BEREAVEMENTS

Episode 14; Still Calm Before the Storm (2)

Renov plays his phone while waiting for Lena in his car. When he stopped by Pak Wahyu's house, Renov decided to sleep in his car while waiting for Lena to finish school. He saw Lena running slowly towards him and opened the car door.

“Why run?” ask Renov later.

“My days will be noisier because Mas did today”, again Lena complained.

“Why?”

“While why? Obviously because Mas suddenly came to Renatta's class, ate together in the cafeteria, and plus this?” Lena shook her head while tightening her seatbelt.

“You don't like it?” ask Renov to make sure.

“What should?” Lena answered him without looking at Renov. He rested his forehead on the glass while in the car. Renov could clearly see Lena's face reflected off the glass. Lena looked so tired and tried to hide her sadness, the girl's eyes couldn't lie.

“Hey...” Renov's left hand rubbed Lena's hair, made her turn her head, “it looks like I'm alone here, already back?” lamented Renov.

“Sorry Mas, Renatta.

“Not a problem..today you are free to do whatever you want Re..” Renov refocused on his wheel.

“Where are we going?” ask Lena at last.

“Date?” Lena blinked her eyes over and over again, not believing Renov's answer.

“Come Mas! Renatta was serious.”Renov laughed as Lena hit him on the shoulder.

“Hey I'm driving again, danger!” renov.

Lena decided to be quiet and not ask too many questions, occasionally he asked and chatted with Renov the rest he again daydreamed throughout the trip.

“Uahhhh...coast!” lena shouted cheerfully as the scenery beside her changed, revealing a coastline that extended from east to west. Lena hurriedly opened the car window and enjoyed the air blowing into her face.

“Do not take out your hands or head!” remember Renov.

“Iya, don't bring. Renatta is not a kid!” sahut Lena did not lose anyway.

“But you're acting like a kid!”

Renov stopped his car and before he could say anything, Lena opened the car door and ran out. He shook his head slowly, resigned when Lena had taken off her shoes and left her bare feet in the waves of the ocean.

“Renatta!”Renov panicked as Lena walked deeper into the sea. The water had soaked her skirt to the waist, but suddenly the girl turned around smiling and let the waves crashing back on her back. Lena waved her hand cheerfully, making Renov stop running. Renov fell on the sand with a pias face, thinking that Lena would also do something stupid like her father.

“Come, Mas!” without Renov realizing it, Lena has returned to the beach and her hand is now tugging at Renov with excitement. He did not even care about his body being soaked in sea water. Renov finally gave up and stood up, he folded his trousers to his knees and followed Lena who pulled him.

“Mas does not join yah, the danger if the car keys to disappear carried away by the waves.” Renov reminded Lena who was reciprocated with a quick nod Lena. He then ran back to and fro, letting the waves hit his skinny body over and over again. Renov does not fully play water, he is busy perpetuating Lena's cheer today on his phone. Take pictures, make videos and even take pictures together.

Renov pulled Lena to the beach as the sky began to darken, twilight began to overshadow the sky of Jakarta. Sea water reflects the same color as the orange sky is so beautiful. The two of them sat on the sand while waiting for the sky to completely turn dark. Enjoying the atmosphere in silence, their minds wandered far away somewhere.

“Come, it is finished silencing its creation..” Renov stood up and stretched out his hand. He pulled Lena to his feet and took her to one of the stalls near where she drove her car, “cold right? Buy a change of clothes first gih.” Lena nodded and went to one of the clothes seller stalls. Renov decided to wait at the food stall while ordering food.

Lena ran over to Renov, who was enjoying his coffee. He has changed with a fairly loose shirt and jeans that look comfortable on his feet. After putting her wet uniform in the car, Lena catches up with Renov sitting at the stall.

“Hot chocolate?” Renov asked as he thrust the glass in front of him towards Lena. Lena grabbed the glass and held it tightly, “you are not allergic to seafood right?”

Lena shook her head slowly, she was enjoying her chocolate. Renov suddenly stood up and walked towards his car, he opened the back door of the car and took his jacket. While walking back to the stall Renov kissed his jacket first, making Lena laugh.

“Why Mas? Long time no washing, huh?” ask Lena to clarify.

“Know it, no smell really, nih!”Renov gives Lena his jacket. Lena kisses the jacket and laughs, laughing at Renov's unwarranted concern. Lena knew the jacket had not been washed for long because the smell of detergent and Renov's perfume was still mixed in it. Lena immediately wore it because honestly she felt cold plus her hair was also wet after shampooing.

“Where have you been?” ask Lena.

“Go home, where are you going again? We get home at 10 pm if not jammed Renatta, this weekend”, replied Renov while enjoying fried rice order.

“Hmmm”, Lena answered reluctantly. He also scoops his nasi. Lena doesn't want to end this day quickly. Playing like this made him forget all his problems. Lena looked down while eating her dinner.

