Our Love Among Corona

Church in Tallinn and Helsinki

After the warm body of the cafe we visited, we agreed to close the night on a small hill overlooking the monument Vabadussa and the Yellow Church. We chatted in the night light. Even though it was cold, we were still able to move for a long time outside. That is the importance of proper warm clothing. Especially for me who wasn't created in a cold country. My warm shirt has a thermal material inside, so for a long time I wear it gives a warm sensation from inside. The proper booth shoes are also very helpful.

We sat on an elongated wooden bench overlooking the monument and the Yellow Church. Yellow Church, the real name is St. John's Church was completed in 1867. St. This John's Church in his Estonian language is called Jaani Kirik. We have never been to this church. I like to look at it from the outside. Moreover, because before this Yellow Church, some miracle in my life had happened.

"Do you remember the Cathedral in Helsinki we visited?" i told him.

"Yes, I remember. That day we had a fight. But we stay there together" he chuckled.

We both laughed because we remembered the memory there well. It was our first day in Helsinki. With some friends from Indonesia because there is an event with the Indonesian Embassy in Finland. Luky, who had just arrived in Estonia to meet me, set out with us to Helsinki. It was our first trip, not just the two of us. Mas Senar, one of the ones in the entourage. Due to Mas Senar, as the longest Indonesian in Tallinn compared to all of us and he also often went back and forth Tallinn-Helsinki. Mas Senar became a tour guide for us.

The distance from the city of Tallinn to Helsinki is not too far and can be reached by Ferry within 2 hours. Very comfortable ferry. There are many restaurants, as well as bars. We stayed only 2 nights in Helsinki. It is full of fun and memories there. Although my schedule is solid because there are 2 events, meetings at the Embassy and also gathering some partners in downtown Helsinki, plus the presence of Luky gives its own color in the middle of the busyness.

I remember, our team rented an apartment for the five of us. I got a room on the roof along with Luky. We keep fighting over trivial things. Either way, sleep both. But because of our status of friends, Luky does treat like a friend, nothing more. Even at night, Luky doesn't touch me. He keeps the boundaries of our friendship. Our quarrels and debates continued from night to morning.

We had to get up early on our second day, because it was the day we were going to fill the event at the Indonesian embassy in Helsinki. Since the event took place after lunch hour, we toured briefly downtown. One of the places we visited was the magnificent European-style Cathedral Church. Such fascinating carvings from outside and within the Church.

We climbed the stairs and stood in front of the church. His intentions did not enter the Church, but drizzled down. Drizzling in the middle of bone-chilling winter, not something you want to enjoy especially if it will fill the event. Enter with Mas Senar, Vinda and Mas Santo our Indonesian friends into the Church. Mas Santo was my mentor and the Winda of the resistance organization we joined. Winda himself served as treasurer in our organization.

The three of them sat on a wooden bench behind us. Luky and I were in a row in front of them. Like other churches that are often filled with rows of elongated wooden benches where people pray. We sat there looking around the church. There were many tourists in Helsinki Cathedral Church that day. Most have Asian faces. Some people take photos in some corners. Then suddenly Luky rubbed them into my ear.

"Look how disrespectful they are in the church. The way they take photos and don't take off their hats".

"Should you take off your hat?" I ask who does not know.

"Usually people will do it as a sign of respect and keeping adab in the church" he explained.

I clasped his hand and spread my gaze around the church. I closed my eyes and expressed hope for Luky. I did not pray to Jesus, nor did I pray to any particular religion despite our presence in the church. More precisely to the good energy and the whole universe.

Luky is not religious, even if he usually prays he chooses a certain religion or even does not need a religion. His heart did not choose any religion. When I finished I opened my eyes and I saw that he closed his eyes too. Oh I didn't know that he did it at the same time as me. Maybe he was praying about something, I thought.

"I pray for you" I said as I looked at him.

"I also pray for you" Luky replied.

We hurried to follow the group without asking each other the contents of our prayers. Now, in front of the Yellow church, looking up from this hill, we smile at each other again at the memory of that time.

"What were you doing at that time?" I finally asked too.

"I pray that you may find peace in your daily life. You are often restless and cannot relax at all. I want you to stop constantly forcing yourself to do this and that. Because you are good enough. You always feel less of yourself and judge yourself if you do not achieve something you want. At least that's what I saw at the time".

"just that? Or is there more?" I'm sure that's not the only reason he's been praying for so long.

"Much more. One of them, I pray for you not to fall into the wrong hands of the man you will marry. I want you to marry the man you choose and who takes good care of you".

I smiled hearing his words. Even when we were friends, in his prayers, I was there.

"What about you? What do you pray for me?" He asked back.

"Secret" I replied as I winked for her.

"Oh okay.let's see if you can hold a secret" he then tickled my body until I wriggled like a worm.

"Ah ah ah.hey...Lukey...Luky..stop.stop...ayyy" I shouted with a laugh followed by happy tears.

Luky continued to bother me until I slowly opened my mouth to the prayers I had prayed for him. Yellow Church & Cathedral, thank you for all these good memories.