THE SOUND OF LOVE
About Us (who can't) Together

...About ours...

...Which can't be together.....

...No need to blame fate....

...Destiny will remain so....

...And we are wrong, because ...

...Not trying to change it. ...

...-Yusuf Hamdhani- ...

...*** ...

09.00 AM. Netherland

After my unexpected birthday show I was finally able to leave them temporarily without any burden. But still the sadness still hugged me tightly since they drove me to Soekarno Hatta airport, where both my parents and Kirana were waiting for me. If only just going out of town or the area maybe I would really enjoy my vacation.

I dragged my suitcase with a lazy step. Here the sun looked arrogant showing its rays. I think it's autumn here. Just look, the breeze carrying the fragile maple leaves fell on top of my hair which I deliberately let break down.

"Goedemorgen mevrouw, right ik u helpen?" (Good morning, can I help you?) said the airport officer who saw me like a daze.

"Ah, nee. Bedankt meneer" (Ah, no. Thank you sir) I said with a smile and hurriedly sped up my steps following my parents. If I keep falling behind, I'm going crazy. I know a little Dutch. Horrifically.

A slightly modified mini cooper stopped right in front of us and one by one the occupants got out of the car. Greats. Mijn neef (my cousin's brother) and Mijn Grootmoeder (my grandmother). They are actually a distant family.

"Hi. Hoe gaat het met je? Het is lang niet geweest om elkaar te ontmoeten" (Hey. How are you doing? I haven't seen each other in a long time) my father said, hugging my grandmother and cousin Albert Felix Vrij.

After the stale bases passed we finally arrived at My Grandma's house. I was amazed at this house. Nothing has changed since I was 5 years old, building a sturdy house like an insidious movie I guess. How not, just look at the many aisles that lack lighting. Makes it almost like a haunted house at night.

My impatience pulled me hurriedly up the stairs to the butts of the house. I was flabbergasted at him. My childhood room is still there. A little change by changing her bed also got rid of my toy, my childhood treasure.

I threw myself in a comfortable bed. My eyes shimmered all over the corners of the room and stopped right at the corner of the window. Looking at the long-distance object I immediately sat on the mattress without thinking straight to the window to open my room window and direct my old telescope. Hopefully it can still work.

After almost an hour of observing the street corners of the residential complex, my eyes caught a very familiar figure but I was not sure of it yet. Then I turned the telescope settings so that what I saw was very close and clear. I also stiffened when I found out who the figure passing in front of the sidewalk of Grandma's house.

Frans..

Mumamku. Francis Frederick. The guy who got me into a fight with my ex-boyfriend in high school. Honestly, I would have preferred Frans back then in my heart, but seeing my ex-boyfriend who was a jerk threatened to harm Frans if I chose him. That's when I decided to get out of her life as far as possible to keep her safe.

I felt an unusual thump when I saw him. I really don't understand why the universe brought me back to him. And why is he in this country? Did he move abroad? A school? Or is there something he needs to take care of?

My mind was filled with questions about him who was now in the same country as me.

If in other countries we are met, why in the same country are we difficult to meet? Frans..

At dinner we were all drifting in nostalgia when I, Albert, Kirana, Emily, Lauren, Jessie were kids. Our parents are also our grandmothers. Our mess was back when Jessie threw Almond nuts at us and a peanut war ensued. Even though we've been confirmed to get a punishment from Grandma tomorrow we still don't care. We had fun all night.

Before going to bed Grandma had told him that tomorrow morning we had to go to the funeral of Grandma's granddaughter. We can't stay up until morning. My first vacation destination was to go to the funeral of someone I obviously didn't know.

05.00 AM. Netherlandish.

Mentari greeted me with warm rays plus a cup of green tea typical of this windmill country. Honey the sun loses fast with me who's been busy with my laptop. Look at me skype with Agas, Aldira, Ivanna, Jihan, Anggia, Axel, Diana.

Just the second day after I left Indonesia, my sense of longing really stung me at this moment. Without me noticing someone sneaking into my room and startling me. I turned off my laptop and Buuu. Lauren was showing me her idiot face. He thought I'd run away scared or hanging. No Lauren.

"Are you crazy? BOY" Cibirku confirmed the word man. I hope he's sane. But no he laughed at my upset face. I threw my dirty clothes on his face. He's still laughing too.

"I'm so sorry Vrij" (Vrij \= Gorgeous) said as she raised her eyebrows. Jails.

"Edan" I said resignedly and then tidied up my laptop. Finally Lauren stopped laughing and told me to get ready, smiling sweetly. If only he wasn't my distant brother I'd made a friend. Life friends mean it. But he's too silly to be a friend.

In the car I just fell silent observing the activities in this city that were not too busy considering it was autumn. Or maybe not. Most of the residents cleaned their yard because of the fallen leaves. They tidied it up with ground forks and brooms, collected in one place and put it in a garbage bag. They might be turned into organic.

Me, Kirana and my parents were in a car with Grandma and my cousin Albert. She was quite interesting but unfortunately quite quiet as well, maybe she was confused how to chat with Ku and Kirana. Don't forget we're limited in speaking Dutch. Especially me.

