By: Wasiqatus Syarifah
Allows a destiny to exist and reside. Spinning around made me crazier and crazier. I kept turning until I couldn't deny that fate had taken me far away. It's a long way... to meet my twilight...
***
(Karmila Amania)
I walk down the corridor to the teacher's room. I accidentally saw from
a distance, a man, sitting in the garden with his blank canvas with his
back to me.
While in the teacher's room, "Assalamualaikum, Mrs Elena called me?" Behind the door.
"Waalaikumsalam, yes. Come here, Nia!" He then pulled a chair for me.
"What's wrong, Mrs.?" I asked curiously.
"It's okay. This helps me correct the men's XII-IPA class test results. It's because I'm not feeling well," with a pale face.
"Okay, Mrs."
"I'll just stay out first!" He said as he walked out.
After a few minutes, suddenly ... "Mrs, this is the document that ..." A deep voice came from behind the door. He just froze and didn't continue his sentence. It looks like he was just shocked while stunned because it turned out that the one there was not Mrs Alena, but me.
"Mrs Alena is out," I replied. He nodded in understanding and then greeted.
"Who was that?" I thought briefly, and then I resumed my duties regardless of what had happened.
Suddenly I dropped the paper. Yes, the paper that contains ...
***
"An, I'm hungry," while holding my stomach when I arrived in class after completing the assignment from Mrs Elena.
"Yes, Nia, I'm also hungry," answered Ana, who was in the same boat as me.
"Let's go to the cafeteria!" Invite Ana.
"Mmmmm, but what are we going to buy?"
"Buy spaghetti boo... yes, buy something you can eat!"
"Yes, An, cook, I want to buy stones. How about we buy Mrs Asih's toast?" I offered to Ana, who was immediately followed by a nod of agreement. Ana immediately grabbed my hand without caring how I was dragged along. Maybe she was so hungry that she didn't realize I was tripping.
"Aw,, aw,,, aw,, slow down!" I shouted at Ana.
"Eh, sorry, duh, I'm so hungry that I didn't realize if I grabbed your hand that much, I'm sorry..!" I accepted his apology while fixing my stance.
Bruck!!
I fell down
"Aw!!" I screamed as loud as I could. The pain was intense in my knees and arms. "Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to," he stopped when he saw what he bumped into was me. He, that deep yet charismatic voice. I still fell down, and he stared at me intently for 5 minutes.
"Are you okay, Nia?" Ana wakes me up and then cleans my dirty skirt.
"I'm okay, just my knee hurts a little," Ana and I immediately left the place without ignoring his apology.
"Roby!!" Someone shouted from a distance. The deep voice answered him. "What is it?"
Nia and I let them pass.
***
[In room]
My cell phone rings
“1 chat 083555xxx644 WA”
Mr X: Assalamualaikum
I: Waalaikumsalam
Mr X: With sister Karmila Amania?
Me: Yes, who is this?
Mr X: You don't need to know who I am!
Me: Why is that! Who are you?
Mr X: You like chrysanthemums, right?
Mr X: See how much I love you (SHMILY)
"The chrysanthemums are beautiful. Oh shit!! Who are these people?" I said to myself while immediately off of Whatsapp.
The next day, I tried to ask Ana who the owner of the mysterious number was. But it was a shake of Ana's head that I got. I still wonder who the owner of that number is. I asked all the schools, but the results were still nil. I gave up until I called that person, Mr X.
Lulled by the words, I see how much I love you, but I brushed it off, which only made me recall my memories with my ex Roni. I think Mr X is just a fantasy that will not come true like Roni. Every day I get chocolates, chrysanthemums, and love poems from Kahlil Gibran, who seems fluent in rhyme and poetry. Finally, I tried to get the courage to call him, but I was initially hesitant! But I'm determined.
Tut....tut...tut... I waited but nothing, he didn't answer. I am annoyed! I've tried several times but still. Then I slammed my phone, no matter what happened.
"What does he want? He usually sends meaningless words without a definite explanation, flowers, and chocolates. His style is stale. This also sends pictures of everything," I threw the picture away. Suddenly I remembered something, "Yes, paper." The paper I accidentally dropped in the teacher's room. The image is exactly the same as the picture I threw away earlier. I also picked up the picture I had thrown out with that bastard.
Finally, I never responded to him again, even though he rhymed in thousands of languages daily.
