BARATA & BARETA - #Part 1

BARATA & BARETA

Short Story

#Part 1

By Heri Cahyono

Today is the end of December in 2019, I plan to celebrate new year's eve of 2020 with my friends in a famous café in my city. All the planning is done, starting from the time, place, and all the preparations I set. All my friends already believe that I am a reliable and experienced event planner.

In the morning at 08.00 a.m after waking up, wearing only a T-shirt, shorts, and wearing a pinch, I rushed to the car garage. I drove my favorite white Pajero Sport to the place to sell fireworks a few kilometers from my house. There appear to be a number of young people engrossed in choosing various models of fireworks ahead of the New Year celebration. Without thinking, my eyes were fixed on the large and long fireworks. "How many bangs is this one?" I asked while showing the fireworks of my choice to the seller. "One hundred thousand got five gold seeds." Answered the firework seller while smoothing the hair that covered his face, like a legendary rock singer in the 90s. Without bargaining directly I take a hundred thousand from a leather wallet that has been accompanying my decade. I paid the fireworks seller and he showed his friendly smile as a sign of thanks.

After that, I immediately rushed to the Mall not far from the fireworks to buy new clothes, because the dress code for tonight must be red and white. After parking the car, I immediately headed to the top floor of the Mall, because that is where a variety of clothing models can make the eyes stunned. I went to the clothing store that had become my customer because at the end of the month I always shop for clothes there. I greet the servants who happen to be all girls. With a friendly smile, they responded. Without further ado, I immediately chose my favorite clothes. I'm looking for a size and model that fits my body. Finally, the choice fell on a plain red shirt and white chino pants, matching my ideal posture.

I immediately handed it to the cashier for my total shopping and coincidentally there was a 30% discount at the end of the year so I just had to pay 350 thousand rupiahs from all my total purchases. It's enough to save my expenses this year because I like to hunt for discounts.

The time showed 11.15 a.m, it turns out it's been more than 3 hours since I toured the city just to prepare for the new year. I see the sky is also starting to cloudy, it seems that it will rain soon. I hurried home in my white Pajero Sport, still comfortable even though the road had started to drizzle, and soaked my car's glass. At the speed of 60 kilometers per hour, I drove my car. The road has started to jam because preparations for the new year are near. Looks in front of the car speeding ahead of each other because the heavy rain began. I was still careful in driving because slippery road conditions could endanger other motorists.

An hour later, I got home, I immediately parked my favorite car in the garage. I immediately ran into the house and into the room to change clothes wet with rain. A few minutes later, my cellphone rang and I saw Randy calling. He is my friend who often vents about the relationship with his girlfriend to me because I already regarded him as a brother. "Hello, how have you arrived bro?" I asked to confirm his position now. "I'm stuck in traffic on the road, the rain is really heavy, the water reaches half a meter." The answer was in a slightly loud tone because it was again raining heavily. "Okay, you be careful not to go fast," I said to advise him. "Ready bro, do it." The joke was interrupted by a conversation and immediately ended the call.

To be continued . . . #Part 2