Lara's Admirers
Episode 37's
Jakarta, April 22
04.50 WIB
I woke up earlier this morning. While Arka was still fast asleep regardless of the surrounding. I sat down for a while to get my life back together which was not yet fully intact. I let out a long sigh then confirmed the irregular Arka blanket. The cold must not pierce his body before the sun is present. Then I hurried to leave the place. Mornings like this are still very good for walking, not too much pollution. After all, taxis and other public transportation are very difficult to find at times like this. Moreover, buses, they only operate around six o'clock.
On the way home, I happened to pass by a cake shop whose brand had been long enough. But it always feels adapted to the times. I patted my seat lightly when I had just forgotten one very important thing. I checked my phone to see if I wasn't mistaken.
As it turns out, this is April 22 which means it is today the eighteenth anniversary of Arka. Oh my God, how can I remember it now. I should have waited for Arka to wake up and then wish her a happy birthday. But, if I do that I can be late for school. I finally decided to buy a cake after school and then give him a surprise at the hospital.
***
Now Clara is part of our friendship. From now on this girl has officially become my best friend as well as Clara. This time we chose not to go to the cafeteria, because the place was crowded. We sat under a large banyan tree located at the end of the main square. Truly an unrivaled pleasure, enjoy the breeze of gently stroking our hair under this scorching sun.
"Where is the condition of the Arka?" Ask Clara.
The night after Arka regained consciousness, she also left shortly after I left the place.
"Udah is better than it was yesterday." My word.
"Thank God."
"Eh come home from school you guys want to go to the hospital with me? Today's the birthday arc." I clearly.
If more and more people were to congratulate him and encourage him in this way, he would be very happy. He will feel that if many people love him, he will not feel sad anymore.
"Can." Reply Stefani.
"We're giving the story a surprise for Arka?" Ask Clara.
I nodded slowly "so later before going to the hospital we buy birthday cake first for Arka."
"What's the gift?" Ask Stefani.
I shrugged both of my shoulders, until now I have not thought about the card. I bit one of my lips, then tried to twist my brain to get an idea.
"What does she like about?" Ask Clara.
"Well, you're his ex. Time doesn't know." Tukas Stefani's.
"What about you sha?" Stefani.
"Just like Clara hehe, don't know." I answered with a simple smile.
"Where are you!" Ketus Stefani's.
But so far I don't know that, Arka is very closed. It's not that easy to talk about his privacy.
"What if dreamcatcher?" My proposal.
"Dreamcatcher?" Tell them both at the same time.
"Yes, Arka will have many dreams that he wants to realize. If the dreamcatcher is said to keep us from nightmares." I clearly.
"Whatever the hell." Reply Clara.
"Okay, you're gonna go home from school and we're gonna find her stuff." Clara.
We both agree with Clara.
***
"Tin."
The little bells hanging above the store rang out loud. It has been designed in such a way that everyone who goes through this door, the bells sound.
Clara and Stefani buy gifts for Arka at the accessories and souvernir store across the street. I hope they get along well there and don't cause any problems. While I went to the cake shop to look for Arka's birthday cake.
"Where do you buy mbak?" Ask the shopkeeper.
I looked through all the cakes that were intentionally placed in the display case.
"How many if this one?" I said pointing at one of the chocolate cakes there.
"Seventy thousand mbak."
"Oh, yaudah I took it yes. Same I bought his candles too, numbers eight and one."
"So soon I'll prepare the order."
Then the shopkeeper took the cake I asked for and packed it in plastic with the name of the store.
"This is the money."
"Thank you, please come back."
I walked out of the store while waiting for Clara and Stefani who never came back.
Did they fight again there because of their different opinions about gifts.
"Yourf!" I let out my breath.
I contacted Mama Arka, and I told her about this plan. Fortunately he was willing to spend a little time getting involved in this plan. I also took Brother Sendy and Renata. It can be said that all friends and close friends of Arka will be there later.
The two girls finally showed me the nose I was waiting for. They carry a plastic package in which there is a box with a size large enough. They waited for the traffic to slow down a bit before finally approaching me here.
