2000

Seeing You Again

Yogyakarta, 2010

Six years had passed. Everything had changed a lot. Technology was getting more sophisticated. The Internet can be used on mobile. Short Message Service was rarely used because it had been replaced by the presence of the Blackberry Messenger. It's no longer difficult to see people we haven't seen for a long time. Through the Facebook and Twitter applications, we could see it through uploaded photos.

Not only had the world changed a lot, I was also like that. I worked at the Yogyakarta City Library in library services and collections. However, things weren't that easy. After returning to Yogya, I immediately applied for jobs here and there, but I had to be unemployed for almost two years. During my unemployment, I only helped my mother, and when there was free time I wrote stories. However, until now I haven't dared to publish my writings.

I kept in touch with Dika and Yonna. Dika got a job at one of the state-owned companies which became a dream place for many people. I still got in touch with Lyla a few years ago. However, now I can't contact her anymore. Mrs. Sari was getting old and she didn't open a boarding house anymore. Then, Haden was still the same as before, I still couldn't reach him.

He completely disappeared as if swallowed up by the earth. I had searched for his name on Facebook or Twitter, but the results were still nil. Memories of being a student were still neatly stored in my heart. I never came to Palembang again, even though I really missed the city and my memories with them, especially Haden.

"Mom, Anes goes to work first," I said.

"Don't you have breakfast?"

"No, I don't. I'll have breakfast at the office later. Don't be tired anymore today. You'll be sick again."

My mother was also getting old and often sick due to fatigue, so ever since I got a job, I told her to quit her job. However, she refused. She said that if she just stayed home, it would make her sick even more. So, after discussing it, she finally agreed that she would only take care of the rice fields left by my father.

"Would you like to come with me to lunch?" I asked one of the employees here.

"Um... No. I brought my own lunch. Are you okay eating alone?"

"Yes, I am. I'll go first," I decided to go to one of the café not far from my office.

I ordered my favourite menu here. Nasi Goreng Teri and Mango juice. After finishing my meal, I chose to sit here and browse my Facebook. I didn't have much work to do today, so I didn't need to rush back to the office. When I was walking to my office, I remembered something that I left my journal at the café earlier. I glanced at the clock in my hand and I saw that I still had plenty of time so I returned to the café to pick up my journal.

When I arrived at the café, I saw my journal was still on the table where I ate earlier. I immediately took the journal, when I turned to the window, I saw a man who was familiar to me was eating at an outside table.

"Haden?" I said.

"Yes. Have we met before?" he replied.

"Are you Haden Bimantoro?" I asked again.

"Yes, I am. Who are you?"

"I'm Aneska. You still know me, right?"

"Anes? Really?"

"Yes, that's me."

"It's been a long time, Nes. You sit here first. You want to eat?"

"No need. I just finished eating," I replied and then sat down on the chair opposite him.

We were silent for a few minutes without anyone asking how each of us was doing. I hadn't spoken because I still couldn't believe what I saw today. He didn't change much. His sweet face didn't change. The thick eyebrows were still the same. I became more and more convinced that he really was the Haden I missed.

"You don't want to say anything, Den?" I asked.

"How are you? And how are Dika and Yonna?" he replied as if nothing was wrong.

"Everything is alright. But, that's not what I want. I want you to tell me why we can't reach you anymore."

"Um... I'm really sorry, Nes. After I decided to stop out, my father passed away and after that my cell phone was lost. Unfortunately I don't have your numbers in my notes, so I can't call you anymore. Then, I'm also working to help my mother, so I really don't think anymore how I can find your contacts. I promised at that time that one day I would return to Palembang as soon as possible so I could see you again. However, things weren't what I expected. My mother was sick and eventually also died, then I became the breadwinner for my two younger siblings," he replied.

"I'm sorry, Den. I didn't know that you had to go through something so hard, but at that time it was really hard for me. I kept trying to contact, but it never worked. After you left, things changed a lot."

"Sorry, Nes. I know I was wrong. But, today I'm glad to see you again. You're getting cuter. That's why I didn't recognize your face a little earlier."

We talked a lot about what we were doing now. Haden worked at a private company in Solo. He said that several years ago he came back to Palembang to see Mrs. Sari. However, he said he didn't have time to ask for my cell phone number.

"Actually, I have a wish that if I am given the opportunity to meet you again, I have something to say," I said.

"What do you want to say?"

"To be honest, ever since we started getting close, I started to have feelings for you. I feel very comfortable with you and I've never felt that way with other men."

"I am also like that. I feel something is different from you. That's why I ventured to approach you at that time. I feel like you are a very strong woman. Being around you, I also feel very comfortable. I also always think about you as long as I can't reach you. That's why I promise that someday I have to meet you and reveal everything, but I have something to say," he replied.

"What is that?"

"When I returned to Palembang, I accidentally met Lyla so that while there I was accompanied by her. Everything just happened, since being with her for quite a while, I started to have feelings for her, and she seemed really sincere to accompany me. She also revealed that she never forgot her feelings for me and in the end, we both fell in love and decided to be together. I came here to pick her up this afternoon at the airport because soon we will get married and she wants to visit my family," he explained, which made my heart break.

"Wow, congratulations to both of you!"

"Are you okay? I'm really sorry, Nes."

"Yes, I am. Give my greetings to Lyla. Give her my number. Sorry Den, my boss has contacted me. So, I have to go back to the office. Nice to meet you! Don't forget to give your wedding invitations," I left holding back my tears.

I walked with tears that fell down my cheeks and made me the attention of the people here. My heart was completely broken. For years I had this feeling and I held back my longing for him. However, what made me even sicker was maybe this was why Lyla never contacted me again. She used to say that she had forgotten her feelings and that she had opened her heart to other people. That's why I had time to tell her that I liked Haden.

Haden held my hand, "Nes..."

"Yes?" I wiped my tears.

"Don't cry, I'm really sorry. If only I had waited for you and didn't fallen in love with her so easily, maybe you wouldn't have cried like this."

"Why do you say that? I'm really okay. You are not wrong, maybe we do not belong together. However, what makes my heart break is that at that time I wasn't ready to lose you but had to end like this. Please, take care of your feelings for Lyla, you guys will get married soon so your relationship is real. I'm glad at least you are with someone that I know well. Now it's all over, you are happy with your choice and I will find my happiness too. Once again, congratulations Den! I also want to say goodbye to you, see you when I see you!"

-End-