The Eternal Fragments of Moonlight
Chapter 4: Cultural Festivity

On Lembari Island, every year there is a festival parade followed by all islanders from various circles. Including the students there. The day on which this cultural festival is held is called “Witan” Day. While the name of the festival itself was taken based on the name of the day to be “Festival Budaya Ngawiwitan”.

The cultural festival will be held on July 28, approximately a month and a half from now, coinciding with the second lunar eclipse that will occur this year.

Ngawiwitan Cultural Festival is held does refer to the cycle of lunar eclipses every year. Not based on the dating of the earth which is based on the rotation of the earth against the sun. The date of this festival is always changing. But if you follow the liturgical calendar of the temple, actually this festival is always well scheduled every year.

Ngawiwitan itself means “begin” or “pulaan”. In other words, Wiwitan Day is a day of remembrance for the beginning of the universe. Because according to the belief that has been here since ancient times, on the Day of the Creator Wiwitan, the, Nitehake —that's how people around call it— create nature and its contents by first creating the sky and earth as a container or space.

Furthermore, Nitahake created humans as well as other living creatures to live in the “space” that He had created. It also determines their fate and writes down the entire scenario of the universe. This is where Nitehake created something that we know by the term “time” or “mas”. And with the start of the journey “time” then also began the circulation of the earth and all other celestial bodies. Characterized by a natural phenomenon that we know by the term “gernaha moon”.

At least that's the explanation shown in the pamphlets, posters, and baligo that are now scattered in every corner of the city that Alan is currently paying attention to one of them. In front of the school floor near the entrance corridor, Alan was seen seriously observing the posters displayed there.

“To my extent, huh?” His voice of a girl suddenly shocked Alan.

“Eh Adjustable?” The shocked Alan immediately turned his back to the mading.

“It seems you are very interested in the dancers on the poster. If not I reprimanded earlier, maybe already lo tempelin lo eyes there.” Said Laras while playing pigtail hair in both. “If anyone wants to lo samplein the same girl on the poster, you can get to the person directly now.”

“Huh? That means the one on this poster is you, Ras?”

In the middle of the poster that is meant by Alan there is a photo of a traditional dancer who is demonstrating one of the Wita Grahana Dance movements. A dance is performed at Nitehake Temple on Wiwitan Day, when the central eclipse reaches its peak.

The dancer wore a white plastered mask with black and gold engravings, depicting the face of a goddess. Her fair yellow skin was no less smooth and shiny with the mask she used. His hair was half-covered and the other half was left untouched. His dance clothes are black, like a corset kebaya se-dada but with more elaborate motifs and decorations. The two stairs were winding while holding a red scarf that ran across the shoulder.

“Hmm..” Alan thought for a moment. “This is you?”

“Lo don't believe?” Laras passed one hand, following the dancer on the poster. This left Alan a little surprised.

“But, if it is true that you are on the poster, it means that you should belong to the family of the courtier of the temple. If not mistakenly named.... Abiseka family?”

The barrel did not answer, but just frowned while slightly puffing out the chest. A few seconds later, Alan found the answer to his question. After he saw the name tag on the school uniform Laras that read, Larasvati Sekar A.

“Wah I really did not expect Race! Turns out that Wita Grahana Dance dancer is you?! Our family always watch your dance, your dance is really beautiful!” Alan looks excited. “Then I can be proud of my friends and family at home, I will say ‘Tuh see what's on the poster! He's my classmate!’ Haha, they must be surprised to hear it.”

“Please, don't tell anyone about this. I don't want a lot of people who know my identity and I don't like being the center of attention.” The barrel took a step closer. “But if only you doang know, I think. no problem.”.

Then when they were very close, Laras whispered into Alan's ear.

“Pict this as..special treatment.” Hisses. “And one more, I'm sorry for having maki-maki lo before.”

***

The bell marks the end of learning activities have long sounded, but the students are still seen filling the school field with their respective activities. Some are busy making various works of art, banners, and other things needed in the parade. While some are busy practicing various kinds of performances.

Alan is in a group that is preparing for logistics needs, while Mira and Dian are in marching band training. Today is the first day they begin preparations for the festival parade they will be attending.

Sometimes Alan steals a glance at Mira who is training in another corner of the field. Then when their views accidentally met, Mira waved to him. Seeing that, Alan also replied shyly.

When it was evening, the students finished their activities. Alan who just finished cleaning up the equipment with his group friends, is now ready to go home. Then, as he walked towards the exit in the School Loby, he saw Mira and Dian waving to him.

“Again I passed?” Said Alan.

“Huu belagu yes now, already deket same Mira. Though yesterday-yesterday, you always persimmon when looking at Mira.”

Hearing that, Mira smiled at Dian. His face was so close to Dian's face as if to tell him. “Why do you always make things harder? Shouldn't you be helping me?”

But it seems like what Dian caught was. “Just calm down, as close as I can to him later, will not exceed the closeness of the two of us.” Dian also returned Mira's smile with a much wider smile. Then, while acting flirtatious he pinched both of Mira's cheeks.

