BEREAVEMENTS

Episode 9; Nice Dinner

Lena woke up from her sleep. He looked at the table clock next to him which had already shown at 18:00. The heat had gone down, his head was not dizzy either. Lena grabbed the jacket on her hanger and walked out of the room. He saw nothing and nobody. As he remembered, Renov drove him home. Is his class brother home? The lights in her house were still out, Lena could barely see anything as it was getting dark. He walked slowly towards the living room while turning on all the switches in his house. He peered into the courtyard and was surprised to find Renov's car still parked in his yard. Where is he?

Lena looks around her house to look for Renov but what she is looking for is nowhere to be seen. Lena finally saw her glass door open. The air that collapsed in between made the white curtains sway gently. Could it? Lena walked towards the glass door that connected the house to the garden. Sliding the door slowly, Lena gradually could see Renov curled up on the porch beside her house.

“Mas..” Lena called to Renov while gently touching his shoulder. He didn't want to disturb his sleep, but it was night time, the air was getting colder, and he didn't want to make the man sick.

“Mas...” call Lena again, this time harder because Renov never woke up.

“Ha? What's up?” Renov rubbed his eyes while trying to sit, “ah my neck..” lamented while massaging his stiff neck softly, “Ah, you are awake?” Renov directly touched Lena's forehead with his palm without noticing the change in Lena's face.

“I'm fine, Mas”, said Lena while keeping Renov's hand off his forehead. He knows, Renov just reflexively did it. But it still makes Lena's heart pound. Foreign things that began to be recognized by Lena while with Renov. Debaran.

“It's six o'clock, I deserve my neck to hurt. I slept for more than four hours here. aw my neck..” Renov went back to rubbing his neck slowly.

“Masuk Mas, Lena makein coffee or tea..” Lena stood up and Renov followed her from behind.

“Teh yes, I have not eaten. If I drink coffee immediately my stomach hurts.” Renov stood in front of the sink and washed his face.

“Mas haven't eaten?” Lena's surprised. Although he actually wanted to laugh in Renov's childlike way of speaking, he could not ignore Renov's confession just now.

“Had breakfast..” replied Renov calmly. He grabbed a tissue from the dining table and wiped the water from his face. Lena put a cup of tea in front of Renov.

“That's it this morning!” Lena looked at her refrigerator.

“Why? Elo also has not eaten, right from earlier?” Renov watched Lena who was looking inside her refrigerator seriously. The girl did not hear his words. Renov got up from his seat and approached Lena.

“There are eggs, there are vegetables. We can make omelette or fried rice or soup if you want?” renov's words surprised Lena. He realized Renov was beside him.

“Lo can cook?”

“Lah insult her..” Lena stood up and took a few steps back. Keep distance with Renov, “mau Lena masakin what?”

“Not insulting, but elo will still hurt..”.

“Mas don't believe ya?” Lena still doesn't take it.

“Gue believe but sit down, this time I'll make dinner for us..” Renov's statement makes Lena surprised. He didn't hear wrong, did he?

“But we are guests in this house?” Lena covered up her disbelief.

“Lo can't believe that I can cook, right?” renov knew it again. Lena remained silent as she pushed Renov towards the dining table.

“Gue have you ever told me? If the only woman in my house is my mother? Mama would love to have a daughter, but that's not possible, right?” Renov began to tell about his personal life without stopping the activities of his hands busy washing, cutting, and making spices for his cooking, “So, we, his son, treat Mama's wishes by accompanying his various activities. Starting from cooking, shopping together, even we often tell Mama anything, gossip maybe?” renov asked while glancing at Lena. The girl listened while looking at Renov's hand movements in awe.

“Iya, her my Mama, satisfied?” Renov surrender.

“Not to mock, I'm just envious.” said Lena softly as she looked into Renov's trembling eyes. He chose not to respond to Lena's statement and waited for what the girl would tell him. But Lena just stopped there, didn't continue her sentence. Renov glanced at Lena and realized that the girl was trying to hold back his feelings.

“Elo prefer omelet or cow eye egg?” renov asked to distract.

“Dadar...” replied Lena while forcing herself to smile.

“Good, I also like..” Renov put two eggs in a bowl and mixed them with additional seasoning. Renov saw the water he had cooked with the soup seasoning was already boiling. He put the vegetables he cut into it and let it boil again. While waiting for Renov to fry the eggs until both are cooked at about the same time.

Lena noticed it all without missing the slightest thing. Lena even secretly took a picture of Renov's cooking back. He loves to capture the things that make him happy and today, Renov's presence beside him makes him happy. He saw a lot of things about Renov even facts about men who he said the thugs could cook deftly.

“Why smile-smile yourself?” ask Renov slowly.

“Ngak, Mas..” replied Lena quickly.

“Do not use for wallpaper yes, later if you see my reputation can be destroyed..” Renov sayings make Lena surprised and dropped her phone on the table.

“Mas have eyes on back huh? How know?” asked Lena without realizing it.

“Iya..” Renov just smiled. Actually he was just guessing because Lena looks busy with her phone. He was even surprised when Lena indirectly agreed to it.

“But it's not good if they know Mas is actually a good person?” ask Lena astonished. He actually wanted to ask this question from the beginning they began to know.

“Gue doesn't like popularity. If they know, I guarantee a lot of things. My privacy so limited”, replied Renov honestly. Renov exploits the misunderstandings of those around him to make a bad impression on him. This was in his favor because he became more free.

“Mas overconfident..” led Lena.

“If you don't believe you can prove it tomorrow.” replied Renov quietly while sitting in front of Lena. Their dinner is ready. Egg roll with soup.

“What's wrong tomorrow?” lena asked as she took the plate and spoon off the kitchen shelf and placed it in front of Renov.

“Gue earlier who took the bag and all your goods in class..”.

“WHAT???” shouted Lena in disbelief, her spoon and fork even fell on her plate, “why?”

“Still ask why? Didn't elo almost faint?” Renov stuck out his tongue in front of Lena who still did not accept the reality. Renov silently smiled and again told Lena to eat. Lena ate with a strange feeling. He is also uncomfortable if people start talking about him but somehow in the corner of his heart he feels happy. Lena doesn't mind being Renov's closest person. Lena looked back at Renov who was eating voraciously in front of her.

Renov knows Lena is watching him but he pretends not to know while devouring his dinner. The man smiled, relieved and happy.

***