Asta Brata: Kartika

"Udah. Its nothing. Jagan's crying."

The motor stops right in front of Kartika's house. The girl's coming down. He stood beside Ismaya.

"Gue go home first" said Ismaya.

"Eh, wait," stop Kartika. Ismaya is not running the bike. Looking towards Kartika confused. "Later in the evening..Will you go for a walk?" Ask Kartika shyly. The girl looked down, looking at her shoes. Ismaya was silent. He desperately held back his smile. Kartika is deg-degan. What if Ismaya refuses?

Ismaya. "Okay" replied Ismaya. Kartika looked up only to see Ismaya smilingly looking at her.

"I picked it up. Eight o'clock" said Ismaya. Kartika nodded and returned Ismaya's smile.

"Bye," Ismaya waved her hand and ran her bike. Kartika waved back at the guy. Slowly Kartika's smile receded. Kartika is innocent, right? Treating Ismaya this way.

***

Ismaya stared at the star-shaped pendant in her hand. The pendant he had picked up on the rooftop floor after telling Kartika to go down first, when they were just dating. Ismaya breathed. Did Kartika throw it away? But, if you see the attitude of Kartika last afternoon, Ismaya is not sure if Kartika throw it away. Then why is this locket lying on the rooftop floor?

Ismaya will ask Kartika directly later.

"Grandma," Ismaya opened her grandmother's room door. The grandmother who was reading the Qur'an turned her head.

"Why?" Grandma asked while raising her glasses.

"Isma's permission to leave tonight" said the man.

Grandma frowning. Closing the Qur'an he read. Then he looked at Ismaya more closely. Grandma's laughter broke. Ismaya is different from a typical Sunday night.

The night of the previous week, after praying Isha and reciting the Quran for a while, Ismaya would sit in her room. Accompanied by a warm tea and biscuits. Wearing short shirts and training pants. Reopen previous week's lesson. And learn the lessons to come. And tonight this week, Ismaya in black levis pants, a white T-shirt wrapped in a black leather jacket, asked for permission to go to him.

"Grandmother's granddaughter's grown up, huh?" Gurau grandma. Ismaya salting. "Who are you going out with?"

"ee... Want to go with Isma's friend, Grandma," replied Ismaya nervously. Ismaya scratched her non-itchy nape.

Grandma laughed a little. "Yes," grandma mogizinkan. Ismaya smiled and thanked me.

Ismaya will turn away when grandma tells her to stay for a while. "Here, you bring this,"

Grandma handed Ismaya some money. Ismaya looked at her grandmother. That much money? Where did Grandma get a lot of money? Grandma only depends on the money left by her grandfather who was a former civil servant. If the money is squandered like this, it is not wise.

"But_"

"Udah, Isma. Take it, "forcibly granny. Ismaya hesitantly accepted the money.

"Isma go first, grandma." Ismaya kisses grandma's hand. "Assynolt,"

"Vaalaikumussalam. Careful,"

Ismaya immediately left with his motor matic. Heading to Kartika house which is quite far from his home. The guy stopped in front of Kartika's house. Ismaya will call Kartika when the gate opens. Ismaya sees a Kartika-like chick coming out. Girl last night.

"Ismaya, huh? Tika's boyfriend?" Ask Maya.

Ismaya scrunched her forehead. Where does that girl know?

"When the story goes to me," said Maya as if she knew what Ismaya was thinking. "Oh, yeah. I'm Maya. Her sister Tika," Maya reached out. Ismaya replied and called her name. By the way their names are almost similar. Maya-Isnaya. Thinking this made Ismaya so awkward herself.

"Just in. Tika's still dancing," asked Maya. Ismaya nodded. The man entered and saw the minimalist but luxurious Kartika Family home. All the decorations look expensive. Very inversely proportional to the small and simple grandfather's house. Ismaya breathed. Is he capable of matching Kartika? Judging from anywhere, Mark is much more worthy with Kartika. Ismaya is insecure.

"Sit down first," Maya invites. Ismaya immediately sat on the sofs. While Maya goes inside. Ismaya sat alone until Kartika came down from the second floor. With a knee-length pink dress, hair as usual, heels and a small white sling bag, Kartika looks even prettier tonight. In her hand was a beautiful white jacket.

"Old time, Is it?" Ask Kartika directly.

"Today," replied Ismaya smiling knots.

Just then, Maya came out. He carried a thick book in his hand. Complete with reading glasses framing the eyes.

"Would you leave?" Ask Maya.

Kartika. "If I haven't come home, I'll sleep first. Let me bring a spare key," Kartika said while wearing her white jacket. Then bring Ismaya. Both walked out of the house.

"Where's your papa mom?" Ask Ismaya when she gets to the front of the house.

"Out of town" answered Kartika short.

"Lo's okay, isn't it, using a gini motor?" Ask Ismaya. Kartika looked at Ismaya.

"Emang why?" Ask Kartika.

"So you're so beautiful,"

Kartika laughed at the indirect praise from Ismaya. That guy's funny too. "It's okay, you know," said Kartika.

Ismaya held out her helmet to Kartika and put on her own helmet. The guy saw Kartika having trouble installing helmet safety. Ismaya reached out her hand to help Kartika. Put Kartika in her place.

"Yuk" asked Ismaya who was sitting on her bike. Kartika.

Motor runs for the purpose of Docca cafe.

***

What Kartika needs to regret, he forgot if the Docca cafe had Wisanggeni, Hana's sister.

