L A T E
1
15 Minutes Fara waited, but the person who made the appointment wanted to see her never came. Fara turned her gaze from the glass containing ice latte to the glass window next to her. His eyes narrowed when accidentally exposed to the penetrating sunlight. His chin is propped up. His mind floated remembering that day. The first day Fara met the man, at the cafe where she is currently.
***
That was when school finished.
Sultry.
The atmosphere of the cafe which is crowded by customers makes Fara uncomfortable. If it wasn't for returning the favor to Nova— his classmate—for cheating on a math assignment that Fara forgot to do he wouldn't want to be here in a cafe that just opened last week. Its location close to his home then did not make Fara happy.
After 10 minutes of waiting in line, it was finally Fara and Nova's turn to order.
Nova pushes the shoulder of the woman next to him. Fara blinked, her attention that was originally fixed on the beautiful figure in front of her turned to the side.
Fara looked at Nova, the suspect pushing her shoulder. “What?”
Nova thrusts a menu list into Fara. “See this, which one do you want?”
Fara read the menu list still held by Nova, her face looks flat and ordinary. However, Fara's mind was full of some unfamiliar words that she didn't know. Long enough Fara looked at the paper still held by Nova. Until finally hesitantly Fara pointed at the picture of a black colored glass. However, suddenly—
“What can I help you with?” Fara suddenly stiffened to hear the voice. Fara looked up, looking at the man in front of her who had caught Fara's attention.
Fara looked at the handsome face with a thin smile and a friendly look that was fixed on her. Unknowingly Fara held her breath and swallowed with great difficulty. His mouth closed tightly, reluctant to make a sound. His chest suddenly tightened because his heart was beating faster than usual.
It feels no oxygen entering the lungs—Fara suddenly realized when exhaling the breath that had been restrained. His face was thrown down to the left. His mind thrashed to the stupidity he had done just a few seconds ago.
Nova looked at the friend next to her who was down, looking uninterested to make a sound.
“There can I help?” The man repeated the question, because he thought the first question was ignored by the two high school boys in front of him.
Nova was a little surprised because of that sudden voice. He looked up, then looked at the man in front of him who was still looking friendly with a faint smile. Nova felt bad for him. He smiled widely until his small eyes looked almost closed.
“Please recommend coffee for someone who doesn't really like coffee.” The words came out of Nova's little lips. A smile was still on Nova's face, but not as wide as before. Nova is being kind to help the girl next to him whom she forces to accompany her in this cafe, even though Nova knows Fara will not like her. She was self-conscious and felt a little bad for Fara.
“I recommend latte. There is milk in it, so the bitter taste of coffee is not too dominant. You can also add sugar if you want to be sweeter.”
Her voice again filled Fara's auditory senses, making her shudder at the sudden foreign feeling of greeting. Fara looked up, then looked at the man. Again his shoulders were tense. His heart was racing faster than usual to the point that he was worried that Nova and the man heard the sound of his heart beating loudly. Fara felt her heart and mind were out of step. His heart said that he was attracted by the tall figure in front of him, but his mind continued to resist the foreign sense that appeared. Fara let out a slow sigh then lowered her head back, fortunately this time Fara did not forget to breathe.
The call of Nova awakens Fara from the war between her heart and mind. “Fara, want to order that one or the other?”
“That's it, don't be too sweet,” replied Fara who had straightened her head back, her gaze shifted so as not to see the face of a man with a thin smile and eyes fixed on him.
Soon the man recorded their order. His gaze was fixed on a computer-like object perched on the table. The index moves freely there; it makes a pressing motion.
“OK. One chocolate coffee and one latte coffee. Brought home or drank here?”
“Drink here,” reply Nova quickly.
Fara pursed her lips. Just now he wanted to answer for the drink to be brought home, but this woman beside him preceded him.
Nova. His mind had sworn at the woman, but his mouth could only be silent. Instead the dislike gaze Fara gave to Nova who was smiling sweetly.
The dislike gaze that Fara gave Nova came to a halt due to the male voice behind the bar table.
“Total forty-three thousand rupiah.” The man's hand stopped in the air to receive the money Nova had given him.
