A Thousand Flowers
Chapters 4. Stopover 2

Riris looked very upset. Finally he gave up and put the potato chips on top of his backpack after repeatedly failing to open it. Maybe his hands are slippery because they're wet. Johnny took the initiative to help Riris.

After receiving the exposed potato chips and thanking Johnny, Riris sneered towards Yudha. Yudha doesn't care. He opened the snack he brought and intended to give it to Izzah who stood behind him.

However, the intention was undone once he saw Ihsan had stood before Izzah and handed him a bottle of mineral water with the lid already open. Yudha quietly retreated and threw her butt on a rock not far from Izzah.

After quenching his thirst, Izzah took out a tissue from his jacket pocket. Take a few sheets and dip them in the river and squeeze them a little. Slowly he began to clean his shoes without taking them off.

“Totally dirty. But at the very least, this could make it a little cleaner,” Izzah thought.

“Yaelah Zah, free of charge times cleaned. You also dirty again,” seductive Yudha while continuing to chew her snacks.

His tone sounded a bit discordant. So busy cleaning shoes, Izzah was not aware of the existence of Yudha.

“Just you eat, Yud, and you are hungry again,” replied Izzah glanced at Yudha, then resumed his activities.

Counterattacks. Checkmate. Yudha coughed at Izzah's words. Thankfully not choking. His left foot went straight to the river.

“Ya ... Get wet too!” yudha complained in a disappointed tone.

He avoided stepping on the water and chose to sit on a large rock near Izzah while raising his legs.

“Sgratiramin!” riris' teasing was upset to see Yudha busy squeezing her wet pants legs.

Finished cleaning the shoes, Izzah looked around the river, looking for a comfortable sitting position.

He smiled faintly as soon as his eyes found two stones that were close to each other of different sizes, facing the river. Without wasting any time, Izzah sat on a larger rock and made the smaller stone a footstool.

For a moment Izzah just sat still. His eyes wandered down the stream and bank of the river. At the top of the river, there are stone steps along the river. The flow of the river that flows through it forms a curtain of a very beautiful waterfall.

Just north of the steps, several frangipani flower buds are in bloom. Its pink color looks striking in the middle of the green of other plants.

"What's? Cambodia?" inner Izzah.

"That's real cambodia? How did he grow up there? Don't you think flowers grow at funerals?" Izzah asked himself, as if he could not believe what he saw.

"Ah, it might just look alike." Izzah debated his own thoughts.

Just below the flow of the artificial waterfall, a group of elementary school-age boys look engrossed in bathing. The depth of the small pond along the steps almost reached their chest. Izzah did not know since when the horde of boys accompanied them.

Not far from the children, Riris seemed busy selfie ria. Check-check to and fro changing positions and poses. It looks ridiculous, according to Izzah. Izzah was unconsciously smiling. Satisfied click there click here and spread the charm, Riris gives the rest of her potato chips to the kids, then sits foot-sloped next to Johnny.

Johnny did not touch Riris at all, as if hypnotized by songs that flowed his eardrum through the headset. His head swayed in the rhythm of the song, while his hands remained active putting snacks into the mouth.

Izzah unfolds his sleeve to look at the clock. Fifteen minutes of rest there. That was enough to replenish the energy that had been drained.

Izzah immediately stood up, then moved his waist to the left and to the right like a person warming up. Ihsan who noticed Izzah's movements stopped his chatter with Fadhil and Yudha. Stand up and immediately take back his backpack.

“At the time to continue the journey, Guys!” he took command of Yudha.

“Yaah .. soon dong. Still at home,” whine Riris.

“Indeed, where were you planning to go, Ris?” ask Izzah flat.

Ihsan and Yudha smiled at the dikulum hearing Izzah's question. They can guess the continuation.

“Air plunge,” replied Riris plain. It seemed that he did not understand the real meaning of Izzah's question.

“Stay focus on destination, okay?” Izzah gave a warning.

He immediately left the river bank followed by another. Riris blocks Izzah's hand as soon as Izzah gets past her.

“Sebentaaar only ... yes, yes, yes ...,” persuaded Riris, deliberately put up a weld look.

Izzah let out a long sigh and threw it down strongly before saying.

“Riris .. the stopover is indeed comfortable. When you feel tired in achieving your goals, take a break. But enough for a moment, just release the fatigue and return to gather energy. If you are complacent with that comfort and spend time in your stopover, then you will never reach your destination. Understand?” Izzah advised in a firm tone and hurried away.

“Part from the beginning is not anyone ngajak you, Ris," continued Izzah, but only in the heart.

“Hahahaha .…”

The four compact guys laughed seeing Riris trying to re-carry her backpack with a pouting face. Her lips look funny.

Instead of being left alone, mending just the same Izzah speech. Izzah is so. If you say A, it doesn't change B and nothing can affect it. Brava, Izzah! The Strict Commander!

***

As the sun rises. Izzah's group was getting closer to the destination. In front of them lay a shallow stream cutting through the path. There is no bridge between the two rivers. Just rows of irregular stones.

The imprint of the shoes was clearly etched on the rocks. A sign that Yudha, Johnny and Riris have passed through. Fadhil took off his shoes and rolled his pants up to his knees, then walked ahead of Izzah. Ready to lead him through the rocks.

“Kak, what if we follow the flow of this river only. Faster than he arrived,” Izzah suggested as soon as Fadhil stood beside him.

“Ah, is that correct? Know where?” tanya Fadhil is full of probes.

“Yes you know, Brother. Kan Izzah has been here since Junior High. Well, right home from the waterfall, Izzah follow the river flow only. It seems more time-saving. Continue the path is also not too uphill,” explained Izzah.

Fadhil is just a mangosteen, seriously hearing Izzah's explanation. This is the most Izzah likes from his brother, he always listened to every talk Izzah attentively. It feels appreciated.

“Yakin?” fadhil confirmed.

“Haqqul sure,” reply Izzah steady while nodding his head.

“And one more thing, the scenery is also good,” whispered Izzah in Fadhil's ear while his right hand held Fadhil's left arm.

Fadhil just widened his eyes to look at Izzah, a sign of curiosity and want to prove the truth of Izzah's words. While behind them, Ihsan just stood looking at all that. Izzah's tone was completely different.

***