That's The Way It Is
“Don't give up on your faith / Love comes to those who believe it / And that's the way it is.”
“Kamu tahu lagu ini?” he asks me as we scroll through a 90s playlist in his car.
“Masih enakan lagu Westlife yang tadi, tapi Celine Dion keren sih,” I reply.
“Ini lagu favorit ibuku hehehe,” he says with a smile.
I wasn't surprised. I could easily picture her in her youth, just as cool as she is now.
That moment stays with me: you in the driver’s seat, cruising down the highway. Not too slow, but fast enough to feel like we were going somewhere. I felt safe. The vibe of the song just... fit.
It’s been two years. But I still remember. I remember everything.
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He appeared out of nowhere during my heaviest days. I was nursing a heartbreak, and he became my sanctuary. You could call him a 'backburner' or a rebound, but that would be a disservice to who he was. He wasn't just a distraction; he was special. I know that because, even now, the good things are what stay with me.
I remember his quiet gestures,
How he ran to find a taxi in the pouring rain because his car was trapped in a parking garage during the odd-even traffic hours at Menara Astra.
How he’d send me sweets just because he knew I was having a bad day or feeling sick.
How he’d instinctively take my bag from my hand because it looked too heavy.
The way he’d walk all the way into my office lobby just to pick me up.
His absolute, unbothered calm when my ex-boyfriend tried to cause drama by calling him. He didn’t flinch.
The way his face lit up when I got into his car on a Friday. He’d take my hand and say: “Aku tiap jumat tuh seneng bangettt ketemu kamu, lets gooo kita mo kemanaa.”
The good local legends food and the long drives in Bandung.
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The first time I went to his apartment, I mentioned the cockroaches. Most guys wouldn't care, but he went out and bought traps immediately. It was such a small, kind, and oddly cute gesture.
He laughed and told me, “My best friend says this place is a mess because it hasn't had a woman's touch in ages.”
I remember standing there, secretly imagining what that 'touch' would look like. A vase of my favorite flowers. The scent of jasmine—my favorite—lingering in the air. A few touches of pink, a soft throw blanket, and that IKEA elephant plushie on that bed.
It was a far-fetched daydream. At least at that time.
Back then, I was close enough to smell the mix of his natural scent and that musky perfume. I’d play with his hair, always neat but a bit stiff because he’d use shampoo but never conditioner. Typical. Boys will always find a way to be lazy about skincare and self-care.
Now, I write these words instead of reaching out. I pray for him from a distance and hold onto those brief, vivid moments.
I still know the names of everyone on your TikTok profile. I remember the most expensive birthday gift you ever received. I know your siblings’ dreams, the song you used to sing to them on trips to Ancol, and the stories of your first job, spending days on end in the middle of the ocean. I even know your hobby involves fish.
But I have a question for you now: Do you remember who sang that McDonald's commercial soundtrack? The one I loved so much?
I bet you’ve forgotten. For someone so brilliant—top Indonesian university, accepted into a prestigious campus abroad—your memory for the "little things" was always suspiciously SHORT :p
Here’s a hint: the song is titled "Bagaimana Kutahu". The music video is about two people who haven't seen each other in years, meeting by chance at a McDonald's. They’ve both moved on. They’re both happy.
It’s funny how much that mirrors our story.
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I truly believe he is a good man. I used to think that if we had actually made it, we would’ve been such a great couple. He was mature, the classic eldest child, a bit funny, and he treated women so well.
I’m sad we didn't work out. But the truth is, I wasn't ready. I wasn't brave enough.
He had this way of making me feel like I didn't deserve him, even though he was the one who seemed to have it all figured out. He was an idealist, someone who protected his peace so fiercely that it made him seem "expensive" and unattainable.
I was the opposite. I was still struggling to see my own value. I was afraid to stand up for myself or cut off people who didn't belong in my life. I felt like a coward next to his quiet strength.
“Gak semuanya harus di pikirin dan selesai hari ini,pikirin besok lagi ya?” he used to say.
I don’t know what he meant exactly, but those words always calmed me down. Even on that one night when things got blurred by too many drinks and emotions.
In every meeting, I felt a wall. A hesitation. I knew he was being careful with me.
But then I heard stories from one of our friend, how he’d ask his friends for advice about me, or how he’d spend hours staring out from his balcony, lost in thought. It made me realize that I wasn't just a passing character in his life. I had a place there, however brief it was.
I hope life treats you as well as you treat others. I hope you remember those moments as fondly as I do.
We didn't become a couple. We were just an "almost."
And that’s the way it is.










