Between Love and Corona

Platonic Dating

Hearing Arunika's words about the Star, it seems very interesting to Surya. Is it true that his best friend is the type of guy who will really take care of the girl he loves. Not by word, but by action.

Surya also frowned and tried to remember how the Star wars so far. Indeed, he is indifferent or indeed a star who does not show his attitude when he likes a girl. However, what Arunika said seemed to attract the attention of Surya. Surya and Bintang have been friends for a long time, but their friend seems ordinary. School is just school, college is too. Even when Bintang was dating Arunika, Surya had only seen her a few times.

"Are you sure the Stars will really take care of the girl he likes? Why are you sure?" asked Surya who started drinking his ice banana.

Arunika nodded her head. "Yes, I'm sure. Usually behind the cold attitude of a man, hidden warm attitude that only they will show to a special person." Arunika paused for a moment her words, the girl smiled blandly. "Even while with the Stars, he still behaves normally. Stay cold and untouched."

Surya frowned and he began to digest every word Arunika said. "Untouched?"

"You know Platonic dating?" ask Arunika to Surya.

Surya quickly shook his head. "No."

"A relationship that never involves physical touch is Platonic love. Funny right? Even we just join hands never." Arunika laughs at her relationship with the Bintang who carries the Platonic courtship style.

Surya nodded his head listening to Arunika's story. The other side of a Star that he did not know before, apparently the Star also carries a Platonic courtship style. Really funny. Usually a man will love his girlfriend so much by giving physical touch just a hug or a kiss, but that is not the case for the Stars. Are stars that cold and untouched?

Arunika was also reminded of Surya's girlfriend, because some in the college they had met. Therefore, Arunika intends to ask Surya.

"Are you still with your old boyfriend, Surya? What is his name, Moon? Well, Moon Maheswari who was an exemplary student at the Faculty of Teacher Training at that time" said Arunika while laughing.

Surya nodded his head immediately. "Yes, I'm still with the Moon .. These two months we've been in a long distance relationship."

Arunika seemed to listen to Surya's story, then she smiled. "I hope your relationship with the Moon will work out. The essence of long distance relationships is communication. That's very important. Do not get bored to tell your partner, no matter how small. Pay attention even though we cannot be with him at all times, but the attention from us is not limited to distance and time is not it? Sincerity will be felt even though our partner is far away from us."

The key to long distance relationships is communication. The stronger the communication is built, the stronger our relationship will be. In fact, those who succeed in Long Distance Relationship are those who successfully build communication and foster mutual trust.

"Thank you Nika, I hope my relationship with the Moon will continue. Actually we were getting married two months ago, but all the plans we put together had to fall apart because of this coronavirus. Our family agreed to postpone the wedding until an undetermined time." Surya told Arunika.

"Why should it be cancelled? Why don't you just make an Intimate Wedding that is only attended by close family?" ask Arunika.

Surya breathed a heavy sigh. "Perhaps because of too many thoughts, the concept of Intimate Wedding was unthinkable to me. After all, the government also appealed to citizens not to crowd, to make an event that triggers a crowd of citizens, so the happy day must be delayed."

Given his delayed happy day, Surya immediately remembered the face of the Moon that turned sad. He remembered how devastated the Moon was with a wedding plan in sight that had to fail.

Arunika smiled at Surya. "I'm sure the Moon must have been devastated. For the girls, there is nothing more joyous than to welcome her happy day with the one she loves .. I think, you should be grateful that even if your marriage was annulled, you should be grateful, but the moon is still faithful with you. I hope you two can get through all this together." said Arunika sincerely.

"Thank you, Nika .. I hope you will also find a replacement Star soon. Oh, yes ... We have had a long conversation, where do you work?" ask Surya to Arunika.

"I work as a Civil Servant in the Local Government Office, Surya." replied Arunika.

Arunika nodded her head. "Yes .. in front of Tiger Park."

"Hey, my place of work is also in front of Tiger Park. KPP Makassar City, you know?" sahut Surya's.

"Well, is this a coincidence. The place we work is so close to each other" said Arunika.

"Alright Nika, I'm first huh. Hope to see you again on another occasion."

Surya also chose to retreat first and he immediately returned to his boarding house.

Once he reached the boarding house, Surya again looked at the cellphone and checked the message he had previously sent to the Moon.

Why haven't you read the moon?

What are you doing there?

Feeling the message was unrequited, Surya again sent a message to the Moon.

[To: Month]

[I'm done eating, Moon.]

[Now I'm back at the hostel.]

[What are you doing? Why have you not responded since, my message?]

The message was immediately sent to the moon. Surya's eyes are still staring fixed on his cellphone screen that feels lonely. Since morning, not a single message has been sent to his phone.

...🌸🌸🌸...

Meanwhile in Jogjakarta, Moon still chatted with her parents on the terrace. Talks regarding Corona and the state of the batik kiosk are still a concern for Moon and her family.

The moon thinks that they should rise, try new ventures whenever possible. His brain turned around and thought about what efforts he could manage with the family to stay able to survive in the midst of the economic downturn at that time.

It was as if the Moon's brain remembered the words of the Star a few days ago. "How about we sell cookies, ma'am?" The moon said to his mother.

"Kue? What cake is Nduk?" bu Sundari asked quite astonished by the idea spoken by the Moon.

The moon nodded its head. "Kue Bolu .. mother is good at making cakes, how about we sell it? We start making a little bit with the Open Order system and offer it to the people we are first. If someone orders, then we make cakes based on existing orders only. How's Ma?"