CHASING ILLUSIONS

MEETING WITH

..."I never thought that this meeting that I considered the beginning of a good friendship ended in a sense of awe that grew into love and then ended in hurt."...

...~Anindya...

***

The air this afternoon was very hot. The sun is shining so hot. Anindya walked alone in the middle of the village. Naturally, at this hour the residents are busy scavenging for sustenance. The girl just got back from school. As usual, he walked alone through the metropolis.

Anindya looked back, she felt that someone was following her. The girl shuddered in horror at the thought of two market thugs she met yesterday following her. Nah! Anindya threw away her negative thoughts. He hastened his steps to get home soon and can rest for a while before leaving for work later in the afternoon.

“Aw!” screeched when someone pulled his hand violently. His breathing faltered, cold sweat radiating from his entire body. His fear became real. Three men of great stature, blocked his way. “So this smelly child of kencur who dared to fight us yesterday?” say one of them.

“His face is decent, his body is too. How about we enjoy together,” he continued while approaching Anindya. The girl's heart was racing. The three big-bodied men got closer and closer to him, cornered him to the wall. The girl covered her face with her hands. Fearful.

Bugh! One punch landed right on the face of the man who had almost harassed Anindya. Bugh! One more punch landed on the face of one of his friends.

“Argh! How dare you bother me!” hit one of them. Anindya peeked behind her fingers. A man of her age, standing right in front of her.

“You should be ashamed! It happens like that to women! You thugs don't have brains!” the man won't lose. One of the thugs raised his hand, about to beat up the man. However, deftly the man dodged, making the thug fall down right in front of Anindya. The girl did not shut up. He picked up a wooden block nearby, swiftly helping the girl face the three thugs until they lost and fled from there.

“Basic wanker!” The man screamed. Anindya exhaled her breath, trying to neutralize her heartbeat. The girl looked at the man next to her. A smile imprinted on her sweet lips, “Thank you,”.

“Yes, equally, what's your name?” ask the man.

“Lia Anindya Wulandari, just call me Anindya,” Anindya replied while confirming her hair.

“Beautiful name. Meet me Bagaskara Adi Wijaya. You can call me Bagaskara. I am an S2 student majoring in Indonesian literature at Bina Bangsa University,” the man introduced himself.

Anindya smiled gently. “Ah Yes. We are a college campus. I'm an S1 student majoring in Indonesian literature.”

“Oh, yes? Ah, I didn't expect a girl of your appearance to enter Bina Bangsa university.”

“What do you mean?” ask Anindya. The girl felt unacceptable with Bagaskara's ambiguous-sounding statement.

“I mean, I can't believe that a girl with a clever appearance like you goes to Unnversitas Bina Bangsa, I'm sure you're getting a lot of offers to be able to join the exchange of students.” Bagaskara explained the meaning of his words. He knew only from the look in his eyes, that this girl before him was a smart girl. Error, not only smart but very smart and smart.

“Oh, so. Yes, you're right, but I can't leave my family. Can continue education at Bina Bangsa University without spending any cost I feel very lucky,” he said. Bagaskara smiled at Anindya. Highlight his eyes stared softly at this girl before him. “You're interesting.” A sentence escaped from Bagaskara's mouth.

“Eh, I mean. Many people pursue the ambition of being able to study abroad. Whether it's pursuing his knowledge or pursuing his status. They even justify all means to achieve it, but you instead refused it and chose to study in Indonesia,” he explained.

“Oh, not like that, Bagaskara. I am not an ambitious human being who has to achieve everything. From childhood I was taught to be a person who always grateful for whatever God gave. Want a little or a lot, want a favor or pain I still have to be grateful and live it sincerely. That's what my mother taught me,” Anindya said with a smile remembering her mother's words.

“Oh, so yes. Uh by the way, I have to go. I have business, next time we talk more.”

“Iya. I also need to get home soon. My mother was alone at home. Once again thank you for helping me,” Anindya said.

“Sama-sama. Nice to meet you.” After saying that, Bagaskara left Anindya who was sculpting alone. A hint of awe appeared in Anindya's little heart. Bagaskara's carrying and the way he spoke fascinated him.

***

This afternoon the sky is cloudy. Thundering sounds heard. The universe is giving a sign that rain is coming down. The breeze blew gently, caressing the trees making her dance. The mottled began to descend, wetting every inch of the earth. Bagaskara stared at the boxy object in front of him, his idea dispersed. Look, he hasn't even typed a single word yet.

“Argh!” Bagaskara incubates frustration. The man ruffled his hair, a thing he often does when an idea stalemate.

Bagaskara exhaled a rough breath, then closed his laptop. The man snatched his wallet and car keys. As always, he will be looking for inspiration. Whether it's to a cafe near his house, or just traveling around the complex to refresh his brain.

“Where are you going?” asked a middle-aged woman, who was none other than Bagaskara's mother. The woman was sitting in the living room while drinking a glass of warm tea.

