Semester holidays are fun for most people, but not for Marsha Renee Pramudipta. It was already 8 pm, but as the student council president along with her other friends, she was still organizing the preparations for the school’s anniversary event.
The black-haired girl stepped towards the second floor. Her steps were full of confidence, not showing the slightest faltering. She pulled the doorknob and searched for what she needed. Her eyes scanned all corners of the room, and then her attention focused on the white object; she hurriedly grabbed the banner and searched for the rope.
“BRAKKKK,” the strong wind suddenly caused the warehouse door to close. Marsha gasped and immediately ran towards the door. Her tiny hands repeatedly tried to open the door knob, but damn, she thought this door was broken, so she would be trapped for who knows how long.
“Help… help…” she screamed as loud as she could.
Sweat poured from his temples. She didn’t mind being trapped in any room, but the darkness was the problem. She reached into her pocket to contact her friends in the field. But they have yet to respond to his calls. This uneasy feeling appeared suddenly, and slowly, tears flowed down his white cheeks. He was terrified of this darkness.
GUBRAKKKK
The door was forced open by a tall man 183cm tall.
“What are you doing here in the dark?” he asked, looking at the woman crouched against the wall. Receiving no answer, his foot stepped closer to her.
“Are you okay?” his eyes traveled from head to toe of the bowed woman. He fixated on her trembling hands. He immediately grasped her hand, trying to give her strength.
“Here, have a drink first, you’re scared.” He handed the girl some mineral water. After he felt she was calm, they walked out of the warehouse.
“Thank you for helping me,” said Marsha.
“No problem, are you okay?” asked the man with a solid jaw to make sure.
“Yes, it’s okay, who are you? I’ve never seen you in this school?”
“I’m Adrian Nolan Aptayudia, a new student, I was wandering around looking for the bathroom and heard you screaming.”
“Put this on, you’re scared,” Adrian said as he took off his black sweater and gave it to Marsha.
Six months passed.
After the incident where Adrian saved Marsha that night, Adrian Nolan Aptayudia unexpectedly had a particular room in the corner of Marsha’s heart. For some reason, the image of the well-built man always danced in her head. In the past six months, their relationship has become closer. Adrian gave a lot of advice and became a place for Marsha to complain. Adrian threw his jokes that made Marsha laugh so hard that it made her face red. The two of them became closer because they had the same hobby. Novels have always been their favorite subject, Adrian with Tere Liye as his favourite author and Marsha with Rintik Sedu. Marsha realized she had fallen in love with this man; she felt her days were much more accessible with Adrian.
God, just this once, please don’t take away my happiness. Said Marsha inwardly
Tinn tinn
Marsha was startled out of her reverie by the car horn. Not long after that, a man wearing a white polo shirt got out of the black car, the sunglasses perched on his nose, adding to the masculine aura. Marsha exited her chair and ran to meet the car’s owner. Adrian, who has now become her lover. Marsha realized that her relationship with Adrian was too fast to become lovers. But if they are both comfortable, why keep postponing it, Marsha thought.
Today, they planned a picnic in the city park. Marsha made pizza, and Adrian prepared other snacks. The two lovebirds rushed to find a shady spot when they arrived at the park. They spread a small mat and took out all the food they had prepared. Adrian’s eagle eyes scanned all corners of the park and then focused on one stall.
“Sha wait here for a while, I have something for you” said Adrian.
“Where are you going baby?” asked Marsha.
Without giving an answer to his girlfriend Adrian immediately walked towards the Ice Cream stall, he knew his girlfriend really liked Ice Cream.
“The pistachio ice cream is one ya” The words of the bright brown-haired woman in front of him made Adrian’s smile stifled. The scent of strawberry parfume sticking out of his master sweater reminded Adrian of a figure who once filled his heart? Maybe still until this moment?
It can’t be her
But pistachio is her favourite ice cream.
This strawberry parfume too
Adrian was really curious about the woman in front of him.
“Alya”
“Adrian”
deggg
The two eyes met, diving into the many memories they had spent together, those moments popping up randomly to these two people. A genuine smile shone from this woman’s face. A smile that always made Adrian melt.
Oh my god, what is this? I looked for her for two years, but there was no news. Now, she is right in front of me. Said Adrian’s mind.
“Where have you been, Al?” Adrian’s voice weakened; he didn’t know if the universe was being kind to him for bringing him together with the first love who had filled his heart for three years or if the universe was playing with him for bringing him together with Alya when he was already with Marsha.
On the way home from the park, Adrian was more silent. This change began to be felt when he returned from the ice cream shop. Marsha didn’t understand what was wrong with Adrian; she had asked her lover many times, but he didn’t respond.
Adrian POV
The shadows of his meeting with Alya continued to haunt his mind. Alya said she had suddenly moved to Malaysia to accompany her grandfather, who was being treated there. But for Adrian, the two years without Alya were the most challenging thing in his life, and he was desperate when looking for Alya.
Sherina Alya Wijaya.
