You & Dusk
Ex-ex

(Flashback Part)

Today I plan to go to the bookstore, since I didn't find the book I was looking for in my subscription bookstore, I asked Wahid to show me his regular subscription bookstore he bought a course book.

We also agreed to meet on campus because I just attended a coordination meeting for the event to be held by the Scientific Reasoning SME. The event will repeat itself two weeks from now, by which coordination meetings are increasingly held. But it's been two meetings, but I don't see Alfy.

Said Roid as the chairman of the committee, Alfy permission because there is business that can not be left behind. I was curious because really this week I rarely saw even hear from him.

After the meeting I also waited for Wahid in front of the secretariat of the Association of My Department because he is currently in the secretariat with senior and other friends who are discussing about the organization program of the Association of Departments.

I waited not too long, only 10 minutes I chatted with a senior who was also in front of the Secretariat of the Association of Majors, Wahid came out and we immediately went to the bookstore he meant.

After arriving, it turns out Wahid said the bookstore was inside the shopping mall. We went in and went up on the 3rd floor of the MALL. After arriving in front of the bookstore, we went in and split up because it seemed Wahid was also looking for a book.

I then walked down the bookshelves and began to read one by one the book covers hoping to find the book I was referring to. Searching for books is one of the routines of students, although at first you do not like reading or you are lazy to read believe me you still have to read. Because if you don't, you won't thrive on campus.

As a scholar, a student must understand very well at least the disciplines he studied while on campus because if you only rely on material from lecturers then you only get 20% of the material needed.

By reading we can digest at least 80% of the material, because books are the window of the world, then we can read. Although over time, now books are available in digital versions and can be accessed through a smartphone. Just look at me reading a manual directly printed on paper is more interesting and makes me more focused than having to open a digital book on a smartphone because I prefer to open social media rather than digital books.

In the middle of my search, I accidentally saw Rian right in front of me.“Rian.” I said trying to say hello.

“Arman.” He replied, pointing and approaching me.

“ya.. How are you?” I said awkwardly.

“well. You alone?” his reply.

“alhamdulillah good.”

“yourself?”

“no, together with campus friends.”

“ohh.. Guess who I am here?” said.

“sama temen? Girlfriend maybe?” I tried to guess.

“lu really.. I'm again the same Auliah, my girl.”.

Hearing that name, I thought back to my high school days. Rian was one of my friends when he was in high school, now he's studying at a different college than me. Actually not just a friend but can be said me and Rian are very close even I consider him as my best friend.

During High School Me and Rian with another friend of mine often hang out together. Played together at school that time, often until I got bored constantly with the three of them.

Yep.. High School story as many people say. The good times will never come back, the transition from children to teenagers to adults.

As for Auliah, she was my first love. She was the first woman to catch my attention, even though we were not in class at the time but I saw her quite often until I fell in love with her. I also tried to approach him and it turned out to be a good response by Auliah.

In the middle of the semester we finally dated and my High School period looked perfect until I was in the third grade at that time. I have to accept the fact that Auriah is a girl I think knows all too well about how I feel, who I think is best for me, who I think is everything.. It turned out to be in a relationship with another man while I was still in a relationship with him.

Add to that the feeling of knowing he was in a relationship with my own best friend, yes.

I who at that time could not accept the reality and could not think rationally immediately take action. A stupid act that I currently regret, I hit my best friend. My punch landed right on his right cheek until I saw his mouth bleed. Without hearing his explanation I just kept landing a punch on his face until one of my best friends came and separated us.

At that time I thought Rian did not return my blow because he felt guilty for doing that to me. Until finally he never spoke to me again and I spent my High School years with my hatred for him.

Our friendship is ruined by love, love can be so evil. Rian and I never spoke again since then, until I finally met at this bookstore.

Without even turning my head I have known his voice.“Auliah.” I said hello.

“coincidentally we meet here.” Said awkward.

“iya coincidence. So you guys are still dating yah?” Ask suddenly.

I also do not know why I arrived I asked like that. “iya Man.” Answer Rian.

“oh thank goodness.” My reply.

I saw Auliah's facial expression, it seemed like the atmosphere was really awkward. It appeared from Auliah's face that she was agitated and didn't feel like looking at me for long. Just like the expression I saw when I found out he betrayed me. That expression made me sick and hate him. For some reason now he put out such an expression again in front of me even though now I feel nothing.

“oh yes sorry.. I went there first hehe. You haven't found the book I'm looking for.” I said try to escape from this unpleasant atmosphere.

“iya Man's. Glad I can see you all right.” Said Rian.

“....” I just kept quiet.

“when I go first, I happen to have found the book I was looking for.” He said while holding my shoulder.

Rian walked to the cashier along with Auliah. If I had to be honest I no longer had a grudge or hate with the two of them, they would have been a part of my past. It's just that I don't know what to do with them after a long time of not greeting each other and suddenly have to meet and greet, Of course I'm confused and very awkward.

Long enough I searched for the book I meant but my search was not in vain, I found two books related to the material I was looking for. Finally after paying for the books I went out and parted with Wahid because he had to return to campus even though it was late afternoon.

Since there was no plan today I decided to go straight home. By riding a motorbike I went down a road that looked abnormal. I say not normal because the current condition of the road is not solid as usual, should if racing on the current schedule is the schedule home office then the road should be padati by those who drive a vehicle to return to their respective homes. In fact, the current smooth path is normal and not willing.

In the middle of the road I saw a middle-aged man pushing his duck motorbike. At first I didn't want to get involved with him, but the more I saw Kasian also let him continue like that. I finally approached and offered to help him.

After I got closer it looked like the duck's motorcycle tire had leaked. So it is not normal to have to drive with a leaky tire. I offered him to use my bike and I would push his bike until I found a repair shop that could add to his leaking tires.

I'm not sure why I could offer myself like that to him. And if I think back, he could have taken my bike and left me with this duck bike. But if I continue to be consumed by such misgivings I will never be able to sincerely help people.

“Uztad sorry.. Maybe I can help push the bike. Let Uztad ride my motor only.” I said to the middle-aged man.

I call him Uztad because he looks like a religious figure and he does not support when I call him that.“of course.. If you don't mind.” The reply.

“iya Uztad is okay. Let me push into the workshop.”

“good.” Finally I pushed the duck bike, as far as 2 km I pushed then I found a workshop that could patch the leaking motorcycle tires. It is quite tiring but it feels like it can be useful to others it can be this fun. Especially Mr. Uztad who I help is a humorous man. All the way he continued to be at the side trying to hold the motor gas to run slowly while talking about interesting things and of course occasionally he joked.

If the people of the city could be like this, please look at each other without suspicion, without any deceptive intentions then life would be easy.

After arriving at the workshop I immediately say goodbye to the middle-aged man. “then Mr. Uztad I say goodbye first.”

“oh yes bro.. Be careful on the road well.” he said in a joking tone.

“assalamualaikum Uztad.” I said.

“waalaikumsalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.” Reply Uztad it.

I left him and continued my journey home. Because it encourages enough time, it turns out that when I look at the sky, the color has changed to the color I like. Dusk is back to close my day, I hope tomorrow can be better.

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