A Memorandum

Storia 2: Fire Fountain New Year's Eve

One interesting thing in Welmina, maybe the atmosphere of her new year. Although it also cannot be said to be very interesting, but it is good enough because there is no more entertainment that can be felt there. Sure enough, I did not miss my entire holiday at that place during those times, but we did deliberately spend some time celebrating there. My place of work is actually an area called Dulin. The two places were still one territory with Welmina. Which became a sub-district. And the distance of the two was not even more than ten kilometers. But I also need to remind you, if almost the entire transportation in this place can only be done through water. So things like that are what make the trip can not be completed in a day overnight.

Time has just entered early January 2013. Where the rainy season should have started. But what was different then was that the summer was longer than usual. The rivers still look dry. Children can also cross it on foot. Actually, it has been raining since a month ago. But because of the heat that is still felt until the change of season, parts of the river are still many that have not filled with water. That seems to be the hottest peak in the past five years.

In Welmina itself, this beautiful place is located between the confluence of two rivers. One is the Welna River, and the other is the Mara River. Where the smaller Welna river empties directly into the larger Mara river. And the location of Dulin itself is on one of the banks of the Welna river. Along the river, there are at least a dozen more small villages standing there. Which looks just as pathetic. But I would be very lying if I said the scenery there is nothing interesting. Like the area around the mouth for example. Although the geographical beauty can only be enjoyed if the atmosphere is really right.

So we plan to create a small event at that place. The show will be held at night. Before filling the rest of the night with dinner in the open. Looks like it's gonna be an interesting show. I don't know if Otto's going to come or not. But if you look at his habits, he was never involved for events like this. So the question now is of course about Sarah.

So we plan to create a small event at that place. The show will be held at night. Before filling the rest of the night with dinner in the open. Looks like it's gonna be an interesting show. I don't know if Otto's going to come or not. But if you look at his habits, he was never involved for events like this. So the question now is of course about Sarah.

All my friends immediately moved away. And leave that duty to me alone. All of a sudden it looks stupid just because it can't start a fire. I've been trying so hard, really. The only effort I can make. I drove out the cold air so as not to disturb it, making the dried leaves as the fuel, but whatever I did seemed to only make it burn for a while. Plus my friends who don't even seem to care. They even coolly talk to the girls, joking with laughter, as if forgetting their purpose here. But what surprised me was Sarah who was suddenly standing behind me. I never even knew if he came here.

"Difficulty?" Suddenly asked. I didn't even know how to behave in the first second of his arrival. Before he sat near me.

To be honest, I was also quite happy with his arrival. Although I didn't expect it to come at a time like this. But because he is already near me, I can't just ignore him right? I then wiped my sweat. And for some reason when we started sitting there for a while, time suddenly went like slow.

He rearranged the dry wood, put the broken branches together, then carefully burned them. It would even take several attempts for it to really succeed. In the end, the fire burned. He then put the unburned wood into the fireplace. And keep it on fire stable. While I sat quietly watching. Dilute our ways which may be different.

"You're so quiet?" Ask suddenly again. It immediately made my attention turn towards him.

"Uh.., no."

"You know, said the old man first, if you can not start your own fire, it means he is not worthy of a family" he said again. And he smiled at himself.

"Oh..., I don't know that?"

"Yes, the people here believe so."

This time he looked at me. Before I could understand his words. "And you, yourself, how old are you now? Twenty-five, right...? You're not married yet?" Then reply. And obviously, I didn't mean to corner him at all.

But hearing my answer, Sarah was a little surprised. He said, "I don't know if you know my age? I thought you were always being cynical all this time?" Then reply. And I could see his smile later. Makes me know if I've spoken the wrong words.

"No.., I guess everyone can figure it out easily, right? Anybody can see your identity on the office wall." My solute. Forced to find another diversion. And try to say it as casually as possible. But Sarah just laughed at him. Luckily, he didn't respond to me after that. Until the conversation ended unconsciously.

