TIE STORY

GRIEVING

GRIEVING

40 days have passed since Najwa's departure to the afterlife, his death has brought deep wounds to Jacob, who has just had a lover once. His life felt empty almost a month ago. Mrs. Connie who tried to give Jacob a busy life so that Jacob's mind would not get tangled. Some of his research projects involve Jacob as research leader. Even though his heart grieved in Jacob's work was still maximised, the results of his research still received praise from many parties. But the emptiness in his heart was like a burn that kept gaping and sometimes widened every time Najwa remembered.

That day was as usual at 6.00 a.m Jacob put flowers under the ketapang tree in front of the house. Exactly the 41st day of Najwa's death. Jacob bowed lethargicly while lighting a red candle to convey his message to Najwa who either arrived or not. Suddenly there was the sound of gurgling white shoes stepping on the pebbles in front of the house. And there is a voice....

Zaskia : halooooo.....haloooo.....halooooo

After three times greeting Jacob raised his head. On top of it a brown girl with long black hair was scattered smiling at him. His eyes are decorated with black eyeliner that sharpens the look of his eyes.

Jacob also answered softly.

Jacob : haloooo.....

Zaskia : I'm Zaskia, Mas Jacob's classmate, I used to be in college, but Mas Jacob graduated first.... I'm still in college.

Jacob just answered reluctantly.

Jacob : oh yeah.....

Zaskia : Every morning I see MasJacob oasang candles here for his old friend, right? (Pretend not to understand)

Jacob: not a friend, on my wife's acalon (alsetant to imagine her beautiful plans with Najwa to get married and have children and grandchildren)

Zaskia was like a sword in his heart a pain to hear Jacob's clear confession. But cleverly he kept chatting even though his feet wanted to kick the candles and flowers that Jacob put under the braid tree.

Zaskia : Owya..... i'm sorry to hear that while his hand is clasped in front of his chest.

Jacob just realised that the girl's chest was so poking out as if he was about to jump, especially with Zaskia's position slightly lowered right in front of him.

Zaskia always looks sexy, her sunburned brown skin is well wrapped in a tight jogging suit in gray and pink. Just like the fitness clothing models on poster-poster and Instagram content.

Zaskia continued: I said goodbye to jogging first (while touching Jacob's shoulder a little while saying)

'The universe will present and keep everything away at its right time.'

Flirtatously Zaskia slightly poked Jacob's shoulder again while turning around and continuing his jogging.

Jacob looked at Zaskia moving away from him and the girl's words rang in his mind.

'The universe will present and keep everything away at its right time.'

Is Najwa really not his soul mate?

Or is the soul mate relative to time and nothing eternal?

Is the soul mate temporary like work and career, or is it just a matter of time?

Isn't every relationship going to end in a period of time, when and with a car?

Those thoughts flashed fast and swirled in his head like a tornado that had ravaged his anxiety for the past 40 days. And Jacob concluded.

If Najwa is not my soul mate, I have to move on and continue to live. My destiny is still long. Along with that conclusion Jacob got up but sat down again to blow out the dead candles, took the flowers and threw them both in the trash.