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After Tomorrow Day

Renzana Alcatraz

I stared at Kanya's face, which was still staring at me without blinking. As long as I told you about Arez, she just listened without interrupting with questions or anything like that. His lips tightly closed. While tears and sobs are not able to avoid it. Even to the end he remained in his position hugging his knees.

"What Arez..."

Kanya did not continue her sentence. He was silent for a long time while looking at me. The kind of gaze that implies deep sadness. The form of heartache due to regret is also a traitor at the same time. At the silence of Arez who actually made the wound worse. At Arez's decision he never knew the man was thinking about him far into the future. For the feelings of Arez that Kanya never knew if such a big love of the man to her. Also...

I can't explain anymore the meaning of the eyes that are still wet with tears. Until finally the woman moved towards me and felt the stitches behind the shirt I was wearing. His sudden movements surprised me. My reflex stopped his hand before he did anything more than this. I am still a grown man in need...

Ah already. Satan always has a way of tempting people.

"Let me see it, Mom. If... Araz doesn't mind." The phrase Kanya among the sobs is fading.

"You sure? What if I..." I laughed when I realized what was in my brain was just thinking of a pervert. He looked at me in wonder when he saw me laughing.

"Why?"

"No, it's just, I'm a normal grown man, Kanya. After all, both of you are like this so it's a tough challenge. You know, you..."

My laughter I can't stop. I curse my rotten mind, which thinks only of biological needs. He just looked at me more and more astonished.

"Okay, I'll show you, but you can only see it. Don't touch it."

"Sori, I didn't know that Mas Araz was as sensitive as touch."

"To be honest, it's just different if you do," I said making the look of Kanya's face blushing. The woman was embarrassed.

"If so, Mas Araz does not need to point at me, but. I am curious about Arez's heartbeat when it has moved," said Kanya on the sidelines hiding her face behind the bend of the knee.

I smiled at the embarrassed expression of the woman in front of me. Kanya's hands were soft so she raised her face. The smile could not be separated from my real face suddenly stiff. I slowly unfolded the shirt with my left hand while my right hand was still holding Kanya's hand.

The shock rays in Kanya's eyes were unable to hide when she saw the scar that extended along her chest until it almost touched the navel. As promised, Kanya only saw the scar of the operation I had once run through. Even though I know, he tried his hardest not to touch her. For his hands occasionally move restlessly in my grasp.

"It hurts a lot, Mom?" ask Kanya in the end.

"Udah no. Well, even though I don't know for sure what caused it a few weeks ago it was painful. Maybe, the previous owner knew that I was getting closer to you, "my origin said.

Cover up the fact that I relapsed some time ago due to fatigue and did not manage a healthy lifestyle. Not to mention the little problems that accumulate as a result of my inner work and upheaval to tell Kanya about Arez. But I am still vulnerable to bad things that can happen at any time.

"What does that look like?"

"That's it, but maybe some of Arez's previous habits or likes, sometimes even kurasain. Some kind of inner bond or maybe an emotion. I don't know, I can't explain it."

"Ah, coffee with a little creamer without sugar?"

"Yes, I never even had coffee before. Besides not being allowed, it also feels strange. Too sour, sometimes too bitter."

We're speechless. Kanya no longer asks about anything. He was just looking at the scar on my chest. Until the woman's movement, again surprised me. He put his ear right in my heart. Closing my eyes seemed to be enjoying my heart beating which was of course not normal. How can I not pound if only alone with Kanya in the hours past midnight.

I told you, demons always have a loophole to tempt humans.

"Your heartbeats sound the same" Kanya said, making me not think for a moment. Could it be that he meant that Arez was also pounding if he was close to him?

Ah of course. Who can manage the beating of his heart if it is close to a loved one? And didn't Arez really love that girl? It was natural that he could not control his heartbeat while he was near Kanya. Me included.

Damn, I couldn't even resist the effect of the butterflies churning at the bottom of my stomach.

Long before my meeting with Kanya, I once asked Arez, if he wanted to protect and make her happy, why did he not express his feelings in the first place? Arez just smiled at my question.

At the time, we were undergoing follow-up tests on our health condition. Finding a match for each other if Arez's heart is later put in place of my broken heart. Also more detailed possibilities of risk after a heart transplant if Arez's heart is not suitable for me.

Then he answered, "Lo thought I never expressed my feelings to him? Bang, but what, he always thought I was kidding. But I never joke around. Every time he fights with his girlfriend too, I often love if I would be willing to replace his girlfriend. Even so, Kanya is a loyal type of girl, Bang. Even if he can't resist my charm."

"Dih, pede very."

