PERIPLES
14. Beachside

"Where do you get your food from?"

Sister Harris opened the oil paper, and gave it to me, "Front of the hospital. There's a field cooking stall that's open twenty-four hours."

I'm mangosteen. Then back to silence. The four of us began to eat rice paddies with chicken and parchment, on the floor beside the bed, without any reason. We sat in a circle, and in the middle was three cups of coffee, and one cup of hot tea.

"It feels camping if gini." Lukas said as he sipped his coffee.

Brother Harris followed, "Where is the camping theme of drugs."

"Not to the hospital anymore." My solute.

Luke put the coffee, "If you become a doctor, continue to work where dong? At school?"

"Haha not that either. I mean, I don't want anyone to get sick anymore. If the doctor works in a hospital."

Luke laughed, Brother Harris laughed too. I accidentally saw Mahen who was still busy spending his rice.

"Why Hen, diem mulu daritadi?" Ask Lukas.

Mahen clenched the package that had been toilet, "Again eat, can not while chatting."

"You usually eat while you walk, talk, use your left hand, don't do'a anymore."

Mahen stared at Luke's cynics, then got a sneer reply. Their food has run out, the coffee is just the cup. I'm collecting all the trash into a crackle.

"Why are you here?" I was actually curious.

"Mahen from the afternoon has not returned yet. I send you to him, and I go home together with the same friends. Keep picking up Lukas who wants to come here too."

"Luke knows where?"

Luke smiled, "The inner blessing is not, Vel."

Mahen screeched, "The gue from the beginning is here only."

"This time to yuk beach? Find sunrise."

Suddenly, the three of us turned towards Sister Harris.

"We have to go to school." My solute.

Brother Harris pressed the back of his hand against my forehead, "Hot Pantes. Effect of wicket. It's sunday." Now."

Also true. The game was held on Saturday, and I fell asleep until twelve in the evening, which means it's three in the morning on Sunday. I turned to look at Mahen, he was busy playing his phone.

"Don't you. Vella just got sick gini should go straight home." Mahen said after putting his phone in the pocket of the black hoodie he was wearing.

Luke nodded in agreement, "Well I agree with Mahen."

"Jaudah if that is it. I'm the same Vella who lives. It's even good if you don't come. Vella also needs refreshing times. Only to the beach doangan, not the gym or golf."

"Can. I'm the same with Harris if you don't want to."

"It can't be dong. I was here with your car, Bang. Means I'm going home too have to be anter." Luke did not accept.

"Gue is coming too. I took the school car this morning, so I don't know how to go home."

"Jaudah everyone is coming. Excite the rame-rame." I said final.

I picked up the trash I had collected, and walked out to look for the trash. Actually inside there, but all of you want to take a walk.

Luke followed me, we walked side by side. After disposing of the trash, the two of us still continued on our way, instead of returning.

It turned out that my ward was on the second floor, so I could see the lower floor of the corridor.

"Case. According to you, mending fixing a thousand mistakes with the same person, or starting from scratch with a new person?"

Luke halted his steps, and looked at the first floor, of which there were only a few people there. It is too early to start the activity.

"There is no harm in correcting even more than a thousand mistakes with the same person, but on condition that both of them do intend to improve for the sake of the relationship itself."

"Gue likes someone, Cash."

Silent. There was no response from Luke.

"Gue likes you, Sister Harris. But I still haven't completely missed Mahen." I continued, who still did not get the authorization from the man.

I'm down. I heard a long breath from Luke. He held me in his arms. There was not the slightest movement for me to resist, because what I think is comfort right now.

"Vell. Lo is too fragile to make people around you can't stand to protect you."

"That feeling of liking grows with time. Have you ever heard of the Javanese proverb tresno jalaran soko kulino? We are used to it, just a feeling of liking arises. Lo meet Bang Harris every day, let alone he always you, I don't even believe that like you say that you don't like him."

"If Mahen's problem, do you have a guarantee that he will not admit the mistakes that made you sick all this time? Don't let it work back and forth twice. You just haven't completely forgotten, it doesn't mean you still love him. Is he still jealous if he shunts each other girls? And as long as you're out of contact with him are you having trouble?"

