ABHIMANYU WORLD
Chapter XXX: Valentine's Day
Dusk was tingling in the sky, forming red hues strewn about. Azan magrib was still less than ten minutes away. I eagerly worked on the translation tasks that began to pile up, before taking an afternoon shower. There was the sound of Andre holding a solo concert in the bathroom. That means I have to wait longer.
One of the crucial problems in the boarding world is the bathroom problem. There are no specific rules or schedules regarding the use of the bathroom. Similarly for the schedule of draining the bathroom. Not surprisingly, the bathroom always looks terrible, with the remnants of soap wrappers scattered, empty shampoo sachets, even cigarette butts. If you're lucky, you'll find worn-out panties hanging everywhere!
It's still the outside look. We haven't discussed the issue of aroma. For this one business actually everyone is also aware that the bathroom usually emits an odor that is not fragrant. This place is the center of the disposal of all impurities in the human body. No wonder if the bathroom is identical to the aroma of seven-round pessing, combined with the aroma of cheap bar soap and clogged water. What a blend of therapeutic aromas like none!
But it wasn't in our rented bathroom. The written schedule has been attached to the wall, that for the draining of the bathroom is carried out once a week. Andre is an example of a human species that is rather fussy about hygiene. His principles on cleanliness are somewhat perfectionist. Looking at the scattered trash, he was the first to chatter more than the mothers. In this case, his nemesis is Doni.
Doni is a distinct species of Homo sapiens. In contrast to Andre, Doni is a little more slovenly. If you enter the room, do not expect the scent of lavender or rose. There was the smell of feathers, sweat that had dried up, dirty clothes and even the smell of stale food all mixed into one. Eleven twelve with the scent of all the male student rooms on the earth of Indonesia.
Except me.
Before long, the azan magrib reverberated across the sky. The divine call signaled that we should hurry to the mosque. The red tinge faded, replaced with a sky that turned thick. Bats began to fly around the contract. Andre is still not out of the bathroom.
Anyone who stood in line to take a shower after Andre, would definitely feel the same pain as me. Andre spent an average of 45 minutes. If calculated using physics it will be like this. If in a period of 50 minutes Andre managed to take as much water as 25 pull dipper, then the average time needed to take a sagayung water is two minutes per dipper.
Bussyet!
So all this time Andre was bathing in a slow-motion style?
But on the bright side, the bathroom that used up Andre always smelled fragrant. No wonder, the toiletries are like a walking salon. I peeked at her wash bag. There are two kinds of liquid soap, toothpaste, two kinds of different bristle toothbrushes, shampoo, facial moisturizer, bath sponge, charcoal mask, jicama mask, mouthwash, conditioner, acne medicine and scrub soap. It's amazing my friend this one.
Wh-tok-tok!
“Woee! Replace the bath ...” I shouted.
“Ntar, Bi! Little more. Nanggung ...” replied Andri from inside the bathroom.
“Ngapain you?”
“This. Stay another piece ...”
Just another piece? Whatdoes thatmean? She ate cake in the bathroom?
After coming out, I saw Andre's smile that was so relieved full of victory. The scented aroma immediately tickled my nose. But I did not forget that he complained to me.
“This you, disturb people again focus ...” says Andre.
“You took a really long shower. Missed worshippers at the mosque would be ..” my protest.
“Lah! How finished? Could such a thing be rescheduled?”
I'm speechless.
Putting on a look of annoyance, I went into the bathroom and started the ritual before taking a bath. Since the day had started at night, I accelerated this bathing activity. It doesn't take 50 minutes, it's five minutes!
***
Drizzle still coloring February. For some people, February is synonymous with the month of love. To me, February means nothing. Same with the other months. Some friends start hunting chocolate or roses to give to the lover of his heart. But I myself enjoy more the incompetence that never ends.
This Valentine’s Day echoes also began to stop at my rented. Andre is busy with some chocolate bars and pink accessories.
“Who do you love Valentine with, Bi?” ask Andre.
I'm lazy to answer this question. For if I answer wrongly, it will end in bullying. Especially if there's Doni around here. He will act even more sadistically.
“I do a lot of work, Ndre ...” I reply diplomatically.
“The work is endless, Bi. Once refreshing first,” Andre said while tying chocolate bars with pink ribbons.
I'm speechless.
“That's a lot, Ndre. Who will it give to?” tanyaku later.
“Hmm. There deeeehhh ..”
Ok, Fine. I don't want to interrogate any further. Let Andre enjoy his own world.
“What ambush, Don?” my many.
“I got a candle-light dinner invitation ..” replied Doni excitedly.
“O yes? From whom?”
“Monik, Bro! Monik ...”
“Tumben?” I smile at the smile.
“Substantial tumben-tumben. We often walk together. You don't know!”
“Iya I believe. By the way you guys want to candlelight dinner where?”
“It ... in his stall Bu Marni,” Doni replied shyly.
Bussyet! I figured which restaurant. Uh, no idea ....
Alright.
Anyway, I'm happy to see my friends happy with their respective partners. Farhan's schedule is not yet clear. But I guess, he doesn't like these shows. Surely he directly lectures that this Valentine is not in accordance with Indonesian culture and so on and so forth.
“There is a tausiyah schedule ...” said Farhan who just came out of his room. It looks authoritative with a white bone-colored robe and a turban with matching colors.
“Where?”
“On RT 40, which is a bit far behind contract us,” replied Farhan.
“Mom-mom?”
“Iya, Assembly Ta’lim so ...."
“Wah, can dong dong!”
Suddenly Farhan's face was sad. He shook.
“Firasatku says rice box ...”
“Udah ikhlaass..ikhlaas!” i reminded. I can't help but hold a smile.
Alright.
On this fucked-up Valentine's Eve, all my friends had their own activities. I was hoping someone would kidnap me from this contract to enjoy the night. Loneliness is starting to affect my feelings. Hope Lusi calls, maybe a mess. Even if Dahlia thought it was okay.
Tumben Dahlia didn't call.
Hope destroyed!
Fix, I'm the saddest single in the century!
The phone suddenly shook. I wish it were from a woman I knew. I don't want to rot in this rented room alone. The love songs of the 90s are not at all heart-pulling anymore.
I just want a girl, period!
God granted my prayers. A woman called me enthusiastically.
“This is Mommy, Bi!”
Thankfully, my mom doesn't celebrate Valentine.
Mak, tonight accompany me to tell ya? Your son is lying in a rented room ....
***