Her eyes were the same as Marsha’s. Adrian hesitated whether he sincerely liked Marsha or only found Alya’s shadow in Marsha. There are many similarities between the two women: the same hazel eyes, the same posture, and the dimples that always become an addiction for Adrian to stare longer.
What if Marsha finds out about this?
No, Marsha can’t know about this. Said Adrian’s inner voice.
Marsha’s problems are many, starting from family problems and organisations, and don’t forget Marsha also has an anxiety disorder. Adrian doesn’t want to hurt Marsha. He will keep this a secret from Marsha.
Since that day, Adrian and Marsha’s relationship began to drift apart. Adrian rarely replied to messages sent by Marsha. Marsha’s invitation to go to the cinema or look for the latest novel was rejected by Adrian. Adrian felt guilty about Marsha because he started the relationship not based on sincerity but on escape. Marsha’s emotional state, which has always been explosive lately, is also why Adrian is not straightforward. The man was troubled by who still had him in his heart, whether Alya was still the winner or had been replaced by Marsha.
3 Days Later
To improve his relationship with Marsha, which has been strained lately, Adrian invited Marsha to have dinner at a restaurant. They enjoyed the moment very much.
“Sha, I’m going to the toilet.” Adrian stood up, leaving Marsha, who was busy cutting her steak.
kring! kring! kring!
Adrian’s mobile rang.
Marsha’s attention turned to the screen.
“Shenina Alya Wijaya,” she muttered.
Alya?
It can’t be that, Alya. Her mind said.
Marsha looked at the profile picture and realized this was not just Alya but Sherina Alya Wijaya. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Marsha was completely confused as to what Adrian was doing behind her back. Her gaze was utterly blank.
“Honey, why are you crying?” Adrian asked frantically, his burly hand immediately grasping Marsha’s tiny hand to calm her down.
“You know Shenina Alya Wijaya?” In a hoarse voice, the question escaped Marsha’s mouth. The question was only four words, but it made Adrian feel like he’d been struck by lightning. His mouth dropped open, unable to give an answer to his girlfriend. Adrian sat deeply. The thing he feared had happened.
“Adrian, answer!” Marsha’s voice rose higher, her chest tightening as she watched Adrian slumped over.
“Shenina Alya Wijaya is my ex, Sha.” That answer further broke Marsha’s heart into pieces. How could her half-sister have been or perhaps still be an essential part of her lover’s life? Shenina Alya Wijaya was the daughter of Hen, Marsha’s stepmother, and her previous husband.
The memories of when Marsha’s parents had a big fight played like a broken record in Marsha’s head. At that time, little Marsha was hiding behind the door, peeking at what her parents were discussing. Even though she didn’t know what they were discussing, little Marsha understood they were arguing because of their high-pitched voices. This argument happened because Marsha’s father was in a relationship with another woman. In Marsha’s memory, her father came out of the house carrying a suitcase, and then his car sped away from their home. Marsha still remembers vividly how her mum wept bitterly that night. Since that night, Marsha’s life changed drastically. She became colder and more introverted. She has lost a lot since that night. She was losing a father figure, friends, confidence, and all the hope she had.
“Shenina Alya Wijaya is my half-sister, my stepmother’s daughter with her previous husband.” Marsha struggled to get her voice out. Adrian was stunned to hear that statement.
“Sha, I apologize to God I didn’t know about that,” was all Adrian could say, his tongue completely tongue-tied.
“What was the reason you suddenly asked me out? Is it because I look like Alya?” Not once or twice had his extended family said he looked like Alya, especially their hazel eyes and two dimples.
Adrian grew silent and looked down at the question. Adrian’s silence gave Marsha the answer. She hurried to leave Adrian. She ran out of the restaurant.
Tonight was a stormy night for Marsha. Her happiness seemed to be destroyed in an instant. She didn’t know what made the universe hate her so much, as if she didn’t deserve happiness.
God, just this once, I don’t want to feel anything. I’m not strong. Said Marsha’s mind.
Since then, she cut off contact with Adrian, not because she didn’t love the man, but because she couldn’t accept this harsh reality. Day after day passed, and Marsha was packing; she had decided to move to Australia and continue living with her grandmother. She could not afford to continue living in this city and continue living under the shadow of pain.
Husein Sastranegara International Airport
Marsha sat in the waiting room of an international flight. She smiled bitterly as she read Adrian’s apology. It was too late. If she had met Adrian earlier than Alya, her relationship with Adrian might have been much better. Once again, the universe played tricks on them by bringing them together at the wrong time. Marsha walked through the departure gate. For the umpteenth time she lost, a clear crystal drop flowed down her cheek. In Bandung, this wonderful city, Marsha let go of all her happiness, love, hopes, and dreams she had to bury deeply.
Hello Readers! My Name is Prily Wiske Widiya Putri (E1D021114). I am from the English Education Department in University of Mataram. I’m taking Creative Literary Writing course therefore I am presenting my short story “Star crossed : Marsha and Adrian”
