Cocooned

SUSAN'S CURSE

"Woi, if by the way it's resolved. Do not make me curious," my hardik upset after a long wait, it turns out Jaya did not also explain the reason.

Again he exhaled heavily, this time without a puff of smoke. "It's okay, Ter. It doesn't matter."

"What's important? Is our friendship unhealthy? I mean, me and Linda, you and Val, Susan and .. and. Tell me what's going on, Jay? Maybe I can help," I bargained as I gently patted her sluggish shoulder. But until the lunch hour was over and we parted ways, Jaya never gave her reason not to contact Susan.

　

　

Maybe true, I'm like a crumpled granny who can't hear a little gossip. The meeting with Jaya yesterday even made me curious, especially when she refused to answer and instead advised me to ask Susan for her own lesson. So, here I am, right now, in front of the Susan family's diner on Jl. KH. Zaynul Arifin.

"Gee, Terry! I know you must be home" exclaimed Susan. Her slim body immediately moved from behind the cashier table to where I was standing. Susan's beautiful smile and her sparkling eyes glared at me making me touched, apparently I was missed.

We chatted for a moment, but it was a bit difficult. At lunchtime like this, the traffic of guests who wanted to pay and order the menu was quite heavy, and Susan was unable to leave her duties as a cashier when the restaurant was crowded. Finally I decided to wait until the restaurant was a little quiet, then I approached Susan and invited her to lunch together.

"Rawon rice separates, empal, tempeh and fried tofu. Just drink some warm tea" I said to Susan's waiter.

"Make two yes, Wi," Susan added before the servant girl moved from our side of the table, towards the kitchen. Soon the other waiter came out with a tray containing our order.

Hmmm .. delicious as it used to be, my sigh enjoyed the feed after the mouthful.

"How's rasane, Ter? Yummy?" it was in the middle of the feed.

"Feel your mother is wonderful" I said, chewing on a soft, fried parchment and leaving the sweet taste of the spice on the tongue.

Susan chuckles. "My mom's retired, Ter. It's my cooking."

His description stopped my last mouthful in the air. "Wow!" sincere poet. I saw a pink hue appear on his cheek. "Anyone who's gonna be your husband is gonna be so lucky."

The sentence just now was a compliment that should have made the girl soar high in the air, but Susan's reaction was the opposite. Her last mouthful was idle at the end of the plate, tofu and tempe untouched, she stopped eating and looked at me wistfully. "Unfortunately, Jaya doesn't think so."

"Ask what about Val? Does Jaya like him?"

O-ow! Now I feel like a big granny gossiping at the end of the alley. Susan's eyes glazed over, her hands pulling some tissue sheets on the table to cover her face. Really, I do not know what to say, appetite was gone, fortunately the atmosphere of the restaurant was deserted from visitors.

"San, are you okay?" Awfully, I clasped his hand tightly, waiting until the outpouring of emotions subsided.

"I was expecting it" said Susan, still sobbing. "Since Val turns into a beauty, Jaya also changes."

Take a bath let it get wet, the proverb says. So I decided to ask, "Do you know what caused Val to change?"

"Val changed a little over a year ago," explained Susan, her hand moving around wiping her eyes and nose. "He's been betrothed to someone. Jaya's a fool, if she keeps chasing Val."

"Stupid?" It felt like my heart just jumped in place, something wasn't right. "Who?" manya curious.

"If I had known, I would have asked the man to quickly marry her, so that Jaya would stop wishing. You know Valerie, she's not a really open person." Susan sipped her tea, then continued, "That time she came to me with a radiant face, I've never seen her like that. Two weeks later, little by little she's changing - more feminine, more beautiful."

I took a deep breath and wondered, did you know about this? I mean, Malang City is a small town with thin walls, it's impossible if you don't know. After all, these four of my best friends are like his children. And if you know, why didn't she tell me? Is it because this news is so long ago, that you forget?

Various questions raged in the brain, as my mouth chewed on tofu and the remaining fried tempeh. Why would Val want to be set up?  She can't be that desperate to get a husband, can she? I mean, what if that guy's a jerk? What if Val is fooled and she's not happy later? What if the man doesn't love her?

If I'm honest, I'd like Jaya to marry Val. That way, I won't be this worried. Well-nah, now I'm starting to sound like Valerie's long-dead grandmother. Hiii ....

"I was curious about Val's future husband. Did he tell you anything about the identity of the man? I mean, we can help to check his background, just in case this guy's a serial killer."

Okay, I think my assumptions are too much, but I'm very worried. How not? The thing is, none of us knew about the man.

"That's it, Ter, you don't need to think about it. From Val's face, you'll know he loves whoever that guy is so much that he's ready to metamorphose into what he is now." Susan's words were so soft in my ears. In my heart, I want to curse Jaya who broke her heart. "Oh yeah, Ter, who are you going to Linda's wedding with?"

I blinked, returning attention to the girl in front. "You're in pairs?" I asked Susan to answer with a headband. "What if we both go?"