Don't Forget Me (Forget-Me-Not)

Chapter 6

The day before the welcoming party...

It has been a week since Xavier returned from the United States to Jakarta. Jakarta air now with Las Vegas in summer is not too much different. Blistering. Xavier was watching the city of Jakarta from the balcony of his apartment. The last time he was in Jakarta was three years ago.

And for those three years, too, Xavier had never thought about and missed that woman a day. Three years ago, Cassidy did not know that Xavier had returned to Jakarta. He did not intentionally meet the girl because his time in Jakarta was not long. He had to go back to LA. Xavier could only watch Cassidy silently from a distance. Actually, it was in his mind to show himself to the woman. Only, Xavier was afraid that if he met the woman, the woman would look at him with hateful eyes. She was afraid that Cassidy would not forgive her and hated her.

Honestly, Xavier was eager to ask the girl. Is she okay? Is he still afraid of lightning? Does she still like to sleep with her favorite teddy bear? Does he still like to sing? And there's so much more he wants to ask. But more than that, what Xavier was so eager to ask him was Does he still hate him?

Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up.

Neil Gaiman, The Sandman.

Just like the quote. Love is scary, it can make you feel helpless. He can open your heart so someone can come in and mess it up. Just like the girl who came in and broke Xavier's heart.

Xavier remembered all the memories of the two of them. All the memories they went through. Both bitter and sweet. He missed those times. Memories of where he could smile and hug Cassidy without caring for others around him. Memories where she could freely say that, 'She's my girl and I love her'.

But baby, that girl is no longer his. The decision he made nine years ago left Xavier and Cassidy's relationship broken. Not broken, exactly broken. Xavier smiled sadly. She thought her willingness to leave Cass was best for both of them. Turns out he was wrong. His decision resulted in him constantly feeling sad, hurt and sorry for making the people he loved hurt.

When I see you smile,

I can face the world

Oh, oh

You know I can do anything

When I see you smile,

I see a ray of light

Oh, oh

I see it shining right through the rain

When I see you smile

Baby when I see you smile

Oh, yeah

A song by Bad English - When I see you smile comes from his pants pocket. Xavier picked up his phone and picked up the phone without seeing the caller's id.

"Hallo?"

"Wassup bro, how are you?" just as Xavier was about to answer the question, the person who called him had already resumed his conversation.

"Clubbing yuk, bro. We are a week back in Jakarta. But I never saw you come out of that cage." explained the caller.

Xavier rolled his eyeballs as soon as he knew who the caller was. Who else if not Adrian, his cousin. Only her cousin likes to ask her out. All of his relatives and friends knew that Xavier was a conservative man.

All he knew was that his cousin's nature had changed. And the change was caused by a woman. Her boyfriend. Adrian had told him that he had changed because he wanted to be a good girlfriend for his girlfriend at that time. But no matter what happens, it seems like they are both now broken up and the nature of his cousin who likes clubbing and playing women, back again like Adrian who Xavier knew a long time ago. In fact, from the way Adrian tells his girlfriend who is now his ex-girlfriend, Xavier can make sure that Adrian likes the woman so much. It would be a pity if the two of them were to break up now.

"Elo call the others. I can't, Ad. Do you know how I am? Why did I take me to such a place? And I want to take a break because tomorrow's my welcome party." Reply Xavier while walking towards the TV room.

Tomorrow is Xavier's welcome day at his new workplace. He will work at one of the top hospitals in Jakarta. He majored in medicine at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. After taking his S1 degree Xavier continued his schooling and took his cardiology specialist in America.

"Emang elo can't just let it be an hour doang, Xav?" adrian asked, hoping.

"Can't." turn Xavier down raw while looking for a broadcast on TV.

"Ahhh, no fun elo, bro."

Xavier did not get back to him, his cousin had turned off the phone first.

Fuck up!! Xavier turned off the TV and went straight into the room. During this week, Xavier's job was just to sleep in his apartment. He knew that next Monday, he would start to be preoccupied again with his new job so he chose to wear the rest of his free days to relax.

***

Welcoming party day...

Not noticeably, the day that Xavier's welcoming event, arrived as well. Xavier's phone couldn't stop ringing. Professor Hendra didn't stop calling.

"Call, prof?" He answered while paying attention to the traffic and vehicles around him. He was now heading to the hotel where his welcoming party was held.

"Where are you, Xav? The show's about to start but you're the star, nothing yet." Obviously prof Hendra.

"I am now up to prof. In about 10 minutes." Reply Xavier while watching his rolex clock.

"Ok. be careful you're under his car."

"Yes, prof." Xavier hung up after confirming prof Hendra had ended their call.

As soon as Xavier entered the hotel, professor Hendra was waiting for him at the door with some new co-workers.  He was introduced to them one by one.

When he was picking up a drink because his throat was dry, Xavier's father's brother Good, suddenly approached him and chatted with him a little. Not long ago Om Bagus left Xavier, Adrian also approached him.

"Yo. wassup, bro.." They give greetings like men when they meet.

"Well, did it come out of there? Where's temen elo? He said he'd bring a friend here." Xavier asked as he watched his cousin.

His cousin had told him on the phone that he would take someone to Xavier's welcome today.

"So I saw him talking to me again. Where's auntie? How can I not see?"

"They're still on the road."

"Oh. Btw, you got a girlfriend, Xav? If not, do I want to know my friend? I have a lot of beautiful people. Yes, who knows if you are interested." said Adrian offering mak comblangnya services for free.

"No need. I don't believe you, Ad." Xavier smiled mockingly.

While they were chatting, suddenly Adrian's eyes focused on something behind Xavier. His cousin's face looked happy from seeing something. Intrigued by the object that made his cousin happy, Xavier turned his body. At once Xavier's eyes were opened. He looked at the girl softly, but he remembered that he had hurt her and his eyes turned cold. Xavier felt stiff and could not breathe properly.

Right standing in front of him right now was the girl he had abandoned nine years ago. The girl that had been on his mind all along. The girl he so misses. Yes, he is Cassidy Calista Pratama. His first friend and love.

***

Thanks for the reading guys