EMBRACE YOU: Presence & Poison
Episode 303's

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This morning clock shows at six o'clock and in this apartment I was alone, because half an hour ago Bayu said goodbye to sports and would look for breakfast for us.

Then, the sound of the front door opening made me immediately turn around and run to greet him.

His right hand shut the door behind his back and his left hand was carrying a black plastic bag, his eyes watching me running towards him, for reasons we didn't understand, I suddenly hit him and Bayu had already stretched out his two arms to greet me, as if we had not met for months.

“What do you bring?” I was cheerful and relieved as I hugged her neck, letting her lift me up for a while until my legs floated.

“Cotton. Made from peda fish.” Answer's short. I wasn't really curious about our breakfast, but I rather missed her soft voice beside my ears.

Then I immediately let go of our embrace, got down from his arms and took over the plastic bag he was carrying and led him to the kitchen counter table.

“Daddy just called me, Dika and Lucy have been sent here.” I said reporting with a frown.

“I've guessed.” Bayu nodded, “but I will also be relieved if there are them while I return to work.”

“So, your duty is two months away here ‘right? After that we'll go home?” I asked with hope as I opened our breakfast.

Bayu nodded, “from the duty letter is like that.”

“Today you will explain everything to me ‘right?” I asked her again to remind her of Doctor Cilia.

Bayu looked at me, for a moment he daydreamed for a while and then nodded, “ya.”

“You look doubtful for a moment.” I mocked him while clucking.

This man chuckled softly, his hand reaching for my hand to hold and he said, “you know me well, eh? I doubt it, but I promise. Anyway this has something to do with you, so you also deserve to know.”

“Happy to hear it.” I nodded in satisfaction, “ayo fast breakfast. Once you're ready I want to take you off.”

.

..

...

“You sure you poult the way home?” For the fifth time Bayu asked me with a frown, worried.

“I'm really poultice! See you later in the afternoon!” I waved and was about to turn around but again Bayu held my hand.

She pulled my hand and shook her head as I looked at her, “no! I'm not calm! I'd better ask my friend to drop you off.”

I touched his chest, patted him gently and said, “I'll be fine. You believe me ‘kan?”

Bayu nodded obediently, while I glanced at the glance of people dressed the same as him heading towards the checkpoint, they had a glance at us curiously.

“I'll let you know when I get home.”

“I know your intention to drive me to the front of the office. After this you'll go around figuring out the places you want to be. It's your second day here and you want to do all that?!” I chuckled and nodded.

“What is clear look?”

“Very!”

“Then it is, what can be?” I took a step closer to him and purposely Bayu touched his forehead to my forehead while looking down, then his hand pinched my nose with anxiety.

“You're a bit naughty, huh! I can't keep holding you back. You have to be careful. This city is not as safe as in the city we come from.”

I stepped back, firmly facing him and answered excitedly, “Yes, sir!”

“Hmm..” Bayu nodded in satisfaction, accepting my attitude.

“You forgot something.” He said before I protested.

“What?” I'm really confused.

Bayu pointed at her cheek with a mischievous grin. My face warmed up. My reflexes glanced around and the people from his office who had been coming were staring at us.

Then a mischievous idea to reply occurred to me in my head, I quickly raised both my hands to cupper her face, slightly pulling her down and peeking at her lips.

Bayu as if pecking on the spot, his two hands stiff beside his body, before he came to his senses, I let go of our kisses and moved back, waving once again and saying brightly, “ see you!”

I laughed with satisfaction as I ran away from him, imagining this morning that his office people would gossip about him, he would be the talk.

“Be careful!!” Bayu shouted, I turned to look at him and waved back.

Our distance was getting further away but the soundless movements of her lips could still be seen. He said ‘nakal’, it makes me more satisfied to laugh.

***

I've been at the market for over an hour, buying some groceries like vegetables, meat and seasonings. Besides, a lot of food is foreign, of course I don't want to miss it.

After being satisfied and full and tired, I finally decided to return to the apartment using a taxi. I dare not use public transport, however.

The taxi drove me to the front of the apartment building, I brought a lot of luggage and had attracted the attention of other apartment residents who were in front of the building, until I accidentally hit someone who was about to get out.

“Sorry!” I exclaimed in shock, hurriedly picking up some of the fallen groceries.

“T-it's okay.” He said in a hoarse voice as if he had cried. I looked up to realize she was a woman who was probably a few years older than me. Obviously I saw a bruise on the lower corner of his eye and the corner of his lips.

“You all right?” I asked, forgetting for a moment the groceries I was collecting.

This woman realized that I was watching her, she looked down deeper, helped me pick up the crackle bag and immediately handed it to me then walked quickly past me without saying anything more.

I stared at his disappearance, thinking where did the wounds come from? It looks like a punch wound.

My daydreams spread as I felt the phone in my pants pocket vibrate, because my two hands were full so I quickly entered the building, headed for the elevator, guessing Bayu must have called me.

***

There is one custom or tradition in this apartment building when the afternoon before nightfall. I forgot to ask Bayu, but fortunately today I did not know, it was because I was too curious, I went back and forth in and out of the building only to visit certain places that sell weird food after searching the internet and meeting some of the women in this building's apartment.

They said that all the women in the apartment building would come out in the afternoon to welcome their husbands home.

Yep! These buildings were all occupied by the families of the soldiers who served in this city.

Thinking that, I was happy that Bayu chose this place. Besides I won't feel alien, here too are many people who are at least one struggle.

So when the afternoon of five o'clock arrived, I got out of the apartment and went downstairs. It was crowded outside the building, in front of the parking lot.

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