BUCIN (SLAVE OF LOVE)

Chapter 17

The speed of the motor vehicle slowed down, then turned into the parking area. A large and magnificent shopping center in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city.

"What are we going to do, Ndre?" I got off the bike. Andre smiled, helping to take off my headgear, then opened his own helmet. "We eat first, yuk," the young man took after securing the vehicle. "Therefore, whatever. Want to watch or—."

"Yes, already. Let's eat first, deh," I cut. Andre raised an eyebrow, then said, "Okay. We're looking for a good place, yeah."

He looks so bright and passionate. Occasionally trying to reach this arm, but at the same time kutepis takzim. It doesn't have to be like that. We're just friends, right?

"I'm sorry" Andre said as soon as he got a rejection. His face lit up instantly. Shame or anger. "spontaneous only. I .... "

"We eat there. How, Ndre?" I switched the conversation. Just describe the atmosphere suddenly stiff. "OKAY. There is also a varied menu and quite tasty," said Andre without looking at me.

"You come here often?" my investigation only meant to increase the duration of the conversation. "Every once. With friends. You alone, Lya?" He asked back. This time with a momentary glance. I'm shaking. "Why? You rarely go out of the house?"

I don't want to answer.

Honestly, during my stay with Om Bram's family, I rarely hang out like other young people. Della herself is a home girl. What he needed, almost everything was available. Om Bram, especially. The man prefers to spend his work holiday by staying at home. Unless you're on out-of-town service, I don't know. Only, in two weeks he often went for three to four days. Work, Della said.

"I'm not comfortable in a crowd like this, Ndre. That is why she often refused Della's invitation to leave the house. Except to go to college," I told a lie.

"just fine. On campus you both prefer to spend time in the library room" Andre said.

We entered an open culinary space. Without a barrier such as a dining area at the airport. Many lined empty chairs in front of the store provider of various types of food.

"O, yes. What do you want to order?" asked Andre as soon as we sat facing each other on the front row. Open-open briefly the menu list sheet on the table. "It's just you, huh, Ndre. The name of the food here is not so familiar to me," I replied as I put the caricature back.

"Kalo fried chickpea, how about?" bargain Andre. My forehead wrinkled. "What's that?"

"A type of processed chickpeas or long beans fried that, deh," replied the young man after thinking for a moment. "Bunch stir fry?" I tried to guess. Andre grinned, then said, "That's what it's like."

"Just chickpeas?" I'm rattled. A place to eat as big and as great as this, it turns out to provide processed commonly found in boxed rice packages. Does it taste the same as a besek?

"There are other ingredients depending on taste. Squid fish, checkered beef, chicken milk, or mushroom for vegetarians. Suitable for people who want to maintain ideal body weight. Low levels of fat, and non-cholesterol. You're not a vegetarian, are you, Lya?" asked Andre after a long time explaining. I'm shaking. "I'm omnivorous."

"Oh, thank goodness. So it's not too hard to find the menu here, yeah." The young man chuckled.

"There's Jengkol sweet sauce, ndak, Ndre?"

Andre gawking. "What?"

"Jengkol stew."

Andre coughing. It was almost a laugh he broke and gushed profusely his saliva. "eehmmm. I don't think there is, deh," the young man replied after trying to control himself. "But if you want, we'll just find another place to eat that menu."

"Ndakn't. Just here." I'm disappointed. "Really?" Andre wants to make sure. "Yes, Ndre," I said.

"OKAY. I ordered a roast chicken, too, yeah. Same drink .. ice tea."

"May also."

"Thai tea or lemon tea?"

"Dude, slob!"

"What's orange?"

"That was the drink you called first."

Andre re-examined the list of drinks he had seen. "Thai tea, Lya. I mean thai tea."

I'm nodding. "Oh, I thought that was .... "

"Ah, stop. Don't discuss it," Andre said while flirting around. "Rice cake, huh? Wait a minute, I'll get you there."

Without waiting for my answer, Andre rushed towards the nearest tavern.

'It feels better at home to eat rice padang. The fruit is just amazing. Especially the neighbor, ' I said in my heart.

While waiting for Andre to return, I opened the phone screen. Check some notifications. Just a regular message. Necessary chats from WAG campus, school alumni from Elementary to SLTA, and my college classes. No message from Della or Om Bram.

So far the two of them, must not have known about my departure. I don't know what I'm doing at home.

Honestly, anyway. It was so nice to call Om Bram. What he is doing, where he is, what he wants, or maybe why he is different today. The bay! Shouldn't I be making small talk like that? It will only embarrass. Childishs. Dorky. But I .. missed him.

Goddamnit! Where, the hell, are you, Bram?

"Food is coming!" andre suddenly came.

"Eh, you. Just surprise me, Ndre."

"Come ... You daydream again, huh?" canda Andre while offering my order earlier. "Think of Della, right? Take it easy, I'll talk later if he's raging."

"What, anyway? I'm thinking about Om .... " My words stopped. Andre looked at me sharply. "Omm? Om who? Om you? Or maybe Om Bram is Della's papa?"

