Demians

CHAPTER 4 - Fruit Salad

“i want chicken rice mushrooms, fruit salad, the same iced lemon tea” my message to mbak waitress who is busy noting my order.

After nearly 3 hours of bridesmaid fitting for Ines and Devan, we decided to have lunch at the restaurant opposite the boutique. While waiting for Alfi and Bian to perform dzuhur prayer at the boutique musholla, jihan and I are in trouble and Ines and Devan go to the restaurant first to find a place because at lunchtime this restaurant will be full.

“eh Alfi same Bian we order all times huh? Let fit them come stay eat” proposed Devan while flipping through the menu page.

I approve Devan's proposal, “by tuh..trus they want to be ordered what?”

“sain aja was the menu” suggested Jihan who did not want to take a headache selection of the menu.

“alah if you want to be equated, the menu Alfi sainin the same Jihan, if Bian sainin aja same Demi” proses Ines that makes me frown, and, “dah mbak that order two girls is made 2 yes mbak” message Ines to mbak waitress faithful waiting at our table.

“eh how is that? Why not just mention their menu?” my protest when I found out my menu was made into two portions for Bian.

“dah let cepet..nih loh kasian may wait for us. Part of me also laper” said Devan who closed the menu book he held and handed it to mbak waitress.

Alfi and Bian, who had finished their prayers, came to our table and sat in an empty place. Whether this was already planned or it was a coincidence, Alfi took a seat in front of Jihan while Bian occupied the rest that was right in front of me.

“eh mbak..yang fruit saladnya 1 aja mbak do not 2...it is just an additional menu I aja” said to mbak waitress who want to read out our order.

“why is Dem? You want a serving eaten by both Bian huh??” Devan smiled teasingly at me. “ciyeee Demi...The mode can aja tuhh” Jihan and Ines finally follow me. Alfi and Bian just put on a confused face looking at us, especially Bian who until linking his eyebrows because his name is called by Devan.

I finally signaled to the waitress to continue the initial order because I was already upset with Devan's words. After mbak waitress left, Alfi asked what Devan said earlier. Devan recounts that Alfi's order was equated with Jihan and Bian's order was equated with Demi. Understanding the meaning of the story Devan, Alfi finally followed me with Bian. Bian who became a victim just kept silent while looking at me with a difficult gaze to interpret. This made me feel awkward and wrong. To cover my condition, I took out my HP and busied myself.

Jihan who finally did not have the heart to see me become a victim of another plunge finally diverted the conversation. The topic of conversation then turned into a story of our activities for the past 4 years. Starting from me who for the last 4 years focused on building a cake shop that has been my dream while in college. Hearing Devan and Ines who are getting married, I plan to give a wedding cake with 5 levels that symbolize the age of their love journey which is 5 years from their initial meeting.

Then the story of Jihan who finally managed to build a wedding organizer service business in her hometown in Malang after graduating from college because I knew since college she liked everything related to marriage. Jihan also helps Ines and Devan in preparing for everything related to her marriage. Jihan only helps personally without involving her staff because Devan deliberately does not use the services of WO for the implementation of her marriage. Ines and Devan agreed to hold a simple wedding, namely blessing and family gathering in one of the villas located in Puncak. Because Jihan is involved in the wedding preparations, Jihan will stay at Ines' house until the wedding day.

Alfi is currently busy taking care of his family-owned company engaged in advertising because his father will hand over the responsibility of corporate leadership to him. In addition, he also developed his hobby in the field of photography to build a large studio in Depok. Devan and Ines also use the services of the Alfi studio as the person in charge of their wedding documentation, starting from prewedding until the wedding day.

Ines who is also a Depok person is currently successful with his catering business and has established cooperation with several EO and well-known companies. Since college, I did know that Ines has a hobby of cooking. No wonder if after graduation Ines studied and made the hobby as a business opportunity. Back when I was in college, I and Ines were not very close because I liked to spend my time in the library or in the boarding house when I was away. We've only been close since I introduced him to Devan who happens to be on the KKN team with me.

Devan was confused because he had no friends when he was going to worship on Sunday. The location of the church is quite far from the village where our KKN made him think to skip his worship. I remember Ines who was the same faith as Devan. Coincidentally Ines got the location of KKN which is still one subdistrict with me. I proposed them to go to worship together. From then on Devan and Ines became as close as they are today.

Devan, who recently completed S2 in Japan, after marriage, will be a lecturer at the campus where we first studied. Devan is indeed the most ambitious among us to continue S2 after graduating S1. He was looking for a scholarship to make his dream come true. Coincidentally his lecturer gave a scholarship recommendation to continue his education in the land of the rising sun.

