go ahead, Ghe, I'm already getting lazy."

"Come on, Nez, you can't be like this. This is your event, you should have fun with your friends. Make this a moment you'll remember. You can't be sad, it's your birthday, Nez. Already? Just follow my advice."

Inez chuckled softly. "When Cakra didn't come, I thought my birthday would be a lot of fun. But, everything wasn't what I thought it would be. It's useless Ghe if Cakra isn't here, the one I'm most looking forward to is my boyfriend, my own boyfriend. But ..." Inez sighed.

"What should I do, Nez?" Ghea whispered softly.

"You don't have to do anything, you better come to your senses and join the others. Leave me here, I want to be alone too."

Ghea nodded her head slowly after letting out a short breath. Okay, Nez, I think you need some time. I suggest you call Cakra's number."

"Without you asking, I've already done that earlier, but his number has been dialed. It's not active. Where did Cakra actually go? Why doesn't he keep his promises?"

"Nez ..."

"Go Ghe, I'm begging you. I want to be alone."

"Nez ..."

Inez immediately turned her face to glare sharply at Ghea. "You don't want to be the target of my anger, right, Ghe? You should join the others and leave me alone."

Not wanting to argue, afraid that Inez would be even more angry with her, Ghea complied with her best friend's request. Ghea slowly backed away from Inez, leaving her with a million feelings of annoyance mixed together.

Ghea's departure left her feeling even more tight. Inez felt so disappointed with Cakra. Where was his promise to come? In fact, Inez had imagined how happy she would be if he just showed up here, completing an ongoing party. Ah, but it looks like hope is just a memory. Inez couldn't believe Ghea's words that Cakra might show up soon. She already had a feeling that he wouldn't come, no matter what he was doing right now.

"Inez."

A call from someone made Inez look back. Inez blinked her eyes, she seemed to find great hope. Now, in front of her stood Cakra's best friend, Zidan.

"You happened to come, I have something to ask you." Inez immediately questioned Zidan, making him confused.

"Me? What do you want to ask me?"

"You often hang out with Cakra, doesn't he come here?"

"Oh ... Isn't he here yet?" Zidan asked instead, making Inez sigh tiredly. It seemed like Zidan's presence didn't help her at all. Inez's hopes were dashed.

"Yes, your friend hasn't come here yet."

"No wonder I've been looking for him, I thought Cakra was busy being alone with you, Nez. So how did you know he hasn't come yet?"

"Not yet, but most likely not coming. I don't know why I'm so sure." Inez paused for a moment to catch her breath, before continuing. "I thought you knew something, that's why I wanted to ask you. But it seems like you don't know either."

"I didn't go with you, Nez, at first I offered, but Cakra refused and insisted on going alone. So I just followed his wishes."

"But why didn't your friend show up until now? Wouldn't it be wrong if I doubted that he'd show up?"

Zidan shook his head slowly and said, "I don't know what to do. But Nez, I don't think Cakra is someone who breaks his promises easily. I'm sure there's something going on."

"Maybe." Inez replied without interest. There was a thick silence between them. Until finally, Inez realized something. Well, you—what are you looking for me for? Do you have something to say?"

"Oh, I forgot, it seems like Cakra isn't coming, so I'll just give it to you. You're the girl." Zidan took an object from his pants pocket.

In that instant, he glared in shock. The object that was now in Zidan's hand was the object that Inez had given to Cakra. "Oh ... How come Cakra's phone is in your hand? I've been trying to contact her since she was inactive."

"The phone is dead, that's why it's not active," Zidan explained. "Oh yeah, yesterday before going home, I borrowed Cakra's phone because my phone was stuck. I wanted to call my father because he was late picking me up. Then, Cakra immediately returned because he didn't want to stay at school for too long. So now his phone is with me. Here ..."

Inez accepted Zidan's gift. "I think I should go see Cakra. I'll come to his house." Inez said quickly, the idea suddenly came to her head.

"But your party?"

"I can stay, right? I just want to confirm with Cakra why I didn't come. I can't stand it, I have to go now." Inez patted Zidan on the shoulder. "And I think you're suitable to be in charge temporarily. I'll go first, and I'll leave this task to you. I'll ask you for a favor, okay? If there's anything, just call me."

Before she could answer, Inez had already left Zidan's presence, ignoring the boy's cries calling her name. Inez immediately left, even when she passed by Ghea, she did not have time to explain even for a moment.

Using her car, Inez drove straight to Cakra's house. It was already half past ten at night. That meant there was a high probability that Cakra wouldn't be able to come. There was no way that boy would be late for that long.