An Anomalous Snowfall

EVERY DAY at five in the afternoon, a pair of lovers would spend their time in a square in the heart of the city. There, they found a haven where togetherness flourished without the shadow of a penny. Beyond the expanse, they discovered a tapestry of favored street food. Yet, the true allure of the square was rooted in the myriad corners adorned with living memories of their love, drawing them back time and time again.

In the square, the memories of their first encounter were etched into eternity. Every quarrel, every ache, and each of their imperfections were laid bare. It was there that they found common ground, forging an unspoken agreement to accept each other as they were. Seasons passed, accompanying the journey of their relationship. From the vexations of rainy seasons, jostling for shelter beneath the grand solitary banyan tree in the midst of the space, to the scorching drought, where the banyan’s leaves, rendered brittle, surrendered to the relentless gaze of the sun.

On one particular afternoon, a peculiar breeze whispered through the square. Indeed, the small town where the square resided had recently been encircled by capricious weather. Just yesterday, they had basked in the comforting glow of the setting sun at one corner of the square. Hence, when delicate crystals akin to snowflakes descended from the sky above, they shared a laugh, interpreting it as a playful jest of the seasons.

“Have you heard the news that a week ago a chunk of ice fell from the sky on the outskirts of town?” the man of the pair inquired, his voice resonating with the curiosity of the couple’s shared love.

“Oh, really? How on earth could that happen?” the woman responded, her curiosity piqued.

The man, who toiled daily in a plastic production factory on the town’s periphery, shrugged, admitting his ignorance. What did he know about such phenomena? He preferred pondering the ever-growing pile of savings for their impending wedding. The woman chuckled, nodding in agreement, concurring with her beloved.

Nevertheless, the woman gently lifted her gaze to the sky that sheltered the waning afternoon. Might ask why? The delicate crystalline droplets, once as fine as mere dust, seemed to be growing. The man followed suit, tilting his gaze upward. Then their eyes locked in an unspoken exchange. For a moment, they attempted not to dwell on it too deeply.

On the following afternoon, the crystalline flakes continued their delicate expansion, preserving their ethereal quality despite their growth. The lovers then joked, “It appears as if snow has graced the square.”

Moved by curiosity, they turned to the square’s denizens, seeking to ascertain the validity of their whimsical notion. In response, the people greeted their query with disbelieving laughter, “Snow in the square? Ha ha ha…”

The lovers fell into a hush. A tender silence wrapped around them, like a blanket of shared wonder.

Certainty unfurled its wings. On the subsequent afternoon, following their lighthearted words about the snowfall, a bustling crowd had gathered. Snow had indeed descended upon the square. The joy that surged through the lovers was beyond measure. “Snow has truly fallen upon the square!” they exclaimed, their voices resounding.

Yet again, the people sneered at them. “How can you only just now realize that snow falls in the square? Ha ha ha.”

And so, reminiscent of the previous day, the lovers, wise in their own way, chose the eloquent language of silence.

Despite the jeers they endured, the lovers stumbled upon a disquieting realization. True, snow graced the expanse of the square, but why was it confined solely within that realm? However, they chose to quell the stir of curiosity, not overly pondering. After all, they were keen on evading further scoffing from the people.

For days on end, the snow persisted in its descent. The square, which was accustomed to bustling during specific hours, now brimmed with life almost incessantly. This newfound bustle inevitably beckoned forth an even greater multitude of purveyors offering favored street food.

Among the multitude of favored street food, it was coconut-whipped ice cream, called ‘es puter’, remained their very favored choice. Churned by the Old Man, es puter had graced the square long before the influx of newcomers. Nestled in the western corner, close to the Dutch-era water toren across the street from the grand city mosque, it held its place. They had a habit of savoring the unparalleled delight of es puter while seated near the now-forlorn fountain, once the cynosure, now overshadowed by the gentle descent of snow from the sky above the square.

“You two are my first customers today,” remarked the Old Man while deftly preparing the two paper bowls of their requested es puter. His tone was tinged with a hint of nostalgia. “Tomorrow, I won’t be selling here. People won’t buy es puter in the midst of such snow,” he concluded, his words carrying a touch of resignation.

