THE END OF OUR STORY

Undecided

With a cup of coffee in his left hand and two books in his right, Awan walked slowly towards the Social Room. Just two steps away, a voice called out his name.

“Wan!”

The clouds turned their bodies and saw Singgih who was walking quickly towards him.

“Why Nggih?”

“Where, tomorrow so don't we go to Java Stall?”

The cloud remembered his promise last week. “Ayok. If it's dinner, most Sundays. What else?”

“Lukas equals Iqbal anyway okay. Au same Saras nih who has not been asked.”

“Ask in a group, Nggih.”

“Oh okay. Ready it! Hour 6-an?”

“Iya can.”

Finished Clouds talk Singgih was turned while previously forming a gesture ‘OK’ with his finger. The cloud only replied with a nod and a look in such a way as to show approval because his hand was unable to move freely.

Today Awan chose to have breakfast while reading a book and working on a dissertation in the Social Room. Other students have classes, he thought. Another reason that he will not need to go anywhere later, just wait for the presence of Aurora and her friends who will have lunch in the room as well.

It had been two days since the clouds had not met Aurora because she had turned into a cocoon in her room, trying to write. His heart was filled with longing. “New two days, how about LDR-an many years?”

The clouds cannot imagine.

--

This Sunday afternoon as per the promise made earlier, they had already gathered on the ground floor and were going together towards the station. Because Iqbal and Lukas don't have bicycles, if they have to go the six of them inevitably have to use the tram.

The purpose of this group is Warung Java, a small restaurant owned by Surinamese people of Javanese descent who sell chicken soto as one of the mainstay menu. Soto flavor in this place is closest to the taste of soto in Indonesia. That is why Warung Java has always been a subscription for Indonesian students who come to this city.

It was already dark by the time they arrived at Warung Java. This restaurant includes a small restaurant that is not too spacious and seating is limited.

In addition to the chicken soto in the menu list called saoto, in this restaurant there are also other typical Indonesian menus such as rames rice, chicken satay, chicken satay, and hodgepodge and confectionery such as rempeyek wrapped it says: ‘Made in Suriname’.

As people who have Javanese lineage, no wonder they also communicate in Dutch mixed Javanese.

After placing the order, Awan took a seat next to Aurora, but deliberately chatted with Iqbal who was sitting in front of him. That means not to be too obvious if he actually deliberately wants to get near Aurora.

When the soto was in session, Saras was the first to comment while his face looked surprised.

“Mas, not wrong?”

His eyes were wide open towards the Clouds sitting opposite him as his hands raised a spoon containing several toge inside.

Other friends also watched their bowls.

Lukas laughed when he realized the size of the toge is much different from what is commonly eaten in Indonesia.

“Toge this giant anyway..” said Lukas while his hands were still stirring the contents of his bowl.

While lowering his head and speaking softly, Saras again commented.

“This seems to follow the body of a tall Dutch man. Lest they were on high not for drinking milk, but checking toge ginian..” Saras.

“You can high eat toge gini too, Ras?” Aurora seduces Saras whose body is tall enough for Indonesian women.

Saras replied quickly while pulling both ends of her lips flat, ”Yeeey, yes kali.”

Aurora smiled broadly as she managed to tease Saras.

Next to her the Clouds smiled, seeing Aurora smile.

Iqbal mediates and reminds them to continue eating.

“Udah, eaten only. What matters is that it tastes good. Not kangen what is the same taste of Indonesian food?”

His tone showed that his longing was slightly relieved by dinner today.

Lukas and Singgih also look greedy and feel satisfied, yes satisfied in the stomach is also satisfied in the heart.

Returning to the apartment, the tram they rode contained only a few passengers. Aurora rose first followed by Saras who chose to sit in front of Aurora who was directly leaning on the window next to her looking out.

“Luckily the Saras did not sit next to him. There is this opportunity.” Inner Clouds while enjoying her arms that are firmly attached to Aurora's arms.

The clouds know he can't rush. He wanted to ascertain in advance how Aurora felt about him. On several occasions Awan did catch it like Aurora did not like if Saras teased Awan and spoiled with him. However, Awan is not sure if it is a sign Saras is jealous of having more feelings for him, or an expression with another meaning.

