Aksara Taste (For Flavors That Will Not Be Perfect)
Chapter Eighteen

Arfian advanced to the final round.

I could only smile when Arfian called and told me about it. I still hear his breathing hunting. His spirit is still stirring. He called me right away after the game.

It is not without reason why Arfian fought desperately to win the title in that event. Last year he failed, his performance was judged bad and even branded a mess. He lifted the suitcase after being knocked out in the preliminary round. His coach issued a warning. As a featured player, Arfian is expected to continue to survive. At least until the semi-finals as has been targeted.

The existence of a world championship that will soon be held in Scotland, also requires Arfian to collect as many victories as possible. Inevitably, he should clinch a title at this year's Dubai Open. Because if it fails, then the points it has now will not be enough to be a departure ticket. Even if Arfian fails to advance to the quarter-finals, he will not have the chance to qualify for the preliminary round.

And tonight, for the umpteenth time, I'm back flipping through the Arfian gold medal. Groping the carving slowly. My memories drifted through space and time in the past, recalling the look on Arfian's face as he gave it to me.

*****

“*Nih, fetch. Don't throw away, let alone sell.”

I looked up to see Arfian. I stared at him with two eyebrows raised high; astonished.

“I didn't really ask, really, Fian.” said I smiled warmly.

Arfian shook his head quickly. He's a little clack.

“Udah, save it well.” he said with a face expression not care. His smile could not be comforted. The movement of the ball is also incapable of defining.

“You mind, right? I was just kidding.” reject me smooth.

“I don't mind, really. Just not good.” replied, making me squint my eyes.

Arfian smiled. “Cause gave you a medal of Asian champion. I should have given you a world-class gold medal. New, deh, I can be proud*.”

*****

I realized my tears were rolling slowly. Falling after I held back. I curse the feeling I've been saving for Arfian. A feeling that never changed even though we had parted ways. Flavors that have no name, but are always there.

I wanted to ask God why with Arfian I could be happy and hurt at the same time. Is it possible that my selfishness has been at the root of our problems? Is it time for us to go back?

*****

There is a small problem that will turn into a big disaster, for people who have no knowledge.

As soon as I closed the call from Mbak Aina, my body immediately tensed up instantly. Having just arrived at the backyard door, my eyes were wide open, refusing to believe that my brother-in-law's beloved cacti were already in a lifeless state.

I hurried to see what I had done wrong. The shoots that were green the other day, now perish without a trace. Only the remaining stems look rotten and wrinkled. Even from the eleven cactus pots lined up on the shelves, none of them had any characteristics of life. All of them have lost hope. So did I who realized that soon my fate would be at stake, between the abyss or the tiger's cage.

“Bi, There's Om Satya in front!” hanif's scream made my crown almost explode.

I turned around. A little pissed off. “Ngapain him here?”

Hanif just opened his mouth to answer my question, but was restrained when Alif and Satya were already standing next to him.

“Bi Alya, what color do we want to paint our house? Father called you, Bi. Keep saying it up to Bi Alya what color he wants. Mom said it was white. Aunty likes it, doesn't it?” Alif ran up to me while telling me the contents of his conversation with Mas Rudi earlier. But, I don't have any answers because my concentration is divided.

“Alif tau not usually mom buy cactus plants where?” I looked at the boy full of hope.

“Uhm, where, yes. Alif does not know, Bi.” said Alif while shaking slowly.

“Hanif, mom buy cactus in which store?!” without hearing what I was about to say, Alif shouted out loud. Calling on his twin brother who was still standing on the porch of the courtyard. Made Hanif approach us with wide steps. Impressed hurry.

As soon as it arrived in front of me, Hanif stared at the cacti without a sound. His mouth was gaping and that very second he looked at his twin brother with a sharp look.

“Tuh, right! Because of you, all mother cactus so dead.” said Hanif blames.

“Kok, because of me? You love to fuck people huh, Hanif.”

“Ya already! Just wrong me! Tell me the same mother if all this because of me!”

I broke up the debate made by the two of them. Trying to calm Alif who was almost crying. Advising Hanif who was wrapped in prolonged annoyance.

“Udah, already. Now we find a store that sells cactus plants, yes. Hm?”

“But, I never bought a cactus, Bi. All those are posts from Bi Hana.”

In that instant I also blinked in disbelief. Bi Hana's? Sister Aina's best friend who lives in America? All these dead cacti in front of me come from there? How could?

Realizing that the cacti weren't bought by the plant store, made me feel guilty. I could only stare at Hanif confusedly, looking at Alif worriedly. They looked back at me, waiting for answers and what steps I would take.

Panicking and not knowing what to do, I did not realize that Satya was also standing around the tree. I don't know since when that young man was here.

“The power is not dead, really. It just hurts.” he said while observing the cactus stem next to me carefully.

Satya put up a resistance as I looked at her suspiciously. “Serious. They're just merry. The ground, it will be inundated with water, so the stem is rotten and slimy.”

I thought I was listening to an explanation from a National Geographic crew covering desert cactus life in the middle of the capital.

“You don't believe it?” the young man looked at me with a warm smile.

Rivalling the morning sunshine that comes back after a busy few days of hibernation.

*****

Have you heard of the term diorama?

Frankly, I was envious to death when I found out Satya had special skills when it came to caring for cactus plants. Moreover, he looks very deft and painstaking. His hands look trained. He had no trouble handling the cactus alone. Even me, Hanif, and Alif were just sitting around casually on the backyard porch. The young man said, he will settle this matter without any interference from us.

As soon as she heard that Aina's mother's cactus could be saved, Hanif and Alif rushed Satya to the plant store. They deliberately bought a porous planting media. I don't know what a porous. I want to know, but I don't want to ask Satya. Just drown.

“Hanif! Alif!” satya's call made my two nephews rise. They rushed to the young man. Run towards him with a happy hue.

I don't know what they're talking about. But, from a distance I saw Hanif and Alif nod in agreement to hear what Satya said. My two nieces seemed to submit to what the young man was saying.

Does Satya really have other skills besides taking care of cactus plants? Like being able to repair the relationship of a pair of twin brothers, for example?

“Aibi!” this time Alif's call got me up. The boy called my name while prancing around in excitement.

“Why?” tanyaku.

“Bi, look, deh.” Hanif said while looking at Satya who was sitting casually under a trembesi tree.

I saw the young man's hand was still wrapped in a garden sheath. His shirt arm was set aside. Sweat ran down his temples. Makes him look messy. But, I'm not lying to say that at that time Satya looked very friendly. The young man looked at me with a warm smile.

The next second I was made dumbfounded. There is a charming view on top of a large flower pot that was deliberately purchased by Satya. Like there is a story, even though it is actually so simple. Cactus children who can still survive now have a new life. They gathered in one big pot. Surrounded by loose soil and some small pebbles. Accompanied by two seedlings of cocor duck and a pot of sansevierial. Decorated with miniature delman belonging to Hanif and some action figures of horsemen belonging to Alif.

“The priest is not taken home, right, Om?” tanya Hanif sounded doubtful.

Satya shakes. The young man looked down a little. Equating his height with the posture of a boy. “The priest, will make you. Take good care, yes.”

“Diorama?” my mumbling doesn't understand.

“That's his name diorama.” Satya said accompanied by his view that leads to a large pot in Alif's hand.

“Ohhh.” I said while nodding.

“Why? You want to too?” satya asked kindly with a smile.