Finally, graduation day arrived.
That day,
"Until now, you don't know who Mr That X is?" Ana asked me after she came from crowding the information boards.
"Yes," I answered in a flat tone.
"You really don't mind? Who exactly is he?"
"Do you really know who he is?"
Ana just smiled,
"Why smile?"
"I know, but… it's a secret!!" Ana immediately ran away from me. I tried to chase Ana but to no avail. Instead, I bumped into Roby,
"Oops, sorry, I didn't mean to," he said as he walked away.
"That's the person," shouted Ana from a distance. Meanwhile, Roby fixed his standing position.
"Eh, what a joke, you An!" I shouted at Ana.
"Well, move on from Roni. There's already Rob.." Ana didn't continue her words, then laughed as she ran away from my pursuit.
***
After graduating from high school, I continued my studies at Padjadjaran University. It turns out that Roby is also on the same campus as me. The Faculty of Pharmacy is where I continue my studies, while Roby is in the Faculty of Engineering. I was separated from Ana, who chose to major in Medicine at Airlangga University, something she had always dreamed of.
Every time there is a course, I always run into Roby. He just looked at me. Sometimes I also get teased by his friends.
"Why are you just looking at it? Who are you?" It was Roby's friend who was elbowing his arm. "Or I took this," said another friend. Roby just turned around and furrowed his brows, then left.
On one occasion, the lecturer asked my friends and me to do a practicum in the laboratory. It turned out that the microscope we were going to use had an electrical problem.
"Ask for Roby's help, Nia," said my friend.
"Why Roby?"
"He's a technical kid. After all, we don't have any technical acquaintances here, just you."
"Moreover, the lab guard is on leave now," said another friend.
"Ummm, how are you? I..." I didn't continue. Instead, I was cut off.
"Come on, our task is not finished."
"Yeah," I said flatly.
Then, I tried to find Roby in his class, but he wasn't there. I also found Roby on the balcony near my class.
"Roby", I called. He looked up
"You're not busy, are you?" No reply.
"May I ask your help?" He remained silent.
"What kind of rock is this person? I'm talking to you instead of being silent," I muttered.
"There's a problem with the microscope in the lab. Can you fix it?"
"Where's the lab guard?" Finally, he answered.
"On leave, I only know you at the Engineering Faculty. None of my other friends has technical acquaintances," I said breathlessly.
"Just find another one!"
"Loh, I want to find someone if not you. I only know you in the engineering faculty!!"
"Just go to Faris! Said I was told."
"Who is Faris? I don't know."
"That's the person," he answered shortly, pointing to someone who came from the local lecturer 2's room after my class.
"It's okay if you don't want to. I just asked Sis Faris for help," I replied, annoyed because my request was rejected. "I was the one who gave an explanation, so he wanted it, but it was rejected. It's really cool! Very cool. Huuuuuft, he's just a bitch!" I'm bragging.
I immediately approached Sis Faris, "Sis Faris, huh?" I call him brother because he is like my senior.
"Yes, can I help you?" He answered politely. Roby watched what we were talking about.
"Erm, the microscope in our lab is having problems. Can you help me fix it?"
"Yes, when do you want to fix it?"
"Just now, Sis, because my friends and I got assignments from the lecturer, we were only given two days to complete them."
"Oh, yes, just now!"
"Come on, sis!" I glanced cynically at Roby with a snort.
He didn't respond and quickly turned his head away.
***
A few months later
Wednesday night,
"Ugh, what's wrong with my laptop?" I tried to turn it on again and again but still couldn't. There are only white lines that appear on the screen.
"How is it! Tomorrow is the presentation. What should I use if I don't use this laptop? The file doesn't even have a copy either!"
"Ah, just call Kak Faris, okay? Yes, I indeed have to call Sis Faris."
"Hello, what's wrong, Nia?" Answer Kak Faris.
"Sis, can I ask you a favour?"
"What?"
"I can't turn on my laptop."
"Oh, that, Brother can't use a laptop. Brother usually fixes lab equipment. Try asking Roby for help."
"HAH," I answered, surprised when Roby's name came out of Sis Faris
'mouth "Why?"
"Don't you have any other friends apart from Roby?"
"As far as my brother knows, the only one who can fix the laptop is Roby, because my laptop was damaged too and he fixed it. Please send me the phone number."
"Okay, sis, thanks for the info," I immediately hung up the phone.
