BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT BEAUTIFUL

34. Sorry, I Don't Want a Ghibah!

His name is gossip, there must be many enthusiasts even though they know that the sin is not small, imagine we are likened to eating the carcass of our own brother!

Like when I first set foot in the office after yesterday's holiday, I don't know how many people deliberately came near to talk about Arif. Some just share information, find out information from me, to pin judgment on Arif even though we ourselves are not holy humans.

"Ra, do you know the latest gossip yet? Monika gave birth yesterday."

"Imagine, Ra. Not three months married but hard to turn to."

"It's certain Monika is pregnant out of wedlock."

"It's worth it that Arif leaves you, Ra. He was chasing responsibility. So answered right, in fact he married Monika because he was forced to."

"Ckckck, don't think yes, it turns out Arif was naughty too. It looks alim. Especially if he knows he wants to marry you. Well, I guess Arif is really a salih man, it turns out ...."

"Ra, fortunately you did not marry Arif, just imagine, if you become married it turns out Arif has children out of wedlock with other women. It's getting messed up, isn't it Ra?"

"Ra, you're nothing like Arif?" this question I immediately denied because I am not just any woman even though they think I am not beautiful.

I don't know how many office friends who came to see me at work. Everyone came closer because they wanted to talk about Arif. Discussing about yesterday's events that made the office stir.

Suddenly, during work hours, one of the fathers who allegedly was a worker at the Monika house came to pick up Arif. He reported that Monika was in the hospital, ready to give birth.

Of course, who found the news was immediately stirred. The news quickly spread by word of mouth.

I was shocked to hear it myself too. Until now, it has not been able to digest whether Arif really like that. I really can't imagine, someone who a few months ago came well with the intermediary brother Gita, conveying his good intention to know me more closely to be a friend in sailing through this life.

There was nothing strange about Arif at that time other than he who was flippant and looked so eager to marry me.

Arif used to be an activist in his campus. It is also in his CV. Active in the mosque. Is he right like that.

Astagfirullah. I can't believe it yet. Although I hated him for his actions that left me alone, I still could not believe that Arif was that depraved.

"Yes, no need to talk about it anymore. I don't want to ghibah. Do you know how sinful it is? It's the same as eating a carcass of our own brother. We don't know what the hell's going on anyway, so let's not get excited anymore." I refused one by one who came to my desk to talk about Arif.

I am really afraid of falling for the sin of slander. Said Arif who was not-for-nothing when he saw the baby Monika on social media one of the Monika family, clearly his face did not look like Arif. His face is also different from Monika who is of English Indonesian descent. The baby is like an Indian or Arab baby. I can't be sure either because I only see from photos.

***

"Ra, get out for a while." Ken's suddenly in front of my desk. Of course I was surprised because I was busy with the reader's letter that came into my email.

"Why Ken? Uh, I mean Mr. Ken." I was a little nervous because some people around me were looking at me and Ken. Duh, do not let there be any strange gossip again later.

"Come on!" Ken gestured for me to follow him.

Fuff. I exhaled. Then he got up, though it was a little heavy, because all the eyes around looked at me. As soon as possible I followed the steps of Ken who was already outside the office.

"Why?" my many.

"It's bad. Comewithme!" Ken opened the car door.

"Where?"

"Later to know. Now come along."

"But why?"

"Important, Ra!"

"Well, it's here!" said Ken. He told me to get off in front of a restaurant that was no less luxurious than the first restaurant we visited.

"Why come here?" my many. "She matters."

"Yes, eat, Ra. Time to go to the restaurant for a sport." Ken signaled for me to come down immediately. "Eating is important too, Ra. Time to keep working. Not tired. The body needs energy too!"

"I'm not hungry, if you want to eat you can eat alone."

"But I want to eat with you."

"So, that's weird. Since when.you've been a forced labourer, Ken?"

Unlike before, this time Ken directly ordered food for us without asking me first. But when the food was served, I immediately smiled sumringah found my favorite menu was presented. Fried shrimp with tomato sauce.

"Why? Glad to see fried shrimp?" ken asked, making my smile disappear immediately.

"You guess or ...."

"Just guess what, yes I know that fried shrimp is your favorite food. Aye, right?"

"Yes anyway. But how can you know?"

"Not only that, I also know that you like tea that is not sweet. You like to read romance novels instead of watching movies."

"Know where?"

"I'm your director, Ra. It's not hard to get information like this about you."

"What's the point that you know all that?"

"You still don't get it, Ra?"

"Why?"

"You're not pretending you don't know, are you, Ra?"

"No."

"Think, Ra. Before I reveal myself. Why does a man have to struggle to figure out what a woman likes? Why is he being kind to a family?"

"Where do I know!"

Oh my goodness, Ra. All right, I'll just answer. Lazy guessing with you I like you, Ra!"

"Uhuk ... uhuk .. uhuk." I suddenly found it hard to breathe. Shrimp that had been swallowed like stuck in the throat, even though it has been chewed until smooth.

*Is Ken playing me?

Why is it that being with him, I'm such a fool*?

"You're nothing, are you?" Ken thrusting a glass of water, he looked worried looking at me who was still coughing. "This is what makes me go back and forth to tell you my heart, Ra. But I don't want to linger. I want you to know my true feelings.

Yesterday I actually wanted to talk directly with both of your parents, but because Aunt's condition is not healthy, so I hold it first."

"Wait, don't say anything. Answer first, do you really like me or are you tagging me?" I asked, putting my hands in front of Ken to stop talking.