The Angel of Time
chapter 16

This was the day we returned to work in one shift. I still remember how that night messed up my mind. Basic, I lack professionally destabilized with matters of the heart.

I woke up this morning to get ready for work. We had gathered to pray, but we were waiting for one who had not yet come. Astrid's late, I don't know what makes her late. I hope he keeps coming. Soon I heard a motor beat coming from outside. My eyes that still looked glum, as they were still sleepy, suddenly became fresh as Astrid entered through the door in a hurry.

"Sorry Mr. Feri, Astrid is late." as she passed taking the presence.

We work normally. The sound of music accompanies our time while working. We listened to the song until the last one stopped.

"Have a shot at Astrid?" pinta Astrid, who she's talking to, we mean we all heard her.

The sun is not very bright, and has been leaning west, indicating that the day has begun to afternoon. At 15.15 WIB, we have started closing. I was washing the rice cooker, and Astrid suddenly approached and sat down beside me and whispered.

"Gio, you want to go?" Astrid asked in a soft voice.

"Emmm.. Not really!" my answer.

"Wanna see sunset?" ask Astrid.

"Can, where?" askaku.

"Ep.. The one near!"

"Where is it?"

"Just like, will you?"

"Well, when?"

"Ep.. We're leaving for work."

"Yes already. Aye." Yeah."

I can refuse his request. What else we'll just go both. Okay, after I finish my closing. I waited while standing not far away from Astrid and Mas Feri was working on the cashier's report and the stock count of the remaining items.

"Come on Astrid!! I have to go home this fast. My wife is waiting in this house." Mas Feri with a smile.

"Yes Mr Ferries." Answer Astrid.

"Where can Astrid be?" Tanya Mas Ferries.

"It can, gini right?" Astrid offered the report for immediate check to Mas Feri.

"Try here look. Minus you won't be fat." Sahut Mas Ferries.

"Hahaha in the hold on taking a walk?" Astrid laughs.

"OK, starting tomorrow if minus in the rear carrier, if plus in the front carrier huh? Haha." added Mas Feri.

I just laughed with their jokes, I knew it was just a Mas Feri joke.

"You want to go, huh?" tanya Mas Feri, her eyes facing us in turn.

"Yes sir." replied Astrid.

"Where are you going?"

"You see the sunset." said Astrid.

"Oh.. Where's where?" imbuh Mas Ferries.

"That's near here sir, in Paris" Astrid answered

"It looks like it's cloudy." Mas Feri turned his head to the sky through the door.

"I want to go with this beloved wife too." added Mas Feri.

"Well, we'll go with you sir." Astrid while tidying up the report that has been checked by Mas Feri.

"Pak Feri's heading home, I'm with Gio towards Paris. Haha...!"

"Hmmm.." Mas Feri just grinned.

Time shows 15.45 we've been present. I saw Mas Feri leave us first by greeting all the employees. Astridpun started to pass leaving the outlet. I took a shower and got ready to pick her up.

"Are you ready?"

"Udah, come. You're picking me up?" reply Astrid

"Yes, I'll take you there."

Suddenly a voice called out to me from behind, as I turned my head. It's Cahyo.

"Yo, in omongke Astrid, ojo lali. I want to talk to Astrid. Ojo lali took my care." said Cahyo.

I don't know what he put on Astrid I don't know. But fine. I just agree.

I rushed to my bike to get to the boarding house. Two minutes I drove past the boarding gate.

"I'm out front." I sent BBM.

"Come on, I'll finish my cat's cage again." Astrid replied.

My motorbike I brought in until it was in front of Astrid's boarding house. I saw Astrid cleaning her cat cage.

"Just a minute, I gotta clean this up first."

"It's okay."

"Oh yes this is my son I told you, his name is Emblot." while putting his cat in the cage.

"Hahaha, is your son a cat?"

"Yes.. Because of her I take care of every day, it's like my own child." Astrid replied innocently.

"Which one? Two kids."

"The other one's gone, he's got me. Can handle it yourself."

"Hahaha.." we laughed together.

We left at about five and a half. Maybe I thought it was too late in the afternoon to catch up with time. We went on the bike. We went down Jln. Kali Urang, with a lot of jokes. There are two routes to get to Paris, we choose to pass through Janti.

We had to pull over, when it started raining. Astrid asked me to take shelter in an angkringan on the side of the road.

"Sir, do I drink warm milk?"

"What did you drink?" Astrid greets me.

"I'm a goodday coffee."

Astrid took the rice she had packed for her to eat. He took some side dishes, and he ate them voraciously. I also eat. Yes, while waiting for the rain to stop. But, I'm not sure we can catch up on time to see the sunset.

"Sir Feri must have gone with his wife?" astrid.

"Yes, maybe it's raining" I replied.

I noticed the way he ate, very plain. He looks simple. Doesn't look like choosing a\-choose place that should be luxurious.

The rain had started to subside, finished eating we continued on our way. I drove the motor fast enough to catch up with the sun that was about to sink. We walked down the Paris street that I thought was very far away.

We passed through a bridge that was close to the beach. But the sun showed red light. Astrid asked me to slow down the motor. I'm a little sorry because maybe Astrid was disappointed because maybe when she got to the beach the sky was already dark.

"Gio, slow down! Look at that sunset." Astrid showed her hand to the sun.

I drove the bike very slowly, looking in the direction he pointed.

"So far as this is concerned, there is no sunset on the beach." I asked.

"It's okay" Astrid replied.

"I like to see the sunset, I like the rain, I like the water, I like to hear the waves" he added.

He told me everything he liked, as if he wanted me to know what he liked.

"Aren't you going to take a photo?" my many.

"No, I've recorded it in my eyes" Astrid replied.

Answers I never heard from anyone else. And I heard it through an Astrid. I admire him so much, he's different from anyone I've ever known.