Steps Connect

The Assalamualaikum Jogja Part 2

Anara POV's

I woke up when the sun was half high, it felt like my eyes were still so heavy to be forced open perfectly. On Friday, there are still days left that I can spend to climb Jogja City. I should have been happy, but instead, it felt like the time needle wanted me to turn fast and immediately return to Malang.

The phone that I charged when I arrived at the room at 3 was now in my grasp. While waiting for the phone to turn on perfectly, I went out of the room intending to wash my sleep-deprived face. Still quiet, no activity at all other than myself headed for the bathroom. My guess was wrong when I found Nilam already working in the kitchen. Two cups of tea have been presented, the aroma gives a comfortable feeling when it bursts into the sense of smell.

"Morning of Patchouli." I called him first because his position was on my back. He looked up and returned my greeting. I immediately washed my face and approached Nilam.

"Are there guests this early?" Askaqua.

"Yes, guests from far away. Btw, it's 10:00 Anaraaa." Nilam seemed to correct the word of my morning and moved from before me while carrying the tray containing the two cups of tea.

"Oh yeah, get yourself straight, An! If you want, we'll leave after Judah picks you up." I caught that sentence as a must for me.

"Where?" I asked Nilam a little lazily while pouring water into the glass. My throat is like a desert that is less flush these two days, less drink my guess.

"To Taman Sari or Parangtritis maybe? It's up to you two, An. I'm ahead first. I hope you two are tidy after Judah comes." Nilam set foot again without waiting for an answer from me. Wait, after Yuda comes? Tea is not for Judah. Then who's the guest? Ahh bodo.

I immediately returned to the room and woke Hartik who was still soundly wrapped in a blanket. I swear by anything, actually waking Hartik is the most lazy verb I do remember his sleep that looks like a dead person. It is difficult to build.

Even when he asked to be woken up for sahur I spent half an hour waking him up and the result was nil. I finally let him sleep and the next day the little cry almost all day said I thought I didn't wake him up.

Hartik still did not want to wake up, while waiting for him I saw my phone which now has displayed a message WA, from Candra of course. My heart was always burning with just looking at his name. Overrated!

How was the holiday, baby? You all right?

I'm not doing well.

Shortly after my message was sent, there was a call from Candra. I raised the call from him with a spirit still scattered on the floor.

"Hello" My voice was not even heard.

"You sick?" His voice sounded worried.

"No." My answer is very short.

"Then?" His worries are heard in short sentences.

"I miss." The sentence just slid off my lips without excuse. A moment later the sound of a deep breath I heard faintly.

"Same. When home?"

"Tomorrow. Take the train, fromini malem. Until there maybe Sunday morning. I want you to pick me up!"

"Yes dear."

After hanging up the phone. Kutengok Hartik is still sound. This time I shook his body a little harder, the old one just opened his eyes. I left him who was still collecting lives. I need to get ready soon!

...----------------...

An hour's drive we spent getting to this beach was very popular for all these people. Right at 14:00 we set foot in Parangtritis after the previous ribet event wait and eat first. Scorching not playing, lucky to be exposed to the wind to help us from the sun's sting.

The waves roared welcoming and receding, some delman greeted each other when passing by carrying his passengers. I step foot closer to the caress of the waves that are increasingly eroding the sand under the feet, I enjoy every splash that sometimes cold to the hue of the face.

We were busy with each other except Nilam and Judah. Don't ask! They certainly combine love stories wherever they are. Hartik is busy with his cell phone camera, while I? As I said, I was busy enjoying it.

For a long time, we struggled with each other. Perhaps the beach is one of thousands of places to complain to God about the heart, about the identity, about the longing and uncertainty of the weak self. Its breadth and limitless seemed to be a solace from the hustle and bustle of the city.

...----------------...

The sun is increasingly leaning to the west, the arms of the contest open wide to welcome its rays. Hartik steps towards me, before long he aligns his seat next to me who is still reluctant to move.

"You like the beach, An?" I rarely heard Hartik speak in such a serious tone as he had just said. Last I saw his serious mimicry when he shared his memories with his dead father.

"Yes, Tik. All loads like loose." I looked at him who turned blank looking straight ahead.

"When I was a kid, my brother used to take me to the beach. Seeing a small boat floating towards the sea, the destination is certainly arranged by the boat carrier." I understand what Hartik said. It is like a man living alone in the world and all power is in the hands of the Creator.

"Oh yeah, An. About Janu..." Hartik paused his sentence until I turned to him.

