The Moment You Are Gone (A short story)

In this life, it is hard to find someone to be loved

And that person loves you back

So, once you get the love, don't let it go

Coz, there is possibility it won't come twice.

1

It's still early afternoon but the sky had looked very dark. The weather was chill, and

painful loneliness was scattered inside of me. Hole in my chess felt getting larger. I was a little bit dizzy and caught cough, but I tried to pretend and convince myself that I was ok. Catching cold and cough in rainy season is very common, everybody sometimes catches

cold and cough too. I was sitting in the class with the other twenty eight college students, attending technical meeting of 'Tour of Duty' to Yogya that would be held in next three days.

"All of you must have been here at 6.00 pm at the day of our departure to Yogya," said the lecturer.

"We will spend the first night at the bus on the way to Yogya. We will arrive at Purworejo Mosque on 4.00 am; all of you can conduct praying there. One thing that you have to do is writing everything connected with the mosque; it could be the history or anything else. Don't forget, in every place you should make some report." Moreover, he explained the schedule of the tour.

Some students looked very excited. They were making jokes and laughing during the meeting. But I wonder I was a little blue at the time. Actually I should be happy as well, because I was going to have a trip with my friends.

Laila asked me, "Nin, why are you so quiet? You must be in the bad mood, eh?

I din't answer her question. I just smiled to her.

In this university, I think laila is my best friend. Actually I have two others, Karin and Yasmin, so we are four. But laila is the one who understands me the most. I remembered in the first time we met. I didn't know her name but I knew she's my classmate. She looked so confuse, so I walked toward her.

"Hi, my name is Nina, we are class mate, right?"

"Hi, I'm Laila. This is our first day, isn't it? Being here; d'you know in the next five minutes the speaking class will start and until now I haven't found the class yet."

"I'm sorry, I wish I knew, it would be easier for us but I don't know either where the class is. The good thing is we can search the class together!"

Laila spoke and fasten her pace altogether, "We should hurry up, or we'll be late."

After running around the campus, finally, we found the speaking class. But when we rushed coming in to the class, the class was quiet, and suddenly all people in that room were laughing. After looking around, we realized that we entered the wrong class. So we came out successfully as a pair of silly looking people.

I said, "what a bad day, eh?"

'Yeah…so I think it's time to buy ice cream and cheer up our day again." Said Laila.

"Ok! And we laughed together.

In the following two months, we were still frightened to pass by that class. Until finally we realized our mistake, the speaking class is the room number B-1, but we entered the room number B-11 instead. It wasn't totally our mistake, because the second one from 11 had been falling of. Even it's still remaining the trace, but we were so hurry at that time, so we didn't look much at it.

After Laila, I got closed with Yasmin and Karin, so we are four.

2

The wind blew very hard; it was like slapping in my face. It's been late afternoon, so dark and cloudy. It seemed that storm was coming. I was walking alone to my house, so tired and lonely. I thought about how to have some more money. I had used all my saving and that's only enough for paying the transport and accommodation fees which meant I hadn't got any money left. I didn't dare if I had to ask my mother, because I knew that she didn't have it now.

I lived with my mother and elder sister. My father had passed away three years ago. He got heart attack. He was a smoker and workaholic; he loved his family but he never loved himself. Even though, we never forced him to work so hard, but he did. He said that everything he did was for us. He was an employee in a private company, he almost took overtime everyday, and he was a super energetic man until something really bad happened to him dealing with cardiac disease.

When I arrived at home, I saw Bayu was sitting in my mum's veranda. He smiled to me and I smiled him back. Bayu had been my best friend since we were in the Junior High School. Sometimes I wondered, Bayu is quite well of, he is gorgeous, tall and smart. I often mocked him as 'a boy who has everything', then why he chose the girl like me to become his friend.

All his kindness made me feel so special, and I thought maybe he liked me, but that was too good to be true, so I tried to never think of it anymore.

"Hello, what are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you of course!"

"Oh, really? Let me guess, you must be hungry, so you come here."

"How do you know? I think you're gifted as a psychic or something. Well, your mother made a plateful of fried rice, so as a gentleman, I have to appreciate that. I ate the fried rice as fast as possible without any left."

"That's really funny till I can't laugh!"

"Your mother told me that you'll go to Yogya in three days or so, why you didn't tell, maybe I can help you, to cheer you up for example. You don't look enthusiastic, is there anything wrong?"

"Yes, tomorrow. Well, I' don't look very happy you said ….. uuummm why don't you just mind your own business?"

"Hey, take it easy exploded stove, is it wrong if someone shows attention to a person he likes? It's getting late night, you must be tired. I'll comeback here again when you have returned from Yogya. Go and get sleep, you have to be in good stamina tomorrow. Good night Nin and see you soon!"

"Sorry, good night and be careful!"

But my voice was so weak; I didn't think Bayu could hear it. He looked disappointed, but he kept smiling to me. "Oh..my God what did I do?"

