Anthologies
#2 - Literacy
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Rey and Annaya are still texting each other in the group, only Annaya prefers to be a little less clumsy with group member chats. He focuses only on one message from Rey, a mysterious writer whom he admires.
How long ago Annaya saw Rey's story featuring a photo of the picture she sent yesterday with the caption 'Ngopi yuk:)' was not happy Annaya knew it.
With a slight hesitation he sent a reply to Rey.
...Chery:...
...I know the picture …...
...Rey:...
...:p...
Annaya's feelings soar above the clouds when she finds Rey replying to her message, she's like an insane person smiling alone while kissing her phone screen.
Back there was a notification from the group, and Rey said she could not join anymore because she was going to work.
With a thousand steps, Annaya rushed to the set. This time he had to meet Rey.
Again and again the set was crowded with people, who wanted to see their favorite artist and Annaya again failed to meet Rey.
However, Annaya does not give up her back waiting for Rey like yesterday at the cafe and for this time, she ordered a different coffee, Capucino.
While continuing to finish her writing Annaya is still waiting for a reply from Rey, so that the writer willingly spends only ten minutes.
A few hours passed and Annaya again swallowed the bitter pill, she was disappointed because Rey did not reply to the message even though it had been read. He came home with deep disappointment and a broken heart.
Another case with Rey, after she got a break she chose to go back to enjoy a cup of coffee.
The table in the corner under the tree became Rey's choice, which seemed to disturb her eyesight with a piece of paper that read 'Maybe next time :('
Is this Chery who wrote it or just …
Ting.
Notif the incoming message and Rey's prejudices are correct, Chery sends an exact same picture with the location of the glass on the table.
He becomes a little compassionate with Chery, he sends a message to take her out for coffee together at the end of the day tomorrow, and Rey promises to come and not ignore him anymore.
However, it has also begun to break the concentration of Rey's work, because the message he sent never got a reply.
At night, Rey was home. He instantly charged his remaining phone five percent more.
Rey is so curious about Chery, she still waits for Chery's whatsapp status to pass her porch, but nil.
As the days change, Rey is still waiting for a reply from Chery. However, there is no news back.
Until one time when Rey was writing the script, she got a message from Chery. The author again sent a picture message with the caption Black Coffe.
Rey would not waste this opportunity, she with lightning-fast steps ran towards the cafe Chery used to visit.
His mind is struggling with various questions about who Chery is? Is she a woman or a man? How does it look, how does it look? And in that moment, Rey arrived at the cafe.
His foot swing halted at the doorway, his gaze staring into every corner and searching for a figure named Chery.
But he found no one. Each table is empty and there is no owner there. Is Rey late? Nah! He's not late, the time it takes to get here is only ten minutes.
But where is Chery?
"Bism."
Such a beautiful, melodious and gentle voice greeted Rey's sense of hearing. He turned around, turning his body backwards. It was as if what Rey wanted to say was all stuck in her throat when she saw the woman with Indo's face smiling sweetly towards her.
"Chery?" ask Rey.
Annaya nodded, she pulled the corner of her lips and then said, "Annaya."
They reached out to each other, only then Rey invited Annaya to enjoy a cup of black coffee together.
Annaya told me everything about her interest in a piece of writing, and it was because of the man before her.
Every work that Rey wrote was able to shake her heart.
The guitar quote from Rey seemed to complement this brief encounter, the black eyes gently staring at Annaya as she finished this conversation.
"Thank you for ten minutes, Bang," Annaya said very lightly even though every nerve in her body had stiffened.
"Yes, next time we can have coffee together again."
"If there's another time." Annaya left without turning back to look at Rey, who was smiling meaningfully at her.
"Annaya," Rey muttered as the woman had already passed on her motorcycle.
Since that brief last meeting, there have been no more incoming messages from Annaya. The woman seemed lost in the swallow of the earth, and Rey was so troubled to think about it.
Until a shocking news obtained from his chat group, Chery has returned to his lap. Like a bolt of lightning when the scorching heat of the sun burns the skin, Rey is unable to say. His feet seemed to have no bones to support him, he just fell on the floor of the mosque.
Rey had just finished her obligations when she got the news, typing her clever fingers. Rey scrapes information about Annaya, and luckily for her, one of the group members is still a close neighbor to the girl and sends her an address.
Rey drove the speed of his bike above average, no matter the other riders he crosses. Only one goal, which is to quickly reach Annaya's house.
Yellow flags still fluttering in the courtyard of the house, sobs of the families still heard touching the niches of the heart. Rey hesitated, venturing to the door of Annaya's house.
"Assalamualaik."
"Waalaikumsalam" answered a woman with an enlarged stomach, because she was pregnant.
"This is Annaya's house?" rey asked hesitantly, his gaze staring at every corner of the living room, and there by the TV shelf. His printed book line is neatly arranged.
"You, Rey?" the woman asked with her gentle tone.
"Yes." Yeah."
"Wait here!" her word. The woman walked into a room, maybe. Not long after, he came out with a box.
The woman said to Rey, handing over the box, "this is Annaya's last message, and I didn't open it. But I know you're Rey, because Annaya imprinted your picture on her phone."
After Rey gets the box she rushes out of Annaya's house, after saying goodbye first.
Arriving home, Rey hesitated to open the box and it could be seen from the trembling movement of her hands, touching the lid of the gift.
A small letter written on the blue paper and the flash, Rey met. His hands stretched out to pick up the graffiti, although a little nervous, he chose to ignore it.
Brother, thank you for the ten minutes you took. Chery is very lucky to meet Brother and photos with Brother, Chery is happy because Chery's wait at the last moment is not in vain.
Brother, this is a synopsis of Chery's story that I can not continue, Brother please yes in continued.
This story is not as good as having a brother, but Chery is sure. In the hands of brother this story can be a best seller, ah another one for his character love our name, huh?
Annaya and Rey with 'Black Coffe'.
The spirit to always work, even though Annaya will not be able to read the story of Abang again.
A crystal circle fell on Rey's cheek as she read and folded the letter back. Who would have thought there was someone who cared so much about him.
Rey is very grateful and will always pray for Annaya to have the best place by her side, and she will also realize Annaya's last dream. That's his promise.
___ The end ___
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