Hello, my name is Rio. I am well-known in my department of the university. Every time I walk, some random people greet me.

“Rio!”

“Hi, Rio.”

When I took a glance at them, I could hear their happy laugh. Honestly, I didn’t know why. But, I heard from them that I was a humorous guy. They said, just looking at my face makes them laugh. Did my face funny? I didn’t know and I didn’t care.

This time, I went to my university’s park to met with my bosom buddy. It didn’t take long to find him, because he was very conspicuous. Just looked for mushroom-head man, aka his hair that thick as some thesis books from one batch. I found my friend who was sitting on the edge of the fish pond above the grass. I immediately went to him.

“Yo Dan!”

“Hmn.”

Heard his nonchalant response, I sat down next to him. “Why? There’s no rain, no ghosts, no exes, how come you’re sad?” I asked sympathetically as I unwrapped my bread.

“I’m not like you who love your ex.” his answered shoot right into my heart. Hurt.

“Hey, you don’t have to bring up my ex! What’s wrong with you?” I asked furiously.

Just, I wanted to eat my savory bread.

“My girlfriend!” suddenly he screamed and intended to strangle me, luckily I was a sensitive person—my ex said so—I immediately fended off his hand.

“What’s t—“ my word was cutting off because those razor-sharp eyes stabbed at me. As fast as lightning, the bread from my hand moved to his hand. He was standing.

“Do you know?” Daniel started to vent his bloody angry emotions and took them out on my bread. A whole loaf of bread perfectly split in half, right before my eyes.

“My beloved baby…” I tried to put on a pleading expression as possible so that Daniel would stop his violent actions.

Daniel didn’t hear my words at all. His emotions started to destroy my savory bread. I could only accommodate the crumbs of my bread hoping my ‘girlfriend’ came back.

“My girlfriend cheated on me!” Daniel shouted as he threw my beautiful bread into a fish pond.

“BREAD!” I reflexively stood up, “My breakfast…” I didn’t know what expression was on my face. The point is, Did this painful to watch our precious thing little by little disappear? Had watched the only food that would stay in my stomach after eight hours of starving. This light of hope was gone.

“Hey, Dan!” I shouted. “Wait… Dan?” I turned left and right to look for the culprit, but he had disappeared somewhere.

Rainwater still moistened the grass. The sun appeared from behind the cloud split the visible dewdrop that form a beautiful color arc. I took a walk in the garden which was still damp accompanied by the calming aroma.

Honestly, I enjoy these walks because I love the smell. Bread. Hmm—wait for a second, isn’t it petrichor? Suddenly there was a huge shadow obstructed the sunray. I knew this scent, toasted cinnamon with vanilla and a charred smell underneath. BREAD.

“Rio…” a familiar voice called me out.

“RIO!”

“BREAD!” I suddenly woke up in a class! Silence. I froze. All the hot lasers from the pair of eyes melted me.

“Pst… in front of you.” whispered the friend next to me. My gaze followed his word with all the sweat dripping down my body.

“E-uh yes… ma’am.” I didn’t know what to do in front of my killer lecturer. Her face of horror might even defeat the king of hell, the demon Lucifer, or perhaps she’s Lucifer’s mother.

“Rio! I am not bread!” my lecturer’s shrill voice made me fully aware.

“Work on the book in the library with a black cover that is seven hundred and forthy-three pages thick. I’m waiting for your work on my desk. Today!” she ordered me with all the elements of the words she spoke quickly.

“Right now?” Stupid. I was asking a question I shouldn’t be asked.

The glance of my lecturer’s eyes pierced my adrenaline. As fast as lightning I left the room that had brought me to my ‘girlfriend’—even in my dream.

In the library, I chose to sit in a corner accompanied by dozens of thick black books. Just as I opened page four of the first book, my stomach started to rumble.

Oh gosh. I was so unlucky. This day’s breakfast plus yesterday’s dinner was swept away. My money was running low too. Plus, why Daniel nagged to me?

After all, he was the one who loved his ex, why did he take it out on me? Why did the girls always say something in code? Worse yet, the code is not clear and it took decades to find the answer.

Gosh! I was starting to get stressed with that one lecturer’s orders!

Drt… drt…

My smartphone got a message. I saw Daniel’s message pop up on my screen.

