Romance In Makara Orange

The Once Bitten Twice Shy Part 2

Elvira Kinanti

He was surprised not to play when the man who came out of the luxury sedan pulled over behind the car Kosa is Mas Cokro.

Vira believes that what happened that night in Deurali was just a memory left behind. Just a regular kiss. Making sure that the reason why he always remembers the taste of tobacco lips is just because it was his first kiss. Yeah, that's all.

Therefore, Vira tried to be ordinary. There's nothing to worry about. His relationship with Mas Cokro after the incident was also ordinary.

But, the arrival of Mas Cokro to Vira's house this morning and meeting Kosa with her was something that made her nervous as well as scared. This is beyond his estimate. He never expected it before.

He can behave normally if there is only Mas Cokro alone or with other mas-mas climbers. But not if there's a sin. It's creepy.

Now his hand is holding two bags from two different men. And the two men were in front of him in the living room. Vira is like waiting for judgment.

“Mas, Vira to the back for a while,” say goodbye to Mas Cokro, passing Kosa who sat beside him.

With a quick step Vira towards the kitchen. Stay there for a while. Taking a deep breath to neutralize his rapidly beating heart.

He took a white ceramic cup and ground coffee and a dripper and filter paper. Vira recalled that in Nepal Mas Cokro always drank bitter coffee every breakfast.

Vira was too nervous to make a cup of coffee. His mind is not focused. Sometimes pause for a moment and think about what Kosa is talking about with Mas Cokro in the living room. Would it be offensive to the incident in Deurali? Will the video of him drunk also be told to Kosa?

Kosa comes to Vira in the kitchen and asks if she is okay. Kosa probably saw how nervous she was when making a cup of coffee.

After the last drop out of the dripper stops, Vira delivers this coffee to the living room.

“Mas, sorry for long. Drink yes Mas,” said Vira and then sat in the chair opposite Mas Cokro.

Vira turned her head towards the living room, Kosa turned out to be nothing. Not following him back to the living room might still be in the kitchen, thought Vira. Now Vira is only alone with Mas Cokro

“Thank you,” he said then sip slowly his bitter coffee.

“The coffee is good.”

Vira smile.

“Koq suddenly arrived Mas, do not tell you first? Koq can know Vira's address?”

“All through. I want to give you things bought in Pokhara. Didn't give me yesterday.”

“Can Vira address from where Mas? Mas Dody?” ask Vira again.

“There in the group,” replied Mas Cokro short.

Vira just realized that Mas Une as the team leader had asked all climbers to send short biodata for climbing administration purposes. Including the home address, in anticipation of any unwanted problems.

“Your boyfriend lives here?”

“Eh, what is Mas? Meaning?”

“Forget it,” say Mas Cokro short then sip back his bitter coffee. This time it's over.

“Mas go home first yes Vir. Thanks for the coffee.”

“Loh, still raining Mas outside.”

Chocolates smile. “Gak nothing.”

“Before Mas, Vira take the umbrella first. Vira delivery to car.”

With a large umbrella, Vira escorted Mas Cokro to his car. Mas Cokro who holds the handle of her umbrella. They're walking so slow. Let the splash of rain water wet their feet. Letting the cold envelop their hearts.

“Vira.”

“Iya Mas.”

“Sorry yes!”

“For what?”

“Mas came at an inopportune time.”

Vira was silent, not answering. Mas Cokro's right hand tightly grasped his hand for a moment before releasing and handing over the large umbrella.

Vira was still standing looking at Mas Cokro who was driving back his car then turned and slowly disappeared from his sight.

 

Kosa looked at Vira and the man from the porch door. He was not fully able to see what was happening there because he was blocked by the white SUV car owned by Mas Andri that he borrowed. There was a pain in his heart that appeared suddenly seeing the man one umbrella with Vira.

When Vira returns, Kosa welcomes her in the living room.

“Mas Cokro home Vir?”

“Already,” replied Vira short.

“Still raining though. Maybe hurry.”

“Vir, here sit next to brother!” pinta Cosa.

Vira according.

“Vira want to tell something same brother?”

“What story?”

“About Mas Cokro maybe.”

“Mean brother?” Vira tried to avoid the direction of the conversation.

