Commensalism

Heart….

In his room. Freddy couldn’t close his eyes…. He was restless….

The story he just heard was overwhelming…

But what makes him more restless was what Agustina said next….

“She wanted to be alone for now…. She might not come back…. So, if you want to back off, this will be the time…” She said, before leaving him at the café, after paying all the meal that completely untouched….

Freddy feels empty, not only in her heart, but also in class, where the rest of the class definitely didn’t share his sorrow, in fact they were so happy that Febri was gone, they make a small celebration….

“C’mon, bro… lets celebrate…” Offer one of his friends, all the class went to the café he and Febri frequent visit…

“You go ahead, bro…. I’m not feeling well….” Said Freddy, politely declined the invitation which hurt him so bad…

“Ah, come on, bro…. cheer up…. You are no longer need to be the punching bag for that freak….” Said the man, tapping Freddy shoulder and left him in the empty class…

For quite some time, he was looking at the empty foldable chair with table attached, next to him, where Febri uses to sit….

His finger run through the surface of the desk, and he can feel her hand there, on the desk, taking notes from what the lecturer taught them….

With a hard sigh, as f the burden piled on his chest, he then left the class and went straight to his co-op house….

****

When he saw the letter of recommendation from his campus for his final project, he was stunned…

Why am I choosing that place….? He thought when he realizes that he chose the very same garage custom shop, on the island where they intern together, and where she was furious at him….

He wanted to cancel, but the campus said it was already in the system, and it will take time since he had to find another place for the project, and the he had to enter the letter of request to the campus, then the campus will revise it, and the re issued the new letter…

Sighing, Freddy thanks the clerk at the admin office and went back home, where he started to pack his bag and booked the ticket for his travel…

****

His heart still troubled, still reluctant to go…. It’s only when the ground crew shouting the very last call for the passenger to board the plane, that he boards the plane, and ignores the grumbles and stern gaze from the passengers that already boarded the plane….

*****

“Bro… Where’s your partner…?” Asked the owner of the motorcycle custom shop, bit of surprise himself to see the young man comes and work his final project, alone….

“Febri has a family matter, Sir…. She takes a year off…” said Freddy, forcing a smile and lied blatantly, before continue his work on an engine who he feels would be much fun if being done together….

“To bad, Fredd… Both of you were a good team…. Your spirit is different when you are together….” Said the owner of the shop, who gave a bitter smile, knowing that the young man obviously protecting the girl who absent for different reason altogether….

Freddy gave a bitter smile before he did a final setting for the bike…

As he cleans his workstation, his eyes spot a scrapped material that somehow gave him a vision he never expected….

“Sir…. Can I take this scrapped material….?” Asked Freddy, showing the material he asked for

The owner smiled, to see the item asked by the young man…. He somehow knew what the item will ended up become….

“Use all tools you need…. Make a very good one out of it, will you….” He said that makes Freddy smile and thanked the owner graciously….

****

Until the very last day on the island, through every morning, and afternoons, through sunrises and sunsets at the beach near the shop, he prays that she would somehow shows up, beat him to a pulp, but then together complete the work he knows she would definitely love to do….

But his prays never answered…

“Thank you for the opportunity to do my final project, here, sir…. I’m truly grateful….” Said Freddy extending his hands to the owner of the shop who shakes his hand firmly and give the young man a friendly hug on his shoulder and said….

“You will always welcome here, Fred…. You’re a good man….” Said the owner, who then gather all his crew and take them to restaurant nearby and have a farewell dinner for the young man, who was trying so hard to look happy while his hear was hurt, wishing the girl was there, having the same farewell with him….

****

For quite sometimes, Freddy managed to have the memory of the girl put a side when he turns his focus on his dissertation….

But even then, on these nights when he was wakes up to write down his paper, or re-write it after being corrected by his counsellor, he still wishing the girl would suddenly burst into his room, and attacked him, just the way she always does….

****

As Freddy walks towards the hall, he saw some of the graduate poses with their proud family. He too saw graduates, and their parents sweating through the heavy makeup they wear, and he too saw some grunts from the parents who sits impatiently in the large hall….

But for the most, they were happy, attending the graduation of their children….

I wish you were here, Babe…. He thought, with sorrow in his heart…

"Freddy Miller..."

The calling snapped him from his daydream, and with a forced smile, and slow steps, he went up the stage, to meet the professor who handed him his diploma…

Sadness clearly visible on his face…

Not because of the absents of his parents, since he was an orphan….

His sadness was deepened because of the absent of the girl who should have graduated with him….

The girl that now gone with the wind….

****