Our Love Among Corona

Corona & Flight Batal

I kill time in Istanbul airport while reading, writing and doing other tasks. I have a few hours flight to Jakarta. I woke up several times checking the gate check-in announcement for the next flight, which was still not out. Usually 2 hours or 1.5 hours before flying, I'll walk around looking for the gatenya.

This airport is big, to find a gate will take time and must run quite far. I'd rather wait or hang out in the waiting room than far away. Experience has taught me how to be late or left behind on that plane, it's claustrophobic. I heard the announcement a few times. Flights to China, South Korea, Iran, Italy and several other countries were suspended. On all the information boards are also captions canceled everywhere.

"I don't know what to do now" said the young woman who stood a few feet away from my seat.

Panic and sadness read on his face. Several other people in the corner there also showed the same expression. I've been guessing this is gonna happen. From the news that previously had the dome with Luky, many airports were closed because of severe Covid-19 cases in the country. Now, I see this chaotic world myself.

I don't know what the fate of those trapped here is. Some may want to go home, meet family, or may go to work in another country and be unable to continue their journey. There is no certainty, how long they will have to wait here and what to do when their access is closed.

A middle-aged woman sat down at the table beside me and then put coffee on her desk. I saw him press his fingers on the HP screen. There was panic and unrest from his body language. I'm guessing, he's one of those who may have his flight cancelled. This woman has dark skin, darker than mine. Curly hair with a body posture that is also contained, similar to me. I guess again, it seems to come from African soil.

He sipped his coffee and I noticed that the color of his face was changing. There was a cloud over there and sure enough, before long, his tears flowed and then he wiped them off. But the next one was increasingly fluttering on his cheeks. Unable to hold myself back, I decided to greet him.

"Are you okay?" I leaned towards him, though still keeping my distance. I wanted to give her a tissue, but I didn't want to behave like the one who forbade her tears from coming out. I let it go, just pointing to my sympathy.

"I haven't seen my husband in nearly two years. Now, when I had the chance to catch up with him, my flight was cancelled. I miss him so much" she told me.

Kuraba my heart, there's a pain there. I understand the longing he's talking about. But the longing that had been mounting for almost two years, must have been a severe ordeal for him.

"We didn't have enough money before to live together. That's why I followed when our family's economy had improved. I miss him so much and can't wait to live with him soon" he continued.

My eyes were glazed over, I held my emotions firmly. The story, of course, is not easy. As someone whose life is often wandering and then lack of money abroad, having to separate from family for a long time, I understand this condition.

"I'm so sorry to hear this. I hope, they will open the border soon" I hope to him.

"I hope so" she said as she wiped her tears back.

I was there listening to her story. Even though there's nothing I can do. I understand, as women or even non-women, there are times when all we need is a place to tell stories. He gave me a sincere smile after finishing his story. The sincerity I can feel reaches my heart. We are two strangers, but does not love itself know no foreign word? He is there for everyone and gives us the same space to celebrate.

I decided to move to another cafe. Looking for a comfortable, good food and a good wife. It was a lot of choice, I learned from my previous experience. Instead of directly ordering and sitting, mending check first to the servant. I was standing in front of a cafe. Overlooked, which one I was going to check, until a voice called my name.

"Vash! Is that you?" male voice. But who knows me here.

"Saad!" I screamed with wide eyes.

No way, is this a coincidence anymore or how. Meet someone I met last year at the same airport, right here. On my birthday that day. Algerian guy, from whom I loaned internet hotspots, too. How this scenario repeats itself. I was amazed to see the universe work.

"Easy recognizing you. Moreover, you are not masked" he said.

"Yes, if you don't open the mask, I don't know if it's you" I replied.

"You're not wearing a mask for sure!" saad's guess is just right.

"Yes, right to the airport, the supermarket near where I live is all empty. People were scrambling for food, toilet paper, handsanitizer and masks" I told him.

"Tell me, how did this happen? what are you doing here?" I asked again. Saad laughed at my expression.

"Yuk sat in the restaurant over there, eating. On me, don't worry" he said, laughing again.

Saad was friendly and his lips were always full of smiles as he spoke. Last year was the first year we met at the airport. After that we became friends. Saad chatted often and called sometimes. I remember the day I met him. It was the day I was treating my broken heart after it was decided K. I left Estonia and flew to Indonesia on my birthday.

What's more sad, sitting at the airport, alone among the crowd. Hearts hurt and tears have not completely subsided because sometimes still come out with memories that continue to repeat in the head. I wrote a letter to myself, then wrote to the universe as well. In the midst of my heart hurting like this, at the very least, help me find someone who wants to celebrate my birthday with me at this airport.

Two drinks, Cappucino and Ice Chocolate I ordered from the cafe I deliberately chose along with a small cake. I put it on the table and then I saw him, who would toast me on my special day. At that moment, my eyes were fixed on a man sitting alone in the corner of the cafe.