Les Laches

Closer

Tian ate his bread with one big bite, occasionally wiping the crumbs on the tip of his lips with the tip of his thumb. However, not a second did his eyes leave open sheets of paper near his plate. Beside her, Meda steals the reading to see more clearly the writing in the girl's book. There, clearly emblazoned the name of several tourist destinations. Tian made the list while trying to figure out what activities he could do on the Caribbean's largest island.

"What's wrong?"

It was so exciting to read in rows of handwriting belonging to Tian, Meda to forget that he should have done it secretly.

"So, are we going to Havana a long time ago or straight to Cienfuegos?" Meda mentioned the top two places she recognized on Tian's list.

"You think?"

Tian asks Meda for his opinion because he himself is still worried about whether he will actually visit all the places on his list. He is actually not at all enthusiastic to enjoy the variety of entertainment in the country. He only made the list as an excuse to avoid if his four friends who were paired together began to show signs of not having the heart to leave Tian dangling alone without a plan when they themselves decided to spend time with each other.

However, after he heard from Meda that Hera and Alvin were hurtling to the southern part of Cuba for a diving-trip for 7 days and 8 nights, he felt he did not bother to escape again. Moreover, there was Meda who had "guarded" Tian while Afgar and Safira were dating together.

"If I'm more interested in traveling to a more distant location first. Only after that, we can travel around Havana casually" Meda suggested.

"We?" Tian raised next to his brows.

"Yes. I told you I'd come with you, right?"

Tian looked at the two eyeballs of Meda. He could not see any signs that the young man was joking. Tian sighed. Instead of worrying that the young man would confront him again in the middle of the journey, he tried to see Meda's participation with another point of view. With the ability of Meda to communicate with the natives of Cuba, Tian so no need to look for tours to accompany him while traveling around Cuba. It was more practical because Tian did not have to spend more, although in fact he did not mind reaching deeper pockets. In addition, he also feels more comfortable being near people he knows better.

"OKAY. Then we go west, Pinar del Rio. The streets of Vanales," break Tian.

Meda pulled out a road map from inside her sling bag. He bought the object at one of the stands he saw at Cuba's international airport just before the Renault sedan his entourage had hired left the airport.

"We can use GPS, Med." Tian reminded as he waved his phone in front of the young man.

"okay." Meda reached for Tian's phone, which already featured a digital map of the Havana region and its surroundings. "But I'll keep this print map. Just in case if for example the modem you rent does not work in certain places."

Meda almost alluded to the nominal money Tian - who likely did little - had to rent a pocket modem that left the girl free online everywhere. However, he held back. Reminding Tian to downsize shouldn't be his duty. Moreover, he realized that so far, the advice that came out of his lips instead always sounded like judging the girl. Yes, Meda was trying not to show a hostile attitude towards Tian since their last debate.

As he had said before, Meda had never behaved like that to a person he had just met like Tian. Only, the girl often reminded him of the people in the extended family of his father and mother. People who if possible do not need to be called relatives.

Meda herself wants to change. That desire did not arise suddenly thanks to his meeting with Tian, but rather the accumulation of feelings that he had been craving for an easy-to-judge nature that made him unable to get along with certain people. All this time, Meda did feel that her attitude was childish. However, he did not care much about the effect of his actions because no one had ever intended to confront and turn around to correct him. There never was, other than Tian.

The girl made Meda aware that she might be tainting others' personalities thanks to her nature. Meda wants to make amends and try to improve her quality through the existence and way of mind of a Titiana. Therefore, he intended to spend more time with the girl. In addition, Safira, the grandson of the CEO at the company where her mother worked, who invited her to take part in the trip this time was advised to accompany her best friend during her time with Afgar.

"I don't mind taking the bus." Tian glanced at the screen of his phone which was still in Meda's hands. The young man's fingers danced over the page that opened the car rental.

"Related?" Meda raised her eyebrows, looking more in disbelief than surprised. "We can also take a taxi" he added quickly after managing to control his expression.

Tian ignores Meda's kespeptism and points towards the caption at the bottom of the roadmap display that is still running in the background.

"If you take a taxi, we can indeed be faster 1 hour to get to Vanales, but the cost we spend can reach 10 times more than if we take the bus. You think it's worth it?"

Tian's explanation made Meda stunned. Not that he does not know about the different costs needed to get around the city between the two vehicles. He knew the difference was like heaven and earth. What astonished him was that Tian was willing to bother saving his expenses with those considerations, even though he could actually freely spend as much money as he could to enjoy an easier trip.

Meda guessed the decision taken by Tian was caused by Meda's statement some time ago. Meda did have time to state that the cost of travel in addition to round-trip airfare and lodging costs while in Cuba will be his personal responsibility. He felt that the mother he had brought was enough to make him survive in Cuba for 7 days, provided he could save money.

Tian might try to compensate for the lifestyle of his traveling companion because Meda was insistent on dividing the two costs they spent during the trip together. It brings a strange sensation in Meda's chest. It was as if there was a warm sigh and a quite heavy burden was lifted from his heart. The first time, since the two met, Meda threw her sweetest smile at Tian.

Tian who did not expect to get such a reaction from Meda was only able to get transfixed. His brain worked hard to keep the portrait of the angel-like face to his subconscious, while his heart was busy racing and sending strange signals all over the nerves in his body. The next thing Tian felt was his warming face and the onset of a tickling sensation in his stomach.

***

The bus that took Tian and Meda to Vinales began to move its wheels. The time is 14:30 local time. Although both had to stand a little longer, the temperature of Cuba, which was going through the rainy season, made the two young people grateful for choosing to cram in the bus that was crowded with passengers. Both of them were only able to rest their calves after almost half an hour of standing.

