Swipe You, Swipe Me
The Judgment and The Ace of Cups

Two days the bench was empty. There was no news from the bench owner for two days. Ms. Salma was scouting herself for information she knew about Tara's absence. Vanka also nil info until this morning there is a woman came to the office and got access to meet with Miss Salma.

Vanka recognized the woman who was none other than Tara's close friend. He had seen her pick up Tara several times or was in one of her new social media publications. Vanka believes, the news brought Tara friend was not a pleasant info because he found Salma several times shook his head concerned if passing through the Tara cubicle.

On the other hand, tonight is new year's night. Tara obviously can not be invited to count down the years that will pass, but William was not in the news for a week. Actually it is not entirely William's fault, sometimes he greeted through a short message, but Vanka chose to silence.

There is a fear that attacks Vanka's mind if he is already in an intense relationship, he will begin to withdraw consciously. Only one reason he did it, he didn't want to get sick if they weren't together. But doing so has hurt her heart. Vanka wondered if this was normal?

Vanka, tonight go to the YouthRadio party. I'll pick you up at 9?

He only reads it from the notification on the phone without opening the message. The only plan was to think, after returning from office he immediately took the first commuter to Depok, his parents' home. Vanka misses William, but his fear makes him let go of the pain of his heart.

***

Many times Rendi changed the target phone on her phone, switching between Tara and Kiara. Some of him had thought to have it, no need to think back. But because he saw Tara's condition that night, half of him worried.

"Ren," a hand landed on his shoulder.

"Yes" he answered.

The woman leaned against her desk, "later that night when we went to Ancol. It must be fun to see fireworks on the beach."

Rendi leaned her back on the chair and seemed to think, not bad also go there and it seemed like she had not been to the beach for a long time. Although sometimes BNB or homestay is done close to the sea.

"Not just with me, really," Sofia added. "So Benu took an office colleague but you didn't seem to notice. Is there something on your mind?"

He looked at Sofia's eyes, there was no way he could say that his mind was being disturbed by Tara's condition. Not afraid of hurting her, it's just that Sofia doesn't need to know anything about Tara.

"No, we have no agenda. Count me in!" answer Rendi.

"Take it! I was thinking how boring it would be tonight if you didn't come along, by any chance..." Sofia paused for a moment and seemed to weigh in on something.

"What coincidence?" ask Randy to wait.

"Ah, no. I just miss you, once Banu sent you alone to Surakarta early on in the month" Sofia said spoiled.

"You could have," whereas Rendi did ask to be sent there alone.

"OK," Sofia glanced at her watch. "I was waiting for an email from the painting vendor, I better get back to my desk. See you."

Sofia looked different, before her footsteps were too far away Rendi called out to her.

"What's wrong?" Ask when looking.

"Don't eat too much, you look a little fat" she said, seeing Sofia as more full-fledged than usual.

"Be, really?" for a moment Sofia was silent without looking at him, then she smiled. "Let's start next week with me jogging then."

***

"Tumben you're even home for the new year gini," Bianca, Vanka's mother, is preparing a barbeque seasoning because Vanka tau is coming home tonight. "Nearly mama thought will burn corn both again as papa kayak last year."

"Mama's part why don't you go where, that is," Vanka plucked a fresh cucumber piece at the table.

"Well, if you go to Bali or to Japan, you are the same brother where delicious, pacing both doang equally papa." Bianca smears steak meat with marinade seasoning and then stores it to be more absorbed into the meat.

"Arang is ready, yes" Maulana, papa Vanka, shouted from their small courtyard in the back. "Roast everything."

"Ih, the Papa distance is a loud noise," Vanka raised a plate containing shrimp and satay that has been seasoned by his mother. He stepped over while carrying some of their barbeque appendages.

"Biarin, defeat the neighbor's son who again blew the trumpet. Later that afternoon papa nanya you want to buy trumpet what do you want, diem aja," Maulana looked at her daughter while holding a cooking claw, waiting for the shrimp that she had to burn on the stove.

Vanka thrust the plate to be burned by his father, "If papa nawarin was twenty years ago yes I would have been excited."

"Hehehe, are you old, papa now?" Maulana joked and put the entire contents of the plate containing fresh shrimp to be processed.

"Why dana there are the elders, I wonder even how not changed from the first, what skincare,pa? ade's times can come along, "vanka Vanka's tease.

"Papa join has your mama" Maulana joked to her daughter as she winked.

Bianka who was carrying other dishes from inside the house heard the conversation of the two people, "mama's night cream pancakes quickly run out. Buy it again tomorrow, pah."

