You know that feeling when you meet someone, and suddenly, everything just feels right? That’s exactly how it felt when they finally crossed paths.

(Kamu tahu perasaan itu kan, saat bertemu seseorang, dan tiba-tiba semuanya terasa tepat? Begitulah rasanya saat mereka akhirnya bertemu.)

 

A Beautiful Beginning

The Unexpected Meeting

The morning was bright, the sunlight creeping in through the café windows and mixing with the fresh, crisp air. I walked in, the doorbell chiming as I stepped inside. It wasn’t a particularly busy morning, but the atmosphere of the café was always comforting—quiet, warm, with the rich scent of coffee hanging in the air. The kind of place where you could sit for hours without anyone bothering you.

(Pagi itu cerah, sinar matahari merembes melalui jendela kafe dan bercampur dengan udara segar yang dingin. Aku masuk, lonceng pintu berbunyi ketika aku melangkah masuk. Ini bukan pagi yang sangat sibuk, tetapi suasana kafe selalu menenangkan—tenang, hangat, dengan aroma kopi yang pekat menguar di udara. Tempat seperti ini, di mana kau bisa duduk berjam-jam tanpa ada yang mengganggu.)

I headed to the counter and ordered a black coffee—nothing special, just the usual. As I waited for my drink, my eyes wandered around the room. Most people were absorbed in their laptops, others were buried in books, and a few couples were engaged in quiet conversation. But then, something caught my eye. A man sitting by the window, his face hidden behind a thick book. His messy hair and the way he clutched the book in his hands made it clear that he wasn’t just killing time. He was lost in it.

(Aku menuju ke konter dan memesan kopi hitam—tidak ada yang istimewa, hanya biasa saja. Sambil menunggu minumanku, mataku berkeliling ruangan. Kebanyakan orang tenggelam dalam laptop mereka, yang lainnya terbenam dalam buku, dan beberapa pasangan saling berbicara dengan tenang. Namun, sesuatu menarik perhatianku. Seorang pria duduk di dekat jendela, wajahnya tertutup oleh sebuah buku tebal. Rambutnya yang acak-acakan dan cara dia memegang buku itu menunjukkan bahwa dia tidak hanya sedang menghabiskan waktu. Dia tenggelam dalam bukunya.)

There was something about him that drew me in. Not that he was particularly good-looking, but there was a certain intensity about the way he read. It made me wonder how someone could be so engrossed in a book in a world full of distractions. I found myself staring at him for longer than I should have, before I quickly looked away, embarrassed by my own curiosity.

(Ada sesuatu dalam dirinya yang menarik perhatianku. Bukan karena dia tampan, tetapi ada intensitas tertentu dalam cara dia membaca. Itu membuatku bertanya-tanya bagaimana seseorang bisa begitu tenggelam dalam sebuah buku di dunia yang penuh dengan gangguan. Aku mendapati diriku menatapnya lebih lama dari yang seharusnya, lalu dengan cepat berpaling, malu dengan rasa penasaran sendiri.)

I grabbed my coffee and took a seat at a nearby table. I tried not to glance at him again, but it was difficult. The way he held that book, like it was the most important thing in the world… It was oddly captivating. I couldn’t help but wonder what was so fascinating about the book he was reading.

(Aku mengambil kopiku dan duduk di meja yang dekat. Aku berusaha untuk tidak menatapnya lagi, tetapi itu sulit. Cara dia memegang buku itu, seperti itu adalah hal terpenting di dunia… Entah kenapa itu begitu memikat. Aku tak bisa menahan rasa ingin tahuku, apa yang begitu menarik dari buku yang sedang dia baca.)

Then, as if sensing my curiosity, he suddenly lowered the book and looked up. Our eyes met for a split second, and I quickly averted my gaze, feeling a strange heat rise to my cheeks. He didn’t say anything, but his dark eyes lingered on me for just a moment longer before he turned his attention back to his book.

(Kemudian, seolah merasakan rasa penasaranku, dia tiba-tiba menurunkan bukunya dan menatapku. Mata kami bertemu dalam sedetik, dan aku segera mengalihkan pandangan, merasakan kehangatan aneh merambat ke pipiku. Dia tidak mengatakan apa-apa, tetapi matanya yang gelap bertahan sedikit lebih lama pada diriku sebelum dia kembali fokus pada bukunya.)

