Bald-headed
Ch. 8

None of them moved as they faced each other. He didn't say anything, his muscles seemed to freeze, and for a moment he thought the man didn't recognize him.

He suddenly felt guilty appearing like this, without warning, and this made it even more difficult. He thought it would be easier somehow, that he would know what to say. But it didn't. Everything that appeared in his head seemed unworthy.

The thought of the holiday season they spent together came back to her, and as she looked at him, she realized how little he had changed since the last time she saw him.

This guy still looks good, he thought. With his shirt tucked loosely into old faded jeans, he could see the same broad shoulders as he remembered. His skin was tanned, as if he had been working outside all day, and though his hair was a little thinner and more wavy than he remembered, it was not, he looked the same as when he had known her last time.

When the girl was finally ready, she took a deep breath and smiled.

"Hello, Sugi. It's good to see you again."

His sentence shocked him, and he looked at the man with astonishment in his eyes. Then, after shaking his head slightly, he slowly started to smile.

"You too." he stuttered. He carried his hand to his own chin, and it appeared that he had not shaved. "It's really you, isn't it? I can't believe it. . . ."

He heard the shock in the man's voice as he spoke, and to his surprise, everything fused together, being here, looking at him. He felt something twitch inside, something long pent up, something that made him dizzy for a moment.

The girl caught herself fighting for control. He did not expect this to happen, rather did not want it to happen. She's engaged now. He did not come here for this .. not yet .. yet...

But the feeling continued, and for a moment he felt fifteen more years. It felt like retreating for years, as if all his dreams could still come true.

It felt as if he had finally come home.

Without a word they fused together, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and he hugged her, pulling her closer. They hugged each other tightly, making it real, both of them letting the fourteen years of separation dissolve in the deepening twilight.

They remained like that for a long time before he finally pulled himself back to look at her. Up close, he could see changes he was initially unaware of. He was a man now, and his face had lost the tenderness of his youth.

The faint lines around his eyes deepened, and there was a scar on his chin that had never existed before. There was a new edge to him, he looked less innocent, more cautious, yet the way he hugged her made him realize how much he had missed her since the last time he saw her.

His eyes brimmed with tears as they finally let go of each other. He laughed nervously while wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes.

"Are you okay?" Sugi asked, another thousand questions appeared on his face.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to cry...."

"It's okay," he said with a smile, "i still can't believe it's you. How did you find me?"

He stepped back, trying to calm himself down, wiping away the rest of his tears.

"I saw the news about the house in the paper a few weeks ago, and I have to see you again."

Sugi smiled widely. "I'm glad you did." He backed off a little. "Oh my God, you look amazing. You're even prettier now than you used to be."

"thank you. You look great too." And he did, no doubt. The years have treated him well.

"So what are you doing? Why are you here?"

Sugi's questions take him back to the present, making him realize what could happen if he wasn't careful. Don't let this get out of control, he told himself, the longer it lasts, the harder it becomes. And he didn't want it to be harder.

But God, those eyes. Those soft, dark eyes. He turned around and took a deep breath, wondering how to say it, and when he finally started, his voice was calm. "Sugi, before you misunderstand me, I do want to see you again, but there's more to it." He paused for a moment. "I came here for a reason. There's something I need to tell you."

"What's that?"

He looked away and did not reply for a moment, surprised that he could not tell her yet.

In silence, Sugi felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. Whatever it is, it's bad.

"I don't know how to say it. At first I thought so, but now I'm not so sure. . . . " Birundasih swallowed, opening his mouth slightly to collect air into the lungs.

The air was suddenly shaken by the sharp screams of the raccoon, and Cemong came out from under the veranda, meowing violently. The two turned their heads towards the commotion, and Birundasih was delighted at the disturbance.

"Is he yours?" she asked.

Sugi nodded, feeling a tightness in his stomach. "Actually he. Cemong. But yes, he's all mine." They both watched Cemong shake his head, wriggle, then walk back towards the veranda. Birundasih's eyes widened slightly when he saw the furry animal.

"What happened to his leg?" he asked, buying time.

"Backed by a car a few months ago. My acquaintance Heriawan, a veterinarian, called me to find out if I wanted the cat because the owner didn't want it anymore. After I saw what happened, I guess I couldn't let it be put in the cage and wait for the execution."

"You're always good like that" he said, trying to relax.

He stopped, then looked past the man towards the house. "You did an amazing job. Looks like it'll be perfect, as I'll know one day from a dozen years ago."

Sugi turned his head in the same direction, while he wondered about the small talk and what he was holding back.

"Thank you, you are so good at remembering and praising. But it's a good project. I don't know if I can continue."

"Of course," he said. He knew exactly how the man felt about this place.

But then, she realized that she didn't know how she felt about everything, or at least she already knew it, but back then.

And with that in mind, he realized how much had changed since then. They were strangers now, he could tell by looking at her. It can be said that the fourteen year difference is a long time. Too long.