Part Three

That Saturday afternoon, the Jogja sky was clear, bathed in soft sunlight, making the streets lively yet comfortable. Arka and Aruna walked side by side along Malioboro, glancing at the shops, inhaling the aroma of coffee from small cafes, and occasionally stopping to look at street food stalls. “Look at that, Arka! That traditional ice cream is famous here,” Aruna said, pointing at a colorful ice cream vendor.

Arka smiled. “I’m curious. Have you tried it before?”

“Yeah… it’s really good. You have to try it too.” Aruna tasted her ice cream first, then handed her spoon to Arka. He took it, and they shared bites back and forth. When a drop of ice cream fell on Aruna’s chin, Arka quickly wiped it off with his finger.

“Hey! Be careful, don’t make me look silly in front of people!” Aruna laughed, slightly embarrassed. “Silly? I’m just… trying to save you,” Arka replied with a wide grin.

They continued walking, passing street musicians playing acoustic music. Aruna stopped briefly, closing her eyes, savoring the guitar’s melody. Arka watched her from the side, feeling a warm flutter at her faint smile.

“Do you often relax like this?” Arka asked.

“Rarely. I’m usually busy with college or work. But if someone invites me out, I like to join… especially if they’re fun,” Aruna replied, glancing at him. Arka smiled faintly. “I’m glad I get to have fun with you.”

They sat for a while on a small park bench along the street, enjoying the sunset that had begun to descend. Arka pulled out his small camera and tried to take pictures of Aruna laughing at a stray cat. “Careful, don’t make me look ugly in the photo!” Aruna teased, though her eyes shone.

“You won’t look ugly,” Arka said softly. “You always… look beautiful.” Aruna looked down briefly, then glanced back at Arka. There was a calmness and warmth that felt so close between them.

As the sun began to set, they walked home, their hands nearly touching several times, laughing lightly, realizing that today wasn’t just an ordinary outing. It was a moment when the distance between them slowly faded, and Arka began to notice just how comfortable and warm it felt to be near Aruna.

🚌

That night, Jogja felt peaceful. Streetlights reflected on the wet sidewalks after the afternoon rain, and the air carried the familiar scent of damp earth. Arka and Aruna walked together down a narrow alley toward Aruna’s favorite coffee shop.

“This is my favorite café,” Aruna said with a smile. “I usually come here when I want to be alone… but tonight, you’re coming with me.” Arka turned, slightly blushing. “I’m happy to come. The place… is cozy.”

They sat on a wooden bench in the corner of the café, dim yellow lights casting a soft glow. Guitar music from the corner added warmth to the atmosphere. “Hey, you don’t usually talk much, do you?” Aruna looked at him, half-teasing.

Arka shrugged. “I… only open up to people I trust. And with you… I feel like I can share a little.” Aruna smiled warmly, leaning slightly toward him. “Be careful, if you start talking to me, I might get nosy all the time.”

Arka chuckled. “It’s fine. I’d actually enjoy it if you were nosy.”

They sat quietly for a moment, sipping their warm coffee, exchanging gentle glances. A sense of comfort flowed between them—not needing words, just being together was enough.

When Aruna looked out the window, Arka followed her gaze, watching the lights reflecting on the wet street. Unconsciously, his hand brushed against hers. He paused for a moment, then slowly held it.

Aruna looked at him, slightly surprised but smiling. “Arka…”

“Sorry… if I’m being too bold,” he whispered, his smile gentle and warm. Aruna held his hand back, wordlessly, her small smile saying it all.

In that little café, under the dim lights and the aroma of warm coffee, they felt… comfortable. Slowly, Arka realized tonight wasn’t just a casual hangout. It was a moment when his heart was starting to truly open to Aruna.

🚌

Later, while Arka was helping his grandfather at home, Aruna came by with some ingredients for cooking. They smiled and joked as usual, but suddenly the conversation shifted to something more personal.

“Arka… can I ask you something?” Aruna’s voice sounded hesitant. “Sure,” Arka replied, a bit tense but calm. “Why do you always seem… closed off about your past? I know there’s something heavy there, but you rarely talk about it. I just… want to understand you better.”

Arka swallowed, feeling a slight warmth on his face. “I… don’t know where to start, Aruna. It’s all too complicated, and I’m afraid if I tell you, I’ll… be a burden.”

Aruna sighed softly, her expression showing a hint of disappointment but still gentle. “Arka… I wouldn’t feel burdened. I just want to be by your side, if you let me.”

Arka looked into Aruna’s eyes, his heart racing. He wanted to open up, but his old fears haunted him. “I… was hurt deeply before, Aruna. The love I gave was destroyed, the trust I built was taken away… I don’t want to be hurt again, and I don’t want to hurt someone who cares about me.”

Aruna sat closer, gently patting his hand. “I understand… but you can’t keep running from your feelings. If you want me here, you have to trust me. I won’t leave, Arka. But I also can’t keep waiting if you always shut me out.”

Arka lowered his gaze, his heart pounding. Aruna’s words hit him softly—not forcing, but enough to make him realize: he had to choose between shutting himself off or starting to trust again.

“I… I want to try,” Arka finally said softly, his voice a little hoarse. “I want to… trust you, Aruna.” Aruna smiled gently, her eyes shining. “That’s enough, Arka. We’ll take it slowly.”

They sat in silence for a while, just looking at each other, enjoying a quiet that wasn’t awkward but warm. That small, emotional conversation made them realize—closeness wasn’t just about laughter and outings, but also about having the courage to open up and trust one another.

A few days after that heartfelt talk, Arka and Aruna decided to take a stroll around the Kota Lama area of Jogja. The atmosphere was warm and relaxed—they laughed at old buildings, sampled street snacks, and joked lightly.

But when they sat on the steps in front of an old café to rest, Aruna suddenly remembered something. “Arka… I need to tell you something,” she said, looking down, her voice slightly trembling.

Arka looked at her, concerned. “What is it? Don’t worry, you can tell me anything.”

Aruna took a deep breath. “There’s… someone from my past who just returned to Jogja. He used to be close to me, and now he’s getting close to some of my friends. I’m scared… I don’t want this to cause misunderstandings or fights between us.”

Arka swallowed hard. His heart raced with sudden jealousy and fear of loss, but he restrained himself. “I… understand, Aruna. But… you mean, he might interfere with us?” Aruna shook her head. “Not like that. I’m just… worried that you might feel uncomfortable, or that I might make a wrong move. I don’t want our trust to be ruined because of the past.”

Arka looked at her for a long moment, holding back a small surge of anger—not at Aruna, but at the fear of losing her. He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “I can’t promise I won’t be jealous, Aruna… but I promise I’ll try to trust you. I’m just… scared of losing you.”

Aruna lowered her gaze, her eyes glistening. “Arka… I’m scared too. But if we don’t face this together, I’ll never be at peace.” Arka held her hand, firm yet gentle. “We’ll face it together. I’m not going anywhere.”

They sat in silence, gazing at each other. Their hearts raced, yet warmth grew between them—the feeling that this first daunting challenge wasn’t meant to separate them, but to test how strong their trust truly was.

And as the evening darkened, they knew one thing: if they could face this fear together, their closeness could become even deeper than before.

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