Jogja, You & Memories
Sixteenth Temple

I sat on the east side, for the flower pot containing the teki suket was on the west side. My lips fell silent, and no protest was allowed when Dominic planted them under the moon shining dimly in the clouds of night that were struggling around him.

“Bentar, Race. Jerk!” Dominic told me to wait, he watched my face as he walked slowly into the boarding building.

Now I'm piqued, why did he take so long while the garden mosquitoes started to swarm my skin. I scratched my calf while staring at the rambutan tree that was overshadowing me. One by one bitter grow in the places I avoid the most and now the night is too somber to return to the room, coexisting with the memories of Pranata. I decided to change my heart tonight, I'm trying to love your best friend, forget your delusion and the things that almost happened. Although on the other hand in my mind asked after more than two years, do Pranata's parents still hate me for the love of his son that excessive to be forced to let Pranata buried in my village?

Head turned. Dominic flinched while carrying a permanent marker that he threw into the air. Forgive me, his behavior looks like a pinworm! Disturbing, hard to exterminate. But maybe that's the reason, he's enlivening my life more than just the fireworks of the new year and now I'm confused.

Dominic writes with eyes poking, ‘Grass Domi and Rasta, don't be nudged!’ She smiled then, “Udah, Ras. Comein. We stay, he's strong!”

She's she? Strong? I looked up and smiled. Dominic describes who. What does it mean that he describes himself as such a grass? He was strong on the trod, he grew up unsolicited, unfertilized, rained on, heated, and buffeted by the ripples of the situation as he had been through all this time. Or is he describing me? His lover? Geez, why must suket teki that I can meet anywhere. Why aren't edelweiss on top of a mountain that I find hard to spot?

I will metamorphose, I promise to myself as I walk into the house. Dominic closed the door and then pushed both my shoulders cheerfully through the hallway of the hostel full of discordant tones of the singers impromptu. Her singing is frustrating, perfunctory, which is important heart plong. The endless aroma of failure in the submission of the title of the thesis, chapter 1 and so on at these boarding houses.

“Sleep alone first, Race! I'll be with you sometime.” Dominic smiled mischievously. His eyes fell on my lips. “Hi..” He grimaced as I grabbed his shoulder, not a thought has gone anywhere this man.

“Canda, Race. Jokey... Met sleep my girlfriend, fruahaha. Very amused. Oath..” Dominic suddenly shook with excitement along the hallway of the hostel after saying it.

He went into the room without muffling the sound of his laughter that made the other hostess residents protest. I shook my head while holding the doorknob. “Tetap sane, Race. Stay sane. But RSJ is near.”

I went into a room that was dimmed by her sleep lights and now it never dies. I sat on the edge of the desk pushing the door of the room.

With your shadow, Pranata. I'm still awake right now while I know, Dominic must be taking a shower and then having a coffee. Some conditions sometimes make it difficult to sleep and I am one-sided. Here, I tell you the tearing up memories of the inner man who tried to have fun today, Prana.

Will you accept this situation, me and Dominic together until old age? My body has known him for a long time, my eyes have often seen him half innocent but also handsome, and my mind was shaken by the stars as his sincere smile and laughter filled my eardrums.

What about you if we're happy? Sad for sure it must be like this, the pain is not lost for sure but you must be sure I have been able to accept your last request.

***

“Rastanty... Race!!!” My mother screamed from the front of the room window while knocking on her, then before I actually collected my life I had already pushed the window glass with my palm.

“Why, buk? Burjo Pak Deni passing?” sahutku enthusiastic. She flicked her hands in front of her nose. “Hah..” I blew my bad breath into my palms, the smell of a jigong kept me snorting. Mother frowned in disdain as she flicked her hands in front of her face. For a moment his hand pointed down the rambutan tree.

Confused, confused, confused, I went out of the room and quickly darted through the kitchen that was scented opor, hit the guest chair and pulled the main doorknob.

On the terrace, I stared at the white chicken belonging to the next-door neighbor who was still clawing at the ground and pecking at the grass's slender leaves.

“Dominic definitely nelangsa..” I stepped barefoot early in the morning, before six o'clock, driving the chicken away with a flick of my hand. “Tak satay you, just look!” nagelku while squatting. The chicken was in a mess while crowing. Jump the fence and then remove the natural fertilizer to pandan leaves.

I stared at the already awful teak suket on the ground, dirty, messy, maybe lifeless, no longer strong like it.

“Why not put in a room, Dom!” I rubbed my face, “Must find this instead.”

I drove home, took the key of the motor while bringing this two-wheeled vehicle back to the square of the kidul as well as did not forget I brought the pot directly.

Arriving at this place, I parked carelessly. I breathed some fresh air this morning for the first time in my life this crafter picnic among the many people running around, the morning porridge seller and the chicken satay who was issuing a puff of smoke I beg for forgiveness, worship and apologize before pulling a kettle that is somewhat similar to the grass last night.

I hurriedly put it in the pot before this madness was seen by many. After believing this business was faster than Dominic's dream, I returned to the house as chased by traffic police.

I was panting in the yard. Very deg-degan. Directly hungry, in the morning was given a surprise where before I actually pretend to take care of this plant, someone opened the door of the boarding building. I swept the dead teki pot and squeezed it hard and stuffed it into my sleeping pants pocket.

“Ras, have you woken up?” Dominic smiled to see me holding the pot.

I smiled back until my cheeks were stiff. Inwardly I hope, lest he be suspicious of this new grass, lest he know it I have replaced.

“Udah, he. You woke up early?” I asked in a strange tone, my expression was the same. Dominic frowned, “Usually also woke up earlier than you, Ras. Why is your face shocked? I changed? Kangen?”

It's taking away my thinking logic, I forgot, Dominic already understood all sorts of facial expressions.

“Attack, just—cuma..”.

“Rastanty has gone to the kidul square, Dom. Your suket was nudged by a chicken!” I shouted while throwing garbage from the side of the house.

...🖤...