The Traces of Destiny
Gathering

A few hours after meeting Sutrisno, Garin stopped in the front parking lot of the 01 Gajakarta Ceria Elementary School just as the class was dissolved. Three school buses stopped and the students started moving towards the bus that had been waiting for them.

Garin looked at Raka at the same time the son saw her. Raka waved happily and ran towards the car. Garin realizes that in the next few years, as childhood passes and adolescence comes, Raka may never do the same again.

Raka leaps into her open arms and Garin hugs her tightly, enjoying the moment of closeness as much as possible.

"Hey, hotshot, how's the school?"

Raka turned her body. "Walk rich usually. How's Dad's job?"

"Better now, I'm done."

"Did you meet a celebrity or someone important today?"

Garin shook his head. "Neither is there for today. Tomorrow maybe. Look, do you want some ice cream when we're done here?"

Raka nodded enthusiastically, and Garin hugged her. Garin then bowed lower and looked at his son's eyes lovingly.

"Do you think you'll be okay on the playground while I talk to your teacher? Or do you want to wait inside?"

"I'm not a kid anymore, Dad. Aira also has to stay. Her mother's in the UKS room seeing the school doctor."

Garin looked up and saw Raka's best friend waiting impatiently near the swing. Garin re-justifies Raka's shirt.

"All right, you two stay together, okay? And don't go anywhere else, stay here."

"We're not going anywhere."

"Okay, then, but be careful."

Raka handed the backpack to her father and hurried away. Garin placed it in the front seat and started passing through the parking lot, swerving between the parked cars.

Some children who passed by and recognized him as a local camat shouted greetings, as did some mothers who drove their children home from school.

Garin stopped and met as well greeting some of them, waiting until the crowd finally subsided. As soon as the bus left and most of the cars had already left, the teachers who were dropping off also returned inside. Garin glanced once more towards Raka before coming in.

As soon as he entered the building, he was greeted with a burst of hot air. The school was almost twenty-five years old, and although the cooling system had been replaced more than once over the years, it was unable to cope with its duties during the first few weeks of school, summer is hard in early August.

Garin felt the sweat begin to flow almost instantly, then he pulled the front of his shirt and fanned himself as he walked down the aisle.

He knew Raka's classroom was in the far corner. Once there, he found the class empty.

For a moment he thought he had entered into the wrong room, but the names of the children on the paper roll made sure that he was where he should be. He checked his watch and realized he had arrived a few minutes early, then he went around the classroom.

He saw some scribbles on the board, the tables arranged in neat rows, and the rectangular tables filled with construction paper, rows of Fox Glue, and the, colorful scissors and also a number of coloring tools.

Along the opposite wall, there were some short compositions, and Garin was looking for Raka's name when he heard a voice behind him.

"Sorry, I'm late. I'm delivering some stuff at the office."

It was then that Garin saw Saraswati for the first time.

At that moment, there was no vibration that made his nape fur goosebumps, no premonition that appeared like fireworks exploding, he did not feel any premonition at all, no premonition at all, and as he looked back - remembering all that was to come - he was always amazed by it.

However, she will always remember her shock at the fact that Sutrisno was right: Saraswati is attractive.

Her black hair was neatly cut just above the shoulders in a style that looked graceful and manageable. She wore a long skirt and light purple blouse, and although her face was flushed red from the heat, her brown eyes seemed to radiate freshness, as if she had just spent the day relaxing on the beach.

"Oh, nothing," he finally said. "I'm a little early anyway." He extended his hand. "I'm Garin Antonio."

As he spoke, Saras's eyes flickered downward toward his chest. Garin had seen that look before on the badge showing his title. But before Garin could say anything, Saras looked into his eyes and smiled. He took Garin's hand as if it didn't matter to him. " My name is Saraswati. Glad you could come today. I was worried this invitation would interfere with your work."

"That's not a problem. My deputy can finish it."

Saras nodded, holding his gaze. "Pak Sutrisno, right? I've met his wife, Miss Nia. Ms. Nia and Ms. Nursy helped me a lot to understand the situation around here."

"Be careful - he'll talk to you if you give him a chance." Garin joked.

Saras laughs. "So I realized it. But they're both great. There's a bit of an intimidating atmosphere when you're a new member, but they're both trying hard to make me feel as if I'm really here."

"Yes, they're both amazing women."

For a moment, none of them said anything as they stood close together, and Garin immediately felt that he was feeling uneasy now that the small talk was put away. He moved around the table, looking as if he was ready to get down to business.

Saras started shuffling the paper, scanning the stack, looking for what he needed. Outside, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds and started tilting through the windows, focusing on them. The temperature instantly felt up, and Garin pulled his shirt again. Saras looked up and looked at him.

"I know it's hot... I meant to bring a fan, but I haven't had time to pick it up."

"I'll be fine." Even as Garin said that, the man could feel sweat start to flow down his chest and back.

"Well, I'll give you some options. You could pull up a chair and we could talk here and maybe we both passed out, or we could do it outside a little cooler. There's a picnic table in the shade."

" Umm, there's no need to call me formal, I'm present as an ordinary disciple's parent at this time. Is it okay to talk outside?"

"If you don't mind, me and we can do both at once."

"No, I don't mind at all. After all, Raka is on the playground, and that way I can keep an eye on her."

He's nodding. "good. Then wait a minute, I'll make sure I have everything...."

A minute later they left the classroom, headed to the hall, and pushed open the door.

"So how long have you been in town?" Garin finally asked.

"About four months."

"Do you like this town?"

Saras looked towards Garin. "It's quiet, but it's good."

"Where did you move to?"

"Cijengrin. I grew up there, but.." He's stopped. "I need a change."

Garin nodded. "I can understand that. Sometimes I want to go, too."

His face showed some sort of introduction once Garin said it, and Garin knew right away that he had heard of Maudy. But he said nothing.

As they sit at the picnic table, Garin steals a look at him. Up close, with the sunlight shining down on the shady trees, her skin seemed smooth, almost radiant. Garin, he made a guess in his head right then and there, that the woman before him had never had acne as a teenager.