Aira And Aria
15. Greetings
“New students quickly collect in the hall!” A senior in his alma mater suit was shouting through the hardener
the sound. He was a little overwhelmed gathering the freshmen who seemed very enthusiastic about entering his campus. To the extent that many are difficult to manage because they are too cool to pay attention to their new environment. So did I.
“You, hey, you! Here!” I don't know why today I was so unlucky to have to deal with that fierce senior.
“Iya, Brother?”
“You were not horrified from earlier I told you to go to the hall?”
“I heard, Brother. But I am confused where it goes.”
“Leave a look, that's a lot of people right there? It still has to be taught. It's ready to be
student yet?”
“Iya, ready, Brother.”
“Less hard! The firm one if answer!”
“Iya, ready, Brother!”
“What's your name? Which department?”
“Aria Son of Space, astronomy major.”
“Don't till your name I wrote twice huh!”
“Siap, Brother!” I immediately ran away as fast as he followed the group of people who seemed to be new students. Not out of fear of being left behind, just wanting to quickly avoid the fierce senior brother who just said hello.
I feel very excited, because today is the first day I became a new student at a famous university in Bandung. I think I just had a dream, because not long after graduating from school in Japan, I got a letter of acceptance from my target campus. So happy, to the point that the mother deliberately made yellow rice only to be distributed to neighbors. While I myself cannot stop being grateful for being able to take a few steps forward to my dream.
Inside an enormous hall, all the new children gathered. I was a bit confused because the bench in the front row was all filled. So, I just chose the bench in the middle. At least I can see the stage clearly from here.
Soon I took my seat before someone else. And continue to look at the booklet that was distributed at the gate earlier while waiting for the opening event to begin.
‘Dug.’
I gasped a little when someone who had just passed by, nudged my head. “Aduh, sorry,” said.
Haven't seen who it was yet, I found out there was something that people just dropped right in front of me. A paper that is folded up to small. My hand spontaneously took the thing back. I don't know why I feel so familiar with it. Although it was a bit impolite, I finally spread the folded paper and found a picture I recognized.
‘Ticket return-to-earth plane-month’
Seeing that made me immediately turn to the woman who turned out to be staring at me while smiling. The long hair and the smile I still knew was right. No one has a face like that other than someone who is always on my mind.
“Sorry, Brother. Out of a thousand times, my sorry chance is still a lot left, right?” ask the woman.
It seemed like he had indeed intentionally nudged and dropped this paper to steal my attention. And he really did.
“Aira?!” I don't believe it. Even he still wears my gift clasp which now seems too childish.
“Hah? From when?”
“From before older brother scolded senior in front of the building.”
“Aduh!” I patted the forehead. Didn't expect to have to experience an embarrassing event on the first day. And worse, Aira witnessed all that.
Aira sat beside me. I don't know why I feel like he's changed so much since we met a few years ago. He looks more confident and more charming. The only thing that never changes is how I feel about her all this time.
“Gosh, so this is why you don't want to tell me where I'm going to college?” I never expected to meet Aira in this place. All this time we were still exchanging stories, but it became less and less frequent because we were both focusing on getting into university. When I got the news of the reception, of course I immediately told Aira. But not so with him. He kept it a secret, and said he would tell you in person when he met.
“And I said I'd tell you if we met. But now there is no need, right?”
I laughed a little. “What faculty are you in?”
“Take a guess!”
“Hmm... Arabic?”
“Not, lah!” Aira patted my arm while laughing. “I'm a FSRD student now, Brother!”
“Waw, cool! Finally yes, you can get into the majors you want.”
“Iya dong, I told Kak Aria. If I would really pursue my dreams. Although there is no Aria even once.”
I smiled at the expression on his face that was still the same as before. “This is what the hell, this pinch is still being made!” I tried to remove the flops from Aira's hair, but she immediately brushed off my hand.
“Do not! It's talisman!”
“Hah? What talisman?” I couldn't help but laugh when I heard Aira's spontaneous answer.
“That sentence keeps me excited,” he explained.
“By the way, we're on the move now. Call it don't have to use ‘Kakak’.”
“Eh? It can't be like that. I'm a habit.”
“Yes already, do not have to talk to me again yes,” reply me while returning the view to the front.
I can hear Aira snorting. He must be pouting as usual right now. I try not to laugh because I imagine it. “OK, okay!” said it. “I won't call my sister from now on. Aria, Son, Space.”
Hearing my name called made me unable to help laughing. Feelings of pleasure and shame mixed in the chest. “Tuh, even ngetawain!” protests directly.
“Iya, sorry, sorry.” I took a breath and stopped laughing. I looked back at the woman beside me. Looking at her blushing face, like a beautiful afternoon sky. “It's great to see you again. Aira, Nandy, Pramoedya.”
Like a bird flying in the sky. As of today, my story and Aira's been back preparing to start airing. Spreading wings together, supporting and encouraging each other, together exploring the boundless sky.
Protect each other when cloudy, and side by side in bright times. Stringing up a beautiful story before the skyline stopped us both.
