THE MENTARI FOR ESTUARY SEASON 2
CHAPTER 24, SHOCK
“Hah? Kok... Oh my's... Why am I here anyway?” Riana was shocked half to death. Still at Rose Cafe, morning. Now he rubbed his eyes, looking around where he was now. Why is he still here? What the hell's going on?
“Nico..” said. He was last here with Nico, and now, that young man is gone. So, last night...
“Hus, don't suuzhon, Ri, just don't!” he cried, more to himself. Riana noticed her appearance in the mirror that was there. The clothes are still the same as yesterday; sneakers, jeans, sweatshirts and sweaters. I don't think anything has changed. If her hair is messy, maybe because she just woke up. And he didn't feel any pain in his body either, what else in the sensitive parts of him. All he felt now was sore, because all night lying on the couch.
“Mbak... Wes tangi?”
“Astaghfirullah! Why are you here, Lit?” riana asked in shock.
“I should ask, why are you still here?” Alit.
“Nico where?”
“Hah?” Alit shocked. He looked at Riana and the floor below him alternated.
“I asked, Nico where?” reiterate Riana again. Alit. He looked at Riana in horror, then his voice began to swallow.
“Meanings, Mas Nico here? When mbak?”
“Lah last night, you go directly to the kitchen right to the cafe door, right we again chat that you know..” explained Riana. Alit. His mind started digging something. The nico? Nico was here last night? But, he is...
“Yowes ngene ae, I don't make breakfast, don't wait below, Mbak Riri clean-up aja,” said Alit finally.
“Nico already under ta?” ask Riana again.
“Ngko does not tell me about mbak, not going down first.” said Alit while hurrying down, leaving Riana still confused in the private room. What's up here? Why is Alit's expression so weird that he asked about Nico?
***
Riana faced a table on which had been served a plate of omlet and boiled potatoes. Next to him, Alit accompanied him, along with the same menu and a cup of coffee as a complement.
“Eat first mbak..” says Alit. Riana nodded. But he is still thinking about the events of today, and also about Nico who disappeared suddenly. Then Alit... Why didn't she answer Riana's question about Nico?
“Kok kayak no awkward yes?” riana asked slowly as she started scooping her omlet.
“Wes tagged, mangano sek ngko uncertified..” says Alit. Riana nodded. He immediately finished eating, so that all these irregularities would soon be revealed.
***
“Lit... This... This is whose grave is in the photo?” ask Riana. Still in the same place; Rose Cafe. But now they're back in the private room, floor 3.
“It... Mbak will be able to read his name, there is writing.” said Alit slowly.
“Astaghfirullah... Lit... Lit, don't be kidding dong, there's no way dong Nico is in there, right? Aye right? Is it Lit?” Riana shook Alit's body which was just riveted.
“Alit!”
“That's really mbak!” exciting Alit – half emotions. Actually since then he was looking for the right words to start explaining this one by one to Riana. Moreover, this girl has not visited Jakarta for almost a year, practically she does not know what has happened here.
“Nico... Nico... No way!” Riana hysterical. And it seemed like his body would immediately collapse to the floor, if Alit did not rush to support him, and led him to the sofa.
“Sayangnya itu kenyataannya mbak. Nico mengalami kecelakaan tunggal di jalan, usai dia menghadiri pesta ulang tahun sepupunya. Indikasi dari pemeriksaan mengatakan bahwa Nico sempat mengkonsumsi banyak minuman beralkohol sebelum kembali mengendarai mobilnya itu. Dan...” BRUKK! Belum sempat Alit menjelaskan semuanya, Riana sudah jatuh dan tidak sadarkan diri. Alit segera mengambil tindakan, memanggil segenap karyawan Rose Cafe yang lain, untuk menolong Riana.
“Lah's... How come every come here must have fainted, a year ago also gini right?” lament Ica – one of Rose Cafe employees who was applying eucalyptus oil to Riana's nose.
“Yang this time, he was in shock because of Mas Nico himself..” timpal Diana.
“Cuman I was surprised, he was talking about last night Mas Nico here... Lak yo horror, right, if that's the story?” alit.
“How did he get here? People died just a week ago,” said Ica.
“It can be... And... Like what is said the same Mother Riana Bener, yesterday Mas Nico here,” said Diana slowly.
“This again queen halu one... No need to wait,” Ica said cynically.
“Still doubting the ability of indigo people? Haven't you got it yet, Ca?” diana said coldly. Ica stepped aside slowly, she did not dare to look at Diana who had started to let out her sinister side. Alit's dizzy. Now, what should he do? It happened this way. Want to call Aunty Aline – mother Nico, obviously not possible. He's in the process of therapy now. The loss of the only child is certainly the shock as well as the worst inner injury experienced.
***
Riana stared blankly at the ceiling of her boarding room. He is still not out of thought with everything that has happened to him over the past two days, from the arrival of the mysterious Nico, to the shocking news that – really – is still difficult to accept. Nico-don't-there? Those question-tipped words still filled his thought space at the moment.
“Mbak...” beats that are usually – slowly and regularly – returns Riana from her mind.
“Include, Cell,” he said slowly. The tall girl opened the door slowly, then sat down on the edge of the bed, right next to Riana.
“Where?” tanyanya gently.
“Hmm, I do not know, this news is still difficult to receive Cell..” said Riana.
“Yeah, but that's the truth, Brother Nico doesn't exist, and you have to be sincere.” Riana covered her face with a palm. He really did not understand, and I don't know when he could really understand with everything that happened these few days. Instantly remembered by him about his last conversation with Nico, it was at a cafe near Ambarukmo Plaza, Jogjakarta.
