My Hate, the Water of His Eyes (The End of A Taste)
A Beautiful Place

Hugs and tears become evidence of pent-up longing. A longing that can only be spoken in the heart, a longing that is difficult to be spoken by the lips but now that longing has met with his love.

Here, where many people pass by Leo and Syera satisfy the longing in hugging friends tears.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I kept you waiting so long. Sorry for making you cry. I'm sorry to disappoint you because I suck at this" said Leo.

In the arms of Syera just sobbing vent emotions that he had been longing for Leo.

Today, the Syera hallucinations have finally come true. He often heard Leo calling him, as if Leo was around him and passing by from before him. That is why Syera was not sure beforehand if Leo stood before her and called her name.

Tin-tins...

The sound of the car horn resuscitated Leo and Syera who were hugging on the side of the road in view of the pedestrians passing by them. Things that are commonly seen when abroad but will be taboo when in their own country. Leo restrained Sera as she was about to take off her embrace.

"Come on, bro!" ben exclaimed from his car. "You don't plan on spending a lot of time here, do you?" reprimanded Ben showing the situation they are in at the moment.

Leo saw Syera still in his arms. Without asking Leo took Syera into Ben's car and did not take off Syera's hand.

"Hi's pretty?" greet Ben as soon as Syera is in the car. "I'm Ben."

Syera felt she had seen the man who greeted her and her distinctive voice.

"Yes. We met once, even though only once. I know what you think is beautiful" Ben said.

As Syera alleged, she had already met Ben. Syera replied to Ben with her smile.

"You're so lucky, bro. She's really beautiful" said Ben teasing Leo over Syera.

True what Ben said to Leo earlier, it is not difficult for a man to fall in love with Syera. Now Ben feels interested in Syera but certainly it is only in his imagination to be able to have Syera.

"OK, let's go! I'll take you to a place where you might carve a story."

Ben started the engine of his car and drove to where he meant.

In the back seat Leo continued to clasp the hand of Syera and looked at the girl's face. Leo could understand what Syera felt to make her not say anything from now on. Even so, feeling the palm of Syera welcoming his grasp is enough for Leo.

"You can assume I don't exist. I'm gonna pretend I didn't see anything in the back. Just relax, bro."

Leo concluded a smile, as if Ben knew his heart while Syera was still silent in Leo's arms. Sera feels awkward because there is Ben, he pulls his body a little away from Leo.

"It's okay, come here."

Syera brought Leo back into her arms. The long hair of the slightly messy Syera tidied up Leo and wiped away the remaining tears at the end of Syera's eyes. Slowly Leo's hand stroked the soft cheek of Syera.

If Leo is busy stroking the cheeks of Syera and looking at the girl's face then it is different from Syera who is now wondering where Ben will take them.

The car is away from the city and Syera does not know where Ben is going.

Syera's phone rang, she reached into her coat pocket and saw Fandy's name on her phone screen. Syera would pick up her phone but she was also confused as to what to say. There is no way Syera says if he is currently with Leo especially now he is being taken away somewhere.

The direction of Leo's eyes is also fixed on the phone screen in the hands of Syera. Leo's face changed drastically, he realized that this year Syera was in the supervision and reach of Fandy. This year, Leo did not know how Syera and Fandy lived in the country. Leo was worried and afraid, and he really did not want another farewell to Syera.

Syera's handphone gets a call from Fandy, with Leo slowly taking the phone from Syera's hand and deactivating it. Leo and Syera had a moment to look at each other after the phone died. Syera looked back, where she and Fandy lived this year was already far from their current position.

"Sheera?" call Leo cupped Syera's face so as not to look back. "Syera, look at me. Let's see," said Leo insisted if there was him in front of Syera.

Syera looked at Leo's face, then looked at the street where Ben was taking them. Leo doesn't know and doesn't think about where Ben will take his car, Leo just trusts Ben.

Although it has been a year but Syera has never passed the streets they are going through at this time. There were already many places he visited with Fandy but this time made Syera very curious. It had occurred to Syera if they were going to the airport to return to Indonesia but the assumption was wrong because the road they passed was getting away from the city.

