A Memory

The day was sunday.

It was dark and cloudy. They took their umbrella out. It looked like the rain was coming.

I stood there. In the middle of it with my phone and last cigarette on my mouth. That day, I was hoping for the rain. But it didn’t come soon enough. My cheek was wet before the rain came. So does the cigarette.

I just made a decision. And that cost me more than i thought it would be.

My life began with a notebook. It served me well as my brain would. Every scratch of a pen is another journey of my life. Every word that was written is an irreversible decision. Every story that was made is another memory worth remembered.

And this story is one that is, and always be in my notebook.

10 years ago, I moved to another city because of my study. It was the first experience I had living by myself. I have wanted this for a long time. Then when it happened, I was excited. Very excited.

The city was beautiful. There are trees to hide from the sun on every corner. Colorful flowers grow beautifully on the sidelines. The wind blows smoothly makes everybody happy just to be outside. And most importantly, the girls are pretty.

The house that I lived was quite small. It was a house of a warm family which has some spare room to rent for students like me. The color was green, typical of a normal house in this neighborhood.

There were three other students in the house. One is two years older, a guy from Jakarta. He was skinny, long haired, and shorter than me. But there was this aura coming from him that makes me know, he was one kind of a man. Immediately, we were close.

It was all perfect. A beautiful city. A normal house. And a good friend.

Wait. Did I tell you I came here to study?

Yes, that was the plan. For like, 2 weeks or so. After that, it was all me and him. He showed my many things. Where to buy stationeries. Where to buy cheap, good food. Even where to go when I feel alone.

We shared a lot. Personal stories.

One day, I arrived at the house late at night from the campus. I was parking my bike when I saw him sitting on the outside chair while smoking.

“Let’s go.” He said.

“Okay.” I replied. As confused as I was then, I still understand him well everytime he invited me to go somewhere.

“We don’t need the helmet.” He said as I was putting my helmet back on again. “And, the bike. We are going to walk.”

So we went.

The city was actually small enough for us to walk from A to B. But with this guy, I never know.

The first stop was a small chain store on the side of the road, where we normally buy our cigarette.

When we reached the main road, I just realized something. There is something wrong. I could not tell what it was, but something different from him. He did not talk as much as he normally does.

We stopped at a park. The park was empty at the time, considering that we were there around 1 or 2 in the morning. But there are still people sitting around. We sat down in one of the empty bench near the biggest tree.

We laughed as we keep talking. Everything was normal. Until he said that he is going to go and will not tell me where. That was sudden, I thought. But then he does that a lot. Probably something going on again with his parents.

The next couple of days were alright. Nothing different, nor suspicious. We hang out a lot at night, sometimes with other friends as well. I was thinking that I might continue my college life like.

Until it didn’t.

Like always, one cannot run from the time.

In one evening, I was sitting outside of the house. I got a call from him. He told me he needed help and to come to Jakarta. He didn’t say anything other than that.

On that day, I didn’t go right away. I was waiting the next sun of the day to be up there before going.

Then, Sunday comes. My phone rings.

And just like that. He is gone. With me knowing that I will not be able to see him again.

May you always be in your people’s heart.