I smoked on the terrace while waiting for Bulan and Arif to come, we promised to do it at 10 am, because today is a red day so we will have time to do it.
Exactly at 10 o'clock the Bulan came delivered by his mother, I opened the fence for the Bulan and asked her to sit.
"Si Arif hasn't come yet?" asked Bulan while putting her bag next to the chair. "Not yet, i think he will arrive soon, uh yeah, what do you want to drink?" "Don't worry, Arif will come later," said Bulan.
"Who are you living with, Ri, how come it's quiet?," "You're not afraid to be alone, are you?."
"No, it's been too many times so I'm used to it, usually I go with that person too, but because I have this task I don't come." I said.
"Owh, there's a Sport motorbike in your trunk, why did you take the Jupiter MX to school?."
While being engrossed in talking about the area here, Arif came using his motorbike. "You brought the white shirt, didn't you?," I said to Arif, "Yes, I brought it, let's just do it now, I have something to do after this," he said.
"Okay, Ari, get some water first to wet the clothes!," said Bulan while removing all of her food coloring.
I tied a rock in the middle of a white shirt and tied it with rubber, while Arif put food coloring into the three buckets I filled with water earlier. We use three colors, namely: Red, Yellow, and Green.
Indeed, the colors match the colors of Rastamania, but this is because we only get those three colors.
In the first knot I put it in red, then Bulan put it in the second bond in yellow then the three green colors were put in by Arif.
We left the part of the shirt unstitched so that later there will be four colors on the shirt.
After we finished coloring the clothes, we dried them so the colors would be permanent and would not fade. Meanwhile, we were waiting for the clothes to dry. Arif, on his own initiative, went to buy some snacks.
"Turns out it's easy to color clothes like this," I said to Bulan, who had just left the house after washing her hands in the bathroom.
"Yeah, it's easy, isn't it, and the ingredients are also easy to find, I was right in junior high school where my older sister taught me how to do this," I just nodded yes to what this cute guy said.
"Oh yeah, Rian said you were close to Debby in the next class?" ," "Yes, I'm just asking, Rian said you guys are almost done like that."
"That's a lie, how come I'm dating Debby, we don't talk much," "Didn't Debby like you? The girl in our class said Debby was chasing you, right?"
"I don't know Lan, but if you say you're close, you don't know either, but we didn't really happen, why do you ask that," I said. "No, I'm just curious," said Bulan, turning his gaze on the painting on the fence of my house.
"That painting is cool, who made it?" said Bulan, trying to change the topic of conversation.
"Oh that, what my father painted, that's a photo of Nikola Tesla, a great scientist, said my grandmother used to really like Tesla, even in the basement there are lots of books about that person."
"I've also seen a photo of that person, but I don't know who," said Bulan. I saw Bulan sitting staring at the painting.
Her eyes are so bright when seen from the side, the lips that seem to invite coming, the chin that is placed on the right hand shows how soft the face is.
There were a few minutes I looked at him, and it seemed that the Bulan also knew that I was looking at her but she let it go.
Instead, Bulan shifted her hand that had been blocking her view of her chest from the start, making that lump of fat clearly visible from my direction.
I don't know what went through my mind at that time, but if Arif doesn't come on time, maybe something will happen that you want, right? I also want that.
Arif came with quite a lot of snacks because it looked like his clothes would take a long time to dry. Arif and Bulan ate on the terrace while I was making coffee in the kitchen for the three of us.
"Here's the coffee, Grandma said my concoction coffee was delicious," I said while serving coffee for the two of them.
There are two chairs on the terrace of my house, one long chair and one small chair. Arif sat on the small chair and Bulan sat on the long chair, so I couldn't help but sit on the long chair with Bulan.
"I think it's going to take a long time to dry, if so I'll be back," said Arif. "How about this?" I said. "You're just waiting for, Ri, then during arts and culture class you bring your clothes," "That's true, Ri, you just bring it when you come in," said Bulan, adding Arif's suggestion.
"Well then, let's go home first," Arif hurriedly left my house. "Then how are you going home, Lan?," "I'll call my Mother first."
