Sometimes, the deepest wound is hidden behind the loudest laughter.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvWjeYA6HX
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA3bewrx1a
And in Jogja—in the middle of coffee shop chatter, small jokes, and too familiar dusk—Aksa chose to keep laughing.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJWsx7BAIT
Not because he is happy. But because he was afraid of the question 'what's wrong with you?' It comes from someone who is too sincere.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd1rgfFs6s
⸻
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadFsBqmlal
The sky of Jogja that afternoon was so familiar.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAjA67th5I
As if this city knows how to welcome feelings that want to hide. Gentle, but never let someone be completely forgotten.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJyN1EHlUN
Aksa sat on a bench near their favorite places, letting his back lean and his eyes swept over the sky that was slowly changing in color. Senja is indeed good at disguising something—like himself.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPQdmyrBKb
"Yes, just one toast, Sir," said Rere while laughing, adding the order while chewing.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDtZz4uH3X
"Don't be hungry like that, Re. That toast is not your ninja way," Niko snapped, then laughed loudly to himself.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDROFHF3hJz
Aksa laughed too.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTi4sK2y8n
Not too loud. But quite convincing.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSnhlYWSb8
Enough to disguise that since he came, he hasn't touched his tea.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvEipSAY2h
"How come you're still holding the warm tea, Sa?" Arul asked while pointing to the glass that had not been drunk.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tmjzhZUD5
Aksa smirked, spontaneous. "Let someone do it. After all, the heart is already cold."
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkINlCghTM
Others simultaneously cheered, teased.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnaa9Lqccj
"Wow, wow, you're starting to be poetic, bro!" Said Tari with a seductive style, following her opening her jacket because the wind started to fall.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLEMpmJb3n
But only Aksa knew, his left hand trembled slightly. He held it under the table, then pretended to be busy cleaning the glass with a tissue.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yodTdWSnv
⸻
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhNf0guVSH
There are six of them. Best friend since high school.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXYjzyihwW
Jogja that unites them: a city that feels like going home, but often also slaps with silence.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdH1mXk5CGM
There is Arul, the moodbooster.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfj8etEciUl
Rere, who is too chatty but entertaining.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e5rt8n9YL
Tari, the listener is silent.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUGBS7xGZb
Niko, who likes to overthink but denies.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8fCRSI39y
Dina, the secret analyst.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCQLGLjeVA
And of course, Aksa. The one who always laughs the loudest—but always the first to go home.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp48nw8gOQo
⸻
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqeaSlsBtE
The night is starting to fall slowly.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFh1gyrvCAj
The sound of motorcycles, the chatter at the next table, and the smell of charcoal from the fried food began to mix with the cooling air.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVAOhOt5VI
"Eh, have you ever thought about it," said Tari, suddenly serious, "if one of us actually keeps something that can't be told?"
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpxg0xXPLd
The atmosphere suddenly became quieter. Even Mr. Lik, who used to fan the satay, stopped for a moment, as if he caught the tone in that question.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3fC2nX4dA
Rere said, "You said that while looking at Aksa, you know. Poor him, hahahaha."
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xJ6Lly2tx
Everyone laughed. Except Aksa.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHOTgBA9n1
He also smiled, but his eyes didn't smile.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfmHRZ03YT
If I tell you, are you sure you can accept it? Or even stay away?
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDovkiKnlc
⸻
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9ayj872nx
Jogja, 3 years ago
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ910tdtqcze
There was one night where Aksa sat alone in a small ditch near the angkringan. It was raining at that time. And his hands were bleeding because of something he wouldn't tell.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJxdTmbj6k
Someone once left—leaving a huge hole in his chest that couldn't be patched.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxodRkOxtHU
Not because of death. But because of losing self-confidence that was destroyed after a long night.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3h81pbrh0
He knew, that night changed him.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnBsoidCLc
But he never talked about it. Even on himself.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlphqgd6sl
⸻
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQI2OkSnukM
Back to tonight
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nmDUQfhti
"Sa, why are you silent?" Dina asked softly, the most sensitive as usual.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFFjdfCHgQ
Aksa glanced at his best friend. His lips formed a small smile, and the sentence slid slowly,
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dG9M2g6p7
"It's okay. I just... want to shut it a minute."
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡes01IAEed4
And everyone knows, the phrase "it's okay" from Aksa is the clearest sign that something is not going well.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKsUT92kqS
After the chat, everyone tried to switch the chat to make atmosphere better and relax again.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRYc8t7Stm
⸻
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGEf5A1eaN
When go home
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Rn0mzmbPa
Aksa refused to be dropped off.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡev2eqrCOHK
He chose to walk, along the narrow road near the ditch, where his memories are hidden.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sDaysOToM
The Jogja wind brings the smell of soil and wet paper. One brochure fell at his feet: Freelance Job Vacancy - Creative World
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOqLqUd6Yb
He smiled slightly. Ironic. A creative world, but inside it feels empty.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5lTo1istu
"I'm alive, yes. But do I really exist?”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSZSK2E72r
While walking, he turned to the dark corner near the tree. The place is quiet.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2XYTnmxlz
And...
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nJpW1D4CU
There, Sekar will appear for the first time—but not tonight.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvSNXzKAK1
⸻
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcVwZ7SheY
Aksa stopped in front of his boarding room, staring at his reflection on the window.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVgLQ0Onnf
He looks fine. But he knew, it was just a reflection.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmC9TTDU0hE
And the reflection can't cry.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQqUwFU00r
"When... can I look sad without having to wonder?"
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0LtIlws60
He looked down.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4yiuHJalG
Then enter.
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkJWTqrQfs
Then... shut up.
ns216.73.216.6da2
