Swipe You, Swipe Me
The World's

Genta's been moved to the treatment room, Tara.

Tara reads William's message waiting for Genta with her family. After a two-hour operation, Genta was transferred to the ICU for post-operative recovery. Two of his ribs were broken, his fifth spine fractured, bleeding in the eye and a minor concussion. That's what is currently leaving Genta lying in the hospital.

William skipped his morning broadcast hours to cool Genta in the hospital. The doctor assessed that Genta's condition was stable and could be transferred to the general care room even though he was not aware.

Tara's feeling was a little calmer. Compared to last night he could not sleep. Just rolling on the bed and his eyes could not be closed at all. The state of Genta, the complexity that ensued and guilt haunted him like an unflagging leech before he was full of blood.

"Mbak Tara, called mother," Atika resuscitated Tara in her mind.

"Oh, yes," he brought all the documents he was working on, tidied up the appearance and stepped into Ms. Salma's room.

Upon arriving, Tara knocked on the door of her room three times. He came in after Ms. Salma gave him permission.

"Siang Ma'am," closed the door behind him.

After the incident the other day, Ms. Salma just entered today. The injured part of his head is still bandaged. But the crazy effects of work cannot be eased by the gauze bandage. He was busy reading the documents in front of him.

"This is the report that I asked for revisions to," Tara put the map containing the statistical report that Ms. Salma had requested on the table.

"Sit down, Tara," his command was still with his usual tone. He was still struggling with a pile of files asking for approval from Ms. Salma's signature.

Tara pulled the nearest chair from her body and sat still, waiting. I hope he doesn't get as bad as last year. Even though everyone knows Miss Salma and nagging like envelopes and stamps. Stick to each other.

The hard-looking woman closed the newly signed document and left it to the side. He fused his ten fingers and looked directly at Tara.

"How are you?"

Uh!

Not usually Miss Salma throws a pleasantry question like that. Is this the effect of his head being hit? In his ignorant heart, why did not from long ago Bu Salma's head hit? So not many employees are broken charcoal with his attitude.

"Good, Mom. As you can see" he replied politely.

"You sure?" Miss Salma looked at him.

Just this time Tara saw Miss Salma's gaze like that. Eyes of worry and motherhood are a little awkward if mounted on a figure in front of him.

"Yes, Mom," said Tara slowly.

"I've heard your friend's story. You know, being treated like it's not an experience we want to feel in life," her eyes immediately glared somewhere. "I've been treated like that. Decades ago but it feels like it was just yesterday."

Tara lowered. Her life has gotten weird lately. Things he never experienced eventually had to become a bitter memory. No physical loss is accepted. But it was a traumatic experience for him.

"Don't easily trust someone Tara. You should be able to protect yourself. At the end of the day, however, we are only friends with ourselves" he said wisely.

Maybe because of that, Ms. Salma is famous for being private and reclusive. But, in his view now Miss Salma is a very sincere and considerate person. All the things about his superiors were broken at their meeting.

"Where do you know him?" tanyanya gently.

"An app, Mom," Tara honestly.

"Oh. Be careful, son. Don't let you regret and change your true self" her message that somehow touched Tara.

"Don't get in touch with people like that. He won't change until anytime. Because a person's character will never change even if time has run fast."

***

That afternoon, after returning from Tara's office to the hospital to see Genta. He put the fruit and snacks he bought. Even if Tara knew, Genta would definitely not eat it. At the very least, he left the hand to the male guard who was asleep on the mattress.

There's nobody in this room, except the two of them. Where's guarding Genta, he doesn't know. Tara sat down on a chair near the Genta bed and pulled her closer. For a long time he was silent and just looked at the figure of the man. A man who always throws his words without a second thought. Tara smiled.

"How are you doing, Gen?" tara's speech broke the silence. "I'm sorry. You shouldn't have been hurt like this."

Tara took her breath in.

Tara flipped over Genta's palm and looked at some wounds wrapped in thin cassa. He touched a wide palm and remained warm despite the wound. His fingers trace every line of Genta's hands.

"Sorry," a single tear fell on Genta's ring finger. "I'm sorry that I haven't healed and got you into my life when I'm unprepared."

Tara put her face on Genta's warm palm. She cried.

***

Blurry views. Slowly he opened his eyes so he could see more focus. His left eye still felt sore and swollen. It feels like he can't move. His whole body was heavy and powerless.

He was in a room with a light illumination. By ourselves. He heard a snoring from the right side of his bed. It turned out that someone was accompanying him.

Genta glanced at the origin of the sound but his ribs were sore. He turned his head slightly and found Tara asleep there holding his hand. Seeing the girl made the shadow of torture come back.

"Uhh!" the sound coming out of his mouth sounded hoarse. He hasn't drunk anything since when.

Genta closed his eyes hoping that all was lost as he opened his eyes. And he realized again, that he was in that dim room. What he did not realize was that the girl had been awake and looking from her seat. Tara shut her mouth choked and rushed out.

Before long, the group of sisters and the doctor guarded the room. Approaching the Genta mattress and checking its vital signs. The doctor immediately attached a cold object to the skin on his chest and stomach. One nurse took note and the other adjusted the infusion hose. The doctor left his bed and talked to the girl.

"Thank God then doc..."

Tara's Voice

Genta fell asleep again.

***

Tara got a call from the police to be questioned at eleven. He stopped by again to see Genta because it happened that the hospital and police station were just across.

The room was empty and silent. When Tara entered the man was sleeping. On the sofa chair facing the man's bed, there was a handbag left behind. Means there was someone accompanying Genta this morning.

Tara palpated Genta's delicate arms. Seeing the man fall asleep somehow made Tara calm down. He pulled the chair to get close to the sleeping Genta. His breathing is constantly rising.

"When can I talk to you, Genta?" tanyanya smiled.

The bruise in Genta's eyes is still as big as a spongy ball even though the purplish color began to fade this morning. Slowly Tara's finger stretched out. Her index finger touched Genta's bandaged nose. He let his hand run from the tip of the man's eyebrow to the tip of his nose. No matter what the urge, Tara just wanted to touch the sleeping man.

"You're Tara, huh?"

Tara turned to the direction where the voice came from. A middle-aged woman stood at the end of Genta's bed. White hair that mingled with her black hair did not detract from the beauty of the woman. He wanted to know how beautiful she was when she was young.

"Yes, Auntie," replied Tara politely as she stood up from her seat.

"I'm Genta's mother. Introduce my name Kinanti," Kinanti reached out her hand and was greeted by Tara. "Genta a lot of stories about you lately."

Tara silently listened. He was quite surprised that Genta had told his mother. Tara's heart is dry. He even told his mother about Genta.

"I said to bring and introduce you to the family" he continued. His eyes looked at his son concerned. "But she said she still doubted your heart, Tara."

Both of Kinanti's eyes looked towards Tara. Finally he could only look down because he could not bear to see those eyes. Tara doesn't know, but she feels a mother's eyes can read anything related to her child. Tara was worried, and Kinanti could see that Tara had not harbored any feelings for Genta.

Kinanti advanced closer to Tara and raised her bowed face.

"Son, I don't forbid if you have a relationship. But please, if you don't have any more feelings for Genta, don't give him any further hope than you can give" she said. She squeezed Tara's arm and rubbed it. There was no threatening tone in his words.

"I can tell why my son likes you. Your eyes are very round. She must have liked your eyes, "Kinanti smiled.

"Mom" Genta's voice caught the attention of the two women of the other generation.

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Awaiting likes, comments, criticisms and suggestions dear readers 🥰