“Tomorrow if you are not busy, we play again, do not be sad like that.” muttered Renov slowly realized the change in mood Lena.

“What a look?”Lena smiled as Renov realized his disappointment.

“Banget..”.

“Thank you Mas, this is the first time Renatta to the beach..” Renov was surprised to hear Lena's revelation. Firwst time?

“Other times we go to sea world..” entertain Renov who saw the suddenly dim look on Lena's face, “yuk, we go home.” Renov stand up, again the man ahead of Lena paid for their dinner today for the second time.

“Why didn't Renatta pay?” lena protested as she sat back at the wheel.

“Today I invite you to date, tomorrow if you invite you to pay. Wear your seat belt..” reply Renov while turning on his car engine.

“Tersubmissive..” Lena observed Renov from the side, “Mas has decided not to I-elo again same Renatta?” Renov nodded as he continued to focus on his steering wheel.

“Why?”

“Cuz, its you..” Renov was earnest when he said it.

Lena did not respond and fell asleep. He was exhausted after running around on the sand and struggling with the waves. Renov only glanced at her occasionally without intending to wake her up. He was happy because Lena looked so good sleeping in her car.

“Renatta..” whispered Renov slowly, but the girl did not open her eyes. They had reached home 30 minutes ago, but Renov was reluctant to wake Lena who was still asleep in her chair.

“Renatta..” call him again, this time Lena opened her eyes and yawned like a child. He was confused before realizing that they were in front of his house.

“Already arrived it turns out... uh who is Mas?” Lena squinted her eyes, trying to see two foreign figures in front of her house. Renov turned his head and saw two men peering behind the shoulder-height fence guarding Lena's house. They do not realize that the owner of the house is observing them from the outside. Renov's car has been parked there long enough so that the two people are certainly not aware of the existence of the two of them.

“Wait here a minute..”

“Mas where to go?”Lena pulls Renov's shirt, stops him.

“That's it, what else? Werenov opened his car door, making the two men surprised and turned their heads.

“Goodnight, how can I help?” renov asked without intending to corner the two of them.

“Ehm, who are you?” ask one of them.

“It is precisely I who should ask, is it not good to peek into the houses of others secretly like that?” Renov stared intently at the two men.

“We are looking for Renatta Alena residence, we want to do an interview related to the novel.” they have not had time to explain, Renov has cut their words.

“Please contact the publisher's office, make an appointment on weekdays, it's weekend and time for a break. Renatta also does not serve work at home affairs.” replied Renov firmly.

“Did Renatta's father Alena die by suicide?” Renov. He looked at the two men sharply. Does Lena have to face people like her every day? Isn't this too much? How could the girl forget the incident if everyone kept reminding her?

“I think it has nothing to do with his work as a writer, please leave this house right now, it's curfew, thank you!” Renov ended his conversation firmly and opened the gate before returning to his car.

“Hidden!” renov's orders suddenly. After saying this, Renov was surprised when Lena removed her seatbelt and sat under the dashboard of her car. He giggled amusedly.

“Ngak should be like that also times Re.. by the way you are small too yes to fit there?”Lena glared at Renov.

“Renov put his car into the yard, asked for the key to the main door and again told Lena to stay quiet there. The two people were still observing Renov, he deliberately drove his car right in front of the entrance so that no one saw Lena go inside.

“Journalist yes?” asked Lena directly when she was inside the house. Renov nodded, then circulated his gaze throughout the room.

“We go to the kitchen only, while Renatta make coffee or tea”, invite Lena. Renov followed Lena and sat down on one of the kitchen chairs.

“Do you often get such guests?” tanyaRenov while observing Lena who was busy preparing coffee for him.

“Not often, Mom. It was only three days after my father's death. Lena is rarely home. So...” Lena hung up her sentence, she then sat down in front of Renov, “don't worry, here's the coffee..” Renov grabbed the cup Lena gave him. He returned his eyes to the whole room.

“You are not lonely living in this house, alone?” renov's question only answered a faint smile from Lena. For him there is nothing to explain anymore. The house feels increasingly stifling no matter how large and spacious it is. They sit back in silence.

“You sure it's okay to be alone?” Renov looked at Lena doubtfully, “you can stay at my house..”.

“Ngak Mas, I'm not papa.”.

“That's impossible right?” Renov held Lena's shoulder.

“Go home..”.

“So if so.. feel free to contact me Re...” Lena then enters and closes the door after convincing Renov. Renov sat in his car for a long time. He could have sown Lena at this time. But he remembered his mother's message.

“You can invite him to stay at our house. But you can't live in that house with Lena alone. You are not a couple.”.

Renov has so much respect for his mother that he can only remain silent outside Lena's house until his own heart is calm leaving Lena alone. Renov left Lena's residence two hours later.

***