"Emang reality is that. Yeah, maybe deep down, he's already starting to feel the same way about me, but his logic says it's wrong. That's why he denied. Well even if there's no taste, at least he's starting to be interested in me."

Arez just smiled as he glanced mischievously. "Ntar you will know."

"If I want to meet you, Kanya?"

"Yes, your curse will not come off. You'll be single for life."

"And! I don't believe you can be enchanted or bewitch people, but if it's prayer, how steadfast my lo doain is for life."

"Yes, you're still expecting Doctor Bella anyway, Bang? Woi, she's married."

"Wait a minute, how do you know that I'm with Doctor Bella... You're really psychic?"

Hearing my question, Arez laughed out loud. The man held onto his stomach which might feel stiff. Seeing how happy he was laughing at me.

"Where the hell lo. I am the granddaughter of the owner of this hospital. Surely it will be all the rumors that are circulating. Moreover, the gossip that seemed to horrendous throughout the hospital because there were patients who dared to kiss a doctor. That's elo, right?"

My face reddened hearing Arez's confession. The story was not worth telling anyway, but Arez carelessly delivered it to me. He laughed at my nervous face. I was really like a thief who was caught by the owner of the house, even before I had time to take valuables.

"That's why Bang, you have to move on. Yes, Kanya is the best soul mate for you. Trust me the same!"

"How can you be sure?"

"That's why I'm talking."

"Trus how can you be sure that Kanya will also like me?"

"Yes that's why lo" Arez said as he tidied up the quilt. He said later, "When Kanya wants to share her problems with you Bang, it's a sign that she's starting to get interested in you. How can you take his heart. Make sure he is still single or not. If not, then don't step up. Your fate would be like me and you really-can be single for life."

After adjusting the position of the fall to make it more comfortable, Arez continued, "Oh yeah Bang, he will be more intensely curious about lo and a little.mm, aggressive in some ways. Touch for example."

Could this be the time? A sign Arez would say if Kanya's getting interested in me? Should I reveal it now?

I took a long breath. Before uttering a sacred sentence that I rarely even barely ever uttered to a woman, I set my breath so as not to look nervous.

"See, I know it's too soon, if you still mind me asking you to get married, what if..." Sentence ceased. Although for a moment I could feel Kanya's body stiffening. Before the woman had kept her ears away from my heart, I held her in a hug so she wouldn't dodge. "...like this for a moment. I want to say something."

Kanya nodded in my arms. I was trying desperately to catch my breath that couldn't calm down.

"I don't know what will happen after tomorrow. If asking you to marry is too soon and makes you feel uncomfortable, I want us to try first. As a couple of lovers. That's if you don't mind. Whatever it is, the decision is yours. I don't want to force."

"Mas, I want us to be like this for longer" Kanya said after a long silence. He pushed my body slowly and looked at me with a very beautiful smiling face. Arez is always right. She looks so beautiful when she smiles. "As Mas Araz said, we won't know what happens after tomorrow, but I want to keep Mas Araz until there's no tomorrow."

"So, we get married or...?"

"Mas Araz huh, is marriage as easy as playing the gambreng?"

My laughter widened at Kanya's question. "Why is it made so hard?"

"I don't even know Mas Araz's family yet. Mas Araz too... Come on, we dated first. The moment is not romantic anymore, right," Kanya grumbled with a face that looks funny. His cheeks were red and his lips looked pouted. Another expression on Kanya's face I just saw for the first time.

"Haha... Sorry deh. Just this time shoot a girl and get accepted. Btw, when did you get interested in me?" I asked kanya. Instead of answering, the girl ran into Arez's room. The laughter did not escape my face. "Kok ran away anyway. Answer dong first, yes."

"Bodo, I don't want to answer!" kanya shouted from behind the door of Arez's room.

Smiles still spread on my lips. I looked at the family photo in the living room that captured the pictures of Arez, Mother, Father and me. My smile is not dim. Although I do not have a blood bond with the family, in fact there are many things that can unite us. I don't think it's a coincidence that we - me and Arez - had so much in common that it ended up with a man donating his heart to me. This is all about destiny interference. Including my meeting with Kanya.

Perhaps it is true, Arez is a psychic who can see the future. It's just that he never showed it brags.

"Thank you, Rez. You have brought Kanya into my life. I owe you a lot of the same. I promise, next I will be happy Kanya. Your job is done. Time to sleep peacefully."

I finally stepped into another room. The clock in the living room just clinked twice. My body needs a break before tomorrow to return to Jakarta early in the morning, if you don't want Kanya to be late to the office. I'm sure, Hanung will blame me if Kanya's performance declines after knowing that she's dating me.

Smile again expands at the tip of my lips when I know the fact that Kanya is now my girlfriend.