The Talc of Nyai
First Date

Alan waited for Tiara's arrival uneasily. Many times he peeked at the phone screen to see the clock, occasionally dipping to the right and left looking for the figure of his girlfriend. They promised to meet at one corner of the food court lined up in front of the mall.

"Where the hell is he, lest he forget?" muttered worriedly.

Tiara walked around, smiling as she knew Alan was fretting about his arrival.

"Who are you waiting for?" whispered Tiara from behind Alan, he chuckled because Alan was not aware of his arrival.

"Temen, from then on it wasn't nongol" Alan replied like a fool without seeing who asked.

"Ooh, yes. How am I supposed to be with you?"

"Not necessarily …,"

An annoyed Alan turned his head towards Tiara who was leaning towards him. His eyes clashed with Tiara, a distance so close that his heart was racing.

"Tiara, eeh you're making a surprise anyway! Kirain who was!" he pursed his lips making Tiara anxious and laughed.

"Seriously look to the left, can't wait to see me?" Tiara teases Alan who blushed from being caught off guard.

"I thought you forgot, Ra!"

"No, after all there is no work also so free to do and where ever." Tiara answered lightly, she grabbed the powder box from inside her bag and re-applied it evenly to her face. Without Alan realizing it, a spell of enchantment is cast by Tiara to lure Alan.

"Ohya said Rio you've resigned?"

"Hhm, why?"

"That should ask me why it's me Ra, but how the hell are you?"

Tiara smiled wryly and replied, "I want to live freely, away from the crowd. Be alone."

"Trus now what are you doing dong?"

"I am unemployed, enjoying life! You're alone, why not work?"

"Off day,"

Tiara was just a mangosteen sign of understanding, before long Alan's order came. Tiara's eyes sparkled, in front of her was already her favorite food. Soto Semarang plus various satay ranging from seashell satay, intestines, offal, and complete eggs plus fried tempeh and potato perch.

"Your favorite, right?" Alan asked Tiara who was still cool in photographing the soto bowl in front of him, Tiara nodded, not realizing Alan's perfectly fluffy smile.

Today for the first time Alan felt very happy. His wait for some time was not in vain. Tiara was now in front of him, with him and Alan could stare at Tiara's face as much as he could. If you can be honest Alan prefers the old Tiara, his face looks more natural and natural.

Tiara waved her hand in front of Alan's face who was pensive considering the look of Tiara first, "Hey, how come you're dumbfounded? Food to eat is not made to be taken!" 

"Eh, yes. I've run through the photos, yeah, eat yuk laper!"

They enjoyed the meeting, more precisely Alan who enjoyed, while Tiara was restless. He is still hesitant to decide whether Alan will be made into a collision or not. 

Every now and then Tiara noticed Alan, his face quite handsome. One thing that caught Tiara's attention was the sweet hollows on both of Alan's cheeks similar to those of Arka's. As Alan smiled, Tiara saw Arka's smile there. 

Ah, Tiara longs for the figure of Arka with all its ridiculousness. 

Tiara's eyes loomed, she immediately turned her gaze in the other direction. Swiping a clear grain that hung in the corner of his eye.

"You why Ra?" Alan who saw Tiara rubbing his eyes was made curious because Tiara had not touched her food yet.

"No, it's a little too much again!"

"Eat, let it get fat!" Alan thrust Tiara's soto bowl which was getting cold.

"Where are we going?" tiara asked awkwardly after a while they were silent and busy spending lunch.

Finally they decided to go to one of the famous malls that reportedly has a giant aquarium in it. Tiara herself chose their destination, too busy with work and various kinds of unexpected things lately made Tiara not have time to please herself.

"That's really cool!" Tiara looked up in disbelief as a giant shark passed over her.

Alan chuckled at Tiara's silly behavior that immortalized it all with his phone.

"Ra, ojo ndeso to?!" (Ra, don't be ashamed)

"Huuush, go! (be quiet first) Eman iki (this darling), a good view is worth perpetuating!" 

Alan chuckled again and whispered, "You don't think that's a lie? It's not a real fish and there's no giant aquarium there."

"Eeh, is heeh po?" Tiara was surprised, then turned her head towards Alan.

"Where have you been all this time, Ra? Everyone knows that, too," Alan pointed to the roof that featured a real view of the underwater, "Only a technologically advanced video game called ceiling videotron."

"Eeh lha here, I cheated to. Kirain really is! Wow, what's new to me!" sumpul Tiara who then put his phone in a bag.

Alan was made to be anxious with his behavior. He pinched Tiara's nose, then grabbed her shoulder. The two chuckled and again enjoyed the artificial scenery of the underwater world while eating ice cream. Alan was apparently able to melt the atmosphere, he was a man full of warmth. Tiara began to feel comfortable with Alan. Sometimes he would steal a glance at Alan.

Arka's face suddenly appears in place of Alan in Tiara's eyes. He was aghast and involuntarily muttered the name of the man who had not even died forty days ago.

"Carca,"

Alan looked at Tiara, the face of the girl in front of him turned grim and his eyes looked teary. "Ra, why else?"

Guilt over Arka's death arises, the moment just before the accident re-spins in Tiara's memory. Sad, sick, and angry mixed into one.

"Ra, Tiara?" Alan shook Tiara's shoulder making her re-conscious from her daydream.

"Ehm, yes. Let's go home. It's night too." said Tiara weakly.

Without asking much more, Alan followed Tiara's will. Not knowing where Tiara lived, he asked. "Where are you gonna let me anterin?"

Tiara who returned dissolved in grief was stunned.  

'Home? No, Alan can't know where I live right now. The danger!'

"Ehm, it's ... it's in," 

Alan waited for Tiara's nervous and confused answer to what. 

"I, my house …,"

"Woooy, Ra!" rendra's voice shocked Tiara and also Alan. He walked up to the pair of young people with a big smile.

Both of them turned to look at Rendra. Tiara survived, Rendra came just in time. "Hey Ren, know this Alan!"

Tiara's face still looks awkward when introducing Rendra to Alan. Rendra smiled broadly and clasped Alan's hand. 

"Gue Rendra, Tiara's brother!"

"Alan," Alan returned his smile.

"Wanna go back? Yuuk, it's too bad!" Rendra turned to ask his sister followed by a nod of Tiara.

"I'll go home first Ren, see you tomorrow."

Alan could not say much he just nodded and stared at Tiara's departure with his brother. A few hours with Tiara left her unwilling to part, but Alan still did not have the guts to express his feelings for Tiara.

May you be more cheerful tomorrow Ra, I promise to keep you smiling!