Paper Dove

Moments I Like

I sat in the back passenger seat in silence, looking out the car window. Look at every tree we pass. I know Nandes occasionally glances at me through the middle rearview mirror.   But I don't mind it. I'm still mad. 

I put on the blanket given by Nandes in silence. Nandes tried to break the silence by chortling softly. 

" Ahem... Dew you hungry ? " , asked Nandes. 

I was still angry but I couldn't linger ignoring Nandes. If he left me in the middle of the forest how? It was my suspicion of him at this moment, considering how he brought me here. 

" No", I answered briefly. 

" We've bought a snack, then" Nandes said patiently. 

" It's up", I replied. 

I caught a glimpse of Nandes smiling because of my poor answer.

We passed through a lot of trees in the middle of the forest, cold weather biting misty but now it is still at 10:45 am. The sun is not able to penetrate the green of this forest. 

I lowered my car glass a little, inhaling a lot of fresh air in this natural treat. The smell of dewy grass, the sound of birds chirping made me feel better. 

It dawned on how all this time I had been in the middle of the bustle of a busy metropolis. It turned out that being in the middle of nature was an incredible thing to fix a loose screw in my head.

For a moment I forgot Juan, I forgot about my family problems that I didn't know what was going on in my family.

Nandes took his car slower than before as if supporting me to enjoy this nature that captivated my heart. I closed my eyes letting a fresh cold wind blow my face. 

For half an hour I was like that, my feelings got better than before. I closed the windshield, returned to the reality that was in sight.

For a while we had no conversation. Basically I'm not afraid of Nandes, as evidenced by me sleeping in the car in silence. Nandes is a good boy, it's just I hate the way he took me.

Long enough I fell asleep, the air temperature began to turn warmer. When I woke up I looked out the window, the sun shone without shame. It's almost 12. 

" Where is this? I slept a long time, didn't I?", I asked Nandes. 

" Enu, we have entered one of the areas called Iteng. It's an area with hot weather, but it's not as extreme as in Jakarta ", Nandes said. 

I looked out, indeed dense trees were rarely seen. Starting to look some open field stretches like a former rice field. 

" You have family here?", I asked. 

" no. Just an acquaintance.  We'll stop by", Nandes smiled at me, happy that I was getting good to him. 

" Sister.but I don't wear sandals" I said slowly from the back seat. 

" Yes I will buy you sandals and food, everything you want" Nandes said.

Nandes stopped his car at one of the small shops, before descending Nandes looked at me. 

" Come on" said Nandes. 

I looked out, the shop wasn't too crowded so I wouldn't be too embarrassed for not wearing sandals. Nandes opened the car door for me.  

I limped down, Nandes handed me his sandals. 

" Aren't we going to buy sandals", I refused subtly. 

" Just wear it until the sandals are bought, I'm used to not wearing sandals" said Nandes then walked into the store with empty legs. 

I put on those slippers and followed him from behind. I bought light blue sandals. Then there were so many snacks that I bought like I was afraid of hunger. I took him to the cashier. 

Nandes brought 3 bottles of mineral water and put them in the cashier with all the food I chose. 

" Have? Just this?", asked Nandes. 

" Bentar", I went back to the ice cream section. Then choose 2 ice creams and quickly dart back to the cashier. 

Nandes paid for everything including my flip-flops. I don't own anything, all I leave at home. So right now I'm hanging my life on Nandes. And of course Nandes laughed out loud as I said that to him. 

I got in the car and sat in front. Unpacked ice cream for me and Nandes. 

" Dew how do I eat that ice cream? I'm driving" Nandes protested.

" Yes, it's been opened" I said. " Yes, I helped you with it" I helped Nandes with his ice cream. 

" Oh yeah? Whoa…. Want to ", I said glad. 

Nandes smiled and then moved his body again to bite another piece of ice. I was busy with my own while watching the various houses we passed by. 

" Dew." Nandes called me slow. 

" Yes ".

" I'm sorry for how I did it today, I didn't mean anything bad".

" Yes, it's okay. It's happened, we've got here. But if you do so next time I will be hostile to you for life", I threatened. 

Nandes smiled "Yes, I'm not so next time". 

I'm nodding. I thought to Juan, is this maybe what I'm going through today with Juan if I go. But yes there is nothing to regret, we have arrived here. I threw away my ugly thoughts as far as possible. 

" You didn't ask why I was?", Nandes asked again.

" Because you're Juan's enemy?", I guess the origin. 

Nandes laughed "Because I like you. I'm jealous you're with Juan all the time. So today I want your time for me. I'll impress you", Nandes assured me. 

There was no comment I could make to reply to Nandes. So I can just be quiet. 

***

The beach was wide in front of us. I can smell the sand of the beach mixed with sea water. I got out of the car and was amazed by the view of the beach presented in front of me. 

The blue water covered the clear blue sky that stretched over it. The water rolled back and forth, trying to get to the ground as soon as possible and parse back by itself, like playing. 

I smiled broadly and looked towards Nandes for his approval whether I could step my foot into the shallow water chasing the breaking waves. Nandes smiled back giving his approval, I ran small like a kid welcoming the roll of the waves. After being locked up for that long in the house I was finally able to see the beauty of this nature. 

After being satisfied, I went back to Nandes who was sitting in the trunk of his car facing the beach. The baggage door opened as wide as possible, Nandes spread a piece of cloth as a base. I suspect he's been preparing everything from the beginning. 

" Sit here", take Nandes. 

I went up to him and took off my sandals, which of course were full of sand. "it turned out to be this good" I said. 

" Yes dong, this is still natural. After all the visitors were not much ", Nandes pointed towards some people a little far from us. 

I nodded "that's the citizen here?".

" Yeah…. Nature must be kept this well. Do not litter, we must care about the environment. So that when we are old we can still enjoy something like this" Nandes gave a speech. 

I looked at him "iye, the nature lover", I said as I chewed the wafer. 

Nandes smiled "I love moments like this. Drink coffee while looking at the rolling waves, or the vast expanse of grassland. All the stress that we get during the activity is immediately lost....if you like moments like what?".

Also true. What moment do I like? I never thought about it.

" What moment do I like?", I asked myself. 

Nandes was silent as if waiting for me to make a sound, not urging me to speak. 

" I don't know. But all I know is, I love the moment. Calm the heart through tall green trees, wet green grass, with the sound of forest animals singing. Seeing the clear blue water stretched wide with white sand underneath and the blue sky as the roof. All the burdens of my mind went nowhere".

The atmosphere was silent, because Nandes did not respond. Letting me dissolve in my mind.

" I used to know just studying, school, going to the mall, watching movies, hanging out at the cafe, going home, studying again. Trying to be a good boy, because I think being a good boy is great and proud for my father. Until finally I was brought here for reasons I do not know and not my father who drove but my stepmother. Haaaaaaah ", I took a deep breath. 

" It turns out that in the vastness of this earth I can still see this kind of calming thing, I love this moment. Really like. Thank you, Brother Nandes", I was grinning towards Nandes. 

Nandes looked at me and smiled. " It's good that if you like, this view is yours now. Enjoy it but remember not to take it home", Nandes ruffled my hair slowly. 

I laugh. It turns out there are things that can make me happy besides Juan. Someday I will bring him here. I will make him a part of my moment. 

***

Dear dear readers. Thank you for supporting up to chapter 20. heavy hehuhu, but channeling imagination is the best thing I have ever done. Please support and also comment for each updated chapter. Your input is the motivation that builds ●<●. Saranges.