Cempaka Bride

Flowers for Ivan

The six residents of the boarding house sat around the woman wearing a black leather jacket.

He was still lowered, as if afraid to look at the faces of those around him.

"When did you move to Bandung?" asked Ivan who was sitting cross-legged to the left of the woman.

"Se-a-month. It had been a month of moving," the woman replied. He did not dare to look at Ivan in the face.

"Keep what does naro' mean flower there?" Ivan continued the question.

"That's a flower make ... Brother," replied the woman.

"Make me? I don't like flowers!" firmly Ivan.

The woman fell silent, looking down at the floor tiles.

"Whose name are you, Dek?" ask Triska gently.

The woman raised her face slightly, looking at Triska who was looking at her with a smile.

"My name is Natalia" the woman replied quietly.

Zein looked at Natalia and Ivan in turn. A smile was engraved on his face. "So, you naro that flower for Ivan, in order to reveal your feelings, so, huh?" tanyakanya.

Natalia nodded, a tinge of red coloring her smooth white cheeks.

This oriental woman is very sweet. Her straight long hair was beautifully scattered behind her back.

Chandra, who was sitting right to the left of Zein, had been continuously gawking. It seems like she is fascinated by Natalia's beauty.

"You two talk together, we'll eat first. Laper!" sela Tia stood up. There was an uncomfortable feeling in his heart.

"You, here you are," said Ivan as he pulled Tia's hand, inviting her to sit back.

"Solve your business! I want to eat!" firmly Tia while brushing Ivan's hand and passing away went into Triska's room.

Ivan and Natalia sat together in an awkward atmosphere.

"Our relationship will never be with your family, Lia. That's why I chose to go and move here" Ivan said slowly.

His eyes glared at the courtyard from the wide open door.

"But I still love my brother" said Natalia. A clear thread swiftly flowed down his cheek.

"Lupain me! Move on!" firmly Ivan.

"Difficult, Bang. It's love." The sobs of the woman grew louder and louder.

Ivan shifted his buttocks to sit close to Natalia. His left hand stretched out the face of the cute girl, until they stared at each other.

"Lupain brother! We won't be together. After all, my brother already loves other people" said Ivan.

Natalia looked at Ivan without blinking. Trying to make sure he doesn't hear wrong.

"In six months you can love someone else? Tega you, Bang!" hiss Natalia.

His view turned cynical. His hand moved rubbing the tears violently.

His heart feels painful. His loved ones, defended desperately, until he insisted on continuing to college in Bandung and had a fight with his papi. It seems so easy to forget.

Pllaakkkk!

A slap landed on Ivan's left cheek. Natalia rushed to her feet and ran out of the house. Riding a motorcycle, wearing a helmet. Start the engine and go straight outside the yard.

The speed of the motor is almost out of control. He was speeding until he almost hit a motorcycle in front of him.

Natalia stopped the motorbike at a two-story house, which was only a few blocks from the boarding house owned by Wahyu.

He entered the house and ran up the second floor. Open the door of the room located at the right end. Slam the door hard. Plunge the body into the bed.

Her tears flowed back. He cried while covering his face with a pillow.

***

That night Ivan could not sleep. The only thing that was Natalia's face.

Remember their love story, two years full of struggle. Eventually, Ivan had to give up. The difference between them is so complex.

Cletaaac.

Cletaaac.

Cletaaac.

Ivan moved and lay on his left side. Closing your ears with your hands, trying to ignore the sounds from above.

The night is getting late. Ivan who was tired finally fell asleep as well.

He dreamed of coming back to that house. The house where a woman lives. The woman in a long white dress who seemed to want to strangle him.

As in previous dreams. The woman moved quickly towards him with her arms outstretched.

But this time it was different. The hand was not about to strangle, but wrapped around his neck.

The woman hugged him tightly. Their bodies seem to be tightly clamped. There was a tempestuous desire in Ivan, and demanded to be channeled.

As their lips fused Ivan seemed to be sucked into the woman's soul, and was unable to resist as the woman mastered it.

Suddenly Tia's face was reflected in the eye pelupuk. Ivan rewinded his body away from the woman with the shiny black eyes who was still tightly hugging him.

Ivan let go of the embrace and took a step back. The woman moved to reach him again.

Ivan turned and ran away. The walls of the house were shrinking and squeezing it. With great difficulty Ivan finally made it out of the house.

As he turned his body, the house seemed to disappear. Lost in the earth.

In front of him was a grave. His tombstone bears the name of a woman, whom he almost married three years ago.

Malica.

***

Next day.

That morning Miss Revelation came with some men carrying carpentry equipment.

With a swift sixth the handyman immediately went up to the second floor of the house, began to work installing a pole and roof, just above Ivan's and Dinar's room.

"I'm sorry, yeah. The next two weeks may be your comfort will be disturbed. I plan to add two or three rooms above. The clothes drying place moved over there, "pointing Bu Wahyu to the top of Ary's room.

"It's okay, Mom. We also work during the day. Empty bored. So no one will be disturbed" replied Dinar who got a nod from Ayu and Ivan.

"Later if it is already so and there are ngisi, here also become more crowded. Hopefully you can continue to be compact now," continued Bu Wahyu.

The middle-aged woman was very happy to see her boarding children so compact.

He often heard Bi Ai stories, about the compactness and excitement of the residents.

After the occupants went to work, the craftsmen continued their work with vigor.

In the afternoon Bi Ai delivered packaged rice for artisans.

They went down to the first floor, gathered in the garage to enjoy lunch.

While Bi Ai continued ironing clothes in Dinar's room.

Brraaakkk!

The sound of falling goods shocked Bi Ai.

He stood up and stepped quietly outside the Dinar room. Trying to peek out of Ivan's open window.

"Why, Bi?" ask a handyman who was washing his hands in the kitchen sink.

"There was a brraakk sound earlier," Bi Ai replied as she turned to the handyman.

The man approached and peeked out of the window. His eyes were round when he saw the figure of a woman on their back.

"Astaghfiullah!" said Bi Ai while covering her mouth with her hands.

The two were shaking and trying to get away from it, but their feet seemed to be stuck on the floor and unable to move.

The woman's figure turned around. His face was pale with cold eyes. Long hair was flowing behind him.

Bi Ai felt weak falling to the floor.

The craftsman still stood in his place.