Love Across the Road

Gift for Meliana

Today is August one, it's three days away from the Fourth of August, Meliana's birthday. I was always enthusiastic about that day. Ever since I met Meliana, I've never missed a single birthday without a gift. I always come with simple gifts that I can afford.

While propping up my chin on the table, my brain kept turning around looking for a suitable gift for Meliana. For two days I searched here and there, looking in the mind can not, looking in the grocery store is not there, looking on the internet there is nothing fitting, fitting the contents of my wallet means.

"Nad!" Bonar patted me hard on the shoulder, no this is not a pat, this is a hit, including to the molestation.

"Hm?" I looked lazy, actually sad also because of the pain that was still left. Huh! Lucky friends.

"Meliana wants to have a party, she said?" ask Bonar.

My forehead is folded, I don't even know if Bonar doesn't ask. "What time?" my many.

"Don't know you?"

I'm shaking.

"Ck!" Bonar clucked loudly. "People have the invitation, haven't you?" ask again.

"Have you?" askaku.

"Don't know Meliana to me, what I have to do with her" said Bonar.

Why did I turn to the window, waiting for Meliana to come with me an invitation letter. And even until my neck aches from looking over it many times, no Meliana or her friend has been sent to send me a letter. Ah, maybe not yet, maybe later after the break. I can't wait for the break.

*****

"What Is Love?

Is it a whisper that keeps on muttering your name in my ear?

What is a piece of picture of you that keeps on sticking in my memory?

What is the feeling of happiness when you see yourself?

I don't know.

All I know is one.

Love is you, Mel."

Echoing my voice reciting poetry all over the school. A few younger sisters screamed from the cafeteria as it melted hearing the beautiful strands of words I read, a few boys secretly recorded his poems to give to his girlfriend who was at school elsewhere, Dini throws a smile at me, while Meliana, whether she is doing what, may blush or most likely grunt annoyed in the canteen there.

"Second and thank you. Wassalamu'alaikum," I closed after fulfilling my duty to recite a poem to Meliana.

"Now, Nar!" praise Dini to me.

"Hehehe." I laughed while scratching my head behind me. "Yes first, Din!" I hurriedly jumped out of the radio broadcasting room. This time it's not because I'm hungry, but because I want to meet Meliana. Honestly, I was expecting that invitation.

And sure enough, when I came out of the broadcasting room, I immediately met Meliana who was passing by with her friends. A big smile was automatically put on my face. This once, I hope Meliana returns the favor.

"Meli pie, cie..." His friends nudged Meliana with his shoulders.

"What the hell." Meliana looks uncomfortable. It turns out the response is still the same, ketus. Although not as expected, it's okay, I still like the look on his face.

Although I wanted to ask about the invitation letter, I did not dare to reveal it, I realized very well that there was still self-esteem that I still had to maintain. Be, instead of questioning, a big smile that I can throw at her.

Meliana looked down. "Go yuk!" take it, to his friends.

I also looked down, disappointed, for some reason. One; a smile that still could not the beautiful girl reply, two; it turned out that Meliana did not invite me on her birthday.

"Nad." My heart stopped beating, it was Meliana's voice, saying my name. Meliana must have forgotten about the invitation letter.

With a stiff body I turned to face him. "Yes, Mel."

"Couldn't you, don't take my name with you in the poems you read all over school?"

"Huh?" Honestly, I was surprised by his words. I knew Meliana might have been embarrassed all along, but I didn't expect that she would reveal it this way.

Meliana looked at me inside. "Can, Nar?"

I swallowed spit. I can't answer.

"Can you stop embarrassing me?"

Is this the same as. "Can you stop falling in love with me?" And the answer is no.

"I go first, Mel," I said as I walked away.

Instead of going to the cafeteria, I entered the classroom, no longer lusting after me to eat. Alone in this class, befriending calmness, I took out the red notebook and scratched the ink on it.

Love, I know very well you are indeed friends with pain.

And I should realize that when I receive happiness for your presence, I must be ready for the pain that looms.

*****

I didn't even have the passion to get home from school, my job at home was just daydreaming at the study table. Unexpectedly, Meliana could incise such a deep wound just because of that short sentence.

Actually I understand, what made me hurt was not his words, but the excessive expectations I placed on him today.

"Nad!" Mother's voice was heard so echoing in our little house.

"Yes, Mom." I ran out of the room to get to him.

"To the nyok market! Onion fried abis, forgot it was dawn did not buy, how would you trade if there is no fried onion," The mother spoke while fixing her crooked hood.

"Yes, Mom. Come on!" I immediately took the key to the motor.

In the middle of the journey I daydreamed, still thinking about everything about Meliana. About his birthday party, about his little face, about what gift I would give him even if I wasn't invited.

'Plak!' I was shocked when I got a hard blow on my shoulder.

"Lu heard I said no, Nar?" ask The Mother.

"What, Mom?" my question, timid.

"At the front turn of the builder, turn left, I want to buy a color in the rapia alley for you."

"Yes, Mom." I'm nodding. But wait, flowers? A flower? Ah, what a nice gift for Meliana.

After driving Mom to the market to buy fried onions and all the unplanned items, I went back to the flower shop, more precisely the plant shop to buy gifts for Meliana.

My eyes were fixed on one flower, the Rose, maybe mainstream but I think the thorny flower was enough to describe Meliana's beautiful figure.

"What rose, Bang?" my many.

"A living plant or a rose?"

"The Rose Garden. How many?"

"120 thousand," he answered.

"I bought one." The Flower Seller's brother was a little unconvinced to hear my decision so quickly. Perhaps he did not expect, this black-colored teenage boy dared to buy without bidding.

"Before a while" replied the Seller, carrying the flowers. Soon he returned with a rose that was wrapped in black plastic. "More."

"Thank you, Bang!" my word.

Along the way, as long as I drive with one hand —because my hand used to hold the roses I placed in the front seat— I smiled widely unceasingly, he said, I feel happy just by getting a gift that is suitable for Meliana.

This flower, similar to you, beautiful but thorny, love you it's beautiful, Mel, but it's so painful and so many wounds I get. Perhaps the same with this flower, at any time can die if you do not take good care of it.