He Is Mine

Auntie Eem's stall

1.

In the cafeteria, during break time, I sat at a table with Nandan, Dito, Jenar, and Rani.

They were each eating batagor (fried meatballs) while chatting about unnecessary things. They were all classmates, except Jenar, who was in her second year of Social Studies.

"All the students eat here, right?" I asked Rani.

Actually, it was my way of asking why I never saw Dita in the cafeteria.

Rani said certain students preferred to hang out at Aunt Eem's stall.

"Oh," I said.

I immediately guessed Dita must be there.

"So they can smoke," said Nandan.

"Yeah," said Rani.

"It's also a motorcycle gang base camp," said Nandan.

"Yeah?" I asked, increasingly convinced that Dita always hung out there during break time.

"Yeah," replied Nandan.

"They don't dare come there," said Jenar.

"Why?" I asked.

"I don't know, I just don't feel like joining them," Jenar replied.

"Are they really that fierce?" I asked.

"No," Rani replied. "Yeah, they're just naughty kids."

"They say they like to drink there..." Nandan said.

"Yeah?" I asked, a little surprised by Nandan's information.

"There?" Rani asked too.

"They say..." Nandan replied.

"Other high school kids like to hang out there too," Dito said.

"Yeah, it's their headquarters..." Nandan chimed in.

2.

Before I continue, I want to explain a little about Aunt Eem's shop, so you can get a sense of what I'm talking about every time I mention it.

Actually, what Aunt Eem's shop is actually an old-fashioned house, an antique home left behind by a wealthy person in the past. The house was neglected because Aunt Eem's husband, a descendant of hers,

was not as financially fortunate as his ancestors; he was even unemployed.

The walls of the house were made of weathered wood. It was painted turquoise, but it had faded from lack of repainting.

Aunt Eem transformed the front room into a shop, facing the adjacent living room. The living room only had half a wall, where people who ate at Aunt Eem's shop could sit.

The house was located on a bend in the road, numbered 32, if I'm not mistaken. Next to it stood a church. To get to Aunt Eem's shop, you had to walk about 100 meters from the school.

In front of and beside Aunt Eem's house there is a yard. In the front yard there are two water apple trees growing.

The yard was also often used as a motorcycle parking area by certain students.

The front yard was approximately 2 meters by 8 meters, while the side yard was approximately 1 meter by 20 meters. The fence was a wall that students often used as seating areas for hanging out there.

In 2001, when I visited Bandung, I was sad to learn that Aunt Eem's house was no longer there. Now, a luxurious building had stood in its place.

That's my idea of ​​Aunt Eem's stall.

3.

Okay, back to the story, where I was chatting with Nandan, Dito, Jenar, and Rani in the cafeteria.

Not long after, I was surprised to see Dita come into the cafeteria. She came with Piyan and another person whose name I've forgotten (it was Akew, if I'm not mistaken).

Can you imagine how I felt? I'm having a hard time expressing it. I just know I was feeling awkward.

She came over to our table and greeted me:

"Hey, Aura!"

"Hey, Dita," I replied immediately, though nervously.

"Just saying hello," she said.

"Yeah, he he he," I replied.

"Hey, Yan," Rani suddenly asked Piyan. "Wati's not in school, is she?"

"She said she's sick," Piyan replied. "Why?"

"She left her books."

"Oh, okay," Piyan replied. "I'll pick them up when I get home."

"Okay."

After just eating bala-bala (a kind of fritter), Dita left with her two friends, going who knows where, probably to class. But before she left, she said to Nandan:

"Did you know?"

"Know what?" Nandan asked back.

"I love Aura."

Nandan smiled and glanced at me. Rani, Dito, and Jenar all laughed. My face must have been red.

"But I'm embarrassed to say it," Dita said.

"Did you tell me?" Nandan said.

Nandan chuckled, but there was a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"I told you, not her."

"Did he hear that?" Nandan asked.

"Hopefully."

I could read Nandan's eyes; he seemed bothered by Dita's words. I guessed, though. Just a guess. I'm not an expert at reading body language.

But I was certain Nandan had immediately disliked Dita from that moment on. Ever since Nandan found out that Dita loved me, because Rani said he had a crush on me, but I just smiled at him because I'd long suspected it.

I could tell from Nandan's attitude and behavior toward me, including his frequent late-night calls asking about homework, treating us to meals in the cafeteria, and trying to make me laugh with all sorts of jokes I'd heard from other people, that it was all a ploy to get my attention.

But Nandan is different from Dita, Nandan cannot be like Dita who is free to be frank as she pleases.