At that time, after ordering food and drinks, Kartika and Ismaya enjoyed the dish while occasionally talking. Now, Kartika speaks at length times the width of times the height (so the volume of the rectangle dong?) ismaya. Something new for Ismaya. During this time, Kartika always behaved as if Ismaya was an inanimate object. Dicekin. Considered no.

"My book is burning too. How's dong?" Kartika pouted despite not crying like earlier this afternoon.

Ismaya swallowed her food and drank the guava juice she ordered. Ismaya stared at Kartika. Observing the girl's gloomy face. Then cleared slowly.

"Kartika, you can borrow my notes. We learn together" said Ismaya. Kartika. Staring at Ismaya was pleased. A second later his face returned.

"But I'm not sure I can rank one. You see..." Kartika hung her words. He dared not look at Ismaya.

"Gue will help you really, make it rank one" said Ismaya. Kartika looked back at Ismaya.

"How?"

"Gue willing, really, relain my position below lo. I'm willing, Kartika,"

Kartika bit her deep lip. Turned his face away from Ismaya. The waves of taste came together. He's feeling happy. But something inside of him says he's wrong. It's wrong. Not right. Kartika sat restlessly in her chair. She should.... Hows it?

Kartika was in a dilemma until the disaster came. From the door of the cafe that was opened, three girls appeared at the same time. One of the girls with a voice toa immediately greeted the waiting cashier behind the counter.

"Bang, want a drink," said the girl, Hana. The other two - Ratih and Mentari - were sitting at one of the tables.

"Begging Deon," replied Wisanggeni cuek. Hana pursed her lips. Kartika was in the fog on her desk. Lately, Kartika has been deliberately away. And meeting at a time like this is not a good thing. He was not ready to communicate with his three friends anymore.

"Ismaya," call kartika. Ismaya looked at Kartika confusedly.

"Deon, I asked for three cappuccinos," said Hana lazily to Deon, the Barista. Deon smiled in return. Hana is upset. And when Hana turned around, her eyes found Kartika in the fog on her desk.

"Tika," hiss Hana. Ratih and Tari, who had been watching Hana, turned to Hana's gaze. Kartika is getting restless.

"Why?" Ask Ismaya. The guy scrunched his forehead.

Kartika saw Hana walking slowly towards him.

"Ismaya. go home" whispered Kartika. But late. Hana was standing near him. Looked at him with an angry look. Behind him was Ratih who stared coldly at Kartika and Mentari, who looked more relaxed than the two.

"Tika," called Hana slowly which felt roaring in Kartika's ear. Tika looked down not daring to look at Hana.

"You guys here too?" Ismaya broke the silence. He just realized there are three friends Kartika. But Hana doesn't care.

"The three of us need to talk to you" said Hana. Kartika looked up scared. He was still in place, making no sound. He looked at Ismaya for help. But Ismaya is insensitive.

"Do we have to ask permission first with your boy?" Ask Hana. Ismaya is confused. Moreover, Hana looked at him sharply.

"Judek. If you want to talk about something. I wait here," said Ismaya who finally understood because Mentari smiled reassuringly at him.

"O. okay," Kartika's great-grandson.

The three headed for Wisanggeni's private room after Hana asked her brother for permission. In the room size 5×5 meters it is silent. The cafe crowd did not sound

ai is here. Kertika stood up and lowered her head. While the three friends stared intimidatedly.

"For so long, why did you keep away from us?" Ask Hana directly to the point.

"Gu. I'm not far from you guys anyway," said Kartika. Radih heard me snorting.

"Then during this time, when we pass in the corridor, you always turn away. As if we didn't know. As if we did not exist. As if, we are not friends" said Ratih. "When we have already established the position of Junior High, Ka. From SMP! And you act like we're strangers."

Kartika. He shrieked for a moment. Suddenly a feeling of guilt and regret enveloped him. Kartika knows that her friends love her very much. And Kartika does not accept that from good people like Hana, Ratih, and Mentari. Kartika is the villain in the story that should be hated. And with all his might he said,

"You don't know what my problem is. You're all too selfish as your own feelings. Same problems you have. And now you're fucking me!" Kartika's tears shed. Her voice raspy. His chest ached hearing his voice say so.

But Hana, Ratih, and Mentari were even shocked by the Kartika attack.

"We're guilty of this?" Hana frowned in disbelief. "Okay, we might be selfish. We never want to know your problem," Hana tries to control her emotions. If it's like this, Hana is usually explosive. "BUT WE'VE NEVER BEEN LAHAN LO!"

Mentari tried to calm Hana down. Persuade him to calm down. Kartika was down. His tears are flowing more and more.

"LO THE SELFISH ONE, TIKA!" Shouted Hana.

"Hana already," Mentari stroked Hana's shoulder gently.

"BUT HE_"

"Yes. Udah," Mentari continued to calm Hana down. Hana looked at Kartika who was still down. His chest rose and fell with anger.

"Well!" Annoyed Hana who turned away. Mentari.

There was Ratih and Kartika. Silence accompanied by isak Kartika who still bowed deeply.

"No need to nangisin things that are not useful for you," said Ratih cold. "It doesn't matter."

Train turned away. But in his third step he stopped. Staring at Kartika from her shoulder. "Lo says we're selfish, right? Now onward, I wouldn't assume you existed,"

Train back to walking. Leaving Kartika who fell down with her cries. Isn't this what Kartika wants? But why does Kartika feel crowded? Kartika hates her destiny! Kartika hates!

"Udah. Its nothing. Don't cry" the soft voice and soothing embrace of Ismaya that she now hears and feels. Kartika returned the hug, and now, the fragrant aroma that Kartika liked again greeted her sense of smell. And Kartika felt a little calmer than before.

***