“Miraaa you are so funny! Cus first here cus first.”

“Kya!”

Instantly Mira threw out Dian's cheering face that was getting closer to her face. Alan who saw the behavior of the two girls in front of him became unable to hold back laughter. This was the third time they went home together. It seems that if Alan was asked about his favorite time at school, maybe the time to go home was the answer.

***

Alan is getting closer to Mira. Now they almost never seem awkward when talking to each other. Now Alan, Ronny, Mira and Dian become very often spend time together. Especially during the break. Every day they gather at Alan's table to enjoy lunch. Just like they are doing right now.

“For what, Mir?” Dian asked Mira who had been playing her phone.

“Hmm? Here I read about Wiwitan Day. He said, if we pray in front of the altar in the main temple in earnest on the Day of Wiwitan, then our request must be granted. Because on that day is the day of the determination of destiny for man. So that on that day Nitehake will deign to change his destiny.”

“Then that, everyone knows.” too

“Not only that, Di. There are several things that need to be considered so that the success rate of our prayers increases.” Her chattering. “For example if the thing we ask is related to sustenance or finance, we better enter the temple from the west door. As for the soul mate of the east door and the north door to invoke health and safety.”

“Kalo south door, for what?”

“Maybe for..” Mira thought for a moment before continuing. “Asking for anything other than the three things earlier.”

“Lo believe the same things so Mir?” Ronny Saut.

“Oh yes no more” Mira continues his chatter. The three friends could only quietly listen to him who continued to speak enthusiastically. Seeing Mira who passionately gives various trivia about Wiwitan Day, like when you watch a puppet show. Even though you already know the story and also know that it does not really happen, there is still a pleasure when you see it. Of course because the one who was talking there was Mira, another story if Dian who spoke for example.

“Furthermore, if it is related to the soul mate, it is better we sit in the middle when praying in front of the altar in the temple. Then if we want..”.

“Yes, yes the point is you want to ask for a soul mate right?” Dian cut off Mira's explanation while twirling the tablespoon she used. “Oy! She said Mira was looking for a soul mate! Anyone interested in?”

Of course after Dian exclaimed the entire classroom became rowdy. Suddenly the students who were there scrambling to be Mira's soul mate.

“Diaan!” Mira pinches Dian's waist.

“Aww, oh sick tau. Haha anyways you anyway, if ngak digituin, later ngomoong aja continue.”

Mira sulks, then puts her phone on the table to resume lunch.

“Eh Mir, by the way you made this frame of your own HP?” Ask Alan.

“Hmm? Funny huh?”

“Iya.”

Silicone wrapping mobile phone Mira is indeed unique. The basic color is sky blue decorated with wave-shaped patterns with white color gradations. In the middle there is a caricature similar to Mira chibi version who is doing a cute pose.

“Emm, because you are that, I'm thinking. Where did I get this?” Mira said as she held her phone back. “It looks like a birthday gift from Dian.”

“I never said that kok.” Saut Dian with his mouth still full of food.

“Eh? Where to go dong?”

“How to. Probably from your father.”

“Hmm, looks like papah. You see, the person who gave me this gift must know very well that the sky blue is my favorite color.”  Mira's face was radiant.

Mira's father was a classical music composer whose name is well known to the world. His name often appears in various kinds of news, being the pride of our residents of Lembari island. His profession that makes him often travel out of the island even out of the country for a long period of time. Maybe for just one week a month he can be with Mira. But Mira once said that their little meeting was what made it always feel special.

Amidst the conversation, suddenly Mira was suffocated after seeing her phone that had rang in her hand.

“Hmm? Why, Mir?” Ask Dian.

“I, this is my HP... why yes?” Mira stammered while showing her phone to Dian who was sitting next to her.

“Hii, what is this? How much is that?”

“What the hell?” Alan Sahut.

Then Mira shows her phone so they can see it together.

When I saw it, I was surprised too. There was a strange short message. Not only the content of the message, but also the phone screen. The screen was continuously resonating in some parts like a tingling old television screen.

A pair of flowers I wish I could make

Together all the dreams

It's okay for me here

The place where the moon rises as usual

Just thinking about you, crying, waiting for you

While spelling Dian tried to dictate that short, hard-to-read message. "What the hell is this? not clear." he continued.

“Wait.” Said Alan. “Try to see the delivery date..Date 28 months 7? It's still June, not July.”

“ Ah, July 28th itukan.” Mira stopped her sentence and right then and there the others looked at her while gaping.

“Day Wiwitan.” Said Alan.

After a moment of silence, Ronny suddenly interrupted as he left in a hurry.

“Guys, I unplug first yes.”

“Eh where? That's not finished.” Ask Alan.

“Toilet”

Ronny hurried away while tidying up the cardboard box of his unfinished yellow rice. Then as Ronny passed through the classroom exit, Alan understood why he was in such a hurry not to finish his lunch. Right on the lips of the door Laras was leaning back while looking coldly at the four of them.

Knowing that his whereabouts had been realized, Laras went to his stool. While passing by, he glanced once at Mira who was holding her phone in front of the chest. Then leave.