Why Different?

People Come and People Go

Day by day, Juan was getting busy. Cafe that was once only he run from afar by relying on the help of Albert, is now transformed into a similar second home— because he is more often there. Towards the end of the koas, Zahira was just as busy, so the intensity of their meetings had also diminished over the past four months. But, it's okay. Juan is feeling fine. With them busy with their respective activities, it made Juan even less of a tantrum. If in the past he would often reog if Zahira too long reply to chat, now he can be more relaxed—because he was sometimes so.

In essence, the busyness that they both live today even gives a lot of positive impact.

“Al,” from behind the counter, Juan called Albert who was wiping the area near the coffe maker. The owner of the name just cleared his throat without looking at it one bit. “That left side area, if I wake up musala can roughly not?”

Albert had just turned his head when his workers were completely finished. Not only did he wipe the espresso container, the man also rinsed the container using a glass cleaning liquid. “Can aja.” Replied the man whose hair was now blue as he walked closer to the counter. “Mau lo wake up church can also.”

Juan sneered through the eyes, “What church is only 7x7 meters in size?”

“The devil's church.” Albert slaps.

“Lo who is the leader?”

“Bby too. Who knows if you can be rich.” Seloroh Albert, ended with a crisp laugh that was quite loud. Fortunately, the cafe was already in a quiet state because they were already closed. The other employees have been home since an hour ago, only he and Juan remain here.

“Sinting. If you want to get rich working, why become a leader of the devil church?”

“So the leader of the devil's church also works, Ju. I should be able to play words to narik congregation into my heresy.”

Juan shook his head many times while clucking. Inexhaustible with Albert's mind path that this time was beyond normal limits. In fact, Juan might have responded so that their conversation about the devil church could last longer. However, Juan decided to stop there because soon he would have to leave.

“Anyway,” Albert voiced again, after his last chirp was not responded to. “Three months from now I think I will resign.”

“Tiba-arrived?” Juan could not hide his surprise. “Why? Salary less?”

Albert shook his head quickly, “It’s not about money.” His speech.

“Continue? About what?”

“My Dad.”

“Mati?” juan chirps with no character. Until the next second, he immediately closed his mouth using both hands.

“Near.” And whether there is no morality like Juan, Albert also mengjelasuk at will, then chuckle as if his father's life is already used to be a joke like that.

“She asked to go back to Surabaya?”

Without thinking for long, Albert nodded his head. “Create nerusin his business empire, of course.” After that, Albert turned moody.

People say that being born into a rich family is a privilege. At least, we do not need to worry about the cost of living because everything has been covered well. However, there are things that people don't know about the dark side of being the child of a wealthy family. That is the freedom that has been deprived from the first day of birth into the world. Moreover, if you are born as the only child, which automatically makes you the sole hope to continue the family fortune.

Albert is like that. He was born as the only child of a wealthy businessman from Surabaya nicknamed crazy rich. Really crazy because they will do everything to be able to get what they want, including forcing children to go to schools that are not desired from the beginning.

Then, how did Albert finally get away and even run afoul in Jakarta, just to become a regular employee at a cafe today whose turnover is nothing compared to his father's business?

The answer is because Albert has managed to bestow his burden on others. All the responsibilities that he had borne since he was a teenager, he moved to the shoulder of his orphaned cousin, giving him the opportunity to breathe free air without these demands. At least, until a few years later.

At his seat, Juan made no comment. He understood too much the reluctance felt by Albert, so he also did not dare to give any response because it felt like there would be no advice that really fit.

“Gue asked for three months so that I can be sure the cafe is going well, and.” after previously dropping a glance towards the coffee maker who witnessed the absurd chat they both had before, and, Albert looked back at Juan. “So I at least can come to your wedding with Zahira. Because if I have returned to Surabaya, I am not sure if there is still a chance to go again from there.”

Speaking of it, Juan was increasingly speechless. Albert was indeed not a friend who accompanied him from the beginning. Not as close as his friendship with the members of Pain Killer who he already considered like family. However, from the shortness of their landscaping journey, Juan realizes that Albert is the only one who has always existed. Cafe, home, Zahira. Those three things Juan probably wouldn't have been able to have had it not been for Albert's interference in them. When he lost his home after the departure of Fabian and Baskara, Albert was present to offer a stopover that turned out to make him quite comfortable.

Now, just as Fabian and Baskara decided to leave, Albert will take a similar step.

Juan realized, he fully understood that life is so. That the words people come and people go is not just figurative without meaning. Words exist because life does.

So, there was nothing Juan could give Albert but a sincere prayer, that wherever the man was and what he would do later, all were given ease by God.

“Thanks for always being by my side, Al. May God always leads you to the right place, and happy life.”

...🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀...

Juan was ready to go home. He just needs to turn off the lights and make sure no electronic equipment is still active before exiting and locking the door. However, the movement must stop when the clattering sound coming from the bell above the entrance of the cafe sounds so loud in the ears.

The night was quite late, at half eleven, and he had also asked Albert to make sure the tag on the doorstep was closed. But apparently, there are still time-blind visitors who still barge in.

“Sorry, cafe is closed.” Said Juan to a customer with a look that—weird. The plain black hoddie was worn complete with his skull. Not to mention the sunglasses and mask that made him unable to clearly identify whether the one standing six steps in front of him was a man or a woman if only relying on his posture.

“After night, I have to close the cafe immediately and go home, so—“

“This is me.”

Deg.

Saliva Juan suddenly hardened, stopping in the middle of the throat until it felt like he was difficult to swallow. The voice, although it had not been heard for a long time, still sounded so familiar.

But Juan refused to believe. This still sounds absurd. It was too impossible for him to believe it as a reality.

Him, standing here? In front of him? This time? How could? How did he know about this place? And...who's she coming with?

With who?

Reflexes, Juan immediately elaborates the view to the area around the cafe. Even though the night is late and the lighting outside the cafe is rather minimal, Juan can still catch if there are other people in front of this cafe.

“Gue come alone.” I was that guy when I realized Juan was starting to look wry.

Juan looked back at the person, and he felt the time stop turning as the person opened the mask and glasses covering his face. His movements looked like slow motion, as if the universe wanted him to properly observe that he was not looking wrongly. That this is real. That life is really a matter; people come and people go.

“Lo...”.

Seriate