HAPPY 22ND BIRHTDAY, ARI RADITYO

Hi, there. Hi, the closest boy friend of mine.

We've been friends since we were in junior high school. We were classmates at that time. As classmates, we just had a very ordinary friendship. Not too close, I mean. However, we were getting closer when were in 3rd grade for we studied at the same course. We went to the course together after school with our other friends, Debby, Della, Ike, and... Ninik. We had lunch together as well. And our favorite place to eat was Amigos near to Unis. One thing that's impossible to forget is that you always ordered an extra spicy ketoprak with more than 10 chilies. You said that it could make your fat burn because you would get too much sweat after eating that extra hot ketoprak. Funny of you.

When we were in high school, we always kept in touch. We went to movie together, hangout together, and still had a good communication. When we were in 3rd grade, we studied in the same course again, only you and I without Della, Ike, Debby, or Ninik. We were so close that the receptionist of our course thought that we were a couple. Funny of us.

In the end of my 3rd grade period, I took a course to be able to continue my study to STAN. I took it with my other friends. We were taught by 2 tutors. Both of them were the students of STAN. Long story short, one of my tutor was actually your elder brother. Funny of the universe.

Four years ago, I successfully passed the test to be able to study at UNPAD and you got a ticket to study Economics at UNSOED. A hundred-mile distance can't beat us. We still have a good communication until now. We still hangout together with Della, Debby, and Ike too and you become the closest boy friend of mine. Many people think that we are a couple. I'm too tired to tell them that we're friends and now, I'll say yes as a response to their thoughts. Funny of them.

Last year, unfortunately Debby, Ike, and I forgot your birthday. No one remembered it but Della. I always feel guilty for my bad. I promise to myself that I won't do it again and yes I prove my promise. Today is your birthday. I actually cannot come to where you are now and directly say 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' to you but I hope this not-so-good words can be such substitution. Happy birthday, ARI RADITYO. My best prayers go to you. Have a best of lucks.

A Dream Catcher

Sometimes, you need a dream catcher to catch your nightmares but you don't need any to catch your dreams because you're the catcher for your own dreams. Allah guides every step you take. Aamiin.

I Participated

 

Ceritanya mau kaya orang-orang yang pamer kelingking kena tinta abis nyoblos eh tapi ini malah tintanya meleber ke mana-mana yang tiada indah. Ngeliat foto orang-orang kok pada rapi-rapi amat cuma di ujung jari. Udah pada latihan dulu apa gimana? Aduh mau mainstream aja ga bakat :)

Pileg, 9 April 2014.

Senja

Bukankan itu indah, ketika senja nanti, bersama kita duduk-duduk di halaman rumah milik salah satu dari kita? Tidak lagi ada gelas-gelas kopi di atas meja bundar, apalagi semangkuk es krim. Bukankah itu indah, ketika hanya ada cangkir-cangkir teh hangat di hadapan? Rambutmu boleh saja memutih seiring kulitku yang kian mengendur, tapi kelakar kiranya tak akan padam.

Dalam sore yang semakin menjingga, kita memaksa daya ingat kita untuk bekerja lebih keras, untuk mengingat-ingat hal-hal yang tertinggal di hari kemarin, dari yang mengharukan sampai yang memilukan. Ah tapi itu semua akhirnya hanya akan menyisakan simpul manis di ujung bibir kita. Kita hanyut dalam abu-abu. Sekadar bernostalgia untuk kemudian semakin giat bersyukur kepada Tuhan yang telah menggenapkan kebahagiaan.

Bukankah itu indah, ketika kita senada dalam balutan jaket rajut yang melindungi tubuh renta kita dari terpaan angin yang mahadingin? Entahlah, mungkin juga tidak begitu. Mungkin saja kau masih senang mengenakan rok-rok pendek, celana di atas lutut, polo shirt, flanel kotak-kotak, celana jeans sobek, dress-dress cantik, hijab terlilit-lilit, cardigan, atau kaos-kaos warna-warni. Aku sebenarnya tidak begitu peduli apa yang kau kenakan tetapi sebetulnya itu bisa sangat membantu ingatanku untuk mengenalimu. Bukan karena aku sombong tapi bukannya memang begitu, menjadi tua identik dengan menjadi pikun?

Ah indah rasanya berkumpul lagi denganmu di kala senja. Ketika wajahku bertemu wajahmu nanti, akan kubaca lagi semua kisah kita yang tersimpan rapi dalam lekuk-lekuk kulit wajahmu. Hingga tiba saatnya di mana satu per satu dari kita harus kembali pulang ke rumah ditemani gelapnya langit malam yang berbintang.

Memapar

Aku tengok ke dalam sebentar. Ke kanan dan ke kiri aku gelengkan kepala dengan semangat terbakar. Namun, hanya ada nanar yang memar. Dalam pendar yang elok, aku berbinar. Bersyukur aku tak jumpai sosokmu bersandar di bawah sinar. Sudah lenyap sampai ke akar. Semoga kali ini aku benar. Perih akan pudar dalam kelakar agar tidak lagi aku terkapar.

God be With You, Umam

"April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain."

                                       T.S. Elliot


Dear, alm. Chaerul Umam (Eglish Department 2011, Unpad)

On March 28, I wrote something about you here. Today, April 4, I'm gonna do it again.

I got shocked this morning. I received some messages telling me about you. They told me that you've come back "home". After sleeping for a long time, you're now sleeping forever. Are you that sleepy, Umam?

You haven't read all those tweets mentioning you. Let me tell you about this. They all wished that you wake up as soon as possible (they miss you so), play football together again, come back to campus, share laugh like yesterday, and many more but in fact, you were too tired and sleepy for those things. That was okay, boy.

Umam, was God missing you so bad that He called you as fast as this? I guess, yes. You're safe now. You're with your God. You're healthier than ever. Now, I know why you slept that long. God saved you for this Friday (April 4, 2014). He wanted you to come back home on Friday; a great day. There's no better day to say goodbye than Friday.

Our deep condolences go to you. May your family be in strength. Rest in peace, Chaerul Umam.