That night felt incredibly long—so unlike the nights back in his hometown. Heavy rain began to fall after weeks of dry weather, instantly washing away the fine dust that had previously coated the grass, leaves, and rooftops. The scent of rain-soaked earth filled the air—a deeply soothing fragrance.
Outside, in the office courtyard, some people were growing anxious as the rain showed no signs of letting up. Others chose to wait it out, chatting casually in the cafeteria or watching short videos on social media with the occasional soft laugh, while a handful decided to brave the weather in raincoats just to get home.
In a corner of the office, the glow of a mobile phone screen illuminated the face of Alex, a twenty-five-year-old man. He was gazing at photos of himself and his ex-girlfriend, Fina, as he scrolled through his phone’s gallery. Tears began to flow silently, dampening his cheeks. Every now and then, he took a deep breath and let it out, his gaze drifting vacantly toward the windowpane, which was speckled with raindrops driven by the wind.
Alex had been acting this way for over a week—preferring solitude when his colleagues gathered in the cafeteria and staying late at the office when everyone else was eager to go home. This change in behavior began when he—quite by chance—listened to the song "Cinta Dalam Hati" by the band Purple.
Hearing the song instantly stirred up memories of the girlfriend he had three years ago—a woman who adored everything about the band Purple. Her love for the group was so intense that everything around her was purple: her bedroom walls, bedsheets, pillows, and even her bolster. Her walls were covered with photos of the band members. In the end, Alex indulged his girlfriend’s whimsical request and agreed to decorate his own bedroom to match hers. He did it all out of deep affection, not fear. No man in this world yields to a woman’s wishes out of fear; rather, he does so because of a profound and sincere love.
The relationship they had built over more than three years came to an abrupt end when his partner passed away from a severe illness—one she had kept hidden from him. In the three years since that loss, Alex had been unable to move on; no one could take her place. He had tried everything to heal his broken heart—even completely redecorating his bedroom and donating all the items that held memories of their time together to an orphanage—hoping to finally break free from the shadow of the past.
As time passed, Alex slowly managed to let go of memories of his former love; he even learned to open his heart to other women. Yet, it was all in vain—especially when those memories came flooding back after he accidentally heard that song. Alex refused to use another woman as an outlet for his heartbreak; he did not want to love someone merely as a way to cope with his pain. Ultimately, he could only resign himself to his circumstances.
*****
It was a remarkably quiet Sunday morning; the ground was still damp, and rainwater lingered in the potholes along the road. The sun began to rise from behind the tea hills, which were lined with pine trees. Children ran about with their toys, enjoying their day off school; everyone seemed cheerful and full of joy. A group of villagers walked together toward the plantation to pick tea leaves. Birds flew overhead, calling out to one another. Everyone seemed happy—except for one person: Alex. He spent his day off idly, sitting alone on a wooden chair in the backyard, wrapped in a blanket and holding a cup of black coffee. Alex sat lost in thought, staring blankly at a wall coated in a thin layer of moss.
"What’s wrong, son? ... You’d better drink your coffee before it gets cold."
His father’s words snapped Alex out of his reverie.
Alex offered only a faint smile. He did not answer his father’s question and drifted back into his thoughts.
"Do you still remember Fina?" his father asked, sitting down on the chair beside him.
Once again, Alex ignored his father’s words; he remained lost in his own mind.
His father remained calm. He understood that it wasn't that Alex hadn't heard, but rather that he was pretending not to; he also knew that Alex wasn't incapable of answering the question. As a man, his father understood exactly what Alex was feeling.
"There may be some truth to the idea that people who are in love—or heartbroken—are the hardest to give advice to," his father said with a faint smile.
After a moment, Alex finally spoke up. "I don't want things to be this way. But I'm at a loss for what to do. I've tried so hard to forget Fina, yet those memories keep coming back to haunt me."
"You don't need to push yourself so hard. No matter how determined you are to forget, that very effort keeps those memories alive. Memories will always come back, even when you have a new partner. Every letter and word in a love letter, the truck you rode in, the purple hue of a flower, song lyrics, a band, or certain places—they will all transport you back to memories of your past relationship," said his father.
"So, what should I do?" Alex asked.
"Find a partner who understands you. Sometimes, the cure for a wounded heart is the presence of another heart," his father replied; his words carried deep philosophical meaning.
"I don't want to look for another woman just to fill the void in my heart," Alex said flatly.
"I'm not telling you to look for an escape. I'm suggesting you find someone new. Don't torture yourself; somewhere out there, Fina might be saddened to see you like this. Let memories remain just that—memories. Simply keep her in your prayers. There is no need to love someone to excess, because in the end, everyone must face parting ways. You don't need to struggle to bury your past. If you want, go ahead and repaint your room purple—Fina's favorite color," his father said in a tone that was casual yet firm.
"Huuuuh," Alex let out a long sigh.
"Try to be honest with your own heart and with others. Be honest with your future partner about your past and your feelings. I'm sure there is someone out there who will heal and understand you," his father advised.
"I'll give it another try," Alex said briefly.
"Instead of getting lost in your thoughts, how about helping Mom and me clean the pool?" his father suggested as he stood up.
Shortly after, Alex got up, tidied his room, changed his clothes, and joined his parents to help clean the pool.
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