Dusk And Loss
Unexpected
Men's room as in general. Irregular, not neat. The towel is on the bed. Foot t-shirt on the table. Shoes on the bookshelf. Ish, bad habits of men. Even until now there is no theory that discusses the throat of men on this earth. Yaudahlah, his name is also a man. Do you understand me, ga si?
Echoes off his back bag. Find the phone inside. Unexpectedly, he forgot one thing.”Jagaaa .. I forgot to return the bag Alana.”
Without fear he searched the bag. Found a tape recorder. Do you still use a tape recorder? Here he lives in a cave what the hell? His inner. While turning - turn the tape recorder. Then push the play button.
Sskskksk ..
“Hai, my name is Alana. Alana Anandita Persada's. People usually call me Al, just call me.”
The recording runs out, silence .. then at the press of the next button.
“Ah.. beautiful night. Try to see that month. Try to see, the scythe is very beautiful. Later, we see together, yes?” A voice that sounded very happy. Along with the sound of wind. A little unclear. But Gema was sure, it was Alana.
Strange girl, he thought. “Why didn't he record a phone? It's more clear. Features are also more?” Echoes wonder in the heart. And flip through that tape recorder. Looks old-school, even impressed not to have the selling power.
Not taking a headache, he unpacked the contents of Alana's bag again. All they found were ordinary books. But something caught his attention. A book with a silver glitter with many sticky notes there. Well-favoured. Different from other books. Book diary? Think Echoes.
He opened the book, on the first page there was a neat handwriting.
“Do not open this book if you are not the owner, yes?”
Echoes of a small laugh. Regardless of the writing, he continued to open the next page.
“Turn, stubborn. Already said do not open.”
Beside the bottom right corner there is a small writing, “If you find this book, please return it, yes? Contact me 088232844050. Thankyou. Don't open it again, huh?”
The echo smiled widely. How come there's such a rich freak? He just smiled while shaking his head. Then he picked up the phone in his bag, and typed in a short message.
**
“Al, tomorrow off with, yuk? I'll pick up Cika.” Mila.
“Hah? What Mil? How do you call my name?”
Tuttt tut tutt .. Reconnecting.
“Yeah, the signal is ugly Cika tuh.”
Since that day in the health room, they become familiar and often communicate. Whether through chat, whatsapp group, video call, voice note.
“Eh, Al. I met Cika yesterday with Brother Gema. He looked rich yesterday so sad, alone anyway.” Mila told me everything she saw yesterday afternoon. Alana seemed to not care, even she did not want to hear the name of the man.
Suddenly there is a notification of whatsapp coming in on Alana's phone.
“Tas lo is in me, tomorrow can meet me in the cafeteria next to the fine arts faculty at eight in the morning. –Gema-“
Alana looked up Mila's number, then called her. Connected.
“Hallo, yes Al, why?”
“Sorry Mil, tomorrow I'll be with you. I have important business. Next time, huh?”
“Ohhh okay. Gapapa al, goodluck yes.” Hang up that phone. He promised this would be his last time dealing with the man. That man was enough to make him suffer. Make all good things bad.
**
Early in the morning Alana was getting ready to go to college. Mamah Alana is confused because not usually Alana is ready to hit this. Looking at his daughter, Mamah just asked her properly. Then prepare breakfast for Alana. Unfortunately, Alana refused.
“Alana breakfast on campus, Yes, Mah. There are things that should Alana finishin cepet-cepet.” Mamah Alana nodded in understanding. He offered his daughter food to take to campus. Not supported by Alana. The woman who is almost fifty years old understands, now her daughter has grown into a mature girl, no longer the little Alana who always whines for milk.
**
Alana goes to the cafeteria, orders a serving of chicken soto and orange ice. He opened sheet by sheet the material in the print out that he held. He was busy with the papers. Memorizing the movements for the movements that are drawn. She is a dance student. Because of that, she became an active girl, yes more precisely arguably a lot of behavior. The atmosphere of the city that morning was very cool, he chose a bench that faced the campus garden of the art faculty. It's cold, after last night's rain.
The food and drink he ordered arrived in front of his eyes. He sipped his orange ice, and began to devour the chicken soto he had ordered.
“Ohhh .. turned out to be a dance art student?” Suddenly Alana was startled with a heavy voice from behind her. He looked up, saw who was talking to him.
“Kak Baskara?” He gawked, again the man came without being asked. Semalem dream what the hell, luee .. He was excited about pleasure, but in front of the man of his dreams he still acted ordinary and seemed to sell expensive.
“Can I sit here?” Baskara threw a question at Alana, pointing at the bench next to her. Alana nodded, sign agreeing.
A few minutes he sat with Baskara, a lot of things he talked about. Especially about the echo. Alana tells how fate can bring her to meet the man she used to call the maniacal man.
Baskara chuckled, looking at Alana's expression which so showed that she did not like Echoes at all. “Gema is really good, Al. Try to know him.” After the sentence came out of Baskara's mouth, suddenly from a distance a look of Echoes came.
Baskara waved his hand, calling out Echoes among the dozens of people there. Alana does not care. Look at the man from far away. Really, hate was already dominating in Alana's mind. Everything good about the Echoes that Baskara just told you about suddenly just disappeared.
“Loh, Bass. What's this about?” Ask Echoes of confusion. Scrunching his forehead, seeing Alana there. Then throw Alana's bag, then just leave.
Baskara went after her best friend, calling out to her.
“Gem, where are you going? Wait dong.” Shouted Baskara, walking a little run chasing Echoes.
“You to class, there's a class here I.” Echoes turned towards Baskara who looked exhausted from chasing him.
Alana was busy checking the bag she was holding. Make sure whatever is supposed to be there. He reached into his small pocket, looking for his favorite tape recorder. He was relieved, there is still. And it still works. He no longer knew if the tape recorder was missing.
She's the daughter of these records, isn't she? I am very embarrassed about diputerrr. He hit his own head. How could he be this stupid. There are a lot of things on the tape recorder. He could only hope that Gema did not open his bag, and tear apart everything inside.
***
