My Hate, the Water of His Eyes (The End of A Taste)
Don't Go

Clamps!

Since the quarrel in the morning Syera locked herself in the room. It was only in the afternoon that he came out. He circled his gaze throughout the room, not seeing Leo anymore.

The door to Leo's room was open and there was no Leo in it. Usually on weekends like today, Leo rarely goes out of the house. If there is no need or urgency, he will only spend his time resting and reading company reports.

The smoke of the soup that had been steaming earlier this morning was no longer there. The soup was cold and untouched. Syera sighed and reheated the already cold soup.

Where'd he go?

Syera could not guess where Leo was now. He was so uninspired and daydreaming with a blank look.

Ting!

The sound of incoming messages on his phone resuscitated Syera from her daydream. One message came in from Fandy, reminding Syera not to forget their promise a few days ago to meet at the weekend and that is today.

Syera replies to Fandy's message saying that she hasn't forgotten and will meet Fandy outside tonight.

Feeling hungry Syera took a little rice to fill her empty stomach. Since morning Syera had only eaten a piece of fresh bread and a cup of warm tea before Leo woke up and now he felt very hungry.

While eating Syera kept thinking of Leo. He was worried that something was going on out there with him considering how Leo was doing this morning. Syera is increasingly worried because Leo does not eat breakfast, he is afraid that Leo also misses his lunch which can lead to a recurrence of stomach acid.

..........

Wearing all-black clothes and sunglasses a man stood near a vortex. He hadn't been there long enough. It seems like it has been more than five years since he last visited his papa's tomb.

While abroad he secretly returned to Indonesia a day just to see the tomb where the name 'Bayu Suntama' is written on his tombstone.

"Hi, pa?" greet Leo on the gravestone in front of him. "Hahaha.. papa must be angry because I just came back now, right?" leo laughed a little.

Leo finally sat on the left side of his papal headstone, long enough he kept silent saying nothing.

"Hem... Leo didn't bring flowers, pa. Sorry I'm not as good as papa's other son."

Leo went back to silence and looked up at the sky. He smiled at the bright sky.

"It would be better to be there."

The look on Leo's face turned grim followed by the head that he subdued. Leo laughed again as his tears flowed.

"Do you know, now Leo is like a very crybaby child. I don't know, Leo doesn't know why lately Leo's tears are so easy to come out. Looks like there's a problem with my eyes, maybe I should see an eye doctor as soon as possible."

Leo wiped his tears without taking off his sunglasses.

"Sorry."

Leo's body trembled as he said an apology, trying to restrain himself from breaking his cry.

"Why should she be papa's daughter? Of the many girls why should she, pa?" ask Leo a hiccup. "What's because Leo's been so mean to him all along, if that's why that feeling comes, pa? Why does Leo feel it?"

"Just like, papa must hate Leo too, right? Only a crazy person has the feeling that Leo is feeling right now. I think it's like that. An older brother falling in love with his younger sister, sounds so horrible it sounds disgusting" Leo said, laughing at himself.

"If you were alive today, you would have killed Leo, wouldn't you?"

Leo laughed, but his tears did not stop flowing. The day was getting late but Leo seemed to still feel at home next to his papa vortex. Shut up, talk, shut up, talk, that's what Leo does all the time.

"Pa, papa's daughter is very beautiful and Leo really likes her. Not just Leo, pa. Fandy, papa's other son also likes papa's daughter. Fandy was always there for her and made her laugh whereas I could only make her cry and be scared."

"Pa?" Leo sobbed with his head lowered, he could no longer hold anything that filled his chest. Leo can no longer control his emotions.

"This once, pa. Leo knows this is wrong but can I be selfish just this once? Can Leo make one more mistake by loving him, pa?"

The sunny afternoon sky had changed with the high afternoon sky. Leo stood up, not knowing how long he had been sitting there and not knowing.

"Leo's home, pa. Sorry Leo has nowhere else to say this. Next time Leo will come with papa's favorite flower and bring him along with Leo to see papa."

..........

Syera was getting ready to go see Fandy. At first they will go together but there are important things that Fandy must do and ask Syera to meet him to the address that Fandy had told him.

Seeing the clock on the wall makes Syera more worried because Leo has not yet gone home. Leo is not a child, but a situation that worries him.

It's been half seven nights, finally Syera decided to just go meet Fandy, so she won't think of Leo again.

Clamps!

"Sister Leo?"

Suddenly Leo opened the door and entered with a face so tangled.

Why are his pants dirty?

Syera noticed the traces of soil clinging to Leo's jeans. It was like Syera asked Leo where he was from but Syera held him back.

"I'm going out, maybe a little late coming home" Syera told reporters.

Leo watched Syera from top to bottom, the girl was so neat and beautiful despite wearing only casual clothes.

Fandy? Yeah, of course, there's only Fandy on your mind.

"Are you still going if I forbid it?"

"I'll keep going. Just like Leo's brother, he's also my brother."

As Syera passes Leo, she will soon leave fearing Fandy is waiting for her for too long as they promise to meet at seven in the evening.

"Don't go."

"She has to go."

"But I'm asking you not to go" beg Leo.

Syera turned to look at Leo who was holding her hand.

"I beg you not to go" Leo asked softly.

"Would you take a bath, Leo's brother is so messy like this."

Leo frowned biting his teeth, holding his right abdomen enduring the pain. Syera noticed him but still refrained from asking.

"I'm leaving" said Shera.

Leo still wants to hold Syera but the pain in his stomach makes Leo not strong to chase after him. Like there are thousands of fingers that are pinching Leo's stomach not to mention the pain that accompanies it.

Leo knows his stomach acid is currently relapsing because he has not eaten anything all day. He was looking for a drug that he usually consumed when relapsing but unfortunately the drug was exhausted. Leo recalled that during his stay with Syera, his stomach acid never returned before today.

Nausea and dizziness make Leo's view unfocused. He went to the bathroom and pulled out his vomit. Leo needed warm water, he immediately got up but because of the overwhelming dizziness made him fall on the bathroom floor and unconscious.

..........

"Sorry, I'm late, brother."

"No, really. Fandy's brother also just got out ten minutes ago," Fandy replied lyingly.

"Why is the restaurant empty? Usually if we come here must be rame especially on weekends like this," spread his eyes on the empty tables.

Syera felt strange because the customers of the restaurant where they were now were just the two of them.

"Not to think about it, because it's just the two of us then just think of us again dating."

"Dating?"

"Yes, why? You don't like that word?"

"Superficial, brother."

"There's nothing weird, we better eat first."

A waiter serves appetizers. As she fed Syera's mouth she remembered Leo. He thought that Leo had eaten by now. The second dish which was their main menu tonight followed after the appetizer ran out.

Leo's shadow when frowning and holding his belly left Syera unfocused as Fandy spoke to her.

Did the stomach acid recur?

"Sheera?"

"Y-yes, brother?"

"Why are you daydreaming?"

"No, brother. The food's good."

"really? Then eat it."

Fandy looked at the waiter on duty, nodding his head giving the code to serve the last menu, which was dessert.

The shadow of Leo's face could not leave from Sera, making him even more worried. Even the dishes served cannot be enjoyed properly.

The waiter came and put the dessert on the table. A pudding with an ice cream top. Before leaving the maid nodded at Fandy, giving meaning to already doing what Fandy had asked.

"Let's eat-"

"Sorry, brother. Sherah has to go home," interrupted Fandy's words.

"But we haven't"

"But I have to go, brother."

Shera stands up but Fandy holds her back.

"You can go but after dinner this is over."