“I want to talk to you. It’s important.”

After read Daniel’s short message. I couldn’t help but frown. Important? Did he want to return my bread? Without thought twice, I left the pile of obscure books on the table and immediately left the library, of course, stealthily so as not to be caught by the librarian.

Just as I grabbed the doorknob, the wooden square had already rotated toward me. The result was my face kissing the object which pokes my nose in. The noise distracted library visitors from the book they were reading.

“Hey, Rio?” a figure with curly hair appeared from behind the door.

I held my sore nose, “Oh you’re the culprit again?” I looked at him flatly.

“Stupid single human being loves ex.” I stepped out of the library past the abuser.

“Hey, I have something important to say!”

“Just a moment! This hurts you know!” I stroked the top of my nose which felt softer than before. “So, what do single want to say?”

“Stop calling me single! Take your smartphone and open your front camera. Look at yourself!” Daniel answered which actually didn’t answer any of my questions.

“Dan. The one who has to look at the mirror is not my face. Until the end of the world, I won’t be like you unless I have plastic surgery. What must reflect is the heart, bro.” I spoke wisely.

‘Sorry Rio, I want to repent. I've been lying to you all this time. I'm sorry. Bye.’

Yes, those were the last words of my communication with my ex, Nanda, who I loved the most. I didn't know what the word ‘repentance’ means, I still didn't understand.

“Wow, man…. Where did you get the words from?” Daniel asked with a shocked face. I also couldn't believe I said such words.

“So, single. What do you want to say about important?”

“This.” Daniel handed me a thick sheet of paper.

“What?” I accepted wondering what it was. I read every sentence written there. “Guahahahahaa!”

“You're so mean. I don't want to take you in.”

“Ahahaha it wasn't like that!” I held Daniel’s shoulder in sympathy, “This is a wedding invitation from your ex! How can I not laugh? If you love your ex, don't be like that!”

“Not my dear ex. I want to see her happy next to what she thinks deserves to be.” Daniel said while folding his arms. The cool pose he said.

“Oh my god! Just say that you want to compare her choice and you, which one is better. Right?” I said ruining his cool style.

“That’s up to you!” Daniel started to walk and leave me while I was busy laughing.

“Wa wa wait!” I stopped Daniel. “I’ll accompany you tomorrow because I can’t leave my friend crying there later. After all, it’s pretty good to get a free meal.”

Daniel responded to me with a sad smile. “Just found out how you feel when your ex is married.”

The building which is decorated with flowers and had a happy aura reminded me of the good times with my girlfriend—ex-girlfriend—correction. The romantic atmosphere that I used to create just for her, I didn’t know if it’s a bad memory or not.

Daniel and I wore neat tuxedos with shiny black shoes. I was even willing to wear pomade which added my neatness points.

We walked into the beautiful building. I knew every step by step brings sadness slowly to my friend.

“Dan, once you see her side with someone else, remember you have to be strong.” I patted my friend’s shoulder who just nodded.

No need to go too far from the doorway, we could see the girl in a white wedding dress with her back to us was talking to her friends. I could feel the destruction of my friend next to me.

“Rebecca…” my friend called her in low voice. Luckily the bride’s hearing was sharp, she stepped up to us with a smile etched smoothly on her face. “Congratulation.”

“Thank you, Dan. I didn’t expect you to come,” she replied.

“Hey, want to meet my husband? His name is Nanda.” Rebecca left us without hearing our answer. Before long, he returned with the man beside him.

“Damn…” said my friend very low even almost just muttering.

“This is Nanda.” Rebecca introduced the man. He just smiled at us friendly.

After a very brief introduction, Rebecca and Nanda left us at an invitation from one of their friends.

“Rebecca! Let’s take a photo!” exclaimed one of her friends.

“Dan, I’ll leave first.”

Daniel just nodded. Then he patted my shoulder.

“Are you okay? His face is the same except for his hair,” Daniel commented. “You keep making fun of me!”

“So… all this time… my ex…” I couldn’t say anything more. Is this karma?

“Your ex is a man.” Daniel continued to help with my words.

“Dan, is this karma?”

Author’s note:

Rio isn’t an anti-LGBT person or anything. He just felt cheated by Nanda’s identity. Because Nanda wasn’t honest with Rio in the first place.