The lovers appeared melancholic. Yet, what recourse did they have? It was an undeniable truth. Who would buy es puter in the midst of the frigid snow on the square? In fact, the lovers decided not to finish the es puter they had ordered. Just a single spoonful sent a painful shiver through their teeth. It marked the last es puter they would savor on the square, a bittersweet farewell to this simple joy amid the snowy expanse of the square.

The news of snowfall on the square spread like wildfire. People from neighboring towns even started to flock in to make their way come. The square grew more bustling. However, the throngs no longer attracted a plethora of favored street food. With the snow’s fall, they shifted roles, offering an array of games and amusements for rent. Naturally, these were diversions suited for enjoyment during the nearly month-long snowfall. Only a handful of favored street food remained, offering warm nourishment to the intrepid souls braving the chill in the air.

Until one sudden afternoon, civil officers were on guard at the square, their presence accompanied by several units of the police force.

“What’s happening?” inquired the man of the lovers to those who stood just outside the perimeter of the square.

Once again, the query was met with a dismissive response from the people, “Are you two for real? Just now finding out that the Mayor is temporarily closing the square? Ha ha ha…”

But, the laughter of the people didn’t linger, for their mirth gradually transformed into concern. “If the square is closed, then we won’t be able to enjoy the snow that has fallen there…” they lamented.

In a twist of fate, the lovers burst into laughter without needing any particular reason. They simply felt satisfied, finally able to share a chuckle at the expense of the others.

As it turned out, the Mayor’s decision went beyond temporarily closing the square. In a speech addressing the gathered citizens near the square where tall fences were increasingly being built, the Mayor declared, “Beloved citizens of our town, I am aware that many of you disagree with the current developments on the square. As your Mayor, I offer my heartfelt apologies. However, trust me. This is for the future of our cherished small town. Just consider, from all the cities across Indonesia, name just one where snow falls upon its square? Therefore, I implore you once more, this is for the future of our beloved town!”

Unfortunately, the lovers later learned that anyone had to pay an entrance fee to access the square. “How could this be? Paying a ticket just to step into the square?” protested the lovers.

In truth, no one could alter the Mayor’s decision. Moreover, the snowfall intensified upon the square. Additional facilities emerged, transforming the square into a realm of winter wonder. There was a miniature snowshoe area, ice sled rentals, thick coats or jackets for rent, a playground for children to revel in snowball fights, and even an artificial ice sculpture garden with benches and trees crafted from blocks of ice.

Given the fact that one visit wouldn’t suffice, the lovers meticulously counted their savings. “There are far too many memories there, my love. We can’t help but spend every afternoon there,” sighed the woman from the lovers, her voice heavy with yearning.

And so, after much deliberation, including the consideration of the memories that had fortified their bond over time — among which was their contribution to assisting the city government in maintaining the existing facilities — they decided to purchase tickets to access the square.

It couldn’t be denied, though, that the cost of the tickets slowly encroached upon their savings, which were originally earmarked for their impending wedding. Consequently, they limited their visits, buying tickets only a handful of times. Yet, it was not due to the snow, which had grown increasingly bothersome, but rather because of the memories that had intertwined with the square. From a few visits, they found themselves being able to visit only occasionally. And eventually, from those infrequent visits, they no longer stepped foot in the square.

The couple was heartbroken. They could no longer relish the cherished memories held within the square. Alongside others who could no longer afford the entry fee, they merely stood silently behind the towering walls that encircled the square. Gazing upwards, they strained to catch a glimpse of whatever lay beyond the square’s confines. Even the snow that fell only within the square was now beyond their line of sight. All they could do was offer silent prayers, hoping that the snow would cease to descend upon the square.

In reality, the snow persisted in its descent upon the square, and the news of it proliferated further, drawing even more crowds to flock into the square. Observing the unfolding situation, the Mayor made a decision, envisioning a brighter future for the bustling atmosphere of the city square. “Let’s raise the ticket prices! Let’s enhance the facilities!”

As a consequence of these events, an area extending several hundred meters around the square began to be sterilized, even if it meant displacing settlements. The residents were left with little choice but to acquiesce. The allure of tempting compensations had beguiled many, extinguishing any form of resistance. It was clear that there would be no more hope for the lovers. It was not only that they were unable to nurture their cherished memories, but the square itself was now further out of their reach.

