Romance In Makara Orange

Cafe Drizzle

Those pair of eyes momentarily stared at each other intently. Look for the desired answer. No one knows what is going on between the two.

The ordinary meetings that had occurred during the past three months made the feelings of the two become strange. There is little pain from tightness when looking at each other. Kosa then removed her grip from Vira's wrist.

“Sorry,“ murmured Kosa shriek.

Vira was silent looking down while rubbing his arm which was not at all painful. Kosa still looked at him with a gaze that began to soften.

“Vir, I want to chat with you for a while. Can ya!” pinta Cosa.

“Can't Sis, Vira hurry, there's been an appointment with Mama at home,” reject Vira.

Oh, my God, what the hell is this. Since when did she use the same promises Mama who is just a housewife. Every time you leave, you always say to be careful on the road and don't come home too late.

It's only one o'clock in the afternoon and it's on campus, not on the street. Ah, the bodo time. It seems like Vira must be careful with Kosa.

“Just a moment, not long koq. Please!”, ask Kosa expectantly.

Vira's confused. But it seems like he has to solve this problem. Letting this trivial matter drag on also made him even more uncomfortable. Thought, this matter was already finished by the time of Kosa's presentation. Apparently not.

“Alright, Brother! But Vira doesn't want to chat on campus.” Vira asked back. He was afraid that chatting with Kosa together on campus actually made himself increasingly uncomfortable with the gaze of other students.

Kosa grabbed Vira's hand which then reflexes were refined by the mature brown-skinned girl.

"I'm sorry" said Kosa.

“We go to the motor park first yes! I naro motor there,” invite Kosa who was greeted by a nod to Vira's plan.

It turns out that the motorcycle Vespa PX 150 is dark gray. Exactly the same as Papah Vira has only different colors. Fortunately Vira wears jeans and not a skirt so it does not matter if it has to be a bonce. However, Vira was still doubtful.

“Sister, don't have a backup helmet huh?” ask Vira.

“Sorry Vir, nothing. No koq, just behind campus. No police, relax. There's a nice cafe near my kosan.”

The old Vespa drove slowly, out of the campus towards a small lane toward a residential area that turned into a boarding house for students.

Vira put her backpack in front of her body so as not to come into direct contact with Kosa. Both of his stairs held tightly to the iron that coiled behind his stand. Not too troublesome because it turns out the cafe is not too far away.

Kosa parked her vespas in a corner near the wall. The drizzle cafe is written on a small dark brown board. Petite cafe looks calm and beautiful with a juntai of lee kwan yew plants are not too crowded at this time.

Visitors can still be counted on one hand only. Kosa invites Vira inside and chooses a place in the back. There was a small pond with the sound of water gurgling. Kosa ordered milk coffee for her and Vira asked to make warm lemon tea.

“Enak yes Vir atmosphere. I love doing this task here. Coffee is also good, fit the same bag of students.”

Vira did not answer. For a moment they both fell silent. Listening to the music of the '90s was like a slow-moving goal in the ear and time. The gurgling sound of flowing water did not reduce the stillness that softened the taste.

“Vir, want to follow field research again no?” Tetiba Kosa breaks the silence.

“What research?” ask Vira.

“Yang yesterday it was! I once said that the results of research in Bekasi are okay, I will give you the follow-up. Cooperation with donor institutions yesterday was asked for additional research loci as well. So I was asked to coordinate for Bekasi Regency with Karawang. Just a little heavy work because you're just three teams.” Clear Kosa.

“Koq can be three, brother? Yesterday right in Bekasi the five?”

“But Kak, my home in Bekasi, far from Karawang, can not afford to go back and forth every day.”

“That's easy, you will be given lodging accommodation around his DPRD office. The motorbike is also used to find data there. The data of the people to contact and any documents are ready. I think it was yesterday. You're good, Vir!

“When Brother? Not anytime soon, right?” ask Vira.

“This holiday is koq, after finishing the final exam. This comes in the second batch and a week of work. About honor same as yesterday.”

“Oh okay. Ready Kak.” Vira smile.

Not a smile because there is talk about research honor but there is a burden lifted from his mind because of this talk.

Frankly, Vira is ready for a thousand reasons if Kosa asks why she has been avoiding lately, but apparently, Kosa just wants to talk about research. Waaah, he was already ge-er with a feeling of not knowing it was nothing special. Vira smiled with relief.

____________________________

Sin

Vira was silent. Didn't answer when he said about this Cafe and his habit of hanging out here.

Kosa becomes upset herself and her desire to ask why Vira avoided her so yawns disappear.

The mature brown-skinned woman in front of him is silent like being in another world that is difficult to penetrate. Vira let her phone go, sipped her lemon tea and then closed her eyes. Want Kosa to flick her index finger on this junior's nose.

Finally a question came to break this silence. “Vir, want to follow field research again no?”

Sure enough, Vira immediately answered his question enthusiastically.

Kosa immediately explained about the follow-up research that he had promised to Vira. It's still about two months away. Mr. Irsyam and Mas Syahran just gave their certainty last night during a coordination meeting. Usually Kosa contacts the field team about two weeks before the turlap.

I don't know why this conversation just happened, outside of his plan. When Vira smiled, Tetiba Kosa felt her heart rustle. A sweet smile that rarely loosened and often overshadowed his days lately was now present in front of his eyes. Like getting a jackpot.

Vira is not the most girl who likes to talk about her. Sin had to dominate the conversation.

Vira just seems enthusiastic when it comes to research and books. It turns out Vira loves novels of many genres. Call it Umar Kayam, Ayu Utami, Haruki Murakami, Khaled Hosseini, Charlaine Harris and Nawal El Saadawi. Kosa feels tick dead when Vira asks who her favorite novelist is.

“Gue likes Kho Ping Hoo same Fredy S.” Kosa laughs grin. Kosa did not expect that Vira would laugh at her confession. Kosa thought Vira would frown and mock her.

“Gw also likes to read his book Fredy S same Enny Arrow. But it used to pass SMP, found in the pile of old books have Bokap.” Vira laughs making Kosa gasp.

Vira's face became soft and sweet to look at. They talk more about theory books, novels, and political conditions and not a single bit of them talk about themselves.

Looks outside a small drizzle. The vines and hanging trees near the Kosa and Vira tables were wet as the morning dew. The atmosphere was soothing, as cool as Vira and Kosa's heart. No wonder why this cafe is called Cafe Drizzle.

After the maghrib prayer, Kosa drove Vira to the Pondok Cina station. Vira has to catch a train to Bekasi which is at Manggarai Station at seven this evening.

“Thanks yes Kak Kosa, it was a pleasure speaking to you today.” [Thank you, Brother Kosa, it was nice talking to Brother today]

Rosa smiles happily.