THE MENTARY FOR THE ESTUARY

CHAPTER 17, NEW YEAR'S PLAN

Two weeks have passed after recovering Nico from a deadly accident that almost killed him. Now, he can also re-monitor his small cafe – Rose Cafe, while struggling with his final task. The student majoring in Counseling is now completing the last chapter of his script.

Whafs-tok... Regular beats on the door distract Nico from the laptop screen for a moment. He descended his seat of greatness slowly, and opened the door to the beautiful figure waiting behind it.

“Why not be asked to enter kayak usually, mas? Pake dibukain all,” said the girl gently as she walked slowly into the private room of Nico who was right above the cafe.

“You are indeed my employee Carissa, if below, in front of the crowd. But when both of you are like gini, you are my queen,” said Nico while helping the girl – Carissa, carrying a tray containing drinks and snacks for her.

“Mas Nicooo Carissa covered her face. His cheeks were red, the color of a ripe tomato.

“Aaan anyway? No need to cover up that cheek. Have you finished your college assignment?” ask Nico.

“Udah mas, I was nyambi, while layanin visitors, while doing campus work as well. Because of the statistics, tired me,” he lamented while struggling spoiled on Nico's shoulder.

“Halah-huh, kumat dah panjanya. Soon, the task of finishing first, then help you yes,” said Nico while starting to type again on his laptop.

“Iya, mas, easy. It's still a week away from him. Mending the tea is drunk first anyway, then cold hunt. I made mini spring rolls too. Cobain deh...” said Carissa while thrusting the tray in front of Nico.

“Iya, darling. Thanks yes..” said Nico while holding Carissa's hand. Carissa nodded, and returned the hand with a smile.

***

Meanwhile, downstairs, on the main floor of the cafe... Riana arrives with Abhi, and they are greeted by Alit, Nico's other employee.

“Weeeee, mbak, bring a bunch with new ta?” goda Alit while preparing orders for visitors who want to take away.

“Hus ngawur, no, iki konkoku. Where's nico?” riana asked while taking Abhi to one of the soft sofas available there.

“In karo Carissa's room. Tu son so rarely work since already a girlfriend Mas Nico, hadeh, make stress.” complained Alit while taking a seat opposite Riana and Abhi.

“You mean Carissa, tah?” ask Riana.

“La iyo mbak, sopo maneh? Wes, on what order is this?” ask Alit to change the topic.

“I want a tuna sandwich, same vanilla latte, yes. What do you want, Bi?” riana asked Abi who was next to her.

“Same on you, tuna sandwich. But the drink, I want matcha yes.” Abhi said.

“You are cold what anget, mas?” ask Alit.

“Cold, hot outside,” Abhi grinning. Alit laughed in response to Abhi's joke.

“Ya has stopped, not ready first. Mari mas, mbak..” said Alit politely as he passed from the table occupied by Riana and Abhi.

“No doubt yes, from a trip on the plane, now we even meet again..” said Abhi while leaning his back to the cushioned sofa behind him.

“It looks like our own meeting is already planned... It just happened recently,” Riana laughed, while following in the footsteps of Abhi who was leaning on the cushion of the sofa.

“You still have communication with Muara?” ask Abhi again.

“Still dooong, shouldn't you be too huh? Did he make a group for the five of us?” ask Riana back.

“Lho, yes? Try the hell I see,” said Abhi while hurriedly picking up her phone. And sure enough, now on WhatsApp there has been a new group called “SJJ” (Long Distance Friends).

“Lho yes, really, sorry I don't know..” said Abhi while putting her phone back in her pocket.

“Lho relaxed, we also rarely communicate there anyway. But here deh, we take a photo first, show off in the group.” said Riana while bringing herself closer to Abhi. After he took some photos, he immediately sent them to a group chat containing the five of them.

[Hangout sek rek, ben ra crazy think gawean.] he wrote. A few seconds later, Riana's phone rang. The three members who were far away there even invited him to a video call group.

“Heeeeeyyy, yoopo Jakarta?” greet Muara as soon as Riana raised the call.

“Good dooong, yoopo Bali?” ask Riana back.

“I am again in Malang now, Ri, nih, guess who next to me is..” said Muara. A moment HP moved, and then the image switched to the figure of Ganesh – the younger brother, who was so engrossed in enjoying spicy noodles in front of him.

“Halo mbak..”

“Laaaa tenan tho, wong telu i in the end hangout too right... Bhi, here, it turns out Muara, Ganesh the same Vishnu even met as well, his estuary is again entertaining in Malang kanya.” said Riana. Abhi turned his head, and he greeted his friends who were gathering together as well.

“When do we get five more rec?” ask Abhi.

“Last year I entertained in Jogja, not on want to follow there tah?”

“Wiiii, tenan?” abhi and Riana asked at the same time.

“Lho, great spirit. Tenan lah, quite, although certainly I tepar iki, because already December gini, gig quite a lot. Thank goodness yes, after the pandemic, finally..”.

“Yo wes, date piro kon ndok kono? Ngko I followed Abhi, take the train aja.” said Riana.