"Ugh, why can't you? Why should I ask Roby for help? No, it will be rejected later. But what about tomorrow?"
1 WA message from Sis Faris,
"This is Roby's number, 08388xxx341, sorry Brother can't help."
With a heavy heart, I tried to call Roby, and it turned out, "The number you dialled is busy. Please try again in a while."
"Oh, this person is really annoying. Try again, ah!"
I tried calling the number again. Tut….tut….tu
"Who?" replied Rob.
"Why was it rejected earlier?"
"Who are you?" The answer is curt
"Nia", I replied curtly and snapped a little
"What do you need?"
"Help fix the laptop."
"No, find another one. Just go to Faris!"
"I asked Faris for help earlier. But he can't. He even asked me to ask you for help."
"Why would he?"
"Yeah, I don't know!"
"Take your laptop to class tomorrow!"
"Why tomorrow? I'm presenting tomorrow. The laptop that you want to use is damaged, what can you do?" My voice started hoarsely
"How hoarse like that? Don't cry, take your laptop to a coffee shop near a red light. Do not be long. 15 minutes!"
"You're smart, too!"
"Humph! Helped profit!" with a slightly raised voice
"Ma ..."
"Tut ... tut ... tut ... The connection is lost."
I quickly ordered a motorcycle taxi to take me to the location. The journey was about 13 minutes, and I arrived at a coffee shop near a red light. Roby was waiting for me there in a t-shirt wrapped in a jacket and a scarf around his neck. I park my motorbike.
"It's been a long time," he said as I sat down.
"13 minutes anyway."
"Where's the laptop?"
I took my laptop out of my blue backpack.
"Blue lover?" he asked.
"Very! Backpacks, laptops and…."
"Did I ask?" Before I could continue, he cut it off. It's really cool.
"Oh, just now... Oh, come on, you've been annoying for a long time."
"Well, I'm going home. Fix the laptop yourself!" He stood up and tried to leave.
"Uh, don't! Get it right! Come on, please, you can't be joking," actually, it's not a joke, but it's true.
He sat back smiling." It turns out. This kid is handsome when he's smiling. There is a dimple on the right cheek. Ah, what the hell am I. He right SUJU (Super Jutek). The jutek asked for forgiveness and didn't help," I thought hissingly. He immediately took the needed equipment from his bag.
Something was blocking the contents of the bag. "What picture is that?" I asked while pointing at his bag, and he only answered with a sharp glance
"Here, people! Really yes!" I thought.
He started fixing my laptop, took this, that's what I didn't understand about what he was doing. Until I fell asleep for so long, he improved it.
"Check! The sound was heard.
I then woke up from my sleep.
"What sound is that?" While I rub my eyes.
"Eh, Ummm, it's nothing. It's just the sound of crickets."
"Really? In a shop as good as this, there are crickets!"
"Eh, that's your cat, huh?" Half conscious, I saw the photo on my cellphone's Roby
"Em, not a cat, how beautiful is this cat?" While showing his cellphone to me.
"Like my picture, huh?"
"Where?" Trying to dodge.
"Here I see!"
"No, you just woke up! The laptop is finished. You even enjoy sleeping, where are you really sleeping again," trying to divert the conversation.
"Yeah, sorry it took you so long."
"Help is also lucky!"
"Yes, sorry, thank you too," I bowed my body halfway.
"Ehem, you... what are you riding home on?"
"Take a motorcycle taxi."
"At this hour, there are still motorcycle taxis?"
"Do not know."
"I'll take you by motorbike."
"Where to?"
"Into the abyss ... yes, your home is!"
"Um, how about... but be careful if you have bad intentions."
"negative thinking, if you don't want to, that's fine."
"Eh, yes, yes."
We then went to the parking lot to pick up Roby's motorbike.
"Eitsss, wait for me! His account was even left behind." I quickly put my laptop in my backpack and half ran after Roby.
We rode together. On the road, we were just silent and silent. Sometimes I complain of being cold.
"Haccih", I suddenly sneezed, up to several times.
"You can't stand the cold, can you?"
"Yes," while wiping my nose with a tissue I accidentally brought from the shop.
That night Bandung was very cold, very cold. The sky was also cloudy, and suddenly it started to rain. We stopped at the bus stop to escape the rain.
"Let's stop first, it's raining very hard. Besides, you can't stand the cold either," he said flatly as he took off his jacket.