I'm thinking. I don't care who Mahen is close to now. I'm also fine living life without him, even I feel my life is better without him.

"Gue same Bang Harris heard you talk with Mahen earlier. I see you cry. I've been willing to stop Mahen, but luckily he's being held by Bang Harris."

I'm not crying because I still love Mahen. But I just don't accept, why he's always willing to interfere with my life, while I can't do that to him.

"From there, I know that Bang Harris is good for you, Vel."

For some reason when Luke said that line, my blood rippled. I returned Luke's embrace, even tighter than Luke's holding me. He loosened his grip, and went to meet Mahen and Bang Harris.

There, the two of them were ready. The four of us walked to the administration and then exited to the parking lot. Harris approached his black car. He went in first.

Luke opened the back door, told me to come in, followed by him. Unexpectedly, Mahen also opened the back car door, sitting to my right. I was squeezed by both of them.

"You think I'm a driver?" Sindir Kak Harris started the engine.

I hit Mahen and Luke, "Front one ah. Still giving me a ride."

They both did not move at all. I growled at him, "Judah I am ahead."

"No. I'm aja. Don't move much." Luke, who rushed to open the door, moved to sit beside the wheel.

The song Now I Know by Kaleb J fills the car. No one's talking, anymore. What the hell is it?

Feeling my sleepiness no longer restrained I began to fall asleep.

...***...

"Vels."

My eyes narrowed, with the position of the head resting on Mahen's shoulder. Suddenly, I'm getting away from her. I don't see Brother Harris and Luke up ahead.

"Udah until. Comeondown. Luke and Bang Harris."

Without answering, I got out of the car. It's still dark, the street lights haven't been turned off. I reached into my pocket, which seemed to be replaced with my mother last night. All I know is, wake up I'm not wearing a jersey anymore. I took my phone to look at the clock. It was four in the morning.

Harris and Luke are not seen. Either they've been playing water or playing women there. I felt my hand held by Mahen. I rebelled.

"For the last one, Vel."

He said, which made me say nothing. I don't know the full extent of his words. Has he not disturbed my life anymore? Or did he decide to forget me too? Or is he going to be in a relationship with another woman? Whatever, it's none of my business.

We both walked around, it felt really cold. But Mahen didn't take off his hoodie for me. He wasn't wearing a sweatshirt, I thought.

From a distance, I saw Luke walking towards us along with Mahen's detached grasp.

A little claustrophobic, but it's okay. That was the last one, right? I should be happy, after this I am no longer worried by false hopes. I'm really loose now.

"Hen. Anterin I took a drink in the car."

Not as I thought, Mahen nodded.

"Lo followed Bang Harris there first Vel." Lukas said by pointing to the edge of the beach that has not stepped on the tide stage.

Without waiting for my approval, the two of them left. I continued my steps towards where Sister Harris was sitting alone.

He raised his head as I stood beside him. I sat down, hugging my knees from the cold. Sister Harris took off her jacket and put it on my back.

"I can finally breathe." He said without facing me.

I saw Brother Harris smiling. Perfect to look at from the side like this. Now I believe, God created man in the best possible form.

"From childhood, I really want to go to the beach with people I love. With the family like everyone else."

I haven't responded yet, because I think Sister Harris still wants to continue her words.

"And now I'm grateful to be able to live my hope."

The man turned his head to face me, "While it's not the same family, at least I can come here with other people I love."

"Vel, I love you the same."

In that instant, I forgot how to properly inhale oxygen. I felt the beach breeze was too much to enter my lungs. Not a painful tightness, but a tightness that I myself do not know would explain in what way.

Sister Harris looked at me with a shady look, a soothing look, no demands implied by her beautiful eyes.

As the beach continued to scream as if nothing could disturb his voice, the sky began to show a red tinge, as red as my cheek now. The sun started to rise, along with my turbulent feelings.

That handsome parasite, slowly but surely began to erode the distance between us. Things that are too beautiful to be witnessed by others include Luke and Mahen.