I tried to ignore the fluttering feeling in my stomach as I focused on my coffee. But after a few minutes, I found myself glancing back at him. He had opened the book again, but now, his face was illuminated by the soft glow of the café lights. There was something so… intriguing about him.

(Aku mencoba mengabaikan perasaan berdebar di perutku dan fokus pada kopiku. Namun, beberapa menit kemudian, aku mendapati diriku menatapnya lagi. Dia sudah membuka bukunya lagi, tapi kini, wajahnya diterangi cahaya lembut dari lampu kafe. Ada sesuatu yang begitu… menarik tentang dirinya.)

I sighed quietly and shook my head, deciding it was silly to keep staring at him. But as I did, I heard him clear his throat, and when I looked up, he was looking directly at me, his eyes full of quiet curiosity.

(Aku mendesah pelan dan menggelengkan kepala, memutuskan bahwa itu bodoh untuk terus menatapnya. Namun, saat aku melakukannya, aku mendengar dia membersihkan tenggorokannya, dan ketika aku menatapnya, dia sedang menatapku langsung, matanya penuh dengan rasa penasaran yang tenang.)

“Excuse me,” he said, his voice surprisingly soft, “I couldn’t help but notice you were looking at me. Are you a fan of The Time Traveler’s Dilemma?”

(“Maaf,” katanya, suaranya agak lembut, “Saya tak bisa tidak memperhatikan kamu sedang menatapku. Apakah kamu penggemar The Time Traveler’s Dilemma?”)

I blinked, caught off guard by his sudden words. “Oh! Um… yeah, I am. It’s actually one of my favorites.”

(Aku terkejut, tersentak oleh kata-katanya yang tiba-tiba. “Oh! Eh… iya, aku suka. Itu sebenarnya salah satu favoritku.”)

His lips curled into a slight smile, and he closed the book gently. “I thought so,” he said. “Not many people around here seem to appreciate books like that.”

(Bibirnya sedikit melengkung menjadi senyuman kecil, dan dia menutup bukunya dengan lembut. “Kurasa begitu,” katanya. “Tidak banyak orang di sini yang tampaknya menghargai buku seperti itu.”)

There was a brief pause as I tried to find something to say. “Well, it’s not every day you find someone so… invested in a book,” I said, almost without thinking.

(Ada jeda singkat saat aku mencoba mencari sesuatu untuk dikatakan. “Yah, tidak setiap hari kamu menemukan seseorang yang begitu… tenggelam dalam sebuah buku,” kataku, hampir tanpa berpikir.)

He chuckled softly, and for a moment, it felt like time slowed down. “You’re right,” he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “So, what else do you read?”

(Dia terkekeh pelan, dan sejenak, rasanya waktu berjalan lambat. “Kamu benar,” katanya, matanya berkilau dengan suka cita. “Jadi, apa lagi yang kamu baca?”)

I felt my cheeks warm up, but I smiled. “Oh, a little bit of everything. Mostly fantasy, though. And some sci-fi.”

(Aku merasakan pipiku memanas, tapi aku tersenyum. “Oh, sedikit dari segala macam. Kebanyakan fantasi sih. Dan beberapa sci-fi.”)

“Sounds like we have similar tastes.” His smile grew a little wider. “Maybe I should get your opinion on the next book I’m planning to read.”

(“Sepertinya kita punya selera yang sama.” Senyumnya semakin lebar sedikit. “Mungkin aku harus minta pendapatmu tentang buku berikutnya yang akan aku baca.”)

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the suggestion. “Oh? What book is that?”

(Aku mengangkat alis, tertarik dengan tawaran itu. “Oh? Buku apa itu?”)

He paused, as if he was deciding whether to tell me. “The Chronicles of Tomorrow. Ever heard of it?”

(Dia berhenti sejenak, seolah memutuskan apakah akan memberitahuku atau tidak. “The Chronicles of Tomorrow. Pernah mendengarnya?”)

“Of course. It’s one of the classics. How could I not know it?” I laughed softly.

(“Tentu saja. Itu salah satu klasik. Bagaimana aku bisa tidak tahu?” Aku tertawa pelan.)

