REDAMANCY - Love's Timeless Path

50th Note

Finally, after almost a day of grueling flights and endless layovers, I stepped out of the airport into the familiar chaos of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The air was thick with humidity, mingling with the smell of fuel and the sound of chatter in multiple languages. My fatigue was momentarily forgotten as I remembered my dream about Jendra earlier.

My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Pra. He said he wanted to pick me up today. Spotting his familiar face among the bustling crowd brought a sense of relief and warmth. Pra rushed over, his eyes filled with concern and excitement.

"Mbak, you're finally here," he said, enveloping me in a tight hug.

I patted his back and said, "Please, I'll only be gone for ten days."

He chuckled as he let go of his arms and grabbed my suitcase. As we navigated through the airport towards his waiting car, Pra filled me in on everything that had transpired in my absence.

"Jendra was so stressed that he couldn't make it to Maryland," he shared.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the mental image of Jendra, bewildered and frazzled by the situation. It was moments like these that revealed a side of him only I knew — the vulnerability and confusion that surfaced when I wasn't around. Despite the laughter, a pang of longing tugged at my heart. I knew all too well the emptiness of his absence.

Sitting in the passenger seat of Pra's car, I gazed out at the familiar Jakarta skyline, a city that held memories of laughter, tears, and love. I couldn't deny that Jendra's absence weighed heavily on me, a constant reminder of the bond we shared. If this longing, this ache in my chest, wasn't love, then I didn't know what love truly was.

As I looked outside the window, memories of us flooded my mind like a gentle cascade of emotions. It was funny how certain scents, sounds, and sights can transport us back to moments frozen in time, moments when love felt like the only truth in the world.

I remembered the first time we met, a chance encounter that felt more like destiny weaving its intricate threads around us. His smile, warm and inviting, drew me in like a moth to a flame. It was in that instant that I knew he was meant to be more than just a passing stranger.

The way he looked at me, as if I were the only person who mattered in a sea of faces, made my heart skip a beat every time. His touch, gentle yet electrifying, sent shivers down my spine and left an indelible mark on my soul.

Even now, as I trace the lines of our love story in my mind, I can't help but smile at the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make us unique. The way he always knew how to make me laugh, even on my darkest days, or when he pulled me into an impromptu dance in the rain — though I hate it — twirling me around as raindrops fell around us like nature's confetti.

Pulling out my phone, I composed a message to Jendra, my heart fluttering with excitement as I typed.

Me

Meet me at the big videotron,

the one near the HI roundabout

00.00

I sent, adding a teasing smiley face at the end.

The air inside the car was filled with the coolness of the air conditioning. I tapped the window so softly and melodiously that it made Pra look at me.

"What are you thinking about, Mbak?"

"Wouldn't it be crazy if I asked you to take me to the HI roundabout now?"

He glared. "Mbak, it's already past midnight." And I agreed with his words because the condition of the toll road was also slowly starting to become quieter. Making our journey feel faster.