Suddenly someone I observed yesterday passed beside our car with his shiny black Volvo when exposed to the sun. Francis Frederick. With his black tuxedo and white shirt inside with a black bow tie as the sweetener is focusing on watching the road. I think he's with his family too. When we passed by, our eyes were met by accident, the black eyes of his shady coffee melted like ice in my bright brown eyes.

I felt a deep hurt look from the look in his coffee-black eyes. Oh myGod. What's up with him? Is there something going on with him. The thump came back when we accidentally looked at him. I was at most my face before panic shook my soul. I buried it in one corner of my heart. But the universe forced me to take it out and let himself wander around again in my life.

"It's crazy" I said, panicking, making everyone wantonly look at me. Unknowingly, we arrived at the city cemetery.

"Jaudah come down. Grandma is waiting for us" said my mother again. I nodded and got out of the car following my mother.

Funerals are boring. Everyone is filled with deep sadness. I can see the tears from the mourners especially the families left behind. I observed one by one the mourners. Oh naw. Her..

My eyes felt like they wanted to roll out when I found a figure that made me pound strangely every time I saw him. Frans.. He's here at the same funeral as me. But wait for something strange, he looks very hit and down. It was clearly visible in his eyes. Then someone hugged her from the side, a figure like my mother. Maybe her mother.

So whose funeral is this? His family? Or her boyfriend?

Batinku. Remember the word boyfriend, my heart is a little bit flushed. I looked at the tombstone and read his name. Written by the beautiful name Caramel Jesseline. I looked at the funeral then Frans, went back to the funeral and Frans I repeated it again. But still I didn't find the answer. I realized I was watching the coffee slices find me and I froze in place embarrassed to be caught watching it from now on.

Finished the funeral. I was introduced to a family grieving by Grandma. The Caramel Jesseline family. I noticed that he was still there, looking at the nissan without the slightest desire to move on.

"Oma, isn't it daarheen gaan?" (Grandma, can I go there?) I said pointing at someone.

"Ik betwijfel of je me hier met rust laat" (I doubt that you will leave me here alone) replied Grandma who was not willing at all I moved from her.

"Ik wil mijn vriend ontmoeten" (I want to see my friend) I said again, I saw his frown deep. I also rolled my eyeballs.

"Slechts een minuut" (just a moment) added me. Wishing to be allowed by Grandma.

"No ja, goed. Blijf niet bij mij vandaan, liefje" (Well, all right. Do not be far from me dear) said Grandma accompanied my steps who wanted to approach her.

I dare to step towards him. Although it was difficult to walk as if there were tons of rocks holding my legs and panic began to attack me. I stopped my steps for a moment and gulped down my saliva before getting closer to it.

"Frans.." I said that almost resembles a whisper. With a weak hand I touched his sturdy shoulder but it felt cold. He also looked towards me.

His soft coffee black eyes now fell right on my iris. I lost, I gave up letting her wander around again in my life. I'm not sure what his name is.. I think this is in love. But not a new love. Because it is a shadow of the past.

3 Days after..

His gaze sank. I want to be there, in her beautiful eyes. I wanted to live in her eyes, to follow every second she saw, to make sure no water fell from her two shaded eyes.

I wouldn't be willing if tears washed his face. Let me be her handkerchief, even if it is not my shoulder that she rests on. If her tears were because she was happy and her tears were the ocean, I would be willing to drown.

My daydreams turned into shock as a shadow resuscitated me. Right in front of me his figure was so clear with a sweet smile that was still the same. Just like before. Patiently waiting for the words to come out of my lips.

We're going out together. I don't know about a date, a meeting up or a reunion. I don't give a shit. At the coffee shop west of the Netherland street, Frans and I met. Oh no, of course a deliberate meeting. Since the incident at the funeral, she needs a friend to talk to.

"So how are you.. Sis?" Repeating his question doubtfully and awkwardly.

"Hm.. I´m.. I'm good" I answered. How humiliating. Where's your courage Calista?

"It looks good" he said, still smiling at me. And he kept me late in our small talk. Starting from why I can be here until when I graduate.

Welcome back to the longing that stifles the chest. Thanks for coming back to see you..

Batinku. I used to say that phrase every time I remembered about him. A kind of welcome word for longing that comes without an invitation. I admit the way he met was pretty good, but often brought me a gift that always made me want to enjoy it myself.

"So you want to explain why you're here?" Askaqua. I patiently waited for an answer from him. But I have to be disappointed because he just kept silent.

Maybe he can't tell Lis yet. Patience.

Inner soothing. I noticed the look on her face that turned into a mute, and at that moment guilt surrounded me.

"Sorrys. I have a question that is wrong?" I said full of regrets.

I heard her breathing and her heavy breathing. Before answering my question.

"Gue's here to see someone. Someone who brings color to my life" he said in a trembling voice but held back.

"French.. I'm sorry I don't mak-" I was cut off by the story again.

"But that day was never there for me again. I lost him. For the second time, I lost the man who kept me alive" he said in a raucous voice.

I pegged in my chair, hearing the story told by him. Really, my heart aches to see him as fragile as this.

"Someone that you visited a few days ago. Right where destiny brings us together again" he said like a quiet, dark bell in the hallway with less lighting.

So that funeral..

...Happy Reading guys 😆 ...