A Step to Meet a Friend

How to Meet a Friend, 9

...How long has it been?...

...We never met....

...But I missed you....

...For an unspoken feeling....

...***...

4 Years later, though,

Clara sits in a cafe drinking her drink. He was waiting for his friends there. He stared out the window that looked very crowded through pedestrians and vehicles on the road. Today is a holiday and heading into the new year. Clara returned to her hometown after a long time.

'Ting'

Clara turned to the entrance and found that her friends had arrived. His friends waved at Clara. Clara got up from her seat to greet her friends.

"I Miss you Ra." exclaimed Rani spread out her arms about to hug Clara.

Clara returned his embrace, "I Miss you friends"

Clara hugged Rani, Sumi , Violetta took turns and sat back down.

"How long ago, we did not meet. I want you all..," said Sumi.

That's right, it's been four years and there's been a lot of change. The memories of that day were still so vivid in Clara's eyes. Her friends are getting prettier and looking much more mature. Violetta is married to James, her boyfriend. Sumi is engaged to another man and breaks up with Dion while graduating high school. Rani is dating her new classmate and is currently discussing marriage. Clara was so happy to meet her friends. So much time has passed with them and now the busyness finally brings them together again.

"Ra, what about you?" Tanya Rani was curious.

Clara shook her head. Clara was still alone and no one had yet touched her heart. Clara herself was also confused by herself.

"You want me to take you to my subscription place. I heard the prophecy there is quite powerful. Yesterday my office mate met his soul mate on Bus 021 according to what Mbah said there." Violetta.

"Eh, seriously Vi. Last week I also fiddled there and followed his advice the Mbah took Bus 021, uh know-know Yohan and he took me to his house to meet their parents. So gini, we'll be married soon." Rani said shyly.

"Well, congratulations Ran..," said Violetta, Sumi, and Clara.

"Em, I'm not sure about that." Clara.

Clara knows, there are already many people around her saying Bus 021 can bring us together with a soul mate. Clara hesitated, it had been a long time since she had boarded that bus. The bus he used to ride on when he left and went home from school. The bus that brought him closer. Clara is reminded of Raga, her first love.

'Maybe he's married.' Inner Clara.

Sumi, Violetta, and Rani noticed Clara's sad face. They used to hear Clara's sad curses before their graduation. Raga refused. That day in the UKS, Clara gave up and said that she liked Raga. Raga says she also likes Clara but they can't even be together. Raga could not establish a long distance relationship so they could not be together. Clara broke up before they even got together. The bus would only be a bad memory for Clara.

"Ra..," call Rani.

Clara lifted her face from the daydream.

"You still like Raga?" Ask Rani.

'Deg's'

Clara's expression instantly turned sad. Clara immediately shook her head.

"Ah, no. Where possible. Have I forgotten how his face looks? Haha..," Clara lied while laughing stiffly.

Sumi, Violetta, and Rani know that Clara is lying. They look at each other.

Sumi immediately got up from her seat, "Ra, now we have to go to the fortune teller Vio said. I don't want to see you continue to be sad."

Sumi pulls Clara's hand to get up from her seat and takes her out of the cafe. Violetta and Rani followed him from behind.

*

Inside the red tent. Clara, Sumi, Violetta, and Rani sat there facing the middle-aged lady dressed in a strange manner while chanting a spell.

The middle-aged woman finished her spell then looked at them.

"Who wants to be tested?" Ask the middle-aged woman.

Sumi, Violetta, and Rani pointed in unison towards Clara.

Clara smiled stiffly.

"He Mbah. My pal. Please meet him with his soul mate..," said Violetta eagerly followed by the nods of Sumi and Rani.

"Ah, you guys." Shy Clara.

The middle-aged woman called Mbah looked at Clara from top to bottom and nodded. He returned to chanting the spell while closing his eyes. Then he shuffled a card and put it on the table. He asked Clara to choose from the four cards. Clara pointed to one of the cards on the table.

To be honest Clara did not care much about this prophecy.

Sumi, Violetta, and Rani waited anxiously as the middle-aged woman opened the card. Everyone was shocked when the picture on the card was a Bus 021 and on the other hand the crowd passed by.

Clara was confused as to what the card meant.

'I got to be suspicious, what do not-don't all his bus cards 021.' Inner Clara.

The middle-aged woman opened her voice, "This and this. Your soul mate is very close. It's so close that you don't realize he's always circling around you like this."

The middle-aged woman pointed at the crowd.

"You're going to meet him in a crowd, so you need to lure him in with something. Call him closer and closer. Not once, this is a few times." The middle-aged woman.

"W-What do you mean by Mbah? Is he around me?" Clara asked nervously.

The middle-aged woman nodded then took out something from her little bag. He gave Clara a keychain.

"Wear it and find your soul mate there." Said the middle-aged woman.

Clara, Sumi, Violetta, and Rani stare at the keychain in Clara's curious hands.

'Is he really around me?' Think Clara.

*

Clara had been traveling around since then with her friends while holding the keychain but nothing happened. Instead, they were chased by dogs because of the key chains.

"Huh, huh, Ra. I'mtired. Tomorrow we continue." Said Sumi who had given up because it was circling continuously in the shopping area.

"Yes Ra. I have to go home too. James is coming home from office soon." Violetta glanced at the watch in her hand.

Right, it's 8 p.m.

His friends must have their own business on the day to this new year. Clara nodded.

"Yes, I have to go home too." Answer Clara.

They eventually split up into their homes.

Clara sat at the bus stop and pulled out her phone to order a grab.

