THE BARA OF THE PAST

Ending the Dilemma

The hue of dawn is somewhat red with a treat of wet foliage. A pair of humans are struggling with their own feelings. Liodra felt a little awkward being in one car with Devano.

Strange indeed.

Yesterday when he was so sure Devano was his match, he felt safe together. Now he should feel safe because Devano is his brother, which means he has a mahrom bond, his feelings are not complicated. So strong is the sense of it stuck, to change it takes time not fast.

They arrived at the address given by Mr. Dirga. The drizzle down continued the cloudy cloudiness that lingered in the rainy city. A whitewashed and fenced-in house. Two-storey stately house with a very large courtyard located in the cold area of the upper Bogor area. Liodra got out of the car and rang the bell behind the fence. A woman appeared from the door of the house. 

"Sorry is this Mr. Baskoro Setyadi's house?" liodra asked half-shouting. Both hands cover the head to avoid the drizzle that began to thicken. 

The middle-aged woman looked nervous for a moment before replying "sorry, Neng misaddressed." He almost rushed in when Liodra continued his words, "my son. We've never met before, can I see Mr Baskoro?" 

"Sorry Neng, I don't know Mr. Baskoro. Excuse me." 

"Mrs .. wait!" Liodra shouted again.

Devano who had only seen from afar finally approached Liodra.

"Where?" Liodra did not reply, he was busy pressing a name from his phone. 

"Hallo, Mr Dirga, are you sure the address is correct? I've been on set but the mother said it's not Mr. Baskoro's house." 

"Sunday I went there in person and met the woman who worked at the house. He said Mr. Baskoro was sick so could not be found."

"Surely sure?" ask Liodra to make sure.

"Very sure." 

"Good, Sir. Thanks for the information."

Liodra closes the connection. Looks like something's wrong. Liodra thinks maybe Baskoro already has a new family who are now taking care of him because his condition is sick. 

"Where? Any recent info?" Devano listened a little to Liodra talking on the phone. 

"We're looking for Mr. RT's house or anyone else to find information." The two of them entered the speeding car slowly piercing through the drizzle which began to turn into a torrential rain. 

Meanwhile at the El Moda boutique, Ela is preparing important papers and company deeds.

After all the files were collected, he put them in a stopmap and took them out of the office. The girl had an appointment with someone.

His car entered a famous restaurant. Three people were waiting for him in the private room. Two well-dressed men and a woman who from her appearance looked classy. 

"Sir Richard and Mother Mely, good afternoon, nice to meet you both." Ela shook the hand of a husband and wife who were smiling kindly. 

"This is Mr. Fandi, our lawyer. Have the papers been taken?" richard asked, letting Ela sit down. 

"All the letters you need are here. Please check everything. If there's no problem, I'd rather we settle the transaction as soon as possible." Ela smiled triumphantly.

***

The twilight is the capital. Dewanti after cooking assisted Bi Darsi. The fifty-year-old woman who still looked beautiful was preparing for dinner. Several times he looked into the courtyard, hoping for Liodra's car to come.  

"Mobile Liodra has been inactive since noon. Mama can't call him, Pa. Mama's worried there's nothing with Liodra." 

"He's just going to Bogor? Not telling where? What business?" Hernowo scrunched his forehead.

"Yes, we've just waited. I hope he comes home tonight." Hernowo calmed his agitated wife in the dining room. 

"Jeng Tari said yesterday that the marriage might be brought forward. It's just that said Jeng Tari, Ryo and Riva agreed to marry siri first." Dewanti let out a long breath. 

"Why should Siri marry? Isn't getting married officially better?" Hernowo was somewhat astonished to hear his wife's words.

"Mama doesn't know either. Mama asked Liodra this morning, but he was out. If it doesn't matter to my mom, it's important they're married. So there is clarity," said Dewanti. 

"What does clarity mean? Precisely because married siri, papa was worried. What does it mean for Ryo to marry Liodra if it is only religiously legitimate? Liodra's position in the eyes of the law will not be strong, Ma."

Dewanti was silent to her husband's words. True too, if married siri Liodra status in the eyes of the law is not recognized as a wife. But marrying siri is still better than dating. 

"Ah come on, Pa. It can be processed later slowly. The important thing is Liodra has agreed to marry, mama is happy." Dewanti brushed off the bad thoughts that had crossed her head. There was no way Ryo wanted to play with his daughter. 

A black sedan driven by Devano enters Jakarta. Liodra fell asleep from exhaustion. Every now and then Devano sees a beautiful girl beside him. Seeing him fall asleep, Devano felt his heart overwhelmed with the calmness that these three weeks had lost.

"You are the comfort created by time. While I am a memory that stops in your memory and then erased time. And we're the end of something that doesn't start until we're happy to be laughed at by time."

Devano chuckled after hearing his own voice. He was only having a dialogue with his heart, but hoped Liodra would hear.  Only in this way could he free himself from that sense. The feeling of being forced to be no longer the same. 

When they met this morning, Liodra had not been able to shake off her awkwardness. It was not easy to deny the memories that had been sculpted between the two of them. This day trip was a kind of therapy for both of them to both accept the bitter and painful course of fate. 

Liodra's greatest desire right now is to find Baskoro. Information from RT is very useful. Baskoro lives in the white house.

The family is very closed. Baskoro is married and has two children, a boy and a girl. His wife is dead. Both of his sons also live outside the city. Old Baskoro lives alone and lonely. There were only a few servants, gardeners as well as trusted people. All access to Baskoro is sealed. 

Liodra awakens when the car is slightly shaken as Devano avoids the road hole. He rubbed his eyes while upholding his seat. 

"We're almost there?" ask Liodra to make sure.

"It'll be another hour if it doesn't get stuck. You slept well." Devano smiled as he continued to watch the road.

"I haven't slept well in a long time. I don't know what it's like to just give the body the right to rest." 

"Are you really getting married?" Devano stared at the street straight in front of him. Questions that are directly on target. 

"Mommy must have told your mother" Liodra guessed.

"Liodra, if I can't take care of you as a husband, I'll take care of you as a sister. If you are happy, I am happy.  I don't have many ways to string characters. Just one simple thing that never changes. The way I love you now is to hold you in the do'a couplets."

Liodra's eyes are heating up. His heart broke again, falling apart. Clear thread flowed profusely on his cheeks. Previously he felt he was strong enough to hold back his own feelings. For weeks to strengthen the heart, there is still pain in there. 

"Sorry I didn't mean to ...." Devano felt bad for re-emphasizing the wound. If there was anything he could do to make up for his mistake just now, he would. Is he jealous? It's not appropriate if this is jealous. 

"I chose it to help me get out of the mood. Don't worry about me. One more thing, I think this is the last time we met. I'd go crazy if this kept up!" 

"Let's!"

Liodra screamed loudly while covering his ears. The harder he quenched the heart, the more it hurt to burn his own feelings. 

Liodra knows it won't be the same. If there is a proverb that says lost one grows a thousand, in fact in love, though a thousand grows, it is never the same as lost one. The only way is to forget Devano forever. Marriage with Ryo should be accelerated. To hell with love!