Swipe You, Swipe Me
The Eight of Cups and The Temperance II

Warning: These episodes may result in fear, discomfort and panic. There is no intentional element if there is a similar experience or story. The author from the beginning sets the flow, then does some research recently. Happy reading.

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Tara was stripping while looking at her phone. The pressure level on the job becomes much heavier. Moreover, the countdown emblazoned on the gate entrance is left forty-four days away to the big event held by the company he worked for. Every employee gets more nervous every time he arrives at the office. His brain was already too heavy to digest anything. He switched for a moment to read a funny chat story entitled Mr. Boss, My Online Friend.

"God. The narrator is very strange," Tara's great-grandson as she holds her stomach amusedly.

"God!" Vanka kicked off Tara's desk.

Tara thought Miss Salma did it, so surprised. His phone successfully water diving from his hands then kissed the floor. In the end he finds out that his coworker did that. Sadistically Tara threw a fierce look.

"Woy work, even busy looking at the phone," hardiknya.

Tara picked up her phone and put it on the table. Pinned a wry smile on his lips, "got look Lo, that right pile that finished the input cave."

The pile of documents located on Tara's desk is divided into two parts. The left side is higher than the other. However, the pile of documents on the other hand is also not less. Vanka just grinned at the pile.

"Gua kudu releases tired. Bentar doang, "tara's ink.

"Lu tau ga, job desc all employees at the event already out dong. Cave time became co-host and the host belom know who," complained Vanka.

Tara chuckled, "he said the cave guard part ticket anyway. Thankfully."

"Gua knew it must be Susi's idea," Vanka puffed his cheek.

"Ah, take William away," Edi, uh, an idea suddenly flashed through Tara's mind. Then his face changed. William automatically made him remember Genta. After the day he also went to the police station to give his testimony, he did not know the man's news.

"Why, lu?" vanka asked in surprise because Tara was suddenly speechless.

"Genta News, you know what?"

"Oh, Genta. William said today he can go home, "Vanka glanced at his watch. "It should be from morning."

"Oh," Tara wants to meet him but she remembers Kinanti's mother's message to her. Tara doesn't have any feelings for Genta. Maybe if you want to see him, now is not the right time.

"Fast recovery he, just recovery of broken and fractured bones," replied Vanka. "Lo just look. You guys are still...."

Tara's arm silenced Vanka's mouth automatically. He did not know that the Tara-Genta relationship was at the finish line even before there was an official word between them. Tara herself suspects that they are real in a relationship. His friend never told him more about their relationship.

"Lunch later to Soto Pak De aja yuk, have not watched television for a long time," quickly removed the silent clouds hanging in the sky. Then a wide grin was displayed towards Vanka.

"Ran cave, in your house there's no tipi what?" Vanka shook his head in amazement.

"Ga there, tipi dead cave."

***

"Your medicine has been taken? A jacket? It's still rainy season you know, later you catch wind again there. Supporting documents later I send to your email, sure your internet access. You put the ticket in-"

Rendi stopped the move. He faced the woman who had been walking adjusted her steps and was babbling all the time.

"Sst," Rendi stroked Sofia's arms to keep her quiet. "Silent. Everything you said I prepared. Even that document, I've asked Fitri to give you her hardcopy. I'm ready to go."

"Yes," Sofia muttered. "I'm afraid you forgot something. Because you're going there by yourself. I can't help you if you need to..."

"Sofia, you've helped me with a lot of things. Now let me help myself. After all, if you come along, we both know how tired our work is," Rendi looked at the woman's eyes after goal.

Sofia just kept paying attention.

"So, let this be my way of protecting you," Rendi slowly came to a halt with her words. Enjoy the woman's face until satisfied. "And our son. Okay?"

The woman nodded. Fizzy cheeks. Rendi knew, if she continued to pay attention, the woman would become awkward. She pulled the woman into his arms. He felt Sofia's two tiny hands wrapped around her waist. Slowly stroked the woman's back and landed a light kiss on her head.

"Remember, take care of our son, Sofia," said Rendi tightened her embrace. "I want him to grow up to be someone as tough and as determined as you are."

"Don't forget, we'll go to Rembang after you get back," Sofia loosened her embrace.

"Yes," Rendi smiled. The head of Sofia was swollen.

She hugged Sofia's body. The woman was by his side but he already missed her. Something inside him doesn't want to part. Rendi did not understand, maybe because the fetus that grew bigger in the womb of this woman.

"I love you, Ren," Sofia said softly.

"Thank you, Sofia."

The announcement called the passengers who were going to Manado that afternoon to enter immediately. Sofia looks so heavy taking off her embrace. So did Rendi. They are not very happy to separate. Even when the last project, Rendi did not even say goodbye to Sofia.

"I'm gonna miss you" whispered Sofia.

Rendi muttered and stroked the woman's head again. Slowly released the braid of their hands from their respective bodies. Fixed the position of the backpack on the back and took a few steps back. His eyes were still watching the woman. He was smiling, the smile that was answered by the woman's wave let go.

***

'Welcome to Whale Airways flight. The flight will take five hours and five minutes. Currently the time shows eleven o'clock past teny minutes west Indonesia time. Estimates arrive at Sam Ratulangi airport at seventeen twenty-five Central Indonesia time.'

Rendi comforts her seat while listening to the flight attendant explain the safety completeness in front. It's not the first time he's been on air transport, but somehow he couldn't sleep last night. He decided to spend his sleep until he reached the destination airport. He fastened his seatbelt and let himself be lulled by the sweet voice of the crew.

