Canticles

55. Avoid Again

That morning the atmosphere inside Ramon's house was more crowded than usual. Laughter filled the whole house. That's because Rex told me about his funny experience while on duty.

" From the story of refugee children, the TTMD program is just as good as Rex. The other dong..," Lilian asked as she bribed a spoonful of rice into her mouth.

" The others what do you mean Brother. Kan Rex is facing the same refugees and begal there.", said Lanni mediate.

" Don't believe Mom. There must be a girl there as well" said Lilian while glancing at the sister with a nosy look.

Rex who understood the meaning of the older brother only shook his head.

" No, sister" said Rex.

" No one or you're selling expensive...?" lillian asked in disbelief.

" Sell expensive how do you mean Brother...?" ask Rex.

" That's Kak Lian tuh Lo snobs Rex...!" sahut Gama aloud from the doorway.

All turned to the door and smiled at Gama's presence except Lilian. The girl directly bent her face as she saw Gama walking into the dining room.

" Greetings dong Gam, your custom" said Lanni, shaking his head.

Gama smiled as he scratched his non-itchy head.

" I'm sorry Mom, I forgot. Assalamualaikum all...! " sapa Gama is loud with his style of detail.

" Alaikumsalam, "sahut Ramon and his family.

Afterwards Rex stood up to greet Gama who was walking quickly towards him. The two men hugged each other while jumping and laughing like two little kids who won the race. Ramon, Lanni and Lilian laughed at their behavior.

" Eat all yuk Gam..," said Lanni while thrusting an empty plate at Gama.

" Want very much Ma. I'm bad luck and haven't done the cooking before." said Gama while sitting next to Rex and right across from where Lilian was sitting.

" Come, alesan !. Tell me that you deliberately ate here." said Rex, sneering.

Rex's words made Gama laugh. But Gama did not seem to care and began to put rice and side dishes on the plate.

" Tau aja Lo Rex. Abis Mother's cooking is delicious, different from the cuisine of Iue..," said Gama Cuek and then began to eat food in front of him greedily.

" No need to go in Lo mode. I know what Lo means...!" the word Rex was firm but made Gama choke and cough.

At that time Gama deliberately glanced at Lilian. He wanted to know how the girl reacted. It turned out that Lilian was also staring at him. And when their gazes met, Lilian quickly cast her gaze toward the other with a facial expression that was hard to read.

" Eh, I'm coughing Gam. Beware dong eat it, do not rush. No one asked for it" Ramon said with a laugh.

Gama's face flushed red and it made Rex pity. He thrust his glass towards Gama who immediately grabbed it and gulped the contents to the toilet.

Gama's behavior made Lilian nervous. He seemed to tighten his hand grip on the spoon and fork in his hand. Apparently Lilian also felt if Rex's speech hit the target in a landslide.

" Thank God, finally." said Gama after his cough subsided.

" Pake coughs everything, would you add pinter Lo Gam...?!" rex asked while looking at Gama annoyed.

" Apaan sih Rex, ga mudeng Gue..," said Gama as he continued his meal that had stopped earlier.

" It is usually if small children are sick he said to add pinter Gam. Well just now Lo was coughing, lest Lo want to pinter too..," said Rex casually.

Gama was silent for a moment then laughed loudly followed by everyone.

" Sick monyong !. Release ga...!" rex protested while shaking Gama's hand and making Ramon and Lanni laugh.

" I'm leaving now, ma'am" Lilian said suddenly.

Lanni turned her head and nodded her head. Then Lilian kissed the backs of her parents' hands alternately with solemnity.

" okay. Same with Gama, right...?" ask Lanni.

" No need ma'am. Gama hasn't finished eating yet. Besides Rex is also still kangen with Gama..," said Lilian while reaching for her bag that she put on the sofa.

" I'm done, Mom. If you chat with Rex, you can just take Rex to the workshop..," interrupted Gama.

" No need Gam. I have promised the same temen I..," said Lilian without looking at Gama then rushed out while wearing her jacket.

" Ok, no problem.." said Gama while staring at the departure of Lilian.

Gama secretly clenched his hands under the table knowing Lilian was dodging from him.

" Mom ahead for a moment, you just continue to eat it..," said Lanni, who is owned by Ramon, Rex and Gama.

" How's Lo Gam's workshop going...?" rex asked as he looked at Gama who put the rice and side dishes back on the plate.

" Thank God for safe conditions. Rame smoothly, like a highway..," said Gama quickly to make Rex smile.

" Lo said that I had finished eating it, and now it's even added...?" rex told Gama to laugh.

" You know how Lian is. He must be angry if he had to wait. So instead of a storm, I better give up and say if I have finished eating earlier. Yes ga...," said Gama relaxed.

Gama's answer succeeded in making Rex and his father nod their heads.

Shortly thereafter Lanni rejoined and continued eating that had stopped because of the departure of Lilian earlier.

" Sister's gone, ma'am...?" ask Rex.

" Us..," said Lanni quickly.

" Who is Lian's friend Mom, girl or guy...?" ask Ramon suddenly.

" Dude Well. He said security at the hospital. Now he contracts here, so he can go and go home with Lian if the shift is the same.

" Sometimes tell me to stop by Mom. I'd like to know him, too" pinta Ramon.

" Well, I said it was the same Lian. But he said the guy was still busy changing his cement shift who returned home, so had not stopped by. Insha Allah if it is free he wants to stop by and acquaintance with Us..," said Lanni.

" Good enough. I just want Lian to be honest and open. Whichever man she chooses, I hope to protect Lian, love her sincerely and lead her on the right path" Ramon said.

" Mom agrees Well..," said Lanni with a smile.

Ramon and Lanni's chatter makes Gama uneasy. One side he was happy because he felt he had the criteria that Ramon meant. But the other side of his heart was jealous and did not want Lilian to be close to another man.

Since the incident of Gama's kiss that night, since then also the relationship between Gama and Lilian stretched. Gama tried to get close to Lilian and apologized. Gama is also determined to express his feelings for the girl and proposes to her, even though Lilian is at risk of rejecting her. Gama is also ready to bear all the risks that will occur if their families do not approve of their good intentions.

But Lilian who was already disappointed seemed reluctant to interact with Gama and chose to continue to avoid.

Ramon and Lanni have no idea that Lilian and Gama are in a cold war. Apparently Gama and Lilian were good at hiding their hostility until Ramon and Lanni were unaware of their different attitudes.

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