“Vira want to know what happened to Mas Cokro in Annapurna?” Kosa asked carefully so that Vira did not feel cornered.

Vira sighed then fell silent for a while.

“Abang trust Vira?”

“Means?” ask Kosa doesn't understand.

“If dear brother Vira, brother should trust Vira.”

“Abang dear with Vira. Brother just wants Vira to talk honestly.”

“There is nothing between Vira and Mas Cokro. You can ask Mas Dody and Mas Une. That's all Vira can tell brother.”

Kosa smiled and grabbed Vira's head to lean on her shoulder.

“Abang trust Vira. Don't be nervous anymore!” say Kosa slowly.

 

Sin came home after the rain stopped. Vira went straight back to her room. Shedding his body that feels heavy because of the burden of taste that wrestles.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.” Vira shouted loudly, trying to let go of this slight burden of feeling.

Vira cursed herself why she was so stupid. His memory repeated the incident in Deurali until the incident. Vira thinks that Kosa is aware of what is happening or else Mas Cokro has told her. Ah, it's impossible. Throw away that thought.

Vira took her towel and took a shower. Cold water this morning can neutralize his body that warmed up since the arrival of Mas Cokro earlier. After bathing he wore his favorite clothes, short cotton pants and yukensi t-shirt. For twenty days he was constantly wearing long clothes that covered his entire body. Vira felt the need for air to caress her skin.

“Vir, Vira, open the door,” said Mama while knocking on the door.

“Iya ma, briefly.”

Vira found out that she was carrying two paper bags and her black duffel bag to her room.

“Koq mama who bring anyway? Let Vira aja ma, this is heavy tau!”

“That was who came Vir? There is a coffee cup in the living room.”

Vira was shocked, and forgot to put the coffee cup back in the kitchen. “Later Vira bring it to the kitchen cup ma!”

“Same as mom. But whose guest is it? Koq mama not called?”

“Friends Vira ma, just play a little koq!”

Mama nodded then went down.

Vira saw two paper bags in front of her. One is brown from Kosa and the other is pink from Mas Cokro.

Vira opened the paper bag from Kosa first. He found a dark brown knitting bag, one of his favorite colors. The bag is quite large, it looks like it can be used for college because it can load a lot of stuff. The strap of the bag is made of good and sturdy leather. Vira really likes it.

Soon Vira took the canvas bag she used to wear. Removed the contents and transferred to a knitting bag of gifts from Kosa. He pecked himself in front of the mirror with a knitting bag attached to his shoulder. Stylish with the position tilted to the right and left to make sure the bag is right for him. Vira's smile expands satisfied with the gift of Kosa.

Vira had wanted to let the pink paper bag. Don't want to open it. But he could not bear to know what Mas Cokro gave him.

The art paper bag was opened. There's a clear plastic wrapping around something. Looks like a light gray shirt. When opened it turns out this is a cashmere pullover, a kind of high collar sweater that can be rolled up. Vira stroked the surface of her pullover. Smooth and soft.

Vira understands the gift of Mas Cokro is expensive because yesterday Vira can only buy for Natha. Pullover models always make the wearer feel elegant and classy. And it's made from real cashmere material.

Vira Kira Mas Cokro only gives a beautiful pullover. But it didn't. Vira's eyes found a small box inside this pink paper bag. He left and opened the box. There was a glittering radiance that burst out from the black-colored box made of black satin material. A white ring with a pattern of a leaf and a beautiful crystal.

Vira was so stunned by the contents of the box. Didn't think there was such a beautiful thing in it. It's not just a normal crystal. The luminous circulation is so beautiful. Vira tried to put the ring on her. Perfect fit.

Repeatedly Vira moved her hand just to see that the ring was appropriate on her finger. Why can it fit in his fingers? Never before to this day did Mas Cokro hold his hand or ask what the size of the ring finger was. Vira was still stunned and amazed to see it.

But that feeling turned into a guilty feeling. Vira shouldn't wear this ring. This was too expensive to say as a gift from a person who was not close to him. From the guy who just kissed her for a second. Vira took the ring off and put it back in the box and kept it tightly in her dresser drawer.

There is a message notification that reads on Vira's phone. From an unknown number.

[Vira, can we meet somewhere?]

[May the ring fit on Vira's finger]