Saka POV
During last semester's break, I went home. It was my first trip back since I started college in Sibaru. Saving money was the main reason I didn't travel much. Now, in my second semester, I was finally able to buy a laptop. Not only did I use money I'd earned working, but my father also gave me some money before I returned. Even though I hadn't told him anything, it seemed my father knew exactly what I needed. He gave me enough that, together with all my savings, I could afford a laptop and the cheapest printer I could find. Now I no longer had to bother Arjuna or visit a computer rental shop to look up course materials or work on my assignments.
Another piece of good news came from the nature club I'd joined. We were finally going mountain climbing at the end of this semester. Of course, I told Arjuna because he'd wanted to come along when I went climbing. Arjuna wasn't a member of the club, but the event was open to other college students as long as they followed the rules. He was thrilled. But remembering our trip to the waterfall back then, I planned to take him on more adventures, just to build up his leg muscles and endurance before we climbed a real mountain. If the destination was suitable, Arjuna would invite Saskia. We'd bring a complete painting set and let Saskia paint somewhere crowded and safe while Arjuna and I continued hiking.
Today, I took Arjuna to visit a temple located on top of a hill 1,200 meters above sea level. To reach the temple, we had to walk uphill for 200 meters. It was challenging enough, even though the trail there was certainly much better than the paths in the mountains. Saskia could come this time because there was a rest area halfway up for people who couldn't make it to the top.
“All set, Kia,” Arjuna said after helping Saskia attach a fresh canvas to the standing easel we'd brought.
“Okay, thanks. You two can keep going.”
“Do you need anything else?” Arjuna asked again. Saskia shook her head. I looked around. There was already a water bottle and a painting set on the visitors' table near Saskia. Vendors sat on both sides of the courtyard, selling snacks. A security post stood not far from the rest area, so Saskia should be fine even if we left her for a while. Besides, Saskia was smart. She'd know what to do if something went wrong.
“Then let's keep going,” Arjuna said, looking at me.
“Okay. We're going to leave you for a bit, Kia.”
“Be careful. There's no need to rush.”
Arjuna kissed Saskia on the cheek before leaving her behind.
The view from the top was far more beautiful than the one below. If only Saskia could make it up here, she would be even happier. She could paint the scenery, with clouds that looked close enough to reach out and touch. If only there were horses or some kind of transportation that could carry visitors all the way up here... Ah. Arjuna seemed to be thinking the same thing. He took lots of pictures of the scenery, he said, for Saskia. The two of them were such a perfect match.
“Saka, haven't any of the girls at our college caught your eye?” Arjuna asked suddenly as we sat in the grass.
I shook my head. “Why?”
“No reason. Is there a girl you like back home?”
“No. Why?” I repeated.
“If you had a girlfriend, it would be more fun for the four of us to go places together.”
“Am I getting in the way?” I was starting to feel uncomfortable.
“No. I'm just curious what kind of girl will eventually win your heart.”
I turned away and looked at the clouds gathered in front of us. “I haven't thought that far ahead.”
“Or you just haven't met her yet,” Arjuna added.
“What about Saskia?” His question startled me.
“What about Saskia?” I turned to him.
“Do you like Saskia?” Arjuna wasn't looking at me.
The moments we'd spent together flashed through my mind. Had I gone too far? I wrestled with the answer in my head. “Of course I like her. She's your girlfriend.” I waited for his reaction.
Arjuna nodded, then turned to me. “Thank goodness. Saskia likes you too.” He looked ahead again. “Kia doesn't easily accept other people. Ever since I met her, she's been closed off. She's a lot like you—she doesn't talk much and often doesn't even know what to say to someone new. When she graduated from high school, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to adapt well to college life. Eventually, I asked her to apply to this college with me.”
“You care about her so much. Saskia doesn't need to worry anymore. She has you by her side.”
“Yeah. I want to protect her. I hate seeing Saskia down. She gets depressed whenever something is weighing on her mind.”
“Like what?”
“Like wondering why children in this world have to be abandoned by their parents, or why children become victims of adults' wars. Things like that.”
“That's pretty heavy...”
“Yeah. It's not something a girl her age should be thinking about so deeply.”
“She’s lucky to have you, Arjuna. I think anyone would be lucky to have you.”
“Even so, I alone won't be enough.”
“What do you mean?” I was still looking at him while Arjuna kept his eyes on the clouds.
“ aren't we still young? Don't we still need lots of friends and experiences?”
“Yeah.”
“I want Saskia to have those things too.” I nodded. “She's much more of a loner than you are, Saka. She needs someone she can trust to feel comfortable.”
“Isn't everyone like that?”
“Yeah. But there are very few people she can trust—not even her parents. And I think you're one of those few, Saka.” He turned to me.
“Me?”
“Yeah. Kia tells me things. Sometimes she tells you things too. Sometimes the two of you talk about stuff.”
I thought about it. We had started communicating a lot more lately, but we weren't as close as best friends. I didn't feel like Saskia was comfortable around me. “I don't feel that way. Have I crossed a line?”
“No. It's the opposite.” Arjuna looked ahead again. This time, he picked up a pebble beside him and tossed it forward, though I had no idea at what. I watched the clouds starting to drift away. “I'm glad she trusts you. I'm glad she has someone besides me.”
We fell silent. The clouds had drifted away as morning gave way to noon. Maybe we'd been here too long, but Arjuna still didn't seem ready to leave.
“Saka...”
“Yeah?”
“If I'm not around, please look after Saskia.”
“Where are you going?” I asked.
Arjuna shrugged. “I can't stay by her side forever. Sometimes I have to go back to Sibaru while she doesn't want to go home. Take her out. Keep her company while she paints, like this. If you had a girlfriend, it would be more fun. Maybe she'd become close with your girlfriend too.” He looked at me. “You will, right?”
Without realizing it, I nodded. “Of course I'll look after her.”
Arjuna smiled. “Thanks, Saka. I trust you.” Arjuna pushed himself up and stood. “Come on. Saskia must be done with her painting by now.”
I pulled myself up and stood beside him. “Yeah.”
The path down was easier to navigate, but I needed to concentrate even more so I wouldn't slip. My thoughts were still up there. Was I doing something I would regret later?”