Bulan and I were still sitting together on the terrace while waiting for her mother to come, and not long after that she came to pick her up. We talked about many things, about my life as well as his life.
Bulan now lives with her stepfather because her mother remarried two months earlier, because of that Bulan has to move schools to be closer to her stepfather's house.
Bulan also said that he didn't really trust her new father, because as far as she knew, her new father was one of the thugs in his area.
####
It's been a month since Bulan was in our class, and my relationship with her is getting closer and even it's like an affair.
However, because my relationship with the Bulan is getting closer it also affects my relationship with my other two best friends, namely Aldi and Rian.
They apparently had expressed their love for the Bulan before but were rejected by Bulan, after they found out that the Bulan was close to me they thought that I was the reason they were not accepted by Bulan.
No matter how much I explained to them that Bulan and I are not related, they didn't listen to me at all.
They seemed to be avoiding me, but I didn't really care because Yayan, who was my friend since elementary school, never left me. The friendship that used to be four had to separate just because of a misunderstanding.
Because a lot of people already think that I've made up with Bulan the new student, I also intend to express my feelings to her.
Because indeed I also like Bulan, the new student who has fascinated me at first sight.
That day, still in the last lesson, I gave a letter to the Bulan. The letter said "Don't go home yet! I'll be waiting beside class 7."
The Bulan did not reply to my letter but put it in her shirt pocket. After the bell rang, I left the classroom and headed straight for 7th grade.
About 10 minutes after I waited for the Bulan to come over to me, with a smile that didn't change at all the first time I saw her she greeted "What's wrong Ri?."
I expressed my feelings even though my body was shaking, "Eee. Lan, Sari Bulan, I have to explain somehow, but what I want to say is that I am with you, I love you Lan," I said while looking into Bulan's eyes which were a little cheerful in them.
The Bulan smiled and said "Ri, really, why is it only now? I've been waiting for this for a long time," she said. I was very happy to hear what she said again saying "Lan, do you want to be my girlfriend?."
Bulan nodded while taking out the paper that I gave her earlier. She gave the paper to me, but because I was too happy because my love was accepted by her I immediately put the paper in my trouser pocket.
Monday, August 8 2016. Me and Bulan's anniversary, exactly the first month after he entered this school.
The next day after officially dating I came to school earlier than usual, because I was going to meet my girlfriend Sari Bulan.
After entering the classroom I saw Bulan sitting in my chair, I approached her and it turned out that she was writing her name in the right corner of my desk.
He laughed when she knew I was beside him when she wrote his name. She pointed at his desk where my name was written on the right corner of his desk. She whispered to me "Good morning Bubu," she said then sat back in her chair.
While putting my bag in the drawer I asked "Bubu? What does that mean?," "Bubu means beloved," said Bulan while showing her finger as a sign of love to me. "You are my love, and I am your love," said Bulan again.
I laughed seeing Bulan's behavior, which was usually very calm, turned very spoiled after we started dating. But that actually made me love her even more, there's nothing wrong with her using the word "BUBU" as our nickname.
Since me and Bulan's anniversary, I always take her home without having to be picked up by her mother. And because of that I also often pass by her house just to see it.
The Bulan House is near the football field where the road is still rocky but not too far from the main road. So every time I want to go to his house I have to go through a stone road for about 100 meters.
###
After running for more than a month, my relationship with Bulan has become more intimate, even when in the learning process we still send messages to each other.
Because at that time we were still not allowed to carry cellphones at school, we exchanged messages using letters.
But I bought a new bigboss book to use as a place for us to write messages.
Because if we exchanged letters it would make the middle of our books thin, so to save money I bought that book.
We don't need to send letters anymore, but give us the books right away so the teacher won't be too suspicious either.
After a month the book was almost half filled because we often exchanged messages, and whoever held the book last time will keep the book when he comes home.
In about a week, it will be time for the mid-semester exams. Bulan and I have promised to study hard for the exams later.
On Saturday after school, Bulan and I sat together in the classroom telling stories. Bulan told about her mother and stepfather who had been fighting a lot lately.
I listened to all her complaints and tried to make her worry less about it.
I took the Bulan home and the book was kept by the Bulan, so when I got home I took a break.
