Salto World Wine

Chapter 33: The listener is hiding

I don't know what holds Arka in the parking lot until it never arrives even though it has almost 10 minutes passed.

Wine that can not stand to go to the bathroom can only pacing in front of the Arka unit, grumbling indistinctly and pretending to be graceful when passing by the occupants of this apartment building.

Wine knows his password, it's just that it feels rude if he entered without the owner of this unit. it's been almost 1 year not met, he said, their relationship is not as close as before until Wine dares to act as he pleases, the courtesy lessons taught by the mother are useful at times like this.

After all Wine also did not really believe if Arka's apartment password was really her birth date. What if Arka lied to her? Wine would be very embarrassed if the door did not open after pressing that number.

Crossing his legs, Wine really could not stand, he had to quickly go to the bathroom if he did not want to end up very embarrassing.

Should he press the bell of someone else and hitch a ride to the bathroom?.

Or should he try to include her date of birth? Can you open the door?.

“Akh..”

Wine pressed the numbers according to his date of birth. To hell with the manners taught by mom, Wine is no longer strong. It is more rude if Wine takes it out in his pants, right?. So embarrasing.

Right after pressing the last number, the sound of the door lock opening left Wine stunned for a moment.

His password is really his date of birth?.

Why his date of birth?.

Ignoring all the questions in the head, Wine went straight inside and to the nearest bathroom. After finishing all his affairs in the bathroom, Wine went out and observed the entire Arka apartment. The apartment of a man who is usually dirty and messy like the apartment owned by his sister Anya, is now the opposite. This apartment is so clean, some objects are neatly arranged in their respective places, even there is not a single dirty plate in the sink, or maybe some of the leftover snacks that are splattered on the table to eat all look very neat and clean typical Arka that Wine has been familiar with.

Walking towards the living room, the tv with a large screen equipped with a game stick and some dvds are also neat in their respective places.3 pots containing small-sized cactus are on the balcony, and there are several dvds, besides there are some cleaning tools and a bucket that still contains water with the aroma of floor cleaners makes a smile Wine rising. Arka is indeed a very tidy person, but it seems that the man did intend to take her to his apartment after cleaning it first.

One room with the door closed made Wine a little curious. There's an air force logo on the door, this is obviously Arka's room. After being convinced that Arka will not come anytime soon, Wine opened the room and the distinctive mint fragrance of Arka's perfume was smelled. Arka room is also no less neat and clean, single bed is in the middle flanked by two small nightstands, one nightstand containing lights and one nightstand contains several picture frames.

Wine is still on the doorstep because initially only intended to see without entering trying to sharpen his gaze to see the photo of who was there. somewhat familiar from the exact same clothes and body shape as his, Wine hesitated if the photo of him was there. Because there is not only one photo on the nightstand, there are 3 frames there and each frame consists of 4 photos.

In order to ensure his eyesight, Wine walked over to the bed. His steps stopped when his eyes clearly caught who the woman who was smiling widely in the photo. Himself, all the photos on the nightstand are photos of him with various poses and clothes. Photos while playing basketball on the court, photos while eating satay, photos with a frown expression after the exam is over, to photos when he was choosing beads in Malioboro, all there.

Since when did Arka take pictures of her?.

Why hasn't Wine noticed all this time?.

And why was everything on display in her room even after their relationship ended?.

Wine knew not only that he was suffering after breaking up with Arka, but that she knew Arka must be the same, but Wine did not know that Arka might suffer much more than he did.

Wine was sitting limp in bed. Not eating all day coupled with the thing he just knew made his head dizzy suddenly. As much as possible Wine held back his tears so as not to slide back, he did not want to cry in front of Arka today. Therefore, rather than falling unconscious and making Arka worried, Wine will fill his stomach with whatever is in Arka's refrigerator.

“You've eaten mas?”

“Don't I tell you never to come here again?”

Wine further disengaged his intentions as the voice of Arka was also heard, a very cold voice that Wine had never heard before from Arka.

“You're angry because you haven't eaten, right? I'm masakin your favorite chicken opor ya mas”

“Fig!”

Wine changed his position to sit beside the door. Anggi, the woman he met at the cinema and former Arka is here. Visit Arka's apartment and know if Arka hasn't eaten anything.

Then what can he do? He was clearly inferior to Anggi who was very considerate with Arka, instead of his attention only continued to make Arka miserable and hurt because he continued to avoid the man.

Anggi is obviously much better many times than he is.

“Mas want me to cook chicken soy sauce too?”

“Mas doesn't want anything. I just want you to go home and get out of the apartment. Don't ever come here again”

“Ah, mas have long time did not try banana and watermelon juice made by me? Anggi bikini ya mas”

“You heard I didn't!!”

Wine was a little startled as the voice of Arka rose by several octaves. When they fought first, Arka even only slightly raised her tone, but this time the man even almost shouted. Wine's heart skipped a beat, afraid that his presence was here which made Arka speak loudly to Anggi.

The sound of a knife that was placed— almost slammed on the cutting board was heard, making Wine even more afraid if his name would be brought into their quarrel. It seems Anggi was also on the limit of his patience.

“Is it because of that boy again until you scream at me?! It's been a year but why can't you eat him mas!”

The previously stifled tears slid down instantly, guilt appearing suddenly within Wine's heart.

“We'll talk about this next time. You go home first”

“If I don't want how?! For a year I was by your side. I was next to you when you were sick after being shown the same boy who was even 9 years younger than you. I was always there when you were hospitalized. I'm always there when you go back to Jogja. Butwhat? You still can't escape that boy”

“You know I'm going to Jogja open to meet you”

As the sound of Anggi's laughter rang out, Wine squeezed out his own hands which began to tremble.

Bekasi

December 31, 2021

the next chapter is up soon..