037. Unscented

Bandung, Indonesia.
Jalu jolted awake, opening his eyes wide. The vibrations in his chest roused him from his afternoon nap. He couldn't recall when he had dozed off on the hammock suspended between two banyan trees in his small backyard garden. The broad branches and lush foliage made it Jalu's favorite spot. However, he had never fallen asleep so easily before.
He reached for the vibrating device on his chest. Jalu read the name 'Martin' flashing on the screen of the sleek rectangular object. Without delay, he answered the phone call. Martin never contacted him unless there was something important to discuss. Yet, the man from Maluku always spoke briefly and in coded language, requiring Jalu to pay close attention.
"Don't forget about our alumni reunion today at 4 PM in Sukawana, Lembang," the man said. "Bring your friend! Erwin wants to discuss business with us!"
Brief, concise, and leaving questions behind. That was how Jalu interpreted every phone call from his friend. The young man quickly deciphered Martin's casual words, realizing that the reunion he mentioned likely involved former members of Division 96. The revelation that Erwin Sumarlan, a senior member compared to both Martin and Jalu, would be involved suggested that this gathering was far from a simple social affair.
Jalu’s curiosity was piqued. He wondered how Martin had managed to reach out to Erwin and, more intriguingly, what purpose the former Division 96 members would serve in this context. The thought of their reunion brought a twinge of disappointment. During the Regime's hunt, he had hoped for a more decisive stand from Division 96, a fight that might have changed the outcome. Instead, their reaction seemed feeble, a letdown that gnawed at him.
His skepticism about the gathering grew. Jalu doubted whether any meeting of these former operatives could resolve the issues at hand or offer any real solutions. He couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever purpose the gathering served, it might not live up to the expectations or hopes that lingered from their past.
Jalu's attention was diverted when a head with long hair emerged from the surface of the pool, shaped like a stone lake across the small garden where he rested. The head swiftly moved silently to the pool's edge and paused briefly before its entire form became visible. Liriénka stood there, wearing a soaking wet, oversized black hoodie and basketball shorts. The girl smiled shyly as she walked closer to Jalu.
"Do you have an isolated place to dispose—uh, to relieve yourself?" Liriénka's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she asked.
Jalu stared at her for a moment, seemingly incredulous, before quickly rising from the hammock and standing up.
"I thought you did it in the water," he said innocently.
"N-no way!" Liriénka's face turned crimson at the young man's words. "Why would you think that?"
"Sorry, sorry! I haven't gotten to know your kind very well."
"If you weren't asleep when I spoke, you might know more about my kind!" she retorted sharply, her soft voice still sounding like a melodic tune.
Jalu was taken aback. He looked at Liriénka, who couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes directly. Her facial expression indicated that she was offended.
"I've never fallen asleep in front of anyone," he revealed.
"Maybe my story is truly so boring that it puts you to sleep," Liriénka retorted.
"No," Jalu countered. "For me and all my friends, sleep requires a sense of security and comfort. We're trained to sleep with ears open and bodies ready to react. It seems your voice and accents make me feel truly at peace. Thank you, Liri. And I apologize for hurting your feelings."
Liriénka's clear eyes met the gaze of the tall man. The blush on her lovely face didn't fade. She had never encountered a male creature who casually expressed what he felt. In niylath culture, males didn't show emotions to females, let alone express them. But there was something that made her heart race uncontrollably.
"Did–did you call me Liri?" Liriénka asked with a trembling voice.
The question halted Jalu's mind from guessing how he could fall asleep just by listening to Liriénka speaking. He turned back to the niylath, asking, "Is that impolite in your culture?"
"Why do you call me that?" the girl retorted, her gaze locking onto Jalu's eyes.
"Your name is too long. We usually shorten names for easier calling," Jalu replied nonchalantly.
Instantly, Liriénka averted her eyes elsewhere, her expression becoming neutral, devoid of the earlier blush on her cheeks. "Do you have an isolated place to relieve yourself?" she repeated her question.
After rubbing his forehead, Jalu promptly showed the way to the restroom, located next to the guest bathroom in the hallway toward the kitchen. Jalu taught Liriénka how to operate the sit-down toilet and lock the door before leaving her alone. He then headed to his bedroom, which also had a separate toilet and bathroom. Jalu prepared himself to depart for Lembang.
After showering and dressing, the young man rummaged through his wardrobe, searching for something suitable for Liriénka. But all of Jalu's clothes were unmistakably masculine, hardly appropriate for a woman. Running out of options, he reluctantly settled on a black T-shirt emblazoned with a large anarchy symbol and a pair of camouflage cargo shorts. He couldn't help but smirk at the thought—Liriénka, with her innocent demeanor, wearing something that screamed Punk Rock. Scratching his head in mild frustration, he gathered the outfit and made his way to the backyard.
"You smell nice," Liriénka commented, suddenly appearing by the back door.
Startled, Jalu instinctively jumped into a defensive stance, ready for a fight. But when he saw Liriénka staring at him with wide eyes and a half-open mouth, he slowly lowered his guard. Reflexively, he patted her shoulder, exhaling with a relieved chuckle. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
For the first time since their meeting at Situ Cukul, Jalu heard her laugh—a soft, melodic sound that lifted his spirits, drawing an unbidden smile to his lips. But as he continued to gaze at her, captivated by the moment, Liriénka suddenly stopped laughing, her expression turning shy under his unwavering stare.
The girl leaned in, sniffing Jalu's shoulder with an intrigued expression. "I don't know what fragrance you're emitting, but it's incredibly soothing."
"While you were in the toilet, I took a shower and changed clothes," he explained.
"Shower?" Liriénka echoed, puzzled.
"I'm not constantly in the water like you," Jalu said with a slight chuckle. "So, I shower at least once a day to stay clean."
"Most of my life is spent in the water," she replied, her gaze thoughtful. "But I can't seem to emit a fragrance like you."
Without hesitation, Jalu lifted Liriénka's left hand and took a cautious sniff. A blush immediately spread across her cheeks as he then gently tugged at her hair, inhaling its scent. To his surprise, he detected no fragrance—only the faint, elusive hint of empty air, as if she were a ghostly presence. His brow furrowed in confusion. Suddenly, he realized that he hadn't sensed Liriénka’s presence at all when she had startled him earlier.