The clouds believe they will approach the Aurora slowly but surely. He still has plenty of time. There are still 9 months left until Aurora returns to Indonesia.

While Clouds sank for a while in her daydream, Aurora was restless in her mind.

Every time I remember how Saras often blurted praise on the Clouds and often teased the Clouds, Aurora became convinced that Saras might indeed like the Clouds like her.

He could not read how the Cloud actually responded to Saras. To be honest, he did not dare to imagine and guess. It's heartache if it really happens.

Because of his thoughts that led to Saras and Clouds, this time he thought too far. “Do not Mas Awan sit next to me so it is not too visible deketin Saras?”

--

The kitchen space in the Aurora unit sounded crowded. They arrive Samantha the Filipina and Xiau Lie from China for dinner together. Aurora and Saras actually only prepare fried rice, coupled with a salad made by May. Unwilling to come empty-handed, Samantha and Xiau Lie came up with packed juice and a large bag of potato chips.

While spending dinner they are busy exchanging stories, about lectures and daily life that they live to life in their respective places of origin.

Of those five, only Samantha spoke American-speaking English. She lived in the United States until her teens before following her parents back to the Philippines.

While Xiau Lie was actually able to speak English fluently, it was just that his dialect made some of the words he spoke sometimes require repetition in order to be understood.

For Aurora and Saras, casual chatting like this is a valuable opportunity to hone communication skills. No need to fear wrong and doubt, if the interlocutor does not understand can still be equipped with body language.

“Eh, it seems like the language you use is similar to Tagalog in the Philippines,” Sam raised the topic of language conversation while setting his sights on Aurora and Saras.

“Oh yes?” Aurora was interested in wanting to know more.

“Iya, but it seems not only with Tagalog language, but also with local language in our place.”

Sam went on to explain why he suspected there was a resemblance in Indonesian to the language they used in the Philippines.

”If you are Indonesian again gather and speak your language, I can catch some words that are the same as our language. It even seems I can guess what topic you guys are talking about.”

“Woow, right?” This time Saras was astonished.

Sam laughed then continued, ”Mmmm, when you were gathering in class yesterday, you were talking about a study plan together, right?”

Aurora and Saras were dumbstruck with open mouths and unable to make a sound, not expecting Sam's words to be true.

“True that?” May was curious too.

“I-Yes, that's right,” Aurora replied while still leaving a look of wonder and disbelief on her face.

“See? Right?” Sam laughed happily because his guess was correct which was followed by the laughter of the other four people.

May commented, ”Waw, means you can marry an Indonesian, Sam. No problems in communicating.” May's comments were quickly approved by others.

Sam raised his index finger towards May and said in a very excited tone of voice, ”True, May! Means I tried to find an Indonesian girlfriend yes.” her eyes slanted upwards and her forehead shriveled, she looked like she was thinking.

“Oh yes, I know! There is one interesting Indonesian, but not our friend. That's your friend who is in Ph.D. What's name?”

“Dia? Who else is Ph.D.?” tanya Saras.

“Iya, dia.”

“Ooooh, dia. Name's Awan.” Saras then smiled seductively, ”You want me to introduce?”

The others laughed loosely except for Aurora who was seen smiling wryly. At the end of the laughter sounded Xiau Lie's voice, ”Tuh Sam, there's a chance.”

They also returned to laughing while continuing to tease Sam who had the opportunity to have an Indonesian girlfriend. Aurora tries to cover up her anger by pretending to laugh. In his heart he grumbled,”Urusan Saras aja belom settled, eeeh. Kok musti rivals a lot very siih!”

Sam's confession if he thinks the cloud is interesting, able to make Aurora depressed. Samantha has a look that makes it impossible for people not to give out compliments. Tall body with a beautiful carved body shape and brownish wavy hair, coupled with his trendy clothes and always able to strengthen the beauty of his body, Sam does look prominent among existing students.

--

A few days after the conversation in their unit, Aurora held the pain in her eyes and heart when she saw Cloud and Sam talking near the coffee machine.

“Yes Allah, what is my sin?” inner screaming.

“Ampuuun, I became senewen gini. Love has not been accomplished what is it like? Not yet accomplished or even will not be at all, this?” Aurora felt her heart squeezed and hurriedly turned away from what she saw.