Rr
07. Meet Him at the Rest Area

“Good, Boss. I'm looking for a rat candidate. Fear of getting stuck again. It's been hours to go home from work.”

Sisca surrendered complete control of Aritonang. The field was long abandoned. He no longer understands the road. Especially the rat road.

Sisca left a heavy burden on the hotel. As soon as the CUV Aritonong car left the hotel gate and turned down Gatot Subroto Street, Sisca's head felt light. It rests the body lightly.

Sisca was still able to turn her head when the car passed in front of her High School. The protective plants that lined up on the edge of the school grounds were like waving hands to him. Sisca smiled obliquely. “Goodbye past,” he said choked.

Sisca was trying to enjoy the trip. But there is nothing to enjoy besides the streets in dense and crowded residential areas. After winding following the small road and circling around, the car moved to the toll road. The road was spacious and relieved. As soon as the car sped quietly without shaking, Sisca felt the weight move to her eyelids. He closed his eyes.

Brought to another world of calm and comfort for some time, Sisca then woke up. “We arrive at rest area, Boss. I filled BBM first,” said Aritonang lowered Sisca in front of one of the restaurants.

It turns out it's night. The lights in the rest area seemed to sparkle with a variety of residents. Accustomed to the two-year Covid-19 pandemic, Sisca put on a mask before entering the restaurant.

Sisca waited for Tonang. He also felt not hungry. It spreads the view. Restaurant guests are quite crowded. There are a few empty tables. All of them are toll road users who are traveling. Use a private car or bus.

Sisca's eyes stopped on a row of left-hand tables near a glass window. A man wearing a hat. He sat alone in front of a long table facing the courtyard. From his seat Sisca only saw the back and the right side of the body.

Heh! Isn't that him? Sisca's eyes were in disbelief. Although the night was illuminated by the lights, Sisca sure was not wrong with his view. He watched more closely. He wears a hat and does not have his hair. Looking at her long face, thin nose and thick black mustache, Sisca did not hesitate with her eyes.

Sisca was not completely sure. It could be someone else who looks like him. Not a few people with very similar faces. How could he be here?

Sisca did not take her eyes off. His face that only looked the eyes upwards made him not afraid to pay attention to the man. Besides, it's a little far away. Sisca was sure the man didn't know he was being noticed.

“Bengong only, did not order food Boss?” usik Tonang who had sat in front of Sisca.

“You alone,” he said shook his head. “Not hungry.”

When the waiter arrived, Sisca ordered some fruit juice. Actually, he refused to remove the mask when eating food. His mind was still about the man in the black leather jacket. He is still looking for ways to see men from the front and up close.

Not yet he got anything, the man was seen standing. The body is quite tall and full. He held a bag and walked off the table. He walked towards the table Sisca sat by the door.

As soon as she saw his face and the way he walked, Sisca cried out inwardly. Not wrong anymore. Indeed he. “Timo!” he said as the man walked to his right. The mask gave her courage.

The man stopped his steps and looked. “Yes, I'm Timo. Who is it?”

Sisca. Reflex his eyes wide while tilting his head.  It's like losing breath. The man smiled. “Sorry, can be opened the mask.”

“Icis! You're Icis right?” the man shouted no less in shock.

Not wrong anymore. Timo is the only person in the world who calls him Icis. School friends, coworkers or family at home if you do not call her Sis, Sisca must be Ika. Icis is a call from Timo.

Timo develops hands and embraces. Sisca was immersed in the arms of the man she was waiting for at the reunion. Tonang bengong heard his manager sobbing in the man's embrace.

After calming the heart of the incredible shock with the meeting in the unexpected rest area, Timo told me his trip was blocked by a collapsed bridge in the Cikampak area, Not far from the border of Riau with North Sumatra. He and hundreds of vehicles stuck in traffic could not move to find an alternative road other than to wait for an emergency bridge to be installed.

“Before I made sure I would attend the reunion,” he assured Sisca.

They both did not believe they could meet. Not at the reunion arena they planned. “Truly a huge boon. It was amazing this encounter,” said Timo who unceasingly showed his excitement.

Sisca also told me about the great reunion. Many friends during High School came. Not a few who come away from Kalimantan and Minahasa because they see the importance and necessity. Sisca also told me about Nadia and Morin. Some of the stories deliberately exaggerated depict the memory of the reunion event to make Timo really feel a loss. Only about him who was uproarious waiting for someone who was not told.

“What else to do in Medan? All have returned to their respective regions,” said Sisca when Timo planned to go to Medan as well.

“Ya, for me to get there?” ask Timo to himself. Timo said he was disappointed not to be able to attend the reunion. He had spent far days glorifying it. He even had a neck dispute with Verina before leaving.

“Kok move to your car?” sisca asked in surprise when Timo told her to move cars.

“I'll take you!”

Sisca explained that she was in a hotel car. “I'm with him. No need to deliver,” elaknya pointed Tonang.

But Timo kept pushing. He persuaded Tonang to go alone. In advance. Simplifying his persuasion Timo thrust two packs of cigarettes at the fat-bodied hotel driver. Tonang chuckled. He immediately jumped in the car.

“My place of residence is still far away,” explained Sisca. Sisca did not mind ushering in Timo. Honestly, he likes. Wasn't meeting this man what she expected? Wasn't this man the one who caused him to excitedly come to the reunion event.

“Tak problems. I'm dropping by to.”

Sisca believes in Timo. But he doesn't believe men are still alone. And he does not want his departure now to Sibae-bae to trigger the heat in his family. The great joy that gushed from the other corner of her heart made Sisca doubt herself with her attitude.

He just drove. Why am I thinking negatively? Why not be grateful for this meeting? Isn't this your own dream?

The night trip on the road that goes up and down and winding makes Sisca's head can not think clearly. Timo's beautiful words are mixed with a typical laugh that keeps Sisca trapped between past memories and future dreams.