ALINEA LOVE

29

The screams from Sora caught the attention of the Aga house's occupants. Marko, Zia and Nada came out to find out what made Sora scream.

"What's this, Ga?" ask Marko.

Silence did not answer.

"Sorry, Sir. Early in the morning I made a fuss in your house." Almeer.

"Loh, you... The front neighbor of Sora's house, right?" marko asked, "What's the matter early in the morning?"

"Sky asked for my help dropping off Sora's clothes and it just so happened that there was something I should talk about with Sora." Answer Almeer.

Marko looked at Aga who was still visibly emotional with Almeer, "Udah, Ga. They need to talk." Marko patted his foster son on the shoulder.

"What do you want to talk to your neighbor about, Ra?" ask Marko to Sora.

Sora looked at Almeer then nodded.

"May I take her somewhere, sir? I don't mind if his bodyguards accompany me." Pinta Almeer's.

"I'll be with you" said Aga.

"No, I don't want you guys fighting anymore!" Decline Sora.

"Miss...,"

"No, Ga!" Firmly Sora, "Mita and Aura will come with me."

Marko patted Aga on the shoulder again so as not to be too pushy, and the man chose to go inside his house.

"For my nephew, let nothing untoward happen." Pinta Marko on Almeer.

"Good, sir."

"Oom, Aunt. Sora left first huh..," Sora took turns kissing Marko and Zia's hands.

"I'm saying goodbye, sir, Mom." Pamit Almeer, "Assalamu'alaikum..."

"Wa'alaikumsalam.., be careful."

"I got out of the car first, Non." Aura said when they were already in front of the gate.

"No need, Ma'am. We'd better have one car." Pinta Almeer's.

"But..," Aura hesitantly looked at Sora.

"Yes, we're all one car." Sora went out and got into the car that Almeer was driving in. Almeer, Aura and Mita followed him.

After everything came in, Almeer ran his car out of Marko's house.

"Where are we going, Al?" ask Sora who is sitting next to him.

"I want to introduce someone to you." Almeer replied without taking his eyes off.

"Oooh, okay." Sora Sahut.

Almeer looked at Sora for a moment, "Don't ask who it is?"

"Ntar knows too, right?" Answer Sora.

Almeer gave a small smile and no longer said, He returned to focus on driving a car.

Sora continued to stare out the window. Starting from the view of the buildings to change the plantation he had enjoyed during the trip. Although he was very curious where Almeer would take him, he tried to be patient.

Almost half an hour in the car there was no conversation and the car stopped in the parking lot of a cemetery in the hills.

"Well, come here, Al?" sora asked, she was a little scared.

"Yuk, down..." Take Almeer.

Everybody get off the car. Although hesitant, but Sora still follows the steps of Almeer. Visit a fairly long walkway and end at a tomb that reads Antanara Pricilia on the tombstone.

Almeer sat on the long concrete beside the tomb which was reserved for pilgrims' seats. Sora took a seat on one side of the other. While Mita and Aura were watching them in the distance.

"Who, Al?" ask Sora.

"You send a do'a first?" Almeer asked back.

Sora looked back at the tombstone then nodded at Almeer. Both of them raised their hands and prayed in their hearts.

"Aamiin.." They rubbed both palms on each face as a cover for their do'a.

Sora looked at Almeer who was in front of him was looking at the tombstone with a small smile on his lips.

"This is my Mama, Ra."

"Well!!?" Sora was shocked by Almeer's statement. "Trus, aunt Ruby?"

"Mama Ruby is my Mama...,"

Sora nodded, his face still full of question marks hoping Almeer told him more to answer his curiosity.

"Assalamu'alaikum, Ma... This time I'm not here with Papa, Mama Ruby, Om Genta or Ameera. I came with someone I've wanted to introduce to my mom for a long time. This beautiful woman who was sitting in front of me was named Kianga Sora. I've met him again, Ma."

Sora was flabbergasted looking at Almeer who was telling himself to his late mother. Sentence had long wanted to introduce himself to his mother and had met with her made Sora continue to think hard. Is it possible that Al also still remembers it since their meeting in childhood?

"We've spent a lot of time together these past few months, Ma. I was too happy with his presence to forget that I should have kept him by not getting too close to him." Almeer looked at Sora, "Because of the selfishness I have, he has a feeling that is too special for me. A wonderful feeling that I even repaid with pain."

"Al....," Sora was choked to see the look on Almeer's face

describes if he is very hurt in saying his sentences.

"I'm sorry, Sora." His words are full of regrets. "It's my fault I made you like this. And I'm too cowardly to account for everything."

A drop of Sora's tears fell down her cheek. Now he knows, Al has feelings for him but he can't bring their two feelings together.

***

The gentle glare of the wind from the valley of the hills made Sora squint her eyes. The morning air and the sun are still very friendly make Sora and Almeer choose to enjoy the view of the city of Jogja from the top of the hill which is not far from the cemetery.

"You got feelings for Mina, Al?"

Sora opened the conversation after the two had long been silent in their respective minds.

Almeer looked at Sora, "No, Sora." she replied confidently.

"You have feelings for me?" ask Sora again.

