When they reached the parking lot, Galaksi picked up his helmet and put it on Lyra's head. That was the first time they had looked into each other's eyes from such a close distance. Lyra's heart began beating faster. The moment seemed to last quite a while, until Galaksi finally gave a small smile at Lyra's silent face.
"Come on, it'll be evening before we know it," Galaksi urged as he reached for his motorcycle keys.
On the motorcycle, they remained silent. They traveled along the streets of Jakarta, which were packed with traffic during rush hour. There was no conversation, only the sounds of vehicles and the wind accompanying them on their journey.
When they arrived in Tangerang, Lyra didn't take Galaksi straight home. Instead, she invited him to the sea to enjoy the sunset.
"Would you come to the sea if I invited you?" Lyra asked from behind her helmet.
"Wait, there's a sea here?" Galaksi replied curiously.
"There is. Really. Do you want to go?"
"Sure. I'll go wherever you want."
Hearing that answer, Lyra gave a small smile.
Not long afterward, they arrived at the beach area. Galaksi quickly looked for a parking spot, then they walked toward a food court right on the seashore.
"What do you want to order?" Galaksi asked.
Lyra still looked confused as she studied the various snacks being sold there.
"What do you want?" Lyra asked in return.
"I want two servings of fried noodles with eggs."
Lyra immediately turned to him.
"Huh? Are you sure?"
Galaksi laughed.
"Seriously. Surprised? Hahaha... I may be small like this, but I eat a lot, you know."
Lyra laughed along.
"Hahaha... I guess you're right. Then I'll get mayo risoles and a Beng-Beng iced drink."
After ordering their food, they looked for a bench facing the open sea. Their food arrived not long afterward.
They ate while enjoying the beauty of the evening sky as it slowly changed color. The sea breeze made the afternoon feel so peaceful.
Galaksi started the conversation.
"It'd be nice to have a house here. It's peaceful, and you can hear the waves and the sea breeze. If my house were close by, I'd come here every afternoon for sure."
"Then just move here," Lyra replied, glancing at Galaksi.
"You mean I should live at your house?" Galaksi teased with a laugh.
Lyra immediately became flustered.
"That's not what I meant."
She quickly turned her gaze toward the sea.
Before they knew it, the orange color in the sky slowly faded, replaced by the darkness of night. The sea breeze also felt colder.
Suddenly, Galaksi's phone rang.
"Hello, Mom."
"Where are you? It's unusual that you're not home yet," a woman's voice came through the phone.
"I'm in Tangerang, Mom. I'm at the sea. It's really nice here—so comfortable."
"Who are you with? A girl, I bet," the woman teased.
"Ah, Mom, you're so nosy. That's enough—you're bothering me. Bye, Mom."
Galaksi ended the call with a smile.
"It's nothing. My mom's just nosy because I rarely go out. Usually, if I go anywhere, it's to Raka and Galuh's house."
"Well, that's parents for you. They have to worry, right?" Lyra replied, still gazing out at the sea.
A few moments later, Lyra's attention was drawn to the sky.
"Hey, look at that plane! There's... another one over there, too. There are three planes flying together."
Galaksi looked up as well.
"Yeah... if they crash, kaboom."
Lyra immediately laughed and pinched Galaksi's arm.
"That's not how it works, Galaksi."
"Ow... that hurt."
"Oh, sorry."
Galaksi just laughed.
"Hahaha... I was kidding."
They turned their eyes back to the sky, counting how many planes passed overhead. It was something simple and completely random, yet it felt so much fun when they did it together.
Not long afterward, Lyra pointed toward the sea.
"Hey, what's that shining in the middle of the sea?"
"A fishing boat, maybe?"
"I think so. But what about that thing over there? Is it a light?"
"A factory, maybe?"
"I don't know either."
They both laughed, then went back to chatting about all the random things they saw around them. Without realizing it, time passed by so quickly.
When Lyra checked the time on her phone, it was already nine o'clock at night.
"Let's head back. It's already this late," she said.
"Okay, let's go."
Galaksi stood up first. Then he took off the jacket he was wearing.
"Put this on. It's cold, and you'll get sick."
Galaksi tried to put the jacket around Lyra.
"Then you'll be cold. I don't need it."
"I'm fine, Lyra. You're the one who needs to wear it."
Lyra refused several times, but Galaksi continued to insist. In the end, Lyra nodded slowly and let Galaksi put the jacket on her.
She gave Galaksi a warm smile.
For the first time in a long while, Lyra felt truly comfortable and safe beside someone.
Throughout the ride home, one hope continued to fill her heart.
**I hope being together like this doesn't happen only tonight. I hope the universe allows them to keep walking side by side, enjoying simple things together, without having to rush into thinking about the ending of their story.**