LAST GREETINGS

Episode 64-2

^^^"I knew I would face hard times when I would restart everything. But I know your love is so great for me.^^^

^^^Don't let me linger in my grief."^^^

...----------------...

Tania looked back and found her father hugging his mother. Tania paused for a moment to look at her mother and then strongly turned around and continued walking through the waiting room. Soon he will leave and leave his parents, Bimo and all the sadness that along the road to the airport has accompanied him.

"Mom knows you're pretending to be tough, son. I know exactly how you feel right now. It's not easy for you. But I can't ban you either. Mother's prayer is with you" Tania's mother said breaking the silence in the taxi on her way from home to the airport.

Tania just kept quiet and hugged her mother tightly. Her tears almost fell if she didn't try to keep it from happening.

"Tania will be fine, ma'am. I'll let Mom and Dad know when I get there."

Tania landed a kiss on her mother's cheek, then glanced at her father's face who had not said anything. Tania certainly knows how her father and mother feel right now.

But he let it go, trying to hide all his heart at this time.

"I'm fragile, Mom. I'm fragile. But let me go. I'll be fine even if I have to go through this alone."

...****************...

Today Tania again set foot in the city of a thousand bitter and sweet memories. Spending her time off since Mike's departure, Tania has made a very long journey. Jakarta to Flores, when he helped deliver Mike's body, after that back to Ambon. From Ambon he returned to Flores to visit Mike's pusara, then back to Ambon again. And today, he returned to Jakarta when he departed from Ambon this morning.

"Mom, Tania has arrived in Jakarta. Praise God, Tania is fine on the way."

Tania sends a whatsapp message to her mother and breaks down her body. Nothing changed with the room. There is only one addition to the room wall; a picture frame praweddingnya with Mike.

A new chapter of life has begun today. Walking the path of life alone, he decided to return to Jakarta. Fortunately, the clinic where he works still wants to receive it back so that tomorrow he will return to his activities as before and hope his busyness can momentarily make him forget the pain of his heart that he felt.

Mega and Kevin find out Tania's return to Jakarta. The two of them planned to go to his hostel to visit him. But Tania asked for the night to come. He wanted to rest for a moment his body from the tired of his journey.

"Alright, Tania. See you later," Mega replied briefly via a whatsapp message.

Mega and Kevin's relationship is still fine. Both have decided to go further to a more serious level.

Mega spent her time as a teacher at an elementary school in Central Jakarta, while Kevin, thanks to a loan from his parents, was busy expanding his business. He now owns a live music cafe.

"Tania has returned here. I plan to see him tonight. Would you like to accompany me, baby ?"

"Take him to the cafe if he doesn't mind," replied Kevin reply to whatsapp message from Mega.

"Don't, we're the only ones coming to the hostel. He's still exhausted. Poor him."

"alright. I'll pick you up tonight."

Kevin never played as freely as before. He spends more time at the cafe, because he and his band are the ones who fill his live music.

Every weekend of the month, he invites Mega to date, spending time out of town. Both of their parents knew their relationship. Mega's fear of his presence in Kevin's family does not seem to be a significant problem. Mega once chatted directly with Kevin's father and mother via whatsapp video call.

"Whoever you choose, Father and Mother will not forbid it. If she's kind to you and worthy of you, don't be afraid to marry her" Kevin's father and mother wrote in a phone conversation.

...****************...

Tania invites Mega and Kevin into her room. The size of the boarding room is not too big but it can still accommodate the two friends.

"Sorry, my room is small. We'll just sit cross-legged on the floor."

"No problem, Tania. The important thing is that we can meet you" said Mega while hugging Tania.

There was no sadness at Tania's face. Pretending to be strong and hiding all the pain of her heart at this time, Tania gave a pushy smile on her lips to Mega and her lover, Kevin.

Mega and Kevin did not dare to ask about things related to Mike. They knew it would hurt Tania.

"What do you want to drink ?" tanya Tania started the conversation.

"No need. Don't bother. We will take it ourselves if we want to drink. Water alone is enough," said Mega fast.

Inadvertently, Mega's eyes noticed a picture frame on Tania's room wall. There Mike stood smiling beside Tania. He looks very happy. Tania caught Mega staring at their prawedding photo on the wall.

"I went to Flores last week to visit Mike's grave."

Mega turned her eyes to Tania's. The face that had been trying to hide his mood had now started to change. His eyes held a lot of tears that should have fallen without permission.

"Mom Mike gave me a loom sheath. I brought her here" Tania continued quickly to hide her sadness.

Tania quickly stood up and picked up the woven sarong and showed it to Mega. Mega received it and looked around at the scabbard.

The atmosphere was silent for a moment. Kevin and Mega look around together at the woven fabric given by Mike's mother.

"This fabric is expensive, Tania. You're grateful to get it for free."

Tania just smiled hearing what Kevin said. He knew it, Mike's mother explained it to him.

"Usually, women there including young and unmarried women also wear it when attending parties or traditional ceremonies, also when going to church," Kevin explained.

"Am I going to get it if you take me to Flores later ?" ask Mega suddenly.

"Of course it's a pity, and it's definitely going to be a lot more than this" Kevin replied to Mega.

Mega smiled and returned the scabbard to Tania. Tania grabbed it and kept it back. Tania then took a white paper that was still in her bag and gave it to Mega.

Mega grabbed the white paper with a face full of question marks. He glanced at Kevin, as if asking Kevin what paper he was holding at the moment. There, Tania sat down and glanced at the picture frame on the wall of the room.

"He's here, Mega."

"Don't forget the likes and votes. Your support will help this work. For those who have not had time to read the First Series of Last Greetings, it is advisable to read it in order to know the same story from the beginning. Don't forget to like and vote for the first series. God bless. "