After Jakarta, Kala would be flying to Nairobi. So, their conversation about the sulfur baths was the last one; Risa could only reach him again at night after he had dinner in Nairobi. It’s exhausting, isn't it, being in a relationship with a busy pilot? Besides having to be conscious of the time, she also couldn't afford to be daydreaming when Kala's potential availability approached. At 7:30 PM in Georgia, Risa was utterly exhausted after after her trek through Mtskheta and Gori.
"This is why I hate calculating," she muttered, scrolling through the photos on her digital camera while occasionally glancing at her phone.
Initially, she wanted to explore on her own as she had on her first and second days in Georgia, but it seemed difficult—Risa was afraid of getting lost in Mtskheta. Regardless, the third day’s visit would become a sort of religious tour. Risa had accidentally met a couple of tourists from Boston, and as it turned out, the couple were fellow baseball lovers who also liked the Regent Falcons—Kala's favorite team.
"Pick up, please," she muttered, growing impatient.
"Liefje, I'm sorry, I was chatting with my friend earlier, so we ate together while discussing work," Kala said the moment he picked up Risa's call.
Not wanting to start an argument for no reason, Risa immediately replied, "It's okay, Mas."
Then, at length, she told him about her new acquaintances from Boston; the newlyweds were fans of the Regent Falcons, just like Kala. As she expected, Kala laughed immediately upon hearing Risa’s story of how she finally ended up joining a bus tour led by a very informative guide. The local Georgian woman had explained the history of Mtskheta, once the ancient capital of Georgia, and then went on to the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Kala interrupted a few times, teasing his girlfriend for enthusiastically explaining the religious tour and saying he hoped they could go there sometime together. Well, there were too many "ifs," "would haves," and "somedays" in their long-distance relationship. However, she tried to stay cheerful and continued telling him about the Jvari Monastery—the monastery on the hilltop where the view below was the meeting point of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers. It would be perfect for a fantasy film set if any filmmaker wanted to use it.
"Ahh, yes, I forgot, lastly I went to the Joseph Stalin Museum in Gori. I just found out he was Georgian, but… well, it is close to Russia, I suppose. A former Soviet state." Risa’s eyebrows rose.
Kala snorted amusedly. "Don’t you even try crossing into Russia, even if someone invites you."
Risa laughed. "Oh my god, Mas, I’m just joking, hmm. Btw, thanks for staying up late when you were in Jakarta; next time it’s okay if you don’t call me first."
When Risa was first in Georgia, she had called Kala at night. But Risa had been too overwhelmed in a new country and forgot that in Jakarta, it was already midnight heading into the morning. Since the beginning of their relationship, Kala had never complained. Unfortunately, Risa was the one worried about his health, even though Kala sometimes lied and said he couldn't fall asleep immediately or other things.
"It’s fine, just once in a while," Kala replied.
Risa nodded, as if Kala could see her. "What time tomorrow? Why don't you want to video call? I miss you, Mas. Hmm?" Usually, she was the type to anti-miss someone? It was forbidden for Risa to play too many mind games regarding that specific matter.
"I think I’ll be really early in the morning, while for you, it’ll be between eight to ten in the morning."
"Thanks, so I don't have to think about it," Risa said.
***
The week had flown by, and Risa had also bought the drink Verra wanted. On the evening of her seventh day in Georgia, Risa took an evening flight toward Amsterdam. Her estimated arrival was around nine in the evening, and Dea had promised to pick her up with her mother. Kala was confirmed to be home and resting completely; he was not to be disturbed because he was truly exhausted.
Aunt Amy was a wonderful future mother-in-law; Risa couldn't wait to truly become a daughter-in-law to the Dirk family. Back then, when Kala first introduced Risa to his family, Aunt Amy immediately asked Risa to call her 'Mama'. However, her son had rolled his eyes in annoyance, while Dea just laughed at her mother's antics. Risa herself was totally embarrassed because she could imagine their future, even though they had only been in a relationship for a few months at the time.
"Good bye, Georgia," she wrote as her WhatsApp status.
Initially, Risa wanted to leave the next day or the following afternoon, but she had started to get bored. There wasn't much to see here besides the distinct buildings and the cold. It felt like the Netherlands had become her second home besides Indonesia. Risa smiled in her seat, imagining her future life there after marrying Kala Dirk. There would surely be moments of 'homesickness' when Risa was alone at home waiting for Kala to return.
They hadn't discussed basic things yet, like where they wanted to live, how many children they wanted to have, or how they would manage things after marriage. But Risa was certain Kala wouldn't bring her to live under a bridge, even if the evening sky was beautiful from there, too. Especially since there were too many bicycle carcasses under the canals. She didn't reject the idea that a wife should stay at home—as long as the husband was wealthier and financially capable—but she refused the notion that a woman should be caged within a marriage.
"Lalala… I love you so much—Doraemon." Suddenly, she felt like humming that song.
Once again, the Little Chick was heading to the Netherlands, but not in a pool of feelings of alienation in her own life. She would meet her beloved, whom she couldn't see seven days a week. Even though every surge of longing for his presence felt like it was choking her chest, when they actually met, Risa couldn't throw a tantrum like she had imagined. There were times when she would sit quietly for 15 minutes just to watch Kala sleeping soundly.
"Get ready," she murmured.
She had already contacted her mother and sister, so Risa was left to go—perhaps with the hope that Risa was carrying Kala’s 'seed' in her womb. Damn it… why was the status of a 'spinster' considered lower than young couples who married just to avoid sin? Was their brain only as big as a Pentium 5 computer? Marriage isn't a game of playing house that can be ended just because you're bored. But, marrying just for sex isn't any better, either.
Maybe she should write something while sitting in the passenger seat. Although it rarely happened, Risa wrote ideas into her phone, which wasn't more expensive than the black baseball cap she was wearing right now. The funniest part is—actually, this cap is a 'couple' item, and she and Kala had gradually taken turns wearing both of them.
If the one Risa wore was embroidered with 'Time', the cap Kala carried was embroidered with 'Rise'. Time and Rise—an anagram of her own name, Risa, and a subtle nod to her boyfriend. After all, in Sanskrit, 'Kala' translates to 'time'. It was a clever, poetic little secret that only the two of them shared.
"Annoying," she said, remembering how those caps were bought.