Cocooned

SECRET DATING

We drove in silence for forty long minutes. I didn't plan it, knowing we were already in front of a crowded building with a queue of people at the entrance counter.

"When are we going to the Transport Museum, Ter?"

"Honestly, I don't know either. I just followed the road markings and suddenly got here. You don't like it? If you don't like-."

"It's not. The admission ticket is quite expensive," Val said.

"I treat. Consider it a date." That's the stupidest line someone ever said to their best friend, but why does it feel right?

I smiled obliquely seeing Val enthusiastically observing the various forms of transportation that had existed in Indonesia. Several times he asked me to take pictures of him, but more I forced him to take pictures. Since he didn't want to be photographed alone, we resorted to wefie on several occasions.

It felt like there was a shocking electric spark when my hand accidentally came into contact with it. And it seems like it's not only happening to me, but Valerie is feeling it too. We looked at each other when that happened. I don't deny that this is indeed strange, maybe it's heavy rain outside that makes the atmosphere awkward. In the end, I couldn't take it anymore, I asked him to hold her hand. Val and I are old friends, right?

Although surprised, but once his hand was in his grasp and his beautiful eyes looked at me, another feeling arose. Could the human heart grow wings? Because it felt like my heart was turning into a butterfly that flew around in circles in its white shell.

"Remember, it's a date. Don't tell your candidate yes, I don't want to die horribly," I said trying to be funny and succeed. Val laughs. This strange sense of pleasure made me grit my teeth because until I drove him home that afternoon, the grin on my lips never disappeared.

Yeah, it must be bad weather.

At home, I just realized my insolvency. So much we talked about, but I forgot my purpose for interrogating him. I'm turning my brain around to see him again. Tomorrow maybe I can go to the hospital where he works. Jaya might be surprised, but hey, there's nothing between me and Val.

Climbing to the side in bed, my fingers began to browse through the photo gallery in the mobile phone. I grew up and watched Val's smiling face beside me as we were wefie. Valerie is not as pretty as Linda in the photo, but—.

The door of the room that slammed violently blew my mind and made me sit down for a moment. "Terry, I want to talk!"

Oh, shit, what the hell does big brother want these nights. He lives next door, should an urgent emergency be postponed until tomorrow. "Oh, brother, you want to get me into the IGD at midnight?"

"Let me remember, Ter, you know I'm an acute forgetful? Not forgetting the exact one, but the busyness makes me forget."

He's still tickling too. I have advised my brother to go to the doctor and check if there is a problem in his brain, mumpung cheap by using BPJS. But my brother never wanted to.

"Sir, please, your house is just a step here, don't be more."

"Well, just listen, I want to introduce you to someone."

Curiously, I held my body closer to the brother sitting at the end of the bed. "Who?"

"Well that's it, I forgot." Big brother took a heavy breath, his forehead wrinkled seriously. "Later if I remember, I'll be here again."

I patted my forehead, then showed my disgust for feeling played by my sister these nights. "Or can you WA, why have a cell phone?"

"Don't waste unnecessary quota, I need it to watch drakor tau."

I was grieving when the door closed. I guess by the time you remember to tell me, she forgot the face of the girl you were about to introduce.

*****

The next morning, after a bargain, Val finally let me pick him up from the hospital where he worked, with a note that he would pay for dinner.

"Where have you decided?"

"Seriously? That's not too cheap for your Jakartu tongue?"

I grinned in response to Val's joke. "Oh yeah, you want to take Jaya too?"

"No, don't take her!" Val's half-hysterical reply surprised me. He covered his face and shook his head. Before I could ask her why, Valerie quickly pulled me away, leaving behind a frenzy of patients and hospital employees still on the move.

He refused to use the car, as the distance between the restaurant and the hospital was only ten minutes on foot. Instantly I felt silly equating Valerie and Linda.

"Why else with Jay?"

"He forced me, again, to go with him to Linda's wedding."

"The guy's still stubborn." I snorted annoyed. "Have you told him to sign your candidate?"

"Not yet."Val's answer surprised me. I haven't asked, it's raining hard. "Hurry now!" he exclaimed while pulling me, we both ran to the destination before getting soaked.

A little late maybe we'll have dinner very late, because the place is really crowded. The spicy sambal made my nose runny. Several times Val pushed out a tissue, even with a smile, I was sure my looks were very messed up right now.

"Can you look the other way right now?" ask me while looking down. Even without looking at it, I could feel Val's gaze.

Val laughs. Oh, I'd love to see his face, but I'm sure he'll be quiet. He might even immediately run away, as soon as he saw my muddled face with snot still hanging. Shit, I didn't expect it, get this bike.

"At least, something hasn't changed from you."

I pulled out a few more sheets of tissue in front and stuffed my nose before asking, "Why didn't you tell Jaya?"

Val propped his chin up to the palm. "He will interrogate me immediately and I won't be able to answer him. But I told Jaya that Susan likes her, it's just—."

"Who is he, Val?" Quickly, I put away the bowls that had been filled, along with snot tissue that was scattered, so that I could reach and hold his hand. "Tell me."

Val took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I've never met him myself, Ter, how should I tell him?"

My jaw felt like it was falling to the ground, how could it be? "I'll repeat, you're in love with a man you've never met?" I looked at the girl in disbelief. "Where do you know him?"

"Your brother wanted to introduce me to her, but it seems like Brother Tia forgot."

This is not surprising, considering my brother is senile. The thing I'm most worried about is Val believing him. "You're still hoping to meet that mysterious man?"

"No" he answered. Well, that's a relief answer. "I don't know. May Brother Tia quickly recover his memory," continued Valerie.

My dream returned, opposite Val's face that shimmered with love. Val's loud phone ringing rang out, pulling him down from the seventh-level heaven.

"Yes? ... I'll be right back." Val answered while moving up from Lesehan's seat.

"It's raining outside!" I screamed, while Val got up and ran through the crowd to get back to the hospital. Fuck those!