There was an old man today, by the riverside. He stopped his bike to stroke a yellow furry cat. I looked down, scribbled on my notes, and when I looked up, he was still stroking the cat, using both his hands, scratching behind the cat’s ears. The yellow cat obliged. He was smiling.
Without realizing it, I was holding my breath. Watching them, it felt like this world paused, in honor of such lucid gentleness.
Going home, my friend is waiting for me to go out for dinner. We went to a hawker center. Very Singaporean, lah. How was work today? Ah you know, busy as always. Overtime is the norm here. It’s not like that in Jakarta, is it? Do you guys think Singaporeans are heartless?
Today is my ex’s 30th birthday. He’s been agonizing about turning 30 even when we dated years ago. We still send each other birthday messages every year. As this is a big one, I sent a longer message than usual, not knowing if he would reply. I had just missed him last month, when he was in Cambodia and I in Thailand. I realize I am singlehandedly trying to create a friendship. We’re on okay terms now, but he’s not the kind who befriends ex-girlfriends. I don’t agree with this, but some things you simply can’t insist. It’s painful, to see someone you used to be so close with, now so physically far away. I suppose it’s also painful to physically *see* someone you used to be so close with. I want to respect the situation, but isn’t he being heartless? Or am I?
Tika Anindya 