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Gempa knew his second brother had a hobby of baking cakes. He said that every time he baked, Taufan always seemed happy. Gempa didn’t mind this hobby at all and would defend Taufan if anyone dared to mock his brother for it. However, since they were in their third year of high school, Taufan had been pursuing his hobby less and less. Gempa grew concerned, but Taufan told him he had found a new hobby.
Gardening.
That’s what he said. And Gempa saw it himself when Taufan started his project of transforming their backyard into a flower garden. Duri often helped Taufan plant flowers, while Gempa and their other brothers could only watch in bewilderment.
Honestly, Taufan’s new hobby was met with disapproval from their parents—Gempa didn’t understand why they made such a fuss about it. His parents and Taufan had been acting strangely ever since the three of them went somewhere without informing or involving Gempa and his brothers. Even Halilintar, as the eldest, didn’t know the reason behind Taufan and their parents’ odd behavior.
Gempa chose to stay silent. He believed Taufan would talk when he was ready, and Gempa would be there to listen when the time came.
One day, Taufan’s garden was damaged by a storm. The fence Halilintar had built for Taufan’s climbing roses collapsed, and the other flowers were also affected. Gempa thought Taufan would feel sad and angry, just like Duri, who sulked all day over the state of the once beautiful garden. But Taufan didn’t say a word. He simply walked out of the house once the storm had passed, started picking up his damaged flowers, salvaging what he could, and cleaning up the debris left by the storm. Taufan replanted his flowers once the ground was no longer waterlogged.
This time, Gempa and Halilintar joined in to help Taufan replant his flowers. Taufan looked very happy when they started helping him. He asked them what flowers they liked so they could plant them in the garden too. Halilintar said he didn’t know any flower names because, to him, all flowers looked the same.
Of course, Taufan denied Halilintar’s statement and began explaining that every flower was different. Even flowers of the same type would have their own unique traits.
Since when did Taufan become so knowledgeable about flowers?
Then Taufan asked Gempa what flower he wanted to plant. Like Halilintar, Gempa didn’t know much about flowers, but he did know that each flower had its own meaning.
Gempa remembered one type of flower he thought was very beautiful. If he wasn’t mistaken, its name was...
“Orange gladiolus.”
Taufan smiled, saying Gempa’s choice was perfect and that he would soon find some gladiolus bulbs. Meanwhile, Halilintar asked what gladiolus flowers looked like. Taufan explained their appearance to Halilintar, though Halilintar still seemed confused, which eventually frustrated Taufan as he tried to explain again. Gempa laughed at the interaction between his twin brothers but couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a hidden meaning behind Taufan’s question about their favorite flowers. Unfortunately, Gempa never voiced his thoughts, and now he regretted not doing so.
As they entered university, their schedules became even busier than in high school, but Gempa always noticed how Taufan managed to balance his studies with tending to his garden. Duri often said that Taufan’s garden was magical, and Gempa couldn’t help but agree. It truly felt like a garden from a fairytale.
One day, during their semester break, Gempa saw Taufan crouching in front of a purple flower. Taufan seemed lost in thought when Gempa approached him, startling him with a greeting. Taufan gave him a smile in response but said nothing. He returned his gaze to the flower in front of him, perhaps lost in thought once more.
Gempa crouched beside Taufan, gazing at the flower in front of them while admiring this one of God's creations.
"Do you know what this flower is called?"
Taufan suddenly spoke, startling Gempa, who thought his brother wouldn’t say anything.
"No."
"This is a blue iris."
Blue? But the flower was purple. It seemed Taufan noticed Gempa’s confusion because he added, "Funny, isn’t it? It’s called blue, yet it’s purple."
Gempa didn’t know how to respond. Perhaps the people who named this flower were like those who named red onions, which are actually purple. It seemed purple was often misunderstood as another color.
"Do you know what this flower means?"
"Um... love?"
Taufan shook his head.
"It means hope."
Gempa didn’t understand why, as Taufan said it, he sounded as though he was placing all his hopes on that flower. He wanted to ask, but Taufan cut him off, redirecting his attention to a row of orange flowers also adorning the garden.
Orange gladiolus.
The flower Gempa had said he wanted to plant with Taufan.
"What does this one mean, brother?" Gempa asked.
"Strength."
"Strength?"
"Yes, and I think it suits you."
Once again, Gempa didn’t understand what Taufan meant. Why did it feel like Taufan was becoming more mysterious with each passing day?
"Brother, why did you decide to make this garden?"
"Hm? I just like planting flowers."
Gempa shook his head. "No. You used to hate anything involving dirt. You preferred baking cakes. You always said you loved seeing us enjoy the cakes you made. So why do you bake less often now and spend more time in this garden?"
Taufan didn’t answer right away. He seemed to be thinking about what to say to Gempa. And Gempa didn’t understand why he felt so tense waiting for Taufan’s response.
"I just wanted to plant my sadness." That was what Taufan eventually said.
"Sadness?"
"Yes, plant your sadness, and it will bloom to make others happy."
Taufan’s words were confusing. Gempa asked again, but Taufan refused to explain further. No. To be precise, Taufan avoided answering. Gempa was left with unanswered questions.
...
Duri always said that the butterflies visiting Taufan's garden were guardian fairies. They danced in joy among the beautiful flowers, worshiping their beauty. Inevitably, Gempa would always remember the sapphire-eyed young man sitting on the grassy field, surrounded by butterflies fluttering around him.
Were the butterflies also dancing in reverence to him?
Gempa reached out to touch the petals of the orange gladiolus in front of him, remembering that Taufan had said this flower symbolized strength and was a perfect match for him. Gempa still didn’t understand, but he smiled.
In his heart, Gempa wanted to believe that what Taufan meant was for him to keep his spirit alive in facing life. That Gempa’s strength would never fade, even though his world was no longer perfect.