Sometimes, the deepest wound is hidden behind the loudest laughter.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqZSw8fzvT
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwBbNg9ITI
And in Jogja—in the middle of coffee shop chatter, small jokes, and too familiar dusk—Aksa chose to keep laughing.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtMxRzWY6H
Not because he is happy. But because he was afraid of the question 'what's wrong with you?' It comes from someone who is too sincere.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcdJGWqmHS
⸻
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFuSVdjiS5
The sky of Jogja that afternoon was so familiar.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡML09Rw8rOL
As if this city knows how to welcome feelings that want to hide. Gentle, but never let someone be completely forgotten.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaE43nQZvdy
Aksa sat on a bench near their favorite places, letting his back lean and his eyes swept over the sky that was slowly changing in color. Senja is indeed good at disguising something—like himself.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PFHRPxMGO
"Yes, just one toast, Sir," said Rere while laughing, adding the order while chewing.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3kZSf5K4e
"Don't be hungry like that, Re. That toast is not your ninja way," Niko snapped, then laughed loudly to himself.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbyJ2mMe7U
Aksa laughed too.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4vz6I1UaA
Not too loud. But quite convincing.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfv20keCSBU
Enough to disguise that since he came, he hasn't touched his tea.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeyB7c4qvF
"How come you're still holding the warm tea, Sa?" Arul asked while pointing to the glass that had not been drunk.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuyo5eGMVV
Aksa smirked, spontaneous. "Let someone do it. After all, the heart is already cold."
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvilpzwklt
Others simultaneously cheered, teased.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyKaXLI792
"Wow, wow, you're starting to be poetic, bro!" Said Tari with a seductive style, following her opening her jacket because the wind started to fall.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxDAeJ3x2q
But only Aksa knew, his left hand trembled slightly. He held it under the table, then pretended to be busy cleaning the glass with a tissue.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7Hx9yCR1A
⸻
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvEeVy0Ho9
There are six of them. Best friend since high school.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmblhN3SKE
Jogja that unites them: a city that feels like going home, but often also slaps with silence.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQfU94KJ0w
There is Arul, the moodbooster.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFRLB81pw5
Rere, who is too chatty but entertaining.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIARtzPna13
Tari, the listener is silent.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJmbw6zdJW
Niko, who likes to overthink but denies.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4gXhhNqXF
Dina, the secret analyst.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOT9OpN4ZZ4
And of course, Aksa. The one who always laughs the loudest—but always the first to go home.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sXnCw8WGY
⸻
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPCHsq3yUW
The night is starting to fall slowly.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidzJnZN1qa
The sound of motorcycles, the chatter at the next table, and the smell of charcoal from the fried food began to mix with the cooling air.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTyHhMFbNz
"Eh, have you ever thought about it," said Tari, suddenly serious, "if one of us actually keeps something that can't be told?"
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDG08UV5va
The atmosphere suddenly became quieter. Even Mr. Lik, who used to fan the satay, stopped for a moment, as if he caught the tone in that question.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI5xaNzmUT
Rere said, "You said that while looking at Aksa, you know. Poor him, hahahaha."
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg0nokSCCM
Everyone laughed. Except Aksa.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMLjcaimi4
He also smiled, but his eyes didn't smile.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzR3Lz2TmK
If I tell you, are you sure you can accept it? Or even stay away?
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzQXFsEqQd
⸻
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2f0KeRckg
Jogja, 3 years ago
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oVeLthJ9C
There was one night where Aksa sat alone in a small ditch near the angkringan. It was raining at that time. And his hands were bleeding because of something he wouldn't tell.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiJ8IrRT90
Someone once left—leaving a huge hole in his chest that couldn't be patched.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VSCIUXiaK
Not because of death. But because of losing self-confidence that was destroyed after a long night.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVt8Qayw0dJ
He knew, that night changed him.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wqurpM6gf
But he never talked about it. Even on himself.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W8CRSc1MZ
⸻
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIN1yoEHaUO
Back to tonight
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mOxio5tHH
"Sa, why are you silent?" Dina asked softly, the most sensitive as usual.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0NMYW9NlE
Aksa glanced at his best friend. His lips formed a small smile, and the sentence slid slowly,
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC2ELkxi9i
"It's okay. I just... want to shut it a minute."
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6x9WRhoBO
And everyone knows, the phrase "it's okay" from Aksa is the clearest sign that something is not going well.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokEKrtG3Ye
After the chat, everyone tried to switch the chat to make atmosphere better and relax again.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgouymWa3nA
⸻
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8OHvRKwEH
When go home
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRVLxFJqiz
Aksa refused to be dropped off.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5uNDRf2Np
He chose to walk, along the narrow road near the ditch, where his memories are hidden.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Y2n2CWmYh
The Jogja wind brings the smell of soil and wet paper. One brochure fell at his feet: Freelance Job Vacancy - Creative World
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXVigYMzLp
He smiled slightly. Ironic. A creative world, but inside it feels empty.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYd6sgoh1G
"I'm alive, yes. But do I really exist?”
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3xKjbhTM6
While walking, he turned to the dark corner near the tree. The place is quiet.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77qdCMQCHY
And...
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluwV3zak2a
There, Sekar will appear for the first time—but not tonight.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeTSl5oYFV
⸻
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocYSdCYmFE
Aksa stopped in front of his boarding room, staring at his reflection on the window.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3eAZvgY6d
He looks fine. But he knew, it was just a reflection.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhisqPAgcL
And the reflection can't cry.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYt8Q6kBYIM
"When... can I look sad without having to wonder?"
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yDDHHaVjh
He looked down.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwX9XPEJCBM
Then enter.
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxl3cfO2Yq
Then... shut up.
ns216.73.216.238da2