"It's a long time." My long-awaited protest.
"I'm sorry, because we have a lot of gifts for Arka." Stefani.
"What kind of gift?" I was curious about the box.
"Later in the hospital. I've already sealed it, yuk hunted." Clara.
"You think you doang pegel, yuk ah!" Take me.
***
Everyone had gathered in front of Arka's room. Hopefully, our event will not disturb other patients who are resting. After waking up, Arka was immediately transferred to a regular inpatient room.
We prepared everything so perfectly. After the candle that was stuck on the cake lit, we went inside while singing happy birthday.
I brought the cake in front of Arka who was sitting on her bed watching television. I could not clearly interpret his expression, there were too many flavors present there so it was difficult to translate one by one.
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Happy birthday Arka
"Yeah!" We all cheered happily celebrating the anniversary of Arka.
Exactly eighteen years ago on the same day, an Ark was born into the world with all the advantages it had. And now becomes the figure of an Ark who is in front of us at this time.
Blow out the candle, blow the candle
Blow the candle right now
Right now
Now either.
I thrust his cake to Arka so that she would blow the candles easier.
"Eh, wait!" Prevent me when Arka almost blew that little fire.
"Make a wish first." I said it as if it were innocent.
While Arka whose face had looked confused before, immediately smiled slightly afterwards.
"Okay, my hope at the age of eighteen is to be a better person, more mature and may God always protect me and my mother and everyone who is here, the Arka dear." Speak Arka expectantly.
"Amen!" Say us all simultaneously.
I gave the cake to Arka to blow up before the candles melted everywhere.
"BRUKK!!!"
***
At the same time as Arka blew out the candle, I suddenly fell Eresha's body. Everyone who was there panicked. Renata calls the doctor who usually handles Eresha who happens to be on the picket.
Eresha was immediately treated in the doctor's room without anyone to come in. They were all waiting for news of Eresha's condition in the waiting room. Arka immediately turned to her wheelchair and waited with the others.
"Eresha why the hell is behind this he often fainted?" Ask Clara.
"There's something about Eresha you should know."
Everyone there started to look seriously. Renate.
"Eresha has meningitis, an inflammatory disease of the lining of the brain." Clara is heavy-hearted.
He had to break his promise with his brother. But either way they should know about Eresha's true condition.
Arka's face instantly turned sad, her mother patted her shoulder gently trying to calm her child on this one.
"Why don't you tell me the same!" Sendy said in a pretty high voice.
"Eresha told me to keep this a secret!" Reply Renata who is no less strong voice.
"But I deserve to know! I'm it..." Sendy can't continue the sentence anymore.
"Whose brother?" Ask Arka with a voice that started to rumble.
Sendy directly thrust his face. He again realized that he was only Eresha's lover in the past is open now.
"No." Answer Sendy limp.
"Why do I want to tell you guys, while Eresha just don't ngizinin me to tell you mom's equally papa." Renata.
"Eresha's disease is okay, right? Just a regular pain, right? He'll be healed, right?" Stefani immediately let out a million questions that he had sniffed from earlier.
"The word doctor for now the disease is not classified as severe. But if his lifestyle is not healthy, his condition could worsen. Even more fatal might be the chance of his life being threatened." Clearly Renata while holding back a cry.
They didn't think that the girl would have to experience this kind of thing.
"Eresha can't go! Yesterday he promised not to leave Arka!" Firmly Arka.
He believes there is still hope for Eresha, given the doctor's word that her condition has not worsened. Arka and everyone who was in the i were convinced that Eresha was still entitled to this opportunity.
"This is not what Arka wants, on Arka's birthday." Said Arka in a slow tone.
His mother Arka tried to melt the atmosphere "Udah we all want to pray just so that Eresha's condition improves huh."
They are all still very unstable today, the average brand is still classified as a teenager. As the most mature there, Mama Arka who most know how to deal with situations like this.
"Sir ren, sen. I want to talk to you guys." Arka.
