About Taste

Meet Andra

Three days later.

Kairi, Miss Mirna, and Mr. Louis are cooking together in the kitchen. They deliberately prepared their own dinner without the help of Bik Surti. Kairi smiled as she looked at her parents. Their relationship has begun to improve, even since last night Mr. Louis has lived in this house, only they still sleep apart.

But that's how it should be. They've been separated for quite a while, and have been talak not know how many times. If they intend to refer, they must also do the ijab qabul again. It would be a sin to go straight to sleep together, although according to the law they are still husband and wife, but according to religion they have separated.

"Ahh what I think, seeing Mama and Papa get along like this only I'm happy. I don't dare hope they'll refer to it, Mama doesn't love Papa, and I have to appreciate it." Kairi's inner self while cutting carrots.

Kairi looked at her parents who were cutting meat together, they seemed to have a casual conversation without any snapping, and screams. Actually this scene is quite harmonious, but Kairi still feels less, because there is no presence of Andra in their midst.

It's been four days that Andra has been living alone in her apartment. Miss Mirna came to him once, and told him to go home, but Andra refused, because she still wanted to be alone. Kairi has gone to him three times, persuaded Andra to go home, and stay with the family. But Andra also refused, he said he still needed time to be alone, he needed time to accept this reality.

Kairi exhaled violently, knowing that her sister was not well. Evident from the many cigarette butts scattered on the floor of his room, and again his appearance is also tangled and chaotic, it is clear that Andra does not take care of him. He looks like a frustrated person.

"Kai, you take a bath there and keep picking up Ella, this is just for Mama to finish" said Ms Mirna as she looked at Kairi. They plan to take Ella to dinner together.

"It's okay I live Ma, it's still not finished you cut the vegetables" said Kairi.

"It's okay Kai" said Ms. Mirna with a smile.

"There is also Papa Kai, later let Papa help your Mama." said Mr. Louis while staring at Kairi.

"Alright then, now I take a shower first." said Kairi as she walked away.

"Yes." replied Miss Mirna.

"Mama and Papa cook together, hopefully it can make their relationship better. If only I could hope, I really want one day Mama can love Papa." Kairi's mind as she walked away.

Mr. Louis and Ms. Mirna resumed their work. Mr. Louis started grilling the meat, and greasing it with the seasoning they had prepared.

"This is Mas's pepper" said Ms. Mirna as she thrust powdered pepper at Mr. Louis.

"No need." replied Mr. Louis.

"Why?"

"You can't eat pepper." replied Mr. Louis.

"For so long, why do you still remember it Mas." said Ms. Mirna in her heart.

"But this is for dinner together, later it will feel less fitting if there is no pepper. Later I can eat with the others." said Ms. Mirna.

"No, I'm used to cooking without pepper. And it tastes so good." said Mr. Louis with a smile.

"Oh that's right." said Ms. Mirna, looking down.

A few minutes later, the meat that Mr. Louis roasted was ripe. Mr. Louis cut it with a knife, blew it, and thrust it at Ms. Mirna.

"Try it!" said Mr. Louis.

Ms. Mirna turned her head, and was a little confused when Mr. Louis thrust the meat near her mouth. Miss Mirna was a little nervous and embarrassed.

"Try it!" Louis repeated his words.

There was no other choice, finally Miss Mirna opened her mouth, and took a bribe from Mr. Louis. Miss Mirna chewed it slowly, it was delicious.

"How's it?" ask Mr. Louis.

"Enak, very good." replied Miss Mirna.

"If I had not been rash, I would not have forced you into violence. Maybe I can get your love Mirna." Mr. Louis's mind as he glanced at Ms. Mirna who was looking down.

Kairi who had been peeping at them since, now covered the sweet smile on her lips.

"Pa's spirit, Papa can definitely. I could have knocked out Ella, Papa couldn't have let Mama down" Kairi said slowly.

Then he stepped closer to them.

"Ma!" call Kairi.

"Have a shower?" ask Miss Mirna.

"Already Ma, now want to leave first, want to pick up Ella." replied Kairi with a smile.

"Yes, be careful. Mama send greetings to Mbak Halimah." said Ms Mirna.

"Yes Ma, yes I've left first huh. Pa. I go first yes, the spirit yes cooking." said Kairi while chuckling.

"Dare to tease me now you're Kai." Mr. Louis's inner voice while holding back his laughter. Mr. Louis understood very well Kairi's intentions.

***

The needle shows at 06:45 p.m. Kairi had Ella in her car, they were on their way to Miss Mirna's house. Kairi smiled as she glanced at her beautiful lover. The long dress is ivory yellow, with a ribbon trim on her waist. Her hair was draped with small accessories on the front. Her face is covered in thin makeup with pink lipstick. A simple look, but managed to make Kairi fascinated.

"Kai!" call Ella.

