Painful Love

42th

"She flipping slapped you in the face? What a destructive woman!" Ariana yang sedang menilik wajahku dan bawah bibirku berkata geram. Setelah ibuku berangkat ke- aku pun tak pasti mungkin ke rumah kekasihnya itu, Ariana tiba di rumahku membawa bunga-bunga yang dibeli Marc cantik terbungkus untukku. Dia semestinya terkejut melihat keadaanku sebaik sahaja aku membuka pintu rumah.

"We should tell Ammar about this." Ujar Ariana.

Pantas aku menggeleng. "For what exactly? It's my mother."

"Your mother who literally slap you and mostly definitely trying to abandon you anyway. I dont even know why you guys should keep up with those people. They are selfish, unkind and most definitely has the worst parentinghood 101." Ariana mencelah membuat aku terdiam.

"I've been contacting my father's side of the family at Australia. I'm moving there Ari. It's the best way to eventually start a new life and move on." Jujurku dan wajah terkesan gadis itu membuatkan dadaku berombak kencang.

"You're gonna leave? Just like that?" Tanya Ariana keras. Keningnya bertaut menahan emosi.

"It is for the better Ari-

"Apa ni Mia? You didn't even want to try work things out with Ammar. Habis kenapa korang berdua nampak okay je masa dekat The Weekend Getaway? Am i just assuming things? I thought you two had talked through together and realize that this bullshit that happens is not your fault! Both of you didn't deserve this."

Aku meraup wajah dan mengeluh. Apa yang diluahkan Ariana membungkam perasaanku.

"Your mother and his father are manipulating you guys all this time. For years. Maybe it's time for the two of you to stick up for yourselves. Just..stop this distancing and self-hatred. I just can't stand it anymore." Ariana mula sebak membuatkan aku pantas memeluk tubuhnya.

"I am not strong Ari. I don't think I can do anything about this. I'm weak as it is." Kataku dibahu gadis itu menahan tangisan.

"We are always here for you-

"Mia nak stop depending on you guys anymore. I've been nothing but a burden. Someone who the three of you would always worried about. Someone who can't stand on her own feet." Luahku dan bahuku jatuh apabila Ariana melepaskan pelukan kami.

"You really think that the three of us are just doing you a favor? We want to be with you no matter strong or weak your state is. Stop over-analyze everything or think of yourself as unworthy. My very own cousin is fond of you since I don't know? Forever now? Don't give up on him and on us." Dia memegang bahuku membuatkan wajahku naik memandangnya.

Air mata mengalir ke pipi mendengar kata-kata Ariana. "I'm sorry Ariana. Forgive me." Bilangku dalam sebak dan kembali ke pelukannya.

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Terhenjut tubuhku apabila mendengar dentuman orang mengetuk pintu rumahku bergema di bawah. Dadaku berombak kencang dan berlari turun dengan selimut tebal memeluk tubuhku.

Sebaik sahaja aku membuka pintu, wajah Ammar yang turun naik mencari nafas singgah ke penglihatanku. Mata lelaki itu pantas menilik keseluruhan wajahku.

"She hit you?" Tanyanya dengan nafas yang masih berterabur. Wajah risau bercampur sedikit amarahnya membuatkan aku memegang bahunya.

Dia mengalihkan bahunya membuatkan tanganku berada di udara dan menggeleng sambil tertunduk. "Don't defend her. I told you she's going to hurt you."

"We are both very emotional that time-"

"Stop defending her!" Ammar meninggikan suara membuatkan aku terdiam. Selimut yang menutup bahu dan rambutku yang dilepaskan itu digenggam kemas.