" Hey," a soft, yet energetic voice reached my ear from behind as I walked through the crowds of people. My head instinctively turned around to see where that voice was coming from. What drew my eyes was the presence of black fabric that served as hijab around the head of a woman along with the black leather jacket that protected her from the low temperature of 21 degrees Celsius that had lingered around this city ever since the sun of November 30 left its presence to set. The smile she showed to me as I fully turned my body somehow eased my mind which was tensed after that hard day at work I had today. 28, 29, 26 – I tried to guess which number is her age based on her look, but I think she's no older than me. She appeared to be my fellow countryman(Oops – I should have put woman behind it) since her yellowish white skin was pretty common among poeple in my country. Or maybe her way to say "hey" which made me to think that way.
"Daya, right?" she walked to me. Looking up and right, I tried to look in folder of "My Forgotten Acquintances" in my dear memory to identify who this woman was. Well, the imaginary little me in my head which was still looking through the files told me her voice was familiar.
"Uhm," was what came out first from my mouth forty five seconds after that. Great, onomatopeia of breathing was the first thing she heard after seeing me rolling my eyes and frozen a bit. Not a really good thing, if you ask me. She was visually startled a bit and then bursting out a laughter when I asked her – politely – who she was.
"You seriously do not recognize me?" Wow, excuse me. Calling me out of blue, and then asking whether I remembered her or not, that's too much too ask, okay. I didn't really interact with women a lot. Not because I do not have a thing for woman, no. Mostly because I was invested in works and hobbies. After that, she reached out her bag, showing something attached by small chain to the zipper. "Maybe this will help you."
A windmill keychain attached to the zipper of her bag. At first, nothing happened. But as the autumn wind blew the windmill blade, one name suddenly moved to my tongue, begged to be called out.
"Isla," I subconsciously said that. The name of woman that I knew she liked windmill which practically became part of her daily life. The name of woman which I shared my childhood as a friend. And, the name of woman that I...
"Took you hella long, man"(Isla giggles and smacks Daya's upper arm) "Who would've thought we would crash at each other here, of all places available on Mother Earth."
"ALL places on Mother Earth are available, you know"(Daya lets out a sigh)
(Isla laughs) "Oh my, you are still picky as ever. I bet you plan a tight budget to live every month so you can have a lot to save"
"I'm not that miser, alright. It's just the way I was upbrought" (Daya lets out another sigh)
We just stood up there for thirty seconds without knowing what else to say. It could stay like that for another thirty seconds if...
"So, I haven't had lunch. Let's find a place to grab it," Isla proposed a simple plan. Damn, I'm the one that's supposed to do that.
"Okay. Want me to show the way around here?"
"Oho, trying to be a gentleman, are we? I take that offer"