Just as Meda was finally about to open up a conversation with Tian, from the girl's phone came a ringtone that signified an incoming call. Tian hurriedly replied after seeing the name of the summoner.

"Yes, Gar?"

Meda leaned her head against the cushion of the chair while opening the book she had picked up from inside her bag. Tian smiled as he recognized the book cover held by Meda. The young man returned his smile while waving a book called "Curp Bird Execute". The first volume of the novel series he borrowed from Tian.

"Where are you, Tian?" Afgar asked from the end of the phone.

"I'm on the bus going to Vinales, Gar."

Afgar who had just plucked his body on the bed immediately rose from his sleeping position, frowning unhappily.

"Who's the guy?"

Tian rolled his eyeballs. "Who else? There's only Meda in the hotel."

"'And you can call me and Safira to make ...."

"Make your date bother?" cut Tian down before shaking slowly.

"It's not about you and Safira or Alvin and Hera. It's about me not interrupting both of you. You have to walk alone without me. Please pahamin I mean, Gar," persuaded Tian.

"I understand, but that doesn't mean you have to go there alone. This is not in Indonesia, Ti. If there's anything with you, you think I can calm down?"

"Gars. I am just like you are an adult. I have the ability to protect myself. There's a meda now."

"Already, Ti. I don't want to argue. I'll follow you to Vinales now." Afgar gets ready to hang up.

"Afgar." Tian's cold voice made Afgar undo his intentions. Meda herself was stunned as she glanced at the girl's expression from behind the book she read.

"If you're still stubborn like that, I'll go back to Indonesia after returning from Vanales." Tian hung up.

"He's just worried, Ti," Meda muttered softly.

"I'm not stupid, Med. I know very well how much Afgar cares about me and his other friends, but I don't want anyone to get hurt because of his attitude."

Tian massaged his temple, then threw a glance out the window. Meda smiled thinly. He could already guess who the "victim" meant by the girl.

After a nearly 3-hour drive, the bus stopped on a large street flanked by simple, one-story houses. Immediately after disembarking, Meda walked towards a large building located on the south side of the main road. Since the young man did not say anything before leaving, Tian decided to wait for him outside the building while observing the scene that stretched before him. As far as the eye could see, Tian saw the expanse of fields, gardens, and limestone hills that filled the green Vinales valley.

"Do you know where to go first?" tanya Meda on her return from the building which turned out to be the Office of the National Park, where visitors can get all information related to the tourist attractions.

"There are three caves here that I want to come to, but I don't think we have enough time. So, two caves," Tian explained. "You don't want to go anywhere?"

Meda. "I'm just talking about tour-guide services that we can rent. The officer said, in each destination there are already tours-guides that will accompany us."

"okay."

The first cave to be visited by Tian was named Cueva del Indio. Accompanied by one of the guards, he and Meda entered the cave. After a few minutes of walking, an underground river was clearly visible in front of them. Meda nodded in admiration. Finally, he understood why Tian was curious to visit this place. Not many, indeed, caves have such underground rivers.

The two continued their journey down the cave by riding a boat driven by one of the locals who was very friendly and told a lot of stories. Quickly, Meda talked a lot with the middle-aged man. Occasionally he explained what was the content of his conversation with the man who introduced himself by the name Lisandro.

"Sir Lisandro said he could take us to Saint Tomas. If we go with the locals, we can get a discount." Meda translated what Lisandro said when he said their next destination.

"Gracians!" Tian smiled widely before shaking Lisandro's hand. The man just laughed kindly and returned the girl's hand.

"Ella es tu novia?*" Lisandro reopened the conversation as the three walked hand in hand towards the next location.

"Que? Not*!" Meda shook her hands quickly.

"State seguro?" The man looked at him in disbelief. "Ella es bonita*. Mejor date prisa o alguien mas la arrebatara."

Lisandro chuckled softly as he blinked his one eye towards Tian who could only smile awkwardly and looked at Meda expectantly to ask for an explanation. However, Meda could only scratch her temple.

The second place they visited was a cave that had a path resembling a labyrinth. Unaccompanied by a guide, the two could have gotten lost in the 46km-long gallery. The walls of the cave were filled with ancient carvings. The most interesting thing is a huge mural.

Lisandro said that the painting was made by people who used to make part of the cave as a place to live. However, no one has been able to translate the meaning behind the graffiti. On the other side of the wall there are also some traces of ancient animals that have become fossilized.

Tian could not stop calling out for his admiration. Even until the group was outside the cave.

"Sir. Would you like to take a picture with us?" Tian ventured into communicating with Lisandro using the only foreign language he mastered.

"Gladyl." Lisandro welcomed the offer with a sumringah.

"Let me take a picture of you guys." After taking three pictures, Lisandro stretched his hand to borrow Meda's cell phone.

"imm?" Meda looked at Tian awkwardly. The girl also threw a doubtful look at him before finally nodding and walking closer to Meda.

"Closer!" Lisandro gave aba-aba.

Meda pulled Tian's arm to get a little closer. Tian who did not expect the touch to come was a little aghast and spontaneously looked at the face of Meda who was also looking back at him. Lisandro took a quick shot of the moment before the couple regained consciousness.

Authors Notes

Gracias = thank you

Ella es is novia? = is he your lover?

Que? = what?

Estas seguro = are you sure?

Ella es bonita = her beautiful

Mejor date prisa o alguien mas la arrebatara = you have to move fast or someone else will seize it first