"Good day to the passengers of Whale Airways" a man's voice echoed across the plane. "This morning Captain Cipto and Captain Arashi will deliver all passengers to Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado. Let us all pray for salvation in a journey that takes five hours and five minutes according to our respective beliefs. Praying is welcome."

Rendi said a prayer in his heart as the fleet took off from the runway.

***

"Copy," Cipto turned off a special connection to the watchtower. Then, he pressed a special intercom with cabin crew in the kitchen. "Ten minutes to go bring black coffee, Alice."

"Ready, Capt," said Alice through an active intercom.

"You want to too?" bargain Cipto on Arashi who is still taking notes in the road board about the data of the afternoon trip.

"The flower has made me," Arashi raised a red coffee tumblr.

"Ah, you newlyweds," Cipto laughed.

"Still enjoying. Don't you, Capt?" Arashi wears his sunglasses because the sunlight in the middle of the day pierces his eyes.

"Well, I've forgotten what it's like to be a newlywed. It feels like decades ago, Arashi," Cipto occasionally activates the levers and panels in the controlling instrument in front of him also above his head. Occasionally he checked the engine indicators and wind speed and the height of the fleet. Then, he contacted the flight supervisor to increase the altitude of his plane and got approval.

The sky of Indonesia was clear today. Clouds are rarely seen at their height. The new Arashi puts its tumblr on a special concave section, drawing its attention to the trim stabilizer indicator as well as the yellow-lit altitude indicator, "Capt?"

"Huh?" Cipto, who saw the direction of Arashi's eyes, also widened his petals. Instantly he straightened his back. "Try you to check the manual."

Cipto began to perform "commands" on the aircraft's controlling instruments. He shifted the lever to try to stabilize the stabilizer trim on the tail, but the lever seemed reluctant to move from what Cipto wanted. Heart's beating.

The sound of the sensor sounds indicates the failure of the system that is working as it should. The siren warning grew increasingly boisterous gripping the two captains. The orange button has turned red. Cipto tried to stay in control but failed. The muzzle of the plane began to swoop downwards. This is no good. The sound of the roar of wind hitting the ship's hull grew louder.

"Capt, we gotta go up. Nose is facing down" said Arashi who opened the manual.

Cipto shuts down the automated system. He began to lift the lever so that the muzzle of the plane was lifted as it should be.

"Capt!" Arashi is confused not knowing what to do. Between observing each monitor, manual or informing the captain next to it.

"I'm trying!"

***

Lelap Rendi was disturbed when around him had started chanting holy verses and special prayers out loud. The plane is shaking violently. From their heads, breathing apparatus appeared and everything hung swayed following the direction of the plane's erratic fuselage.

In a panic attack, Rendi also chanted prayers from her mouth. He looked out the window and the view outside was not what he wanted at all. They don't float straight above the clouds. They are swooping sharply towards the earth.

Sofia...

Astagfirullah, Sofia....

My boy!

In a panic Rendi looked around. Everyone was screaming, crying, praying incessantly. He swallowed his saliva. Is this the end? He gripped the chair firmly until his handbooks turned white. His organs seemed to rise into the esophagus. He's having trouble breathing.

No sound was heard from the crew, only the boisterous passengers who grew louder as the speed of the plane increased following the pull of gravity. His mouth was still constantly chanting the sacred verse as a loud noise from the direction of the cockpit echoed, orange as well as black scrolls of fire and splashes of water hit his window.

"Allahu Akbar!" his screeches.

I'm sorry, Tara.

***

Back again with HeadLine News at one thirty. By Ayuna Prameswari. Viewers, Indonesia again grieved from the Air Transport sector. Whale Air's Boeing 747 fleet was confirmed to have crashed while crossing the Java Sea at around twelve o'clock fourteen local time. The air transport control tower in Jakarta officially announced it had lost contact with Flight 174 departing Jakarta for Manado from eleven o'clock past fifty. The fleet carried eighty-eight passengers along with six crew members on duty. The Basarnas team and the National Committee on Transport K are currently heading to the approximate location where the wreck landed in an emergency search for a black box recording the Fleet's voyage. Here are the names of passengers on the Whale Air departure list this afternoon.

All the busy heads enjoyed the Holy Soto of Mr. De lifted up. No one chews their food. Each eye was fixed on the convex box above the display case. Television ignored by everyone under the tent is now listened to solemnly.

Tara's heart is beating. Rendi had said he would go to Manado in the near future without saying an exact date. Although they are now only as fragments of memories that have occurred in the past, Tara did not expect the name of the man embedded in the convex screen owned by Mr. De.

While the news anchor continued to hum the provisional allegation that the cause of the crash was due to a non-working stabilizer trim, Tara continued to read the five names that appeared in turn. Breath choked. Her hand immediately grabbed Vanka's arm by her side.

Subrata (L/58)

Li Xue - Cen (P/31)

Main Rendi (L/28)

Hannah Martinez (P/22)

Eko Pangestu (L/40)

Then the screen was again changed with other names that entered the passenger list of the flight. Tara's life stopped there. The line of letters left behind as an identifier for the man seemed to be a time-stopping spell. This is clearly wrong. Tara continues to deny the facts that she knows until Vanka changes his hand. His co-worker was equally shocked. Until the news finished airing, none of them raised their voices.

Tara's phone was on, a call came in with Kiara's name on the screen. Slowly pick up the phone and pick it up.

"Tar, Rendi," Kiara's voice was alarmed.

"Yes" he replied in a raucous voice.

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Awaiting likes, comments, criticisms and suggestions dear readers 🥰

NB: The opinion of one of the Dear Reader in the comment column, then with a heavy heart Author releases one of these figures 😌