"He okay," he stroked my arm.
Suddenly Roby held out his jacket and scarf to me. "What for?" I said in surprise as I smoothed my slightly damp hair.
"Yes ... yes, in the pack!" Roby stammered a little.
Seeing me confused, he put it directly on my shoulders and wrapped his scarf around my neck. I was stunned to see what Roby did.
"I love you, Nia," he said suddenly. I was surprised too.
"I'm sorry I was presumptuous," he said again, then looked down.
I still didn't respond. And the rain started to stop
"Let's go home," said Roby to me. I just nodded in agreement.
***
The next day, I met Kak Faris in front of the class. It seemed like he had been waiting for me on purpose. I saw him waving, and I responded.
"How's the laptop?" he asked spontaneously.
"How come it's been fixed by Roby."
"When was it fixed?"
"Last night, sis."
"Last night?" He was shocked when he heard my confession.
"Yes, last night, why?"
"Oh no, daddy, just ask. Oh yeah, last night, I'm sorry Brother couldn't help you."
"It's okay, sis. Brother indirectly helped Nia too."
"As an expression of apology, Brother wants to take Nia to dinner. How about it?"
"Um ... okay," I answered briefly.
"I'll pick you up later."
"Loh, do you really know the address of my boarding house?"
"You know! Cook with the people we say ... er, friends who are close to us don't know where they live. Em, it's been a while. Brother has lecture hours, bye…."
I didn't understand what he meant. "Come on," I said to myself.
That night, I was ready in the pink dress I was wearing. I came out of the boarding house, and it turned out that Faris was already waiting.
"How long has it been, bro?" He turned his back to me when I greeted him. He turned around, and it was Roby.
"Beautiful," one word he said.
"What?" I asked because I didn't know.
"It's okay."
"Where's Sis Roby? Oops, I called the wrong one," I mumbled, patting my forehead.
"It's me."
"Uh, sorry, no, but Sis Faris."
"The motorbike broke down. I was told to pick you up. He's already waiting at the restaurant."
"Okay."
When we got there, Kak Faris had reserved a place for us. Yes, we are. Me, Roby, and Sis Faris.
We talked, but not with Roby. I don't know what happened to him. The next moment, he then went to the bathroom.
"Nia," said Kak Faris.
"Yes," I replied as I ate the dish that had been ordered.
"I ... I ... I like you," Sis Faris took out a red chrysanthemum, my favourite flower. Precisely the same as the flower photo that Mr. uploaded. X, is he Mr X?
Surprised, when I turned around, I didn't know how long Roby had been there. Then He left without saying goodbye to us.
"Roby… Roby… where are you going?" I called him, but he didn't return my call. I also chased Roby. I left Kak Faris without hesitation.
The next day, I looked for Roby on campus, but he wasn't there.
"Where is he going? Maybe he thinks he will return Sis Faris' love?" I hissed in my heart, mixed with anxiety and felt I had wasted it.
At that time. Rain, jackets and scarves are witnesses. "Me too," was my answer, but you didn't hear it, and now you're gone.
***
[4 Years Later]
Still with my love, here I stand for you, for your sake Roby. I don't know how long I can last.
When the graduation was inaugurated, I got a letter from Ana stating that Mr X was Roby. My heart immediately jolted. Didn't think that the man with the deep voice was the one I called Mr X.
I started asking, "Why didn't he explain it to me? Why should you just keep quiet? Only poetry and rhymes can explain all that? That's not enough for me, Roby. Unknowingly I cried. Why? Because I love you too, Roby. Scarves, jackets and rain came back to my mind. But what can I do? I received news 2 days before graduation that Mama would be engaged to the person of her choice.
"Nia, are you coming home Nduk from Bandung? How come you want a fiancé, but there's no one," Mama asked when she called me.
"Oh Ma, now is not Siti Nur Baya's era, but Siti Nur Haliza's era. I hate to go home...!" I said to Mama.
"Anyway, you have to go home, point!" The phone line was cut off. Before I could give an answer, Mama hung up the phone. "Like who the person who wants to be engaged to me? How come it's like that, Mama," I hissed to myself.
I sent a message to Mama via WA.
"My dear mother, okay, Nia will be home in 2 days, but Nia still has an art show on campus. Nia was asked to perform a ballet dance."
