“Lightning’s alive coz it disappears; feel every tear as it falls away—no one looks wrong in the rain.”
https://open.spotify.com/track/5lUx6wymGaFD5VWMUOKl50?si=bRxk94m2TTSw9PyiweMPAg
The little storm turns into a hurricane, so it’s safe to say that they’re stuck together until morning comes. As much as June doesn’t want to admit it, Miles can’t help but notice how she jumps in shock every time there’s lightning followed by the loud sound of thunder. There’s no source of entertainment since the wifi and data don’t work at all, and the bad weather forced them to stay inside the room.
The air is thick with awkwardness and it’s kinda out of place since June is usually the icebreaker in every situation. However, the thunder really steals her brave presence. She just curls under the blanket, unable to hide her scared face as she jolts in every loud, cracking sound.
“Why juneindecember?”
She turns around to find the source of that question and for a moment there she forgets that Miles is in the same room with her. “Ugh… I was born in December.”
“Huh? Gue kira lu lahir bulan Juni, because of the name.”
June chuckles. “Common misunderstanding, I feel like I get this question every day. June itu gabungan nama Papa sama Mama, and they liked it a lot, they also had a knack for making people misunderstand them so… June, it is.”
“So, why are you traveling alone?”
“Is it weird for a girl to travel alone?”
Miles shrugs. “No, of course. I’m just hoping you didn’t go for the same reason as I did. I traveled alone as well, for almost two years.”
“So I figured,” June shifts to face Miles better, still curling under the blanket but she’s now distracted from the loud noises outside. “What was your reason?”
“Broken heart, grief, self-reflection… A lot, if I may say.”
“You can tell me if you want.”
Miles fixes his posture on the couch to get a better purchase at facing June as he starts to engross in wherever this conversation will take them. “I asked you first, so I’ll answer after you.”
June scoffs. “Sadly, it was for the same reason. I broke up with my long-term boyfriend after planning such a grandiose future that now looks silly to me,” she bites her nails as she tries to press down her surfacing sadness upon realizing how fresh the wound is, still. “Usually I’d just throw myself to someone new, or just overwork myself until I don’t have the time and energy to cry over him. But I know those attempts were temporary. I think I needed this trip, to just sit with myself and wallow in the self-pity before I’m ready to face the world again.”
“And yet you’re still accepting jobs in between.”
June laughs. “Dias temen baik gue, dan dia desperate banget to the point he would sell his house only to pay me, I guess. Lagian, gara-gara kerjaan itu gue akhirnya berhenti nangis setelah sebulanan ini. To think about it, he’s not worth booking a suite in just to just cry and weep. Might as well earn some bucks to cover the cost, right?”
“Good girl.” Miles’ grin shows his canine teeth and for a moment there June is lost in between her thoughts.