Dum Spiro, Spero
About The Time
Laughter filled the dining table. His spirit was able to dampen the sound of the clink of a spoon, making this dinner look like an exhilarating meeting.
The latitude wiped the corners of her wet eyes. His lips still presented a beautiful arch although his laughter had now slowly subsided. Stared at the pair of brothers who sit next to him, then felt more warm heart Lintang made.
Just this time Lintang passed the dinner cheerfully. Not only put rice grains into the mouth, he was allowed to spit out a few words that ended up making the owner of the house explode laughter with loose. At home, he will not be allowed to talk while eating. Javanese customs are thick with politeness makes his family not allow a single word spoken as long as they are at the dinner table. Cell phones are pushed away, any chatter is thrown out until they actually stick the food on each plate.
Here, in a rented house whose size is much smaller than his own house, Lintang actually found another warmth that he had not been getting in a building that he considered ‘rumah’.
“True lecture, let later be people.” Sabiru opened the chatter when the laughter of the three of them completely subsided.
Starting the answer, Lintang again spread a smile. “Emang is now Latitude is still a monkey?”
“Lo mah is not a monkey, but a pig. Ngok ngok.” Gurau Sabiru while pressing the tip of his nose upwards, then imitate the sound of pigs until it makes Lintang chuckle again.
“Mbak Anin more pig-like.” The girl with curly hair. Back he was uproarious, holding his own stomach which began to be clouded because of too much laughter.
While in the other chair, Baskara only noticed how the two girls he loved each other threw laughter with excitement. Now, his feelings are split in two. One side was delighted that the two girls were finally able to get along and no longer had a big fight, and on the other he felt even more indecisive.
The return plan to Jakarta has been compiled as well as possible. There is almost no gap to make him hesitate to undo the intention. However, seeing how happy Lintang was with the interaction between them, Baskara began to think more about the girl's feelings if the time of her return really came later.
Baskara knew, whether the time deviated or not from the plan he had compiled, he and Sabiru still had to leave Jogja. They must go home to face reality, for running away forever is a futile act. The world continues to move, it cannot forever stay in a miserable phase of decline. He just.. did not know how to say goodbye to Lintang without making the girl sad.
“Mbak Anin first time college majoring what?”
“Indonesian Literature,” Blue answers quickly, then sips water in a glass. “Why?”
“That's why Ms Anin chose to work in a bookstore?” tanya Lintang with eyes full of curiosity. The girl had also just finished her meal, choosing to wait for an answer rather than chugging water to rinse her throat.
Blue chuckled softly at that question. “No correlation.” He replied, then once again downed the water until his glass was empty.
“Means?”
“Gue works there because only that place wants to receive a SMA diploma.” Clear Blue.
“Hah?”
“My lecture is not finished, Kumala Lintang. Only until the third semester or four, I don't know. That’s why I do not expect to be able to work in a good place.” There was no regret drawn on his face when Blue explained so.
However, this even makes Baskara pensive. Back he blamed himself, because if there were no problems that befell his family, Blue would have finished college and lived comfortably with a Bachelor degree that he had.
Once again, if he could ask God for one, Baskara still often hoped that what happened a few years ago was only a dream that would soon be over.
“That's also why I want you to go to college really, so that your future can be better. I know, the level of education of a person can not be used as a reference whether your future will be bright or not, but at least when you are in college and have a degree, but at least, you have one privilege to take a better chance at life.”
And I've made you lose that privilege, Bi.
“Mbak Anin bener.” Lintang nodded his head in understanding.
“After meals want to go home directly?” in between the chat, Baskara came in carrying another topic. Not without reason why he did it. It was an effort so that he did not drown, so that he did not return tempted to grieve the situation as much as he had done many years ago. He had promised to heal, so that at least they could fix some things.
The latitude turned its attention to Baskara who had been a spectator since then. For a moment, he was silent staring at the man's beautiful bead. There was a lot of calm that he could find there. A calm that he could not find anywhere. Then, the girl lowered her gaze, staring at the screen of her phone that had been knocked twice to display a bright beam.
