“There ain’t much that I can do just give myself to someone new and hope she laughs and looks like you —and hurts the same way.” Canyon City - Satellite

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The secret place Julius mentioned turned out to be a small cafe in Dago Atas. It’s not much, just a small trailer truck surrounded by few tables and chairs while overlooking the city lights; small, intimate, but just perfect. Somehow this scene reminds Haven of that one famous scene in La La Land.

“Please, jangan pesen kopi,” Haven warns Julius as he’s about to order. He giggles at Haven’s expected warning. They’ve both been addicted to coffee since their high school days, and ever since Haven got gastritis last year she’s been cutting off her consumption of caffeine —and been pressuring Julius to follow her path.

“Tenang aja, aku jarang pesen kopi kok kalo disini, soalnya hot choco-nya juara.”

“So you came here a lot?”

“Only when I have a lot on my mind.” Julius glances at one empty spot, and then he pushes Haven towards that direction. “Duduk disitu aja, aku pesenin dulu. Entar keburu diambil orang tempatnya.”

Haven berjalan ke arah tempat duduk yang dimaksud Julius. Kursi kayu dengan meja kecil dan setangkai bunga mawar putih ditengahnya, persis menghadap gemerlapnya kota Bandung di malam hari. Dago Atas cukup dingin malam ini, membuat Haven merapatkan jaketnya sambil meniupkan udara hangat ke tangannya.

“Here,” Julius mengulurkan segelas cokelat hangat yang langsung disambut Haven dengan antusias. “I promise you it’s the best hot chocolate you’ll ever drink.”

Haven menyeruput cokelat panas tersebut, dan seketika paham kenapa Julius bilang ini cokelat panas terenak. “It’s indeed good… But I think the place counts as a big factor as to why it’s even more delicious.”

“And the company, too.” Julius adds as he sips his choco. “It’s ten times more delicious today.”

“Lu tuh manis banget mulutnya, Jules.”

Julius tertawa. “Only for you.”

Haven squints her eyes towars Julius. “Seriously tho, just by your face and your job and your personality alone, you should be married with two kids by now. Or is it your choice? To be alone?”

Julius exhales; realizing he could never escape this conversation. “Nggak tahu ya, Ven. Easier aja sendirian, tuh. Apalagi kan tahun-tahun kemarin masih tahun pembuktian gue ke papa kalau gue bisa punya bisnis sendiri tanpa perlu bawa nama dia kemana-mana. Dan ngurusin hal kayak gitu tuh lebih gampang tanpa perlu ketambahan ngurusin orang lain.”

“You’re viewing relationship as a burden sih, soalnya.”

“Emangnya enggak? It’s hard work, Ven. And I don’t think I have the capacity for that just yet.”

“You underestimate yourself a lot,” Haven says as she stares at Julius. He avoids her gaze, as if he’s scared that whatever feelings he has could be easily read by Haven. “You take a really good care of others, tahu nggak. Bahkan gue ngerasa lu lebih peduli ama gue daripada kakak kandung gue sendiri. Papa aja sampe nitipin gue ke elu, bukannya ke Ramiel.”

“Kenapa sih? Gue se-pathetic itu ya keliatannya kalo sendirian?”

“Aish.” Haven memutar bola matanya, kesal akan tanggapan Julius. He laughs as he messes Heaven’s hair. “Bercandaaaaa.”