3

I was in the bus and trying hard to be able to sleep. Titi, who sat next to me, had closed her eyes a while ago. Every time I began to sleep, the buss was shaking and waking me up. I didn't worry about money anymore, because my sister had given me some. But I worried about Bayu now, I really wanted to say that I liked him too, but the words were just like choking in my throat and didn't come out.

At the time I felt a little bit sleepy, the buss had arrived at Purworejo Mosque, so I got up reluctantly.

"Titi…Titi…wake up! We've got here, at Purworejo Mosque, c'mon get off from the buss!"

"Oo…have we? You go firt, I have to prepare my bag."

When I got off from the buss I met Laila. She looked rumpled. She said she couldn't sleep as well. We took ablution and conducted praying together. After that, we started making the report.

In that mosque, there is the biggest bedug in the world. The bedug was made in 1834 and divided into two sides, back and front. Diameter of front side is 194 cm and the back side is 180 cm, it is constructed from hardwood tree and in each side is covered by buffalo's skin. Previously, it was used by Indonesian muslims as a calling to inform praying time. It is named as "Bedug Kyai Bagelen."

4

The sun had raised and shone brightly at the time we got back to the buss. We would continue our journey to the next destination. In the middle of the journey, I threw away my sight out of the window. I observed the situation of Yogya. The street was clean and not very crowded, some buildings stood were built in modern architecture and some others were still in old fashion.

We arrived on one of the publishing companies at 9.00 am. We were going to learn about translating process, editing, etc.

5

The temperature was getting hot and oppressive in the noon, and the journey proceeded to Yogya Palace. This palace, formerly, was quite luxury for our people. Most of rooms in it are not completed with walls and doors. It just consists of floor and roof. We were led by a guide who took us around the palace. We listened and wrote all her explanation about history, names and the function of each room there.

6

When we got Parang Tritis Beach, I sat on the sand quite far from the edge of the sea. I let he wind touched my face gently making my mind flew for a while. Laila came over and sat next to me. Then we enjoyed the nature together in silence.

In the night we swarmed around Malioboro. I went there with Laila, Yasmin, and Karin. Yasmin and Karin disappeared very quickly, we were separated.

Laila and I were sight seeing along Malioboro, and then I sopped in front of small shop which sold car miniature.

"That's cute," said Laila.

"I think I'll buy this stuff. I'll give it to someone to show my guilty feeling."

7

The sky was a little bit cloudy when we almost arrived in the last place that we should visit to accomplish the assignment of tour of duty, the legendary Borobudur Temple. Like the other places, I also took a note to record all information I got about this place:

Borobudur was built in 9^th century. Based on inscription Karang Tengah, it was built by Samaratungga from Syailendra dynasty. The name of Borobudur was from two words, bara and budur. Bara means Buddha monastery or vihara, and budur is Balinese word which means high place up the hill. The temple is divided into three parts as a symbol of universe: 1) Katamadu or desire world describes human desire which sometimes good or bad. 2) Rupadatu or form of world described strength to get rid of bad desire, and 3) Arupadatu or the world without form or usually known as nirwana or heaven.

It is located in Magelang town, Central Java Province,

Width and length    : 123 m

Height         : 34.5 m

Andesit stone used    : 55.000 m3

8

A day after I returned from Yogya, I plan to see Bayu in his house. I had wrapped up the miniature car that I would give to him. I imagined his face must look very funny because of happy feeling. He is a person who always appreciates everything presented to him without considering its price.

When I arrived at his house, I didn't see his vehicle usually parked in the garage, and I didn't see his parent's car either. I didn't want to give up and tried to knock at the door. Not a while, Tita, Bayu's sister, opened the door and welcomed me warmly. I said thanks and asked, "Is Bayu around?"

She didn't answer my question; she just kept silent for a moment and began to cry.

"Why are you crying for? Did I say something bad?"

Between her sobs, she said, "Bayu passed away three days ago, he got car accident. A drunken buss driver hit his car. Now, my parents are still in the police office to settle this case. Would you wait for a second I have something for you."

She came in and cameback with something in her hand.

"Yesterday I entered his room, and I found this. I know for sure that he prepared this gift for you. Next week is your birthday right? Thanks Nina for being the special one for my brother."

I felt my heart was beating so hard, my head was dizzy. I couldn't stand to hold the tears streaming down my face. I felt my heart broken into pieces. My body melted and fell down to the ground……..

It was very dark night. I was sitting on my bed. I was so sad and lonely. Bayu had gone before I had a chance to say sorry and tell him the truth about my feeling. I tore up green paper which wrapped a thick book gently; there was a note on the top the fifth edition Harry Potter series 'The Order of the Phoenix.'

For my dearest Nina,

Why do I feel lonely while I'm always alone?

Why do I love you while I don't know you?

How can I miss you while you're always in my heart?

How can I lose you while you'll never be mine?

Nina would you washed away all the doubt in my heart by being my sweetheart?

I was crying and crying, and deep in inside in my heart I said. "Yes Bayu I would. I really would."