They then pulled over a little because there was a serious thing they had to talk about, moreover this was the privacy of the three of them.
"What's wrong?" Ask Sendy.
"When will you hide your identity?" Ask Arka back.
"I told you that time was the answer to all that." Obviously Sendy.
"Yes, how long will we hide all this from Eresha. He also deserves to know." Renata Timpal.
"If Eresha can't get to that time how!" Snapped Arka impatient.
"Lo doain Eresha is dead! Ha!" Reply Sendy while pulling Arka's collar.
"Udah-udah! Eresha again drop you guys even fight!" Renata tries to separate the two men.
"I'm sure Eresha still has plenty of time, God still loves her." Sendy said expectantly.
"I also thought that at first, brother. Just in the current situation isn't it getting faster the better?" Clearly Arka hoped Sendy understood his point.
"I just don't want Eresha to drop everything. Because she'd be in shock once she knew everything." Sendy.
It was a very difficult decision for them. Now everything is going wrong. Finally they decided not to discuss this matter first until Eresha's condition really improved and recovered.
***
Eresha was finally decided to stay in the hospital. Conditions have been declining lately. Maybe because he too often stayed up late while keeping Arka in the hospital not to mention added activities at school.
"The doctor said Eresha ngedrop." Clara told these three people who had just come.
There's not much they can do for now. Arka was supposed to be begging Eresha to be okay. But his prayer when the make a wish had represented everything, all the people he loved including Eresha
The girl looked fine and very cheerful. He was as excited as his usual days, always smiling widely throughout the day. But who would have thought behind the cheerful figure of Eresha there is a wounded soul, there is a body that is not able to last much longer. If the condition worsens, life expectancy can be depleted.
Clara and Stefani are also saddened by the current situation of her best friend. They don't think that the girl will experience this kind of thing.
Renata has called her parents to inform her of Eresha's current condition, and they say they will fly to Jakarta soon. They have to wait until all the papa work is done, looking for tickets for the near future is also quite difficult. This was no longer the time to keep everything a secret, he knew that what he was doing right now was not what his sister expected. But it was all he did for the good of Eresha. Her parents know better what is best for her youngest child.
"Sorry big brother deck." Inner Renata in the heart.
On one hand he had felt like he had failed to be a good sister to Eresha. But on the other hand he knows if what he's doing is right. Eresha could not keep covering his wound, because slowly everyone would find out.
***
I tried to get up and sit myself on the grass and weeds. I threw my eyes as far as I could. What in this place is no one passing by, am I really alone here.
Suddenly a hand blocked my view. He closed my eyes from behind without any prior warning, but it surprised me, not playing. Considering there wasn't anyone here before, then who covered my eyes.
"Hey, how was last night? Not alone, right, isn't that what I said?" Said a mysterious voice that was suddenly caught by my eardrum.
My hands were trying to get both of his hands out of my sight. Then he moved forward in position.
"You?" My toot.
He nodded his head slowly.
That's the mysterious man I've been with in every dream. He came back here after yesterday leaving me alone up here with no one to talk to. I thought he was leaving and he would never come back here again. But now his presence can break all my bad assumptions about him.
He took my hand to go with him, somewhere else today he's taking me.
"Let's come along." His word.
I spontaneously stopped my steps at that very moment.
"Where?"
"Somewhere this time it's crowded, you'll love it." Evidently.
He led me down the hill, to a small river at the foot of the hill. He led me into the river, honestly I hesitated to step my foot in there.
"Come on, it's nothing." His word.
I finally decided to follow him in there.
"The reason is." Saying back.
"Say we're going to some place..."
I haven't finished my sentence yet because he hastily silenced my mouth with his index finger.
"This one will take us to that place." Whisper in my ear.
That slightly hoarse heavy voice stroked my subtle sense of hearing.
He pushed my body into a sudden drowning in the river. After that I don't know anything anymore.
"Hey, wake!" A voice came back to greet my hearing.
