Merlinda (Ranging Back)
Regrets (Nathan )

Daniel didn't stop smiling, enjoying the streets of the capital with the woman he loved beside him, "this is the first time I've taken you" Daniel told Elin.

" Hemm.. Yes "said Elin with a face that looks anxious.

" What's up ? ".

" I'm a little scared because you brought the car" Elin explained. Hearing that Daniel's eyes grew, "are you doubting me dear ? ".

" No doubt, but you're not very good at carrying a car here, Daniel ".

" Holding on dear " cried Daniel while pressing the gas pedal. And the car he controls is now speeding up to defend the streets of Jakarta.

While Elin is now quietly resting on the back of the car seat, with the heart racing so fast, "Daniel don't be crazy. Remember soon we will be married " cried Elin.

Hearing that quickly Daniel slow down the car, "sorry baby I forgot "he said full of regret mixed with fear. Because that's what he's most afraid of right now, which is not getting married.

" Foolish fool "surpred Elin with a still roaring breath.

" You're challenging me "

" Who is challenging you. You're the one who's hooked ".

" It's the same darling" said Daniel defending.

" no. Don't defend yourself, Daniel. You're wrong ".

" Yes yes I was wrong. Forgive your future husband, baby " said Daniel so softly. Making Elin who was originally pouting immediately laughed, "cheer, very clever you seduce huh ".

" that's special to you "

" It was laughable to Daniel "the spout of Elin, and without feeling the car that carried them had arrived in the yard of the Vernandes family home.

" Let's love "take Daniel out while opening the car door.

" Elderly "greet Elin to two middle-aged women who are now relaxing in the back garden. The weather this afternoon was so bright as the atmosphere warmed up again, "my daughter-in-law." exclaimed Viona with both hands stretching towards Elin.

" Mam how are you ? " he asked as he clung tightly to the middle-aged woman's body into his arms, "of course it's fine to "reply with Viona while continuing to kiss her cheek.

" It's like you haven't seen each other for months. Just yesterday we met "limpal Wilna laughed.

Elin laughed, "today I became the new Elin. That's why I'm a little foreign "reply.

" New Elin "repeated Viona with a slightly wrinkled forehead, "yes mam "said Elin while nodding.

" Have you arrived ? " ask Green to join.

" Just "said Elin.

" Where is Brother Daniel ? "

" In his room, he said he wanted to take a shower "

" Hemm. Nathan and Alfin are also on their way home. Soon it may be "clear Green.

" Is Amel coming too ? "

" You think, could it be that he didn't join "attack Green chuckled.

" Where are you guys going ? " ask Wilna, and Viona who is curious.

Green and Elin looked at each other for a moment. Then Elin nodded, "we want to go to the grave of the late sister of Gerry's mother "he said heartily, looking at Viona's reaction.

" Daniel coming ? " so said the middle-aged woman, and Elin nodded, "yes mam ".

" Emm.., good" said Viona smiling.

" If only Mother had no business today. Mommy will definitely go with "limpal Wilna. His face was no longer cheerful after hearing the name of someone who had already left.

" Yes mother. Just send her a prayer it's better " Green said.

Throughout the journey Elin kept silent. Only occasionally smiled whenever she heard Alfin joking. So did Amel, the woman seemed to run out of words he said today. He is usually the most active person.

" Are you guys going down ? " ask Green as the car stops at a flowerbed.

" Hemm ya "sahut Elin realized from his daydream and Amel who went along.

Arriving at the flower figure Elin directly approached the pile of white roses, "Green I will bring this flower "he said and Green nodded, "it's sweet "so Green agreed.

Elin's eyes actually glanced at the pile of red roses not far from her. Flowers that he used to carry every time he visited the tomb of the man who until now filled his heart. But at this time, he could no longer carry the flower.

More precisely not impossible, but because he had to take care of someone's heart. Actually maybe he will understand, but this time Elin chose for someone who no one should understand and Elin was sure she would definitely understand.

And it turned out that it was Amel who took the red rose, "he liked this flower "he said weakly.

Hearing that Elin was stunned for a moment, and looked at Green who was now holding a flower Lily.

" If it's done. Let's go "get Green.

And a few minutes later they got back in the car holding a bucket of flowers in each hand.

" It's done ? " ask Nathan who is in control of the car.

" Hmm.., let's go. The sky was getting dark " Green said as he looked at the cluster of black clouds, "it was always like this "he added, complaining of the weather always turning dark every time they visited Gerry's grave.

The car has now stopped on the side of the road that is a link to a tomb of someone who really wants them to visit at this time.

Alfin and Amel got out first from the car, with a bucket of red roses in his hand.

" Let's "take Daniel with a hand out to Elin, who is now visibly distraught, "I'm really fine" he explained suddenly.

Elin's lips curled slightly, "Thank you for understanding "he said to the man before her, welcoming the man's hand.

Elin's footsteps slowed as she got closer to a tomb surrounded by her best friend. His heart was now pounding erratically, like there was a guilt that he was hard to explain.

In his view for a moment his hand which is now in Daniel's grasp, "May I come with him. Not a mistake" he said.

Amel had crouched down beside her brother's grave, putting down the red rose bucket she had brought with her, with Alfin crouching by her side.

Gently rubbed a stone bearing the name Gery Bianca. And the writing looks a little worn today, "I'm coming sister. Sorry for not visiting you often "he said weakly.

He was silent for a moment, while continuing to look at the tombstone before him.

There was a lot he felt after being on the side of the man's grave. Sad and a little disappointed now blend into one.

No matter what made him become disappointed at this moment, "you must have been happy" he said again, taking a deep breath.

