Jogja, You & Memories
The 21st Temple

Still about me with first love and Malioboro that is timeless even though now it feels more comfortable walking along the storefront without the need to jostle like before.

I'm pensive now, my awkwardness was inevitable to the point that I had a chance to see people passing by after Pranata asked the question if I wanted to be her boyfriend.

I'm not sure he's serious, why am I of the many girls he meets. Is it because every day we meet, eat the same dishes then sometimes share stories under the rambutan tree to drive away the saturation that comes uninvited? Or because after six months we often visit tourist attractions in Jogja to grow shoots called asmara?

Pranata grinds his cigarette butt on the asphalt. Patiently he convinced me that it was tougher than the first call. “I mean it, Rasty. I like you after we went through a few trips yesterday even though Dominic was among us. Now, I'm gonna tell you. You want to be my girlfriend?” repeat it gently.

I who was clumsy and hesitant received Pranata with a nod of the head. While my palms were wet, my heart kept beating and Pranata's smile made me bow my head.

What is it, hand in hand? Or how? How I am confused. Rastanty—Rastanty, I even think of everywhere, not necessarily Pranata really like you. He could be kidding. Eelah. I want to cover my face with black plastic.

“Yakin, want? Do you like me too, Ras?” whisik Pranata's.

I looked up and my head hit his chin which was too close to my head. “Sorry unintentionally,” I shuffled backwards, stick better to the wall. “So you asked me not to be your lover, I answered want to continue to be like first just be able to date?”

“Rastanty,” Pranata holds his head with both hands as if being frustrated, “you never like the same guy? Was it at your school before? Minimum SMA time?” tanyanya.

“Yes, but not until dating. Why, Pra? Weird?”

“Clearly, Rastanty. How can we be but you do not like me.” he said worriedly.

“Let's love it too, Pre. The important thing is that your joy does not clap one hand and you are also not ashamed to say you like me but I refuse.”

Pranata gave a relieved smile. “Still yes,”

“Iya.”

We smiled with the specks of rain that began to touch our faces as if the universe gave us time to make out. Pranata dragged my hand from what we had been in the parking lot to the middle of the crowded Malioboro store with visitors and sellers who tried to put down sales and themselves from the rush of rain that suddenly flushed this place.

Pranata put both her hands around my neck from behind while I was like a nail stuck in the earth. Pranata immediately claimed I was her lover in front of strangers

“No hunger, Race? Want to eat?” ask him that time instead of asking if I was cold and need his jacket while sometimes blowing hard.

“I'm just afraid later when I get home scolded by you, Pre. I came out just as you did not say goodbye.” I said while holding the dress so as not to be exposed to the wind.

“Let me say!” Pranata propped her chin on my head, “Do you like it like this? Continue to go to campus with what alone, Ras?”

“I don't know, Pre. Only your head weighs.”

Pranata immediately raised her head and then broke her hand which made me instantly relieved to breathe.

“By the way if you are not comfortable with my treatment.” In I looked into his eyes after we stood side by side before nodding. “I'm not sure you really like me, Pre? I think you have the class type of Dominic boyfriends who are taken to the hostels or maybe you're just messing around.”

Instinctively Pranata who knows Dominic also likes me even though not one hundred percent fill my fingers with his finger.

“Me and Dominic are different even though we are friends and because I want to protect you, Ras.”

“From what?” I frowned when Pranata didn't answer, although now that I knew the answer, Pranata protected me from that son of a bitch Dominic who liked me. He protected me from Dominic's playfulness if he had expressed his first liking to a girl like me.

*

*

*

The two friends who accompanied him came out and told me to come in while Dominic suddenly left after putting dominoes on the carpet.

“Not sleeping, Ras?” ask her with a happy tone.

I ruffled my waist with one hand and looked at him sharply. Remembering Pranata and Dominic's attitude in the past I even suspect the man in front of me has been naughty with his ex-girls.

“Ras... Race...” Dominic patted me on the cheek. “You why, hey... Kok suddenly tense himself keep looking for me, kangen?”

“Kangen-kangen baldmu!” I grunt. “I'm here to ask questions with you.” I said ketus.

“Casual, Ras.” Dominic raised both hands, “I'm accused of what, why are you suddenly so fierce at night? What am I wrong?” said calm.

“I can make you remember.” reply me while staring at his room that has never changed since he came here. Dominic's curiosity peaked, he co-spread his gaze the same as mine to his room.

“Search what? Items from Pranata again want you to take?”

“Gak, but you!” I said while looking at him seriously, “Have you ever taken your ex to this room?”

Dominic frowned loudly. “Before I answer honestly, I want to ask Ras first, why did you suddenly ask that? What's your problem?”

“The problem is I don't want to accept the rest.”

“What's there?” dominic asked impatiently. “Jelasin used to mean why you suddenly poked at my past, Ras. I'll answer for sure!”

I know I'm used to having Dominic myself, I'm not sure if now he finds a new friend ‘girl’ out of which group is better than my attitude I'll be fine.

I pursed my lips. “I remember Pranata wanted to protect me from your jerk attitude, so she invited me to date before you were the one I was dating. Now I ask you ever take your girlfriend to this room keep doing that!”

“That?” Dominic smiled faintly but he was silent for a long time. I waited for him to acknowledge while folding both hands.

Dominic smiled, his hands tucking my hair behind my ears.

“I can't change what happened, Race. I never acted beyond the limit. Just a kiss, lap-laps, go on..”.

“Ke what!” my snapping.

“Call, Ras.” said patiently. “Udah dong, not good discuss the past. We have a future that is still opaque you know, do not add new problems.” lamented.

Dominic slipped my hair in the other ear. “Believe yes.”

“But your face isn't convincing, Dom. I can't believe it!”

“Ya is up.” Dominic's lips thinned. “Part of my past in the leverage, wrong yourself curious.”

“Yes I'm just making sure I'm first for you, my fault where?” my mouth is pouting, “Dominic is not exciting, sebel.”

“Mistake again, wrong continue.” Dominic held both of my arms before I tried to turn around. “I've brought Princess here, satisfied?”

PLAQUE.

I slapped her cheek before stepping on her foot hard. “Good!”

...🖤...