Our Love Among Corona

The Geng Gepuk Reunion

The sound of the plane's legs hitting the Jakarta ground in a loud brake sound woke me from a long sleep. Welcome back to my beloved land, I told myself. Like Istanbul airport, Soekarno Hatta is filled with people who travel, arrive or those who wait for passengers. Offers of porter and taxi services alternated. Most people wear masks on their faces. Some of them don't, maybe they're like me, people who don't manage to hunt for masks.

I remember Luky, although we did not manage to get a mask or hand sanitizer in Estonia before my flight, Luky still had time to find a wet tissue anti-bacterial containing high alcohol content. He told me to wipe all the seats and not hold anything before washing it with the tissue. I don't know how effective it is when other people have masks, hand sanitizers and so on.

I struggled to stay optimistic along the way. Keep your distance and hope for the best, so that the Covid-19 virus does not attack me at this time. In Indonesia the case is not too high, only in the capital, the case is many. My HP screen is on. It took me a while to connect it to the internet. I guess, Livi & Mauli, my clapping duo is waiting at the arrival door.

We are waiting for you in Soetta, Livi said yesterday on Whatsapp when I was in Istanbul. Just a few minutes after connecting, my HP rang.

"Hi girl! will be there soon!" I said on the phone.

"Can't wait. We're on the left. When you come out, look to your left" Mauli's voice rang with another human voice in the back.

I was still waiting between the suitcase and the bag that kept moving on the conveyor belt. I haven't seen my suitcase. The big red suitcase that has been following me everywhere all this time.

Honey, I'm touchdown. Safe and sound. Will call you later. The message I sent for Luky was among the other messages that had piled up. Not a good time to get everything back. At the very least, he knew I had arrived safely. After 15 minutes of waiting, I could see my suitcase from several meters moving closer. Immediately I pulled from the top of the Conveyor Belt which continued to rotate when it was in front of me. Now, it's time to meet and hug my friends. Before that, I have to go to the toilet. Change clothes, wash my face, my hands. Just got out to meet them.

"Girl!!!" shouted Mauli. He carried a paper in his hand with the words Girl Clap, Vashla.

"Basic! it leaked out" I said, unable to hold back the laughter and happiness from my face.

"We miss you!" Livi sprayed the sanitizer liquid from the tip of my head, onto my face and all over my body.

"Aw! not to everything, not to every time!" I said rub my mouth.

They laughed and hugged me. I knew, however, that it was impossible to keep our distance from my girls while we were living together in an apartment. Happy and comfortable in their arms.

"I miss you too, girls pat me" I replied in their arms.

"Any airport taxi?" livi's advice was immediately welcomed by us.

The taxi driver helped put my suitcase in the back. Mauli sat in front, Livi and I in the middle row.

"Oh I miss Jakarta.and.." I haven't finished my sentence.

"Splap!!" tell them both. I laughed again.

"Vavan said no, when will he come back to Jakarta?" ask them both.

"I don't know, yesterday he was out of work at the old place, and he said he wanted to be in the village first to accompany his parents" replied Mauli.

"He said he was lazy because of Corona. It's safer there he said" Livi chimed in.

"Try Riau near ya?" I sighed while leaning on the chair.

"Yes kangen?" Livi glanced at me while nudging my right elbow.

"Don't be like a difficult person, the era is sophisticated as well" Mauli played HP and started calling Vavan.

From HP Mauli a sound that indicates connected. For a few seconds, there was no answer. Mauli raised her eyebrows towards us on the back bench, as if looking for an answer from us why Vavan did not lift.

I leaned back, raising my eyes out the window. A moment passed by the city of Tallinn on the road we were on. Although very different, Jakarta and Tallinn. But since a part of my heart was still left there, I felt like I was between the two.

"Hey, I know you're remembering him. He will be fine" Livi comforted me.

"We have a surprise for you" he continued.

"What?" manya curious.

"Splap!!!" answer them simultaneously.

"Ah base!" I said pinch the two of them and the taxi got excited with our shouting laughter.

Excited, have good friends like them. I miss hearing their laughter. Happy to be back here.

"Sip, Clap will arrive in a few minutes. So we can just grab it at the reception while going upstairs" Mauli said.

"How much?" ask me while giving tongue water.

I can imagine the most scathing plash dancing wildly on my tongue. Hot rice, Fried chicken full of enjoyment accompanied Fried Eggplant, Crispy Col, Tempe & Tofu. I'm already impatient. Last month, when I announced that we were going back to Indonesia for a while, we decided to rent an apartment together. So pretty cheap if the joint venture. Although it only consists of two rooms, but there are rooms whose mattresses are large enough for both.

The plan was temporary, because I was waiting for Luky to arrive. If Luky is already in Indonesia, we will move and prepare our wedding preparations. Because the wedding is also not done in Jakarta, but in Aceh, my homeland. After eating, take a shower and prepare to relax in bed. Time to call Luky. I ignored all the suitcases, which were scattered on the floor. I can do it later, I thought. Let me hear his voice first.

"I got my flight scheduled, tomorrow" Luky said across the street.

"Yeah! Thanks God!" yells happily.

"However, there are other news that you need to hear" he continued later. My heart is beating fast.

"Alif flight schedule to Indonesia canceled. Germany closed the border and because Covid conditions in Germany were so high, many countries also canceled flights to Germany or transit" he explained.

Now, I'm scared. The news I received was not only Alif who could not fly to Indonesia. That is, Luky also has the possibility of not being able to fly to Indonesia.

"How is Trus Alif?" I remember Alif saying that he was going back to Indonesia a few days after me. But before that, he wanted to go to Munich, travel there and then just fly from Munich to Indonesia.

"He had to reroute, or else cancel the ticket he bought to depart Munich. He could buy a new ticket by taking another line. There are no flights from Estonia to Munich at the moment, all are cancelled" Luky added.

"Are you sure your flight won't be canceled again?" I doubt and worry at once.

"Let's hope for the best. I flew from Tallinn to Stockholm, and then on to Dusseldorf".

"I pray you can get there and get together with the family soon" I said.

"Danke's. Ich Liebe Dich's sweetie"

"Ich Liebe Dich Auch".