-chapter five-
-present day-
Adya stares at the boxes, they came at last. The customs were tough on her, but she’s thanking God that everything can be bought in this country, so her boxes are unopened. They’re filled with used goods anyway, shouldn’t be subject for taxes.
She opens the first box. She took out her books, and knicks-knacks she decided to bring home. She froze when she sees the next object. Estelle must have packed it, thinking it was hers. She takes it out, a University of Michigan t-shirt, the last t-shirt he wore in her place. She smells the t-shirt, it still has his scent. A sudden rush of emotion overcomes her, she misses him.
-some ten months ago-
“You’re ready?” he said to her when she came out of her room, “Whoa, blasphemy! Brian would never let you in his place.”
They were going to Brian’s place to watch the game. Brian is Darren’s college friend, she grew fond of him and several others. It was OSU vs. University of Michigan game, home game for her. She was wearing her Buckeyes t-shirt, and Darren was full on blue, and she was all red.
“I know, that’s why we brought this,” she said and took the bottle of tequila.
“I don’t know whether that would be enough though, it’s big game week after all. Well if Brian wouldn’t let you in the apartment, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“And you’d let them left me out in the cold?”
“You want an honest answer?” Darren said and laughed.
“Ow shush.”
They drove to Brian’s place where the whole gang was there. She got to know them very well. They were his friends who he used to hang out with in college. They arrived at the house, and Joey opened the door for them.
“Ow hell no Darren, why the hell would you let her dress like that?! Don’t you know it’s bad luck wearing anything red at this moment?!”
“See I told you,” Darren whispered in her ear.
“Ow shush, and in Columbus today would be the day for us to erase the letter between L and N. So the Buckeyes, for today, is the ‘Best Tea in the United States of A’erica’.”
“Cute,” Joey said to her and rolled his eyes.
“Why do I see a Buckeye t-shirt here?! Don’t you know you’re not welcome here?!” Brian said and hugged Adya.
“That’s why I brought booze,” Adya said and gave it to Brian.
“Of all the girls in the world, why do you have to date a Buckeye?” Nick said
“Because she could do a mean “Super Bass”,” he said and shrugged.
“Ow, that’s too shallow of a reason to date a person,” a voice rang out in the middle of the room.
“Believe me Gaby, I’ve dated for less. Remember you?”
“Ow Gabe, he got you there!” Joe said from across the room. And the rest of the gang were laughing.
Adya froze as the red head approached them. She was about Darren’s age wearing University of Michigan home jersey that hung loose on her thin body. She was in short, hot, even Adya admitted it, her hair was up in a pony tail, she looked radiant. They only just met, but Adya already felt inferior to the girl.
“So this is the famous Addy, at last we meet,” she extended he hand for her to shake.
“Adya,” she said with a small smile, “you must be Gaby.”
“Adya? I swear to God they told me your name is Addy.”
“I call her that Gaby,” Darren said with a smile, “Come on Gaby, be nice,” he said to the girl as he hugged her.
“Ow come now Darren, I don’t bite,” she said and smiled. “Not unless they’re cute.”
From her tone Adya knew she was flirting with Darren.
“So how is he in bed?” Gaby asked Adya, “I taught him everything he knew.”
Darren scoffed, “Don’t flatter yourself Gabes.”
They were catching up, they seemed to have their own world, with their inside jokes. Adya just gave her small smile, the smile she did when she’s nervous. Usually Darren noticed her awkwardness, for a strange reason, he didn’t notice it at all. He didn’t squeezed her hand to calm her down.
“I’m getting a drink,” she said, “you want anything?”
“I’ll take a bottle of beer please, thanks,” he said and put his hand on the small of her back as she left.
“Jeez Darren, please and thank you, aren’t we proper and prissy now,” she overheard Gaby joked to Darren.
He chuckled and told her to shut up.
She walked to the cooler and grabbed two bottle of beer. She twisted one cap open and took a sip from it.
“Adya, you’re drinking?” Joey came over to her.
She looked at him, “Dude, don’t worry, I’m not underage.”
“You never drank before.”
She smiled, “Not in front of you,” she said, her eyes fixed on Darren and Gaby.
