Owner of Heart #1
Chapter 3
“You don't drink coffee, Key?”
I was a little shocked to hear Bang Eddy's question that brought me back from enjoying the dreamland.
“No, Bang, Kekey hull not strong.” I answered Bang Eddy's question who nodded in understanding. I'm lucky my voice still sounds normal, otherwise it would be embarrassing.
“Pak Karyo has long joined SAR team?” the Sergeant asked while sipping his coffee.
“15 annual.”
“Wah, it's been a long time dong, Pak.” Yudi chimed who got a nod from Pak Karyo.
“Iya, from me is still the same age you guys are, still 20s.”
“Where have you been, Sir?” Vita tea looks curious about the story of Mr. Karyo.
“Already everywhere, hehe.. from the start of Aceh, Medan, Kalimantan, Sukabumi, anyway already a lot.”.
“Bapak, join us at the Aceh tsunami?” I asked curiously, both of my elbows piled on my thighs until my body leaned.
“Ikut, at that time I was still early to join the SAR team and had to immediately plunge into the big disaster.”
I could see Mr. Karyo glaring in memory of his experience, then breathing heavily.
“I still remember how a city was destroyed in just seconds because of the wrathful nature.The city was destroyed, corpses were scattered, those who survived even as if just an empty body without a soul. How can they be normal when they have to lose family, friends and relatives whose whereabouts are unknown. The Aceh tsunami was not only a national disaster but a world disaster, not only volunteers from within the country who came but volunteers from other countries came, such a time that we can feel the beauty of helping each other without looking at the background of nations, tribes and religions, we are truly united in the name of humanity.”
Mr. Karyo sipped his coffee before returning to say,
“Actually big or small remains a disaster for its victims, they lose property and also the lives of those closest to them, so those of us who work in this field should try as much as possible to help them, not to be differentiated.”
Mr. Karyo is an example of a handful of people who devoted their lives to humanity, and I have great respect for people like him. They are willing to be away from the family and even willing to sacrifice their lives to help others, maybe for me he is one example of a hero in this day and age. May Allah always give health, safety and happiness to all of them.
“The cassava mateng nih!”
Agus took out the cassava they had buried in the coals and made us all cheer again. The sergeant came forward to take the cassava and sat down next to me. While blowing it because it was still hot he split the fire cassava into two parts and gave it to me one.
“Be careful still hot.”
At that moment I could say nothing but nod while accepting it, I silently smiled looking at the cassava in my hand as if it was the most precious thing. And believe me it's the tastiest cassava I've ever eaten!
That night we gathered until late at night, enjoying the burnt cassava accompanied by glasses of black coffee, exchanging stories of each other's life experiences and interspersed with laughter.
That was my last night at Ciwidey, sitting next to the Sergeant. Every now and then I would steal a glance at him and try to keep it in my heart. Being able to sit this close, look this close and hear her laugh was a gift I got at the end of my day as a volunteer back then, before the morning finally picked up and I went back to Bandung without meeting again with the Sergeant even if only to say goodbye.
****
The incident in Ciwidey happened in August 2013, and now it is April 2014 which means almost 1 year after my meeting with the Sergeant, a man who gave me a deep impression even now.
There were hardly any special memories going on between the two of us back then, but I don't know every time I see someone wearing an army uniform my body overreacts to hoping that it's the Sergeant. When I look at the army I will look for her figure hoping that she will be there, but all in vain because I never see her again.
One day the opportunity came when accidentally me and Mira met with Bang Eddy at Istana Plaza (IP), a mall that was between the intersection of Jl. Padjadjaran and Jl. Sand Kaliki, not far from my house.
“Style Bang Eddy.” Mira said as she looked at the group of men sitting in the food court.
“Mana?”I looked up at Mira staring.
“It, which pack checkered shirt.”
“Bener, Mir, Bang Eddy!”
“To there, yuk.”
“Again the same temen-tennya, Mir, not tasty.”
“Behold, just nyapa doang who knows there is Mas Yudha, let's bentar doang!”
Mira pulls my hand towards the table where Bang Eddy is seen laughing with her friends. With my heart pounding as I wished the Sergeant was there sitting among Bang Eddy's friends, I followed Mira.
“Excuse me, Bang Eddy huh?” sapa Mira caught the attention of the six men at the table.
“Mira? Kekey?” Bang Eddy looks surprised and happy to see us.
“Iya, Bang, this Mira equals Kekey.”
“Yeah, how are you?” bang Eddy asked as he stood up to greet the two of us.
“Alhamdulillah well, Bang. Bang Eddy how are you?” I asked back while regretting it.
