SYAHDU (Contract Sleep Friends)
The Memory Still Clings

Don't go tonight. Stay here one more time, remind me again what it's like.

And let's fall in love once again, remind me what it's like.

I need you by my side. It hurts when you disappear from me, please stay here

...***...

Syahdu walks towards the city park. He used to get up early in the morning and exercise for a while even just pedaling a bike or walking around since in the village. At first, Syahdu did that to save her feelings. But now he is used to it, no longer likes to laze in the room.

He walked while watching the crowded surroundings by people walking on foot also cycling. This morning was quite cool, but not to make Syahdu wear jeket. The cold city was still inferior to the coldness of the village which sometimes broke through the bones.

"aaakk. Very handsome.."

Someone's voice sounded from beside him. Two girls were chatting while watching on a cell phone screen.

"Lo watch, huh? Very cool, I want to see Arga sing directly, but I have another appointment." The other girl complained of annoyance.

Syahdu sighed. Arga, it turns out he has become a favorite of many people now. He seems to be busy too. Then, how to meet him?

Syahdu sat on a long bench. He has 5 more days in town and he must meet with Arga to apologize for his mistreatment that stuck in Arga's heart. He wanted to straighten out so that he could calm down when he returned to the village later.

Again Syahdu took a long breath. He's holding his chest. Since Nani made her aware of her feelings, Syahdu became unsettled when she would imagine if she met Arga. Can he be as calm as he used to be when dealing with that man?

Last night, when Alika said Ibra and Arga were heading to their place, Syahdu's heart suddenly failed until he finally chose to go home even though he had been detained. Syahdu realized, he could not be like before when he might face the man later.

Syahdu stood up, he wanted to contact Ibra considering that the man was Arga's manager now. Who knows Ibra allowed him to meet the superstar. The sooner the better, so Syahdu thought.

He stepped on the road. He smiled a little at every towering tall building. The real place Syahdu longed for, but he chose that natural village.

Syahdu's steps stopped. He looked up, saw a large billboard with a picture of Arga smiling towards him. The guy's getting handsome. His face also shone as his present name. Syahdu looked at him long enough until he realized that now, deep down, he missed the man. The only man in his honor he let go of.

The writing in the billboard is now the attention of Syahdu. Tonight Arga is a guest star at the music festival. So I thought, did he just come? Watch Arga concerts that will sing songs that he said were created for him.

"Young!"

The barking of the little dog jerked Syahdu. He looked down at a dog whose tail was swaying to look at him.

"Well.." Syahdu fervently looked at his round eyes. The dog reminded him of Popi. He crouched down and held the apparently highly cared for white-haired dog.

"Hey.." Syahdu smiled widely, the little dog was indeed very similar to Popi. It's just that, last time we met, Popi was a kid and this one was big.

From the tail of Syahdu's eye, he could see a cup of coffee spilled from someone's hand to make Syahdu look at him.

Stunned he saw who was standing not far from him. A black masked man with a long shoulder of hair, was silent in his place. Even the falling coffee did not make him move. He's Arga Alexander, the man Syahdu wanted to meet, now standing a few meters away from him. He knows a face that often sleeps with him first even though it is covered in a mask.

Syahdu held his breath. It's not what he thinks. Not at all. He has not yet met Arga. Not now, not at the moment. But he was still there, looking into Arga's unblinking eyes.

For a moment Syahdu could not think what he should do because his heart was pounding. Someone he had not met for a very long time, someone he really wanted to bury his face, it made him feel the tremendous turmoil of longing. Arga, the man began to step on his feet, walking towards where Syahdu was still in his place.

"That's!"

The man looked. Some people stood in amazement looking at him.

"Yes, really. Brother Arga!!"

"Sir Argaa, ask for a fotooo!"

Arga couldn't dodge when the girls ran close to him. They start screaming hysterically and ask Arga to take a picture with them.

Slowly Syahdu retreated. The Arga world that was and is now is very different. Anyone would know him even if he covered his face.

"Smart dog, you still know me, huh. All right, let's go get some food. I'll give you some good food! Okay?"

Syahdu looked at Arga for a moment. He was busy even though occasionally trying to steal a glance towards Syahdu. Some people seemed to gather when they realized who was near them.

Syahdu walked away. He knows where he's headed now.

...🍁...

"Mr.mbak.. Syahdu.."

The guard stuttered to see what was in front of him. Syahdu walked with Popi behind him, then stopped right in front of Security whom he had once given him a cell phone.

"Hi, sir. How are you doing? I haven't seen you in a long time." Sapa Syahdu.

"Mbakkkk ya aampuun. Mr. Arga continues to nyariin. He asked me to report if I saw Syahdu. I was given an extra salary even though I didn't do anything!" Security was glazed after finally being able to meet Syahdu again. Of course he knows how Arga has been looking for Shahdu.

"Sterejki. Greetings to the family, yes. I'm going in first."

The security nodded, then pulled out the phone after Syahdu stepped away. For the first time finally his work was really done on Arga, he said that Syahdu had come back to his apartment.

"Who, Ton?" Ask another security who just came.

"That's.. Sister Syahdu that I told you about." He answered while saving his phone back.

"What has Arga been looking for all this time?" His eyes were round in disbelief after his friend nodded at him. "Ckckk. Pantes yes, I thought to find so rich when women on this earth are many. Apparently clear, Ton." He said while shaking his head with eyes that continued to look at Syahdu's back.

"Heh, you're careful. If Mr. Arga is horrified, it's your mouth that can be torn apart!"

The security contact shut his mouth tight, not wanting to be fired by the guy who had a place in the building.

~

Syahdu stood in front of the apartment door that he used to frequent. Staring at the door handle that color is still the same. Arga used to give this to her. But Syahdu wasn't even interested.

Syahdu scans the fingerprints, tries, whether this place still knows him, or not.

The door opened, apparently Arga really with his words. Instantly Syahdu let out a long sigh as his heartbeat began to tighten again.

The girl brought Popi in, then removed the rope that had been stuck to her neck. The little dog went to a place he liked.

Syahdu looked around. This place bears witness to how he lived the rigors of life.

Syahdu headed for the walk in closet, then opened the closet. He was stunned for a moment after seeing the unchanging contents. The arrangement is still the same. It seems that this place no one occupies anymore after all this time. What so?

Syahdu went into the kitchen, he saw everything was also very similar to his memory last time in the kitchen.

Now Syahdu is approaching the bed. He stood by the side of the bed where he did many things with Arga on it. Syahdu's memory returned when he did that last time with Arga. Where he's the one who lured Arga by kissing her first.

Syahdu closed his eyes tightly. He exhaled slowly as the turmoil of desire reemerged within him. The touch and treatment of Arga is still very attached to his memory.

To be honest, Syahdu actually did not really regret his actions. Perhaps that is what Syahdu did not realize that he had put his heart on Arga.

The place, everything is still the same, making Syahdu's breath feel tight. Arga didn't change anything even the arrangement completely unchanged.

The girl looked at the sound of the door opening. Arga, with a breath of breath, stood staring at him. The man walked quickly, not a word came out of his mouth to greet Syahdu for pleasantries. Arga just hugged the girl. The girl who disappeared for years to leave a wound for him. But the presence of Syahdu is also the medicine. Arga tightened his arms, he promised in him that he would never again let Syahdu escape his arms.

TB