At 7 past 20, it was still late afternoon, but at the same time had also entered into a curfew that would make both parents scream in solidarity if he did not go home immediately.
The latitude likes it here. He likes to spend time with two people who he starts to think of as his own family members. But he has a home. The real home that he has made for 20 years he has lived in the world. Then he should go home. Even though it meant that he had to give up all this warmth being taken away with the steps he would swing later.
“Mas Abi can mintain permission if you want to stay here tonight.”
The offer had not only made Lintang instantly raise his gaze quickly, but had also managed to make Sabiru stare in disbelief. There are many secrets they keep in this house, and bringing Lintang to stay doesn't seem like a good idea.
“Mas,” Blue trying to cut before everything gets further.
Baskara turned her head towards him, presenting a new look that she could not translate easily this time.
“Ndon't do it, Mas Abi.” As if he could read the discomfort that was happening, Lintang hurriedly made a sound.
Baskara switched again to looking at Latitude, with a gaze that was 180 degrees different from what she had given Blue before.
“Latitude go home. Tomorrow is Sunday and Mbak Anin is off work, so Lintang can play here longer tomorrow.”
“Yakin?”
Latitude nodded steadily. “Siniin dirty dishes, Latitude only wash before going home.” The girl's hand reached for Blue and Baskara's dirty dishes, but Baskara quickly held her back.
“Mas Abi washing. You are forward escorted by Mbak Anin, yes. Careful drive.” Then the man got up and brought the dirty dishes to the sink. Ignoring what was happening behind him, he busied himself so that the storm in his head did not become more so.
...****************...
“Lintang says so?” Sabiru corrects the position of leaning on the headboard of the bed. His arms have still circled Baskara's back ever since the man fell in her arms, laying his head on her stomach.
“Gue also does not know why he suddenly said that. As if he already knows that we are going to return to Jakarta in the near future.”
“That's why you got nawarin he made nginep?” ask Blue again.
Baskara nodded weakly, “Gue thought, it would be better if you could love him the good memories before we leave. But I guess not, huh? I think that the more we make him comfortable, the more difficult it is for us to pay him without making him sad, yes?” tanyanya, while raising his head.
Blue sighed softly, “It seems there is no parting that does not make you sad, Bas. Want to lo prepare as well as anything, want as many beautiful memories that you make, when the farewell arrives, it will still be sad.”
“So we have to how?” ask Baskara nelangsa. He put his head back on Blue's belly, as his fingers moved to form a random pattern on the girl's arm that encircled her body.
Blue seemed to think for a moment, then rather than answer Baskara's question with something that the man could not necessarily accept, he instead changed his body position to collapse, and then, making Baskara's head resting on his stomach shift slowly until now moved to his arm.
“No idea, I also don't know what to do.” He said while staring at Baskara. His fingers played on the boy's hair, touching him one-on-one like he was counting how many strands grew.
“From long ago, I never prepared anything for what was called farewell. Not when my parents died, not when you left me for no reason, nor when we went away from the children without saying goodbye. All the way without preparation, Bas. So if you are the same I we have to how, I really do not know what to answer.”
The story makes Baskara back pensive. Come to think of it, everything Blue said was true. They never prepared anything for a farewell. They never pronounce words correctly. Therefore, just this once, Baskara wanted their separation with Lintang to be done well. In order to at least, when they had the chance to meet someday, they could greet each other like old friends who missed each other. Not even standing awkward as a stranger who just met for the first time.
“Tomorrow when Lintang play here, I will tell him about our return plan.” Baskara said, finally setting a choice.
They will fly to Jakarta in two weeks, maybe it is better to tell Lintang about it sooner. So that the girl can also prepare.
“Solar by aja.” Blue speech does not give rejection. The girl then hugged Baskara, instead of hiding her face in the chest of the field of adam. “Gue sleepy,” whispered.
“Iya, good sleep.” Baskara rubbed Sabiru's back, channeling her affection through the gentle touches she gave.
Soon, he closed his eyes, breaking the fatigue that had been with him all day. Prepare to welcome tomorrow with greater courage.
Seriate....
