Soothing Hugs from El

It was still early, and there was no sign of El wanting to go home yet. He still intends to look after Nusa until Rehan finishes work.

"Have you contacted Rehan if I'm currently home?" Nusa asked awkwardly, because being in the same room as El was something she had never thought of before.

El is playing an online game on his cellphone, it's an infection from Reza who has poisoned him with online games like this, but it's fun. Without turning to look at Nusa, he nodded his head. "Already." short answer.

"Why are you even focusing on playing games on your cellphone? At least talk to me, I'm bored, I don't know what to do."

They were sitting in the living room, of course on separate sofas but facing each other. Nusa sighed, then pursed her lips.

El hears Nusa's complaint, what will he do in the end? Doesn't lighten the mood at all. Apart from not being used to talking about various topics of conversation, he also couldn't be in the same room with other girls. "I don't want to say anything," he answered in a voice that sounded unconcerned.

Nusa had left El to clean up, but the study equipment was back in its place, and when she returned to the living room where El was occupied and voila the atmosphere was still the same, very quiet.

"Bara."

"Hmm?"

"Let me guess, you love me, right?"

Such an innocent question came out of Nusa's mouth, so innocent that she could ask such a thing to a man who was coldly crowned like Antarctica.

Receiving such a question, El immediately stopped his game, no matter if he lost. Looking at Nusa with a raised eyebrow, he couldn't believe this one girl dared to express what he was feeling right now.

"Are you kidding?" El asked. He felt strange, so he cleared his throat a little as he wasn't used to this kind of situation.

Nusa scratched her arm which didn't seem itchy, only as a reflex to relieve the awkward feeling in her heart.

"No, I'm not kidding. You are like my personal superhero after all. Yes, like Rehan who likes to take care of me. If you don't love me, then what can all your caring actions be called?" Nusa said, talking about length times width times height is like a rectangular formula.

I don't know if El feels that Nusa has a fever or what, but he feels this girl is quite strange. Moreover, it can be concluded like that. "Unfortunate thing," he answered. As usual, an answer that never cares for others can hurt other people's hearts.

But wait, Nusa is not a girl who gets carried away easily. The proof is now Nusa chuckles a little because of El's words. "It's true that your affection for me goes into the side called prestige. So, I can conclude that you love me very much. So, yes, it seems that it is."

Leaving Nusa with all her thoughts, El returned to the phone screen and exited the game. He didn't care if what he did could lower the game rating he had achieved, what he was now focusing on was the figure in front of him.

"You want us to talk?" he asked as if he wanted to change the subject so as not to talk about the feelings that honestly made him nervous.

Hearing that, of course, Nusa nodded her head in high spirits as if forgetting her limp body. "Yeah, let's talk. After all, it's really quiet, I want to sleep, but it's not good for guests to stay alone."

El nodded his head. "Why?" El asked. Of course, he took advantage of this opportunity to find out how true the incident was, which is still a big question mark, especially for an excited school.

Indeed, since Nusa, the school has become more excited than usual. Yes, because usually only El or Priska is looking for attention, now there is Nusa with its charm.

Nusa blinked her eyes, not expecting El to talk about it again. Choosing to remain silent is a ninja way for her because I don't know… it feels like if she told the truth, Priska would take revenge with something worse.

Love can drive people crazy, like that, right? Examples of wrong love, are even more, visible in the direction full of obsession.

Exhaling, El knew Nusa would not answer. "I promise I won't be short," he said, finally choosing to promise Nusa, for fear that the girl would be reluctant to tell him because he was the only one who responded casually.

"No, that's not the case, Bara."

"Then?"

Nusa didn't answer again.

"At this rate, you want the next victim?"

Next victim? Nusa would never believe that it would happen to anyone else. The reason is, as far as she knows, no one dares to approach El, whom Priska loves. She was the only one who dared. Even though she is close to El and his two friends because the three of them have been friends from the start.

"There will be no more victims," replied Nusa while shaking her head slowly, a small smile appeared on her face.

El raised an eyebrow again, more and more incomprehensible at this disjointed conversation, only adding to the curiosity that was constantly present in his mind. "Speak clearly and completely," he said in an even voice, irritated for a long time.

If a long story can make you cry, just say it slowly, right?

"Bara, please..." Nusa whispered as she turned to El with drooping brows, showing an expression that she didn't want to be forced to tell him what had happened to her because maybe she wasn't ready.

El sighed. "Okay," he said giving up, burying his curiosity first so as not to arouse curiosity again, he was afraid that he would force Nusa without realizing it. "That's up to you." he continued, leaning his body against the head of the sofa.

Seeing El like that Nusa wanted to tell a story. There was a million tightness in her chest because she felt this incident was the biggest trauma she experienced during school. Who would have thought that one night she was stuck at school? No one heard her pleas for help, nor was there a guard figure who he said would always be there to look after her.

"Sorry, Bara," said Nusa in a tone full of regret.

Because of El's question earlier, all of that triggered a feeling of sadness and now both of her eyes were shining with a clear liquid called tears. Can't, everything is difficult to accept, whatever the conditions, she will never forget even though she has forgiven.

El saw Nusa who was suddenly sad, after that he decided to get up from his seat and approach the girl. "What's wrong? What's your reason for crying?" he asked in a voice that sounded a little panicked.

Her tears fell down her cheeks, and at that moment Nusa got up from sitting and hugged El at that very second.

This is the comforting hug that Nusa feels coming from El's body.

…

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