Unhappiness

-SHORTSTORY-

Lately, Nabila experienced a change in attitude and appearance. Ooh, not lately, but rather had the last two months Nabila lose cheerfulness. No more laughter and light that glows in her eyes. Her lips were formerly always smiling, is now closed. Now, she became quiet and closed herself from the association. All her friends could see, feel, and also pay attention to the changes very dramatically. But after Nabila showed that she had been shut herself and does not want to be considered, one by one of her friends become indifferent to her, except Tasya.

            In the past, Tasya and Nabila are friends, they are sitting side by side in the class and almost at every opportunity they seem always together. Until suddenly Nabila moved to a seat in the front position, adjacent to Talia who is quiet and almost no friend. Talia indeed is the most suitable partner for someone who intends to become quiet.

            Tasya has repeatedly asked the reason why Nabila stay away from her. But Nabila just shook her head and shrugged, and left without saying anything. Nabila's attitude that seemed like an understatement makes Tasya feeling irritable and mad. For some time, Tasya so indifferent to Nabila, like other friends.

            But after her anger extinguished, Tasya curious and trying to get back the attention of Nabila. But the situation is even more difficult. Besides refusing to talk, Nabila also turned off her cell phone and her twitter account.

Now, Nabila completely shut all the doors for anyone.

            Sometimes, Tasya wants to do not care with Nabila's attitude, but a boost is some concern in her heart, making Tasya could not stop to keep trying.

            Tasya always has observed Nabila at every opportunity secretly. Tasya can see how, day after day, the appearance of Nabila getting worse. Her face always looked grim and gloomy. Her black eyes with eyelashes, looked dim and lose its beauty. Her hair was also no longer luminous, arid, like dry thatch.

            I have to do something to help her, the decision appeared in Tasya's heart after long thought. However, she still felt that actually Nabila can be a good friend to her. And since there was never any misunderstanding between them before. Tasya convince herself, there must have been a severe problem affecting Nabila.

“Maybe she was broken heart,” Ani's comments lightly, when Tasya talked about Nabila to Ani.

“Broken heart? With who? As far as I know…”

“Maybe you don’t know.”

“Ah, it is impossible.”

“What is not possible? It is impossible if you don’t know? Are you God who always known.”

“I mean, it’s impossible if she was broken heart.”

“Maybe, Girl…”

“No! Impossible! We are still teenagers, if we have a relationship, it must not too serious. Moreover, Nabila is a beautiful girl. What is hard for him if you want to get a new boyfriend, if he did recently ended a relationship?” Tasya very excited denied the allegations of Ani.

“So, what is the reason? If you ask me, something that make a girl sad – ya, if her relationship was broken…” Ani grinned, annoying.

“It is an unreasonable assumption. Indeed…” Tasya too upset to continue her words. And immediately shut her lips tightly.

            Although totally disagree with the Ani's assumption, Tasya be affected and start thinking about the possibility. He had remembered that Nabila ever talked about Leo, the leader of OSIS. According to Nabila, Leo is an attractive and smart guy.

Are they ever had a relationship? unbeknownst of Tasya?

Tasya is not sure, but curiosity made her wants to go and see Leo upon completion of the school. As a member of OSIS, Tasya and Leo have a relation that is close enough, so it is not difficult for Tasya to obtain information from Leo.

“Leo, do you know Nabila, right?” Asked Tasya to the point.

“Nabila? Who is Nabila?”

Leo reactions immediately make all her assumptions about the relationship between Nabila and Leo disappear instantly.

“Nabila my classmates and often with me,” Tasya explained with a weak voice.

            Beyond estimates, at the time, Nabila had seen walking past them and alone. Tasya saw Nabila turned to her, looked at her for a moment and then quickly looked away and hurried step to the school gates.

            Suddenly, came the desire to call nabila, but her tongue was stiff and unable to say anything, only her eyes were still observing the body of Nabila is increasingly away. Then, there is a prejudice in Tasya's heart, whether there is anger in Nabila's eyes? If that is true, it means…

“Tasya, why? Leo asked.

Ah! Tasya blinked repeatedly, as if such her feelings can be calmed. “That is Nabila…”

Leo looked toward Nabila away. "Oh, that girl, I never seem to get acquainted with her." Then back look at Tasya. "Why are you asking about her to me?"

            Tasya thought for a moment, she may not be telling the truth to Leo. Finally she decided to tell her concerns about Nabila.

At that time, Nabila has been away from school. However, she did not go off home. She did not intend to return in a hurry. Already last few months, the house is no longer a comfortable place for her. But today, her unwillingness to return home was excessive. Her feelings are very confused and suffocating her chest, but she does not know what causes it.

