Endless Taste

23

. Alvi looked at Aldi who was completely on his knees only to ask him to accept an arranged marriage that he had long disagreed with.

"Wakeup. Don't lower yourself like that."

"No Alvi. Before you accept it, I won't wake up." Replied Aldi who remained with his stance.

"Haihhh, don't overdo it." Alvi grabs Aldi's arm and helps Aldi stand up.

"Speak. I'll listen to you." Said Alvi who held back. Actually he was uncomfortable hearing the name of Amel continuously, but seeing Aldi who was so hard to persuade him, surely it was no small matter.

"My brother's dying." Alvi looked up to hear what Aldi said.

"What are you talking about? Don't joke about something like that, Aldi. I met him at the hospital, and he looks fine. I won't believe you Aldi." Alvi said by pointing at Aldi's face with anger.

"You think I believe it too? If it wasn't for the evidence of her medical record, I would even blame Amel. But the truth is like this, Alvi wants to be with you in her last moments. So, I beg-"

"No Aldi. I can't. I don't want you to betray Avril so easily." Alvi turned to face the window of her room.

"Can't you really just accompany her?" Ask Aldi in a slightly higher tone.

"I want to ask you Aldi. When you saw me with Avril, what were you thinking?" Alvi asked without turning her head, Aldi just fell silent not answering. His mind was muddled thinking that Avril had turned away from him.

"That's what Avril would think of me. He would think that Amel and I really had a relationship. And also I don't want to tell Amel a lie." Furthermore Alvi turned around and looked at Aldi, so that the two young men looked at each other.

"You want me to accompany her at her age? Don't be kidding Aldi. Even if I accompanied him, the situation would not improve, his illness would not suddenly heal because there was me by his side. Think carefully, you're humbling yourself just for something futile." Aldi clenched his hands feeling offended by what Alvi had just said. It felt like landing a punch on Alvi's face right then and there. However, what power, Alvi's speech has a point.

"alright. Sorry to interrupt." Aldi turned around and then passed away from Alvi. Aldi opened the door and closed it again without a sound.

. Aldi drove his car without direction. At first glance considering the events when Avril accident when they first met again. "Sad meeting." His words screeched with a grin on the corner of his lips. For a moment Aldi thought, what kind of this is what Avril felt. Thoughts are chaotic, but hearts must be forced to be strong.

Aldi changed the direction of his goal, which was originally headed home, now changed direction to where he would pour out his grief, while apologizing for his betrayal. None other than, Aldi drove to Avril's house.

With hesitation, Aldi entered the courtyard gate of the house of Avril.

Aldi got out of his car, then stepped in front of the door and greeted him.

Aunty approached Aldi who asked for Avril's whereabouts. Aunty invites him in, but Aldi chooses to quietly wait for Avril outside. I feel foreign to this house. Though 5 years ago, he almost every day stopped by to just deliver Avril home.

Before long he waited by standing outside staring at the park that really looked different from when he was in school. Avril approached him, and patted him on the shoulder slowly. Aldi turned his head, found Avril who looks like she is still a high school boy in his eyes. His clenched hands held him back from hugging him for longing.

"What's wrong?" Avril asked staring warmly at Aldi. The look was still the same even though 5 years had passed.

He could not help but embrace Avril, now embraced by the idol he had betrayed, but did not instill hatred for her.

"I miss you." Lirih Aldi's. Avril frowned while trying to turn to Aldi who hugged her so tightly.

"Didn't we meet?"

"I'm glad you're okay." Said Aldi muttering as he whispered and hugged Avril even more tightly.

"Aldi, I can't breathe." Avril patted Aldi's arm several times, until Aldi let go of his embrace.

"Sorry." Said Aldi plain.

"Are you crying?" Avril asked, looking closely at Aldi's eyes that were slightly puffy. Aldi just lowered his head to make Avril understand what was going on with Aldi.

"Aren't you bought a toy by Mama?" Avril asked mockingly but in a serious tone. Aldi nodded then flicked Avril's forehead. Avril grimaced while holding her forehead.

