DREAM OF THE SHADOW
CHAPTER 51
Yuna was lucky to spend her first night in Dylan's car. Or Juna's car? Don't know. He rubbed his eyes slowly. Yuna got out of the car slowly as if afraid that someone else might see her coming out of it. He saw his cell phone, at 05:25, but the sky was already bright.
"In the morning, I was just about to wake you up." Dylan greeted Yuna who was sneaking into the basecamp.
"Hi, morning too." Yuna greeted back and looked into Dylan's eyes. Dylan halted his laughter as he looked at Yuna.
"Haha..Who kissed you last night?" tanyakanya.
"Huh? Who kissed?" Yuna was confused by Dylan's question until her face was met with red.
"Tuh, there's a trace. Be prepared..Just want to walk again. You don't have a sleeping bag, do you? We'll just rent it." Yuna nodded and passed into the room to pick up her backpack. He washed his face and glazed over. Jeezoo...There were two red bumps on his face due to mosquito bites. Dylan laughed it off. Care very. He rushed out because he had heard Arjuna's voice calling his team.
"Yuna, move your things to this carrier so you can bring a sleeping bag" Dylan said as he walked into the room and immediately helped Yuna move her things.
"Let me just." Yuna quickly took over the job before Dylan could touch her underwear inside the back zipper.
The group who will climb Mount Semeru that morning is not too much. There was only Team Arjuna which numbered eleven people and there was another team which there might be eight people. Yuna didn't know for sure because they were already scattered.
"Ga weight?" greet Dylan when they are just five minutes into the hiking adventure.
"No really. The burden of life is heavier." Yuna enjoyed her first climbing experience.
"Mba Yuna and Om Dylan know each other, right?" Ryan was standing next to Dylan.
"Yuna is Om's partner in Jakarta" replied Dylan.
"Oh, just pantes like from yesterday you look familiar."
"Indeed we just met Ryan, just met twice" Yuna explained.
"Three." Dylan. Yuna was about to refute but did not. It is true that three.
"OK deh. Ryan joined the same rags yes Om, Mba." The handsome young man walked a little faster following the entourage which was about five meters in front of them.
"Nih" said Dylan, taking out a small bottle of eucalyptus oil from his pocket.
"For what?" Yuna asked while accepting it.
"Let the bumps disappear."
Yuna applied a little oil towards the mosquito bite on her face. He looked at Dylan to his left. Man of Chinese descent, there may be European blood on him. At least Ryan looks more European blood than Dylan. The height is approximately the same as Shua, more than 180 cm. A handsome? So good-looking. It was just that Yuna had locked her heart too tightly by now. The key that Shua only held. Yuna doesn't know anything about Dylan, is she married? Ever married? Or have a lover? Or is he a same-sex person and thinks of Yuna as a shield? Who knows?
"Thank you" he said slowly as he returned the bottle.
"So how many times have you been to Semeru?" Yuna broke the silence after the atmosphere looked awkward.
"This is the fifth. Twice reached Mahameru Peak. You plan on getting to the top?" Dylan asked as he looked at Yuna's eyes.
"Don't know yet. Difficult huh?" yuna asked, turning her face away while confirming the position of the large backpack on her shoulder.
"Mmmm..It may be a bit difficult for beginners. Let's just take a look. You must not force your condition. Do not be because of prestige or lust so forced. At least you should see the beauty of Ranu Kumbolo." Yuna just nodded her head. He had heard of the beauty of Ranu Kumbolo and had seen it on the internet. Reading some people's blogs about climbing to Mahameru Peak still seems too far for him.
About 1.5 hours drive, they arrived at Landengan Dowo. Many other groups chose not to rest and immediately proceeded to Watu Rejeng.
"Now sir, is it okay to separate?" ask Juna.
"really. You go with the kids. I'm with Yuna to rest for a while. We'll see you in Ranu Kumbolo."
"Based on the kids." said Dylan. Yuna just laughed funnyly at their jokes.
"I'm sorry, because of me you've become separated from the group."
"It's okay. All ngajarin beginners. How to know next time you can join the spirit again."
After a ten-minute break, they continued their journey. There were only the two of them walking towards Watu Rejeng. The climb has already begun to enter the forest.
"Be careful, Yun. Many twigs. Let's just take it easy." Dylan reminded.
"Yes." Yeah."
"How many days off are you?"
"Not yet."
"I had a chance to meet your assistants Cathy and Adit last week before I went to Malang. When I asked about you, Adit just said you were on sabbatical."
Yuna did not know what to answer and chose to be quiet. Dylan was a little uncomfortable. In fact, he had heard stories about the accident of Joshua Austin, the man who was rumored to be having an affair with Yuna. It was just that Dylan knew which to discuss and which not to, and he chose to close his eyes on the news.
"Sound..." Shouted Yuna who was about to fall due to tripping over the long branch that was transverse. Dylan's contact deftly caught Yuna's body. Like scenes in Indian films, Yuna also reflexively hugged Dylan's large body. For a moment their eyes clashed before Yuna distanced herself.
"You're okay? Is there a wound?"
"Nothing, thank you." Yuna calmed her pounding heart, either because of her near-falling self or because of her falling into Dylan's arms.
"So yuk, I'm sorry I kept bothering you." They both started walking again. Dylan took one long wood from the ground, cleared it a glance, then gave it to Yuna to help her climb.
"Disrupt what? It's just normal. Every time I climb, I just want to enjoy every step of the way. There is no definite goal whether to get to the top or not. If I feel that my satisfaction has not been achieved, I will continue to move on. I just got to where we were resting, but I've had enough. Maybe I sat there for three hours just to see the farmers who were gardening. Sorry, I talk too much, huh?" dylan said with a smile.
"No, I'm enjoying your story. So, what if you've gone to the top but you're not satisfied?" ask Yuna.
"mmm...So far I can't help but feel satisfied after reaching Mahameru Peak. As if all the problems and thoughts that burden you are gone are scattered in the clouds below you. But to achieve that, there is a lot to fight for. More and more challenging stage by stage. But that's what I think Yuna is. Everyone's happiness level is different. What is your purpose for climbing?" The sudden question from Dylan made Yuna think hard. Let him be the real Yuna on this climb. He wanted to let go of all the burdens in his heart.
"I.entahlah. Wanting to be free, wanting to be away from everyone who knows me, and it turns out I met you here. Let's just say we just know yes, so please don't discuss hahaha's work... Actually I also want to forget something so I look for other activities outside of my routine. I don't know if I can forget about it and leave it on this mountain. Did my answer satisfy you?" Yuna was a little breathless. The terrain they were climbing was getting more difficult as they had not yet come out of the forest.
"I must be satisfied if I do not want to be considered kepo by you hahaha.. Want to take a break?" Yuna shook her head.
"Don't, it won't be overtaken. "
"And I told you, don't be forced."
"I'm still strong. Really."
The streets are getting smaller. Dylan offered his hand to help Yuna climb the steep terrain.
"Hold my hand. Let's just say I'm a stranger."
"If you're a stranger, I'll hold your hand." Dylan laughed looking at the somewhat jutek Yuna. Along the way they do not talk much to save energy. "
Dylan enjoyed every step of their climb, let alone the long time he had not grasped a woman's hand. Not just any woman, someone extraordinary according to him. But not for Yuna, she felt deeply troubled by that grasp. At the beginning he even remembered the touch of Shua's hand, the same large hand and warm. Someone who is still his heart's lover. Disturbed, but he uses the distraction to vent his longing with Shua.
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