"Since our first meeting, you were the only woman I had in mind other than Mama and Ameera."

Sora pursed her lips. He should have loved to hear Almeer's answer, but why was his feeling so painful and painful. His tears were back in water, grateful that the wind proved to make it dry quickly and not to drip.

"Is it because of my relationship with Mina that we can't be together?" ask Sora.

Almeer nodded, "That's one of them...,"

"What's the other reason? is it true that I am too far from the standard of your future wife, Sayyidah Khadijah? right, Al?"

Almeer shook his head, "I made Sayyidah Khadijah the criteria for a real wife-to-be so that no woman approached me, Sora. How could I, who is an ordinary man like this, desire a wife like her." Almeer smiled disdainfully at himself.

"Why? for me you are perfect and worthy of being a future husband. You're devoutly intertwined, dear family, you're kind, diligent also in your work."

Almeer again shook his head, "I'm just Sagara Almeer, Ra. A child born not in marriage."

Sora was surprised by Almeer's reply, his body felt stiff and hard to move.

"Whatever I try to improve myself, in the eyes of people I'm just an illegitimate child. It's hard for me to be at peace with myself, how can I put that on my wife? that's very hard, Sora."

This time Sora could not hold back his tears, the reason Almeer refused this time was quite unexpected.

"You can share it with me...,"

Almeer shook his head again, "Being the predicate of an illegitimate child gives me far from fair treatment in society. It hurts so much, Ra. I've experienced it and I wouldn't have made you feel it."

"But this isn't all your fault, Al. Why would they hurt you?"

"Not everyone understands our situation, Ra."

Sora could not say anything, he continued to wipe his tears that continued to flow.

"I'm sorry, Sora. If only I wasn't Sagara Almeer, from the beginning of our meeting, I'd have come to your parents."

"You're too mean to yourself, Al."

Almeer shook his head. "This is how I love you, Sora. Forgive me for keeping you trapped in this endless feeling. I should have known myself since—"

"No, Al. Don't blame time, circumstances or yourself. You've been trying to avoid me from the beginning, I'm the one who doesn't know myself to keep chasing you."

"Now you know everything, Sora. I wish you could end your feelings for me. Because we can't be together."

"Al..," Sora complained softly among his cries.

"I'll take you home.." Almeer switched the conversation, he didn't want to make Sora wait any longer.

"I still want to be with you." Pinta Sora's.

Almeer shook his head, "We've been outside for too long, I don't want to make your family worry about you." He stood up from his seat.

Sora was forced to stand up and they returned to the courtyard where their car was parked. After everyone got into the car, Almeer immediately drove off.

Unlike when leaving, this time Sora did not look out the window but changed to look at Almeer. He did not hesitate to sit curled up and blatantly watched Almeer who was driving the car.

This was the second time Sora had seen the other side of Almeer. The man who thought he was very gentle and understanding, now looked cold and firm. The lips that are usually always smiling are also tightly clenched. His eyes stared straight ahead.

Last night Sora thought that in this story, he was the one who suffered the most. He loves the same man as his sister. And worse, he lengthened to say to Mina if he would be silenced to get the man. But he was wrong, here Almeer was the most injured. Wanting to hug Almeer and pat him on the back to just let go of the burden of his feelings.

Pluk pluk pluk!!

Sora hit his head to wake himself up.

"Why, Ra?"

"Why, Miss?"

Almeer, Mita and Aura compactly asked.

"You dizzy, Ra? want to stop first?" ask Almeer.

Almeer looked back at Sora as a child to make sure that the woman next to him was okay.

"I'm fine, Al..." Sora made sure of his condition.

"Sit down, let's not get dizzy, Ra." Pinta Almeer's.

Sora shook his head, "Mau gini aja. You're focused on the drive."

Almeer sighed and refocused himself on the streets. After long past many rice fields and plantations, they finally entered the city.

"I'm taking you home to Aga What to your house?" ask Almeer.

"To me, Al." Answer Sora.

Sora's reply made Almeer's facial features look sincere, but the man quickly threw them away and nodded his head.

"I'm not ready to meet Mina, Al." Said Sora who realized the change in look of Almeer's face earlier.

Almeer simply nodded his head and brought his vehicle back towards the Aga house.

Arriving at Aga's house, he escorted Sora to the door at once to meet Marko and Zia.

"Thank you for letting Sora out with me, sir, Mom." Almeer said, "I'll excuse you to go home first, Assalamu'alaikum...,"

"Yes, Wa'alaikumsalam..," said Marko and Zia.

"I take Almeer to the front first, Oom, Auntie."

Sora stepped behind Almeer until their steps stopped in front of the car door.

"Come, gih. Take a break, don't waste your time thinking about what I told you earlier." Almeer.

"I can't promise to do that, Al."

Almeer paused for a moment, "I'm sorry, Ra."

Sora nodded.

"I'll go first...,"

Sora nodded again.

"Assalamu'alaikum, Sora." Almeer opened the car door and as she was about to enter, Sora held her car door. The man looked at the woman who was still looking at him full of unrest.

"Why?" ask Almeer gently.

"I really want to be with you, Al." Sora said, he immediately pursed his lips to hold back his cries.