“You're out, Ma. Find inspiration,” replied the man. Lidya. “Beyond the rain, Honey. Wait until the rain stops while resting your body. Mama knows you're chasing a deadline, but your body needs rest too, son,”.

“I ‘kan ride a car, Ma. So it won't rain as well.”

“Yes, mama knows, but this rain is better for you to rest,” said Lidya, still trying to advise her son.

“This you, yes already but do not go home night-night.”

Bagaskara nodded, “Not coming home tonight anyway, Ma. At best also go home in the morning,” he said. Lidya glared at his eyes. “Haha ..., I'm kidding, Ma. Not until maghrib, kok.”

“Ya already then, be careful.” K

Gaining permission from his mother, the man smiled, “Siap, Commander!” he shouted while putting his hands on his head, like a respectful person.

***

The sky is so dark. Lightning destroys the gray blob. The flecks wet every inch of this metropolis. The aroma of petricor rushes, creating coolness combined with the wind that blows a little hard. A taxi stops right in front of a building that says ‘COFFEE CUP’. Shortly after, a beautiful girl in uniform like a cafe waitress got out of the taxi while covering her head with a leather bag so as not to rain. Then, with half a run, the girl walked into the cafe.

”Anindya, tumben once you have come. Isn't today your night shift?” ask a man who has just served a buyer.

“Yes, it's okay, I just want to spend some time to have a coffee and work on my novel script here. After Maghrib later I will be on guard at the cashier,” replied Anindya.

“Oh so, well then what do you want to order? I'll make it.”

“As usual, a glass of cappucino is enough to accompany me to work on my novel script.”

“Alright, wait at the table usually, I'll make it soon.”

Anindya smiled looking at the man's departure. The girl walked to the number 11 table which had been her favorite spot since when. While waiting for his order, Anindya pulled out her laptop. Her fingers danced skillfully over her keyboard. Yes, this is Anindya's activities in addition to college. The girl worked in a cafe as a cashier and became a writer to supplement her income. Anindya realized, he was no longer the son of a rich man who could get anything by asking his parents. He had to work hard to keep his life. However, Anindya was very grateful because God never let him lack, even in urgent conditions, God always gave him a way to overcome his problems. Perhaps, it is true that people say that being grateful for life is one way to be happy.

“This is your order, Miss Beautiful,” said the man earlier while handing a glass of cappucino to Anindya.

“Ya, thank you, Chan. Don't you want to accompany me here?” ask Anindya. The man known as Chandra shook his head, “Sorry, I have a lot of work, Nin. Next time,” reject it.

“Ya already then just work. I want to continue this script.”

Chandra just nodded then smiled while leaving Anindya who was back cool with her world.

Without them noticing, there was a pair of eyes that were watching them. With a frowning forehead full of question marks. “Isn't that Anindya? The girl I met on the street?” he mumbled asking himself. To make sure that the girl was Anindya, the man steadied his feet to step closer to the girl.

“Excuse me, can I join you?” ask the man, who is none other than Bagaskara. Anindya simply nodded in response. The girl did not even turn her head to simply return the greeting from Bagaskara.

“I did not expect that you also like to write,” Bagaskara said as he pulled out his laptop.

“Writing is my hobby and for me writing is life. Oh yes, I allow you to sit here not to disturb me,” Anindya said without turning to Bagaskara. He did not know that he was talking to Bagaskara.

“I know, Anindya. No one likes to be disturbed when writing let alone Indonesian literary children like us,” said Bagaskara while drinking coffee orders that just came. Hearing that, Anindya immediately raised her head and found that the one who had been talking to her was Bagaskara, the man who had been helping her the other day. The girl hit her head slowly while condemning her stupidity, or it could be her bad habit when dealing with a script.

“I'm sorry. I was not aware that the one who spoke to me was you,”.

“Hahaha yes no problem, but it looks like you have to reduce that habit. I mean, I'm also a character addict like you, but I still respond to the circumstances around me,” he said.

Anindya reviewed her smile, “Iya, you were right. This habit of mine is so stupid that it doesn't respond around me.”

“Not stupid, just not good,” rebut Bagaskara.

“Oh yes by the way why are you dressed this formal in the cafe?” ask Bagaskara. He was amazed by Anindya's formal appearance.

“Various employees like this you say formal! I work here as a cashier. Today I took a night shift, and it's my habit to come here before business hours to write a script and then work.”

Bagaskara smiled at the girl in front of him. A very sweet smile, even if that smile was food, might people get diabetes after eating it. Anindya was stunned by the smile Bagaskara had given her. Secretly the girl acknowledged Bagaskara's charm. Although his face was impressed by ordinary, but his smile was so sweet.

There was no more conversation between them afterwards. No sound from them was heard, other than the sound of their fingers so skillfully dancing on their respective keyboards. Yes, maybe they have both returned to the goal of completing their respective manuscripts.

***

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