The Eternal Fragments of Moonlight
Chapter 22: Against Destiny

As the only family of flower farmers on Lembari Island, of course my family has all kinds of flowers that can be cultivated in the tropical climate of Indonesia. Only certain flowers that when the order came in, my family had to bring it from outside the island.

One time when my father and I were watering various flower plants in the greenhouse in the garden behind the house, I asked him. I was probably between 7 or 8 years old.

“Pak, why do you want to marry Mom?” At that time I asked after being scolded by Mom for still sleeping on Sunday afternoon.

“Loh, why to le', suddenly you do so?”

“Mother is a fierce person, why do you want the same Mother?”

He was seen putting off his work, then standing while stretching his waist. Then he said to me with a smile that I thought was very peaceful. To the point that I couldn't forget that smile until now.

“You will also understand, when you meet your soul mate later, all the cells in your body will feel vibrating. Because knowing that what you found was your ribs.”

As a snot child, I could only gawk at the words of the Father that I considered at that time very laughable. Hearing you talk seriously is already a thing, then talking about cells? There must be something wrong with the breakfast this morning.

But now, after I had spent nearly four years circling in an endless loop of time, I began to understand the purpose behind the words of the Father at that time.

To be honest, I never felt anything like it, as all the cells in my body were shaking when I met Mira for the first time. At first I only thought of Mira as a beautiful girl who was far from my reach. Even to be able to like it at that time, I did not dare.

I'm not like Mira who immediately felt a love at first sight when she saw Alan, and vice versa. Maybe that's what makes me different from Alan. Maybe, from the beginning Mira was Alan's ribs.

So that as much as I tried to separate them and as hard as I tried to make Mira mine, Alan still eventually regained his ribs. Despite the many timelines I ran, although Laras always helped me with his brilliant ideas, the results remained the same.

"So..." Miss Mustika interrupted me who was telling a story. "The reason you and Laras keep repeating the timeline is to make Mira like you?"

"Yes, and we've never even succeeded." My answer. "It feels like the whole universe itself can always find a way to unite Mira and Alan."

You certainly remember how Laras tried to separate Alan and Mira lately, right? Just imagine, three times he repeated the flow of time alone and always gave provisions every day to Alan. But still what it produces is nil.

Whereas when I could still accompany him on the journey of repeating the previous timeline, he himself was the one who always reminded me by saying.

“Because that's exactly what a soul mate is.” Her speech. “He is one of the three types of destiny that have been determined since the beginning of his dose. As human beings, we cannot change that decree, Aji.”

In addition to the soul mate, you certainly also remember that Laras once said there is another type of destiny that cannot be changed by the decree. A destiny that every human being will meet. A destiny, which leads me to…

The end of my first time.

***

On my first trip, a week before Wiwitan Day, I and Laras conferred in my room. We just had a mission failure. Yes mission moreover, if not a mission to separate Alan and Mira.

"Damn! The end has failed."

"Well, what else." Said the barrel while chewing on his favorite mochi cake. "Who would have thought if Mira's mother would have nongol at school."

"Ughh! I have to take care of this incident!"

I took out a large notebook from the desk drawer. The notebook is a series of notes we both have in the course of time. We call it the "Book of Events".

Since the beginning of time travel, Laras told me to always record events that we consider important. By always arranging the date and time of events in great detail and regularly. The goal is that when we return time again, we can counter measure all the obstacles that face me to get close to Mira.

Shortly after I finished writing in the Book of Events, Laras came to me and put a mochi cake in front of my mouth.

"Yes." He said while putting the mochi on my lips.

"You don't have to do that, we still have another chance." His word. "After we get to Wiwitan Day later we will repeat the time."

I didn't respond to him and kept showing annoyance.

"Hey, look at the positive side. Maybe in the current timeline, we still can't stop them from making it today. But we know what we need to do next. Think of our first trip as a test."

"But still, Ras. It hurts."

"Jy." Jn." He put his hand on my shoulder. "Let's be calm, on our next trip we'll make it."

We also decided to play Play Station to entertain ourselves. This time Laras seemed excited to invite me to play. Though usually he never wanted to if I took to play PS before. The reason is because he is very bad at gaming and of course defeat is the most hateful thing.

"Wow." I'm surprised that Laras just broke into my net.

"1-0! Well suck lo Ji, cemen!"

"Oi, no way... How do you become a gini guy anyway, Ras?"

"Haha, you know, now I have PS at home. If only you doang mah, ah superficial!"

"Anjir, you're belagu." I said while pulling one of his pigtails. I thought he would grumble and get angry. But it turns out he was excited and retaliated.

Two hours later we were finished. Baras pamit went home to Mother who was sewing in the middle room. Then I drove her to the front door to get ready to wear shoes.

As I looked at him who was putting his shoes on, he swerved back at me who was standing behind him on the lip of the door.

"Why again? I'm also playing PS, I'm still doing it."

This whole day Laras has been very friendly towards me unlike her usual one. Therefore I also think that this is the right time my bolt to ask him. Asking the real thing I wanted to say a long time ago.

"Ras, Wiwitan's Day is only a week away. I think we need to make a plan."

I saw him stop his movements immediately.

"Plan? What's for?"

"Yes, load it between 22.00 and 22.05 on Wiwitan Day Mira will be..."

Maidservant!

The barrel slammed his bag onto the floor very hard. Then he stood looking at me who was still surprised to stick to the door.

"There are no plans for Wiwitan Day. All you have to do is stay home until I come."

"Ta, but Mira..."

"Lo promised, Aji! I promise to obey all my orders!"

I was about to reply to her but I was struck by the sound of footsteps from inside the door of the house. This must be Mom. Because only Mom wears flip-flops inside the house.

Within seconds, the door opened and Mom showed up. But by that time Laras had walked away from the fence.