His grin deepened. “Good to know you’re not just a casual reader.”

(Senyumannya semakin lebar. “Senang tahu kalau kamu bukan sekadar pembaca biasa.”)

As we exchanged a few more words about books, time seemed to fly. Neither of us wanted to leave, but the evening was creeping in, and the café was beginning to empty.

(Saat kami saling bertukar beberapa kata tentang buku, waktu terasa berlalu begitu cepat. Tak satu pun dari kami yang ingin pergi, tapi malam semakin mendekat, dan kafe mulai sepi.)

I couldn’t help but feel that this encounter, this unexpected connection over books, was the start of something I didn’t see coming.

(Aku tak bisa menahan perasaan bahwa pertemuan ini, hubungan tak terduga kami karena buku, adalah awal dari sesuatu yang tidak aku duga sebelumnya.)

 

The Unexpected Twist

The next few days passed in a blur, but I couldn’t shake the memory of that strange encounter. Every time I walked past the café, I found myself looking in, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. And then, one morning, when I least expected it, there he was again, sitting by the window, just as if nothing had changed.

(Beberapa hari berikutnya berlalu begitu saja, tapi aku tak bisa menghilangkan kenangan dari pertemuan aneh itu. Setiap kali aku lewat kafe, aku mendapati diriku mencari-cari sosoknya, berharap bisa melihat sekilas dia. Dan kemudian, suatu pagi, ketika aku paling tidak mengharapkannya, dia muncul lagi, duduk di dekat jendela, seolah tak ada yang berubah.)

I hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to approach him again. It had been a strange interaction the first time, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for round two. But then, he caught my eye, and once again, that quiet smile spread across his face.

(Aku ragu sejenak, tak yakin apakah harus mendekatinya lagi. Itu adalah interaksi yang aneh pertama kali, dan aku tidak yakin jika aku siap untuk putaran kedua. Tapi kemudian, dia menangkap pandanganku, dan sekali lagi, senyum tenang itu muncul di wajahnya.)

“Did you miss me?” he asked, his voice light but teasing, just like the first time.

(“Kamu kangen sama aku?” dia bertanya, suaranya ringan tapi menggoda, seperti pertama kali.)

I blinked, slightly startled by his question, but then I found myself laughing. “I wouldn’t say miss, but I was curious if I’d see you again.”

(Aku terkejut sejenak dengan pertanyaannya, tapi kemudian aku mendapati diriku tertawa. “Aku sih nggak bisa dibilang kangen, tapi aku penasaran apakah aku akan melihatmu lagi.”)

He chuckled and gestured to the empty chair across from him. “Well, lucky for both of us, here I am.”

(Dia tertawa kecil dan menunjuk kursi kosong di seberangnya. “Yah, beruntung buat kita berdua, aku ada di sini.”)

I smiled and walked over, sitting down. There was something comforting about the way he spoke, like he had a sense of ease that made it impossible not to relax around him.

(Aku tersenyum dan berjalan mendekat, duduk. Ada sesuatu yang menenangkan tentang cara dia berbicara, seolah dia memiliki rasa ketenangan yang membuatku tidak bisa tidak merasa santai di sekitarnya.)

“So, what’s your name?” I asked, finally deciding to ask the obvious question.

(“Jadi, namamu siapa?” tanyaku, akhirnya memutuskan untuk bertanya pertanyaan yang jelas.)

“Ah, right. I never did introduce myself,” he said with a small, sheepish smile. “I’m Eirik.”

(“Ah, benar. Aku memang belum mengenalkan diriku,” katanya dengan senyum kecil yang malu-malu. “Aku Eirik.”)

“Eirik… that’s a unique name,” I said, smiling back at him. “I’m Valen.”

(“Eirik… itu nama yang unik,” kataku, tersenyum kembali padanya. “Aku Valen.”)

“Nice to meet you, Valen.” His eyes twinkled with a kind of mischievousness, but it was warm, not cold. “So, tell me, what’s the most interesting book you’ve read lately?”

(“Senang bertemu denganmu, Valen.” Matanya berkilau dengan semacam keusilan, tapi itu hangat, bukan dingin. “Jadi, ceritakan padaku, apa buku paling menarik yang kamu baca belakangan ini?”)