“I wouldn’t worry much if I were you,” Joey whispered to her.
She looked at the tall gangly guy.
“They go way back.”
“Uh huh, and I shouldn’t worry how?”
“I’ve been friends with Darren for a while, I wouldn’t worry much.”
“Hey come on, they game is started!” Nick called out and they’re taking their seats in front of the TV.
Darren took a seat next to her, “Is that my beer?”
“Yeah,” she said and handing him the unopened bottle.
He looked at her weird, “Are you drinking?”
“Uh huh,” she said and sipped her beer. Darren didn’t say anything in reply.
“Yeah come on go Blue!” Brian yelled out.
“You’re going to wish like hell you’re not wearing that outfit today Addy,” Joe said to her.
Darren looked at Joe, “Dude, it’s Adya for you!”
“Geez Darren, sensitive,” Gaby said to her, “so unlike you.” She turned to Adya, “I think you’re a good influence on him. I mean, I can see him change, growing up a little, I guess riding an old horse is good for you.” She said and the others laughed.
“Excuse me?” Adya was offended by the statement.
“She’s kidding Adya, lighten up,” Nick said.
“Uh huh, my sense of humor must be different from you guys,” Adya said sarcastically and sipped her beer.
“This is what happened if you’re dating a desk Darren, they don’t get a stage sense of humor,” Gaby said.
Adya chose not to answer, she felt unease. Yet Darren didn’t do anything to defend her. She felt singled out. She took another sip of her beer.
It was half time, Adya had downed two bottles of beer. She felt a little queasy and her bladder started to respond to the alcohol. She got up and went to the bathroom. When she was inside, she faintly heard the laughter outside. She slowly opened the door of the bathroom, and then she heard the conversation.
“Seriously Darren, how does it feel fucking an early 80’s product, is she so retro?” Adya heard a man’s voice say, she can’t be sure who.
“Please do tell me she’s a hidden sexy geek kinda thing. I mean, she must be exciting that you keep her this long. I hope the sex is not as boring as she looks.” A woman’s voice this time, and Adya was sure it was Gaby’s.
“Does she spank you when you’re bad Darren?” a man’s voice now heard.
“Well, Darren, if you ever get tired banging that saggy ass, I’m here for you,” Gaby said.
“Sure Gabes, thanks,” Darren said.
Adya felt that was the right time for her to step out, and she did. The room was still roaring with laughter. The second half had started. She walked over to grab another bottle of beer and sat beside Darren.
Darren looked at her as she twisted off the cap and took a sip.
“That’s your what? 4th? 5th bottle?”
“75th,” she said sarcastically, “but who’s couting.”
“Wanna slow down now?”
“Why? I’m not driving,” Adya said and watched the game.
Darren looked at her and didn’t reply. Then they watched the rest of the game.
They were driving back home and Adya hadn’t say a word to him for the last three hour.
“You’re pretty quiet.”
“A Buckeye in the midst of the wolves, who by the way creamed our butt. I have the right to remain silence.”
Darren scoffed, “Someone is having too much tonight.”
“Nope,” she while she gazed to the window, “it’s not even enough.”
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he reached out to her.
She brushed it off. She saw from the reflection on the window he was a bit surprised by her action.
“What is this?”
“Nothing, just drop it,” she said, and they continued the journey in silence.
They got in the apartment, still not talking. Adya took off her coat and her scarf and walked to the bedroom and change. She was about to enter the bathroom when Darren told her.
“I’m just going to go, it’s no use being around you when you’re like this.”
Adya stopped and looked at him, “Ok, fine, who wants to stay and nail this saggy ass, when there’s a tight-end in town somewhere.”
Darren scoffed, “Cute, now you make a joke.”
“I heard it Darren,” she said, “almost the whole thing.”
“Come on Addy, it’s a joke, it’s just our thing. Gaby and I go….”
“Way back, yeah, I heard.”
He groaned in frustration, “Gosh Addy, loosen up, it’s a joke.”
“Yeah, quite funny when they’re referring me as someone who take your crayons.”
“What’s wrong with you and this age thing?!”
