CORONAS
17. MAYBE ELDAN IS IN A DAZE
Monday, 23 April 2046 evening. After I slammed Yuva's bag containing the laptop, regret came. The people I trusted I called back and we met somewhere eating in town.
“But I was reminded not to act rashly this morning,” complained Bang Auron with a disappointed look. He held his head which looked dizzy hearing my confession.
“I'm sorry,” I regretted in a quiet voice. Brother Alma looks just silent while sipping his cold drink. While Arfi does not appear to be the trunk of his nose.
As I regretted my actions, my eyes fiddled with the surroundings. Inside this fast food eatery, several pairs of eyes were fixed on us. Someone sounded whispering. Every time my eyes touched them, they threw away the look with a look of disgust. There were those who were inching out with annoyed faces, like they were not happy with where we were here. Also, there are some parents who immediately pull and keep their children away when their children pass near the table we are sitting at.
“Ignore! Don't over-subscribe their behavior,” rebukes Bang Auron fast to me. I'm nodding.
“Ah, I've gotten used to being stared at by such spies. I just feel sorry for them. Those healthy eyes they were dirty with their arrogant nature. Unfortunately,” comments Alma slowly. His chin was resting on his right hand that was upright on the table.
“They only have minimal information about us. And the number of people who provoke that we are the spreaders of infectious infections left unchecked,” said Bang Auron.
“Soever no problem. This way we increasingly know that the world is actually full of rotten people like them,” added Kak Alma. Suddenly, Bang Auron and I glanced in astonishment at Kak Alma's statement. Feeling stared at like that, he returned our gazes while smiling. “If Yuva would have said so,” he continued.
I snorted loudly. Next time I'd better pick a place that no one else but us. Public places like this usually only lead us to talks that we should not have to discuss. Waste time and disperse the focus of the topic of conversation.
“Then, what are you going to do now, Eldan? Maybe Yuva already hates you so much right now,” asked Bang Auron trying to get back on the main topic.
That's why I regret doing it. Instead of stopping Yuva from helping with the crime, I broke my relationship with her. When it's like this, Yuva won't listen to my babble anymore.
“I also still can't answer that, Bang. Maybe I should apologize to him.”
“That kind of thing can't be finished with an apology,” interrupted Kak Alma. He took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and took a stick from it. Just as he was about to light a match, Bang Auron prevented him while showing a sign stuck on the wall of this room. Alma's face looked upset.
“Maybe I need to replace his laptop with a new one so he wants to forgive me.”
Bang Auron and Brother Alma were silent while glaring at me. The faces of both became the same. Equally astonished. It was like seeing someone who could fly high. Or like seeing a cat with horns. It lasted for about a few seconds until I misbehaved.
“A\-there is wrong?” my many.
“I think there is something wrong with your mind, Eldan,” Kak Alma said while massaging her forehead.
“Eh?”
“Not his mind, but he does not understand properly about the feelings of women,” added Bang Auron denied Kak Alma's remarks. “I wonder why Yuva could stay with you for so many years if I saw you like this.”
“Can I imagine that Yuva often stroked the chest while having days with her,” comments Kak Alma again.
Strange comments from them fell like rain. From the rain that fell on my head came arched shoots that appeared like question marks. The same thing repeated. The theme of this conversation comes out again from the context of – the purpose of this meeting.
“Listen, Eldan,” suddenly Brother Alma said while putting on his serious face. “This is not about you destroying the stuff he always wears. It's about feelings. Your treatment of him is pretty rough. Even if you replace the items you have destroyed, what pain due to your treatment can be lost along with the emergence of new items?”
I'm like a newly-introduced young boy where logic and feeling. The words I said were the result of my thinking logically. Usually people will cheer again if the damaged items are replaced or repaired again by the destroyer while apologizing. That simple. As simple as a child's mind. Kids are usually like that. Then what Alma said was about feelings. About heart. This sort of thing doesn't seem to grow perfectly on me.
“Understanding?” ask Alma again.
I'm nodding. Then I was dragged again in deeper thought. I'm astonished. As people age, their hearts grow. They will begin to feel things they have never felt before. New feelings. Feelings that make more sensitive. Which should make us more and more together, understand each other. But what about the growth of those feelings, the more sensitive people become? Little feel. Apologizing is not as easy as it was as a child. That's as simple as that. Which is easy to forget.
“Keep that aside first. What has happened can not be changed again,” cut Bang Auron, drag me back from the reigned reverie. “At least the movement of Yuva this time will be halted for a while. Just my prediction, and I hope it's true. For your matters with Yuva, you can fix them later. Now, we have to think of a way to restore our image as caldier users. We must change the paradigm of normal society about us.”
“Why is it not enough to just stop and persuade Yuva alone?” ask Alma.
“It was only temporarily effective. Even if we manage to stop Yuva, another Yuva-Yuva will appear who has the same fate and will do the same action,” explained Bang Auron.
Me and Alma understood. The conversation began to go to the point at which it was addressed. Bang Auron proposed that we consult directly with the leaders of the operators of these caldier systems. By discussing the complaints we feel, it is hoped that they will help find a solution to deal with this situation. Counseling on how important life point for the survival of caldier users. Counseling that we are not bearers of danger because we can keep them from getting infected. Socializing that we are also the same human beings as them. Which help each other. Not to be as different as slaves and masters. We want that equality back. So that we are not ostracized and in spite of the bad allegations that are going viral at this time.
