#cahaya

Lalu suatu hari, sekali lagi aku mencoba menutup satu pintu. Kukira, setelahnya akan lebih mudah berjalan.

Ternyata, ada yang ikut sunyi ketika pintu itu kututup. Halaman-halaman perlahan kembali putih. Kalimat-kalimat memilih diam. Keran yang dulu tak pernah berhenti mengalir tiba-tiba lupa bagaimana caranya menetes.

Aku tidak tahu apa yang sebenarnya hilang. Mungkin hanya sebuah kebiasaan. Mungkin seberkas cahaya. Atau mungkin, aku terlalu lama mengira air itu berasal dari keran. Padahal selama ini, ada tangan di luar sana yang diam-diam selalu membukanya.

The friend André was going to meet was, of course, Sanae, whom he had called earlier to invite her to hang out at the beach. André didn't have to wait long, since they both arrived at practically the same time. André: Hey, you came. Sanae: Of course I came, what did you think? André: I don’t know, I thought maybe you’d be tired after the dance. Sanae: A little, but I’m fine, don’t worry. André: Okay, do you want to walk along the shore, or do you just want to sit and chat? Sanae: I’d rather sit, if you don’t mind.

They sat down on a bench, and to make conversation, André pulled out his phone to show her photos of his family. André: So, this is my whole family. Sanae: Wow. Really? Are they all your siblings? André: Simon, Daniel, and Jessica are my half-siblings; Jean is my older brother, and the twins Henri and Marlene are the youngest. Sanae: Cool. But they don’t live here, do they? André: No, they all live in Island Paradise, for now. Jean, Henri, and Marlene are staying with our grandparents for now, but if everything goes according to plan, they might move in here soon. Sanae: Awesome.

André: But enough about me, tell me about yourself. Is your family big or small? Sanae: Actually, it’s very small, just my mom and me. And that’s it, there’s nothing interesting about it, except that my dad hasn’t lived with us for a long time. André: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Sanae: It’s okay; Mom and I are better off this way. André: I see… Would you like to grab a bite, or…? Sanae: I’d rather stay here. The shade and the breeze are nice. Besides, I couldn’t walk very far. I’m feeling a little sleepy. André: Well, if that’s the case, I have an idea.

Sanae: Are you sure you're okay? I don't want your leg to get numb or something. André: Ha ha ha, sure, I'm fine, as long as you're comfortable. Sanae: I'm very comfortable, thank you. André: Great. Sanae: Except for one thing. André: What is it? Sanae: I'm worried you'll get in trouble with Saki over this. André: With Saki? Come on, she and I are just friends. Sanae: Are you sure? I mean, it's obvious that she likes you. André: No, she doesn't.

Sanae: Are you kidding? You can tell a mile away that she’s got a crush on you. So I don’t want you to get into any trouble with her. André: I’m not going to get into any trouble because she’s just a friend. Sanae: Really? André: Yes. So, let’s just forget about Saki, okay? Sanae: Okay.

Evening has fallen; it's time to say goodbye. André wants to take things slowly with Sanae because he doesn't want to ruin it, so he says goodbye with just a hug. André: Thanks for coming today. Sanae: Thanks to you for calling me. André: Would you go out with me again? Sanae: Go out with you, like…? André: As friends, of course. Sanae: Sure. Let’s hang out again someday. André: Great.

The afterparty wasn't all that exciting. It was mostly Chaeyun asking André to dance and apologizing for not agreeing to go to prom with him as a friend. André, of course, told her it was okay, and honestly it is because he came out ahead. He had a great time with Saki and managed to get Sanae's cell phone number, which is more than enough for him.

He spent the rest of the night trying to fit in with the group by dancing with them. The party went on almost until dawn, but André was tired, so he called it a night and went home.

When he got home, he was a little hungry but didn't have the energy to make himself something to eat, so he made a smoothie, drank it quickly, and went to sleep. But he couldn't really sleep much, so he got up a few hours later.

While Saki goes to touch up her makeup, André has just run into someone he was really happy to see at the party: his friend Sanae. André: Hey, I didn't think you'd be coming. Sanae: Well, everyone was going to be here, so I figured, why not? André: Great! Would you… like to dance?

Sanae: Uh… I don't know, Saki's might not like it if I take her prom date away from her. André: Well, we're not really on a date, we came as friends. Sanae: Even so, she's really touchy about anything to do with prom. André: Really? Sanae: M-hm. That's why you'd better go back to her unless you want her to stop talking to you for the rest of the school year.

André: That would be a bit drastic for just a dance, wouldn't it? Sanae: Well, it's Saki we're talking about, so… You'd better not keep her waiting, or you'll end up on her blacklist. André: Blacklist? Wow. Sanae: Not literally, of course, it's a figure of speech, but still…

André: Don't worry, I'll go back with Saki for now. I'll see you later. I hope. The way André looks at her next makes Sanae a little nervous, not because it bothers her. Quite the opposite. Sanae: Uh, yeah, I hope so too.

Another exchange of glances. Sanae's eyes are literally sparkling; she's resigned herself to spend the rest of the night alone when… André: Uh, Sanae, I was wondering if you'd give me your contact info? Sanae: You mean my cell phone number? André: Well… Yeah.

Sanae: … André: I mean, only if you want to. If not, that's fine, I understand. Sanae: Oh, no, it's okay. I'll… I'll give it to you. André: Seriously? Sanae: Yes.

Sanae: Are you ready? André: I'm ready. Sanae: Okay, it's 555… André: 555…

André can barely hear anything over the loud music and the pounding of his heart. He hopes Sanae isn't hearing that! André: She gave her number. I can't believe it! Sanae: Did André just ask me my number? I must be dreaming!

Sanae: You have it? André: Yes. Sanae: Good. Keep it safe, don't lose it. André: Never. I'll call you tomorrow. Sanae: Okay. André: It was nice talking to you, San. Sanae: You too, André.

Back on the dance floor, it looks like André is starting to get into the groove. André: So? What do you think of my moves? Saki: André, please stop, this is embarrassing. André: You wanted us to dance, didn’t you? Well, I’m doing it. Yeah, maybe it’s embarrassing, but at least not as much as Hayoung’s dance back there. Saki: You’re absolutely right about that.

A selfie to smooth things over, and then André goes to get Saki a drink before they announce the voting results. And the winners are…

Minjun Shim and…

Saki is already here, along with most of André's classmates. The first thing she does is drag him onto the dance floor. Dancing isn't really André's thing, but he can give it a try. By the way, Chaeyun came to tell him that she changed her mind and wants to be his dance partner. André: Um, sorry, Chaeyun, but Saki and I came together as friends so... Chaeyun: Okay, it’s not that big of a deal. Besides, it’s your loss. André: Sure, whatever...

It's time for André to cast his vote, while Lillian stands nearby. Lillian: Did you vote me? André: Uh, voting is secret, remember? Lillian: Of course, I was just asking.