The mysterious man patted me on the cheek so I could feel myself. I looked at him vaguely. My life has not yet returned fully to my body.
"Where are we?"
I try to clarify my view.
"The school." Answer the man.
"Whose school?"
"Try to remember again."
It helps me to get up from my position now. We entered a school building that I could no longer recognize. Because you know how bad my memory is.
Uh wait a minute. I fumbled all my clothes and hair. Though obviously we were drifting in the river, why can not wet at all. Really weird.
He took me around this school. I think I remember something about this building. I'm sure I've left a lot of memories here. We walked to the main square. I can hear the noise of the crowd up there.
I was stunned, amazed to see the neat rows of dozens of students with his instrument. They look so charming, so charismatic.
"You used to be a member of this school's marching band." Said the man.
"Are you in this school?" I asked who still didn't believe.
I do remember clearly if I used to be a marching band member before moving to Jakarta. But now I've forgotten how my old school building was. Before I lived in Jakarta for a year.
"Let's go there." His word.
He invited me to go there to the students who were marching neatly.
"Eh, will we be angry with the coach you want? He'll look pretty scary when he's angry. Especially the one most often in angerin' it's the bass boy." I clearly.
Slowly I started to remember everything back, about Mr. Chandra who used to be my coach. How are you now, I haven't seen him in a long time.
"Please, they won't see us." His word.
Without saying any more, he immediately withdrew my hand to go with her. He asked me to come into the line. He took me forward, to the line of bell instruments that I had played for about a year. Honestly, I'm still worried, what if Mr. Chandra saw us both, we could be done for him.
"Let's see who this is." He said while pointing at one of the bell players.
"I. It's me!" I said half in disbelief.
How can I see myself there. I saw myself being so serious in that line, waiting for instructions from the majorette and gita patih in front. If this is how it is, does this mean I'm going back in time.
"Why am I here?" My words now still don't understand.
"Because you've been here before."
"Before?"
"Yes." Yeah."
"That means the time is past dong?"
"It's true, it's a past thing."
"So far, why are we here, and why can't they see us?"
"We're again time travel. I must complete a mission with you."
"What mission?"
"Later you will also know, and the question of why they can't see us is because the one who goes on this journey is our spirit not our body."
"Wheel? Does that mean my soul is separate from my body?"
"It's true, but only for a while."
"Am I going to die? Or maybe I'm dead?"
"No, you'll be back when we're done walking."
Then we went back to the back row there, the line of percussion kids. He brought me to one of the players quint tom or commonly called tom if you want more in short.
"Do you still know him?" Ask the man.
I stared at the sweaty tom player's face. His face no longer looked foreign. Of course, all the marching band members here face is no stranger to me.
"Try to remember what his name is." His word.
"I don't remember at all. But I know his face."
"If you knew who this man was, then you'd know who I am."
That means this mysterious man has something to do with this tom player.
"I really forgot." I said while grunting in annoyance.
"Come on, try again. I'm sure if you can. I'm helping you to tell me something."
"Then just say it, why should I tell her to remember?"
"Unfortunately I can't say it even if I want to."
But all my efforts were in vain, still I can't remember who he is.
Suddenly I reflexively rolled my eyeballs. Instructions from gita patih sound very loud and clear to the back here. The mayor's wand also prepares the line with his cane. Everyone here looks so serious, their eyes are straight looking forward just like the quint tom guy I no longer remember his name. If it's not wrong, he was my senior, but what's his name. Arghh! Damnit damnit! My memory is bad!
"Ready motion!" Instructions gita starch from the front.
They simultaneously close their legs, preparing their positions with their respective tool-beating sticks. While the windshield is ready with a different position again.
"Band on up!"
Trumpets, trombones and melophones and all other inflatable equipment troops are in the position of the right mouth piece in front of their mouths. A burst of tones ready to blow in a moment.
This man had also been waiting for when it was time for him to hit a quint tom to create tempo alongside the rest of the percussion squad.
The song had already started, I was amazed at the scenery around me. This song.... Yes I finally remembered this song, now is our last rehearsal. Parting exercises between the eight and nine forces.