The moon just peeked out from behind the forest. Its silver light slowly changed the light of nature. But the night has just begun here. Where the atmosphere will be more pleasant. A little away from the campfire, we started arranging a place for our dinner. A thick carpet slapped over the surface of the rocky sand. While around us, the air began to be filled with various scents. Which sometimes tastes fragrant, sometimes comes back fresh, or even delicious again.

By the way, the dish really tasted delicious. We grilled goldfish there, some meat, before enjoying it as dinner. The fire was still burning right in front of us. This time we sat around him. In the position of men and women who are next to each other. Erik was next to Melia, Eddie was next to Susie, and I was next to Sarah. Even the night wind was not too strong anymore this time. There is only warmth now. And it's true that if we don't do the wrong things when they happen, they're not even planned. But when Sarah who suddenly poured me a glass of drink, inevitably I saw it as a dangerous gesture again.

I saw my friends start to look at me, and immediately knew if they were fussing about it inside their heads. The old prickly taste makes it so predictable. I don't even know if Otto's influence is this. I don't want to fill her conversation with other things. Like a little mention about the holidays, weekend routines, or talking about the same plan in the following year. Luckily, all my friends responded. Even though I didn't know they were doing it to pretend or what.

We just finished dinner right before nine. But no one wants to go home soon. No matter if the night gets late. The women began to wash all their furniture on the riverbank. While we were the men lifting all the equipment onto the boat. But it just seems like I don't choose to hang out with my friends anymore. When they re-form their own crowd.

Around me, the world was getting more and more slumbering, and the moon looked bigger than it had been a few hours before. The river is getting silvery. At the same time, the sky shadow slowly walked on the water. And I could see the fog slowly descending from above the sky. The moonlight that passed through it made it look like a path of light pierced through space. Only the sounds of nature are heard here. Even the night animals started to sound lonely. All of a sudden it was calming, quiet, and of course a little cold.

But I really didn't want to be bothered anymore. I guess everyone can understand it easily. As I stared at the small river before me, my meeting with Sarah continued. Of course I didn't want to be seen spending my time with him again then. But because he came to me first, I think it is too impossible for me to then throw him out, right?

"Need friends?" Ask in front of me. While I glanced at him without answering. I guess that could give him a little answer. "Why not join the others?" He said softly again. I don't want to have to respond to it.

Then I muttered. "Either... I guess I just want to be alone."

"Oh..., then am I bothering you?"

I'm shaking. "I didn't say that. I mean, you know what, they didn't invite me? So I chose to come here." With a little hiding my feelings.

I watched her look at my answer for a moment, before at a glance looking at her smile. And for some reason, it subconsciously made me smile anyway.

"Then we're as lucky as we are now" he said again.

She tidied up her skirt for a while, before sitting to my right, even when I didn't allow it. In my heart I began to wonder how my friends would behave.

"So.. What are you doing here?" Ask again.

"Nothing, just sit still ..."

"Oh, so you want to just sit around without talking?"

I knew he wasn't serious because I saw his smile. That's why I responded in the same tone. "Yes, I think." I said without seriously saying. But hearing my answer, Sarah also said nothing. And we actually sat quietly in silence for some time.

I look at him occasionally. Watching the night wind that hit his face. But it feels really strange here, when it comes to dealing with it like this, which instantly makes me a little bit nervous. Sit just the two of you, away from the crowd. Unlike my friends, when they can easily build up a conversation, I don't think I can find that kind of character in myself. In the end, the silence continued. That silliness is unbearable.

"Umm..., you're not crazy, are you? Are you going to keep quiet all night" This time I'm the one talking.

He glanced at me, but I saw his smile again for the umpteenth time. "Yes..., but do you yourself want to keep quiet like this?"

"But not this quiet either..." I blinked my eyes at him.

And he finally muttered. "So ... What should I ask you?"

The question confused me a little.

It took a little more time for him to answer. This time it felt a little longer. "Come on. Why don't you ask first?" Then reply again.

But this is where something just escaped my attention. And for the first time, I started to feel something strange when we could sit there together. Most of us are busy with our own thoughts. In fact, I still don't know what brought him here. For a moment, I thought back to my friends. Imagine what bad things might irritate the contents of their heads. But when my gaze returned to them, they didn't seem to care either.

