“you’ll be my best friend until we grow old.” jeremy zucker, chelsea cutler — this is how you fall in love

https://open.spotify.com/track/1aEsTgCsv8nOjEgyEoRCpS?si=3I9tPl9WTlaBJOJT-w1kjA

Jakarta’s sky is exceptionally clear today, as if it’s also dressing up in preparation to meet someone beautiful. I go inside Cea’s house and find her sitting on the stairs, trying to wear her shoes. “Oh, lu udah disini. Gimana terapinya?”

“Disuruh balik lagi minggu depan, sementara latihan aja ngetik pake jempol katanya biar ototnya balik rileks.”

“Jadi I still need to deal with your typos and stuff?”

Her being annoying brings out the cute aggression in me and I mercilessly pinch her cheek. “Kayak gue nggak deal with it for the past 12 years aja. Nih gue masih kuat merahin pipi lu.”

“Arrrgh stop!” she hits me lightly and I laugh at her annoyance. “Ya udah, let’s go. Ngafe di Kalyan aja mau nggak? Kenzo sama Bara entar nyusul, sekalian buat meeting menu.”

I forget that this was in fact, not a date, so I just nod. “Gue nurut aja, yang penting gue ga mendekam di apart.”

To my surprise, she drives quite smoothly. Biasanya, disetiri Cea akan diisi dengan rem mendadak, putar balik karena belokan terlewat, dan salah lajur. “Sejak kapan lu jadi enak nyetirnya?”

“Ck, people grow up, shithead. I’m not gonna be a shitty driver forever.”

As we’re stopping on a traffic light in Gatsu, the one that takes forever to turn green, Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler’s song plays in the speaker. This is one of Cea’s favorite song, and I always hear she hums it when she’s cooking. She loves the lyrics—especially the one that goes “what’s easy is right, my mother’s advice” since that is literally her Madre’s advice everytime she loves to trouble herself with useless problems.

She unknowingly hums the song today, too. I steal a look from the corner of my eyes as she sings it while looking at her phone. I was about to ask her to sing it loudly when her phone rings—and her face lights up slightly.

“Halo? Hi, I’m driving right now. Where are you? Ah, so today you’re taking care of the exhibition? When does it open for public?”

My heart sinks upon knowing the person she’s talking to. Why do I also forget that not only this is not a date, but she’s also in love with someone else right now?

“Ce, ijo.” I tell her slightly at the green traffic light. She plugs in her airpods as she continues to speak to Antares while driving. “I’m with Miles. We’re gonna have lunch while I’m planning the menu, together with Bara and Kenzo as well. Oh iya, aku belum cerita ya jadinya di mana? Di Ursa Major. Oh, it belongs to your friend? Really? Tapi mereka kontak Kenzo, sih.”

Sir Mafia and all his connections. I roll my eyes.

“It’s on April 22nd, exactly on Earth Day. I don’t know where you will be at that day but I’ll be happy if you come. You will? Well, it’s an honor. Yes, I’ll tell Emma so you have no excuse to miss it, sir. Put me on your schedule.”

They ended the call after what seems like forever. I steal a glance from the corner of my eyes, and her face still lights up from the call. She hums the song with a slight smile, and her face is somehow blushing—I wish it was from me pinching her cheeks earlier, not because she’s in love.

I wish.

“How’s things going with Antares, Ce?”