I agree when someone says Nandan is a good person. And, if I'm being honest, Nandan is more handsome than Dita. Nandan is also good at basketball, and so on. Basically, Nandan was every woman's dream man at the time. (Five years later, I saw his photo on the cover of Gadis magazine.)

Nandan is also still single, still without a girlfriend. I used to be close to Pila, a second-year Social Studies student, but I don't know why, but their relationship eventually drifted apart. Don't blame me.

4.

After break was over, we went back to class for another lesson.

Do you know where Dita went? She came into my class and sat next to me, forcing Rani to move to the back seat, which was empty. Why would Rani want to? I was surprised.

I was also surprised, why didn't anyone dare to expel Dita? Nandan, as the Student Leader, could only remain silent.

To be honest, I felt uncomfortable with her presence. But what else could I do? Really, I had to expel her. It was uncomfortable.

She asked for a piece of paper, and I gave it to her. On it, she wrote:

Information:

List of people you'd like to date:

1. Nandan (2nd Grade Biology)

2. Mr. Aslan (Physics Teacher)

3. Tobri (3rd Grade Social Studies)

4. Acil (2nd Grade Physics)

5. Dita (Human)

I smiled as I read it.

Then, I saw her cross out all the names on the list, except her own.

"Why?" I asked. Why did she cross out everything except hers?

"Everything will fail," she whispered.

"Except you?"

"Yes," she said. "Pray for me."

I smiled.

At that time, my friends were busy with themselves, as if they weren't bothered by Dita's presence, even though I was sure they didn't like it.

I saw Nandan, sitting in his seat, like a confused person who didn't like Dita but didn't know what to do.

Mr. Atam, the Indonesian teacher, had already entered the classroom, but Dita didn't leave. She remained seated.

This person is crazy, I thought! She's actually attending Mr. Atam's lesson.

Whispering, I said to her:

"You'll be forgotten in your class."

"It's okay," she replied, still looking forward, paying attention to the lesson, until finally Mr. Atam noticed an intruder:

"Why are you here?" Mr. Atam asked.

The classmates all looked at Dita. Their faces were filled with satisfaction that Mr. Atam had finally noticed and reprimanded her.

"You entered the wrong room," Dita replied.

Dita got up from her seat and left, accompanied by Mr. Atam's disrespectful stare.

5.

After school, Dita came over and said:

"I was supposed to take you home on my motorcycle," he told me.

"No need."

"But I didn't," Dita said. "I knew you'd say no."

At that, I smiled, looked at him briefly, and he smiled too.

To be honest, I could have accepted Dilan's invitation to ride home on his motorcycle with him, but I felt like it wasn't the right time. It was really more because I didn't want to be seen as too close to him, and I don't know why.

"I want to come to your house," he said suddenly. "Tonight."

Huh? I was shocked.

"No!"

"Why?" he asked.

"My dad's fierce."

"Bite?"

"Seriously, don't!"

"I'm not afraid of your dad."

"No!" I said. "Just don't."

"I want to come," he said, walking away.

"No, no!"

Unconsciously, I spoke in a slightly louder voice.

I felt embarrassed. I looked around, hoping no one would hear.

6.

That night, Dita really did arrive.

It was around seven o'clock in the evening. I first heard the sound of a motorcycle pulling into my yard. I was eating dinner and was immediately certain it was Dita.

I entered my room with my dinner plate and my uneasy feelings.

My father was usually rarely home, but he had been beheaded for almost three days.

That night, he was in the living room, busy fixing his CB radio. He had a book there, taking notes on activities like Dharma Wanita, Bhayangkara, or something.

If the doorbell rang, one of them would answer the door to greet Dita, if it was really Dita.

Oh God, I whispered to myself. I covered my head with a pillow and lay down on the bed.

I don't know who opened the door. There must have been some conversation going on, but I couldn't hear it. I wanted to know, but I felt it would be better to stay in my room.

Not long after, I heard the sound of a motorcycle again, leaving my yard. Yes, if it was Dita, then she was gone.

With various thoughts running through my head, I sat in my study chair, continuing to finish my dinner while still thinking about Dita's arrival. After that, I left the room to put away my plate.

"We had a visitor," said my mother, passing me by.

"Oh? Who?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"Asking about you. She said she was a messenger from the school cafeteria," my mother replied, putting a book into a drawer on the center table. "A messenger, what? She sounds like a prophet."

"Huh?"

I almost laughed. I was increasingly convinced it was Dita.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"What is it?" my mother seemed thoughtful. "Offering a new menu."

"New cafeteria menu?"

"Yes."

"Ha ha ha ha."

This time, I couldn't hold back my laughter.