“If I may ask, I want to crash again, keep amnesia, so, I can forget all about lo, including this feeling..”.
“Lo's words have come true, Nic... But is this how you end it all with me?” inner whisper Riana. It hurts so bad. Just because of the taste thing, one had to take a shortcut to end it all. Whether this is really the provision of destiny, or Nico who has decided to choose his own destiny.
“Only for tonnage, Ri. After this, I won't bother you anymore.”.
“Mbak!” Selena patted him on the shoulder.
“What, Cell?” Riana looked over, surprised.
“Ikhlasin Kak Nico yes, let's go the way..”.
“But he can be happy by marrying someone else, not by going and hurting people... I don't know how Aunty Aline and Uncle Louis are feeling right now... And they... They must have thought that mbak... Mbak the killer of his son!” Riana sobbing. The feeling of tightness that he had been holding was now spilled. He only really understood and felt his heart ache that much, today, two days after he received the news.
“Ri, anyone is looking..” Milia came in suddenly. Selene
and Riana both turned her head, then asked.
“Who?”
“Tau, Alit his name. Like the Rose Cafe employee, right? How come I've seen ya,” explained Milia.
“Alit? Why is he here?” Riana wonder.
“Yes do not know, just try to meet first,” said Selena. Riana nodded in agreement. So the three of them immediately came out of the room, meeting Alit who was waiting below.
***
“There is someone who wants to talk to you, mbak.” said Alit slowly. Riana's heart melos. Perhaps it was Nico's mother, who wanted to revile and judge him? Lord... She should how?
“Hi, sweetie..” Alit drew his phone closer, and a stinging female voice rang out, along with his thin and seemingly unkempt appearance. Riana almost did not recognize, if she did not see and remember the waist-long hair that still remained neatly arranged.
“I’m so sorry, aunty... I kill him... I kil him!” riana shouted uncontrollably. He kept Alit's phone away from him, then slumped off the couch. Milia hurriedly held onto him, guiding him back to the sofa.
“I killer... I killed him..” Riana was still rummaging softly in Milia's arms.
“No, not you, sweetie... This is destiny, I do have to lose it..” said Aunty Aline slowly.
“I killer..”.
“Sssssst... To my knowledge, and as I recall when Nico told me all about you, all I know, you are a good boy, and Nico loves you so much. It's just, you guys are destined to be different, so can't be united. About Nico's death now, it has absolutely nothing to do with you. Instead he has begun to forget you, and enjoy his new life and work. It's just, on that snowy night, somehow and somehow. From his cousin Edgar's birthday show, Nico seemed to lose control of himself and his own car. Investigations said he was driving drunk. But I know, my son is not a drinker. And it was the CCTV camera in Edgar's house that explained everything; it turned out that Edgar prank on him, giving him a cocktail, with a very high concentration of alcohol, which he had, and Nico doesn't understand that. Now, Edgar is in police custody.” explained aunty Aline. Riana clenched her hands silently. Why can there be such a ridiculous moment, and to the point of taking the lives of others? Isn't that fatal?
“So, baby, stop blaming yourself yes, because of the accident – umm, this tragedy has nothing to do with you at all,” said Aunty Aline again. Although it was heavy, but Riana nodded as well at last. Now that the matter remains, he should be able to accept this reality.
“I... L am... I lost it, aunty.” Riana sobbed slowly. Milia continued to hug him, strengthening the girl.
“We all lost it, Riri. Please, forgive him if he's wrong enough with you... We just want to convey his last form of love to you. In two days, maybe it'll be there. Would you like to receive it?” ask Aunty Aline quietly.
“Sure I want, aunty. I will accept it..” replied Riana softly while wiping her tears.
“Thank you, yes. If so, I say goodbye, there is a schedule to meet psychologists today. And, I permission save your number, Riana.”
“S-Please, aunty. Hopefully everything will improve soon..” said Riana slowly. Aunty Aline nodded, then smiled. Then he said goodbye and ended their video call connection.
Travelling takes you
Meet me, I meet you
Like you I'm looking for
It's said I'm also just like you're looking for
I thought we were acid and salt
And we meet in the shackles
A story that doesn't seem so beautiful
I thought we were gonna be together
So much the same
Your background and my background
I thought there wouldn't be any obstacles
I thought this was easy
You're-I'm us
Your affection is impregnated
Redam is now a special incandescent
I don't know what the world means
About the end of the story, we're not together
May this miss disappear
It is said that the time of healing
Will there be others like you?
I thought we were gonna be together
So much the same
Your background and my background
I thought there wouldn't be any obstacles
I thought this was easy
You're-I'm us
You continue your journey
I continued my journey
Uh-uh, hu-uh-uh
I thought we were gonna be together
So much the same
Your background and my background
I thought there wouldn't be any obstacles
I thought this was easy
You're-I'm us
I thought we were gonna be together
Be careful on the road
(Tulus – Be Careful On the Road). Riana turned off her radio slowly while wiping away her tears. For some reason, the song Sincere that just appeared and went viral was so related to what happened to him and Nico. They are the same but different, different but the same. It's obviously confusing, because they're the same taste, but there are lines of boundaries that make them different too, so they can't be together.
“Be careful on the road, Nic,” isak Riana while looking at the photo of Nico's grave that she requested from Alit. Yeah, be careful on the road, Nico. This new journey will certainly not end as soon as possible, but, you will find happiness immeasurably at the end of it.
(BBC).
Happy lebaran, readers... It is recommended to read this story marathon while playing with the kuker on your desk, yes. Warm hug from the author, but sorry if not as warm as a hug 🤗
