Under The Rain's
Chapter 25—News from the Balcony

A cardboard box containing ten meters of prusik rope had landed at Rafael's residence that morning. The rope was not thick, it was only seven millimeters in diameter, but it had incredible weight-bearing strength. Rafael obviously needs it if he's really serious about jumping on Reva's balcony from his balcony. Unfortunately, the fool who is always lazy to follow the activities of scouts while at school does not know how to make a good knot. Finally, he spent an hour to learn the video tutorial making a node that is able to withstand the weight of thousands of kilograms.

The rope is installed complete with the harness. His already very dusty bicycle helmet was perched on his head. It is only his guts that he needs to establish to combat anxiety. In a matter of minutes, the crazy act of jumping the balcony was about to be executed.

Rafael has no acrophobia. Extreme altitude and speed are only seen as minor obstacles. He is very roller-coaster, and a little undaunted when trying bungee jumping for the first time. However, he did not want to be suspected of strange people or criminals if the action was caught spying other residents. Or, worse, what if security immediately secured him to the police station for breaking through a balcony belonging to his next door neighbor?

All the possibilities and consequences that Rafael thought carefully. He would not act without strategy. For that, all the equipment supporting his desperate action was black. Straps, harnesses, carabiners and helmets are all black. The shirt and trousers he was wearing were also black. He really wished to be invisible in the darkness of the night. His own balcony lights have been turned off, and he intends to do the magic in the early hours when almost everyone is asleep.

Rafael spent weeks stalking and learning the rhythms of Reva's life. When the balcony lights are turned off, and when the sliding door with an aluminum frame is finally closed when the owner wants to sleep. Rafael is convinced, at 02:00 pm Reva is still awake. It's always like that every night. The woman is a nocturnal creature. The brain is much thinner when working at night. And Rafael understands that very well.

Magnesium carbonate balls are already in hand, although at that time Bandung was not hot at all. The cold wind even pierced the bones. He was not sweating because of the surrounding temperature, but imagining that he would meet Reva in such a way really made him nervous. Finally, just in case, the powder was bought by him too. Perhaps, after that day, he was completely ready to climb the mountain.

After his mental preparation had matured, Rafael immediately stepped onto the balcony terrace. One knot is attached to the harness, and the other end of the knot is locked on its balcony railing using a double carabiner. Not to forget also the full-face mask covers his entire face. Crazy, he planned everything in detail. And he would really be suspected of being a thief if anyone caught him in action.

With great steadiness, Rafael began to climb the top of his balcony railing. His long legs were really useful. There is an accent on the exterior wall of the apartment, located right on the balcony floor line. With a thin tiptoe, he could climb along the line and slowly step sideways until his arm was able to reach the Reva balcony railing.

The atmosphere was completely deserted. Only the roar of strong winds and the friction of leaves from the big trees bore silent witness to Rafael's behavior that night. And the man was very careful that he would not break the silence. He doesn't want to attract attention. Therefore, he did not make a sound and moved very quietly, so Reva was completely unconscious when the man was entrenched on the fence.

At that time Reva was wearing earphones, and he sat back to the balcony. It seemed like the sound from inside the tiny object was very tight soaking deep into his two ears. He was sitting on the floor leaning against the edge of the bed, with his legs crossed, propping up a laptop on top. I don't know what movie came on the screen. His head bowed, when Rafael had quietly arrived on the balcony terrace and very slowly began to release the rigging and harnesses attached to his body.

Sure enough, the door to Reva's room wasn't locked, it was even wide open to the full. The cold night breeze Bandung completely ignored. In fact, he was wearing a tank top and shorts. The man who looked like a begal was still peeking at the doorway of the terrace, staring at him from a distance.

Rafael is no more than three metres from Reva. It was very close, but the woman felt very far from her reach. For a while he only thought of ways to make his existence known. Hows it? Should he surprise her with a ripple? Is it just a little pat? Or is it better to stay there until Reva herself turns her body around? Unable to wait, he finally dared himself to step up.

