A. MAHENDRA SASMITA-MORES.

Acquainted with the empyrean, devoted to the solemn geometry of horizons.

[A. MAHENDRA SASMITA-MORES. @Roekayasa]

️️

𝗠𝗔𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗜 𝗖𝗔𝗞𝗥𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗔
ketegasan jadi laku, ragu dikata
tak sempat beri ruang, meski dusta
kerapkali melanglang. Di balik wibawa
telah bersemayam pongah serta murka,
tercela yang setia mengiringi purna yang
terlalu lama menanti dengan sunyi.
⸻
️️️️

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ㅤ

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ㅤ

[A. MAHENDRA SASMITA-MORES. @Roekayasa]

I didn’t want to drop her off, only to drive home alone. Not yet, and before I could convince myself otherwise, the words had already escaped, “Ras, mau temani saya ke kafe?”

“Tapi itupun juga kalau kamu mau dan gak capek. Saya gak memaksa kok.” / @kandhaloka

[A. MAHENDRA SASMITA-MORES. @Roekayasa]

A familiar figure stepped inside, brushing a few loose strands of hair behind her ear after the evening breeze had tousled them. She paused briefly near the entrance, her eyes roaming around the restaurant as if searching for familiar faces.

Selaras.

[A. MAHENDRA SASMITA-MORES. @Roekayasa]

Long enough to pretend the weight I’d been carrying all evening could wait until tomorrow.

I knew I shouldn’t, I knew better. But reason had begun losing ground to something quieter, something far more selfish.

[SELARAS KASIH @kandhaloka]

@Roekayasa ️️⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀
I reached for the handle and slipped into the passenger seat after he invited me in. The door closed with a quiet thud behind me.

For a brief moment, I sat there, my fingers still resting lightly on the strap of my handbag, (cont.)

️️ ️️⠀⠀⠀

[SELARAS KASIH @kandhaloka]

️️⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀
as though my mind hadn’t quite caught up with what I’d just done. What was I thinking?

No…the better question was why I hadn’t stopped myself???? There had been every opportunity to refuse.

️️ ️️⠀⠀⠀

[SELARAS KASIH @kandhaloka]

️️⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀
Every opportunity to stay within the comfortable distance that should have existed between us.

Instead, here I was.
Sitting beside him.

“Terima kasih, 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘵.”

I offered him a small smile before fastening my seat belt.

️️ ️️⠀⠀⠀

[SELARAS KASIH @kandhaloka]

️️⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀
It wasn’t uncomfortable. Not exactly. Only...delicate. As though the slightest word spoken too carelessly might alter something neither of us intended to name.

The radio filled the empty spaces between us with an old Indonesian love (cont.)

️️ ️️⠀⠀⠀

[SELARAS KASIH @kandhaloka]

️️⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀
song playing quietly in the background. I couldn’t remember the title, only that I’d heard it countless times before without ever paying attention to the lyrics.

Tonight, somehow, every line sounded clearer.

️️ ️️⠀⠀⠀

[SELARAS KASIH @kandhaloka]

️️⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀
Outside, the city refused to sleep. Motorcycles slipped between lanes, convenience stores still glowed brightly on street corners, and the occasional food stall remained crowded despite the late hour.

️️ ️️⠀⠀⠀