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Old Friend

Renjana Kanya's

"Hey Ta, have you been waiting a long time?" I said to a woman who was playing the device when I arrived at D'Caffe. We met on purpose at the cafe owned by Aunt Sari - mama Damar, as well as a small reunion with the man and Almira.

Renate. The woman smiled when she saw me. His style is as eccentric as ever. Knee-length abstract motif dress combined with a jeans jacket. Her long, wavy black hair was left severed and decorated with bandanas so as not to close her eyes. What was never left behind, a series of bracelets on his left hand and ankle boots that make the appearance of the woman more eccentric. A true bohemian style.

"Well, I miss you!"

She screamed hysterically when she saw me standing next to her. The woman reflexively hugged my body as if she had not met for a long time. Yeah, come to think of it we haven't seen each other in a long time. The last time I met him was about four months ago when I interviewed a source at a cafe in Kuningan. He happened to be around there and asked to meet. It was not long either, because I had to leave immediately to remember the deadline that was so crowded.

After that day, we never met at all despite both living in Jakarta. Renata's busyness, even with me, makes us rarely meet. Even if we make an appointment, there must be something that makes us cancel the plan ahead of the meeting. Not once twice, but it happens often.

"Gue also misses the same time. Failing to make a promise every time. We live in one city, but live on another continent. It's hard to meet."

"There are you, always chasing the same events."

My laughter expands. I return Renata's embrace that still tightly locks me. Right at the same time, Damar and Almira entered the cafe and waved at us who were still hugging. The man smiled widely and joined in forming a circle of hugs with us. Almira just shook her head.

"I swear, Ta, I miss you so much. Crazy, long time no see." Damar was enthusiastic while still hugging me and Renata.

In High School, we were known as the Poison Trio. Inseparable and always together wherever we go. Moreover, we are members of the same organization and occupy important positions. I'm the chairman of OSIS, Damar's deputy and Renata's secretary.

However, that was before Damar became the same Almira and I decided to date the Son. After that Renata only occasionally hang out with me and Damar outside school. Even if in the school environment, we are still the rulers of the territory that is respected by the younger class and upperclassmen.

"Gue misses you too, Dam. Gosh darn. Almira is pregnant. Will soon be your father. I didn't think it was you who married us first."

"Well, yeah. Whereas in the past 'you who really want to marry first among us."

Our laughter broke. The stories of High School are warm flowing. It brings back the sweet memories we shared. The absurdities of adolescence unfold one by one like a random arrangement of puzzles and we again make it whole. Renata has the most stories. Because it is the nature of the woman that is the most jolly among us. And, his most powerful memory.

"Remember lo, so the stove one class to skip the biology lesson time. I swear at that time I knew. Ms. Erna did not want to spend two weeks because of your actions. If only you knew how the pouting of Ms Erna's face would be."

Laughter breaks. Though inwardly sorry for my treatment at that moment. Me and Damar are pumping classmates to skip biology because Bu Erna can not explain the material properly delivered. More than classmates followed in our footsteps skipping lessons. There were only five children left and Renata was one of them. It was because he hunted to be caught by Ms. Erna while running away.

From the Treatise we know that Ms. Erna was sulking and did not want to teach for two weeks. He was teaching when we apologized and promised not to repeat the same.

"Gue now feels sinful as Ms. Erna" said Damar melancholy. His face looks sad. While looking at her husband, Almira threw a peanut shell on the man's face.

"Sinning isn't like that on her face, either" Almira's nagging provoked our laughter wider.

"You guys still fight like this?" asked Renata curiously.

"Don't ask. I'll be among them when I start arguing. There may not be an end. To my boredom," I confided in remembering how tormented they were during their time as housemates during college. Fortunately I only needed three and a half years to go through that torment. If only I hadn't graduated sooner, obviously my inner torment would have increased. "Even the day before the wedding, there was something they were discussing" I made Almira sneer. Renata laughs.

Damar laughed loudly. Guyonan Renata who refers to adult chats makes Damar enthusiastic. Wherever, if men are invited to talk about the matter of adult guyonan must be immediately enthusiastic. No exception to Damar.

"This is the collision he lo on, go home with gini," said Damar still excited. He even ignored Almira who was still staring at us with astonished looks. As if to say, "on shameless you guys" through the look in his eyes.

"Yes, I have to deal with Om Lukman. He's in the hospital."

"Eh, Om Lukman is sick?" manywould be concerned.

Om Lukman, the sister of Renata's mother who took care of the woman since childhood, because Renata's mother and father had died when he was a child. Even if Om Lukman had a child who was the same age as Renata, but I knew, Renata could not possibly not go home. Because he thought of him as his own father.

"Biasalah, age factor. Oh yeah, I heard Aunt Sukma was sick too. How's he doing?"

"It's getting better anyway. Now it's recovery time. I hope you can go home soon too."

"Sori, I didn't know Aunt Sukma was sick. I will look at him later, yes. I miss Mama too" said Renata.

The woman, indeed more often called Mama by the name of Mama than Aunt Sukma. Mama also doesn't mind being called Mama by Renata. It was fun to him because he had two daughters. In the past, I often envied Renata because she was more familiar with Mama than I was. While being with me, Mama argued more and arranged this and that to provoke an inevitable fight.

"Yes, Mama would love to see you."

"Yes, if you never come home, he's also very happy that I stopped by. I never want to hear my story."

My smile expands. It feels bitter to remember how sinful I have made Mama suffer so much.

Seeing the water change on my face, Renata felt guilty. He grabbed my hand which patted him slowly.

"Sori, I don't mean anything, Him."

"Yes, relax, dong. I've been stronger to overcome this obstacle."

Renata smiles. And took me into his arms. She whispered that instantly made my feelings even lighter. "Gue's sure you can get through all this, yeah. Because I know, you're weak and strong at the same time."

I smiled behind Renata's back. Because he was the first to know all the grim stories I experienced when the fateful event occurred. The night I disappeared from Putra's grandfather's house, I hid in Om Lukman's house before finally deciding to go home to Bude Maya's place. It is the place where all my tears are shed that night.

"Thank you, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't still be here right now" I said solemnly. Renata just patted my back gently until Damar made a sound breaking the martyrdom between us.

"You're like a couple in love again."

"Damn, amit-amit!" Renata's reflexes pushed me and made Damar laugh.

Our laughter is getting warmer. Like this afternoon the warmer accompanied the meeting of friends who long never met.