Ben stopped his car and stretched both hands after driving for a long time.

"Yup! We're there, bro!" exclaim Ben.

Ben gets out of the car followed by Leo and Shera.

"Well..... I miss this place so much. How, do you like this place, bro?" ask Ben to Leo who didn't take off Syera's hand.

"Is there a place like this in the world?"

The beautiful scenery in front of the eyes makes Leo so admire the nature of God's creation. All this time he only knows work and work, then since there is Syera present in his heart then his days are more colorful, not monotonous and boring with office affairs.

"Hey pretty, have you ever been to this place?" ask Ben to Shera.

Syera shook her head, there were many beautiful places in the country but Syera had never been to where Ben took her and Leo. Syera only knows a glimpse of the place from social media.

"I thought!" flicking his finger was proud because he was the first person to introduce the place to Leo and Syera.

"How is it, beautiful isn't it?"

Green scenery is so dominating with clean lakes, mountains and not so many houses. The air is so cold because it has entered in the winter period. The atmosphere is very calm and feels like a fairy tale.

All three enjoy the beautiful work of the almighty creator.

Ben eventually returns to Leo and Shera behind him. He opened the trunk of the car and took out two large plastic bags with various contents inside.

"Come, the air's getting colder and the day's getting darker too."

Leo and Shera follow where Ben leads them. Ben took out a key from his pocket to open the door in front of him.

"Is this your home?" ask Leo.

"No. I live in an apartment with a co-worker and it's not far from the embassy."

"Then this?"

Ben invites Leo and Syera into the house.

"Look easy. This is the home of a couple. Her husband is here but his wife is Indonesian. They're not here. They're exploring the country while visiting their children."

"Do you know them?"

"Not only know, I've been like a child to them. Didn't you see that one, bro? I have the keys to this house, too. They're an elderly couple, three children are the result of adoption. I knew them the first time I went to this place alone without a friend. I needed refreshing to calm my mind, as I searched for an inn to accidentally meet his wife. And I don't need to extend it any longer you'll already know the continuation of the story. She and her husband asked me to stay at their house especially when they found out I was Indonesian" Ben explained.

"You're lucky to know them" Leo said.

"It's not just me but you're lucky, the proof is you're here now."

"Your words are right, Ben. Thanks."

Two plastic bags in his hand put Ben on the table and carried them around every corner of the house.

"Look easy and think of it as your own home. If it's so cold you can light a fire there."

Ben showed me a fireplace complete with firewood nearby.

"Enjoy the atmosphere of this place, do not waste an opportunity that may only come once in life. Who knows what will happen tomorrow, so make the most of your time."

"You alone?"

"Well, I'm leaving. I also have to enjoy this short life. I can't be here and waiting for you two" joked Ben.

"Thanks, Ben."

"No, don't say it" Ben told Leo. "Hey beautiful, I'm going first," winked at Syera.

..........

Leo and Sera remained, both in silence on the cold night. Syera stood still, she remained silent and did nothing. Their mood becomes very awkward when there are many things they want to say to each other.

"I-i-i"

"Ngh... I miss you," Leo sidestepped.

When Syera had just issued one word with a stammer Leo had hugged her from behind. Circling his hands around his waist and dropping his head on the shoulders of Syera, inhaling deeply the scent of the girl's body.

"I miss you, Sherah. Don't you miss me? Are you mad at me?"

Syera shook her head at what Leo asked her.

"Sheera?"

Leo took off his embrace and turned Syera's body to face him.

"Shera, I love you so much."

Leo's gaze was so sincere when he said love to Syera. Leo could not help but do something on the lips of Syera who had been an opium for him.

Now both of them give up longing, even Syera who used to only receive Leo's lips has now returned the fondness without having to be asked by Leo first. Syera slipped her hands in a coat Leo wore and hugged her tightly as her head looked up to reply to Leo's increasingly demanding kiss

..........

Dear reader...

Some people know and can guess now what country they are in?