"Well, this is not exciting, if the problem of direct bills papa hit," Maulana was uprooted and raised the shrimp that had matured.

Vanka stepped to the table to pick up the steak meat that had been seasoned by her mother.

"Sir, don't you want to invite your friend who's that cake? I think if we spend it all, tomorrow morning no one can wake up because of cholesterol," mom started pouring champagne contents on the legged glass at the table.

"Udah on all shows," Vanka replied briefly and then passed the steak to the grill area.

"So you're the one who doesn't have an event?" tanya Maulana received the plate containing the meat. The fire started licking as he put it on the stove.

"Honest, Vanka already has the same event you know, hahahahahahah" Vanka automatically hugged his father.

"Can, yes," Maulana returned her child's embrace with her free hand and kissed her head.

***

The wind blows. Restaurants on the beach are crowded with visitors who throng. Share time at the last minute at the end of the year. Just like at their table, Imagine co. side by side celebrated a year gone by.

"Guys, remember our condition at the end of last year, we completed only fifteen interior design projects and a handful of commercials," Banu began his remarks that night, everyone at the table nodding solemnly.

Rendi also remembered how often he told stories or said to complain to Tara how difficult the office got new projects. Even threatened many employees who are in PHK because of lack of funds to pay. But by the end of the year, everyone is ready.

"Hm, Des, how much has our cooperation increased in this year?" ask Banu.

"We're having dinner, Nu," said Desta.

But everyone at the table was just thinking about what Desta said just now. They know, because they want in any situation for the percentage of their work, he will mention it as he called his home address.

"For the field of Multimedia and Advertising we are up 145 % of our performance last year while from Interior Design we increased about 205 % are friends!!" bright Desta screech.

Everyone is getting boisterous when they hear about the percentage increase in the company's work by the end of this year. It is not free they are tired and sometimes forget the family at home. Sofia and Rendi exchanged tos at the table, how tired their work in a year really looks.

Banu smacked his glass with a spoon until all fell silent, "If you remember, we started with Gue, Rendi, Desta and Imron, who now Imron had already pulled first. Then add up with all of you at this table. Gua, personally, very grateful for your presence," Banu's face flushed. As if overwhelmed by his own words.

Everyone muttered that their cooperation as co-workers was also the role of Banu as the owner of the company who led them well.

"Then," Banu raised his hand dramatically, he sucked a little mucus in his nose. "Let's celebrate tonight" Banu held up his glass high.

Everyone at the table followed and raised their glasses.

"For the sake of progress Imagine co. in front!!!" exclaiming Banu followed by the entire table. The sound of clanking glasses, laughter and jokes settled on the dining table.

***

Vanka picked up a bottle of champagne in the storage cabinet. The cell phone he placed close to the kitchen table lit up. Call of William 33. Vanka patted her forehead. Hugging the champagne bottle he raised the call.

"Vanka, you don't want to talk to me anymore?"

"Hey, I just found out it's a new greeting," he tried to melt the mood. It is undeniable that his smile rises from the right to the left ear. He's already be his favorite man right now.

"I'm serious, Vanka. Did I make something wrong?" ask William a little annoyed.

Nope, the one who should to be blame is me. he said in his heart.

"I'm still on the radio and I'm still waiting for you to respond to my call" he said.

"Watch the show, William," replied Vanka.

"I can't enjoy something that I should be able to share with you, come on. You answer yes and I'll pick you up" he said solemnly.

"I'm not in the apartment, Wil. I'm at my parents' house" Vanka thought there was no way Willian would reach it if he agreed. They'll run out of time on the road.

"Just say yes and I'll be in your place before 00.00," Vanka glanced at the clock in her living room, 23.07 wib. He kidding? But in his little heart, he roared longing for the figure of the sweet man and wanted him to come.

"Can you bring amer here?" instead of just answering yes, Vanka better ask him to bring something here. Because he brought martabak to his parents at this hour, no one sold anymore.

"Send your location, yes" William asked. The phone connection was cut off, leaving Vanka in his own heartbeat.

William, he's a good guy even though they're different ages where William is younger. William never stated to step into a more serious relationship and if Vanka had to answer, he had not thought of having a family. However, if he has to have a committed relationship that he fears is a parting word.

Coins always have two sides, heads and tails, meetings and partings, together or apart. If he decides to be together, he must also accept that he will be separated. Vanka doesn't like that.

"Dek, where? Your father is thirsty" call Bianca from the back garden.

Vanka nodded, "iya bentar, ma." He saw a mobile phone screen that displayed the time.

