The Love Traces of RAHWANA

Quarry 5.

Yuta's car stopped in front of my house. And I was preparing to release the seatbelt wrapped around my stomach. But, there is still something stuck in my head.

“Yuta... I don't want to hurt you. And I have absolutely no intention of giving you empty hope. From the beginning I made my commitment to you and you said you understood. Please don't burden your own heart like that. You make me feel guilty.”

“I'm fine. And I also support your commitment. You just need to know one thing. If I'm gonna wait for that commitment to end and marry you. That's my commitment.”

“Yuta..”

“Don't forbid me, Ra. You have absolutely no right to do so. You have no room to stop my feelings. I know the most about my heart. If you're so strong with your commitment, so am I. So don't ban me.” Firm Yuta.

I can only bow my head. Looking into Yuta's eyes made me feel guilty. I'm not strong. He's a good guy and I don't want to hurt him.

Even Yuta's plan had already darted far ahead. We were just in the first semester of college. Household fantasies are far from my imagination.

I gave in to Yuta's words because I no longer knew what to say. The important thing is that I have made it clear that I have no intention of giving him empty hope, let alone hurting him. So, my job is done.

The matter of how Yuta arranges his heart is his business. I have no right to interfere.

“You're in?” I offered Yuta.

Yuta looks towards my house. And then he took off his seatbelt and followed me down from the car.

“Tumben aunt at home.” He said when he saw my mother's car parked in the carport.

I invited Yuta to go straight into the house. Hearing my mother's voice talking to my father in the living room, I immediately took Yuta there.

“I'm home.” I announce my return.

“Hai. Already home, baby?” As usual, I greeted him warmly. Hugged me for a while after I experienced it.

“Oh, there is Yuta also turns out.” My father chose to welcome Yuta.

Yuta smiled then greeted my parents. He sat down next to Dad.

“Tante Lisa and Om Arya how are you?”

“By-good. Aunty so calm if every day there is Yuta who drove Ara home.” Mother chirps.

I just shut up. Yuta is familiar with my family. Because her mother is a legal advisor to Yuta's parents who are high-ranking local officials. And we knew Yuta and his family even when I was in Junior High.

“Papa equals Mama healthy?” Ask mother.

“Health, Aunt.”

“We haven't stopped there in a long time.” Dad chimed.

“Sindi! Please make a drink, yes.” Mother's orders to our housekeeper.

Drinks are on the table. Father, mother and Yuta, they talked about anything that could be the subject of conversation. I chose to be quiet. Because if I come into the conversation, there is even me who is the subject of conversation.

My father and mother loved to make fun of me as his future wife Yuta. God, it's like everyone around me wishes I was married to Yuta. Even though I knew it was just their joke to me.

There is no special place in my heart for Yuta. Not for now. About later, I don't know.

“It's almost night, Aunt, Om. I'll go home first.”Yuta finally said the sentence I had been waiting for.

“Wait for dinner first new home.” Prevent mom.

“Thank you very much, Aunt. But next time.” Yuta refused and I smiled.

Being with Yuta made me a little uncomfortable. No matter how he says I don't have to worry about his feelings, still, it makes me uncomfortable.

“Sana deliver Yuta.” Mother urged and forced me to rise from my comforting throne by continuing to nudge my arms.

Although lazy, I still obeyed his request and drove Yuta to the front of the house.

“Besok mornings don't need to pick me up. I don't have morning class.” I'm telling.

I just noticed that Yuta had left along with his car. Then I went back inside the house. Mom and Dad are still in the living room.

“Ara up first yes, Well, Bu.” I grabbed my bag from the sofa.

“Iya.”

“Haahhh.”

I threw my body on the bed. Trying to unwind the fatigue I got from a day of activities on campus. Even to take a shower, I felt very reluctant. If my body wasn't sticky, maybe I'd miss taking a shower today.

Soaking in warm water during these rains, makes the cells in my body feel relaxed. I almost fell asleep in the bathtub.

After getting dressed, I went downstairs to join my parents. What we routinely do. That is dinner together when all the residents of the house are at home.

No special language tonight. Besides my lecture. As much as possible I avoided the grazing discussion of Yuta. Because it will be a long story later.

“Dek, next Thursday accompany Mom, yes?”

“Where, Mom?”

“Education in school. Halim High School. Did you have a lecture that day?”

I thought for a second. After I made sure that the day was empty, I immediately nodded at my mother.

“Oke.” I think it's better for me to accompany him than to be confused at home all day with no work.

I've finished my dinner. And it seems like nothing else can be discussed at the dinner table.

“Bu, Ara up first, yes?” My pamit.

I sat down at my desk. Facing five missed calls from a new number I didn't know. My memory drifted to the clouds. Is that the cloud number? I don't know why I feel sorry for not bringing my phone.

I want to call back the number when my phone rings again. It's the same phone number.

I breathe as best I can. I don't know why I feel so nervous. It is not necessarily a phone from the cloud.

“Halo?” My broom.

There's no sound. I cringed in wonder.

“Halooo?”

“Ara?”

Ah, I recognize that voice. An automatic smile on my lips. Cloud sounds are sexier and deeper on the phone. Makes me immediately imagine his jawbone firmly with the dimple hiAsan there.

“Hem?”

“Ah, I think the wrong number because you haven't picked it up since. Where the hell was it?”

“Sorry. I just finished dinner. I left the phone in the room.”

“Ohh. So, are you ready to discuss Ravana?”

“Rahwana who?”

“Suach to you. You want to discuss Rahwananya Sinta, what Rahwananya Ara?”

I'm gawking.

Ara's Rahwan? How dare he say that word. Just make me flutter. I know that actually the Clouds are just teasing me. But still, my heart was pounding to hear it.

“Why silent?” The sound of the clouds rippling my daydream.

“Good. Let's talk about Rahwananya Ara.”