The Love Traces of RAHWANA

Ravana 14.

Today, I was driving Mama and Mas Mahli around the city of Jogja to find a hand for Mas Mahli's wedding.

In two weeks, Mas Mahli will be married to his beloved girl who comes from Malang. Wanting to get married, the look on Mas Mahli's face looks much fresher and brighter. His smile never faded.

“Why not find a hand in Malang only, Mas?” I asked while focusing on driving the car.

“Nobody's looking for that there. Bulek did not have time to Malang.”

“Search here is the same. They will be taken there. There's this car.” Mom crammed out of the back seat.

“That's fun to get married. Smile continues..”

“Later you'll know how it feels, Wan. Now I tell the grid first.”

“Cision-grating?” I chuckle at hearing it. Sounds like a school exam with a grid.

“That's hard to explain, Wan. Anyway, there's nothing happier than successfully marrying the girl of your dreams.”

Ah, hearing Mas Mahli's description makes me impatient to grow up soon. Graduated from school, worked, and married Kuara, my heart.

Those happy shadows filled my head. My chest is amused by itself. Someone's rustling. Like thousands of butterflies circling my stomach.

“Why are you smiling so?”

I immediately turned to Mas Mahli who turned out to be frowning to look at me. I'm scratching my nape which isn't really itchy. So his own misbehavior was discovered to be fantasizing.

“Hehehehehe.”

“What do you imagine, son?” My mom noticed me too. I'm more embarrassed.

“For now, save your delusion first. There is still a long road to go through. School is not over yet. After school, I still have to go to college. After that, you still have to prepare yourself for the foundation. After that, you can follow Mas Mahli.” Mama said at length.

I just nodded while pursing my lips tightly.

“Already have a target, Wan?” Ask Mas Mahli.

“Sedang in the process to get, Mas. Hehehehehehe.”

“Hopefully smooth yes, Wan.”

Yes, that prayer is what I always say. May Kuara wait for me to finish my long trip list later.

*****

Jum’at afternoon, my family and I have arrived in Malang. Mas Mahli's wedding will be held tomorrow in the ballroom of the hotel where we are staying.

Tonight, we're having a bachelor party for Mas Mahli who's about to give up her single life.

Me, Mas Mahli, Mas Feri, Mas Arif, Satria, and some of Mas Mahli's coworkers. We all gathered at a cafe that had been rented by Mas Mahli's friends.

We all spent time chatting casually. Mahli chatted more with his friends. Between me and Satria, we only listened because their discussion exceeded our age. So we have no experience to participate in the talks.

“Where are you?” I asked when I saw Satria standing from her seat.

“Out.”

“Wait for me.”

Satria and I got out of the cafe. We sat in front of the cafe in the bamboo chair there.

“Mau?” Satria handed me a pack of cigarettes.

“No. Thanks.” Reject me. Because I don't smoke.

“You should try this, Wan. This is the process to go to adulthood.” Said Satria who finished lighting his cigarette.

“Nobody said. It's like, general secret.”

I don't agree with the stigma. Stigma is growing among teenagers today. As if not smoking, it is not cool and considered not to be able to get along.

In Ruamahku, no one smokes. Even Papa doesn't smoke. Papa said, to educate me to be a good person, it must be started from Papa and Mama as my parents. When they behave well, then automatically I will imitate that attitude.

“You know what's funny?” Satria asked as she exhaled her cigarette smoke into the air.

“My father always scolded me not to smoke. But the funny thing is, he always smokes in front of me. Doesn't that look weird? At least, if he wants to advise me, don't smoke in front of me. So I don't feel funny.”

This is what I mean. That's why Papa never smoked in front of me. Even though I knew Papa was a heavy smoker. But after his lungs got in trouble, Papa quit smoking instantly. He didn't want me to have the same pain.

“No comments.” I tekekeh seeing Satria pursing her lips.

“Release, Ja!”

Satria and I turned towards the sound. Near us, there seems to be a fight between lovers.

The girl kept rebelling to be let go. While the man did not want to release his hand grip on the girl's wrist.

“Listen to my explanation.” Said the man.

“No.. I don't want to hear your explanation anymore. It's enough I see with my own eyes.” Then the girl jerked her hand away.

“Keysi!”

That's a really interesting spectacle. I guess I can only see it in the video sharing app. It turns out that there really is a real event like this.

“You! You can take this trash for you. Because now that I've thrown it away, then please collect this trash for you!” Said the girl named Keysi to a girl who seemed to stare fearfully near them.

Satria and I just saw it. As the girl turned around, we pretended to look the other way. Feel bad because it has become a free audience.

However, the pair of legs standing before me made me stare back. It was Keysi who was crying while looking intently at me.

Why is he standing and looking at me like that?

“You've watched the free drama. So I'm asking for your pay.” Keysi said as he wiped the tears on his cheek.

Satria and I looked at each other. Not understanding the meaning of the girl whose eyes were blackened due to the faded ayeliner.

“What payment?”

“Help me get out of here. I want to save the rest of my pride.” Say back.

This girl looked tough, but tears kept on melting on her cheeks. Makes me feel sorry for him.

I turned to Satria and she just shrugged her shoulders. Then I looked back at the girl. He still looks expectantly at me.

“Alright, let's go from here.”

Crazy one! I must be crazy. My pity for this girl made me choose to help her. Yes, this is only limited to my sympathy as a fellow human being.

I stood up and walked to the car. Keysi followed behind. I let him in.

“Enter. I'll take you home.”

Not much to say, Keysi immediately got into the car and I drove him home.

Uh. This is the strangest thing I've ever done. Delivering the foreign girl home while the girl continued to roar in the car. Saying swear words and curses to a man named Lija.

And a moment later, he came back to grudge his own folly. Keysi continued to nag while crying along the way. I really feel uncomfortable.