(Ringtone of a mobile phone)
(Ringing for one minute)
Who's calling me at this hour?
"Yes. Hello?"
"Wisnu. What's your apartment number?"
A woman's voice comes from the other end of the line.
"Who is this?" I ask, still half asleep.
"Did you just wake up? It's me, Talia."
"Oh, Talia. What's up?"
"You left your bike in my car trunk last night."
"Oh, right. Just leave it with the security guard in the lobby."
"Can I drop by as well?"
"You want to come here? Sure. I'm in unit 3404."
"Okay."
Not long after, my apartment doorbell rings.
I check the CCTV screen near the entrance. It's Talia.
I open the door. Talia is standing there in a brown overcoat, with a folding bike beside her. My mind is still trying to gather itself.
I quickly take the bike and apologize for the trouble.
"No worries. You seem really tired last night. You didn't even change your clothes."
I frown at her comment. She laughs, apologizing for the joke.
"You carried my bike all the way from the parking lot to the thirty-fourth floor?"
I put the bike in the entryway near the shoe rack.
"No. I asked the security guard in the basement to help."
Talia steps inside, takes off her heels, and is greeted cheerfully by Sherly.
"Hey, you!"
She picks up Sherly and cuddles her.
"Wait a moment. I'm going to take a shower and change. Oh, by the way, would you like something to drink?"
"We'll do that later. Go ahead and shower first."
"Or you can make it yourself if you want. Everything's in the kitchen. Tea, coffee, or milk."
Talia, still holding Sherly, glances around my kitchen.
"Do you want me to make breakfast?"
My stomach growls. I check the timeâit's already past 9 a.m.
"Sure."
"Can I use your kitchen?"
I extend both hands, gesturing her to go ahead.
"Alright then. Go shower."
I shower in my bedroom's bathroom, leaving Talia in my kitchen with the TV on in the living room. After showering for fifteen minutes inside the semi-transparent shower box, I put on some comfortable home clothes and walk to the living room, still towel-drying my hair. I notice the dining table is already set with food and drinks.
"Wisnu, come here! I made this. Give it a try, okay?"
Talia, wearing a turquoise apron and rolled-up sleeves, calls me excitedly.
"Wow. What did you make?"
"There's an omelet, fruit salad, oatmeal cookies, zucchini, and chicken soup. And juice."
"Wow. You're good at making breakfast."
I sit down, pull out a chair, and take a bit of everything, tasting the doctor's cooking. Talia joins, pulling a chair at the oval tableâsitting beside me.
"How is it, good?"
"It's good."
"Here, try this while it's still warm."
Talia swiftly takes a bowl and fills it with soup.
"Wow. It's delicious. The soup is soothing. I'll eat the other stuff first, and then finish with the soup. It's better as a finisher."
"Okay. Just finish it all. Don't leave any leftovers. I'll be happy if you eat everything."
"You're overdoing it. Leftover martabak from last night would've been enough."
I try to joke.
"That's not good for you,"
Talia grumbles. Besides, I rarely have such a 'grand' breakfast. Usually, I just make papaya juice, two fried eggs, and two apples. She's good at cooking.
Soon, three-fifths of the menu is gone, leaving a few pieces of oatmeal cookies and zucchini. I clear the table, with Talia's help, carrying the dirty dishes to the sink and putting the remaining food in the fridge.
Then I move to the living room, changing the TV channel to check the day's news. As a financial consultant, I don't just focus on the economy, but also politics, law, and social issues. Directly or indirectly, these factors affect both micro and macroeconomic conditions. It also helps me advise clients.
"What are you watching?"
Talia joins me, sitting beside me after she...
"Did you just wash the dishes?"
I am surprised to see the sink, visible from where I am sitting, clear of dirty plates.
"Yes, I just did. I've always been like that."
"Don't you have maids at home?"
"Yes, but sometimes I like to help with household chores. My mom raised me like that since I was a kidâto be independent."
"Oh. You didn't have to clean up earlier; it's okay. I also have a helper who usually comes around ten."
I glance at the vintage round clock with Roman numerals hanging above the TV.
"Don't you have work today?"
I start a new conversation while flipping through channels. Nothing particularly interesting on the news.
"Yes, I do. At one o'clock."
"You want to join me? It's still nine in the morning; there's time before you have to be at the hospital."
I stand up, getting ready.
"Where to?"
"To the police station."
"What for?"
"I'll explain on the way."
Talia turns off the TV. Without further questions, she gets ready.
***
12 p.m., back from the police station.
"So, you bail him out purely out of sympathy?"
Talia mumbles.
"Yes."
"He's the one who snatched my bag yesterday, right?"
"Yes."
"And you also give him some money?"
"Yes. So he can start a new life."
"Did you hit your head yesterday? Are you feeling okay?"
She touches my forehead, checking if I am alright.
"Haha. Why?"
I ask while driving toward the downtown hospital, amused by Talia's disbelief.
"It's rare to find someone like you. One in a million."
"I believe not all violence should be met with violence. Not all crimes need to be punished with another crime. Not all wrongdoings should be answered with wrongdoing. People can fall deeper into darkness if they can't handle the harsh blows of the world. A bit of kindness, I believe, can help them see the light again. His motive wasn't purely evilâit was to provide for his family."
"Wow, you sound like Mother Teresa."
"I'm just trying to do what I can, Talia."
"That was a compliment, not a tease."
"I know."
Talia chuckles as she looks at me.
We finally arrive at the hospital lobby entrance. I'm not comfortable continuing this conversation, fearing it might make me arrogant. True satisfaction comes when we do good things genuinely. Talking about it too often can diminish that feeling.
"I'll pick you up at four later."
"Let me know again; I might have surgery."
"Okay."
After dropping off Talia and leaving the hospital, my phone vibrates with a message from Sinta.
"Mas, where are you? Mama and Papa want us to have lunch together at our usual restaurant."