Gita starch gives instructions to form a parade row then walk like a parade in general. The man walked forward while still playing his instrument, I thought he was going to hit me. It turned out that he had even redeemed my body, how could I forget that right now I was just a spirit.
I was sitting limp for a moment after the quint tom guy broke through my spirit. I was holding onto my chest which was in excruciating pain. Why is this, the pain is exactly like stabbing my heart. Until I can't sniff at all.
The mysterious man bowed his head then whispered softly in my ear "That man is a part of your soul that disappeared."
One of his hands pointed at the back of the man who was moving away from us. I grimaced the pain of enduring the increasingly uncontrollable pain. Suddenly my vision blurred and all the objects that were there slowly disappeared one by one.
***
It's been two hours since Eresha was unconscious. Only Arka and Sendy are left there. They have all returned to their respective activities. The two men had been waiting since then beside Eresha's bed with a riled up feeling.
Now the girl's face looked so pale, almost like an undead. His body also cooled. It managed to make them both panic. They were afraid that something might happen that they did not want with this girl.
But on the other hand, they still have hope. His breathing was still felt, as was his pulse. At least he will be fine despite his physical condition like this.
***
I opened my eyes slowly and found myself lying weakly on the bed. I held my head a little dizzy for what reason. With a still vague look I saw Brother Sendy and Arka who were also here, the look on their faces seemed so excited.
I racked my brain, trying to recall what happened just a moment ago. Last I remembered that I was with that mysterious man in my old school. But why now I can be here, considering the distance from there to Jakarta is very far. Maybe I was still in Jakarta and it was just a dream like always that happened to me.
"Finally you realize sha, you know we've been waiting for you here two hours more." Arka Clear.
"Eh, look. Eresha was very pale. Now it's back to being, like a healthy person." Said Brother Sendy while pointing at me.
"Maybe it's because he's been sober." Answer Arka clearly.
I'm still trying to digest everything that's going on around me. I feel like I'm like a dazed person now. Hh, basic!
"The doctor said you should stay here." Arka.
"Why?" I asked while scratching my head that did not itch.
"Your condition is cropping again. We all know, Renata told us everything." Obviously Brother Sendy.
"Remissed?" My word.
That one woman, when yesterday she promised me. I just forgave him, now he has done something else that makes me upset with him.
But yes, I am lazy to prolong this problem. They really should know about this anyway.
"Son Renata also called your mother, and they said they would go to Jakarta as soon as possible." Arka.
I nodded my head slowly. They don't usually both care about me like this. Especially having to leave their jobs. Moreover, the first six months at the beginning of the year, they are busy. Thank goodness at least this time their hearts will soften a little.
"Later that night Renata can't come back here again, he said he's still doing group work at his friend's boarding house." Obviously Brother Sendy.
"Yaudah, it's nothing." My word.
"What if I take care of you." Tawar Arka's.
Though his condition had just improved, how could he give me an offer like this.
"You're still sick." My word.
"It's okay."
"What if you drop?"
"Udah let me take care of Eresha." Said Brother Sendy.
"Today's class is over." Reciprocity.
"Jaudah my sister, anyways I feel safer if Eresha is the same sister." Reply Ark.
I can catch the meaning of the sparkle in both of his beads, there is a sense of disappointment there. This time Arka prefers to give up with Brother Sendy. He turned his wheelchair around and rushed out of my room without leaving a word.
"Carca!" My solute.
He stopped his wheelchair and turned to me for a moment.
I slapped the hand of Brother Sendy who was still standing next to me.
"Anterin Arka gih." My whisper slowly.
He nodded his head saying he understood. Then he rushed to Arka, a boy whose emotions were still very unstable at times.
He immediately took control of Arka's wheelchair and took her out of the room and drove her back to her room.
I took a long breath. I think lately every dream I've had feels so real. Including the pain that suddenly appeared in the middle of my dream earlier. The pain is still there now. I held onto my chest which felt a little tight, but it didn't matter to me.
