GREY MARNI
Talk to Salsa
"Rude! Going straight home?"
"Yes Lang. Why?"
"You're ngajak ngopi together"
"I can't, I went to Salsa"
"I'm going there, can Rud?"
"Byeah, you'll have coffee there"
"Ok, we'll wrap it up. Take it into Salsa's room"
"Can~"
Erlang was curious as to how severe the injuries suffered by Salsa were. Today is Salsa's second week in hospital.
Erlang always faithfully visited Salsa every morning and evening and the day also coincided with the release of bandages that wrapped the face of Salsa.
For two weeks Salsa just nodded and shook her head. He still had trouble talking to some of the wounds around his lips.
The bus journey to the terminal has begun. The bus drove smoothly and without obstruction. After the bus arrived at the terminal, Rudi and Erlang began to disembark and help some passengers to drop off their luggage placed under the bus.
One by one the passengers started to scatter, Rudi and Erlang had also come out of the terminal. They both took the initiative to buy some typical snacks of the market such as onde-onde, putu, lemper and serabi. They buy market snacks with quite a lot that they will give to Salsa and also some other hospital residents.
After they finished buying some snacks they left for the hospital. On the way they saw a little boy sitting with a woman of two and they looked very hungry. Erlang told Rudi to give some of the snacks they bought for them. Rudi gave his betel and also gave some not so much money.
The child and the old woman looked very excited and immediately ate the snacks given by Rudi.
Erlang smiled sumringah from behind Rudi looking at the elegance of the little girl's smile.
After they had a little chat with the old boy and mother, the two of them immediately continued on their way back.
The hospital looks more crowded than usual. There were several luxury cars parked in front of the hospital courtyard.
Rudi and Erlang headed straight for Salsa's room. Just as he was about to open the door of Salsa's room, suddenly a doctor told them to wait first.
"Sorry, please wait a minute. The patient opens his head bandage"
"Yes doc, I'm waiting" said Rudi.
"How long, doc?" Erlang asked.
"Now, maybe about 15 minutes."
"Ohh.. okay doc"
Rudi and Erlang waited for the doctor to open the Salsa bandage. They sat in the waiting chair in front of Salsa's room.
"Buy coffee no?” Ask Erlang.
"Can"
"OK! I bought it"
"This is the money" said Rudi by holding out some money.
"No, this time I'm the deal."
Erlang went to buy coffee, while Rudi sat alone in the waiting chair.
Fifteen minutes passed so quickly, the doctor who got the part to remove the Salsa bandage was out and Rudi went straight inside.
...----------------...
It was a face that could no longer be recognized. Almost all parts of Salsa's face turn black and wrinkled, leaving a small part on Salsa's left cheek.
Rudi did not show a facial expression that showed disgust. He tried to stay strong and smile. Salsa looked towards Rudi and then turned her face away from Rudi's gaze.
Rudi approached Salsa, then unwrapped the snacks he bought and put them on his desk.
"Wanna eat?" Tanya Rudi was very slow.
"Yes" Salsa replied very slowly as well.
Rudi smiled hearing Salsa's voice again after a long time he did not hear it. Rudi offered some snacks that he bought and Salsa asked putu for him to eat first.
Salsa's hand was still immovable and Rudi fed Salsa with a feeling.
Salsa tried to smile every now and then but she still seemed to be insecure. Rudi understood how Salsa was feeling at the moment, trying as much as possible to show the attitude that he accepted Salsa as it was.
Salsa was silent and Erlang just smiled and looked at Salsa's face at a glance then directed his gaze towards Rudi.
"This is your coffee" Erlang said by holding out a coffee package.
"Thank you"
"Salsa want no black coffee?" Erlang tried to comfort his friend's lover.
"Thank you" Salsa replied, trying to smile.
Erlang sat down on the floor and opened his coffee package. He looked around for the glass to pour his coffee and started sipping slowly.
Rudi is still feeding Salsa. Salsa still did not want to tell anything, she just kept quiet and chewed on the food given by Rudi.
...****************...
...The withered flowers had prepared themselves...
...The beauty that was taken away did not scare them...
...The seeds have been scattered...
...By the will of God and his power...
...Bees and wind participate...
...The soil and water help and care for...
...The seeds will grow with time and beauty...
...Bees will be happy...
...The wind will dance...
...And the world will return...
...****************...
"Rud, if you want to go, then go. I'm not the old Salsa anymore"
Salsa's sudden speech, making Rudi's heart and body goosebumps. Erlang heard Salsa's words and then came out of Salsa's room.
Rudi still did not answer or respond to Salsa's words and continued to bribe her.
"You deserve better Rud! Don't force yourself to stay with a withered woman like me!" Salsa crying.
Rudi picked up some tissue and wiped away Salsa's tears. He still did not respond to Salsa's words.
"I've ruined Rud! I'm already ruined!"
Rudi stood up and hugged Salsa softly.
"You'll still be my Salsa, no matter what!"
"No Rudi, what will people say if you stay with me? You'll be humiliated!"
"Who would dare humiliate us? We'll face it all together. Even if the world and its people hate us"
Salsa began as an unwillingness to hold back her tears. Rudi remained standing beside her and cleared Salsa's tears.
"Don't think of anything! We'll stay together. We're gonna start our journey and our story like we used to."
Salsa was growing more and more powerless to hold back her tears. He was confused, he seemed to have no heart if he had to stay with Rudi. But he also could not if not with his lover.
Salsa began to calm herself, regulate her breathing and stop her tear rain.
"Are you ready for whatever happens if we're with Rud?"
"That's for sure, we're gonna find a way out together, we're gonna get things done together"
"Have you thought carefully?"
"I'll stay with you"
"Alright if that's what you want"
Salsa smiled with a wide, unexciting smile that looked so happy and like there was something she planned and hid.
...----------------...
