THE END OF OUR STORY

New Round

Aurora spent almost two weeks in Surabaya with her mother and family Om Heru. His days were filled with activities lazing at home, helping his mother take care of catering or cake orders, and occasionally going out to find entertainment. Although communication with the Cloud through text and video messages is never interrupted, but Aurora's nights are often filled with tears holding back her longing for the Cloud.

The atmosphere and conditions were very different to what he was used to and saw every day for a year turned out to have to make him adapt immediately. Countless times Aurora reflexively opened the tap of water while carrying a glass when she wanted to drink. Aurora forgets that the clean water is not yet equal to the quality of drinking water. Seeing the streets are crowded with cars and motorcycles and then tares are also able to instantly make Aurora miss the streets of Rotterdam with its bike and tram lines.

Choosing to work again in her old office, Aurora must go back to her family. With ushered to the train station, Mirna, her mother released Aurora willingly to go to Bandung. Aurora stays at the house of Naya, her best friend since High School and the only person during college who knows Aurora loves Clouds. Naya's parents had bought a house in Bandung because Naya and her two younger siblings eventually all studied in Bandung. Aurora hitchhikes while at Naya's house while looking around for a boarding room closer to her office.

The encounter between Aurora and Naya is certainly filled with stories that never stop from the mouth of Aurora. Naya also did not let Aurora take a break because she continued to ask questions about Aurora's life while in the Netherlands and her college experience.

“Dduuuh, great fun yes, Au ..” said Naya with a little envy that is positive.

Aurora just laughed softly. “You anyway, I'm ajakin scholarship list together, don't want.” Aurora reminds him that she had invited Naya to go to college with him again.

Naya laughed as it reminded her of her reason for rejecting Aurora's invitation. This is not a cool reason to be proud of. Naya at that time refused just because she did not want to part with her boyfriend who had not been in a relationship with her for a long time. Now, really he really regretted his stupid reasons, because the relationship did not go well and it was over.

“Your friends are there, how? Fun not the guy?” naya asked again because she knew Aurora was not a sociable person.

Aurora excitedly tells Saras her friend, as well as the hilarious but reliable men Singgih, Lukas, and Iqbal. Aurora did not offend Awan in the story, because she wanted to wait for his relationship to be completely official first with Awan and be a surprise for Naya. Aurora realized she couldn't be sure what would happen over the next six months and beyond.

Aurora took the time to visit her old office which was immediately greeted by friends in the office with excitement. Not to forget, Aurora gives chocolate souvenirs that can be enjoyed by her office friends, as a sign that Aurora remembers them during her departure.

Aurora's boss is thrilled to see Aurora return and intends to continue working there. Aurora is indeed one of the workers relied on by her superiors because they have a high learning desire and a good work ethic. Aurora has been asked to start work next week because her office is working on a project that matches Aurora's capacity.

Aurora's later days fill her with work and new routines in her life. No more lectures, lecturers, libraries, and coffee machines. There are also no bicycles, trams, thick jackets, and the habit of checking raw material content when shopping. All have changed with work reports, meetings, coordination, and public transportation, and can shop anything without worrying.

Aurora still often chat with Saras and other friends through text messages because the group that was once made for communication purposes in the Netherlands is still active today. Almost two months from their return to Indonesia, Aurora and her friends except Singgih, returned to meet and gather in Jakarta because they will take care of the diploma equivalence.

After finishing with the needs in the ministry building in the Senayan area, they gathered to give up longing while enjoying eating and drinking in the nearest mall. Because Singgih was not with them, Saras also made a video call on Singgih with the intention of making Singgih envious to see them gathering together.

Singgih who answered the video call was very happy to look back at the faces of his friends, and vice versa. It had not been long since parting, but that longing could not be hidden. When he received the call, Singgih happened to be with his girlfriend so he began to tease his friends.

“Replace yes now ... in the Netherlands I am single, now it is your turn!”

Iqbal laughed and chimed in, “Again, Nggih. Those who feel now, yes.”

Aurora, Saras, and Lukas would not want to end up laughing also saw Singgih and Iqbal who were so happy because they felt in a winning position.

Iqbal then told his friends that early next year he would get married soon. Saras who has moved to work in Jakarta did not want to lose stating that he was still continuing his relationship with Nelu. If Aurora doesn't need them to ask because the Clouds are still in their group and they know the relationship between Cloud and Aurora is fine.

“How are you, Kas? Same with Svetlana?” ask from across.

“Ya is not ...,” Lukas laughs chuckles that make his friends wonder, “Svetlana it will have a girlfriend in Latvia there,” said Lukas casually.

His friends had looked at each other and immediately together cheered Luke, including Singgih. “Wooo .. basic!”

Lukas just grinned at the cheering of his friends. “Friends but friendly ...,” her eyebrows raised with her eyes rolling, “no.”

Luke's sentence makes Saras spontaneously hit him while delicating. “Heh! It's delicious!”

Lukas laughed again in front of his friends who only shook their heads knowing the facts that Luke conveyed.

Time a day is not enough for them to re-joice, review experiences, and also retell silly events that they experience. Five women and men who did not know each other before, but became so familiar and close because for a year always together. A new family is formed because of accompanying each other in the joys and sorrows in a foreign place.

Aurora and Cloud's relationship so far is still going well. Technological sophistication allows them to send messages and photos to each other and make video calls, which are usually made at night before the Aurora prepares for sleep. Sometimes video calls can not be done if the afternoon Cloud is needed. The time difference between Indonesia and the Netherlands has changed to six hours since autumn began.

The video call with the Clouds actually made Aurora a dilemma, between being happy to see the Cloud figure, but also sad because it made her miss the real presence of the Clouds by her side. Looking at Cloud's hand, Aurora remembered the Clouds hand in her hand as well as her embrace. Looking at Cloud's shoulders and chest, Aurora recalled the comfort of leaning her head there. Looking at Cloud's face, Aurora recalled the warmth of the Clouds' kiss on the top of her head, forehead, and lips.

The clouds feel the same. Seeing Aurora almost every night but not being able to touch her made her heart often unsettled. Cloud tried with all his might to put forward his logic and plumped himself with the words ‘sabar’ and ‘while again’. His activities after Aurora did not change, from apartment to campus and back again with occasional deviation for shopping purposes. It was his mood that changed, because all these activities were now done alone without Aurora. Every time his concentration was interrupted, all he remembered was that his goal was to be there, to complete his studies not to lament.

The anniversary of the Eiffel Tower is celebrated by the Clouds and Auroras with hearts filled with longing. The photo together with the background of the tower and necklace of clompen shoes that are still faithfully worn Aurora became a reminder of the sweetness of the affectionate statement of the Clouds on Aurora at that time. The minute by minute is beautifully recorded in the subconscious memories of the Clouds and Auroras, creating a wave of warmth that they can still feel, even though the physiques are no longer together.