'Bus 021 will take you to your soul mate.'

Clara stalled and cancelled her order given people's remarks about the bus.

'Did I take the bus today? But it must be very crowded because it's the new year?' Think Clara.

Bus 021 stopped in front of Clara. There were some passengers getting off the bus and without a second thought Clara got on the bus despite having to jostle with the others.

"Oh..," ringis Clara softly as a large male passenger pushes her backwards until she ends up bumping into someone.

Clara fell into the man's arms.

"Sorry."

'Deg's'

'This smell. Familiar?' Inner Clara.

Clara lifted her face and the man still faithfully held onto Clara's shoulder to keep from falling.

'Deg's'

'Raga.' Inner Clara.

Although it's been a long time. Clara still remembers that figure. Raga's face did not change in the slightest even though there was currently a hint of fine feathers under her nose and chin.

'Did Raga recognize me?' Inner Clara.

Clara stabilized her standing position and lowered her face not daring to stare at Raga, the figure she desperately longed for.

'It's been a long time. We have never even met each other, but why is this day so sudden.' Inner Clara is sad.

"Are you okay?" Ask Raga softly.

It's been a long time. Raga's style of speech has changed. He became a polite and kind adult. Clara can see the neat clothes Raga is wearing, he has become a successful man.

"D-yes." Nervous Clara while tidying up her bag

'Well!'

Again, the bus braked suddenly and Clara fell into Raga's arms.

'Shit, this is embarrassing. Raga could have been married and I hugged people's husbands. He may marry that girl.' Think Clara.

Clara remembers the girl who used to talk to Raga during the exam. Clara concludes that Raga rejected her probably because she was already a boyfriend and was not feeling well so says another reason.

"Clara..," call Raga because Clara hugged her long enough and it made Raga nervous.

'Deg.'

'Wait, Raga recognized me.' Inner Clara.

Clara reflexively keeps her body away from Raga. A faint red hue appeared on Clara's cheeks.

"I'm sorry Raga!" Clara panicked.

Raga chuckled at Clara's cute expression, "It's okay. Hold on later you fall."

Clara nodded while holding the iron bench backrest. "Thank you."

Clara and Raga face each other. Clara didn't know what to say. He was nervous and really nervous. He wanted to get off the bus immediately and go home to neutralize the heartbeat that did not want to be compromised. Clara was afraid that Raga would hear her heart beating so hard. Clara glanced out and it turned out that her bus had stopped at a stop near her house. Clara hastily got off.

"First up..," said Clara hurriedly and got off the bus.

Clara had no intention of looking back and walking straight past the passersby. The area of his house is now quite crowded and many new buildings are built.

'So..'

Someone had just restrained his arm making Clara's steps come to a halt. Clara.

'Deg.'

'Raga. Why is he following me? Isn't the complex of his house still far away but why did he come down.' Think Clara.

"Hosh, hosh.., finally met." Mumbled Raga tired of taking a breath.

Raga chases Clara and calls her several times, but Clara does not hear her daydreaming.

"W-what?" Confused Clara.

Raga thrusts a keychain towards Clara.

Clara was surprised that the keychain that the fortune teller gave her.

'Find your soul mate with this hanger'

"It's yours, right?" Ask Raga.

Clara accepted it while nodding with teary eyes, "Te-thank you."

'No way. There's no way Raga's my soul mate.' Inner Clara.

Raga was surprised to see tears trickling down Clara's cheeks. Raga panicked as it made a girl cry and everyone who passed by saw her sharp.

"Ra, what's wrong with you? I-I'm sorry.." Panic Raga.

"Huaaa.hiks.." Clara's cry became more and more so every time she heard Raga's words.

Raga is confused as to what to do. Without a second thought Raga pulled Clara's body and hugged her. Raga tries to calm Clara down.

"Why did it just show up now? Hicks." Racau Clara sobbing.

Raga sighed then stroking Clara's back hair calmed her down.

"Sorry." Raga said repeatedly every cry and rumble that came out of Clara's mouth.

"I miss you Raga. Hiks..," racoo Clara.

"me too. I'm sorry." Reply Raga.

Clara did not listen to Raga's words because she was busy taking out all her heart.

"I like you to hiks..," said Clara.

'Deg's'

"I like you too Clara." Reply Raga softly.

'Deg's'

Raga's last words can be heard by Clara.

Clara's cry suddenly came to a halt. She was embarrassed, very embarrassed. He subconsciously got carried away and expressed his feelings to Raga. Then what was that? What Clara didn't mishear that Raga liked her too. Clara immediately pushes Raga's body and intends to escape but Raga holds her back. Raga hugged Clara's body from behind. Raga leaned her head on Clara's right shoulder.

They don't care about the people who pass by to see it.

"Don't run away. You've been luring me into saying it, so take responsibility." Raga said in a raucous voice but sounded soft.

'Deg's'

"Cannot be. I seem to have heard it wrong." Clara Mumbled.

Raga heard Clara's murmur chuckle.

"I like you Clara Sekarida. Will you marry me?" Raga whispered right in her ear.

Clara may not have heard wrong this time. It's palpable. It was even so clear that it made his ears turn red.

'Damn, I'm ashamed.' Inner Clara.

"Answer, will you or not?" Raga sounds very firm.

Clara glanced at Raga's face leaning on her shoulder. He immediately turned back his face unable to stare.

"I-I want to." Clara.

Raga smiled happily as did Clara. The difficult feelings were finally realized. In this new year, they finally let go of their single life through Bus 021. Like I expected. They have to end up happy and I like something with a happy ending.

...-END (CLARA)-...