Yellow Flags
Perceptiveness

🌻 Winona

Jacob's parfume gave me a tickling sensation in my stomach. For some reason, the scent of the man made me want to wrap my hands around his body. Instead, I just clasped his shoulder tightly.

“No need to handle?” jacob asked in a low voice.

“Say, you want me to hug,” I said slowly.

His low laughter sounded. Makes his shoulders shake slowly. “Fear you will fall.”

I patted her shoulder slowly. “Lo my anterin intention what is not? I'm down!” I lifted up my leg, about to get off the bike.

Jacob raised his hand, holding me in place. “Iya yes. We're on the road now!”

Along the way, assumptions continued to torment me with denial. On the one hand, Jacob's return makes me feel good. On the other hand, the anger and disbelief of his treatment of me first, made me want to shout even louder at the man.

The tone of attention and clearly sounding possessive, became the code for me. Code that Jacob still cares about me!

Jacob lowered his motor speed, his face slightly turning to the side. “Where am I anterin you?”

“Later on the front fork, turn left.” Jacob nodded in response to my words.

The night breeze pierced the skin, making me regret leaving the cardigan in my office desk drawer.

Then the vehicle gets more crowded towards the direction to be addressed. Not usually motorcycles with ABG riders crowded the highway at this hour.

Jacob again slowed down the speed of his motorbike. Next to us, the modified duck bike also lowers the speed of the motor. “Kok rames? What the hell is here?” ask Jacob

The young man grinned widely. The friend he held glanced at me, with a smile that was no less wide. “Custom bang. Anyone want a brawl!” he said a little screaming.

The noise exhaust makes me a little relieved to wear Jacob's full face helmet. And yes, this helmet is very fragrant.

I hope the sweat in my head doesn't leave a musty smell.

“Where to start?” ask Jacob.

“On the road Memories!” replied the young man with the hair.

Whahuh? Nah!

That road is the only way to my boarding house!

Jacob pulled the bike over. The handsome face turned back, looking at me with a frown on his forehead.. “There is no other way?” ask Jacob.

I shook my head quickly. “That's the main road.” There may be a small road, a road through the residential complex of residents. But I don't know where the route went.

Ah.. yes!

I pulled out the phone, “try I see the map first.”

I instructed Jacob to go through an alternate path. The more we approach the road of Memories, the more crowded by young people who are still sitting on the High School bench passing by.

Where are these cops going?! Are there any new casualties?

Jacob turned the bike, back to the road we were on. I patted her shoulder quickly. “Where are we going? We can pass through the complex road about one hundred meters away!”

“One hundred meters more has become a brawl arena!” jacob shouted a little. “We're going somewhere else.”

“Where?” many quick.

“Lo want to get hurt? We're going somewhere else!” the voice snapped a little.

Why is Jacob angry? I didn't ask him to take me home! But if it wasn't Jacob driving me, I don't know what my fate would be right now!

About a ten-minute drive in silence, skyscrapers soared up on my left and right sides. One possibility came to my mind.

Did Jacob take me to his apartment?

Oh, how is this?!

If only Sepia had not broken her promise! L'm…

Oh, naw! It could be that I've ended up in Sepia's house because of that fucking brawl!

The basement parking lot is not filled with vehicles. I got off the bike quickly, right after Jacob dropped the standard.

“I know you're upset with me. But where do you want to go?” the question was quickly asked. As if Jacob knew I'd be mad at him.

Was he on purpose? Touching my hand? Or just my perception?!

But….

The small smile on the corner of his lips confirmed my guess.

Jacob touched my hand!

And why is my heart pounding like this?

I grinned softly, trying to recall our last conversation. “Where can. I can book online, find cheap lodging.”

Both eyes stared hard at me. “No! I didn't let you stay at the hotel. It's here anyway. So...”

I snorted in annoyance. “What purpose do you have? Why..”

“Wio,” by Jacob. “So instead of you seeing a brawl. You can't go home either! I do not permit you to stay at the hotel. There I am here.” He patted his chest with his palm. “You don't have to think strangely. I take both my hand off of you!”

Do I have a choice? And damn why is the corner of my heart screaming in joy?

Am I happy because of her presence?

You idiot! I'd be a fool to leave my heart open to that heart-breaking man.

But if I stay at the hotel…

I let out a small breath. The end of the month always gives me a headache. Gajiku UMR's. Costs, daily expenses, pocket money my sister who is still in college….

Nah! If I spend two hundred thousand on lodging, that money can pay for my life for five days!

Alright. There's no harm in me staying at her apartment. Although my relationship with Jacob was not good, at least I made peace with him briefly.

Uh! This is what makes me hate! Between financial crisis and ego!

Jacob pressed down on the 15th floor, when we were already inside the elevator.

While looking at the numbers slowly swapping, my mind went back to twisting the events after I met Jacob today. First, my heart is still not okay.

Second, my feelings are mixed. Between anger, sadness, happiness, longing…

“If you want to sleep, you can be in my room only,” said Jacob. That heavy voice blew my daydream. “I'll sleep outside, in the living room.”

I just mumbled slowly. I'd rather talk, than say something I'll regret later.

“Who did you meet at Cafe?”

I looked at Jacob from the reflection of the elevator wall. The curious look from those eyes was clearly visible.

“Sepia,” my answer is flat.

“Not Sepia, even you met with Gama?”

“Gema,” koreksiku.

“Whatever the name is.. The guy should not be met again.”.

I laughed softly, impressed with the mockery. “Kok lo by the way?”

“She's already a husband.” Jacob turned his body away, making me turn my face. The wrinkles on his forehead deepened. “What is it that you, not Sepia?”

How does Jacob know? Not that he said it was his first day in Indonesia!

“Who told this problem to lo?”

“So right, what did I say earlier?” he asked back.

“What do you care about?! Huh!” Anger and annoyance again made my face warm up. “You my life is miserable, you also will not..”.

“Wio, I give you a letter! I'm going to Sepia.”

“What letter?” lirih. “Sepia doesn't give me anything! Even when I'm sad you don't call me..”.

My heart beats fast. The disbelief kept me stuck. The air I was trying to breathe was heavy.

“If you don't read the letter, I understand why you are angry with me. Even though you read it, I also understand.” his face bowed sadly. “You are disappointed with me,” the sound is slow. There was sadness in that sentence.