The lovers began to contemplate a new place to spend their afternoon time. Continuing to purchase entry tickets to the square was out of the question. It was wiser to rebuild their savings, which had been significantly depleted by the tickets. They recognized that it was time to search for alternative places to spend their precious hours.

“So, where do we go now? There’s no other place for us in this city. The only park left is the city square,” the woman from the lovers complained frustratingly.

Amid the confusion of wandering through the deserted streets of the city after work, searching for a secluded spot, the man from the lovers suddenly came to a halt. His abrupt stop startled the woman.

“Hey, I think we’ve found it!” he exclaimed with a sense of excitement.

The woman beamed with delight. Before her, there lay a small neglected patch of a park, left untended and forgotten. At the entrance to the park, a sign read: “This Park Is Under Redeveloped!” The writing was faded, barely legible.

Perhaps, this was the only park that hadn’t been redeveloped into houses and stores due to its distant location from the city center. The government was preoccupied with matters that surely garnered more attention. What else, if not the snow that fell on the square?

On that very afternoon, the lovers together began clearing the entrance to the park. Starting with a concerted effort to remove the warning sign, they then proceeded to clean the narrow footpath, barely obscured by moss and wild grass.

As they ventured further into the petite park, they encountered a weathered concrete bench in a few corners, showing signs of wear and tear due to age. They cleared away the dry leaves that clung to it, creating a spot for them to sit. Together, they gazed at the petite park before them.

Something sparked in the woman’s memory, instantly. “Hey, why do I feel like I’m holding a memory here? Over there, I’m pretty sure there used to be a swing, a seesaw, and even a small cave shaped like an animal!” she exclaimed, pointing to a corner of the park that evoked a vivid recollection.

The man’s gaze wandered, and he squinted his eyes, seemingly recalling something. “Wait a minute. My father also brought me here before. He bought me a lollipop shaped like a bird that could make a sound when you blew its tail. I must have been in kindergarten or maybe I had just started primary school back then,” the man began to reminisce, delving into his memories.

Memory truly breathed life into many things, including places. With or without snow falling upon it, the square held a special place in the hearts of the lovers, as it holds so many cherished memories of their relationship. And so the petite park they recently discovered was equally special. Even if it only held a fragment of memories, those moments are incredibly delightful.

Ding! Ding! Ding! They heard a sound that was quite familiar. After looking around, they confirmed that what they heard was indeed real.

The man rushed out of the park. He paused for a moment, gazing back at his beloved. The woman stood up from where she was sitting, a smile forming on her face as she nodded, catching the signal from her lover. The man then shouted towards the street, “Es puter!”

And there, the lovers waited for the Old Man, who was skillfully serving their very favored es puter in their two paper bowls.

“Well, now you’re the last customers of the day. After this, I’m heading home,” the Old Man said with a relieved smile. “Luckily, the snow only fell on the square, right?” he continued.

The lovers smiled as they received their es puter, then enjoyed it on the bench of the petite park they had just cleaned.

Falling leaves brushed against the shoulders of the lovers. The woman gazed at the leaves descending from the lush trees surrounding them. Her brow furrowed in thought. She wanted to ensure what she was seeing. Then, she looked at her partner with concern.

“Hey, what is happening now?” the man asked, sounding a bit concerned.

“Look at those leaves!” the woman pointed to the vibrant, five-fingered brownish-red leaves on the trees. “They’re just like the ones in those Western films we used to watch on pirate DVDs,” she said.

They both looked around and suddenly, the surroundings transformed into a charming little garden. From the lush, leafy trees, the delicate five-fingered leaves gently fell, displaying hues of chestnut and crimson. The late afternoon sun filtered through the branches and leaves, creating a scene reminiscent of a dramatic movie setting.

“Do we have autumn seasons?” The man was genuinely perplexed.

“Shh, let’s not tell anyone. We wouldn’t want this lovely petite park to get too crowded, and then the Mayor shows up. We won’t know where to find a private spot for just the two of us…” the woman whispered.

The man nodded in agreement. They then spent their afternoon in that petite park they had just discovered, savoring their very favored es puter. The five-fingered leaves continued to fall beautifully, creating a mesmerizing scene.