FRIENDSTHAT
Episode 6
November 2004
Cilandak Town Square was quiet that afternoon. Ayu and Ditto walk to one of the fast food outlets and immediately order food for each of them because they are starving. After their food had been served and had found a seat, the two began to devour each other's food.
Today after school they have made an agreement to hang out together to the mall they used to go to. Tired of the deepening of the material ahead of UAN and it just so happened that Ayu was not filming schedule that afternoon, so the two decided to hang out together.
“Lo drinks ice even though the day after he wants to appear,” Ditto comments when Ayu sips her drink.
Ayu just grinned wide. “This time doang, kok.”
“Udah memorize the song?”
“That's it, otherwise, where might Ola ngizinin me out studio.”
The two laughed when they heard the name of the vocalist their band called. Their conversation began to expand towards their band. Together for three years in and out of the band activities made them feel hard to later part ways.
“Eh, the Milla story the same I said lo cuek really so a guy,” said Ayu who suddenly remembered with his underclassman. “Indeed you never stepped on him or what?”
“Once in a while.”
“Lo rarely contacts him for sure.”
“Meet this at school, why also I twenty-four hours must contact him.”
“Yes not so well, Ditto,” said Ayu while staring at Ditto sharply. “Lo who actually cake with him, let me not be curhatin almost twenty-four hours.”
“Halah, where possible.”
“Because, the same is true of Milla. Cake little attention, what cake.”
“Iye, iye,” says Ditto lazily.
After talking about Milla, Ditto avoided the topic as much as possible. Then Ayu began to confide in her latest boyfriend named Azhar.
“But I usually don't connect with him, To?”
“No connecting how?”
“Yes, if we don't talk like we do. Sometimes smoothly, sometimes kagok—bingung what to talk about. The ends are mostly diem-diemannya.”
“Maybe because you don't know him very well yet. We're almost three years old, are you the same? How many months is it.”
“Iya also huh.”
That afternoon they spent together. Talk about what comes to mind in each of them. But in Ditto's heart, still clearly remembered how Ayu talked about Azhar. It seems that this time Ayu is really affectionate with Azhar. Seen from how Ayu asked for advice to him. The girl was not as cute as when she was dating her fellow artist friend a few months ago.
There were some emotions raging within Ditto. He did not know since when he could feel something like this, a little regret if Ayu had a boyfriend. Upset that Ayu's boyfriends act rude and make Ayu sad when they break up. The most fun thing for Ditto is that Ayu can be happy with herself without having to be disturbed by other men who have the status of Ayu's boyfriend.
But even so, he desperately tried to harbor his own feelings. Ayu can't know what she's feeling…. At least, it's not time yet.
***
The Jakarta SMP band tournament was held at SMP 8. Their vast school field has been transformed into a race area. Where there is a row of jury tables that are located a few meters from the stage. The rest of the field is filled with supporters from each school.
The tournament has been going on since yesterday. Due to the large number of participants, the judging session is divided into two days. Then later in the afternoon will be selected bands that enter the final round and the final round will be held two days later.
“Grog?” Ditto asked without glancing at Ayu who was sitting next to him. Currently they are sitting on the sidelines, watching a band from Junior High 13 who are performing songs on stage there.
They did come from the morning to see all the bands that were showing off. Pay attention to the performances of all the bands and sometimes comment on them.
“Slightly,” I Ayu honestly. “Lo not groggy?”
“That stage is my life, Cha,” Ditto. “Cause, I have this here.” Ditto hugged Ayu's shoulder to calm her down.
Ayu smiled. He secretly agreed to Ditto's words. Stage and percussion is Ditto's life. He could always see how different Ditto was when playing his instrument.
And that can be seen from people who really love what they do.
“Azhar so dateng?”
“So, he said he could come to our band perform.”
Ditto just nodded. Then his eyes looked around, watching the number of other school students who came still complete with his uniform.
“Eh, we rarely take photos together,” chirps Ivan. “Gue bring my camera. Photo yuk.”
After finding volunteers to photograph them, the five of them began to set up positions and were ready to be photographed. It's true said Ivan, they are all rarely photographed together. Eat together more often than photos.
When they finished, they immediately told Ivan to print the photo for all of them.
The day went fast afterwards. Sometimes there are some appearances that make Ayu a little jiper. However, Ditto always calmed him down. They say they will do better than them.
Azhar arrived half an hour before their band performed. The remaining half an hour was finally spent by Ayu with Azhar. Ditto chose to step aside and join her new friends.
At a time like this, Ditto hoped the day would soon pass.
***
“Kak Ditto is really cool!” milla exclaimed when Ditto was out of the backstage after her appearance.
Ditto's bandmates just laughed when they saw Milla was ready to welcome Ditto. After putting her case into a special bag, she carried the bag and herded Milla to move slightly away from the backstage entrance area.
“Whose name was here?” ditto asked when they could talk without shouting because it was too noisy.
“Sama my.”
Ditto nodded, too confused to ask what else. “Wait until the announcement yes,” Ditto said in the end.
Milla nodded in spirit. Then the two looked for a place that they could still sit but still face the stage. The second floor balcony became their choice even though they eventually had to stand up so they could still look at the stage.
Even though there were hundreds of people in the same blue white uniform, somehow Ditto could still see which Ayu was among the sea of spectators.
With Azhar.
Ditto tried to turn her eyes in the other direction, as long as it was not focused on her best friend who was with her boyfriend. Now he is with his own girlfriend.
They were with their respective girlfriends, but why were their eyes still only glued to Ayu?
***
