19 Chapter 19 - To Bali (1/2)
”HEY! STEFFI! I'm getting married next year!” Lily's text popped up. Oh really? I am so happy for her. ”CONGRATULATIONS MY DEAR!”.
”So, about Bali.. How about June?” June, means 3 months ahead.
”I will transit to Jakarta before Bali.... we meet there” she replied.
”Okay then send me your flights detail. I'll try to find the flight that suits your arrival”
”wait, sending it to you right now. I am so f**kin happy”
”will be waiting!”
***
”Safe flight little sist” Cindy gave me a hug, Clara did the same.
”Tell us when you arrived” Clara added. I walk towards the pink –polkadot baby stroller, bend my knees to reach my niece's tiny hand.
”Bye Bianca ! Will bought you a lot of bikinis” I winked my eyes.
I wave my hand towards my sisters and my niece, pulling my luggage and disappear from the crowds.
***
This is my second time in Bali, I first came to Bali with Rony which is about 8 years ago. So I have less clue about it, 8 years must change a lot. I walk through the crowds by saying ”Excuse me” in repeat so they will stop blocking my way. Soon as I paused among the crowds where people are waiting for their transits, a woman yelled ”STEFFI” waving her hands towards me.
”Lily!” I yelled back, running towards her. ”I miss you!” she added, we are hugging, jumping like kids in the playground.
”Oh my god you are not gonna believe it!” Lily pulled my hand and drag me seated in an empty seat, beside her bags. She hid her hands at her back, show it slowly to me, ”TADA !” surprised me with the ring on her third finger on her left hand.
”it's an engagement ring !” she exclaimed.
***
We've landed.. on this beautiful land, city of love, beaches, waves, exciting view, friendly people. It's Bali. An piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water, warm and transparent water in bluish and light greenish shades, soft golden sand, palms and other tropical plants bowing over it. A flock of birds would cross the sky. I sit back against the seat to watch. Their wings beat the air as if it took no effort at all, each movement precisely on time as it should be. I watch them until they were specks on the horizon, until that moment just before they blended into the far away sky.
Our first stop on the first day is Tanah Lot. We enjoy the strikingly beautiful temples at the shore, listening to the waves, shopping some amazing wooden carvings, paintings or handcrafted bags. Then we continue our journey to some cafes, taking pictures, well mostly Lily's picture because I don't like to take pictures that much.
It's evening 7 p.m. when we came back to W Hotel Seminyak. I sat by the beach while Lily is busy preparing herself for Potato Head Beach Club Bali. Night has fallen fast upon the land, it's the type of coldness that reaches into my bones as if my heart was a door left wide open to the icy breeze, slamming only to open again. The only thing to do is just keep moving, keep heading toward and the steady warmth of the hearth. Noah? How are you there? I remember when you kissed me on the cheek in that cold –breezy night we spent alone. I closed my eyes, inhaling the breeze.
”Steffi!” a tap on the shoulder startled me.
”Hey” Lily sat beside me, she's in red –backless top and hotpants ”Is everything okay Steffi?” she asked.
”I am fine?” I lifted an eyebrow, there's something inside my chest and I think I am ready to tell her.
”Are you ready to tell me?” Yash, Lily you read my mind. Right, I haven't said anything to Lily since I left Los Angeles. Let's take a deep breath... exhales.. ”Do you mind Lily?”
”As long as you are ready” she smiles.
”Yes, Lily..” another deep breath, ”Um... I think I'm in love with that ....guy” I stuttered.
”I know, I can see it from your expression though”
”I don't know Lily. I miss him, really”
I imagine the smile he had, his smile is the prettiest thing I've seen, for it extends to your eyes and deep into your soul. He is the gentle touch, the smile of a pure honesty.
”Hmmm” she mumbled, ”I think...He is in love with you too, from my perspective”
Is that? It's hard for me to believe it, ”Why would you say that?”
”I am just guessing.. but he is showing it to you.. he brought you to the observatory, he actually rent the whole building that night, for you... he wants to bring you for a vacation. What for Steffi? He did that much to you..”