He stopped at the donut shop, a subscription when returning from school. Buy cakes and drinks, and sat down at his usual table occupied. The store was very crowded, but Nabila is not disturbed by the circumstances surrounding it. She too carried away in her own bad feelings.

When sitting, she accidentally saw her reflection in the window. Shadow thin face and pale, with a sullen mouth and tousled hair, looked vaguely yet quite clear if we look closely. Both of Nabila's hands with spontaneous smoothed her hair, wiped her face, rubbing her cheek, as if he wanted to restore the joy on her face as soon as possible. But can she? Disappointment was pierced her heart, so deep and painful.

But she realized that she makes herself look so bad. She deliberately did not care for herself. What for? Only hope that the parents will pay attention to her? How long can he expect? Until everything too late? What if the parents still do not care about her?

Nabila takes a deep breathes and bowed her head, remorse appears in her heart. Disappointment, anger, and despair struck her. Suddenly she felt like crying, but she held feelings strongly.

Nabila took the drink and immediately drunk it.

Suddenly, “Excuse me, girl.”

Someone says in the polite words in a soft tone that sounds shocking her and almost made Nabila choke. Nabila quickly looked up and stared at the sweet face of a woman in front of her.

“Sorry, may I sit here?” Smiling and her eyes are soothing, it makes Nabila could not resist.

“Sit down, please.” She replied with a tone of uncertainly and a little nervous.

“Thank you.”

The old woman puts a plate of donuts and drink on the table and she sat beside Nabila.

“I feel uncomfortable sitting alone and I see you… Oh, are you waiting for someone else?”

“No,” Nabila replied quickly. Nabila regretting the answer, is not it could be a reason for that woman to leave her alone.

“Good. So I do not disturb your time. There is a tone of relief in her voice. The woman began to eat her donuts.

Nabila also eats her donuts. With the corner of her eyes, she watched and that woman. The woman has a sweet face and gentle, her makeup is simple but neat and in harmony with the style of her dress. The woman reminded her of her mother, considering them, and immediately see how far the differences between both of them. Unknowingly, she sighed inwardly.

Feel cared for, the woman turned and smiled at Nabila. Then she took the drink and drunk it with ease. “At this hour is a good time to eat cake and drink tea, right? But better if eaten with the family…” The woman continues to ramble without expecting comments from Nabila. “In the past, we have a habit like that, when the kids were little. I who made the cake…” She paused, smiled at the memories.

Nabila stared at the woman’s face, waited expectantly words. It was clear enough that she was fascinated by the stories, almost doubted that the story is real.

“But now cannot be like that anymore. The children have already grown up and the respective families, they are far…” She continues, still with smiling, there is not the slightest remorse on her face. She turned to Nabila and asked slowly. “Have you ever experienced anything like that?”

Nabila shook her head firmly, as if it is a luxury that is far from her reach.

“Yes, I already guessed.” Smile vanished. There is now concern in her voice tone. “Do not have to regret, the times have already changed. Life has changed, no longer easy. This time, parents should spend more time outdoors. The mothers are also many who have to work outside the home…”

Nabila was so considering her mother and father. About their lack of attention to her. Many demands and expectations are gathered in her chest, a sense of disappointment and protest…

“Yes, I do not have to regret, there is no one to blame. Now children also mature faster, faster understand. And there are many other ways to make our day so enjoyable.”

“There is the thing lost, but there are also things that can be obtained, right?”

Nabila was silent, unable to understand fully. It must be admitted, she never thought that far. During this time, she thought that her parents are too busy and hardly have time to pay attention to their children.

Ever she tried to understand the problems and the difficulties that may be faced by her parents? She only could protest with excessive way. Demands something that is difficult to fulfilled. If during this time she lived in misery, far away from happiness.

Ah, actually, not too difficult for Nabila to understand the flurry of her parents, if only when they are at home together, they not only take care of themselves.

 Nabila looked out the window, with mixed feelings. There are feeling a shame, rejection, and a desire to justify themselves, but do not know how and to whom should be disclosed.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I have spoken carelessly,” The woman said in a low voice, then chuckled. “I really like to remember it, to tell it when chatting with friend – yes, how lucky I am because I still have a lot of friends. Some good friends indeed as a substitute for our families who have no near around us again.”

Friends? Substitute family that is near us? Is it true?

The thought haunts Nabila along the way home. Part of her wanted to justify it, but other parts still would not accept it.

- THE END -