YUCIA Love Story

1. Traveling and Promises

Eight Years Earlier

The wind moves the leaves of a row of palm trees that grow large throughout the garden. At the time of weekday not many visitors who come because they are busy working or school. On the wooden chairs that lined up there was only one seat filled with lovers who were enjoying the wind while enjoying a cup of warm tea. 

“The air is very cool, the sky is also clean, completely blue. But it's a pity that this might be the last time we both sit here together,” said a twenty-four-year-old man named Yudhatama Sabqi. 

The man had a firm facial line, mature brown skin, thick eyebrows and both jet black netra. Her nose and smile are pretty sweet. “Weight, yes, leaves a lot of memories but someone does have to leave if you want to succeed in achieving his dreams,”. 

The girl beside him lowered her head while tightly holding the tea cup. His eyes began to stifle with tears, but he did not want to show his crybaby self in front of the young man next to him. The girl looked up at the sky, trying to stop the stream from falling down her cheeks. 

“You don't have a second option other than go?” asked Erina, the yellow-skinned girl. Several times he blinked his eyes to relieve the agonizing pain. “If there is another option, you can take it. Indeed, if you want to succeed there are always things that are sacrificed, but I think it is very selfish if you sacrifice our relationship as well,”. The girl began to stare at the ground below with a pushy look. His chest was tight, eager to run and cry but he could not do that. 

Yudha shook her head faintly. “Can't, Na. Being a soldier is my goal. I've been writing it behind the door since I was five. You know what I feel right now. It's not just you that I left behind, but I'm also leaving my family behind. That was indeed the consequence to achieve the dream.” Yudha gave understanding. 

The man drew his seat closer, rubbing Erina's head slowly. Tomorrow he will not be able to do this again because the focus is not only on Erina anymore, but on the training or tasks that will be carried. Inwardly, Yudha also felt hard leaving Erina, but she could not have preferred love over ideals. 

“Like a nightmare,” shriek Erina. 

“Indeed, maybe this is a nightmare but we have to plunge into it in order to find a better dream. You do not need to worry, I will not forget you and you should also promise me to be faithful, so that when I return later we can have a marriage,” Yudha stressed. 

The man lowered his hand from Erina's still-down head, then he grabbed a rose that was beside him and thrust it at Erina who was now beginning to sound sobs. Erina grabbed the rose that was on her lap with her right hand, while the arm of her left hand was used to wipe away the tears quickly. 

The girl failed to hold back her tears, but she had already set her heart to let Yudha go to her dream, but Erina who used to spend time with Yudha could not imagine the sense of loss and loneliness she would get later. 

“I'm sorry, Erina, but I promise that this is not the end.” Yudha brought her body closer and began to hug the girl. 

“You should not apologize because this is your dream. I'm the one who should be apologizing for not being able to let you go. But now that I hope to accept this fact, I don't want to be the woman who foiled her boyfriend's plans,” Erina said in a voice that sounded a little unclear, but Yudha understood it well. 

“I'm glad that you took my step and supported my hope. Well, now you want to promise me that you will wait for me until I get home, ‘kan?” asked Yudha, then smiled showing off her deep dimples. 

Erina nodded steadily. “I will definitely wait for you, but I'm afraid if one day you leave me and choose another woman. Men tend to find it easier to look for replacements, so I'm worried if someday confronted by that terrible reality.” This time Erina's face returned moody, her gaze looking blank. 

Yudha gave a small laugh as she clasped Erina's small hand on her burly hand. “Not all men are like that, don't equate me with others. Everyone has a different disposition, I promise to be loyal to you and come back when it is time. I will not look for another woman because it is only you that I like,” Yudha assures Erina. 

The woman slowly developed her smile while looking at Yudha with her pure eyes. She did trust Yudha completely, Erina knew that Yudha would not turn away from her. Erina just needs to keep her faith in Yudha and they are sure that in the end they will get married and find her happiness at one point called marriage. 

“You make me sure, I will try to wait for you,” Erina said finally. 

Yudha smiled again. “It's good to hear you believe me. I will try well and not waste my time, I will undergo training properly, take my duties seriously so that I can raise money and can marry you as quickly as we want. You know, I can't marry you right now because I can't make my own money. I don't want to get married at the expense of my parents, so I'll marry you when I'm really established,” he said again full of affirmation. 

At least Erina did not doubt Yudha's words, she was sure that the man would love her and return to her one day. “Then, it looks like I have to go home. I have to go back home because there are so many things I have to do,” Erina said as she got up from her seat. His right hand held a rose and occasionally he smelled it. 

“Hurry once,” comments Yudha who participated standing up. 

“Let my mother look for me if I leave the house longer,” she replied. “So, what time are you leaving tomorrow? If possible, I'll take her.”

Yudha grabbed Erina's hand which she then held, and the two men stepped on the path to the exit. 

“Tomorrow once a morning. You don't have to drive me, just pray for me. The night was pretty horrible, so you better be home. Later I will contact you if I am going,” pinta Yudha. 

“Ah so, alright. I'll wait for a call from you, Yudha.”