Be aground

The Unforgettable Face

Finished the lecture today. Starting to feel at home with my new look with the hair that I got divorced this morning, I finally returned to the previous look, long hair on my back I had the original string up the nape to reduce the sultry feeling.

"Ekh, why is it tied so randomly again Neng, his hair? Though it was already geulis* hair was smeared so," protested Andin.

"So far from now I'm a casep,**so I mean, lo?" kekehku heard the words Andin protest.

"Hha-ha ... How could you!" sahut Andin turned back to hear my answer.

"I don't feel at home. Salut deh same lo, can last a day with beautiful hair and beautiful makeup so," my praise put on the face of the nelangsa.

"Lo is not ordinary. Hence the design, let it match the ama software casing. It's a girl's case, a guy's software." Andin was back laughing.

"Ih, who said my software guy? You can test my women's skills," I said.

"Ha-ha yes who is good at cooking," ledek Andin while throbbing.

All this time I was always considered a tomboy because I look minus makeup like the girls in my class. If you say tomboy, not really. I am good at all female activities. I like to cook, can sew and can take care of the house well.

Even from my hobby of cooking, I can make money. It is outrageous indeed, if the feminine nature of a person is only judged by the outward appearance only.

"Gue first, yeah. Greetings to Arjun." Andin got up from his seat after tidying up his makeup.

"Where are you going? Tumben rush?" You don't usually go home first. He usually stays on campus.

"There's a similar event."

"Oh ... Greetings to your nyokap, yes."

"Okay, I'm a cab...." Andin passed by leaving me alone.

The atmosphere of the class is not completely quiet, there are still some students who are busy huddling in the corner of the class. Not being so close to them, I left the class. I'd better wait for Arjun in the park alone, pretty much refreshing the brain after two hours struggling with the numbers.

Just stepping out of class, the phone in my bag shook, rushing I took the thing out of the bag. It's usually Arjun at this hour who calls me. Turns out my estimate was wrong, the message was from Asri— tea.

[Assalamualaikum Neng, could you please pesen cake for tomorrow ga Neng?]

[Greetings waalaikum, Tea. What cake, Tea?] I immediately typed in the reply.

[Brownies roast Neng, can't Neng?] asri tea back in.

[How many baking pans do you want, what time is tea?]

[Three jars, tomorrow morning?]

[God willing to, Tea. Tomorrow before leaving for college I anter to Teteh house ya.]

[Price is the same, right?]

[Still, Tea. There is no change.]

[Ok, Neng. Nuhun sateuacana**]

[Sami-Sami, Tea]

Finished replying to the short message from Asri tea, I sent a message to Arjun.

[Gue wait in the usual place, yes]

Not waiting long, Arjun replied to my message, [OK, beib 😘]

I laugh amusedly myself reading the message that Arjun sent, then reply back to the message, Arjun said,

[ih, what the hell, use to call "beib" that, geuleuh****tau! 🤣🤣]

There was no reply from her, perhaps she was also ashamed of herself after sending me such a message. There's-there's been something you've done, Jun.

I took out the novel I used to keep in the bag to kill time while waiting like this. At least I can divert a little bit of my mind that does not stop thinking about Arjun, indeed now he has officially become my lover, but it is not good to think too late, so it is not healthy.

In the middle of trying to trace the line of letters arranged into beautiful sentences in the novel I read, my shoulder was patted gently from behind. Arjun came with a princely smile that has been able to melt the hearts of girls. Now I am also one of the girls who is captivated by that smile.

I tried to act like normal to Arjun by holding his hand as I walked away from the department building. Trying to act the same way as a few years ago, when Arjun always walked down, when his panic attacks appeared in the crowd. I tried to ignore the awkwardness that had recently begun to appear.

Let the feelings change, but do not let the closeness during this also change. But the heart can never be fooled, no matter how hard I behave, there is still a strange feeling that creeps when my hand is held back by his hand.

His once small hand was now sturdy and stocky, of course it no longer felt the same. I can no longer act like everything is the same as before. Especially when my hand sank into his palm, those subtle vibrations popped back up. Wanting to hurry I pulled my hand back from his grasp, but I was afraid Arjun realized my change.

I try to ignore the beatings that feel increasingly boisterous, bringing the heat that goes up to the face. Is this what it feels like when people fall in love? Everything feels wrong, being away from him is wrong, when he is near it even becomes wrong behavior.

