Jakarta mornings always arrive in their own way. The overlapping sounds of vehicles, the hurried footsteps of people rushing by, and the aroma of coffee from a small shop on the corner all become part of a routine that never stops. Selena opened the curtains of her apartment while looking out at the still-slightly-overcast sky. The remnants of last night's rain left parts of the street wet and gleaming in the sunlight.
She was still thinking about the man she'd met on Sudirman Street. Arga. His name kept coming to mind even though they'd only spoken for a few minutes.
"Weird," Selena murmured as she combed her hair. "Why am I thinking about someone I don't even know?"
She tried to ignore her thoughts and got ready for work. That day, she had to finish several manuscripts that were nearing their deadlines. As an editor, Selena was used to dealing with other people's stories, but she often forgot that she had a story of her own that remained unfinished.
When she arrived at the office, Naya was already sitting at her desk with a cup of coffee in her hand.
"You're here early today?" Naya asked, glancing at the clock.
Selena set down her bag.
"I don't want a morning lecture."
Naya laughed.
"It's not a lecture. I'm just surprised. Usually, you don't show up until everyone's already busy."
"I'm trying to change."
"Or is there something making you excited?"
Selena immediately looked at Naya.
"How do you always manage to guess things?"
"Because I've been your best friend for years. Your face is easy to read."
Selena sighed and sat down in her chair.
"Nay, if I tell you something, don't jump to some weird conclusion."
"Well, then, there really is something."
Selena finally told her about meeting Arga. She didn't explain everything, only the small part about the man who had written something in the rain.
Naya listened seriously.
"So you met a mysterious man on Sudirman Street in the rain, and now you're thinking about him?"
"Don't make it sound like a soap opera."
"But that's exactly what it sounds like."
Selena let out a small laugh.
"I just feel like his words were different."
"Different how?"
"He said sometimes people write not to send something, but to make their hearts feel lighter."
Naya fell silent for a moment.
"Maybe he has a heavy story of his own."
"Maybe."
"And maybe you're curious because you feel like there's something similar between the two of you."
Selena didn't answer. The words felt exactly right, but she didn't want to admit it.
At noon, while Selena was reviewing a manuscript, a man from the marketing department came over carrying several documents.
"Selena, these are the revisions for yesterday's book project."
Selena accepted the documents.
"Thanks, Dimas."
Dimas smiled.
"You're welcome. Oh, right—there's a small event with the creative team this afternoon. You're coming, right?"
"I'll see."
"You always say that, but then you never show up."
Selena shrugged.
"I prefer going home early."
Dimas laughed.
"You take your work too seriously."
After Dimas left, Selena went back to reading the documents in her hands. But her thoughts drifted again. She felt that something had remained unfinished since yesterday's meeting.
Late afternoon was approaching when Selena walked out of the office. It hadn't started raining yet, but dark clouds were beginning to fill the sky. She decided to walk for a while along the sidewalk on Sudirman Street before going home.
Without meaning to, she stopped when she saw a small café not far from where she'd met Arga the day before.
For some reason, she went inside.
"I just want a cup of coffee," she told herself.
The café wasn't too crowded. Soft music played from one corner of the room while several people busied themselves working on their laptops. Selena chose a seat near the window.
A few minutes later, someone stood in front of her table.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
Selena looked up.
She went silent.
Arga was standing there.
"You?"
Arga gave her a small smile.
"Yeah. Looks like we've run into each other again."
Selena looked at the chair across from her and gestured toward it.
"Go ahead."
Arga sat down and placed a small notebook on the table.
"Do you come here often?"
"Not really. This is my first time."
"Funny. I rarely come here either."
Selena smiled.
"Then I guess it's a coincidence."
"Maybe."
A server arrived with Arga's order. After that, the atmosphere grew quiet again.
Selena studied the small notebook Arga had placed on the table.
"Is that the same notebook?"
Arga looked at it.
"Yeah."
"Are you still writing?"
"I am."
"Still haven't sent it?"
Arga gave a faint smile.
"Not yet."
Selena wanted to ask more, but she held herself back. She felt she was too curious about someone she'd only just met.
"Can I ask you something?" Arga said.
"Go ahead."
"Why did you help me pick up the paper that day?"
Selena looked slightly confused.
"Because your paper was about to get wet."
"That's all?"
"Yeah. Was there supposed to be another reason?"
Arga smiled.
"Maybe not everyone still cares about little things like that."
Selena looked out the window. A few drops of rain began to speckle the glass.
"I think everyone actually cares. They're just sometimes too busy and forget to show it."
Arga watched Selena with a meaningful look.
"Do you always think that way?"
"Not always. I've been disappointed too."
"Almost everyone has."
"But that doesn't mean we have to stop being good people."
Arga fell silent at her answer.
The rain grew heavier. For a while, they simply sat there, listening to the water falling outside.
Selena didn't know why talking to Arga felt so easy. There was none of the awkwardness that usually came with talking to someone new. It was as if they'd known each other longer than they actually had.
When the rain began to let up, Selena looked at the time on her phone.
"I have to go home."
Arga nodded.
"Thanks for talking with me today."
"Why are you thanking me?"
"Because sometimes all someone needs is a simple conversation to feel better."
Selena smiled.
"Do you always say things that make people think?"
"Maybe because I keep too much bottled up."
They stood at the same time. Outside the café, the rain had dwindled to a light drizzle.
"Will we see each other again?" Arga asked.
Selena gazed at the wet street.
"Maybe, if the rain brings us to the same place."
Arga smiled.
"I hope so."
Selena walked away from the café with her umbrella in hand. But this time, her steps felt different. A quiet curiosity was slowly growing inside her about who Arga really was and what story he'd been hiding all this time.
On the other side, Arga stood watching Selena grow farther away. He opened his small notebook and looked at the first page, which held old writing.
A name was still written there.
A name that had made it difficult for him to move on all this time.
And without Selena knowing, their meeting wasn't just a coincidence.
There was an old story that was slowly beginning to open up again.