Aksara Taste (For Flavors That Will Not Be Perfect)
CHAPTER Eight

Busy to fix the diction and some punctuation marks on the Cinnamon script, suddenly Mas Zifran's voice immediately froze my concentration. His figure walked there and there, controlling the performance of his men who are hunted for time. While giving direction to some interns, Mas Zifran's move ended in front of my desk.

“Alya, Rayhan where?” asked Mas Zifran while folding his hands on his chest.

My brain is still trying to find a reasonable answer Mas Zifran.

“Do not say-“

“So she came out, Mas. He said he wanted to the deputy of printing.” sahutku fast.

The executioner looked at me with a probing look. Makes me shudder.

“O-oh, yes. Earlier, Rayhan nitip script, Mas.”

Mas Zifran welcomed the two Rayhan manuscripts I gave. He opened the manuscript slate carelessly. The ballamatics moved in the same direction, tracing the contents of the manuscript in one reading. Pay attention to the improvements Rayhan has made there.

“Where is Cinnamon, Al?”

I smile at the smile. By shifting the subject, at least Mas Zifran received Rayhan's work.

“It's new want chapter five, Mas.”

“Did he delay first. You correct for example if there is free time. Direct work for this week's rubric. Ntar love me, as soon as possible, today too, you know, yes. Well, one more thing, before you go home you meet Abas. Ask him when APIC is broadcasting. If not wrong, tomorrow. You'll find him a letter later. I'm lazy to find a replacement for Cynthia. Lagian Abas said, letter of your choice last month many like.”

I nodded in response to the long-drawn direction Mas Zifran gave. While muttering in my heart, I thanked the three APIC mail senders last month. Especially a letter without the identity of the sender.

“Oh, yes, Al, tomorrow you bring the camera, yes.”

“Create what, Mas?”

“We have coverage for the sports edition.”

I nodded without knowing what Mas Zifran's purpose was to bring me coverage. I hope he didn't repeat the same incident when we reported to Yogya at the time.

****

Mas Rudi overtime.

That was the last news I heard before my phone died. I'm lucky I have extra work. There are still editorial papers I need to choose for APIC broadcast. If it can be done now, then I don't have to stay up late, right?

Jason Mraz's bell clink and Details In the Fabric greeted me as I opened the coffee shop entrance. The smell of muffins and choco cake fresh out of the oven invaded my olfactory nerves. Fragrance in large glasses and the aroma of espresso circled me sitting in the corner of the room. I deliberately chose that spot because there was a socket near his desk. I need electricity just in case before my laptop runs out of energy.

I didn't order. Sandy, the barista at this coffee shop already knows what I want. Just one. Ristretto.

This afternoon coffee shop can be said to be quiet. Not long after I sat down, three visitors left. Their attention since then was indeed fixed on the sky that had drizzled lightly. Spilling rain grains.

Right in front of me, just two tables away, a young man was busy sipping his drink. I noticed his right arm wrapped in bandages. Such conditions made the young man's right hand a little difficult to move. Force him to raise the demitasse with his left hand. However, it seems that he is not used to it. It was evident that the demitasse trembled lightly when it was lifted by his left hand.

Ah, it really makes me feel sorry.

Suddenly, unexpectedly, the young man raised his face. Me who has been busy watching him since. He immediately put down his demitasse. Looking at me with a dislike look.

I hurriedly threw away my sight. Awkward because it just got caught. While waiting for the loading in the editorial email, I fixed my hairdo and tied it up carelessly. I let some of the strands fall and the children fly.

As soon as Ristretto arrived, I took a sip for a long time. After fixing the location of the glasses, I started reading the incoming letters in APIC emails.

The first letter contains a question, without a clear identity of the sender.

“Jelasin dong how to be able to have twins without having to join the program.”

I laugh. How can Abas answer this question? He just wasn't married. Even after marriage, Abas will only have one child in his life plan. But, I like the question. Although there are no twins in the family tree, there are many people who often ask questions like this.

“Mas Abas, give advice dong to my friend who again has a special relationship with football athletes. How can their relationship remain good even though they rarely meet?”

I'm not sure if Abas can give any advice on this. He's not even a football fan.

Before passing on the third letter, my toes began to suffer. They are lulled by the cold rain outside and the swift AC inside the coffee shop.

“And, I matiin his AC, yes.” my door when Dany clean-up across the table.

Without needing any consideration, Dany immediately nodded lightly. He rushed to get the AC remote and gave it to me.

Right a split second before I could press the power button, the young man in front of me spoke up.

“Eh, Eh, Eh, I am also a visitor here. I do not agree his AC was killed.” protested with a look not accepted.

I tried to melt the atmosphere that made Dany sculpt for a moment.

“This, the weather is raining again and inside is also cold. So, I don't think we need AC. Besides not just me, who can not stand.”, I said trying to ask for his heart lightening.

Sandy and Dany. They also feel what I feel.

“You find someone else to cover up your weaknesses? They are shivering. But, they do not respect me as a visitor here. So, please, don't be pretentious to be a ruler as you already know them.”

I couldn't believe hearing what he said. With great difficulty I tried to swallow. Trying to hold back emotions in the middle of a situation like this.

I think the young man was offended by my attitude earlier. Until he finally got his revenge this way.

“Sorry, yes. I am a visitor here too. Don't be crazy about respecting people you can't respect. And one more, before you talk about the weakness of others, look at your right hand that can not be menggerakin it.”, I said ketus. I stared carelessly at the white bandage that covered the young man's right hand.

My mother's taste is gone.

As long as a few moments passed, the young man simply remained silent.

The next second, I heard the sound of friction of the legs of the chair with the floor of the coffee shop tile. Apparently the young man got up and walked a few steps until he arrived in front of my desk. He looked at me sharply while clearing his throat.

“I don't want to make a fuss with women. But, if you abstain from me, I will not retreat so aja.” he said then snatch the AC remote in my right hand with the speed of light. Leave me and my brain at a loss for words, out of sound.

I looked at him clingy. Tracing something that was on the young man's face. Trying to pull my memories from what happened a few weeks ago. Although a little doubtful, I'm sure my memory was never mistaken.

“You're a suicidal prankster back then, right?”

Just before the young man opened his voice, Details In the Fabric who had been chanting his harmonies had suddenly stopped. The lights that had previously graced the room suddenly lost energy. The AC that was blowing from earlier suddenly instantly died.

“S-I call the carpenters first.” Dany skipped while walking to the order table. Leave a cold war between me and that young man I don't know his name.

“Ohhhh, so, your right hand is a victim of suicide?” tanyaku.

“You didn't say first, so?” the argument was self-defense.

Lazy to argue even longer, I focused my gaze back on the laptop screen. Continue what I was doing earlier. However, suddenly the warning of the weak battery made me rash.

I hurriedly took out the laptop charger from the backpack, but immediately put it back on as the young man in front of me laughed so many times.

“Electricity went out, you know, yeah. Where do you want to be?”

I really wanted to get rid of myself immediately in front of the young man. Want to escape immediately. But the rain outside is still very heavy. Even the wind also dribbles tempias. Wetting glass windows. The view across the street is unreadable.

My intention is to leave. Even though the young man continued to stare at me endlessly, I had nowhere else to wait for Mas Rudi, other than here.