All the way home, only Arjun asked me to speak. I was busy feeling like I was on a trampoline. I am still not used to this change in taste.

***

"Thank you, it's been delivered" I said as Arjun's car stopped in front of the house.

"Gue wants to stop by, yeah," Arjun's pinta came down.

"Gue promise, it won't bother you. I want to start blogging as you baking," he bargained.

"But at home I don't have internet."

"Gue bring the modem." A wide grin adorned Arjun's face.

"Yes, yuk." I finally gave up.

***

"Lo is self-absorbed, yes. I want to make a cake first. Then, the same photo description is in this file," I said after the laptop turned on.

Setoples pastries and a cup of warm tea I served at the table to accompany Arjun during my stay.

"ok ... Guaranteed that you're done, your blog is done."

"Yes, I live first" said I.

In the middle of my activities making cake dough, I occasionally glanced at the guy who was engrossed in front of the laptop, his serious face adorable. Reasonable right? if I fall for him. Actually it's not just that that makes my feelings change, it's the comfort of being together that makes my heart want it more than just a friend.

Silence paused, when we were equally focused on each other's activities. Focusing on the dough, allowed me to take my mind off Arjun. That's the reason I love this activity, the sound of a whisky colliding with a bowl of dough can pause my mind from things I shouldn't think too much about.

The sweet aroma of chocolate mixed with the fragrant butter that came out of the oven when the dough was baked, felt like a special therapeutic aroma to me. Provides a calm sensation when kissing her.

"So I want to smell this scent, Run," said Arjun broke the silence, making me realize that I was not alone in this house.

"Ha-ha, yes, huh? Nyokap lo also often baking, yes," I said.

"Yes, but it's been a long time since I've been baking. I'm busy running boutiques." There was a bitter tone I caught from his voice. I don't know why. After all, Arjun's mother is a mother who is very attentive to her son, because Arjun is a child only wayang.

"This week the house will be very quiet, nyokap go to Solo, bokap I am also busy taking care of his business in Jakarta. Sometimes I miss them too when they are still together," he continued after a pause.

I understand Arjun's feelings. Since my father died, I have to go back to work, making me feel lonely. That's when I started looking for activities to get rid of my sepals. My choice fell on baking. In addition to the aroma that can calm the mind, the results can also be filling, even now can also make money. A hobby that brings many benefits, right?

"Absolutely, if you kangen can still call your bokap, Jun. If I, if the kangen can only meet God," I said trying to comfort Arjun who suddenly moody.

"Sorry, I'm very calm, yes" he regretted as if I felt the same longing for togetherness with my parents.

"Ha-ha, no. It's natural to have such a feeling."

"Eh, have you done it yet to make a cake? If so, you're here. Look what I made."

Leaving my activities of preparing dinner, I approached Arjun to look at the blog he had created. Arjun insisted on having me create a blog to display my baking results, the purpose of which was also as a promotion.

"Well, so cool," I was amazed to see the look of the blog that Arjun had created.

Arjun is good at graphic design. He had been interested in the field since high school, plus the facilities provided by his parents, making him free to explore.

"Nothing like this?" it was as if asking for approval.

"Gue likes it," I said with a smile satisfied to see the results.

"Gue uploaded huh?" Arjun asked for approval.

"Yes, I can" I said briefly.

"Later if you have started to know, you will make a shop?" ask her without taking her eyes off the laptop screen.

"It looks like it's not the first, it's better if I make an online store like this, I don't need to take care of store displays."

"Everything, anyway. Pretty cut costs," said mangosteen.

"Business analysis starts the way, right?" kekehku saw Arjun's reaction that seemed to start thinking.

Arjun and I often exchanged stories about our dreams. Arjun used to aspire to be an architect, but somehow while in college he took the Faculty of Business Economics with me. As for me, I had long aspired to build my own business. Hence since High School, I always look for information suitable majors to support my ideals.

Back, the rest of this afternoon we spent telling him all the plans about our lives in the future. This time Arjun put me in one of his future plans. Which girl will not be flattered if she becomes one of the motivations of a man to realize his future.

May God bless our plans for a future together. Maybe it's too early for us to think about married life, but it never hurts to set goals in life, right? Because time always goes in a hurry, without us knowing sometimes we spend time without getting anything.

______________________________________________

Note:

* Geulis \=Sundanese means Beautiful.

** Kasep \= Bull

*** nuhun sateuacana \=Thank you in advance

****Geuleuh \=Geli