Jogja, You & Memories
Seventh Temple

My mother and father put on a smile while looking at me with twinkle in the eye who was looking at me lovingly after I told him about the places I went to while away from home. I am free to share my story with those who are as fast as possible until the sun really shines light across the vastness of the horizon.

It seems that my struggles and my sorrows they felt as heavy as I felt when Pranata was gone. Lukaku became their wound, evil was me, but if I did not leave the house I was even worse at those who had to face my behavior at the level of frustration.

“Now rest first, Race. Mom wants to keep cooking.” Mother looked at the plastic content I was carrying, she smiled as she slowly nodded.

“You're actually not going home to?” hatchling.

Didn't intend to make my mother think again would present me here. I shook my head quickly.

“I'm just lacking prepare, Buk. Not the intention.”

My mom and dad took a breath. “What matters is that you have come home, healthy, your father and mother want you in this house when we are old.”

I nodded even though my soul refused. For years I stayed in my room, next to the Pranata's room which he had lived in for five years without pause. Lots of memories in this house. But I could not leave again when I found my father's tired eyes, wrinkled to look at me confidently and it had an impact on my work.

I remembered how angry they were with me when I wanted the house to be sold so the three of us could go together. I was angry when I hit the table.

“Keep if this land our selling father lives where, Nduk? Ngawur you.”

“Buy housing in the suburbs, Sir. I don't want to stay here anymore, Pranata doesn't exist!”

“What do you consider your father and mother, Rastanty?” sentak. His jaw hardened, his hand clutching the edge of the table with the body leaning towards me.

I looked at my father. The attitude of loss that was enveloped in anger made my mind narrow. I went to my room and put my clothes in my bag and left the house with my hysterical mother crying.

“Rastanty, Race... Where are you going, Nduk?” my mother shouted the last time I heard before I got out of the house on a Pranata motorcycle.

***

I flinch in front of my room. I don't know what to do when Mom flicks her hand, asking me to open it and attach myself to the mattress that was once a silent witness of me and Pranata breaking down while counting the glow-in-the-dark star stickers we bought and put together during the rain above the precariousness was preoccupied with eliminating our naughtiness before he fell asleep beside me. Tired of counting the obvious stars a hundred in number.

“Log in, Race. It's okay.” persuade mom with a smile.

“Yes, buk.” I held the doorknob with a thumping heart. Pranata Pamungkas is a broken needle in my mind, his figure is still hovering and still haunting my mind especially when having free time, but good me, I am, mom and dad didn't talk about it when the three of us looked at each other.

I took a short breath before lowering the doorknob.

“Prana.” call me when I open the door carefully. But my eyes were surprised by a lump of human flesh still intact with a soul and breathing quietly coiled under the blanket.

“Dominic.” My heart was shocked not to play.

“In the day of arrival, Race. Missed the train he said.” exclaimed mother.

Kontan I lowered my semi carrier bag from my back while hitting it many times. Zvartin, rasain.

Dominic was engulfed with an unflattering expression. “Rasta. Hey beautiful,” His smile is glaring lazily.

Dominic's hand is outstretched. “My stomach hurts, Race. Really mule.” I pulled my best friend's hand, helped her sit down. Mastered by drowsiness and a lot of shock, he fell silent while working on his eyes before yawning widely.

“Oath, Race. You know how it feels to be unsatisfied in the toilet. That's so weird, it's not comfortable!”

I ruffled my waist, my father and my mother were not so shocked and speechless when I came home and who I was with on my escape.

“Ya is out now. I'm so fucking bad, Dom. It was hard to sleep last night.”

“Sik!” (Shortly) Dominic held my hand that was about to clean up his things. I'm staring.

“Why?”

“Where were you last night?”

“Hostel near station!”

“Oh my God, I thought you'd run away again, Ras. I panic you don't have time I get here.” Dominic said worriedly while looking at me loosely. “How do you feel now?” He took my hand off while standing up.

I'm slicking my shoulders. My collection of feelings in this house is difficult to describe but I am strong. The first child, the only girl, was invited to consider things long, heavy and great. The move on business just takes time and I keep naming this house.

“There will be a way to be happy, Dom. I just haven't been able to find a way.” I smiled as I packed his things. “Out sono.”

Dominic's foot stepped up after receiving my jacket, hat, and bag from me before turning around in the doorway. “Move move on deh, Ras.” advice. “I'm afraid.” he explained sadly.

“Fear why?” many wonder.

“You're a spinster!”

“DOMINIC!!!” I took off my shoes and threw them. The shoe floated up and hit his back. He complained loudly while picking up my shoes that were stranded on the floor.

“Is this Cinderella's shoe? But kok..” Dominic sniffed it while throwing it with a disgusted expression, “Your shoes resemble rotten fish, Rastanty.”

My eyes widened, the thirty-five-year-old man was clearly beating the drums of war at a time when my mood was melancholy. “Campret!” I swept my shoes and gawked into the room while tightly closing the door. “Prana, why would you leave me to your koplak friend. Did you forget what Dominic was like?”

I stroked the wall that separated us when angry, friendly and desperate.

“If I dare break into this wall with a hammer to see your relics scattered in there, Pre. I'll do it, Prana. But I'm afraid of my father.”

“What is the use of the door, Rassss!!!” Dominic's laughter made the room crowded, he was so excited that my ears heard it. I opened the door, eager to take out my swearing but Dominic was my faithful solace with his lips slaluing a smile.

“Kok no ranting, Ras?” he asked in wonder while tracing the look of my face.

I hugged her briefly before returning to my room. Dominic looks shocked and then bangs on the door.

... 🖤...