If you come before twelve less ten, I'll take a risk for us.

***

"Ren, there's something I want to talk about," Sofia cleared her throat. They were sitting together on a reef far from the pounding sea. In the sky, one or two fireworks have broken the depth of the night with a variety of colors.

Rendi turned her head and smiled, "I think we've been talking since, Sofia. What's the matter?"

"There's something you need to know and give to you" Sofia reached into her bag.

***

Did!

The sound of the horn stopped the old-boy joke on the garden table. Vanka activated the screen. 23.48 Wib. It can't be!

"Let's open the door, ma" he said, holding Bianca's hand as he watched Bianca begin to move.

"You invited your friend?" maulana asked and threw a questionable expression at his wife.

"We'll see" said Vanka while half-running to the front door. He was like a child smiling happily because he was given sweets.

***

"Gift?" Rendi stared at the long flat, cream-colored box with a red ribbon on it. Sofia has never given a new year's gift so far. "Ah, sorry I didn't prepare anything."

The box rolled into Rendi's hands, she stared at Sofia's late-goal. From behind them, people began to shout counting down the number of seconds from the year they were about to leave.

"Open up" said Sofia, turning her eyes to the sky, waiting for the crackling of fireworks that floated, exploded, shimmered and disappeared in the wind.

Three.., uh...,

Two.., though...,

One....

Randy opened the box.

"Happy new year, Dad," said Sofia.

***

"Happy new year!!!" exclaim four people in the park while pulling the confetti tube rope until the contents shot momentarily into the air and fell down like leaves from a molten tree. Their background, the boisterous sound of trumpets and fireworks are mutually speechless.

"Happy new year" Bianca, Maulana and Vanka exchanged hugs and kisses.

"Happy new year William too, often play here, do not go to my son's apartment," joked Maulana.

"Hehehe, yes om, attempted," William chuckled.

"Where are you taking Vanka to for the new year?" bianca asks nosy who finally gets a poke from Vanka on her elbow.

"Vanka wants to recognize me to Om and Aunt, he said, so my invitation was rejected outright," he said, then smiled ignorantly at the glaring Vanka.

"Oh, pantes," Bianca smiled at her daughter.

"You guys slow down, don't rush. I'm not ready yet" said Maulana, who apparently had a hard time cutting her steak. "Duh, this is too mature what is it, anyway?" he quickly wiped his eyes.

"Ah, papa," Vanka hugged his father.

"Drink first, Om," William poured the wine he had brought into the legged glass.

Vanka and William exchange smiles, they know the universe gives a green light to both of them.

***

"This..., are you pregnant?" Rendi took out that thin, two-striped thing.

"Yes, there is no other man besides you, I have sex" Sofia said lightly. However, his chest rumbled as the crumbling fireworks exploded in the sky.

Rendi just looked at the pregnancy test kit in silence. Sofia had no idea what she was thinking. It's been making him nervous all day. In his mind, he was curious about Rendi's reaction. But at this time, he instead wanted to return the time and let the small object be safe in his bag without Rendi having to know.

"You will be, father," Sofia squeezed out Rendi's arm, which was still staring at the device. "I'll take care of her, forever."

Joints turned his head, his face filled with a look of regret and guilt. This should not happen to Sofia, the future of the woman is not in her hands. As if struck by lightning, he realized that he himself made Sofia get a two-bodied verdict. He doesn't even think about having a family anytime soon. His heart was broken in the past.

"Are you sure? Your career is still long, Sofia," said Rendi.

"What's happier for women? Soaring treasures and careers or being a mother can teach her child to be a useful human being?" Sofia held onto him and looked at his stomach. " I chose the second one."

Rendi hugged Sofia. He hugged because of widespread guilt like mushrooms on stale food. "I'm sorry, Sofia. I'm destroying you."

Sofia pushed him away, then looked at Rendi with eyes of disbelief. He doesn't even think he's broken, but he's whole. But look at the baby's father...

"In here flows your blood, Rendi. Are you aware?" Sofia pointed at her stomach and waited for a reply from Rendi.

Rendi just looked at that stomach. What he felt was too jumbled, between guilt and surprise. But he found no happiness in it.

Sofia riled up, "Jeez, Rendi. I didn't expect you to be like this. I think his presence can change your mind. I came back wrong."

Sofia grew disappointed, leaving Rendi alone on the reef. He looked back at the pregnancy test kit, shouldn't he be happy? But he felt an incredible void.

Slowly put the little thing inside and closed the box.

"What have I done?" he murmured at the fireworks and the perfectly round moon that night.

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