"Hmmm." muttered Kairi while looking at a glance.

"Tomorrow with me." said Ella.

"Where?" ask Kairi.

"My schoolmates got married, and he invited me. Stay with me." replied Ella.

"What time?" ask Kairi.

"Seven nights, yes" said Ella.

"Yes, if it's night I can love, but if it's day I can't, because it helps Mama's work in the office" said Kairi. Besides taking care of his business in London, now he does help the work of Miss Mirna, because Andra still lives in her apartment, without caring anymore about her work.

"Kairi helps Aunt Mirna's work, where has Andra gone." Ella's inner self in her heart.

"Night Kai, so you will accompany me." said Ella.

"Of course, but by the way your friend is a boy, or a girl?" ask Kairi.

"His men used to be the same age as me, but we're different majors. As for the woman, she's my underclassman. So I know them all." Ella replied. A little surprised also when getting an invitation from Nathan, it turns out he is married to Vani, a woman who used to be his girlfriend Andra.

"Oh so yeah."

"Yes." Yeah."

Shortly after, they arrived at Ms. Mirna's house. Kairi parked her car in the garage. Then they both got out of the car, and stepped towards the door. But not until they were on the doorstep, suddenly there was a middle-aged woman coming out from inside the house. His face pouted, and his steps were a little quick.

"Tante Yuni." greet Ella as they cross paths. It turned out that the middle-aged woman was Nadhira's mother.

"Ella, you're Ella right, Nadhira's friend" Bu Yuni said as she looked at Ella.

"Yes Aunty, how's Aunt and Nadhira doing?" asked Ella with a smile.

"Very bad." Bu Yuni replied quickly.

"Well!"

"You know, Nadhira's been dating Andra for two years. Last month they were planning a fiancee, as there was little trouble and then it was postponed. And now, it's been cancelled. You can imagine what it's like to be an aunt, so ashamed of El. All of Aunt's friends already know, if they're going to be fiancee. But now it turns out to be void, want to put where Auntie's face." said Bu Yuni at length, it is clear if he was upset.

"Andra canceled her fiance, why? Is it because of me?" ella said in her heart.

"Tante can only tell you, be careful when dealing with this family. His words are unbelievable, they like to be alone, and irresponsible. Ahh Aunt is really upset, Auntie will just leave here." Bu Yuni continued as she stepped away from Ella, and Kairi.

They went straight to the dining table, Miss Mirna and Mr. Louis were waiting for her there.

"Good night Om, Auntie." greet Ella while greeting Mr. Louis, and Ms. Mirna.

"Good night baby, you're so beautiful tonight" Mirna said, hugging Ella.

"Finally, we also have a daughter-in-law as good as Ella." said Ms. Mirna.

"Please sit down Ella" said Ms. Mirna as she let go of her embrace.

"Yes aunty." replied Ella while sitting next to Kairi.

Ella smiled happily, while looking at Kairi's family relationship that began to improve. Mr. Louis and Ms. Mirna look familiar, look like husband and wife in general. And they also treated Kairi very well. There is only one thing that disturbs Ella's heart, Andra. Why isn't he here? And why is his fiancee canceled?

Two questions that really intrigued him.

While eating her food, Ella kept thinking about Andra. No matter how bad the man was, he was once a big contribution in his life. In his past life, he was the only person to rely on, and lean on. Andra is a fragile man, he will be devastated and dissolve in the problems that befall him, actually what happened to him? Why is no one talking about him?

Every now and then Kairi glanced at Ella, realizing that something was being thought of by her lover. Could it be about his sister?

After an hour, they finished their dinner. Ella helped Miss Mirna clean the dining table. He took his dirty dishes to the kitchen, and then washed them.

"No need to wash El, tomorrow morning let Bik Surti wash" said Ms Mirna as she approached Ella.

"It's okay Auntie, I wash it just a little" replied Ella.

"Alright, then let Aunt help" said Ms. Mirna while helping Ella rinse the dishes.

"Aante!" call Ella.

"What's wrong?" ma'am Mirna asked while looking at Ella.

"Mmm Andra where's Auntie?" asked Ella hesitatingly.

"In his apartment, it had been four days that he had lived there." replied Ms Mirna as she exhaled violently.

"Oh."

"When you saw me Andra looked fine, why did she suddenly live in her apartment? Kairi's relationship, and Aunt Mirna's suddenly improve, and Andra also suddenly leaves. It seems like this matter is not as simple as I thought, what is it exactly." Ella's inner self in her heart.

After she finished washing the dishes, Ella briefly chatted with Ms. Mirna. Soon after, he decided to go home. He was in the car with Kairi. Ella glanced at Kairi at a glance, there was something she wanted to ask, yet she was still a little hesitant.

Kairi slowly starts to drive forward her car, leaving the courtyard of her house.

Until a few minutes the situation is still quiet, both Ella and Kairi have not been able to open their voices.