I hesitated for a second. Normally, I would have said something simple, like a recent fantasy novel or a classic I had re-read. But there was something about Eirik that made me want to tell him the truth. The real book that had stuck with me for months was a bit more personal.

(Aku ragu sejenak. Biasanya, aku akan mengatakan sesuatu yang sederhana, seperti novel fantasi baru-baru ini atau klasik yang sudah kubaca ulang. Tapi ada sesuatu tentang Eirik yang membuatku ingin memberitahunya yang sebenarnya. Buku yang benar-benar menempel di pikiranku selama berbulan-bulan itu sedikit lebih pribadi.)

“I’ve been reading The Art of Letting Go,” I said, a little unsure about his reaction.

(“Aku sedang membaca The Art of Letting Go,” kataku, sedikit tidak yakin dengan reaksinya.)

His eyebrows lifted, and for a second, I thought I might have shocked him. But then he leaned forward slightly, his expression thoughtful.

(Alisnya terangkat, dan sejenak, aku pikir aku mungkin membuatnya terkejut. Tapi kemudian dia sedikit membungkuk, ekspresinya berpikir.)

“Letting go, huh?” he mused. “I think I understand why you’d be drawn to that.”

(“Melepaskan, ya?” dia bergumam. “Aku rasa aku mengerti mengapa kamu tertarik pada itu.”)

I was a little taken aback by his insight. “What do you mean?”

(Aku sedikit terkejut dengan pemahamannya. “Maksudmu apa?”)

He shrugged, a small grin playing on his lips. “Just that sometimes, we all have things we need to let go of, but it’s not easy.”

(Dia mengangkat bahu, senyum kecil bermain di bibirnya. “Hanya saja, kadang-kadang, kita semua punya hal-hal yang harus kita lepaskan, tapi itu nggak mudah.”)

I felt the weight of his words, even if they weren’t directed at me personally. There was something about his understanding that was comforting in an odd way.

(Aku merasakan beratnya kata-katanya, meskipun itu tidak diarahkan padaku secara pribadi. Ada sesuatu tentang pemahamannya yang menenangkan dengan cara yang aneh.)

“So, are you also into self-help books?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

(“Jadi, kamu juga suka buku-buku pengembangan diri?” tanyaku, mencoba meringankan suasana.)

He laughed softly. “Not really. But I’m open to anything that makes sense, you know?”

(Dia tertawa pelan. “Nggak juga. Tapi aku terbuka untuk apa pun yang masuk akal, tahu nggak?”)

“Well, if you’re into that, you might find the book interesting,” I said. “It’s one of those reads that’s not just about letting go, but about learning how to embrace what’s coming next.”

(“Yah, kalau kamu suka itu, mungkin kamu akan menemukan buku itu menarik,” kataku. “Itu salah satu buku yang nggak cuma tentang melepaskan, tapi tentang belajar bagaimana menerima apa yang datang selanjutnya.”)

He looked thoughtful, tapping his fingers on the table. “I’ll check it out. Thanks for the suggestion.”

(Dia terlihat berpikir, mengetuk-ngetukkan jarinya di meja. “Aku akan coba baca. Terima kasih sudah memberi saran.”)

I smiled, feeling the conversation flow naturally now. “No problem. It’s always nice to share good reads with someone.”

(Aku tersenyum, merasa percakapan ini mengalir dengan alami sekarang. “Nggak masalah. Selalu menyenangkan berbagi bacaan bagus dengan seseorang.”)

As we continued chatting, the time seemed to disappear. We talked about books, life, and everything in between, until the café started to clear out again. I realized, much to my surprise, that I actually didn’t want to leave this time.

(Saat kami terus mengobrol, waktu seakan-akan menghilang. Kami berbicara tentang buku, hidup, dan segala hal di antaranya, hingga kafe mulai sepi lagi. Aku menyadari, dengan agak terkejut, bahwa kali ini aku benar-benar nggak ingin pergi.)

“Well, it’s getting late,” Eirik said, glancing at his watch. “But I’ll see you again, right?”

(“Yah, sudah agak malam,” kata Eirik, sambil melihat jam tangannya. “Tapi aku akan bertemu denganmu lagi, kan?”)

I hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah, I think I’ll be around.”

(Aku ragu sejenak, lalu mengangguk. “Iya, aku rasa aku akan ada di sini.”)

He gave me one last smile before standing up. “Until next time, Valen.”

(Dia memberiku senyum terakhir sebelum berdiri. “Sampai jumpa lagi, Valen.”)

And as I watched him walk out of the café, I couldn’t help but think that maybe this unexpected connection was only the beginning.

(Dan saat aku melihatnya keluar dari kafe, aku tak bisa tidak berpikir bahwa mungkin koneksi tak terduga ini baru saja dimulai.)

 

Chapter 3: Unspoken Words

The days that followed were a whirlwind of new moments, each one a little more intense than the last. Eirik and I started meeting more often. At first, it was just the café—sitting in that same corner booth, talking about anything and everything. But as time passed, the connection between us seemed to deepen. We began sharing more than just surface-level conversation. It felt like we were both trying to understand the other in ways that words alone couldn’t fully express.

(Beberapa hari setelahnya berlalu seperti pusaran waktu, masing-masing momen terasa sedikit lebih intens daripada yang terakhir. Eirik dan aku mulai lebih sering bertemu. Awalnya, itu hanya kafe—duduk di sudut meja yang sama, berbicara tentang apa saja dan segala hal. Tapi seiring berjalannya waktu, koneksi di antara kami tampaknya semakin dalam. Kami mulai saling berbagi lebih dari sekadar percakapan permukaan. Rasanya seperti kami berdua mencoba memahami satu sama lain dengan cara yang kata-kata saja tak bisa sepenuhnya ungkapkan.)

One evening, as I was walking home from the café, I ran into him unexpectedly. He was standing by the park, looking up at the sky. The streetlights cast a soft glow over his face, and for a moment, I couldn’t find the words to say. There was something about the way he stood there, so still, so calm, that made me hesitate.

(Suatu malam, saat aku sedang berjalan pulang dari kafe, aku tak sengaja bertemu dengannya. Dia sedang berdiri di dekat taman, menatap langit. Lampu jalan memantulkan cahaya lembut di wajahnya, dan untuk sesaat, aku tak bisa menemukan kata-kata untuk diucapkan. Ada sesuatu tentang cara dia berdiri di sana, begitu diam, begitu tenang, yang membuatku ragu.)

“You know, I never thought I’d find someone like you,” I said finally, breaking the silence.

(“Kamu tahu, aku nggak pernah berpikir akan menemukan seseorang sepertimu,” kataku akhirnya, memecah keheningan.)

He turned to face me, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Someone like me, huh? That sounds interesting. What makes you say that?”

(Dia berbalik menghadapku, senyum kecil menarik di sudut bibirnya. “Seseorang sepertiku, ya? Itu terdengar menarik. Kenapa kamu bilang begitu?”)

I took a step closer, my heart racing a little faster. “I don’t know. There’s just something about you, something that feels… different. In a good way.”

(Aku melangkah sedikit lebih dekat, jantungku berdegup sedikit lebih cepat. “Aku nggak tahu. Ada sesuatu tentang dirimu, sesuatu yang terasa… beda. Dalam arti yang baik.”)

His eyes softened, and he took a small step toward me as well. “I guess we’re both kind of different, aren’t we?”

(Matanya melunak, dan dia juga melangkah sedikit ke arahku. “Rasanya kita berdua memang agak berbeda, ya?”)

I nodded, unable to stop the smile that spread across my face. “Yeah. I think we are.”

(Aku mengangguk, tak bisa menahan senyum yang merekah di wajahku. “Iya. Sepertinya memang begitu.”)

He studied me for a moment, like he was weighing something, deciding whether or not to say the next words. “You know, I never expected to connect with someone this quickly. But with you, it feels… natural.”

(Dia memandangi aku sejenak, seolah sedang mempertimbangkan sesuatu, memutuskan apakah akan mengatakan kata-kata berikutnya atau tidak. “Kamu tahu, aku nggak pernah berharap bisa terhubung dengan seseorang secepat ini. Tapi denganmu, rasanya… alami.”)

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. Part of me wanted to tell him how much I felt the same way, how everything felt easy with him. But another part of me was terrified of how quickly this connection was growing.