"It hurts tahuu.." whining Avril. Aldi held Avril's head and blew Avril's forehead in pain. Avril fell silent, letting Aldi's warmth now be with her. But when he remembered Syifa, Avril pushed Aldi and then took a few steps back.

"I'm fine Alvi." Avril turned her face away.

"I'm Aldi Avil.. Have you forgotten? You always call me wrong a few times." Said Aldi in a annoyed tone.

"Sorry Aldi. I was wrong again. Your names are almost the same." Avril bit her lower lip and raised her eyebrows next to her.

"So, when you're with Alvi, you always say my name?" Tanya Aldi sparkled expectantly.

"Emm not really." Answer Avril casually.

"I'd guess. You've forgotten me." Aldi looked down lethargic.

"You haven't answered my question Aldi. Why are you here?" Avril asked tilting her head in wonder.

"I miss you." Aldi smiled. A sweet smile, but something that Avril did not want to know.

"Tell me honestly Aldi." said Avril annoyedly staring at Aldi. Aldi pulled back his sting, then lowered his head to show all his sadness. Aldi bowed his head on Avril's boat, slowly sobbing, and his hands clenched.

"Aldi.." Avril's lyrics couldn't hide her curiosity.

"Amel.." said Aldi.

"Am-Amelite? What happened to Amel Al.. Is he sick? Or-"

"He's dying." Aldi replied briefly until Avril fell silent without intending to speak. "He hid his illness. He went to London not to avoid feeling for Alvi, but to see his friend who became a doctor there, but. And now it's impossible to heal." Aldi further explained. Avril was speechless to hear a sentence that made it clear why Aldi was so devastated.

Avril's body suddenly limp, but he must be strong to strengthen Aldi. Avril slowly patted Aldi on the back, then buried her face in Aldi's head.

"I understand how you feel." Lirih Avril, remember the pain when it will be abandoned by loved ones for eternity.

"I know Amel's brother a strong woman." Avril said shed tears.

"Have strengthened yourself." Avril returned.

"Thank you.." said Aldi then moved and rubbed his face soaked in tears.

"Come in. I'll make you a drink." Take Avril and step ahead. But Aldi was reluctant to release his hand that grasped Avril's wrist.

"Why?" Avril asked frowned and looked into Aldi's very cute eyes.

"Do you love Alvi?" Avril was speechless with unblinking eyes staring at Aldi, then released her hand from Aldi's grasp gently.

"What do you want to drink? You want to meet dad? It just so happened that my dad was home. So you can play chat together." Avril forced her smile. It was very clear, that Avril did not want to discuss the matter now.

Aldi nodded slowly and followed Avril into the door of the house, then sat down in the living room. Awkward, the sense that now envelops him.

Avril passed inside, and shortly afterwards, the father approached Aldi who suddenly moved from his seat when he saw him enter.

"You look like Aldi's ghost." Said the father sitting opposite Aldi, but Aldi did not immediately sit, but approached the father and kissed his hand.

"How are you doing, son.? I hope you're okay even if it looks the other way around." Said Dad patting Aldi on the shoulder. Aldi responded with a smile, explaining that he was not okay.

"Why didn't you see me when you came home? Even making Avril heartbroken and intend to commit suicide?" Dad asked to make Aldi bow.

"Sorry dad. I think Avil's been-"

"He was really waiting for me." Aldi murmured looking towards the house.

Avril walked up to Dad and Aldi with 2 different cups of coffee.

"Are you talking about me?" Ask Avril while putting both cups on the table.

"No. Why talk about you." Replied Dad resuscitated his body on the sofa.

"Yes already." Avril went back into the house to put back the tray she was carrying.

"So, what's up, son?" Ask dad to take and sip his coffee.

"I'd like to see you and Avril. I haven't stopped by for a long time." Replied Aldi who slightly lowered his head but his eyes looked like he was holding a very heavy burden.

"really?" Asked dad hesitantly staring fixedly at Aldi. Aldi just nodded then slightly looked up to align his face with father and threw a smile to reassure father.

