The Soulmate Must Meet

Episode 8 - The Love Story of the Bike Ontel

A few days later, Roman took me on a bike ride in the old town, ontel bike. I know, renting an ontel bike is not cheap, and maybe Roman raised money to buy it, asking me to fill a sunny vacation. However, his eyes were brighter than anything. I purposely lowered my head as he sat on the bike.

“Come aboard!”

I shook my head. Of course, shame always looms over me, a veiled girl sitting in a bicycle seat being paddled by a man. Ordinary, but amazing for me. I've never done anything like this with a man before, but I know Roman never cared about it.

The crane! The crane!

A young man passed by, the boy paddled the fiets leisurely, and the girl sat sideways, holding the boy's waist, looking graceful. I envy watching it all, I want to be like them.

On holidays like this, the old city area is like a market, crowded with street vendors, and people who want to relax while getting to know history. In fact, this area is not too large, and contains old buildings.

“So it went up?”

I held my head up, looking at Roman's already irritated face. Usually, men are like that, always impatient.

The crane! The crane! The crane!

We were surprised—a bicycle passed by stumbling. Apparently, the rider was a skinny guy, he was piggybacking on a fat woman. It must be her lover, because she hugged him tightly. Because of the weight, the man could not balance the bike when pedaled, as if he would hit the statues of living people who deliberately looking for money in a costumed way to be asked to take pictures with visitors.

Of course, when the statues of the living were aware, that there was a bicycle about to crash into him, he immediately dodged. The cyclist did not step on the brake pedal, even kebablasan, then rolled into the pool in the middle of the park of the old city area. A stressful event, at the same time funny. The people laughed, the people laughed, and Roman and I laughed out loud.

“Originally do not splash into the pool huh?” I watched that ridiculous incident for a moment.

“Ngaklah. Come ride!” orders again.

Roman looked at me, did that look mean that he was in love with me? If not, how could he take me here, cycling, like a couple.

Finally, I went up. Sitting sideways, my right hand held the iron edge of the seat so as not to fall. Roman let it go, but I wish he had asked me to hold his waist, there's no way I could have started.

“Any ya?”

“Oke.”

Roman pedaled the bike, at first slow and heavy, and the longer, the more relaxed it was. My weight must have gone up, I also felt a little fat, although not too fat for a tall woman like me. Roman continued to paddle, surrounding the old town area. Actually, nothing interesting, but a lot of carving out the story.

“You come here often?” my many.

“Ngak also.”

“Ngak too? Means ever dong yes...”.

“No never?”

“New this time, with you.”

“Ooh..”.

Roman was still paddling his bike, he didn't say much, his gaze was silent looking around this place. Just like me, feeling the coolness of the wind that suddenly blew breeze.

“Definitely with a woman you came here?”

That question was smothering my chest. Why can I say that? In fact, I have no rights for him. Ah, I was just hoping Roman would dodge my question. Of course by answering that he never came here with a woman, let alone a lover! Because, awe has turned to love, and love turns to jealousy.

“Do I have to answer?”

“Ngg. neither do.”

“Ngak too? Means need an answer.”

I speak a thousand languages. Roman played the word, to frame me, or to leave me open to him.

“If you want to answer, please..”.

“Enter with girl. Rifa.”

“Hah?”

“Nothing kok.”

My face must be flushed, this nose feels fluffy, then deflated again. If only I had faced Roman at this moment, I would have looked down and could do nothing, only this heart was hot, burning the whole body.

“Handle!”

Bicycle tires hit a hole on the side of the road, the steering wheel-shake, both hands directly hugged Roman's waist. I'm afraid of falling, afraid of losing Roman. My hug tightened, and the tighter it got, the less I wanted to lose her. What's the matter with me exactly? What happened to my heart? am I really in love?

A few minutes later, the bike stabilized again, and glided over the edges of the old city park. However, my hand still hugged Roman, as if my consciousness had just disappeared, as a result of a slight shock from the bicycle tire.

“Gue stuffy nih!”

I realized—then immediately just let go of the hug on his waist.

“Sorry..” I'm ashamed.

“Nothing really. Actually it's better to be hugged, but no longer ride a gini bike,” Roman said.

“Genit nih...,” ledekku.

There was a Roman laugh. I just smiled, this is something very special, a day that leads me to an answer, that falling in love is indeed a million tastes. But, did Rifa not become a thorn in this sense?

“At that time, I accidentally ngamen again in the neighborhood here, and Rifa again fun to buy a necklace there.”

Roman pointed to the accessories merchants who were lined up on the edge. This heart is getting pounding.

“Then?”

Roman was silent for a moment, as if he was thinking about something.

“Lo's question is weird!”

“Any?”

“Iya.. nanyain nanyain continuation, I'm the same he must be chatting. And Rifa said, lo sound good.”

Now I know, that Rifa told me about my voice. I did sing at home, when Rifa was playing. But I never thought that if Rifa told Roman, what does that mean? And why are they suddenly talking about me?

“Kok silent?”

“Eh? Why not, just look at the necklace. The liontin's good,” I replied.

“We see, yuk!”

Roman stopped the bike, and we went down to the accessories dealer with all his hands tattooed. His head is bald, ears are ringing. It's not strange that I see people like this, because every day, in the alleys leading to my house, there are a lot of people like that.

My hands sorted and chose a necklace that was good even though it was all good. I don't know if I should buy it or not. I'm just interested in the necklaces, not having the taste to buy.

“Lo want?” ask Roman.

“Eh? Mmm..”

“Take aja! I need to payin.”

Roman took the money from his pocket, there were several pieces of money tens of thousands, there were also thousands. Did he really plan all this?

“No need... Anyway, I don't deserve to wear a necklace!”

I stood up, but Roman took my hand, and then he grabbed the necklace, wrapped it around the neck, and the heart was pounding. I'm ashamed, I've never been treated like this. I lowered my head, and the smell of Roman's men made me even more agitated. What to do? Should I embrace him, for I cannot lie if I fall in love with him. I need someone to understand my life.

After the necklace was wrapped around my neck. Roman did not say anything, he immediately paid, then stepped onto the bicycle ontel. I'm just silently staring—what is the meaning of all this? Everything Roman did for me was romantic, but contrary to his words and attitude towards me.

“Come!”

I stepped closer to the bike, then sat sweetly piggybacked by Roman pedaling the bike to a story today. I'd like to say: I'm in love with you, Roman.