"Why don't you try to meet him? solve your problems!" How could this Hartik who is so pro with Candra tell me to meet that guy.

"I found him, Tik? You didn't say wrong? He's the one who's leaving. Then, now you're telling me to meet him?"

"He's your news, An. The sign is that he may still care about you. You want what Nilam said?"

I'm still silent, there's a point in Hartik's advice. If all is clear maybe I don't keep locked in a dark maelstrom of memories every time I hear his name. It will ease my move forward, and most importantly, I can make peace with the past. The other side of me doesn't want to lose. Why should I go and ask for an explanation? Didn't he choose to leave.

"You don't want it when your relationship with Candra gets more serious and the person from your past is still hanging?" Hartik still unperturbedly affected my mind.

"Everything would be better if done well anyway, An. Didn't we?" I took a deep breath and breathed it hard.

"Already, Tik. Don't talk about him anymore!" I hurried up from my seat followed Hartik. We moved away from the beach which has now changed its color. Dusk began to dance on the western horizon, mesmerizing the heart that missed his lover. But I'm still the same, not interested in the orange charm. Rain is more romantic.

...----------------...

Tonight Hartik and I decided to go alone, borrow Nilam's matic and based on the maps application, we were determined to go down the streets of Jogja City.

After a little argument with Nilam, he finally lost. Yes, when we constantly have to four go? while being a mosquito. Hartik and I managed to convince Nilam to trust us, he and his girlfriend should not be tired of being our tour guide tonight. We were also not so happy to watch them haha hihi like the world of the two.

Nilam agreed with wanti-wanti if there is anything to tell! It's exactly Candra she's. Ahh or the figure of Candra actually possessed Nilam today? Hush hastened to expel this ridiculous thought. I'll say it right away before he changes his mind.

...----------------...

Here we are, indulge in the curiosity of satay kere. After searching for information on the explorer machine, I decided to try the legendary culinary in this Jogja. Satay consisting of salary and some pieces of meat is indeed amazing to spoil my tongue when struggling with peel and sauce from vegetable tempe savory.

Hartik who does not like this soupy food looks voraciously with satay and peeled on his side. We were both drifting in each other's sense of taste.

After the stomach is filled and feels a little comfortable, I reappointed the motor obey the instructions from Hartik who glared at the maps, the next goal is to look for souvenirs typical of Jogja. If I forget to bring this one snack, maybe Candra will not believe that I just visited Jogja. My heart was tickled itself imagining it.

Still not giving up, when the night pointed at 21:00 we just set foot in the center of the crowd of Jogja City, Malioboro. I admit this place is very crowded visitors but at the same time the magnet pulled me back.

"Tomorrow the night we go back, Tik. I don't think we've had three days."

"Yes, An. Still a dream I can finally go far away like this." The happy expression of Hartik's face was very obvious, I was similar to Hartik. There is a feeling of happiness and pride, one of my many dreams I can cross.

"One day I'd like to come here again, Tik."

"Huh, are you seriously looking to see Janu?"

Degs.. Why is the direction of the conversation to that damn guy again anyway? I looked at him with my disappointed face.

"If not for that, what for?"

"Yes to wash your eyes from the saturation of the dooong lecture." I answered that while leaving.

"People don't want to go anywhere else. There are still many beautiful places besides Jogja, there are Bandung, Lombok, Bali, Papua even if necessary. Let it be far away." The hartik that walks behind me is getting sloppy. His speech is already similar to mothers who ngomelin their children because of differences of opinion.

...----------------...

The light from inside dimmed slightly, I looked at the watch in my hand. Quick, it's almost 11 p.m. Maybe Nilam was asleep, fortunately we brought the keys to the house, no need to make a noise to wake him. I parked the motorbike inside the house after the door opened perfectly.

I set my foot slowly towards the room afraid Nilam would wake up. My steps were stifled when I saw the space next to it half-open, my hand holding the wooden doorknob, I opened it a little more. My gaze swept across the entire 3x3-sized space, no occupants of it. Nilam's not in the room. Where's she?

"What's up, An?" Hartik also looked into Nilam's room following my movements.

"No, Tik. I thought Nilam was sleeping, apparently empty. The door was open."

"Yaudah, let's go to the room! He came out the same time Judah." I left Nilam's room without closing the door.

Hartik and I were already in the room that we were probably last sleeping in because tomorrow we would enjoy the thrill of sleeping in the train car. My phone rang at the same time as my body landed on the bed.

"Halooo's. Anara's here." Laughter is heard from across the street. A voice like a paddler to me.