So now it's my choice to ask. "So, why did you suddenly come here Sarah? I mean, you used to work in the city, right?" Finally said.

Actually, I've heard it too. But I guess only this time I need the answer straight away. Moreover, the incident was indeed a pretty astonishing fact. But instead of answering directly, Sarah was silent for a moment. And I knew right away that something was weighing on his mind. Even though I don't know what it is. "I'm here because of my family Ryan!" Then it's smooth.

"What do you mean your family?"

"Yes, because this is where I come from, right, my family's place. I guess I can't just leave her."

"You mean, you want to be near your family?" I said and he nodded. "But when you work, doesn't mean you forget them, right? You can still comfort yourself occasionally. Take leave maybe. I think it's much better. Your family's gonna be fine anyway, even if you're nowhere near them." My tone clearly shows my rejection. Something that is definitely not hard for me to reveal.

"But if I'd rather be here how?" Her mouth, and she suddenly laughed. "Do you feel unhappy being here?" Before I ask again.

"I don't think everyone likes it."

"Not for me,"

This is what I knew from Sarah. And though I'll never understand his feelings, I can see our principles are completely different. Which to someone like me, of course, sounds ridiculous. But I knew he didn't want to talk about it anymore either. So I guess that's why he switched the subject.

"If you were alone..., if you were free to choose, where would you choose to live?" He suddenly asked me that.

"Um. Whatever is in the form of a big city. As long as I have a steady job, a place to stay ...,"

"I didn't ask you to describe it." Cut immediately. "I just want you to say the name of the place," he didn't even say it.

"Either... Bandung may."

"Because from there you're from?"

"Because that's where I'm from."

There was a pause before we spoke again.

Then he muttered. "How about you tell me about where you live...!" Now, I actually heard the interest from his tone. And get ready to listen.

"Um..., so what do you want to know?"

"Anything is interesting. Maybe a vacation?"

I'm starting to think about it. But my answer is not really much either. It was hard enough to disappoint him. It's nothing at all, which I think is more towards myself. Because you know for yourself, I think it would be too stupid if I was impressed not to know my own place.

And I made up my answer. "Depends on what kind of vacation you want. I mean, most of it is more out of town. But it is still quite close because it is still in the West Java region... You can go to the top if you want, enjoy the natural atmosphere, or go to the White Crater maybe, there is even a view of the waterfall. And if you're looking for a slightly different experience, we can take a look at the Stars at Bosscha Observatory if you want." My heart, hoping my answer is correct. But if my answer was wrong, I don't think he would know.

"Oh..," his tone does not indicate if he is really interested. "If in Bandung itself?" Then ask again.

"Ehm. I think just to the mall maybe, the city park. Oh yeah, Sate House if you've heard of it..." Quickly, when I just remembered it.

"Sate Hall...?"

Now, I'm starting to act like a history teacher.

"That's because you rarely read books!" Saying soon. "Actually it is one of the historical buildings there. Which is now an icon of the city of Bandung itself. What is really interesting is the garden. People used to take pictures at that place. Like pre-wedding photos, or just plain photographs."

"Oh, I'm a little surprised by his name."

"Yes, if you've seen it, you'll immediately understand why it's called Gedung Sate." This time he looked at me seriously. But he didn't answer me immediately. I know maybe it'll be a little disappointing for him. But I can't hold myself back anymore.

"I think you need to get out for a second, Sarah." Then addku. "I mean, get out of this life. Understand the outside world and broaden your horizons. This place, I think only for people who are tired of everything. Those who want to escape from the outside world. You won't get anything from a place that's less than five square kilometers. Here will only narrow your wiggle room, and keep you lagging behind. Umm. I'm not saying staying here will always look bad. But it doesn't matter if it's only out for once."

I knew Sarah was thinking about my words from her silence. I can even guess what the response will be like. But the answer was a little beyond my expectations.

"Yes, I guess I could do it if that time really existed! That too if you want to accompany me?" Then he said again.

I knew he was only joking because he was laughing. That's why I later agreed. Before our eyes made contact with each other. This time a little longer.

"Yes, of course," this time I said.

And we smile again for the umpteenth time.