Timeline
Chapter 5

The awkwardness could not be hidden from the face of Anne and Dion. Anne was sitting next to Dion. Dion was dressed neatly in jeans and a blue shirt, as blue as the ocean. Either by chance or how, Anne wears a top of the same color. The jeans she wears also have the same color. Only the veil as a differentiator between the two. The similarities are used as a topic to start the conversation.

"The color of our clothes is the same" Dion said, staring at Anne's face.

"Why is it the same? The gentlemen sitting on the edge of the pool were also wearing blue clothes" Anne said, pointing at a man.

"Ne, maybe it's time I talked to you. You know for yourself that I've liked you since X class. I'm crazy, whatever people say. But that's the way it is, I just like you" Dion said straight to the point he was about to make.

Anne did not respond. His eyes were just staring at the pool.

"Ne, please accept this ring as a binder, as a sign that I will come to marry you later. Three years I saved up until I finally got to buy this ring. I promise after this I'll stay away from you. I won't call you until the right time comes. I told you once that if someone was trapped in the depths of my heart, I would find it hard to get them out. Please, you take this ring." Dion said as he handed over a small red box containing a golden ring.

"Dion, I just don't want to give you hope. I fear that fate will say something else. I fear that you will be disappointed only because of the hope that you have bound me to, while I may decide that hope. I don't want to hang your feelings, Dion. Sorry."

"Yes, I understand that. I'll take whatever the risk is. Please, take this ring."

"It's better that you keep the ring and you give it to the right woman one day" Anne said.

"I've found the right woman, Ne. That girl is you."

"Time lines exist, but they are not real. We're walking on it and we don't know when we'll stop at some point. I'm just worried if the point I'm meeting with isn't you. I just don't want to hurt you, Dion," Anne said.

"Ne, but there's no harm if I try first? You can ask me to paddle a canoe in the middle of the vast ocean, circumnavigate the world, climb the height of the mountain, down the dense forest. It all seems impossible to me. However, if it wants you, I'll fight for it."

"Dion, that's not what I want. Let destiny work."

"Ne, destiny is set, but we cannot hope without effort."

Dion's eyes glazed over. He got up from his seat, and left Anne with a small red box on the bench. Dion left without a word. Anne's mind churned. If she left the ring, Anne would not appreciate the effort Dion put in. However, if Anne had brought the ring, Anne might have given Dion hope.

Anne left the park. He walked without purpose. He wants to get his heart out and all his thoughts out. I don't know why his mind brought him to Reyhan's house. Without a second thought, he asked the food stall employee.

"Excuse me, Ma'am. Reyhan's at home?"

"If it's not wrong, it's inside" the woman replied.

"Can you please call?"

"Let me just come in. Mas Reyhan would have wanted to see Mbak kok," said the woman.

The woman who works at Reyhan's parents' food stall knocks on Reyhan's door. No need to wait long, Reyhan's out. The woman returned to work after Reyhan met Anne.

"What do you need to do here? Why not get some news first?"

"I'm sorry if I bother you. I just want to tell you."

"An, the house is deserted. How will I call you later? You better go home."

"I just want to ask your opinion. Talking directly will be clearer. For example, you were born a woman. If you were me, what would you do if someone proposed to you when you knew that someone proposed to you instead of at the right time?"

"If I love, I delay. Otherwise, I'll reject it outright" Reyhan replied simply.

After hearing Reyhan's reply, Anne stepped out of Reyhan's house. Reyhan seemed confused by Anne who suddenly came and asked about things that were not his business. Only a thank you came out of Anne's lips before she left Reyhan's house. I don't know what exactly Anne meant to come and ask Reyhan. Why Reyhan, not the others?