“Good... sit first yuk!” bring bang Eddy while pulling the chair on the next table.
“No need, Bang, we just want to take aja.”
“Who is, Bang, know dong!"
“Tuh, at bekat knownin, want yes Abang knowin same singles-jomblo ngenes rich them?”
Me and Mira just smiled at Bang Eddy's question.
“This is Mira, and this is Kekey, they both volunteer time at Ciwidey.”
“Wah, if you know there are rich beautiful volunteers, follow me yesterday.”
We just smile at the temptations of Bang Eddy's friends, anyone ask already have a girlfriend yet? Until someone asks for a phone number. To be honest, I didn't even pay much attention to it because I was busy looking for the Sergeant, but I didn't see him there, and at once a feeling of disappointment hurt me.
“Sit down first yuk bentar, it happens that there is something you want Abang titipin for other friends.”
“You guys take another walk?”
“Iya, Bang, just returned to college and continued to gramedia nyari book,” replied Mira got a nod Bang Eddy.
“Which other how are you? I forgot to ask for a phone number so I completely lost contact. Understand the condition at that time boro-boro inget ask no phone, know for yourself what the condition is like?”
We nodded in understanding.
“Alhamdulillah on good all, Bang. Others how are you, Bang?”
“Which else? Honestly, you do not know the other news because we are assigned in different places, at least some are still on duty together and Alhamdulillah they are all fine.”
“If Mas Yudha?” Mira asked making Bang Eddy laugh.
“Oh, so asked by Yudha, said dong from earlier. Who is curious about Yudha? Mira or Kekey?”
“Both, Bang.” Bang Eddy laughed again while I could only smile shyly.
“Yudha, fine, just rose her rank.”
Pride in the surface made me smile.
“After Sergeant?” ask me enthusiastically.
“Who says he's Sergeant?” Bang Eddy laughed at my question, “yesterday he was Letda, Second Lieutenant, one of the best graduates akmil him.”
“Lieutenant?” Mira and I couldn't believe it.
“Iya, Lieutenant,” replied Bang Eddy with a big smile, “Meanings I wonder why at that time you called him Mas Sgt.”
“Kekey thinks he's still a Sergeant, Bang, because he's still young.”
“Iya, Mira thought that the Lieutenant was Mr-Bapak.”
Bang Eddy laughed again, “I mean old like Bang Eddy?”
“Not, Bang, hahaha.. that is, when Kekey's father became Lieutenant, Dad already had 3 children, if Mas Yudha would be young.”.
“Oh, Kekey's father's class too?”
“Iya, Bang, but Dad is retired.”
Bang Eddy nodded in understanding, “The richness of Kekey's father used to graduate from Secatam or Secaba, if we are from akmil so directly Letda yes even though Bang Eddy late entry compared to Yudha hehehe.”
“Oh so yes, Bang.” I nodded in understanding.
“You should know, Key, as Father of the generation and Kak Juang kan Taruna akmil.”
I can only grin at Mira's words, “Hehehe.. not interested if Dad and Sister are talking about the military, I mending hazy.
“If you chat military with Yudha, definitely direct spirit yes, Key.”
“Hahaha..right then, Bang.”
I smiled shyly and I was sure my face was red.
“Oh, yes you wanted nitipin what, Bang?” I tried to distract Bang Eddy who seemed to have started to know about my feelings for the Sergeant, uh the Lieutenant, hehehe.
“Oh yes, almost forgot.”
Bang Eddy was looking for something in his bag.
“Well! Here it is, fortunately there is still an empty one.” In Bang Eddy's hand there is now a beige invitation card.
“There is a pen?”
I took the pen in my bag and gave it to Bang Eddy.
“Your institution name is OASIS-right?” Bang Eddy asked before finally writing it down on the invitation card after getting a nod from the two of us.
“This, take everything yes.”
Mira and I read a beige invitation bearing the names Letda Eddy Sinaga and Renata Chaniago, SE, in gold ink, leaving Mira and I gaping with round eyes.
“Bang Eddy to marry?”
“Hehehe yes,” replied Bang Eddy shyly.
“Waah! Congratulations yes, Bang!” Me and Mira can't cover our joy anymore, we sincerely regret it.
“Still, don't forget to come yes, invite others.”
“God willing, Bang, we all came.”
“Mas Yudha invited no?” Mira asked making Bang Eddy laugh.
“Past be invited, that's why you two dress up and beautiful yes.”
“Ready!”
Mira replied in a different spirit to me who was more excited to read Bang Eddy's wedding invitation to find when the wedding was held, and that's next week! Which means I'll meet with the lieutenant next week.
*****
