Florianas
Chapter 12: Falling Unsick

It was late at night when Flo arrived in front of an abandoned house. With wild plants have sprinkled some of its dull walls. The house would be considered uninhabited if there were no lights shining dimly behind an opaque window.

Flo hesitated. He had gone so far, it was impossible to turn around again.

At first Flo knocked slowly, but because there was no reason and the atmosphere was increasingly tense, he also hardened the lacing of his finger book on the old wooden door.

"Assalamini!" exclamation Flo. "Sir Taala! Sis!"

Chequek...

Door creaking open. Featuring a long-haired figure in disarray against dim LED lights.

"Sir Taala?" tanya Flo was scared. He had not seen Kak Taala for a long time, they also broke off communication.

The figure nodded. And Flo immediately attacked him with a tight hug. So relieved. He was even half crying.

"Thank God.." sighed Flo. "I'm Flo."

It took some time before Taala hugged her back. His cousin then pulled him into the house. Cueing her to sit on a musty-smelling chair while she herself goes nowhere.

Taala didn't go long, just a minute or two. He returns with a small notebook and takes his place at Flo's side.

Why did you get here?

Taala showed the writing to Flo. Looked at it with a questioning look.

"I'm out of the house."

Wh why?

Because of writing in haste, Kak Taala's writing became untidy.

"I fought with Mama."

And Flo started telling me everything. What happened at home, how the struggle can get here, until it was strayed earlier. He took out all the grunts he harbored, which he dared not tell anyone before.

"Son, how are you?" flo asked, after emptying a million grievances. Finally he asked something that was normally in front of a conversation.

Taala just nodded, then raised her chin towards Flo.

"In addition to the problems at home, I'm also good" Flo said.

Secretly, he observed the face of the flat Kak Taala, who had never smiled since many years ago. The scars of grief remained timeless in his eyes, erasing altogether the cheerful line that Flo had always been envious of.

"Why don't you stay with Om or Aunt Brother again?" tanyanya, suddenly. His observation of the object.

Don't want to take them, Taala wrote.

"M..." Flo nodded, lightly scratching his neck with one of his fingertips. He was really surprised when Kak Taala suddenly caught his arm.

"Why?" ask Flo, nervous.

Then his hand was rotated by Taala and presented to his face. Making him able to see the wound with blood already dried on his palm. He completely forgot about his injuries.

"Oh yes.." - Flo. Upon seeing the wound, he began to feel the pain again.

Taala's sister let go of Flo's hand. Instead, he took the pen and the book back.

Sick?

'How did you get hurt?

At home there is no P3K, tomorrow morning Brother deliver to Puskesmas, yes?

Flo smiled reading Taala's line of questions. Glad there's still nothing left of his favorite cousin.

"It just hurts a little. I'm not pa-pa," he assured. Even so, the anxious murat did not immediately disappear from the face of Kak Taala. It makes it seem more real and alive.

Wait here for a moment, Brother wants to finish the bed first.

Taala's sister said goodbye, leaving Flo alone. He left, disappearing behind a door near the empty large aquarium.

Fatigued, Flo leaned against the back of the hard sofa. His eyes moved scanning the house he barely knew anymore. Just like the outward appearance, everything looked dull and neglected. Suddenly he felt ashamed. She thought her life was bad for living with an unattentive and skeptical mother, along with an evil half-sister. But now when compared to Taala Kak who lives alone without parental protection in a house like this, without anyone to rely on, the difficulty feels nothing.

Daydreaming makes Flo again remember his grief. So he took his phone from the bag and turned it on, just stirring his mind. Then a barrage of missed call notifications and dozens of short messages from his parents stormed in. He just ignored it. The focus is on another message bar. Sent four hours ago.

Farrell Fadillah: Was Farrell fed, Flo?

Farrell Fadillah: Flo at home seems to have missed Farrell. I feed you not to.

The corners of Flo's lips lifted, forming a small smile. It feels the question of fish****** this is very sweet.

Farrell and Flo.

Drrt...

Shaking the phone in his hand shocked Flo who was involuntarily daydreaming. He saw the name of the caller.

Arina.

***

Early in the morning, Taala woke Flo up. He took a bicycle to go to Puskesmas. They crossed a deserted dirt road, crossed a bridge that cut through a small river decorated with wedelia flowers on either side, even passing through his old house that had been surrounded by weeds.

For today, Taala's sister's permission not to go to school so that she is not alone at home. Because said Kak Taala, a neighbor who just moved across the house his son was somewhat disturbed by his reasoning.

For half a day they went around the village, Kak Taala did not bring up Flo's problem at all. This reminded him of Farrell.