In the afternoon around 4 o'clock my village friends and I went for a walk to the beach which is not too far from our area.
Around 6 o'clock we decided to go home because maghrib would come, the road to the beach also passed the road to the Bulan's house.
Before going straight home I decided to pass by Bulan's house because usually she would sit in front of her house in the afternoon.
However, when I passed his house I didn't see the Bulan at all, even the house looked like it was all locked. I was surprised and kept looking at the house in the hope that she would come out.
Because of the stone road I wasn't going too fast because in front of me there was a white pick-up car, this road could only be passed by one car so I couldn't overtake it.
I still glanced at the Bulan's house every now and then to make sure whether she came out or not, without realizing it the car in front of me stopped so I stopped too.
I was right behind the car, the car door opened and out came the Bulan from inside the car.
She walked towards me who was still sitting silently on my motorbike. With a look that held back tears, Bulan said "Ri, I'm moving, moving houses and schools, so I won't be studying there anymore."
I was speechless and unable to say anything, silent because this is not what I expected when I came here. Indeed I met Bulan, but what I want is not the Bulan like this.
I didn't know what to say, even my mouth couldn't tell where he was going, this happened beyond my power.
Bulan took a key chain from her bag, a heart-shaped key chain with Sari Bulan written on it.
The Bulan gave it to me, "Keep this, there is my name on it, don't lose it so you don't forget me Ri," I held the small heart tightly then looked at the face of the Bulan, which I no longer found cheerful there.
A meeting that should start with a beautiful smile, must end with a lament of sincerity. The strong, spoiled, and cheerful giving Bulan now also gives a sadness.
The Bulan walked backwards then turned her body away from me, got back into the car, Slowly the car moved away from me who was still silent holding a small heart full of memories.
After the separation, I no longer met her anywhere, in the former class there was always a woman welcoming me.
Now only a table with my name on the right side remains, I sit in a chair where usually someone will always look at me, now it's quiet with no one to look at anymore.
When it's time to go home from school, I should be taking someone home, now I have to go home alone.
Sundays that should have been the days when I really studied, had to be wasted because I still remember events that can no longer be described.
The meatball shop that I used to stop at to buy now I have to pass by without stopping. The red light that was usually the place where I held hands with her before the green shone, was now the place where I used to count the remaining seconds.
The lonely street that used to put her face on my shoulder is now a place to rethink the bitterness of life. The cobblestone streets that she used to hug tightly are now streets that I no longer pass.
Jupiter MX which I usually clean every time I come home from school, now I keep the last scent of that lady in there.
The shop that used to be where we took shelter when the rains came, was now forced to close after there was no more blessing rain there.
Will the enthusiasm return to change, after that enthusiasm brings its way.
###
Two years after the incident occurred, I, who used to be considered a cheerful person, is now branded as a young man without a purpose in life.
Even though the story of me and the Bulan was finished a long time ago, Aldi and Rian didn't get angry.
Until the night of graduation they were still reluctant to be friends with me again. Even Yayan, who used to be there wherever I went, also moved schools in the first semester of third grade.
In between holidays after graduation, it was time for me to enroll in a new school. I enrolled in a high school that wasn't very popular in our area, but there were also many friends from the old school who attended school here so it wasn't too difficult for me to mingle again.
Aldi and Rian also went to school here, but they majored in social studies, while I majored in science because of a recommendation from the teacher after seeing my previous grades.
The new semester is approaching, I have also prepared everything for school in high school. Now I no longer use the old motorbike to go to school, my grandmother bought me a new motorbike as a gift when I graduated first.
On the first day of school, we new students were gathered at the flag field in front of the principal's room for class division.
After the class division was finished we were told to enter the class that had been told beforehand, we waited for the seniors to carry out the MOS which is what new students are used to doing.
I sat in the back seat because in this class I didn't know anyone, so I just sat behind listening to the seniors giving information about the activities we would be working on later.
When one of the senior was explaining to us another senior came to our class and called several people and was told to go to the field now.
Right in the last order my name was called by the senior, so I went along to the field.