"Kai!" call Ella.

"What's wrong?" kairi asked while looking.

"It looks like Aunt Mirna's relationship with you is very good, and even with Om Louis as well. Why did Kai suddenly get better?" ask Ella.

Kairi let out a long sigh, she knew where Ella was talking to.

"There was a misunderstanding in the past, and now it's been cleared up. So our relationship can now improve" Kairi replied.

"Oh." Ella was still hesitant to ask about Andra. For a long time he was silent, not daring to open his voice.

"Kai!" Ella again called Kairi, she had already made up her intention to ask about Andra. Ella feels that something has happened to Andra, so she lives alone in her apartment.

"Why?" ask Kairi.

"Mmmm..."

"Tell me what you want to say." said Kairi while trying to smile, actually deep in his heart he felt very claustrophobic. He knows what makes Ella nervous, none other than her own sister.

"So Aunt Mirna said Andra lived in her apartment, why Kai?" ask Ella slowly. It took a lot of courage to ask Kairi.

"You still care about her Gabriella." Kairi's inner voice with a bitter smile.

"He needs time alone to calm his heart. It's hard for him to accept the truth." replied Kairi.

"What truth?" ask Ella.

"Andra is not Papa's son, he is Om Adit's son. And Om Adit was dead last month." replied Kairi.

"What!" scream Ella. Kairi's words were like sharp objects stabbing right in her heart.

Andra is Mr. Adit's biological son, and now Mr. Adit is dead. Ella can't imagine how fragile Andra is right now. Although the feeling of love for Andra is no longer left, Ella also still cares about him. Ella can't forget about Andra's kindness in the past, the man had an important role in her life. Without Andra, maybe Ella will have trouble living her life.

"Then how is he doing now?" ella asked while looking at Kairi.

"He's not okay. She refused when I was, and Mama took her home." replied Kairi.

Ella lowered her head, she quite understood Kairi's answer. Andra is now bound to be in a slump, and dissolves in her grief. Andra is a fragile man, his heart is not as strong as his physique. This fact must have deeply shaken his soul.

"Kai!" call Ella slowly.

"Hmmm." muttered Kairi while turning her head, looking at Ella.

Ella was still speechless, having little trouble expressing her heart.

"You want to see him?" kairi asked, trying to guess what Ella would say.

"Actually I wish you said no Gabriella." Inner Kairi.

"Can I Kai?" ask Ella.

"It turns out beyond my expectations." Kairi's inner self sighed deeply.

"I'll drive you." replied Kairi as she turned her car, she changed the direction of her trip, and headed for Andra's apartment.

Along the way they just kept quiet, they dissolved in their minds.

"I hope you can understand Kai, after all he has contributed to my life. I couldn't possibly close my eyes, when she was hurting." Ella's inner self in her heart.

"You care when you find out that Andra is having a problem, whether your feelings for her still remain Gabriella." Kairi's inner self in her heart.

Soon they reached Andra's apartment. Kairi parked her car, and took Ella down together. They stepped into Andra's apartment. Kairi opened the door, and they stepped in. It was quiet, there was no sound at all, not even the lights were all lit.

Kairi continued to step towards Andra's room, and Ella followed him behind. They stopped in front of the brown door, Andra's room door.

Kairi opened the door wide enough, and Ella could clearly see what Andra was doing inside. His heart was a little claustrophobic when he saw Andra's state of complete chaos. The man was smoking a cigarette by the window of his room. His face was wrinkled and his appearance was a mess. Much different than a few days ago, when Andra came to see him.

Andra turned her head when she heard the sound of the door opening, and she frowned in wonder when she knew who was coming. Ella and Kairi. Why did Kairi bring Ella here?

"When have you smoked, Ndra?" Ella asked as she stepped closer to Andra. He looked at the man. His eye bags are blackened, maybe he rarely sleeps. Her hair was tangled in disarray, her clothes were shabby, and the smell of cigarettes was so strong in Ella's nose. Ella stared at the floor, many cigarette butts scattered there. Is that how you are ruined, Andra?

Ella had no idea, if there was today in her life. The day he saw Andra being destroyed and losing her identity. For a long time, Andra was fragile, but the man never locked himself up like this. Now, Andra is like a man who has lost his spirit.

Slowly, Ella recalled about it first. About the good Andra who is always there for him, about Andra who always prioritizes himself. Now, the man dissolved in the bitterness of life. The man drowned in his wound. The wounds that Ella herself had also incited her.

"Why did you become like this, Ndra?" asked Ella very quietly. As much as he tried to hold back his tears so as not to drip.

"Even though I don't love you anymore and can't accept your feelings. But .. You are still my best friend. I want you to be happy, even if I'm not the one who makes you happy. I'm sad to see you like this, Ndra." Ella nodded while biting her lips.

Seriate......