"Where is it healthy for you?" andre asked. "Ndon't know. Long lost contact with him. Since my move to this city for college," I lied.

A lie? How many lies? Lately, so it's often dishonest. Especially with Della. I hate that habit the most. Has this self mutated into a hypocritical human being? Since long. Precisely when this love began to bloom, in a male figure named Bramanditya. Slowly but surely, he made me change. Dazed, stupid, crazy, liars, and often fainted.

So heavy was the inner torment I often received. Trying to refrain from looking cheap, in front of the man in his forties more. Although sometimes lost control if the embers of this romance begin to flare up. Instead, the human aura can make this body does not function normally. It doesn't make sense. But that's what happened. What's wrong with me?

Unfortunately, my time is wasted. Can only continue to hope, without daring to act. Careful, respectful, warm loving, cold, mysterious, charismatic, even always memorable hot daddy. It's all in Om Bram.

As long as I've known her, I've never heard of her having a special relationship with a woman. Since the death of Mamah Della, Om Bram has long enjoyed his solitude. Hhmmm, which man is willing to endure like that. Mapan, single, handsome accompanied by a different physical form from most native men. What kind of opponent would not melt if he fell in his arms. Me included.

Hhmmm, I'm sure Om Bram is a normal guy. The proof, born the figure of a Della, because of him, right? Then especially? Do I need to lure his passion to doubt this evaporates instantly, if Om Bram is not AC-DC.

Yeah, I need to be more aggressive. Flirtatious. Spoiled. Transparently. If necessary, Mr. Bram will ....

"You, what, don't eat, Lya?" Andre's voice surprised me. "Eh, yes. I have to pray before I eat. I'm sorry," I said as soon as I enjoyed the meal on the table.

"That long?" Andre was astonished. "hey are. Women are longer than men. Therefore, you must be diligent in maintaining stamina," I replied origin.

Andre's forehead wrinkled. His eyebrows go up next door. "What does prayer have to do with stamina?"

"Haha?" Shock me. "What were you doing, Ndre?"

"O, my God, Lya!" Andre patted his own forehead. "Why are you, anyway? I asked, You haven't eaten your food!"

Oh, tha. I replied, "Alright. Now, let's eat."

"I'm one-third finished, Lya. One ya, you haven't."

"h-huh. I-I'm eating now," I said with a shy grin. Andre shaking.

"You're still thinking about Della, aren't you?" search for the young white man. "Worried she'd be mad, because you secretly walked with me. I do, don't I?"

"Don't talk about it, Ndre. I'm busy" I replied as I chewed on fried chickpeas. "Busy what? You're eating, really," protested Andre somewhat annoyed.

"Either that. I want to compare this food ... euumm .. stir-fry metropolitan chickpeas with processed mustache-style stuffed chickpeas like in my village."

Andre laughs.

"Is something funny?" I was surprised to hear the thunder.

Andre quickly stopped his laughter. "Sorry, I'm out of control. Love you, huh, Lya. Hehe. Continue eating it."

A moment later, we were silent. Focus on filling the stomach, enjoying food until it runs out.

"Where? It's delicious, isn't it?" Andre smiled looking at me. "Lumayan. Just slightly. Less mecin," I answered honestly.

"Next time I will take you around the city, all hunting local snacks. More delicious and exciting, of course," Andre promised after sipping a cold drink.

"Where are we going now?" I'm getting ready to move. "How about a movie, yuk. As far as I know, today there is a new movie screening schedule," said Andre.

"Bollywood Movies. India. TARA MERE BHARI HARESSE SARE. The actor is cool to have, you know," said Andre. This young man is a huge fan of Hindustani films.

"Who?"

"David Khan's. Cool, right?"

"Oohh, it's up to you, deh."

We also hurried to leave the dining room. Walk along with slow steps. I don't know why, this time I didn't try to dodge when Andre was holding an arm. It led me to a place on the top floor.

Ah, just let him touch me. May intend to protect, from the urging of visitors who walk from the opposite direction. Occasionally it must walk sideways, so that these shoulders do not collide with their bodies.

Suddenly, my steps stopped. Look fixed at a single point of direction, with eyes and mouth wide open. The heart was pounding, followed by a blood flow that was pumped profusely inside the head.

"Come, go, Lya. Why stop?" sahut Andre tried to pull my hand.

I remained silent, unable to move. Like being firmly fixed to the floor. Wanted to answer, but these lips froze hard.

"Come, Lya," take Andre back. "Why are you, anyway?"

Still, can't say. Until then, Andre turned around, following my gaze. There stood two human figures who were both looking at each other.

"Della and Mr. Bram .." murmured Andre once recognized the two people.

Yeah, it was them. Om Bram and Della. Why is it here? What do? I don't know. Baffled. Unable to speak. Except this body shake is getting felt. Accompanied by a shower of cold sweat flowing profusely flooded the body.

I ... I .. suddenly feel scared.

SERIATE

Sukabumi, May 29, 2020