Garden Benches
Bread Flakes in Your Hands

Bread Flakes in Your Hands

If I miss being wrapped, I don't know how many millions of paper bags are needed, to wrap my misses on you, Laras.

“What's up? What happened?”

Ardi shrugged his shoulders, his eyes still full of investigation leading into Citra's house.

“Entah, already invisible nothing.” Said Ardi with furrowed brows.

We sat, there was no way to go back in, after passing through the gate. No more calls from Santi were heard. Now it is only up to Agung to know the state of Citra. What is really going on?

“You're patient, Gie! I'll ask grandma for a reason to meet Citra later tonight.” Agung patted me on the shoulder, soothing, when I was sitting on the bike.

“At least, we've tried.” Entertain Ardi anyway.

I nodded and tried to hide the fret from my eyes.

“I depend on you, Gung. Thanks before, yes. Hope the image is okay. We said yes ..” Reply. 

“OK. Careful!”

“Bye!” Ardi clenched his hand which was greeted with a fist as well. Two fists meet as a sign of farewell. I left Citra's house with questions that are increasingly mounting.  What happened to Citra?

At eighty kilo meters per hour I put my bike back on.  Ardi left me in silence, no sound could be heard between us on the way.

In the middle of the journey, my motorbike entered the courtyard of a mosque on the side of the road. Ashar's time came a while ago.

“Sholat first, Ar. After that take me to the park, later you can go home first.” I said while parking the motorbike.

“OK!”

Ardi followed from behind, I hurried to fetch some ablution water, letting my face wash perfectly with running water. Trying to penetrate the cold into the pores, to bring the same coolness to the heart. We can still follow the worshippers on the last two rakaats, then add two rakaats after the Imam says his greetings.

I saw the clock hanging on the wall of the mosque, still pointing at the number 4 in the afternoon over three minutes. There's still time to see you, Laras. I promise you to bring me a piece of bread today.

“Are you going to that park bench?” asked Ardi when we drove back, this time a little relaxed, until his voice sounded clear.

“Ya!”

“Are you going to meet him?”

“Yes! Of course!”

“Gie!”

“What?”

Ardi fell silent, I saw the romance of his face looking sad bouncing off the mirror that was clulerical.

“Tak what ..” answer later.  

Drive my bike straight to the city park. From ignorance already seen the joy of the cry of children.  Run around, play games provided there. Ah, Ghifa, I'm sorry.  I didn't bring you here this afternoon. Slowly deflect black matic towards the available parking lot.  A place made jutting a few meters from the edge of the road with a curb border on the edge of the park.

“Gie!” Call Ardi when I hand over my helmet to also take home.

“What's up?” 

I took the chest bag from the trunk of the motor. There is a piece of bread that I have prepared in it, then I throw it while looking at Ardi's face that is still sculpting. The young man looked confused to convey something.

“It was late afternoon, if Ghifa nanyain, I answered what?” Ardi finally said. 

I looked far into the western sky, and spread out among the gray clouds. 

“I only have a minute Ar. Please tell Ghifa, I still meet Mommy, she will be angry because I did not talk today, but she will welcome me cheerfully waiting for my story.”

“Gie!”

“My time is limited to meeting with Laras, Ar. You know that, please.”

I saw Ardi looking at me with a faint look, his shoulders raised as if taking a deeper breath.

“Alright ..” said.

“OK, I'll walk later, don't follow!” I shouted as I walked quickly leaving Ardi still dumbstruck. 

“Cipukkk,” my tongue is muddy, your face looks bright with your smile that always expands to reconcile. Some of the pigeons perched on the park bench. You look at me with your sparkling eyes.

“Cupikkk, come here.”

I sat beside you, stunned to see your outstretched hand, and laughed as the pigeons slipped unable to get there.

“Cupikkk, where's Ghifa?” 

This time you face me, stay with a smile.

“Sorry, I didn't take her today, baby. I just came from Citra's house,” my story.

“Oh yes, how is Mama Citra, Cupikkk?” ask you with enthusiasm and a seductive tone.

“He will get married tomorrow Saturday.” Flat answer.

“Alhamdulillah, pleased, so tomorrow again Ghifa will always be able to meet her mother.

'Ahh you, Laras. Why isn't your door reduced?''

“Not with me, baby. But with Anton, his college friend first!” I said a little upset.

I love that this inhabitant of my heart teases me to invite another heart to accompany him. That's a hard thing for me!

“What? Why can?”

Your mouth is open, your lips are floating in the air, your eyes are looking at me in full search. After that, as I expected, your lips clenched without a smile. That's how it is if you're angry.

“You did Mama Citra, Cupikkk!” your jolt pouts like Ghifa if it's sagging and sulking.

“I'm okay, really, baby .. swear deh,” elakku.

“Then why did Mama Citra not marry you, Cupikkk? Cupcake would you like, Ghifa sad?” berondongmu, like Ghifa, you call Citra with Mama Citra.

“It's not so, dear. I haven't thought that way. So when Citra's parents ask me, ‘Mas Gie, don't mind if Citra is married to Anton?’ I said no, so ..”

“Cupikkk ... ahhh, why Cupikk answer no?!” 

I give you my chest, when your hand swings smack piss. Cold jerking repeatedly, I hold you in my arms. I know you're disappointed, you love Citra as Ghifa loves her. But I'm sorry, if my heart isn't that close.  It is precisely the door of this heart I will just open, when I realize the image will soon be gone from our lives.

“I'm sorry, I'm Cipukk, I didn't know time was passing so fast.”

You looked up at me, looking fixedly at both balls of my eyes. I know you're looking for a hidden fret.

“You're confused, Cupikkk?”

I replied with a smile, You will definitely feel what I feel without me telling you. I see you smiling back.

“Kutahu you will fix everything, fight Cupikk.” I'm nodding. You can always make my heart come back to peace, support and strengthen my steps.

“You know what I brought?”

Your eyes sparkle, always so if I can't wait for the surprise I brought you.

“What Cupikkk?”

I took out a piece of bread from my breast bag.

“Yeaa .. bread crumbs for pigeons!” your cheer is cheerful, I laugh happily.

I don't care about the people who stay away from where we sit, just let them be astonished or pityed, I don't really pay attention to the romance of his face.

I threw the breadcrumbs at the pigeons that had been waiting around the park bench, the little creatures clustered pecking nimbly.

“Cipukkk, give me your hand.” Whisper with all my heart.

You said, you put your hands back in front. Likewise, myself, I extend my hand under your outstretched hand.  Above my palm was the remaining breadcrumbs, two pigeons flew and perched there. They looked at us, slanted their heads, then pecked at the breadcrumbs.

You laugh, I laugh too. I wish time would stop there, but the twilight still passes.

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