"Offering you a menu at night. It's just weird," Mom said. "Your friend, huh?"

Mom smiled.

"Ha ha ha. So, what did you say?" I asked.

"I know! Dad was the one talking."

After brushing my teeth, just as I was about to return to my room, my house phone rang. I was closer to the phone, so I answered, and it was Dita, a first for me.

There was no need to ask how she knew my house phone number. I thought she was resourceful.

"Hello?" I greeted the caller.

"Good evening."

"Evening."

"Can I speak to Aura?"

"Yes, I am."

"I'm Dita."

"Hey."

Suddenly, my heart started pounding.

"Aura, can I talk to you?"

"Yes."

"I came earlier."

"Yes."

I immediately smiled, remembering what my mother had said: she was a messenger from the school cafeteria offering a new menu, but I hadn't mentioned it to Dita.

"Did you know I was coming?" she asked.

"I know."

"Do you know why I came?"

"Why?"

"If I didn't come because I was afraid of your father, I'd be a loser."

"He he he."

"So, I came," he said. "If he gets mad, that's good."

"How good?"

"You'll feel sorry for me."

"He he he."

"Would you feel sorry for me?"

"Did he get mad?" I asked him.

"No."

"Thank goodness."

"Earlier, your father said you were asleep."

"Oh."

"Why can you talk now?" asked Dita. "Are you sleep talking?"

"Yes."

"Ha ha ha ha ha."

When he laughed, I actually wanted to laugh too, but I held it in. Playing hard to get, huh!

Besides, I was also worried about my parents overhearing my conversation, so I tried to keep my conversation short. Remember, I was still in high school and felt uncomfortable if they knew it was a guy calling, even though they wouldn't necessarily reprimand me.

"Where?" I asked.

"Who?" he asked.

"You."

"You?"

"Dita," I replied.

Finally, I said her name. Ah, it was the first day I'd said her name directly to her. She should have been surprised that I knew her name, or happy that her prediction that I would know her name had been proven correct. But she didn't discuss that.

"Me? On Mars."

"Don't laugh?" I asked.

"I'm on Jalan Mars, Margahayu Raya."

"Oh, he he he."

I thought she was joking, but she wasn't. In Bandung, there is indeed a housing complex called Margahayu Raya, where the streets are named after planets.

7.

After answering the phone, I went straight back to my room. My dad had asked who the call was from, and I had answered, "It's Beni."

And in my room, besides finishing my homework, I used part of my brain to think about my last conversation with Dita on the phone:

"Can I tell you a fortune?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Yes, what?"

"Yes," I replied.

"I'm a prophecy," he said. "You'll be my girlfriend!"

"He he he."

"Do you believe it?"

"Polytheist."

"Ha ha ha."

"He he he."

I felt like I was starting to enjoy talking to him, even wanting to stay longer. Talking to him, I felt as if I could talk about anything! And if I were honest, I felt like I was starting to like him too.

"Hey, Aura."

"Yeah."

"Do you know why I didn't just tell you the truth?"

"What truth?"

"Just tell you the truth, I love you?"

"He he he."

My face must have turned red.

Ah, crazy! How could he speak so freely and so frankly! As if it wasn't a big deal for him.

"It was already written, right?" I said.

"I meant to tell you in person?"

"Why not in person?"

"If you want, I can," he said. "Easy."

"Yeah. Why not?"

"It's not fun if I do it directly," he said. "It's just the usual."

"He he he."

"He he he."

Ah, he always makes me smile.

"Later, when you're ready to go to sleep," he said. "Trust me, I'm saying goodnight from a distance. You won't hear."

"He he he."

8.

In bed, as I was about to fall asleep, I was overcome with uncertainty.

Should I just tell Dita that I already have a boyfriend? As she so readily admits? Before she finds out and is disappointed.

Yes, I think I should. That way, Dita will stop pursuing me, and it will also make me sad, because I won't have any more pleasant conversations with her on the phone. I won't have someone weird like her, who, if I'm honest, I actually like. She's fun!

No, I don't think I need to tell her. Just let it go.

Or should I tell Beni that someone in Bandung, from my school, named Dita, is trying to get close to me?

I don't think so. I know Beni, if I tell her, it will only add to the problem rather than solve it. She's short-tempered and easily blown off.

Ah, who should I talk to about this? Beni? That's suicide!!

I'd better go to bed.

It was raining outside. My head was filled with thoughts:

"Where are you now, Dita? Oh, yeah, you said earlier: on Mars. Hehe. Be careful on the road."

I covered my eyes with the pillow and muttered:

"Sleep well too, Dilan."

After that, I smiled sheepishly to myself.