" Sister today I miss you more than usual "he said hoarsely and his eyes now began to water.

" I suddenly want you here" he continued, with his hands now beginning to move to wipe away the crystal feathers that had fallen on his cheek.

" Dear." call Alfin softly.

" Don't cry. He will be sad to see you like this "he continued, gently rubbing his wife's shoulder, "but I miss him dear ".

" We are so too "he continued.

Amel looked back at the tomb before him, "sister. "call him weak. "after you go all is really different. Gathering in the family feels bland because you don't exist.

" There's a lot of people missing you and so wanting you to still be here with us, but I'm sure you're happier now "he's in a raspy voice.

He shook off the tears that were growing more and more, "I really miss you, really miss you. All the memories of you today filled my mind and made me miss you so much "

Alfin held Amel's body in his arms, " Brother, you must be disappointed to see your sister crying at this time. But I tried to prevent it. So you can't be mad at me "he joked. However, her watery eyes could not lie to her feelings. If he was really sad right now.

There is no feeling that is okay every time faced with the humorous man's grave, "we all miss you Ger" he said in a voice that began to follow the fibers. No more laughter there.

" I'm sorry I haven't been able to fulfill your wish of wanting to have a lot of spouts from us. But really I'm still trying Ger "he said back to laughing, and that sentence managed to make Nathan shake his head.

But the smile quickly faded as he looked back at the gravestone before him, at the sight of the carving after carving inscribed on the stone, where it is written clearly when the time the man left everyone for good, "time so quickly passed. But your memories are endless in our memories. Your place is not replaced, maybe even until whenever "he said.

" We'll meet someday. And I hope you still have the same sense of humor" he said.

" Well to see you later" he said again, re-enfolding Amel's body to take her a little away. However, before that the woman again gently rubbed the headstone in front of him, "until she met again sister. I miss you and still love you as much as I used to. There is really nothing less, even though our place is different, but everything is still the same "he said with tears returning.

" Well to see you again "again. Then it completely drifted away and now it changed with Green and Nathan approaching the side of the tomb.

Green hasn't spoken. However, her tears had already dripped. Even the crystal feather had fallen down since then.

" What's the news of brother "greet Nathan after he was silent for a moment to say a prayer.

Green placed Lily's flowers on the tomb, wiping away tears that did not stop dripping, "sorry today I was so crybaby" he said.

" You must be angry because we don't visit you often "he added in an increasingly hoarse tone. Today he really could not stop his crying. No matter what he was feeling, but today it felt so empty, especially when faced in the tomb of the man.

There was a sense of sadness that he could not explain at this time, "You must have been happy, brother "he said.

" My best friend is happy, brother. Surely you are also happy there and it must be" he continued by wiping his tears back, then silent for a moment to sigh.

" Now your bangs are already big Ger. Sorry not to bring it ", Nathan said, who now turns to talking. Then he paused for a moment, "I don't know what else to say to you. But so far everything's fine Ger. So you don't have to worry about anything anymore. And as you can see, Elin is happy too. Like what you wanted first "he continued.

Not far from that place, Elin's hand tightly grasped the edge of her clothes. His feelings became so emotional after seeing his best friend speak before the tomb of the man who once filled his heart.

Half dead he held back from crying. In the middle of hands that join hands with her future husband.

" It's been a few years since you left. But nothing has changed Ger, just maybe this time it's becoming more accepting that you're not here anymore "

Green touched the headstone in front of him, "we really miss you brother. And forever so "he said, "I'm sure you know that your place will not be replaced until any time ".

" Blessed "he added in such a calm tone.

He first moved from the side of the tomb. While Nathan was still squatting there, staring at the tombstone before him, he repeatedly sighed, "I really miss you "he said so deeply and his hand moved wiping his watery eyes.

" You know, until now I still regretted that day "he said with a hand held tightly to his fingers, "I really thought you were asleep at the time. Without knowing, that you have left us "he continued so claustrophobicly.

" If I had known that day was Ger's last. I will definitely do something that could delay your departure . I can do something I can still do for you "the spark with the tears that have flowed. His heart was broken when he remembered the night he had watched the man's departure quietly, at which point he thought he was asleep. Until finally the machine in the nursery room sounded.

Nathan's tears flowed so hard. No one knew that he harbored that regret all this time.Nobody knew how to break his heart every time considering that he had been a friend who was so useless. However, today why, imprinted the man, he wanted to spill it all. All about her pent-up regrets, and all her fears on that day.

He was crying on a lifeless thing. A thing engraved with the name of someone so loved by everyone. That thing is not alive. It was as if it was able to make everyone cry while looking at him. Crying and hoping for someone who was inside that thing to come back to life.

" Ger." he called.

" Your departure is like punishing me. I don't not accept everything, it's just that everything is so hard for Ger to accept" he said amid flowing tears. Now Alfin came closer, and gently patted his brother's shoulder. He understood what Nathan was feeling now, for he was, too, but perhaps not as deeply as his brother. And he never knew that his brother felt such deep regret for that day.

" Gery is happy Jo. Don't regret it "he told Nathan.

Amel cried again in the middle of the face covered by his palms. So did Green who now again approached Nathan's side and did not stop gently rubbing the man's arm, "You are not wrong whatsoever.Indeed it's like this way "she said, trying to calm her husband.

Nathan turned to the sky. Trying to stop her crying, even though it was so hard to do.

Because every time he wanted to do so, the image of the man's pale face reappeared in his mind. The face he thought was just sleeping. But it seems to go away forever.

" I'm sorry for being so crybaby Ger "had choked amid still flowing tears.