Tiger was walking on the street. Everyone's eyes were on him, and all were whispering about how hot he looked. Suddenly, a familiar voice called out:
"Tiger! Tiger!"
Tiger turned in surprise.
Tiger: "Rizard… you?"
Rizard: "Yeah, it's me! I thought I'd take you out for a while. Let's go to a café."
Tiger: "A café? Why?"
Rizard: "Man, you're always so depressed. I thought I'd help lighten your mood. After that, we can visit a temple."
Tiger raised an eyebrow.
Tiger: "A temple? Do temples exist in Japan?"
Rizard (surprised): "You didn't know?"
Tiger: "No, I was actually talking about Indian temples."
Rizard: "Well, there are some too. They're a little far, but we'll go after the Japanese temple."
Tiger: "Alright then."
They reached a small café.
Waiter: "Sir, what would you like to order?"
Rizard: "One black coffee for me. And you, Tiger?"
Tiger: "I don't really feel like having anything."
Rizard (to the waiter): "Make it two coffees."
Waiter: "Okay, sir."
While sipping their coffee—
Rizard: "So, which temple should we go to first?"
Tiger: "Let's start with the Japanese temple."
Rizard: "Sounds good."
After finishing, the waiter brought the bill.
Waiter: "Sir, here's your bill."
Tiger quickly paid.
Rizard: "Hey, why did you pay? I could have done it."
Tiger: "Forget it. Let's go."
They reached the Japanese temple.
Tiger: "So this is it?"
Rizard: "Yeah, this is the Japanese temple."
(Inside his head, Rizard thought: Strange… he's never been to a Japanese temple before?)
They prayed and then headed toward the Indian temple.
Rizard: "Tiger, you've never been to a Japanese temple, right?"
Tiger: "No, this is my first time."
Rizard: "And an Indian temple?"
Tiger: "That too, my first time."
Rizard was shocked.
Rizard (thinking): If he's never visited, how did he even know about Indian temples?
Rizard: "Then how do you know about Indian temples, when you don't even know about Japanese ones?"
Tiger: "I don't know either. Maybe… I just feel it. Maybe I have some kind of connection with India."
They step inside the Indian temple.
Incense fills the air.
A bell rings softly.
Tiger stops walking.
For a brief second—
his chest tightens.
His fingers unconsciously grip the small red stone in his palm.
Rizard notices.
"You okay?"
Tiger nods slowly.
"It feels… familiar."
"But you said you've never been here."
"I haven't."
He looks at the idol.
"But something inside me recognizes this place."
Rizard stares at him carefully.
That's when he notices the red stone more clearly.
"Tiger… what is that in your hand?"
Tiger looks down.
The stone glows faintly under the temple light.
"This… is Swiga."
Rizard freezes.
"Your surname is Swiga too…"
Tiger closes his hand.
"Next time we meet… I'll tell you everything."
Rizard thought deeply, but Tiger stood up.
Tiger: "Next time we meet, I'll tell you everything — about Swiga, my surname, and my past. For now, I'm leaving."
Tiger walked away toward his rented flat.
On his way home, Rizard thought to himself:
"When will we meet again? I want to know more about Tiger. Maybe we barely know each other now… but for me, Tiger has already become my friend."