Almeer stared silently at Sora, He no longer knew what to say to convince Sora to stop his feelings and will.

"Go home, Al..." Said Sora. "Be careful on the road..."

Almeer nodded, "Assalamu'alaikum, Sora."

"Wa'alaikum... Almeer."

Almeer got into the car and drove him away from Aga's house.

***

The Sky car that Almeer was driving had stopped perfectly in front of the Sky residence. Almeer quickly got down and returned the car keys to the owner. Not until the second time he pressed the bell, someone opened the gate.

The young lady in wide hijab with a shady smile welcomed Almeer's arrival.

"Assalamu'alaikum, Brother Almeer." Sweepings.

"Wa'alaikumsalam, Mina." Almeer replied, he gave the car keys he held to Mina. "I want to give this back to your brother." she continued.

Mina received the car keys from Almeer's hand, "Sister Sky is still in the bathroom, would Brother Almeer wait for her?"

Almeer thought for a moment, he should thank Sky directly. Although Sky people mouthed spicy and annoying, but Sky always care for him when others do not care about him.

"Just in, brother. It won't be long...,"

Almeer steps in and Mina lets him sit in the living room.

"What's new Brother Almeer from Sora's place?"

Mina's sudden question made Almeer surprised.

"Yes, I just met your sister." Answer Almeer later.

"Is Brother Sora okay?" ask Mina.

"Alhamdullillah, he's fine."

"Did anything happen between the two of you until Sora didn't come home last night, sister?"

Almeer nodded, "We've resolved the misunderstanding that occurred yesterday. In shaa Allah he'll be home soon."

Mina was speechless when she heard our words coming out of Almeer's mouth. Are you guys that close? his inner.

"May I ask you something, brother?" ask Mina.

Almeer.

"Do you have feelings for Sora's sister?" ask Mina.

Almeer was silent and just stared at Mina.

"I know that Brother Almeer also rejected Brother Sora. But I envy her so much. Even though Almeer rejected him, he still gets more attention than you do, brother."

Almeer lowered her head and was still unwilling to respond to Mina's words.

"Sak Sora will return to Jakarta, Brother. Does brother Almeer know?"

Almeer nodded, "Yes, he's already told me before."

"Did Almeer know that papa would match Sora's sister with Aga's sister?"

Almeer raised her head, she was surprised by Mina's question.

"Mina!!" The new Sky came.

Mina silently looked at Sky who was approaching her.

"Don't say anything uncertain, Dek." Said Sky.

"I'm just saying what I heard, brother. Doesn't Sky know that too?"

"I'm here to get your car keys back, Sky." Almeer stood up from his seat, he deliberately cut the beginning of the debate between Sky and Mina.

Sky nodded.

"Thank you for giving me the chance to see your brother." Almeer.

"I wish he was better now." Sahut Sky's.

"I'll go home first, Sky, Mina. Assalamu'alaikum...,"

"Needles...,"

Almeer took his foot out of the house.

"Al!!" Sky ran after Almeer who had gone out of the fence.

Almeer stopped his steps and waited for Sky to approach him. "Hm?"

"Don't listen to what Mina says."

Almeer smiled faintly, "Yes..." He then walked back to his home.

The gate of his house was not open. Employees at the Ameera cafe are seen already tidying up tables and chairs preparing to welcome guests.

Almeer walked straight and bowed, even ignoring Genta's greeting from the cafe. His mouth lied if he could ignore what Mina had said just now, even though his heart firmly did not accept the statement.

"Assalamu'alaikum..," he said softly as he entered the house. He headed straight to the living room, sat down and leaned his head on the back of the sofa.

He looked at a picture of his family hanging on the wall right in front of him. His smile expanded, but the look in his eyes showed a wound. A drop of tear falls from the corner of the eye soaking one of its temples.

"Well...,"

Ruby who just came out of the kitchen ran a little memorizing her son, she could see if his son was not okay.

"What's going on?" ruby asked after sitting next to Almeer.

Almeer straightened her seat and looked at Ruby, smiling as widely as possible to allay her mother's worries. "There's nothing, Ma."

"I..." Ruby forced her son to tell her the circumstances. "Did Sora not want to see you?" Ruby tried to guess.

"No, Ma. We met and Almeer explained everything to him. Al also takes her to see Nara's mom, Ma."

Ruby does not expect that Almeer invites Sora to go to Nara's funeral. "What do you tell me—"

Almeer nodded, "If only I wasn't Sagara Almeer, I'd definitely be preaching it on the day of our second meeting, Ma."

Ruby choked up unable to say anything to hear Almeer's words, especially looking at her son who had nurtured tears. He covers both cheeks of his son, "I'm sorry your father and your mother, dear..."

"I never blame papa and Nara's mama, Ma. I have no regrets about being born out of a mistake. I'm just upset with myself for not having enough courage to fight for my feelings, Ma. I'm too cowardly..."

- Connected

.

.

.

.

.

Don't forget TO PAY ME by pressing LIKE, type COMMENT, return to the cover page for KASIH STAR LIMA and if anyone has an excess of these VOTE novel love points.

Thanks though.