Fara watched the movements of the man's hand. His lower arm that was not covered by a shirt sleeve was visible. His palm was large, it would be nice if the fingers of the hand were linked to Fara's fingers. Fara continued to watch, until the man's hand was raised again to give the receipt and change to Nova.
“Please take the message over there,” said the man as his hand pointed to the side.
“Thank you.” Nova gave a small nod and turned to Fara. His hand was holding Fara's wrist.
Fara remained silent until the pull on her wrist resuscitated her daydreaming about the events from her beginning at this cafe to the present, as well as her body's strange response when confronted with the man.
A little unwilling, his steps followed Nova to a place not far from where the man was, above where it hung a wooden board with the inscription ‘Take Order’. Again they lined up. It was very desirable for Fara to squat down for now, but just wanted to. Fara won't do it, because she still has shame.
“Big brother was handsome ya!” yell Nova suddenly.
Fara nodded with her mind saying ‘iya’ with passion.
Be Happy's!
Fara felt shunned after reading that word.
Fara stopped looking at the handwriting because suddenly her wrist was again held by Nova.
***
Two women in high school uniforms are still standing. One of them who has long shoulder-length hair with a curl tip is seen standing in front of another woman whose hair is tied to a model ponytail.
Fara felt the grip on her hand loosen for a moment, until it suddenly returned tightly. Fara was shocked. In haste, Nova pulls Fara to a bench in the corner by the window that someone sitting there has just left.
Nova sat down first, followed by Fara. Their positions face. Sunlight penetrated the glass windows, forming several lines of light that were temporary on the square table where they were.
Fara put away the plastic wrap of the straws of the former people who occupied this bench earlier. Then looked up to look at Nova who had drunk his drink greedily.
“Fara, it's really delicious, you have to try!” Nova gave her drink to Fara.
Fara just shook her head; a sign of not wanting to.
Nova put his drink on the table, his hand moved to grab the drink that Fara had not touched since they sat in this chair. Nova tore the plastic straw, then threw it away on the table. His left hand held Fara's drink, while his right hand held a black straw.
Fara only noticed Nova raising her right hand into the air and then down to the object in her left hand, Nova hollowed out the plastic cover with a straw. Then, without permission Nova immediately drank coffee owned by Fara.
Fuck up! Inner Fara scoffed at Nova's behavior.
“It's also good, try deh!” Nova's eyes sparkled as he said that sentence.
“For you alone,” reply cuek. Besides having been drunk by Nova, Fara also did not want to. He doesn't like to drink coffee.
“No, you have to try! The recommendation of the handsome brother was right.”
Nova's innocent words disturbed Fara, the sense of stranger reappeared, even though only the nickname that Fara heard from Nova's mouth. His ears heard that reflexively his brain immediately imagined the figure of "Big Brother.
Fara stared at Nova for a moment, then down at the object in Nova's right hand. His hand moved to take the glass. With confidence Fara immediately suck liquid brown color. Nova just smiled and returned busy with his drink.
The bitter and sweet taste and a little creamy from the milk was felt by Fara when the drink reached his taste senses. There was a chill running down Fara's throat.
Not bad.
Continue to suck the liquid, until the remaining half. Long-time delicious. Moreover, this coffee is a recommendation from the man.
Remembering the man, Fara's heart beat fast again. Fara let go of the pagutan on the black colored straw. His net moved to notice his place at the moment.
The walls in this place are creamy, with some brown frame decoration, there are several posters, one of which is a picture of a teapot with a black background. Fara can also see a kind of green fern in a pot that hangs on some parts of the wall. The lights with a black dome overlaying them hang over each bench. Small wooden table in square shape. Black colored chair equipped with a backrest. As well as dark brown vinyl flooring with wood motifs. The smell of coffee can be smelled throughout this room. Do not forget the music that plays with low volume gives a calming impression. Simple and comfortable.
Fara kept paying attention. His eyes reached the door of the only place in and out of glass. Fara slowly turned her neck from the door to the male figure behind the bar table. The man looks busy serving customers, a thin smile etched on his handsome face. For Fara, it is not the atmosphere of the cafe that makes him feel at home here, not also the aesthetic cafe decoration. Except that guy.
Fara continued to pay attention, staring at the moving object for longer than previous objects.
Fara pulled the corners of her lips up slightly.
Fara liked.
***
