Swipe You, Swipe Me
The World II's

Kinanti immediately advanced toward her son, "have you woken up. Want to drink, son?"

"No, ma'am," said Genta lirih.

"Eh, yes there is Tara," Kinanti pulled Tara's hand until it was seen by Genta. "Mother stay first."

Kinanti's face hinted at something to her son. Then leave the room.

"Tara," the trembling hands of Genta tried to reach him.

"Hi, Gen," Tara welcomed the hand and sat down on the bedside. "How are you?"

"Better than 10 hours ago I guess," Genta smiled. His swollen left eye still could not open. Only his right eye was red because his blood vessels broke open.

Tara felt the hands of this man actually tremble. His eyes closed for a long time as if he did not want to see Tara's face. Is he now the source of Genta's fear, as Dave becomes the source of his anxiety?

Tara was about to let go of the hand, but Genta held her back, "why?"

"Are you afraid to see me?" ask Tara directly.

Genta fell silent again and closed his eyes. But the hand that held Tara hardened until Tara was in pain. Tara decided to endure the pain.

"I don't know it's all so bad" Genta tried so hard to say. His eyes are still closed.

"I'm sorry" Tara stroked the hand that held her too tightly. "You can hate me, Genta."

"I heard what you said that night. You are not ready to accept me. That's why I still can't introduce you to my parents. I doubt it, Tara," he said.

"I'm fine, Genta," said Tara Lirih. The man's words were precisely slicing his heart.

"I have something in that drawer" Genta hinted Tara to take the item.

Tara opened the drawer and found a shabby sketchbook. Signs that the book is used frequently.

"Can you open the last three pictures?" said slowly.

Tara opened the sketchbook on a blank page. Then start looking for the picture in question. He was surprised to see a picture of himself.

Sitting on the edge of an artificial lake in his town. One of his hands was embedded in a white twisting with a dramatically carved puff of smoke. That sight looks wide. Morning culinary peddlers are there, people who are jogging are also included in the frame. But everything was gently shaded until it seemed to focus only on him. Genta signs with the date of July twenty-five under him.

This was long before Tara downloaded the SwipeLove app and long before she got to know Genta. At that time his heartache was still severe. He looked at Genta who was lying down and had been watching him for a long time. Awaiting reaction. Tara was only flabbergasted waiting for the man's explanation.

"I already know the lake. I've seen you long before the app brought us together" he said. "And I admired you long before you knew me."

A tear rose and fell from the end of his eye. Not because he was sad, but he was too surprised and happy to hear what Genta had just said.

"You can bring the picture to Tara," Genta's weak hand tries to wipe away the tears on Tara's cheek. "Make it a gift from me because I finally know you not only as a two-dimensional picture" he said.

"Don't let you keep this," Tara refused. It would seem to be a rage if he took the painting as well. "I finally know why you came to the lake, the other day."

Genta smiled, "you still wonder about it?"

Tara just nodded.

They both looked old. No one spoke, but they spoke. Without a word coming out of each other's mouths, they had agreed to become ordinary friends.

"I have to go, the police are waiting for me to testify," Tara picked up the sketchbook and returned it to where she took it.

"Tara..," Genta continued. He simply extended his hand which Tara immediately greeted.

But the problem is I've already. The clapper releases the grip on Tara's hand. Maybe not yet.

***

The watch on her wrist showed at 14:35, as Tara left the police building. After leaving the hospital where Genta was treated, he did get a schedule for the investigation of Dave's case. He was asked for some information related to Dave's actions some time ago. Tara also revealed the abuse she experienced in front of the investigation team.

He did not forget his promise to Rendi to meet at the Fountain Park at 15:00. After a long time of not meeting, his heart was not at all calm. Maybe because the events that recently happened make Tara also tired.

After disembarking from public transport, Tara walked down the road to Fountain Park, where Rendi first saw her. Got his long coat. The wind that blows in January is quite bone-chilling, especially today. The sky looks gray but does not give a sign of rain coming.

He put up music to accompany the steps to explore the road to Fountain Park. The shadow of this figure appeared in his mind. How is he doing? Is she happy with Sofia? Does Randy remember it? Tara hopes that whatever the man remembers is a sweet memory of her.

🎶I will never know if you love me

(i never knew if you loved me)

Or my company, but I don't mind

(or when I was with me, I never thought about it)

'Cause I ain't tryna be the one

(because I'm not trying to be the only one)

Been through this a thousand times

(who passed this a thousand times)

I don't needa take your heart

(i don't need to take your heart)

You keep your, I'll keep mine🎶

(you take care of yours, I take care of mine)

Of course I'm proud, I was able to steal your heart, Tara. Won!

🎶All I really know is when I'm lonely

(What I know when I'm lonely)

I hate that I'm lonely

(i hate it when I'm lonely)

And that's why I let you in🎶

(that's why I let you come)

I'm not ready to be alone, and lonely again. I need you, Tara.

🎶And maybe in another life

(and maybe in other life)

Weight fight all day, kiss all night

(we fought all day and we made out all night)

But I don't wanna break your heart

(However, I don't want to break your heart)

You keep your, I'll keep mine🎶

(you take care of yours, I take care of mine)

An angry and screaming expression as they quarrel swirled in Tara's head, then a kiss with all the tempest that finally ended the quarrel.

Tara smiled wryly thinking about it.

🎶I know's

(i know)

We know better so we'd both better go🎶

(we understand that it would be better if we split up)

He turned towards the park that had a water shower in the middle. That afternoon the wind was too cold. Around the fountain, many people enjoy an afternoon with family and friends.

🎶I don't need a reason

(i don't need a reason)

To keep on dreamin'

(to keep dreaming)

That we don't lose

(if we don't lose each other)

Yeah, what's the use?