(Aku nggak yakin harus bagaimana merespon itu. Sebagian diriku ingin memberitahunya betapa aku merasakan hal yang sama, bagaimana segala sesuatunya terasa mudah bersamanya. Tapi sebagian lainnya takut dengan seberapa cepat hubungan ini berkembang.)

“So, what happens now?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

(“Jadi, apa yang terjadi sekarang?” tanyaku, mencoba menjaga suara agar tetap stabil.)

Eirik’s gaze softened even more. “What do you want to happen?”

(Tatapan Eirik semakin lembut. “Apa yang kamu ingin terjadi?”)

His question caught me off guard. I’d been so focused on the idea of what would happen that I hadn’t even thought about what I wanted. For the first time, I realized I was standing at the edge of something much deeper than I had anticipated.

(Pertanyaan itu membuatku terkejut. Aku terlalu fokus pada ide apa yang akan terjadi sampai aku tidak pernah memikirkan apa yang aku inginkan. Untuk pertama kalinya, aku sadar aku sedang berdiri di tepi sesuatu yang jauh lebih dalam daripada yang aku bayangkan.)

“I don’t know,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “I think I just want to see where this goes.”

(“Aku nggak tahu,” kataku, suaraku hampir seperti bisikan. “Aku rasa aku cuma ingin melihat ke mana ini akan pergi.”)

He smiled, a real, genuine smile this time, and I felt my heart skip a beat. “That sounds perfect.”

(Dia tersenyum, senyum yang benar-benar tulus kali ini, dan aku merasakan jantungku berdetak lebih cepat.)

We stood there for a long time, not saying anything, just letting the silence fill the space between us. But this time, it wasn’t awkward. It wasn’t uncomfortable. It was peaceful, like we were both content to just be in the moment.

(Kami berdiri di sana untuk waktu yang lama, tidak mengatakan apa-apa, hanya membiarkan keheningan mengisi ruang di antara kami. Tapi kali ini, itu bukan canggung. Itu tidak tidak nyaman. Itu damai, seolah kami berdua puas hanya berada di saat ini.)

Eventually, Eirik broke the silence. “I’ll walk you home.”

(Akhirnya, Eirik memecah keheningan. “Aku antar kamu pulang.”)

I hesitated, but then I nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”

(Aku ragu sejenak, tapi kemudian aku mengangguk. “Oke. Ayo pergi.”)

As we walked side by side, I realized something. There was no pressure, no expectation. Just the two of us, walking in the quiet night, as if we had all the time in the world. And for the first time, I truly believed that this was just the beginning.

(Saat kami berjalan berdampingan, aku menyadari sesuatu. Tidak ada tekanan, tidak ada harapan. Hanya kami berdua, berjalan di malam yang tenang, seolah kami punya seluruh waktu di dunia. Dan untuk pertama kalinya, aku benar-benar percaya bahwa ini baru permulaan.)

 

The Beginning of Us

The weeks that followed felt like a beautiful blur. Eirik and I fell into a rhythm of sorts, where everything seemed effortless, yet meaningful. We spent our days getting to know each other more, uncovering pieces of ourselves we hadn’t shared with anyone else. It was like we were both learning how to trust again, and every moment we shared seemed to strengthen that bond.

(Minggu-minggu yang berlalu terasa seperti kabur yang indah. Eirik dan aku jatuh ke dalam suatu ritme, di mana segala sesuatunya terasa tanpa usaha, namun penuh makna. Kami menghabiskan hari-hari untuk saling mengenal lebih dalam, menemukan bagian diri kami yang belum pernah kami bagi dengan orang lain. Rasanya seperti kami berdua sedang belajar untuk mempercayai lagi, dan setiap momen yang kami bagi seakan memperkuat ikatan itu.)

One evening, after a late-night walk by the lake, we stopped by a small café near my place. It was quiet, with only a few people inside. As we sat at the table by the window, I couldn’t help but notice how much had changed in such a short time. There was no hesitation now. The uncertainty that had clouded my thoughts before had cleared. All that was left was a sense of peace that I couldn’t quite explain.