The tiptoed feet were very thin that made no sound at all when walking on the wooden parquet floor owned by Reva. Until finally, a small touch from Rafael's fingertips touched Reva's smooth shoulder.

For whatever was underground until the seventh sky, Reva was immediately aghast until the laptop he was holding slipped to the floor. Fortunately, it did not fall hard and was damaged. The woman also did not reach a thunderous scream that pierced the ear. As fast as lightning he shot into the kitchen and picked up a very sharp butcher knife. He took the stance of the horses and bowed slightly, with both hands clenched tightly holding the handle of the knife. Slowly he stepped back towards the main door of the room, hoping to survive by fleeing towards the corridor. He was very trembling to see the appearance of a tall man dressed in all black in front of him at the time, but as usual, speechless.

Holy hooch! Rafael forgot to take off his mask!

It's worth Rafael confused why Reva's reaction is like seeing a killer series on action-thriller films. He hurriedly opened the full-face mask forcefully, and immediately brandished the object aloft into the air shortly after it was successfully removed from his face. “It's me!” he said in panic.

Reva immediately fell limp and the butcher's knife just slipped out of his grasp, until he fell and slammed on the floor. Raphael hurriedly approached the woman, and picked up the dangerous sharp object to put back in a safe place. “This is me,” he said again in front of Reva's face which was immediately greeted by a powerful strike from the woman's palm on her cheek. “Aw!” screams in pain, “Kok, slapped?”

“You're crazy!!!” Reva pushed the tall body that was already too close to her, then walked past her towards the balcony. Curious as to why the annoying man could be in his room when it was so late like that.

Both eyes of Reva were opened as she found a set of rock climbing gear strewn across her balcony terrace. His eyes follow the path of the prusik rope that runs to the left side of his balcony. A second later he realized that the rope had come from Rafael's balcony railing. It was outrageous, he thought. He thought the wall of the apartment was a mountain cliff or what, anyway?

When Reva turned around, Rafael was already right in front of her. “You are crazy, yes!!!” maki the woman while glaring at the man in front of her.

Reva's face instantly became furious hearing that absurd reason. “I? Now it's my fault?” his protest.

“You have the problem. For months I knocked on the door, never to be opened. Only Kaia doang you gave permission to enter. How do I keep, Yi?”

“Lho? Like me dong picky guests!”

“It can't do that, it! If I want to talk, how do I do?”

“Yes, because I don't want to talk to you, idiot!”

“But I, ‘kan, want, Yi. I need a lot of explanation from you. I'd like to apologize. I need both of us to actually talk.”

“You don't know, what is privacy? You know the meaning of boundary, don't you? You understand the concept of basic human right, don't you?”

“Because I'm sure that here, well, a lot of misunderstandings. I want you to understand everything. Please, dong, Yi. Please ...”

“Not there! There is no misunderstanding! Anyway, you should go now. I'm sleepy!”

“Hah? Sleepy? You may not be sleepy! Your eyes are still moist, you know, Neng. Can still glare sharply.”

“Oh, are you psychic now?”

“Jeez, Yi, it doesn't take a miracle to recognize a sleepy person. Of physiology is too great. Simple physics's. Your eye pupils are still normal.”

“Why are you sure when I sleepy or not, anyway? If my brain is tired and want to rest how? You can't see, ‘kan?”

“Yi, you just got adrenaline rush kayak earlier, until carrying a knife. Believe me, the effect can be until morning! Your cortisol hormone is high. You won't sleep until morning.”

“Dih, so you know, you! You go there, or I scream!”

“Not possible! I know you. You can't scream. If you want the intention to shout also earlier, when I broke in.”

“Gosh! Why do you always suck like this? Never changed before! I'm tired, you know, just like you. So tired!”

“I don't want to change, Yi. I miss you so much ..”