Cocooned

JAYA IS A JERK!

I ran after him, then when I could equalize the steps, I thrust my jacket. "Wear it, your shirt is not worth it" I shouted in the rain. Without much protest, Val wore it as he continued running.

The hospital door opened automatically when we were in front of him. Surprised I found Jaya standing there, her eyes shining sharply at me. "Well, are you here?" The cold question made me stay in place.

I was just about to open my mouth, when Val preceded me to answer Jaya's question. "I'm taking her to dinner." The girl's chin was raised defiantly, like trying to protect me. But from what? Is the condition between them so bad?

Even when Jaya explained the emergency situation, her sharp gaze could not escape me. "Susan's on the IGD, his hand's hurt and needs stitches."

"And you're still here?" ask Valerie sharply. I heard Val swearing, the girl pushed Jaya's chest rough and immediately ran inside.

"Aren't you going to help her, Jay?" I was worried, half awkward because Jaya still looked at me sharply without blinking.

"No need."

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because now I hate you," hiss Jaya who immediately turned around without waiting for any explanation from me. I stared at his back which went away in disappointment.

Ah, nevermind! Free. Even though I explained to Jaya now until her mouth froze, when her heart was hot, any explanation would not make sense. So I decided to wait for the two girls in the waiting room. At least I'm useful enough to drive the two of them home in the rain.

"Terry, are you still here? With wet clothes like this, you can get sick." Val's worried voice was gone in my mind.

Slowly my eyes opened and stared alternately at Val and Susan. Susan's! "You all right, San? Jaya is b3jak!"

Susan laughs. "Just a work accident, not suicide. When I got here, instead of helping, Jaya scolded me for being careless and other things. It made me angry and we had a fight. I refuse if he treats me. Where's my pride, huh!" obviously Susan quelled my worries.

At night, I couldn't sleep. All of today's events are swirling around in the head, especially the part where my brother is trying to match Val to an obscure man. Brother Tia also wants to introduce me to someone she forgot. Is the clothing design order being quiet to the point that brother switched professions to become a matchmaker?

Tomorrow I have to see my brother, but his house is just next door. If I had to, I'd scramble every corner of her clothing design studio, maybe there would be a clue as to the man who had signed up for her to introduce her to Val. From there, I will call and interview them one by one, if the candidates are more than one. I don't want my best friend to be wretched because of brother.

There's not much time left, Linda's show is three days away. After that, I have to go back to Jakarta immediately. Other than the project meetings, I don't want to be here too long, this city and the rest of it are starting to make me feel at home.

*****

I was scrambling through the contents of the third big box that was stored in my sister's design studio the next morning, when the sound of the door opened followed by the scream of a woman who could make my eardrum rupture.

"Oh my goodness, Terry! Thought thieves! What are you doing here?" ask brother panic. I pulled my hand out of the design studio and locked the door immediately. "Say what's wrong?"

Big brother's chin was raised high looking at me, he must be angry. It's my fault for not asking permission to search the studio, but what can I do. I've been waiting for him, but my brother hasn't come home from the market to buy cloth. So I decided to act.

"Sister, do you remember setting Val up on someone? The girl is still waiting to meet the man you're dating. I thought you must have kept the man's photo or CV somewhere inside, so I was going to help you find."

"Of course I remember! It's just, I forgot who that guy was. That's right you said, good idea, Ter. I'll look for the photo or the CV." There was a short pause before he continued with glaring eyes, "I remember something!"

"What, Brother? Say it!" my insistence. Staying here, I can help her remember.

"The girl I'm going to match you with is already taken away, said Sumi's mother, my new tailor. That is, the girl will go to a big wedding on December 23. Meet him there."

"Linda's wedding?" my many.

Under normal circumstances, I would take it for granted. But the words of the sister just now accompanied by a look of laughter, sound like Mama Lauren the fortune teller. I'm goosebumps.

"Who's wedding. The girl will wear the dress I designed."

"Which one?" many ensure. But he forgot and had to look for it somewhere. Oh, myGod!

I left my sister when she was busy guessing at the design of the clothes the girl had bought. I suggested to my sister to ask directly to Sumi's mother, what kind of dress the girl had taken yesterday. Without that information, how could he have told me to recognize the girl among the invited guests.

First of all, I have to straighten things out with Jaya. She must be jealous. Apart from Val taking dinner, the girl was also wearing my jacket. Drive the car to the hospital parking lot. As I walked in to look for Jaya, I prayed in my heart, may God my good intentions be launched.

*****

"No, Jay. I explained, I'm not going with you." My steps came to a halt when I heard Val's voice bouncing in the quiet hallway.

"That guy's Terry, right? Answer me!"

Apparently Jaya still forced her will. Seeing that, emotions filled my chest space, how could he possibly do this to Val? I turned the steps closer to my two best friends.

"No! For God's sake I told you, I don't know!" Val's words are starting to sound frustrated.

I could no longer bear to see Val cornered like that and said, "If that man was me, why?"

They both looked. Jaya's eyes squinted at me who was walking closer. With the same hatred as yesterday, even more so, he shouted at me. "Friends don't know themselves!"

"You're a friend who doesn't know yourself! It's been rejected still maksa," my hardik is no less fierce.

I slowly placed myself in front of Valerie with a sense of protection. As far as I know, Jaya is a man who does not easily let go if he already wants. Sure enough, Jaya's hand was immediately outstretched, trying to reach Valerie. By reflex, I pushed him back.

"Don't fuck around, Jay!"

I didn't see the fist that hit me in the face from the side and knocked me over. Val shouted and immediately helped me stand up. Seeing that, I guess Jaya grew furious, one long step bringing her closer.

I forgot, Jaya is strong and smart, which always makes her the captain of basketball, while I used to be just a spare seat warmer.

"Stop, guys! We're friends, why is this?" ask Val with teary eyes.

"Ask her that!" burbur Jaya is fiery.

"You're crazy! If you ever hurt Val or Susan, you're gonna face me!" reply pretentious, even though to stand alone I still rely on Val's shoulder. I felt the warm liquid slowly coming down from my nose and wiping it off. Bloods. Damnit damnit! It's gonna make me look macho in front of Valerie.

"Susan is stubborn, you don't know that!"

"All for your own good, Jay. He's been loving you for a long time" Val softly explained.

"Fuck up!" umpat Jaya before leaving.

In Valerie's practice room, I screamed as she purposely pressed my cheek that started turning blue. "Sok jago."

"For you I am a victim, not a thank you" I said.

We looked a long time before he finally said, "Thank you. I didn't know architects could fight either."

Is that a compliment? because I can't stand to grin. His smile directed at me, like paracetamol that makes my cheek pain subside. "I didn't know doctors could boxing. If there wasn't you, maybe I'd be stuffing samsak. Thank you, Val."

His smile expanded wider, making me take a breath and forget to exhale for some time. What the hell am I? Like the kasmaran. The thought hit me-oh no, no way.

In the past, with Linda, I adored her half-dead. She is beautiful, intelligent, cheerful, the perfect girl figure. I always try to keep up with it, because in my opinion, that's all I have to do if I really love him. But it was exhausting, and in the end he still felt I was not enough.

Unlike Val, how should I explain it? With this girl, I don't need to be anyone other than myself. Everything just happens-naturally, without being forced-like puzzle pieces that fall in the right place.

You little bug snaps! I swear to myself. I should have learned from Linda's run-down romance and ended up with a broken friendship, instead of now having a crush on Val? But how does one avoid strong chemistry with others?