November Rain

Chapter 44: The Cheeky Tomato

The ray of sunshine creeps between the slightly open curtain and it touches my lashes with serene warmth. Summer is getting closer. The flowers have fully bloomed and the trees have grown greener. Melbourne's sun rises faster and stays longer now.

His falling hair brushes my cheek as he moves slightly behind my back. His arm still circles my waist tight above the blanket. The calm breathing is a clear sigh that he's still fast asleep. I turn around silently to face him. It still feels the same—looking at him makes me think of a recurring dream, being in his embrace makes me scared and safe all at once. We are like a pair of falling stars; exquisitely stunning to see from afar, will crush, burn, and turn into speck of dust in just anytime.

It was a gentle love, a tactile love. It was all hands and lips and hearts in tandem. There was motion in our bodies and emotion in our discourse.

In my mind I recite my favorite part of the poem I'm most fond of. It reminds me of us.

The face he makes when he's deep in the dreamland tickles my stomach with a funny sensation. I tuck his shirt lightly and kiss the tip of his nose. He opens his eyes but doesn't say a word. He just beams and pulls me closer.

The warmth of the sun doubles and rushes down my blood. The tips of his fingers trace my shoulder blade. I smile back and snuggle to his neck. That's how we say good morning to each other—through touches, kisses, and limitless cuddles.

Brian has been staying with me for a week now. He's taking his year-end annual leave. We just went back from Tasmania yesterday after trekking in Craddle Mountain, catching the sunsets, and chasing wombats for three days. We failed to book the last minute flight to Perth as initially  we both wanted to see quokka.

To replace that he suddenly decided to buy the tickets to Tasmania instead. He was as cheerful as a five-year-old when he found the wombats hiding and eating between the bushes around the footpaths.

"Wombat.. wombat! Wombaat!!" he shouted and chased them to take a closer look and snap a shot. I had to remind him so many times not to make too much noise. I could only shake my head.

Getting to see so many sides of him I didn't see when we were living as big city dwellers was fascinating in every sense of the words. He was no longer that flirty-but-aloof boyfriend I had in daily basis. He was merely a cheeky boy running wild in nature like he hadn't seen grass for as long as he lived. Even the wombat's pile of poo didn't cease to amaze him.

"Oh my goodness, baby, look! They're really cube-shaped!" He said, looking at the poo with his eyes widened.

"Is it that amazing?" I tried to hold my smile.

Kedip-kedip ngeliatin eek. Gemes banget Ya Tuhaaan..

"I mean how many times have you seen poop looking this... Symmetrical?"

I laughed at his ridiculous remarks. Then I had to tell him not to bring the poop home. Tomorrow he's going back to Jakarta and I'll come along for the D-Day. The Wedding.

Definitely not my wedding.

"C'mon, get up. I'll make you some toast." I talk to him while he's still half awake.

"Udah kayak di film-film ya, bangun tidur bikin toast."

"Trus apa? Adanya roti, pakde."

"Nasi uduk.." jawabnya manja.

"Bawel! Baru juga seminggu. Di Toronto dulu emang kamu sarapan nasi uduk?"

"Ya enggak, tapi nasi. Mama selalu sedia beras. Perutnya pada susah nego."