“It’s just not something I’m comfortable to joke about, why can’t you get it?!”
“You know something, I think it was pretty funny,” he started to raise his voice.
“Yeah, congratulations, you’re a ‘stage’ and I’m just a boring desk!”
He scoffed, “I’m out of here,” he said and walked out of the place.
She stood there for a moment, half expecting that he’d come back. But he didn’t. She felt a little light, but she was too enraged. She just went inside the bedroom and tried to sleep.
An hour later she was still wide-awake. She missed him. She didn’t realize how she was used to having him next to her in the bed. She even only slept on her side of the bed. She sat up and buried her head on her knees.
She looked at his t-shirt laid out on the bed. It was the last t-shirt he wore before they went to Brian’s house. She took it and smelled it. His scent was still there, she missed him more. She took off her tank top and put on his t-shirt. She felt him close to her. She curled on the bed and fell asleep minutes later.
She woke up in the morning with a light head. She recalled on the events last night, and the number of beers she downed in. It was more than she had for quite sometime. Then it dawned on her the part when Darren walked out on her. She took a deep breath, and went to the kitchen. It was almost ten when she woke up. She was really hungry. She opened the cabinet and looked for something to eat. She saw the box of Cap’n Crunch in the cabinet, it was his cereal, she always scoffed at him whenever he put it on the cart. If it’s not Cap’n Crunch, it’s Trix or Lucky Charms or some other sweet cereals. He’s juvenile like that. But she likes it.
She took the box and poured it to the bowl. She walked to the fridge and about to grab the milk. She was about to take her skim milk, but she glanced to his full-cream milk. She took it and poured it to her cereal.
She was eating her breakfast when suddenly the door swung open and he was standing in front of her. Looking like a mess.
She stopped eating and looked at him.
“I…I can’t sleep at all last night,” he said. She didn’t reply, “I know my friends are hard to get used to….”
“Listen Darren I overreacted.”
“Shut up, I got this rehearsed all night,” he said to her.
She was taken aback for a second, but then she smiled and raised her hands up, “Okay.”
“I know my friends can be jackasses, but that’s just the way they are. I never took them seriously, and you should too. And you know something, that,” he pointed to her butt, “is my saggy ass. And I don’t care what people think. Come on, it’s only five years difference Addy, and in our age, I don’t think it would matter much, so what if you’re a cougar. You’re my cougar, and I love that saggy ass of yours. Because I love you.”
Now Adya was really surprised. He said he loves her. But she didn’t know. She loved the time she spent with him, it felt right. But she wasn’t ready to fall in love. “You what?”
He stepped closer to her, “I love you Adya Marya Sutrisno.”
She was too stunned to reply. She couldn’t believe it.
He read her face, “Hey,” he said, “I know, you don’t have to say anything right away. I just need you to know that, I love you, and I don’t really want to spend a night alone anymore. Unless I really have to.”
She smiled, “Okay.”
They kissed, and he put his forehead against hers. Suddenly something dawned on him, “Are you wearing my t-shirt?”
She was caught off-guard and started to stammer.
“Adya Sutrisno, why are you wearing a Michigan t-shirt?”
Adya found herself unable to reply.
“And what’s this?” he looked at the bowl in front of her, “You’re eating my cereal?” he took a scoop and gasped, “And with my milk?”
“I was hungry.”
“Admit it Adya Sutrisno, you missed me.”
“Ow shush,” she leaned in to kiss him and he backed away.
“Uh-uh, this sweet lips is not kissing you unless you admit that you miss this sweet ass.”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” she broke away from his embrace and took the spoon for the cereal.
“Really now?” he said to her.
She turned to face him, “Fine, I miss your sweet ass.”
“Now,” he leaned in to her, “that wasn’t so hard wasn’t it?” and they kissed.
-present day-
Adya stares at the t-shirt. After that, whenever he was gone for a while, she always kept his last t-shirt with her. This shirt is the last shirt he wore when they’re together. She takes off the clothes she’s wearing and put on his t-shirt. It still has his scent, and the sense of comfort that Adya longs so much. She feels him closer to her as she curls up on her couch and started sobbing again. She missed him even more than she’d like to admit.
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