“Date 24-something I was there, it's a child of two, Vishnu same Ganesh did not bargain also as enthusiastic as you, Ri.” said Muara.

“Lho yes obviously, wong streets really, who is not happy to be invited to go for a walk?” Riana laughed.

“Ya already, agreed yes, so we meet there aja aja.” said Muara.

“Okay, this is also I want to go back to the hotel, the two children also want to go back to the boarding. See you at Jogja, guys.” says Muara.

“Can’t wait!” riana and Abhi are together. After the VC connection was cut off, Alit came to bring their order. And along with that too, Carissa and Nico came down from above, and approached them.

“Hi, Riri... When to come?” greet Nico.

“Not long ago. Where are you going, already on gini?” ask Riana.

“You can find reference books, create campus assignments. Understandably, his name is also a student, yes like this,” replied Carissa. He deliberately emphasized the words “campus” and “student”, to see Riana's reaction. You see, he just found out, if it turns out Riana was not in college. Basic Carissa, looks sweet doang, dunya julid his son. His cassing doang looks like a plain teenage boy, it turns out his dalem even want in hih!

“Oh so, yes already, be careful Sa, Nic,” replied Riana slowly.

“Okay, we excuse you first yes..” said Nico while holding Carissa's hand. Riana nodded. He went back to the tuna sandwich and vanilla latte in front of him.

“Think... Eat that sandwich, Ri.” Abhi said while touching Riana's silent hand while holding a fork in her hand.

“A-I have to go to college..”.

“You can definitely go to college, and not just 1, god willing can s 2 even s 3 as well. You don't have to focus the same as the julid so, focus happyin yourself.” said Abhi.

“A-I insecure..”

“Say no for insecure, beautiful. You're definitely gonna be better than ABG's kid. Don't listen to his words. Come on dong, so the Riana I know, who dares to fight back. If you can fight a classmate Rey, it should be a julid like that you can also fight, it should be easier. Come, Riana, spirit!”

Abhi said as she clasped Riana's free hand, lifting her up high. Riana smiled, trying to swallow the sobbing that almost escaped her lips.

“Bismillah, next year of college..” says Riana steady.

“Aamiin is most serious for your hopes and ideals, beautiful. Spirit yes,” said Abhi.

“Still, Abhi. BTW, why the hell are you calling me pretty just?” Riana wonder.

“You are so beautiful, Ri. This is according to my judgment, and I think, Muara, Vishnu, even Ganesh does not doubt it deh..” replied Abhi seriously.

“Aamiin, hopefully. Yes already, continue to eat it yuk, instead of this run out you have to go somewhere again huh?”

“Lho, not you? He said he wanted a survey of the radio studio where you were broadcasting later? How the hell, he who has a schedule, he who forgets?” Abhi clucked bitterly.

“Oh, yes deng, hehehe. Yes, no need to say that. Yuk, spit, eat it up..” said Riana. Abhi nodded. Then they continued their delayed eating.

***

At 22:00. Room room Riana. I finally got to see my bed again, so glad! Riana hugged the bolted pillow in her room, letting her tears flow down without being wiped away. He let those tears together with his heartache for the indirect humiliation delivered by Carissa this afternoon, in the cafe owned by Nico.

“I want to be an educated smart woman... I graduated High School three years ago. Then... Is there still a chance for me to go to college?” he said while still crying.

Drtts... Drtts... Riana's phone vibrated. He immediately saw who was calling. As soon as the name “Ganesh” was plastered on the screen, he hurriedly stopped his stuffing.

“Halo mbak..”

“Halo, Nesh, haven't slept?” ask Riana.

“Belom mbak, this was just a new meeting at home, finished making a learning video for a group task.” replied Ganesh.

“Oh... Yes already, sleep there, it's already malem right..” said Riana slowly.

“Iya mbak, I'm sleeping. But btw, why? How strange is that?” ganesh asked a little worried.

“No papa, Nesh..”.

“I know you as you know me... Something bothering you there?” ask Ganesh gently. Gently so, instead of easing up, Riana's sobbing was getting stronger. Now without hiding anymore, he let his stuff get away with it.

“Mbaaak... Well, do not cry gini dong, there is no virtual hug feature in his HP,” kelakar Ganesh. And basically, he can't hear a woman crying at all, what else, if it's the person closest to him.

“Yang strong yes mbak, later we meet in Jogja, mbak hug me as much as possible, just cry there is no papa. If now, try strong first yes, because, I can not hug from here..” said Ganesh. Really, listening to her brother crying in the conditions of their distance is the toughest torture for her. Riana did not answer, she was still crying.

“Mbak, please..” weak Ganesh pinta. Riana returned her focus to that one-of-a-kind little brother, and tried to stop the stuffing.

“Iya, deck, mbak try to make it strong again... Mbak can't wait, want to get to Jogja soon, keep meeting you..”.

“Less two weeks kok mbak, be patient yes.” said Ganesh.

“Yes, Nesh, I can't wait to see that... Yes already now, you sleep yes, already tonight.” Riana said.

“Oke mbak, mbak too, yes. Good night, beautiful mother.”

“Night, deck, sweet dreams, yes.”.

“Iya, mbak also..”

(BBC).