(Suatu malam, setelah berjalan-jalan larut malam di dekat danau, kami berhenti di sebuah kafe kecil dekat tempatku. Itu sepi, hanya ada beberapa orang di dalam. Saat kami duduk di meja dekat jendela, aku tak bisa menahan diri untuk tidak menyadari betapa banyak yang berubah dalam waktu yang singkat. Tidak ada keraguan lagi. Ketidakpastian yang sebelumnya mengaburkan pikiranku kini telah menghilang. Yang tersisa hanyalah rasa damai yang tidak bisa aku jelaskan.)

“So, where do we go from here?” I asked, my voice more calm than I expected.

(“Jadi, kita mau ke mana dari sini?” tanyaku, suaraku lebih tenang dari yang aku harapkan.)

Eirik looked at me, his eyes soft and thoughtful. “I think we’re already where we need to be.”

(Eirik menatapku, matanya lembut dan penuh pemikiran. “Aku rasa kita sudah berada di tempat yang seharusnya.”)

I blinked, a small smile tugging at my lips. “That’s… reassuring, actually.”

(Aku berkedip, senyum kecil muncul di bibirku. “Itu… menenangkan, sebenarnya.”)

He chuckled lightly, the sound warm and comforting. “I’m glad you think so.”

(Dia tertawa kecil, suaranya hangat dan menenangkan. “Aku senang kalau kamu berpikir begitu.”)

For a moment, we both sat in silence, just enjoying each other’s company. The sound of the occasional car passing by and the soft hum of the café’s music filled the air, but in that moment, it was like nothing else existed except for us.

(Sejenak, kami duduk dalam keheningan, hanya menikmati kebersamaan kami. Suara mobil sesekali lewat dan musik lembut dari kafe mengisi udara, tapi saat itu rasanya seperti tidak ada yang ada selain kami.)

“You know,” he said, breaking the silence, “I think we’re both a little scared.”

(“Kamu tahu,” katanya, memecah keheningan, “aku rasa kita berdua agak takut.”)

I looked at him, surprised. “Scared? Of what?”

(Aku menatapnya, terkejut. “Takut? Takut apa?”)

He took a deep breath, then shrugged. “I guess of what might happen next. But at the same time, I don’t want to let it go, you know?”

(Dia menarik napas dalam-dalam, lalu mengangkat bahu. “Aku rasa takut dengan apa yang mungkin terjadi selanjutnya. Tapi di sisi lain, aku nggak ingin melepaskannya, kamu tahu?”)

I smiled softly, reaching across the table to take his hand. “I don’t want to let it go either.”

(Aku tersenyum lembut, meraih tangannya di atas meja. “Aku juga nggak ingin melepaskannya.”)

Eirik squeezed my hand gently, his gaze steady. “Then let’s not. Let’s just see where this goes, together.”

(Eirik menggenggam tanganku dengan lembut, pandangannya mantap. “Kalau begitu, ayo kita jalani saja, lihat kemana ini akan membawa kita, bersama-sama.”)

As we sat there, the world outside felt far away. For the first time in a long while, I realized that I wasn’t afraid anymore. There was something comforting in knowing that we were both willing to take this step forward, no matter where it led.

(Saat kami duduk di sana, dunia di luar terasa jauh. Untuk pertama kalinya dalam waktu yang lama, aku menyadari bahwa aku tidak takut lagi. Ada sesuatu yang menenangkan saat tahu bahwa kami berdua bersedia melangkah maju, apapun yang akan terjadi.)

And just like that, the uncertainty was gone. All that was left was a future that was ours to shape.

(Dan seperti itu, ketidakpastian itu hilang. Yang tersisa hanyalah masa depan yang kini milik kami untuk kami bentuk.)

I wasn’t sure what would happen next, but for the first time, I didn’t need to know.

(Aku tidak tahu apa yang akan terjadi selanjutnya, tapi untuk pertama kalinya, aku tidak perlu tahu.)

All I knew was that it had begun.

(Yang aku tahu hanyalah bahwa ini baru saja dimulai.)

 

And so, they walked into the unknown, hand in hand, knowing that whatever came next, they would face it together.

(Dan begitu, mereka melangkah ke dalam ketidakpastian, tangan bergandengan, mengetahui bahwa apapun yang akan datang, mereka akan menghadapinya bersama.)