In addition, Taala did not persuade him to go home either. That may be one of the reasons why he can be close and very comfortable telling Kak Taala— even when they have not seen each other for a long time and lost contact. Because his cousin's brother never acted the knowest and truest. Taala has always let her make her own choices, giving her the full right to solve her own problems. But if he needs help, Taala will always be there for him.

Flo cross-legged on top of a prominent rambutan tree root, in the courtyard of the house. Kak Taala—'s long and wide floral dress may have belonged to his mother—easy in this sitting position.

He had just leaned against a tree and felt relaxed when a foreign voice greeted him.

"Hi."

Flo turned. Found a man in a white-grey uniform, still with a backpack draped over his shoulder. In his hand there is a bunch of wedelia flowers that he had seen in exploring the village earlier.

"Search Anataala?" tanya Flo, thought that it was Kak Taala's schoolmate.

"Yes, actually," the man went cross-legged next to Flo, "but there's no need to call."

"okay." Flo nodded, confused. Actually he felt awkward with the existence of the foreign man by his side.

"Who wants to be interrupted?" He glanced at the flower in the man's lap.

The man followed Flo's gaze. And he replied, "There is. But I'll be alone."

"You're from Jakarta?" ask the stranger.

"Yes" Flo replied. "Know where?"

"Take a guess" said the stranger. "Are you ready Taala?"

"Cousin," Flo replied briefly. "You're schoolmates Taala?" tanyakanya.

"Yes. Neighbors too. I live in front." The man pointed at the house across the street using his thumb. "Just moved out of Jakarta."

So this sane fellow is, inner Flo. But it looks healthy. Was Taala just joking? He's not sure. Taala's expression was minimal.

"I'm Akasaf. What's your name?"

"Florian. Flo."

"Your name is good."

"Thank you" Flo replied, clumsy.

"Akhlak is good too. No kayak Anataala, good name bad character. It's so bad for him, not like you, kalem."

Flo notices, that Aksaf is smiling while complaining about Kak Taala's nature. I certainly don't mind his complaint.

"But you like it?" flo asked, slowly, spontaneously.

"Likes? Mm.." -..." Aksaf seemed to think. "Maybe. Which I clearly understand. Everyone has their own way of looking strong and good. Some are quiet and apathetic. There were a lot of jokes and laughs, as if they were all jokes. There are also those who become fierce and defensive, like Taala."

Hearing that Flo was sure that Aksaf already knew about the tragedy that befell Kak Taala's life. It's hard not to know, it's very famous. Everyone in the village knew, even the events were being reported on radio and television. Every time Kak Taala passed in front of the village, they would start talking about the incident again. They said pity, but repeatedly opened the wound heartlessly.

"You know. about..." Flo hesitates, even just to make sure Aksaf knows or not about the tragedy that shook Kak Taala's life was difficult. How could the villagers have their tongues so light?

"Know." Aksaf understands. "Village people think that's an interesting thing."

Flo smiled wryly. Thas right. The tragedy of a man's life is interesting as long as it doesn't offend himself.

After that, both of them remained silent. Only the wind was heard.

"Taala.." murmured Aksaf.

Flo saw it too. Taala stood on the terrace. There was a towel draped over his head, covering his hair still wet.

Flo followed Aksaf up, approaching Taala. At the end of the man's fingers was a bunch of flowers hanging. Akasaf seems to have no objection to showing off his luggage as Flo often encounters in Korean dramas.

From his position, Flo could see that Taala Kak had taken out his notebook and written down something. Then, when Aksaf came before Kak Taala, a word greeted the front neighbor.

GO!!!

Unmitigated, Kak Taala uses capital letters completely and affixes three exclamation marks. What a harsh rejection.

Flo salutes once with Aksaf who remained calm giving his bungan. Though Kak Taala's face was so fierce.

"I just want to give you this."

You do'a-in I die, huh?! write Brother Taala.

"Where is it possible."

Aksaf knelt down, lifting his bow. Like someone who submits a proposal.

Surprisingly Flo felt embarrassed seeing that scene. So he turned his face away. Take a step away in the foyer with that pretty high foundation. Let Kak Taala take flowers from Aksaf. Then he ruthlessly snatched the yellow wild flower petals from the stem roughly.

Too cool to watch the drama hate-love relationship makes Flo did not notice that he was already on the lips of the terrace. And with no warning at all, while retreating a little more, he slipped. Oleng's body. Spontaneously he screamed and flailed at the empty air. It caught Taala's attention. The cousin immediately ran over, extending his hand to try to greet Flo.

Honey, it's too late. When Kak Taala's hand was thrown forward with the flower petals, Flo had fallen...

Falling that doesn't hurt.

Falling down warm.

Falling that smells familiar.

Flo opened her eyes. Instantly his coffee brown iris passed by a pair of neutrals that were as dark as the night sky.

***

It's a wedelia flower if anyone doesn't know.