"You're a pharmacist, right? Why are you being asked to do that instead of concocting medicine?" Mom replied.
"I can do ballet, Mom."
"It's okay as long as you go home. This is because Mama already misses you, Nduk."
"Yes, Mom."
I ended the chat with Mama, then lay down lamenting the fate of my love, "I'm tired, I'm tired," I thought.
I dare not refuse Mama. Moreover, since Papa died, Mama became the backbone of the family. I'm afraid I'll hurt her if she refuses.
"Should I blame fate?" Back to mind.
Or should I succumb to fate? I do not know. All the scenarios He has planned will be answered by the Almighty.
***
[2 days later]
"Assalamu'alaikum, Mom, I'm home!"
"Brother," greeted my little sister, friendly. His name is Raka, and he will be 4 years old in a few days. I kissed my cute little brother.
"Duh, Mama's child has grown up, apparently. Go ahead, take a break. Mama will call when the food is ready. We'll have guests soon." I went straight to my room with the big suitcase I had brought from Bandung.
From the room, I heard a commotion in the living room. Because I was tired, I just sat down in the room.
"Nia, let's go out first. Someone wants to meet you!" Call Mama from outside the room.
"Oh, Mom, I'm sorry! Nia is really tired. Mama knows that Nia has just arrived."
"Come on, just a minute," Mom began to sulk.
"Yeah, I'm out. Mama, go first!"
"Okay, hurry up then."
I prepared myself and walked out of the room into the living room. And "Roby?" I was surprised when the guest Mama meant was Roby. Yes, that's right, Mr X Roby was with a middle-aged man and woman at that time.
"Nia," Roby just smiled when he saw me surprised.
"Oh, you two know each other?" Mama asked as if to make sure.
"Yes, Ma, we know each other. He was my friend in high school," I explained.
"Oh, that's good, so what about it? Besides, we have an agreement. It seems that they both have put their hearts in it," said Mama to a middle-aged woman who turned out to be Roby's mother.
"What do you mean, Mom?" I cut off my conversation, and Mama just responded with a smile.
"I want to propose to you, Nia. I'm sincere, not forced. And this is beyond the plans of our parents who did plan this matchmaking. Do you want to accept my proposal?" Roby immediately answered my astonishment.
I was stunned and answered casually, "I will answer it tomorrow at Parang Teritis Beach at 5 pm," while immediately showing myself to the room, leaving them.
"Duh, why don't I just accept it right away, right me too, ah stupid. Why did I say I would give an answer at Parang Teritis Beach? What do you want me to say?" I mumbled to myself
***
[Beach parang teritis]
It's five o'clock in the afternoon. I looked at the beach, whose twilight atmosphere had never changed since I was a child until now. There was no one there, including the person I was waiting for, Roby. The sea breeze made my hair fly. Twenty-five minutes passed, but Roby still didn't come. I'm tired and feel toyed with. Definitely disappointed. I decided to go home. And when I turned around, someone was painting towards me from the end of the beach. Yes, he's Roby, and he just walks away when he finds out I've known he's been there all along.
"Roby! Stop!" I screamed loudly.
I was surprised when I saw the painting he drew when I looked at the sunset with flying hair. And beside it, the exact same picture as the one in the teacher's room that I had dropped. What's more, the article See How Much I Love You (SHMILY). Mr X, who turned out to be Roby, had disappeared from my sight that evening.
Suddenly
"What explanation do you want?" someone asked me from behind.
"I'd better go," I walked away.
"After so long, I watched you from a distance. Will my struggle end in vain?" And I stopped.
"What struggle are you asking? I don't think you've ever struggled this long," I replied in a rising voice.
"For more than 4 years, I have kept and fought for it. Is it all meaningless?"
"Yes!"
"Why?"
"That's because you SUJU," as I turned around.
"SUJU?"
“Yes, you are SUJU, Super Jutek. Have you ever explained the meaning of chrysanthemum, chocolate, and Kahlil Gibran's poetry? Also, that cold attitude of yours!"
"The answer is only one, Nia," his voice slanted.
"What?"
"Because my love can't be explained. It can only be felt."
"And because of an inexplicable love I endured," I continued.
"See How Much I Love You, Nia," while holding me.
"See How Much I Love You, Roby," returned the hug.
Roby knelt down while handing me a red chrysanthemum.
"Thanks, Mr.x."
And Roby just smiled.
THE END