LAST GREETINGS

Episode 37's

"When you realize the distance is still separating, longing is a wound."

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Mike let go of his embrace. Tania looked down shyly. He could not look into Mike's eyes, the man who today on his birthday had become his lover.

The air was getting colder but did not dampen Tania's desire to immediately leave the tea plantation. He placed both hands on Mike's chest, while Mike wrapped his hands around his hips.

Without saying anything, Tania moved her head then let her head stick to Mike's chest. Mike again hugged him and played the hair of the girl who had accepted him to be his lover.

Next door, Kevin and Mega do too. Mega hugged Kevin tightly because he could not resist the cold that began to attack them. They're still waiting - they'll be home if Mike and Tania have already signaled them to return to Icha's mother's house.

"I'm gonna miss you tonight, Mike," Tania said breaking the silence.

"I have missed you in the days before, Tania," replied Mike gently, right in the ear of his lover.

Then they shut up. Mike still let his girlfriend's head stick to his chest.

"We go home. Our journey is still far away" Mike whispered.

Tania tightened her embrace for a moment then looked up at her lover and nodded slowly. Mike waved at Mega and Kevin who had been waiting for their sign.

* * * * *

Soon the voice of Adzan will reverberate. The four teenagers were still sitting and none of them were talking.

Near the door, Mega sat speechless - her lover sitting right next to her. He is still amazed to think of the man he once loved, Mike, who today managed to declare his love for the girl he loved.

"I used to express my feelings by writing a poem for him. But today, he did something even more amazing. Tania was lucky to get Mike. May their love last forever" Mega murmured in his heart.

"Bro, let's go home. Our journey is still far away. I can sleep all the time tomorrow but you have to work, right ?" kevin broke the silence.

Mike nodded and looked at Tania. His girlfriend looked back at him. In his heart he was really impressed with Mike's struggles.

"I was saying goodbye to mom, yeah," Mike said suddenly.

Tania followed the steps of her lover who stood up and walked towards the kitchen.

"Mom, thank you. We are ready to go back to Jakarta. Sorry to bother you," Mike told Icha's mother.

"He'e aman wae Ibu mah, hampura teu aya nanaon. This is how Mother's house is," answered Icha's mother gently with her mixed language.

"It's okay, ma'am, it's good to be here. Titip Tania yes, Mom," Mike said again as he shook Icha's mother's hand.

Mike returns to the living room followed by Icha and Tania's mother. Mega and Kevin stand up and greet Icha's mother. They say goodbye.

Tania escorts them to where Mike and Kevin park the motorcycle. Tania hugged Mega and repeatedly thanked her.

"You guys be careful, good luck until Jakarta" Tania said.

Mike just nodded, saying nothing. Tania releases her hug on Mega and approaches her lover.

"Mike, be careful. Take care of your safety for me. I will only be able to take care of your heart, not your life" Tania whispered softly.

Mike looked at the girl who had become his girlfriend for a moment and smiled. Quickly, he hugged his lover and landed a friendly kiss on the girl's head.

"I'll miss you, Mike" whispered Tania again.

"Daaa Tania, take care of yourself, yes" Mega said as she waved at Tania.

Tania waved back - she even touched her best friend's hand.

"Tania, take care of yourself. I love you," Mike said, pulling the gas off his motorcycle and leaving Tania.

Tania just nodded small. The hue of his face showed sadness after his lover and his two best friends left.

He stood still and looked at their motorbikes until they were lost behind a neighbor's house.

Tania went back inside and headed straight for the kitchen. She hugs Icha's mother and thanks Icha's mother for allowing Mike and his best friend to visit her.

* * * * *

Kevin stopped his motorcycle from going to the side of the road. Mike followed them and stopped his bike behind Kevin's bike. They came down and stood by the side of the road.

The view is fixed on the view of the village and the lights of the house in the valley. They didn't come back through Cibadak. Mike deliberately asked Kevin to take the top path to pay tired of his two friends with beautiful scenery along the way from Puncak to Jakarta.

"We'll take a break. The view here is beautiful" Kevin said with a smile. Mega and Mike nodded small.

Near them are many people who pair up spending their Sunday nights. Kevin walked to a small cottage, there was a father who was fanning the fire, a grilled corn seller. He bought three pieces of grilled corn and gave them to Mega and Mike.

"It's eight o'clock, you're okay, bro ?" ask Kevin about Mike.

"Liet, come home early in the morning I'll still go to work" replied Mike.

"Aren't you tired ?" tanya Mega fast.

"Can't be tired. Tania has accepted her love" Kevin said in a joking tone.

"Hehehehe, it's not about that, bro. Commitment must be maintained. I have to replace my partner who replaced me today" Mike explained.

"You're crazy yeah, me and Kevin are freaking out about what you did earlier" Mega said.

"If I know it's just your game, I don't care" Kevin said as he chewed his grilled corn.

"Hehehehe, I told you before. You'll find out later" Mike replied with a smile at his two best friends.

They chatted until the grilled corn in their hands ran out. Kevin and his girlfriend were unceasingly complimenting and occasionally cursing Mike after what he had done earlier this afternoon.

"Bro, are there any plans to pick up Tania if she has completed her research ?" kevin asked suddenly as he opened his cigarette pack and took out a stick from there.

"I haven't thought about it,,,,"

"If he's off, he'll do it" said Mega cutting off Mike's words.

Mike just smiled. His mind turned back to Tania. Mega and Kevin as usual, next to Mike they were busy taking selfies. Sometimes they ask Mike to join.

They looked so happy that without them knowing it, they had been nostalgic for almost two hours.

"Let's go" said Kevin to take Mike home. Mike nodded small.

Just as they were about to move out of the place, it rained heavily and forced them to abandon their intentions. Mike and Kevin stop the motorcycle and find shelter under a tree.

"***Your safety page is for me. I'll only be able to take care of your heart, not your life."

🌼Thank you for staying faithful waiting for the continuation of Mike and Tania's story. Keep supporting and don't forget likes, votes and comments. Keep your health. God bless. 🌼***