The Angel of Time
chapter 23

I rubbed the sweat on my forehead, while I was washing the usual rice cooker to cook rice. My work spirit probably left 45% of what I normally do. That afternoon the sun was also above, really\-tired. What's more when my coworker raised his voice from the kitchen calling my name. I don't know when I was washing.

"Waaaaaa Gio this.." said Mas Agus Pm from the kitchen, "it's Astrid right?" that's what I heard from the place where I was washing. I who heard the name Astrid, my eyes stared far out. "Wahhhhh hot iki.." Mas Agus Pm raised his voice. My eyes were glued to the outside, when I saw Astri coming down from a red sport bike with a man\man. "Wahhh panatss.." That's the sound of my friends\-friends who make my breath panting\-gasps. My heart rate is getting faster and faster. I left that view when Astrid and the man\-man started heading to the cashier.

My mind is erratic, what else is added the stove\-stove from the mouth of my friends\-my friends. My heart is hot, I don't even know who that man\ is. I wanted to ask, but not for that moment.

"Wiss Gio, lose the competitiveness of the Ninja" that's the voice of one of my friends.

"Not to mention the round handlebar that comes." said Dita who adds to the atmosphere getting hotter.

I stayed longer in the laundry, I wanted them to leave immediately. My heart was still beating fast, when Astrid appeared in my mind. I'm jealous, but what attitude should I show her when I meet.

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Astrid sat on the shoe rack we used to sit on. That afternoon we had plans to go to Mount Merapi Purbo. When I was at the door there was only Cahyo. Astrid and Dita were sitting in a consumer chair not far from the shoe rack. Mas Matin was ready to leave, Omes who was already on his bike waiting for us who were still confused.

"I'm the same as Astrid" said Dita. Hearing that word I was getting more and more erratic, I just wished Astrid had come and said something about the incident earlier when she came with the guy. I even threw away my gaze when I accidentally looked at her. There wasn't a word I could say to open the conversation, saying it was heavy. There was no smile I could give her, I was like a clouded sky.

My jealousy became a disappointment, when I wanted Astrid to have to piggyback on me. I started my motor with a feeling of laziness. I only wear short shirts, long jeans and a helmet. I don't care what happens next.

"Gio's.. The jacket is on." Astrid opened the conversation, she brought my jacket. He wanted to give me the jacket so I wouldn't get cold. I refused with a short answer, "no need". I don't think my words hurt his heart. I care more about my prestige. Obviously it wasn't his fault, I expected more of him.

"Gio lashing.." Mas Matin matedekku. Yeah, I'm lashing out, because Astrid's in another guy's ass, and I'm jealous of that. And disappointed that Astrid didn't explain anything. I was disappointed because I had too high of an expectation.

We all finally left. I drove fast to catch up with Mas Matin who had left first. I pulled my motor gas faster, I was about to overtake a car in front of me, as soon as I stepped on my brake pedal when right in front of me a car that was speeding. I turned my bike a little bit, right I was in the middle between the two cars. If only my bike was a little wide, I would have bounced because it was hit by the car.

My hot heart numbed my fear in that incident. I just kept running my bike to catch up to Mas Matin who picked up his girlfriend. A little bit I lyric my rearview motor, to make sure the distance to the one behind is not so far away.

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"That's called Omes!" Mas Matin introduced us,

"That's Cahyo, that's Dita, that's Astrid, and that's Gio." that's how he introduced us all.

I remained silent on the frozen lava, my eyes glued to the distance enjoying the stunning natural scenery. "Come with the photo!" Invite Omes who has sat holding a tongsis that he either borrowed from whom. We all came closer and faced the camera. I was a little surprised as Astrid sat beside me.

I remained silent, waiting for him to open the conversation. But he just sat next to me still hugging a jacket that was none other than mine. A blue-gray jacket thick enough to warm my body.

We passed on our way. It's harder than I thought to ride a motorcycle to its peak. I made it to the top. That's a really amazing sight. It was like a vast meadow, but there was a very high ravine around it.

Gasebo or pendopo, I don't know. But it's in between those\-brush bushes. I lay down my body on the bushes\-brush, my eyes staring at the sky that began to orange. And some others are enjoying the sunset. It was quite clear from the top of this mountain, but I chose to look up at the orange sky with a strong wind. I'm cold, but I'm afraid to ask for my jacket. I've been quieting him since, and he still wants to bring my jacket. It was carried there\-here hugging my jacket.

The sky was getting dark, we were about to return to the gasebo. I walked back, I stared at Astrid who just passed me without saying a word. I thought he would stop and turn to look at me. Turns out wrong, he walked without caring about me.

I ventured to take her hand. "Astrid.." I held her hand and she turned to look at me. His eyes were round looking at me. My hand held her hand for longer, in my heart I wanted to apologize.

"My jacket dong.." I grinnedly asked for my jacket. He gave it with a flat expression, and turned around to leave me. I held her hand, and she looked back at me. "I'm sorry." I said it very softly.

Astrid nods her head in a sign that she's confirming my apology. We soon caught up with those who were already sitting gathered in the gasebo. The sky was also already very dark, only the lights of the\-lamps of the inhabitants were so far away that they looked so small. Astri sat leaning against the gasebo, I approached him and sat down beside him.

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