Flavour Bias

Meet on the Plane

My journey is not as short as what I wrote in the diary. I think it'll all be smooth like the first sheet to the next. However, it was all wrong when I saw the man with the support of the hand sitting next to me.

“You?” sapanya surprise. No, that's not a greeting.

My forehead immediately frowned. Where did his goal go until he insisted and defied the Doctor, even sacrificing his health?

“Not the Doctor forbid Kak Iyash to go? What's here?” my pedicabs.

“Loh, like me. You alone, what are you doing here?”

I folded my hands in front. “Likes-Like me.”

“You told Mama to stalk me?”

“Hah?” pekiku. “Amit-amit.” I tapped my finger to my head. “Paid no matter how I won't like.”

A moment later I got up. “Mbak,” call me to one of the flight attendants. “Can I sit somewhere else?”

“Can't, Ma'am. Except, anyone would like to switch seats with Mbak.” I know it. I just wanted to show you that I mind sitting with that guy.

I saw him scratching his ears with his little fingertips. I was forced to sit back. The flight attendant explained and asked us to prepare because the plane was about to take off.

I seem to have failed to enjoy my trip this afternoon. Why do we have to be on one plane? At least, even though our goals are the same, why does God not distinguish the time. Or at least, even if we were in one plane, why would God have to keep us in the same seat? It was like we were booking tickets at the same time.

“One and a half hours, like it takes one and a half years. Old,” grunting.

“New plane flew about ten minutes,” said the man without looking at me. It seems like he has no problem with my being around him, I should also feel that way because my business is not with him.

To kill boredom, I finally chose to read a book. Book of Expectations by Edgario Wijaya. Yeah, every word that guy gave me made me realize and I was like I was slapped by life. The man made me feel even more amazed by the contents of his head.

I like the sentence he wrote, “The older he gets, the more he never expects, because the greater the expectations, the greater the chances of disappointment.”

I didn't realize I was reading it too loud, until the man sitting next to me commented. “The expectation should be, as long as you have the limitation.”

I cringed and kept the book out of sight. I looked at that calmer looking face. I think it's only natural that if he says so, people may never feel let down, not knowing what it's like to be slapped. He may never have trouble because whatever he asks will be met especially by Om Hasa. And I know how Edgar is. Born and lived alone with his mother made him try hard to stay in order not to fall, if he fell too he tried not to feel pain. Same as me. Since Papa left, I have never wished for anything other than I want God to keep Mama healthy and stay close to me.

“Why?” He looked and I turned. Then go back to reading books.

Reading this book made me want to get to the author soon. I want us to share his feelings, I want to be a container for him to vent his feelings, so that he does not need an editor to refine his sentence. Sometimes cursing is necessary.

Instead of reading, I was disturbed by the words of Kak Iyash who kept ringing in the ears.

“What kind of restrictions should I have?” I asked in the end as I kept the book covered in dark sky away from my face, then I looked at the face of the twenty-eight-year-old man.

“Man is free to hope, as long as that hope is hanged to God. People have limits, but God does not. With your hope in God, the chances of you being disappointed are slim, maybe even none.”

“Sok religious,” snoring.

He smiled cynically. “Because God knows what is best for you.”

“Waw.” I fell back and hid my face behind the book. He mustn't know that I've just been amazed by him. I tried to peek behind the book. He seemed to be closed by leaning his head. I sighed and sat up straight while continuing to stare at his tired face. If this is a job, can't he just leave it for a minute? Wasn't there anyone he trusted to go to Surabaya?

I immediately faced forward and closed in. If you recall how Iyash insisted on leaving the hospital, I suspect that this is not a job. And looking back, I remember when he insisted on asking for Edgar's number. It may have something to do with Edgar.

“Where is your actual destination?” ask Kak Iyash while he wants to get up.

I quickly held her hand before she left the plane. “If our destination is the same, can we go together?” many doubt. I doubt if he's willing to go with me.

He stupefied me.

I don't care about his haughty attitude. Her tone was flat and her mouth was spicy. The one thing I'm not afraid of is, I can't see Edgar.

“Where?” ask Iyash at last.

“I'm here, asked Aunt Miranti to go catch up with Brother Edgar and bring him back.”

Brother Iyash sighed. “Although you don't know where he is?”

I'm nodding.

“I also don't necessarily meet him.” He eventually got up and left the chair. I'll catch up with the guy soon.

“Indeed Kak Iyash's destination to Surabaya what? This is impossible about work, ‘kan?”

He stopped and I accidentally hit his back.

“Work or not, it's none of your business. If you come do not ask a lot and just follow.”

I was silent, even though he had gone down first. Suddenly my feet went limp and I didn't know where to go. Although my hobby of traveling in fact I never go carry responsibility, other than myself. Now I have to take responsibility for Aunt Miranti.

I slowly got out of the plane and I didn't think Iyash was waiting for me. I don't want to ask anything, I can just keep being the tail. At least as long as I'm here.

“Speed your steps. I am here not have much time,” said the man. A second later he turned around, then walked away. I quickly followed his broad steps.

He stopped the taxi and we drove away. I did get the location of Edgar's cell phone number, but that was a week ago. Maybe now he's been wandering somewhere. All I know is he won't be in one place in more than a week. From that day on, I couldn't even call her number. That means I've lost his existence.

Iyash's sister communicated with the taxi driver, where we were going. Then I heard his phone ring. And my phone at the same time.

“Halo,” my handkerchief together with the man, of course on a different phone. We stared at each other and ignored the person behind the phone, until I heard Mama call my name back.

“Icha, Iyash go from the hospital,” shootout Mama panic. “So Mama called, she asked why you didn't take care of Iyash.”

“She's here,” I replied briefly.

“Hah, did you ask Iyash to go with you? If you can't, why did you have to involve him?”

“Mama, Icha accidentally met him on the plane. He left with nothing to do with Icha. He has other business here.”

Suddenly Brother Iyash snatched my phone.

“Tante, tell Mama, I'm fine, I'm here no important business. Tomorrow night I promise, it is already in Jakarta,” Kak Iyash said on the phone.

I stared at the man. Until she realized she had returned my phone.