Chapter 2

~ They think I'm 'that strong' ~

Who doesn't know Alyne?

A bullyable girl who is always an easy target for bullies at her school. A beautiful face does not guarantee that she can be free from that bad things. Even having a brother does not guarantee that she can survive all these things, even her brother is one of the ferocious predators who is always ready to attack her anytime and anywhere, knows no time and knows no place.

Now she is in the 1st grade of High School, majoring in Science. She has an older brother named Aslan, and an older sister named Violet. She also has a boyfriend, his name is Herrin, don't ask how they got together, Herrin is very in love and is even infatuated with the girl. Call it love at first sight.

A girl with a beautiful appearance, a soft stature, made Herrin in love with her. Alyne is lucky to have that boy when everyone shuns her, a sweet boy who always makes her smile happily.

Herrin is a good boy, he loves everyone around him. However, it turned out to be a boomerang for Alyne. Herrin was in Violet's hand.

***

The rain has stopped and the girl slowly walks out of the school. The school was pretty quiet, there were a few people left who might be waiting to be picked up. She calmly walked on the sidewalk while enjoying the wind that carried the scent of rain on her face.

Today as usual, she did not go home with Herrin, her boyfriend.  Because he is obligated to be the driver who takes Violet wherever she wants. Meanwhile, Alyne will return to her small rented house by walking alone. She was used to being second in her relationship with Herrin.

Tiiiin!

Suddenly a motorcycle coming from behind, stopped right beside her and honked its horn.

Alyne spontaneously looked at the motorbike, the person driving it was Aslan, the man looked around for a moment, making Alyne look around too.

"What's up Bro?" Alyne asked quietly, trying not to provoke his brother's emotions.

"You have no intention of returning back to home?" Aslan asked to the poin.

She knews where her brother's conversation was going. That girl shook her head slowly. "No Bro, I am not ready." 

She lied, obviously she was very ready and very willing to go back to her family home.  However, she was afraid that her presence in the house would only open old wounds.

Aslan heaved a sigh of relief.

"You coward! You're the one causing trouble and you're the one running away, just die!"  Aslan attacked before he gone with his motorbike, leaving his sister alone on the side of the road.

Alyne can only smile, a smile that represents her sadness, a sad smile that has always been on her face since three years ago.

She laid down on the bed after cleaning herself. She closed her eyes, she was reminded of the incident after school, she knew very well that Aslan still cared about her very much, but the his ego was bigger than his desire to bring Alyne back.

Just a few seconds after closing her eyes, a notification popped up on her cellphone screen making her not want to take a nap.

'Have you eaten?  If not, I'll pick you up,'

One message from that person was able to make her energy return. It's not stupid or anything, but that's the reality. The only support, motivation, and solid pillar she has, only comes from that boy. That is Herrin.The only person who knows about her family problems, how her relation with her parents is, and how her relation with her two siblings is.

The girl typed something on her cellphone before finally changing clothes and getting ready to go out to eat with Herrin.

Toot!!... 

The sound of a horn interrupts the movement of Alyne while making a ponytail. She finished her make-up as soon as possible and left the room. In front of her rented house, there is Herrin waiting for her in the car. She got into the car and immediately sat down.

"So where are we going to eat today?"  asked Herrin after driving his car to the main road.

"In the usual place."  The girl moved her head, following the rhythm of the song playing in the Herrin's car.

Herrin looks at Alyne''s face for two seconds before he finally looks back at the road.

"I'm sorry," said Herrin suddenly and immediately got a surprised look from Alyne.

"Excuse me? For?"

"I can't help you when you gets bullied by Violet during break time," the boy whispered.

The girl froze for a moment before finally sighing.

"It's okay ..," the girl paused for a moment.

"I know you've been good friends with my sister, Violet, for a long time. Don't worry, I'm used to be bullied too."  The girl turned her face towards the window, not letting Herrin see the change in expression on her face.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

***

"Do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?"  asked Herrin when Alyne got out of his car. 

The girl spontaneously shook her head.  "No need, tomorrow I want to go somewhere first before going to school."

Herrin who heard this immediately nodded his head. "Okay, then see you tomorrow at school," said Herrin before raising his car window and moving away from the house.

Alyne looked at the movement of Herrin's car until it was finally out of sight, the girl took a deep breath.

While eating together earlier, Alyne accidentally saw Herrin was receiving a call. The man spoke for a few seconds before finally stopped the phone call.

The man looked at Alyne with a guilty look.  "Sorry," he said.

What's next this time? thought the girl.

"What happen, Herrin?" asked Alyne.

"Violet is sick."

"So?"

"I have to go there, there's no one to take care of her."

"Can't you finish eating first?"

The man shook his head slowly.

Alyne sighed then took the hand bag on the table and brought it. "Yeah, we're going home now."

"You don't want to finish your meal?"  asked Herrin because he still saw a lot of food on Alyne's plates.

"So you want to leave me here alone?"  asked Alyne trying not to yell. Herrin again shook his head.

"Okay, now take me home and then you visit Violet," said the girl and left Herrin who was still sitting in his chair.

Unknowingly the girl's eyes warmed up again, she just couldn't understand why she could love a boy who loves someone who hates her so much.

The girl sluggishly entered her rented house, it was already 4 in the afternoon, the girl had to go to work immediately.

***