Heart Shackles
Missing the Sky
Manhattan, New York City
August, 2021
The sun seemed to smile in shame, greeting the thousands of humans who were still wandering in dreamland to return into his body. But some people remain ignorant, like a girl who still flinch comfortably in her bed. He pulled out a blanket to cover the sunlight that pierced through his curtain slit.
Let alone a beam of sunlight in the crevices of the curtain, the clock that keeps ringing was not able to wake him.
Fifteen minutes later, the sun was rising, the clock was working on the nightstand also continued to fuss. Finally the Girl woke up because she was disturbed. With his eyes still closed he felt the nightstand and grabbed his working hours.
His eyes narrowed, trying to see the number indicated by the clock. A second later his eyes were round. With a riot he got up from his bed and ran to the bathroom.
"Oh My God, I'm late" he said.
He didn't take a shower and just brushed his teeth and washed his face. Still in a hurry he wears a striped shirt combined with his flagship jeans. Out of the bathroom in a hurry he snatched the bag containing the laptop and the needs of his lecture which fortunately had been prepared last night.
There was no berias event, the girl with unraveled black hair slid towards the door, locked it and rushed towards the elevator. The girl pressed the button downstairs while her feet wrapped in sneakers tapped on the floor. Habits while waiting.
The girl glanced at the circular watch on her left wrist. As soon as he saw the numbers displayed by the digital watch, he immediately panicked. Crazy one! The clock is pointing at 7.15 a.m and he should be presenting at 7.30 exactly.
"Mrs. Steven's gonna kill me after, this. Oh God, help me," he's on the sidelines of his run after getting out of the elevator.
There was no time to wait for the bus so he decided to just run. Luckily the location of the campus is not too far from the apartment where he lives, only takes a twenty-minute leisurely walk.
The girl continued to run, disregarding the few pedestrians who had been hit by her. In fact, he almost got hit by a car earlier because he crossed without looking right left. Entering the campus courtyard in a frenzy, his face was flooded with sweat that kept dripping. The morning was pretty annoying.
Four minutes before 7:30 a.m., the girl tied her hair together. Adjusting his breath that sting then scramble to run back. Believe me Columbia University isn't that small to go at lightning speed, unless you're one of the avangers. Especially now that you're still at the faculty gate.
The connecting corridor between the rooms seemed quiet making it more free to move his legs without having to nudge others. But there is a bad side, a quiet corridor indicates all students have been in the class which means the course has begun.
Arriving at the door of the room that read "Bussiness A" the girl stopped her steps. The door was tightly shut making him even more nervous. Before long the glass door was open. Bring up an aged person with a body that still looks fit.
"Grow Mentari, what's your reason for being late for my class?" with the sarcasm.
The dew that was poked with the question was only scowling and scratching the back of his head that did not itch. But in his heart he cursed his lecturer who was too cruel.
'Who gave the task no matter. You think making a paper one day later tomorrow should be ready to be presented that easily? If not the lecturer I've torn you apart.' Unfortunately, that sentence is only spoken in the heart.
"I'm sorry, sir. I did the task until late at night and finally woke up late" replied Dewun.
"Omong empty! You should take your time to do my job, not reflect like a depressed person. You think I didn't know you were hallucinating so much? Talking to yourself like a gi– person" said the Lecturer staring lightly at Dewun.
"–stop. Mr. Dear Steven, I apologize for my delay this morning. I make sure this doesn't happen again. However, I beg you very much, do not bring personal matters into the world of lectures!"
The Dew left the Lecturer or whom he called Mr. Steven. No longer care about his image as an exemplary student crossed after. He was too fed up with the careless mouth of the Lecturer.
What was he saying? Crazy one? I swear by whatever it is that it doesn't accept.
His steps continued to accelerate towards the park beside the southern building. Arriving there, he sat down on the green grass that covered the garden soil. Tender his frail body to the trunk of a Maple Tree.
That slightly bent shoulder slowly began to tremble. His head bowed with a circle of falling tears. He repeatedly hit his chest which felt tight.
Shouts from behind made Dew surprised. He immediately wiped away the tears that were still melting on the surface of his smooth cheeks. Looking to left—to be exact to a young man who surprised him. Edward Kenneth Halbert, an English student who became his only friend.
"Edward," heeled.
Suddenly, Edward sat down next to the Dew and lay down with Dew's thigh. The bright blue eyes derived from his father's genes were staring at the face of Dew from below that looks sad. He sighed softly. Too much to remember what happened. Befriending Dew for almost three years made him little by little know the character of the girl.
"Again?" ask Edward.
"Hmm?" Dew lowered his head, looking at the handsome face of his best friend. Then turn his eyes forward.
Edward got up from his bed. "Surely he's a very valuable person to you" he said.
Dew smiled briefly. "Yes, he is like an angel sent by God to light up my life which is shrouded in darkness."
"What made you love him so much, even now after all these years since his departure."
The originally moody face of the Dew, slowly began to reveal its cherry. He was so happy when anyone would want to listen to his loved ones' stories–his angel.
"The sky is the most random person I've ever met. Even at our meeting for the first time."
***
"Hi, pretty! Alone, is it? Not afraid of being surrounded by ants?"
The languidly sitting dew suddenly scrunched his forehead. Out of nowhere comes a boy who wears the MOS attribute like himself come and greet him. Moreover, the phrased sentences that are seen from anywhere do not fall into the category of polite greetings. Freak, that's the man's image for Dewun.
Not getting an answer from the girl in front of him, the boy then said again, "yes, covered in ants, because you are sweet."
What the hell is this boy making a ticklish Dew. But indeed human nature is always the opposite, even so the Dew cheeks remain flushed red just because of the latest class of waves.
***
The dew that remembered the scene a few years ago chuckled softly. "For me, the sky is everything. He can be a father, a brother, a friend, a man who teaches me what love is. He's like a hero who comes when he's hurt. Protecting me from condemnation and the rigors of life. Always with me even at the lowest point. He's the one who made me slowly rise up to taste a little happiness. Even though all I got was temporary. But I am happy to know him. A handsome angel heart."
The tears returned. Unable to hold back longing for him loved ones. Edward, who was sitting next to her, was also in grief. He understood, because he had been in that position—abandoned the person he loved by the intermediary of the destiny of the Almighty.
Slowly Edward pulled the frail body of the Dew into his arms. Swiping the vibrating back while whispering a sedative word that feels free to express. The dust is still sobbing great.
"Edward, .. s–sick. Can't God take me to the sky?" said Dewun in between his tears.
"I have no one in the world, they leave me one by one. Is God happy to see me suffer? I also want to be happy, can't He take me with them?" continued.
Edward's heart was wrathful to see the girl in his arms frustrated with her life. If he could, he wanted to move the pain into him. He could not hear the girl's heart-wrenching cry.
Relax, you are not alone. There is still me to accompany your days. There is still me who will give you love and teach you how to be happy that may be lost from your life. I promise I will try my best to make you happy and in spite of all the pain. I promise, Dew!
But, baby, it was just in my heart.
