Meaning of Love

01. Call Home

Denpasar City, Denmark,

The month of June is not free from the rain that hit the earth. Villages, cities and wet provinces. Some people choose to stay at home while being hugged by a thick blanket with a cup of coffee accompanied by a morning talk show on one of the private television stations. Some of them have to break through the free-fall waterfall hit the streets and do not care even though the cold continues to creep on the body.

Tutt's...Tutt's...Tutt

"Hallo,ma," his hands were still wet after taking off the raincoat attached to his body for 20 minutes.

"Dit, can you come home tomorrow? Mama misses once," a soft voice from across that warms the mood.

"What's up, ma?" His voice began to doubt his mother's intention to send him home.

"Hem, apparently you already know mama has a certain purpose."

"Mama wants to take you to the wedding of mama's friend's son, Dit. Please, you want to, huh?" continued.

The look on Aditya's face changed immediately. There was a tightness that he was enduring so as not to stick out violently.

"Sorry,ma. Ditya can't come. Just take Indra"

"When are you like this, son?" A sobbing sound was heard from him. Aditya stroked his chest.

"Sorry,ma. She knew what mom meant to take me there. I can't" Aditya cut off the call unilaterally. She knew her mother was offended, but she had to so that she would not be forced to remember the harsh reality again.

"Argh," Aditya groaned and threw the raincoat he was still holding onto the floor while holding his head which began to throb faintly.

Remembering the events that forced him in the circumstances as he is now. Dying reluctantly, living reluctantly and forcing happiness in a depressed state.

He glanced at his watch , still at 06:30 pm. Restaurant is still empty . Employees have not come, not lazy, may be hampered by the rain. No tourist has walked on the side of the road. No one will see a human child lamenting the world.

The Flashback

March 20th, 2018

Some people believe in what is called a good day. This month there is a good day for marriage. Traditional music flowed from the houses with magnificent decoration at the entrance of the yard. Coupled people come dressed in traditional Balinese clothes. The bride greeted them with a smile that looked happy. The bride looked up as if looking for something.

"Congratulations, yes" Aditya greeted the two brides.

"Thank you"

Aditya and his friends come in to enjoy the dish.

"Dit, you came too as it turned out," a burly man patted her on the shoulder.

"Eh, Za. Yeah, they're doing it anyway" point it at his friends. They look embarrassed because of shame. Then laugh together. But Aditya seemed to force his laughter.

"Dit,gue bring the wine. Lo want?" Reza handed Aditya a glass of wine.

Without a second thought he downed the yellowish clear wine.

"Well, 3 years of work in a restaurant now you're used to the same wine, yes" said Reza.

"Just simple things," Aditya chuckled.

Not enough glass, they both spent two bottles with different types. A bottle of sauvignon blanc and a bottle of carbenet merlot. With the difference in the type of wine, both of them easily lose consciousness.

"Where,bro? You still hurt because of that cheap chick?" Reza talks like a delirious person.

"Who did you say cheap?" One tonjokan landed on Reza's face followed by subsequent tons.

"So, your mouth is!" Aditya yells at Reza.

The guests saw them with annoyance. Aditya's friends dare not break up. Security guards came and drove them out.

"Please!" aditya Bentak. He immediately climbed his motorbike.On the other hand there were those who looked at him while wiping away tears of regret.

Aditya carries a motorbike with recklessness. Without regard to traffic signs or road signs. He ran through a red light and from the opposite direction a truck sped up.

Flashback off

It did not feel like his hands were clenching for a moment. Just because he was drunk to forget his fate, he had to be in the hospital for a month.

Tuttt. tuttt.

His phone rang again, but not a call from his mother but his sister.

" Hello, what's up?" Aditya tries to hide that he is upset.

"Sister, go home, yes" the innocent voice was still the same as a child when he was 20 years old. Five years younger than Aditya.

"Sorry,dek. Brother can't go home. Brother can't take a day off" he replied spontaneously.

Indra immediately decided on his call. Aditya knows his sister's character who doesn't like rejection. So he gave Indra time to understand his position.

"Am I that bad?" someone touched Aditya's bowed shoulders lethargic.

"Eh, you mean bang?" He did not understand what the 40-year-old said.

"Lo said you can't take a day off. I'm not that cool as a manager."

Name's Yudha. When formal he was called "pak Yudha", but in situations outside work all were free to call him with familiarity "bang Yudha". He doesn't like to be too old.

"Haha, lo baper turned out. I said that so I wouldn't be forced to go home."

"Why? Because she?"

"Already,bang. Lo knew everything," Aditya went to pick up his raincoat and went to the locker.

***

Three months Aditya didn't come home. He comes home when it is urgent. Once a week off he will only spend in a 3×3-meter room accompanied by a legendary mobile game and music from the radio.

I can't throw away the pieces that you gave

Betrayed in a way

Of a knife stuck on my back

How could you do this, we've been through this for a while

Once a cure

Now's a scar

Hold me not

Give me back my mind

My thoughts that you've taken

Starve me to care

Could the night help me shut you out?

You have me a lesson

Not to go and dive

But I already dive

A song by one of the Jakarta-based music groups that became his favorite song since 2019.

"Dit, cut the music!" I heard Mom banging on the door screaming. Aditya instantly turned off his radio, but not because of the landlord's scream. A video call came in on his smartphone screen. A little smile on his lips.

"Hi, dear," said the greeting across there though with a clearly visible expression. Joyful and excited.

"Honey, Sintia kangen said. When is papa coming home? He is that," continued the woman.

"I want to see Sintia."

The screen shows a nine-month-old baby smiling sweetly. His whites showed that his parents were also white. Her lips are thin, fluffy when learning to laugh. Aditya wanted to know what word the little one would say for the first time.