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Chapter 102. The Connecting Pillar

“Don't you have class today?” Arjuna's deep voice echoed in the room. You can see the man sitting in front of the computer with his right hand rubbing his forehead, while his left hand is tapping on the table. 
It was obvious from his actions that he had lost his mind. How could Lia come to her room at will like this? Even though he knew that this must be related to Aini, it still made him feel irritated and tired at the same time. Hearing Arjuna's words, Lia just looked away, refusing to look at Arjuna and focusing on the things she saw every day. 
Arjuna gasped when he saw Lia's attitude like this. Just by looking at it, he could already tell that something he didn't like was going on. Because of that, Arjuna took a deep breath before getting up from his seat, heading to the place where Lia was sitting. Now the two of them sat across from each other and Lia could see Arjuna's face and expression. The man's face that looked so serious made Lia amazed for a while. 
"Don't want to tell? Didn't he say you want to help, Aini? If you are like this, what help can you do for him, huh? Silence will only make things worse.”
Lia bit her lower lip when she heard Arjuna's words. It wasn't that he didn't want to tell her, but he was doubting himself. “Marsha … do something to Salsa.” Lia's confession used a voice so low that even Arjuna asked to be repeated. “I said that Marsha and Leo were angry with Salsa for making fun of Aini! Now Salsa has been ordered to keep me away from Aini!”
“Leo, who… threaten” A look of surprise and disbelief appeared on Arjuna's face. How could something like that happen? Without needing to know the details until this happened, Arjuna already felt something uncomfortable. If Salsa does it with all her heart, then Aini will get into trouble. With Lia saying it now was already a sign of that. “Did Salsa say anything to you?”
"He just said that when he got the last assignment from Leo, he asked me to stay away from Aini. I don't know what he's going to do but… I doubt it.” Lia's last words caught Arjuna's attention, he didn't understand at all what the woman was talking about. "What if Salsa's manipulative attitude can separate me from Aini? What if it turns out that I'm not good enough to be Aini's friend? What if…?”
A big hand immediately grabbed Lia's, stopping the woman from speaking more. “Are you finished? Can I talk now?” Surprised, Lia just nodded her head in response, she didn't know what else to say. “Haven't you guys been friends for a long time? Then, what are you worried about? Are you afraid that you can't protect Aini? Or are you afraid that one day you will betray him? Isn't it then… you doubt yourself?”
“But… so far, I've been tricked by Salsa. What if…,” interrupted Lia who was given a sharp look by Arjuna. Like he wanted to say that he himself had not finished speaking. 
“You were tricked by Salsa, not by Aini, right? Then, if he accuses something about Aini, shouldn't you believe it's Aini, not Salsa?” Arjuna's truthful words silenced him. He lowered his head in shame of himself. “With this truth, can't we already stop whatever is going to happen in the future? I was right?"
Lia nodded her head because she couldn't make a sound anymore, she was between embarrassment and disappointment in herself. It's true, if Salsa spreads fake news about Aini and herself, then the one who knows the deepest truth is she. Why did he doubt that he could be deceived by Salsa, when he had to believe in himself and Aini? At a time like this, Aini really didn't need people who would only stop by temporarily. Their closeness from high school is a strong reason. 
A sigh now left Lia's lips, she was trying to gather courage and strength. He couldn't be weak just because of one person, let alone a trash like Leo. Aini is not the only one who now needs his help. Even though Salsa was guilty enough, the woman didn't do it because of her own will. Even Marsha also intervened in Salsa's problems. 
When deep in thought, the name that popped up for a moment managed to catch Lia's attention. He immediately looked up and looked at Arjuna with a surprised look. His eyes widened, and his lips felt numb. No matter how hard he tried to speak the truth he knew, his tongue refused to move so that no sound could escape from it. How could he forget that Marsha also had a plan to destroy Salsa and make Aini lonely? 
“I heard something that surprised me,” Lia said finally after patting Arjuna's shoulder many times, giving him the pain he was enduring. Arjuna raised one eyebrow, as a sign that he was asking what he meant. “Today I heard from Marsha that Salsa had to separate Aini from everyone around her. That way, he will be lonely and the only person who will be by his side is just Leo.”
"Is that all? Or is there more?” Arjuna, who received the information, nodded his head, satisfied with Lia's unexpected discovery. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense and serious. Lia, who could feel the pressure, squeezed both of her hands tightly before nodding again. 
"Yes, I heard Marsha say that Leo would never let Aini be owned by someone else. If it wasn't for him, no one would be able to touch him. At first, I was doubtful about those words, but the more I think about it now, I feel something strange about his words. It was as if he wanted to say…,” said Lia who stopped at the end, making Arjuna nod his head. He and Lia do have quite the same thoughts. 
“It's as if he's saying he's willing to hurt Aini as long as he's the only one who can have Aini.” Arjuna finished what Lia was unable to do. Just those words made the atmosphere in the room even more tense, there was no relaxed expression on the faces of the two of them anymore. 
“This… isn't wrong, right? I didn't hear wrong, right? I'm not mistaken either, am I? The panic inside Lia made Arjuna smile. He had to do something to calm her down, but all they saw was truth all over the place. Knowing that he would not be able to calm Lia down, Arjuna sighed and gripped Lia's shoulder tightly. 
“Listen to my words from now on. Aini might be in danger externally. If Aini refuses to get close to Leo, he can take extreme measures. It's like… making Aini have an accident, and she can't get up again. Leo… wants to harm Aini's safety so no one else can touch him."

Book Comment (59)

  • avatar
    Kurt Rumbaoa Aluag

    hahaha no bgat kunm mhut ta mammaminsan hahahahah madama ml hahaha no bgat sa Bahay nio 🥺 a hahaha no bgat sa hahaha no bgat kunm hahaha I love you too po welcome to the bus stop a hahahaha I can get it and I love it ited ken kuya ej usaren kano ni jhervie sa Bahay Kubo kas hahaha I charge my phone is so beautiful I love it ited u acc kon ne hahaha I charge my life 🧬 to latta ton of your way for sure may be able to help me thanks for sure may be able to help a lot to do you want me thanks kasi

    27/08/2023

      0
  • avatar
    Ma Viane Gacillo

    Ai ni and Salsa nodding together indicate that they don't believe it or actually don't know for sure because it hasn't been seen by their own eyes so everything feels uncertain but

    26/08/2023

      0
  • avatar
    BacalanArvee

    for sure because it

    8d

      0
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