On the field it turned out that there were also students who were called from other classes, a sports teacher stood in front of us saying "You are students who have achievements at your old school, I gathered all of you here to choose a few people who can be included in the sports team school," he said.
The teacher walked towards us and asked us one by one about what sport we were good at, after asking several other students the father arrived in front of me.
"Novrian?" he said confirming my name, I nodded yes to the Mr's question. With a little smile, the Mr said "You are the one I'm looking for, please stand there!," While pointing down a fairly shady tree.
After finishing asking the students one by one, the other students were told to gather according to the sport they were good at. The Mr called me and told me to follow him.
We went into the teacher's room and the father sat in his chair, he took a book and wrote my name on the list of football team players at this school.
I'm a soccer player and maybe he know my name because I used to play for one of the famous teams in this area.
Maybe that's why he immediately put me in the first team because I'm quite talented in football. He also explained to me that this school's soccer team doesn't have good enough players, so they're not well-known when they compete.
After finishing dealing with the Mr I went back into the classroom, and it turned out that the MOS activities had finished for today. The next day we were told to wear sports clothes that had been given by the school at the time of re-registration.
###
I've been studying here for a month, and my name is very well known because I also often practice with the school's core team.
The players The school football team is indeed loved by female students because it is the pride of the school.
Because of that, the players weren't good at playing because their only goal was to attract the attention of female students. But not with me, I always wanted to play football and therefore I was not influenced by other things in football.
In about two weeks we will take part in a tournament held by the district, the participants are all high schools in our district.
Of course that made us train more often to prepare for that game, because I had played in the Regency cup before so I was appointed by the coach to be the interim team captain.
I told about my experience playing in the district cup and gave my opinion about several players who used to be on the same team as me but are now separated because of different schools.
....
The time has come for the tournament to begin, so we will compete against a high school near the tournament location.
We will compete at 4 pm so we gathered at school at 11 pm, because the distance from our school to the tournament location is about 2 hours more.
We gathered at school together with the supporters who wanted to come watch us play.
Because this is an official tournament so the school let students who want to watch the match, quite a lot of students come to watch us.
After arriving at the stadium, the players were invited to go to the locker room, and the spectators were invited to sit in the stands.
The opposing team had also arrived at the stadium, we all warmed up on the field before the game started.
The spectators had already arrived because the team we were fighting against was one of the favourites, lots of spectators were sitting in the stands shouting at their team's players to cheer them on.
While warming up on the edge of the field an opposing player approached me, he was Dapid, my former teammate when I was in junior high school.
We shook hands because We haven't seen each other for a long time after our last game at this same stadium.
The match was about to start, and we all entered the field to shake hands and take our positions.
I am a left-footed right winger, and Dapid is a central midfield player. We used to be called the awesome duo but now we have to face each other.
###
The referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the match, and it was certain that the winner of this match was known. We won the game 1;0 thanks to a headed goal I scored in the second half.
After the match was over, I was increasingly recognized at school and even to other schools. Since then, there have been many girls who are close to me, but I don't really care because I still have one name saved.
Even though it's been two years since the Bulan left me, there's still nothing that can make me turn away from it. I've also always been looking for the Bulan's whereabouts since she left.
But let alone information about her house, I don't even know where the school is. It made me wonder if she had found someone new there, or if she didn't want to be found by me anymore.
I'm still here looking for it with a small heart that I still hold tightly, no matter how long I will look for it at any time.
Because nothing can change the way I feel for him, even after a long time of not seeing her the greater my love for her.
Before I met the Bulan I promised myself not to accept another woman besides her, with that I would be freer to look for her.
But every step I take to find it, it's always washed away by the rain that wants me to stay away from it.
Every area that I sensed the presence of the Bulan there, was always a reluctant area that I explored.
There's nothing I can do to find her other than composing a poem for her, hoping that a bird will fly each verse so that her little heart can hear it.
Poetry that takes the theme of someone who is far from the pen, becomes a place where the black letters litter the opaque.
The vibrations of the heart, the expression of feelings, and the fruit of the mind unite in something that we are reluctant to mention.
Hopefully on the appointed day, the Bulan and I will be reunited with a feeling that has not completely disappeared.