Last from Bian's story, I found out that for 4 years he focused on developing his papa's chocolate plantation in Kediri. In addition to focusing on his plantations, Bian also pioneered chocolate shops that are currently spread in several cities in East Java. Hearing the story, I assumed that this was the reason Bian cut off our communication because he wanted to focus on his career. But why didn't he tell me anything? Did he really just consider our closeness for a year as temporary entertainment? I wanted to feel like I was screaming in front of him to tell him that I had been tormented because I harbored feelings for him. I subconsciously showed an expression of my frustration when I found out about the story. However, I hurriedly changed that expression so as not to be questioned by the others.

In the midst of our conversation about the busyness of the last 4 years, my salad and Bian finally arrived too.

“I just ordered a fruit salad, because your order is likened to me yes it is a fruit salad for you” I said when I saw the look on Bian's face confused looking at the fruit salad in front of him. “mmm..gasuka salad huh?” I asked carefully when I saw Bian just silently looking at the fruit salad.

“ehh. M-thank you already ordered salad” replied Bian with a small smile on me.

For a moment I was silent to see Bian giving me a small smile. Damn...what’s wrong with me?? I shouted in my heart. Why do I feel hypnotized to see his brown eyes. Somehow my heart suddenly beat so fast and my heart was pounding when I saw his eyes. No. It's wrong, I shouldn't be like this. I cut my eyes off and turned them to the fruit salad that was in front of me.

“duh who wants to marry who the hell? I think the aura of your bride-to-be loses to Bian deh Dev” Alfi chirped with a sinless face. I who used to feel awkward because the gaze of Bian's eyes was made more wrong behavior when hearing Alfi's words.

“udah wee...kasian it for the sake of Bian already red face. Shamefully the cat they” I opened my eyes sharply towards Jihan who was warming up to me and Bian. Fucking fruit salad, I swear in my heart that condemns my frustration at the food.

Fortunately not long after, our orders started coming one by one. Feeling arrogant after being teased all out with others, I immediately finished fruit salad greedily, followed by eating chicken rice mushroom with greed to cover my embarrassment. Bian who flushed his face also immediately ate in silence. On the sidelines of our eating activities, Bian and I had to thicken our ears because they were increasingly flirting with us.

“kalo you guys are still menggeledekkin I'm with Bian, I'm abis eat want to go home” I said flat because uncomfortable to hear their babble that did not stop.

“ini nihh that makes me miss if we collect...There must be a material ledekan” said Alfi ignored my threat. I clicked my tongue when my threat didn't work for them.

“eh guys, I have an idea nih” chirped Devan suddenly interrupted our eating activities. “kan we just met the full team after 4 years. I gamau was menggelewatin this moment is just that, let alone I the same Ines would want married too. What if we are nostalgic again to where the village of KKN used to be in Tegal? When else try we can be like gini. Itung-itung also as a holiday and a party to release my single period and Ines” he continued.

“nah this nih...demen me if kayak gini. Fix me follow” said Alfi directly without further ado.

“when is the plan?” ask Bian

“Wednesday night we leave how? Next Thursday red date, and then Friday clamp day kan.gas aja we are there from Thursday to Sunday” Devan proposal.

“gue follow” said Jihan who also approved Devan's proposal, “kangen really I same atmosphere there” he added. Bian just nodded his head in agreement.

“how about Dem?? Lo doang who has not responded” asked Devan who made others look at me waiting for my approval.

“ini you want to leave together from Depok?” ask me to the others.

“iya later meeting point at my home, we leave to ride my car I” replied Alfi volunteered.

“gue follow but I'm not leaving with y'all” I said.

“yah..why?” jihan asked who looked a bit disappointed with my decision.

“actually I always return to Solo every month for a week vacation beb..and this month the schedule is tomorrow mumpung long weekend. Ntar I talk about the same house people, if it may mean tomorrow morning I leave for Solo. The next Thursday morning I followed you to Tegal from home” I explained to Jihan at length.

“oh yaudah gapapa ntar lo departs Thursday morning from Solo” said Devan who approved my speech.

“you ride what follows us?” ask Bian.

“ya take a car.kan me when going home usually bring your own car. No way dong car I stay at home when I want your nyusulin, ntar I fit back here the gap vehicle dong” answered me casually.

“self drive?” alfi asked who was a bit surprised to hear my answer.

“ya it is...who would you like? Relax, Demetra is strong woman” reply me relaxed while smiling up and down my eyebrows.

Ignoring their astonished and surprised gazes, I switched the conversation by inviting them to take a photo together after lunch before going home.

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