Cempaka Bride

Chanting

The sound of birds singing woke Zein from his sleep. After poking her eyes a few times, then she scanned the surroundings.

Realizing that he was not in his room, Zein woke up resting on both hands.

On his right side Rama was still asleep. To the left Ivan was curled up. At the end of the leg, Hasni was playing her phone.

"What time is it?" ask Zein.

"Hour seven" replied Hasni. The thick-haired man got up and sat leaning against the wall.

"Any shower?"

"Yet. Again mengumpulin dregas."

Zein smiled at Hasni's reply.

"That's me first, yeah."

Hasni nodded, her gaze not separated from the phone.

Zein rose to his feet, turning his body to the right and left several times. Then, he walked towards his bag in the corner of the room. Picking up a change of clothes and grabbing a towel on the hanger, rushed into the bathroom.

A few minutes later Zein had already made a neat appearance and was sitting on the porch pavilion chair.

"Zein," called Yusran from the room window.

"Yes?"

"Breakfast, yuk! Call the others too."

Zein nodded and stepped back inside.

"Ram, Ivan, wake up. It was noon," said Zein while shaking the bodies of his two friends who were still slumbering.

"Holmmm. What time is it?" rama asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Hour seven passing. Almost half eight. Come on, it's Yusran kang who has not eaten breakfast" explained Zein.

"Kamu duluan aja. Aku mau mandi dulu," sahut Rama.

"In the bathroom in the room. Here there's bang Hasni again in the shower."

"Ho oh."

Zein wows Ivan's feet. No matter Ivan was grumbling, Zein kept his wit.

"Yes .. yes. I woke up!" sulk Ivan while turning his back.

"I wait in the living room of the house" Zein said as he stood up. Then he stepped out of the pavilion. Turn left and enter the middle room of Rima's parents' house from the side door.

"Assalamualaikum," he said.

"Waalaikumsalam" answered the people from inside the house.

"Here, Zein. We'll have breakfast together" asked Fahmi, Rima's oldest brother.

Zein moved closer while combing the room looking for Triska.

"Definitely nyariin yangang," ledek Karin who greeted the laughter of Siska and her mother Rima.

"Triska and others to the market were ushered in the same Sum mang Encep," explained Irwan from the front seat of the dining table.

"Get to market?" ask Zein. His hand moved pulling the chair next to Farid. Receiving a dish from Siska's hand, then spooning enough rice and side dishes into the plate.

"I don't know. Maybe just want to walk," explained Irwan.

After a while Hasni and Rama followed. Ivan was present most recently while grumbling abandoned his friends.

***

Brraaakkk!

The sound of falling objects wakes Satya from her sleep. Bi Ai's nagging voice at Mother Chubie instantly made her smile.

Satya got up and sat on the bed. Next to her Chandra was still asleep.

Slowly Satya stood up and started walking towards the door. Unlock and doorknob. His head poked out looking for Bi Ai.

"Bi," call him.

"Naon?" replied Aunt who was sweeping the garage.

"Can you please buy breakfast, right?" satya Pinta.

"Can. What are you buying?" ask Bi Ai while approaching.

Satya grabbed the wallet from the bag of pants that were hung behind the door.

"Buy fried foods. Bakwan, gehu is the same tempe," he said as he held out a piece of green money into Bi Ai's hand.

"All?"

"So. Ten thousand aja. Rice is ripe, right?" Satya asked back.

Satya stepped into the kitchen. Checking the contents of the thermos. Take a cup and prepare instant coffee. While waiting for Bi Ai, Satya decided to take a bath.

The smell of fried food seemed to tempt Chandra's nose. He quickly got up and sat down. Smiling looking at Satya who was having breakfast while playing the mobile phone.

"There's fritters, huh, Mas?" tanya Chandra pretends to be innocent.

"You know you! Come on, hunt down shower!" satya's orders.

Chandra whines and rushes to get up, walking quickly to the bathroom to start the hermitage.

"Sat, when are the others coming home?" ary asked from the open door. The tall man had already appeared neat.

"Today, but I don't know what time it is. Ehh, where are you going?"

"You took the car."

They looked at each other for a moment before they finally laughed.

Frightened, last night they went back to the boarding house on an ojek. The car was left in the parking lot of the mini market in front of the complex.

***

Bright twilight sky welcomes the arrival of a group of boarding children when they arrive home.

They gathered in the garage, chatting while sitting around unwinded.

Laughter rumbles when Satya tells about the car that was left in the mini market last night.

"Ntar finished the Magrib prayer we check on yuk, Sat!" bring Zein.

Satya nodded.

"I'm coming. Curious about the shape. Is it the same as the girl in my dream or different" Ivan said.

"Who can see?" ask Ary.

"No. It wants to ask for opening the inner eyes of ama Zein," replied Ivan with a smile.

"Ntar. I want to take a shower first" Zein said as she stood up and stepped into her room.

Others disperse into their respective rooms when the azan Magrib has reverberated.

***

Rain spots that wet the earth since 7 pm last night made the residents of the boarding house choose to rest.

In her room Triska lay on top of the bed while stroking the snoring Mother Chubie on the pillow on the left.

Slowly Triska's eyes began to close. Her lips flashed a smile as she recalled her conversation last night with Zein.

Ssrreeekk.

Ssrreeekk.

Duggs!

Brraaakkk!

Triska suddenly awakens when she hears a familiar voice.

Speak softly love and hold me warm against your heart

I feel your words, the tender trembling moment starts

We're in a world, our very own

Sharing a love that only few have ever known

The sound of singing was heard from outside his room.

Triska closed her eyes. Sighs and exhales quickly before opening his eyes again.

His hand moved grabbing the phone on the bedside table. Shift the phone screen with vibrating finger.

"Yes?"

"Bang, Rima showed up. I'm scared" whispered Triska.

Zein hung up the phone and rushed outside the room. Knocked on Triska's door several times before she opened the door with a paled face.

Triska immediately rushed into Zein's arms. Body shakes.

From where they stood Zein could hear the sound of Rima singing.

"Where is he?" zein asked as he rubbed Triska's back to calm her lover.

"No courage to look around" Triska replied quietly.

"I want to see first," Zein said as she let go of a hug.

They walked into the room holding hands. Then Zein peeked out from behind the window of Triska's room which led to the front yard of the house.