"Speak son. You don't have to endure it yourself." Dad's words made Aldi draw his smile.

"Did you approve of Avril's relationship with Alvi?" Ask Aldi seriously. Dad nodded his mark assenting.

"If I proposed to her, would you approve of our relationship?" I asked Aldi's question.

"Aren't you engaged? And does your father approve of it? I think only your mother will accept Avril. Your brother and father don't." Speak with emphasis.

Aldi is speechless given his father who forbade Aldi to get in touch with the Avril family.

Given the rumors that circulated that Avril's father was a man who often spent his night to get drunk. What they do not know is the fact that Avril's father was only looking for comfort in the passing of his beloved wife. Because you do not want to show your sadness to your family, coworkers, subordinates, or friends. So that dad consecrated his night to just sleep in the VIP room.

Eventually, he finds an orphan who spends some alcohol even though he doesn't want it. The boy is Alvi, who is right when his high school graduation gets the news that his parents are coming home with just a name. The bodies of the two were not found, so Alvi could not meet them for the last time. Every night his father accompanied Alvi to talk all night.

What others think is different from the reality. Which is thought to consume a lot of alcohol, but in fact not a drop touched by the father. And so is Alvi now.

"Dad not angry son. If you still want to be friends with Avril, go ahead. But if to propose to her without your family's blessing, I'm sorry I can't approve you." Father's words were calm and happened to be heard by Avril.

"But if Aldi's family approves, will you approve?"

"If only? But you already know the truth." Said father as if affirming.

"Dad stop.." said Avril firmly covered with a joking tone that just came back to them.

"Ahhh pardon me. I still have a job, so you dads stay. Don't intend to elope okay!" Ejek father got up and brought his coffee cup, then passed leaving Avril and Aldi.

Avril shook her head and pinched her forehead slowly.

"After all, who will elope, facing Alvi alone has driven me crazy, let alone against the blessing of his father Aldi." Avril muttered her smile.

"Why?" Ask Aldi wonder.

"Hemm? What's?" Avril was no less astonished.

"You. Why are you smiling?" Ask Aldi curious.

"What's wrong with me smiling?"

"But it makes me curious."

"really? Is now Mr Aldian being the one who has always been curious about others?"

"Avril."

"I'm not mocking you. Isn't that reality?"

"No. That's not the reality."

"Then? what's?"

"I still love you" Aldi said

"Don't be kidding Aldi. I don't like it."

"I'm not kidding." Avril was silent unable to answer. Though Avril can show proof that Alvi has proposed to him.

"I'm sorry.." said Aldi.

"It's okay.it's true, it's very difficult to get rid of feelings that have long been left there. So when it comes to losing, it's hard to forget the person too." Avril smiled as she turned her face away.

"When did I last see you smile?" Aldi asked who had been staring so deeply at Avril.

"Now." Avril turned her head and threw her sweet smile at Aldi.

"satial. You're sweeter than you were 5 years ago." Aldi ruffled his hair and turned his face away, trying not to keep the memory of the sweet smile he had just seen. Avril withdrew her smile, and clenched her mouth tightly.

"Haihhhh you're still as annoying as you used to be." Aldi shook his head, then brought his face closer to Avril.

"Don't lure me to kiss you, son." Sneering on the corner of Aldi's lips made Avril shudder in horror.

Avril shifted her body away from Aldi.

"Don't fuck Aldi." Avril said a little scream.

Aldi only chuckled at Avril's behavior which made him anxious to hug her.

Aldi grabbed and drank the coffee served by Avril.

"You made it?" Tanya Aldi glanced at Avril.

"Of course." Avril replied with a haughty face.

"Well, it feels special. Looks like you made it with love." Aldi chuckled.

"Aldi, thank you for saving me." Said Avril after a moment of silence. Aldi was silent for a moment, before finally answering Avril's words.

"I'd regret a lifetime watching you go." Aldi moved after putting his coffee back on the table.

"Avil. And thank you." Aldi walked out of the house followed by Avril behind him.

"Be careful. Don't end up like me." Ejek Avril's.

"I'm different from you, kid".

- connected.