The Ballad of Citra Sidek and Her Terrible Taste in Men

29

Citra chewed the long gummy worm thoughtfully as she did her work. The school year had finally come to an end. Sure, she got a 'C-' and that hampered any chance of a promotion for three years but she was eligible for a transfer to another school. She was fine with no promotion. There was a saying among the civil servants that went 'promotion is punishment' and Citra found that to be true in her case.

Marilyn wasn't on speaking terms with her so Citra was transferred out of her department to work for another reporting officer. Shortly after rumours spread that Marilyn herself was considering a transfer to another school and that couldn't have made Citra any happier. She was definitely not sorry to see her go. Once the musical and exhibition were over, she was glad to not have to deal with Marilyn beyond occasional running into each other at common spaces.

Things at home were going well too. Sidek and Yanti appreciated not being invited to every single kenduri the Haruns held. Budi and Intan were especially relieved that they no longer needed to play chaperone to two adults on a date. Things were good.

There was only one person left that mattered in this grand sandiwara that was her life.

Citra drew a deep breath and snapped the gummy worm in two. She walked over the Arjun's desk where he was packing what little he had into boxes. "That's all you have?" she asked him, feeding him the second half of the worm she had. "In five years, that's all you accumulated? I'm envious."

"I'm not a hoarder," he grinned, chewing as he sealed a box shut. He opened a bottle of Teh Botol and drank from it before offering it to her.

"When's your last day again?" Citra took it, taking a few mouthfuls before retuning the bottle to him.

He leaned in and allowed his breath to tickle her. "Why are you asking when I know you have it marked on your calendar?" He pulled away in time to avoid a swat from her. "Tomorrow. I'm just making sure I haven't left anything." Arjun raised an arm to pull the small terrarium from his shelf. "Here. I want you to have this," he told her, placing the glass bauble in her palm. "I know you'll take good care of her."

"Her?"

"Yes."

"Does she have a name?"

Arjun bit the inside of his cheek. He had absorbed some of her mannerisms since they spent quite some time of their day together. "Don't laugh. I used to call her Cithra. With a 'h'," he said. "It's a funny little plant. Usually, Echeverias like unglazed clay pots but this one didn't do well until I transferred her to this little glass bowl."

"That doesn't explain the name, Arjun," Citra tilted her head at him.

"I missed you a lot so I just named the plant after you," he confessed as he packed another box. "I even talked to the damn thing sometimes."

Citra laughed and took his hand. "Bring her with you." She placed the little plant in his hand. "I like the idea of little Cithra with an 'h' keeping you company at the new school."

Arjun nodded and placed the terrarium back on his shelf. "I'll take it with me when I move all my stuff tomorrow," he sighed and leaned against his desk, next to her with their shoulders pressed against each other. "When's your flight to Osaka?"

"Next Friday. When's your cousin's wedding?'

"In two weeks but I'm leaving with my mom next Saturday after you," he said. "Got to help prepare and stuff."

She nodded. "Kerala's gorgeous."

He turned to her, asking the question that hung between them like a veil. "So I was wondering if you wanted to see me again... maybe after you come back from your well-deserved holiday to Japan?"

"I don't know," she teased. "What if you find a nice girl in Kerala and decide to settle down there? You're attending a wedding and you know, things happen at weddings."

"I probably won't come back then. Since no one will miss me," he pouted.

She reached out and cupped his face with her warm hand, her thumb stroking his cheekbone affectionately. "I want to see you again," she told him as he closed his eyes, listening only to the sound of her voice saying his name. The sound of drums and shenais filled Citra's mind as she touched him. She thought of the sea, of her favourite colour, of the scent of his skin, the lights of wedding hall, his hands lifting her into the air and the feel of his lips through the sheer scarf of her kebaya. "I will always want to see you again, Arjun Varma."