(for what?)

I don't need a reason

(i don't need a reason)

To keep on dreamin' oh

(to keep dreaming, oh)

That we can win at anything at all🎶

Several cyclists passed around the iconic center of the place. Near the staircase, the skateboards-freestyler practiced down the stairs. The little boys run to and fro. They seem to ignore the cold wind that blows. Tara put her coat together.

And just then, his eyes caught the figure of Rendi in the distance....

🎶Am I the only one who sees right through this?

(is I the only one who can see it?)

Yeah, all this bullshit

(all this shit)

Don't play me for no fool

(don't play me stupidly)

Yeah, you don't gotta lose your mind

(you shouldn't lose your mind)

Every time I don't call

(every time I call you)

And I should never have to win your love

(And I don't have to win your love)

Then hate myself when I don't, oh, oh🎶

(then hate myself if I fail)

"Yes," but Tara knew in her heart, something else in Rendi's tone was agreeing with her intuition. "but I can't keep this up."

"Tara, what do you want?" replied Rendi while sighing. He's confused. Until he was unaware that he was holding his phone too hard. "My phone's dead and my power bank's behind. No plugs around here. I'm. I'm."

As long as Rendi spoke, Tara steeled herself to say firmly, "We broke up." Tara held back her tears from falling more.

🎶Fickle as you are

(changing all you want)

That's exactly why I keep on running back

(That's why I keep chasing again)

'Cause I'm brittle at the parts

(that's why I'm fragile)

Where I wish I were strong

(where should I wish I was strong)

And maybe when you need my help

(and maybe you need my help)

I like myself when it's over🎶

(if I prefer it when it's all over)

Tara painfully remembered it. Seeing the man was like three dollars with all the memories that followed him. All she knows is more clearly, Tara misses.

***

He glanced at the watch in his hand, 15:05. He was sure Tara would show up soon. Rendi took place around the water fountain which became the icon of the park. I'm waiting for you, Tara.

Rendi circulated her gaze in all directions of the garden and her eyes were locked on one woman wearing a knee-length brown coat. The January wind is colder than December. Like the look of that woman, Tara.

🎶But later in the light

(if everything is clear)

You go dark and rogue, and I need closure🎶

(you are dark and deceiving, I need an end)

Rendi stood up and stepped slowly, as well as Tara through the fanfare of the little children who ran to and fro.

🎶And I know

(then I know)

Whatever this is ain't love🎶

(this isn't all love)

"Tara," he said as they were only 2 steps away.

"Rendi," Tara stepped up and wrapped her arms around the man's neck. Clutching it tightly, as if trying the two bodies could unite. "I'm gonna tell you something but let's keep it like this for a moment. 'cause I miss you."

Rendi held the woman tighter.

"I love you so much, Rendi. It's precious to me, "one grain of sorrow fell smoothly from the corner of his eye. "One in a million that life could give me."

🎶So I'm go-

(i'd better go)

I'm gonna let you go, let you go🎶

(i'll let you go, let you go)

"But we know that loving someone is just like holding sand. If we hold it too tightly, we keep nothing" Tara slowly loosened her arms. "I chose to hold onto the sand helplessly."

Rendi relaxed her embrace reluctantly. He didn't know if this was what he wanted or just got carried away by the atmosphere, "Can't we try?"

🎶I don't need a reason

(i don't need a reason)

To keep on dreamin'

(to keep dreaming)

That we don't lose

(if we don't lose each other)

Yeah, what's the use?

(for what?)🎶

"The two of us are part of the past, which will be a burden of each other's emotions in the future," Tara looked at the two men's balls. The man he loved not forever could have. Because even in the most beautiful sleeping flower, the rope of hope cannot be tied tightly.

🎶I don't need a reason

(i don't need a reason)

To keep on dreamin' oh

(to keep dreaming, oh)🎶

"Let's be separate again," Tara retreated slowly, She was eager to see the man with all her senses and cells in his body. His soul thrashed but he had to be quiet until sick. Because after all, the path they went through was never the same again. "We live each of our lives from here, I'm happy to have known you and to have been part of your memories."

🎶That I can win this stupid thing called love🎶

(if I can win the stupid thing called love)

***

The girl had already passed half an hour ago but Rendi was still sitting on the edge of the fountain. It intentionally linger. Absorbing what he felt. The fragrance of Tara's hair was still the same as when they took the time to meet. The fragrance of her perfume did not change as her senses greedily inhaled the scent of Tara's body. The physical warmth seemed not to decrease in the slightest when Rendi summarized it in a decoction.

There's no turning back. Tara had already closed the meeting and Rendi agreed. The joint never thought, its weight releasing like pushing a large chunk of rock and as light as dust particles floating in the air at the same time. Then, if they long to whack, they only return in memory fragments that carve smiles or cries.

..., I chose to grip the sand helplessly.

It's over, Rendi. His whisper is small in heart.

***

Unlike the past, his embrace did not make him have to tiptoe. Instead, Rendi did lift her body until she floated. The longing for those two sturdy hands tickled his tribe. The strong backrest from the shoulder of his field touched the recesses of his soul. Vibrate the sound from the concrete neck that penetrates into the eardrum, leaving the impression of talks spent through unrobed air. Until now, nothing has really succeeded in replacing every feature more than the Man.

Tara stared at the blurred vision outside due to the fast pace of the iron snake she was riding. The more the tools moved the place went far, the more the memories between them went apart. Because the thing that starts will meet the end. Like a sentence that ends at a point.

🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

Awaiting likes, comments, criticisms and suggestions dear readers 🥰

Song by Niki - Lose

All credit goes to 88Rising

Don't forget to enjoy this episode with the melodious voice of Kak Niki! (no, I made the same request to sing in AR ID: 100171 hihihi 😁)