Flavour Bias

The New World is Approaching Me

We had no conversation throughout the trip. He was busy with himself, with me. I see him occasionally choosing to sleep. I know he's tired, because he shouldn't be here. Should he lie down and rest in the hospital, his health might get worse.

We've been two hours away, but I don't know when we're going to get to and where Iyash's taking me. I asked about how much longer the distance we would cover, but the driver answered only moderately.

“So, how? Pretty close, pretty far?” many ensure.

“Near,” sahut Kak Iyash suddenly. I don't know when he woke up. It appears that the man was typing a message, then took a picture with his cellphone camera, then sent it to whom.

“Later in front there is a T-junction, Mr. straight,” he said while staring straight. He then turned to me and I immediately hid my gaze from him.

It was not until one minute that we saw the fork that Iyash said. The driver was straight and we went into the tea plantation. The smooth road and the cool air made me feel comfortable. If indeed Brother Edgar is here, naturally he does not want to go home, at least here he can feel calm with his solitude.

“Here, Sir,” pinta Kak Iyash. He then paid the fare, then got off. I followed him immediately.

We were standing in front of a traditional house. Comfortable and full of warmth.

“Iyash.” Suddenly I heard someone calling. We quickly turned our heads and saw an old woman running and holding Iyash's sister in her arms.

The old lady said that Iyash hasn't been here in a long time. I looked around the interior of the house. The courtyard was wide, there was a mango tree on the left side, then I saw that there were many stilt houses lined up next to it. The tea plantation stretches behind the house.

I heard Brother Iyash say that his hand broke. You liar, why don't you just tell me the truth. And it's not so embarrassing that in the end he lost a fight, wouldn't he be more arrogant by saying he just saved me from the hot lead that almost put me in a coma in the hospital, couldn't he be more arrogant, or maybe make me die?

“Not to worry, Grandma. Iyash is fine,” he said to Grandma.

“Eh, who is this?” ask Grandma to me.

“Marissa.” I smiled and immediately grabbed the wrinkled hand and kissed it.

“Marissa.” Grandma repeated my name while smiling. Her friendly face made me feel confident that Sister Iyash was surrounded by good people.

“Anaknya Om Restu,” said Kak Iyash as he waltzed away and entered the house.

“Restu? You're Restu's son?” Grandma was surprised.

I'm flabbergasted. Never once did I think that Papa also knew the Om Hasa family.

“Beauty.” The grandmother pinched the end of my chin. “Come, log in,” invite Grandma. “Do not hesitate.”

I nodded back. Grandma embraced my waist gently.

“When your Papa was single, he used to play here. In fact, even though Hasa could not come back here, Restu still came. He's like our son,” Grandma said.

I can only smile at the story of Papa. I sat next to Brother Iyash. The man seemed to be sitting down. While Grandma went to a place deeper than the house. Not long after, an old man came, then followed by a middle-aged woman carrying a tray containing two glasses of water.

Iyash's brother said hello to the old man. Until Grandma finally introduced me to her husband.

“Marissa, Sir. Restu's son, do you remember? Last time to here, Iyash time is still SMA.”

Grandpa nodded with a smile. I shook and kissed the back of his hand.

“Nobody knows.” Grandfather sighed while sitting down.

Papa was going too fast.

“On drink first,” said Grandma. “It just so happens that Pastri is cooking. We'll eat.”

I just nodded, then picked up the glass filled with water. It feels refreshing, typical mountain water.

“Marissa does not say much yes, different from her father.”

“Don't ask him to talk, chatty, noisy,” said Kak Iyash while getting up, then leaving.

I moistened my throat with a clumsy smile.

“Oh so?” Grandma pinched the end of my chin again.

Suddenly the phone rings.

“Ah, yes, briefly yes.” Along with Grandma who had just left the sofa, the woman who had brought water, returned with a plate of fried bananas that reflected thin smoke. He then put it on the table.

Grandma left long enough and Iyash did not return. He left me in the living room with his grandfather. Grandfather was already looking uninspired, his breathing was a bit decapitated and he was holding a cane in his right hand.

“Where is your Mama, healthy?” his voice came back I heard.

“Health, Cake. Thank God.”

“Hasa often stories about you. Grandpa asked him to bring you here. But, until now has not materialized, thank God, Iyash who brought you here. Finally Grandpa can meet you.”

I can only smile.

Grandfather then cleared his throat, his two eyes staring straight out the window. The cool weather might make him able to linger staring there.

“How is your school?” Grandpa then looked at me.

“Icha has passed, Kek.”

“Oh. Alhamdulillahot. Work?”

“Not yet,” I replied honestly.

“Hm, why not work at Hasa company?”

I returned my lips. It would be inappropriate if I told her how I was insulted by her granddaughter at the company, then we could leave together this afternoon.

“Later, Grandpa said to Hasa, so that she would accept you in her company.”

“No need, Cake,” reject me smooth. “Icha has been accepted in other companies, just want to start next Monday,” lies me this time. I just don't want him to think about my future.

“Oh, good.”

I smile back. After quite a while, I suddenly saw Brother Iyash back.

“Cute me,” invite the man.

I suddenly nodded in wonder.

“Quick,” said Kak Iyash while pulling my hand with his left. Her flat face that rarely smiled made me a little furious.

“Where are you, Yash? Soon magrib,” said Grandpa.

“Get out for a minute, Cake,” replied Kak Iyash while continuing to pull me. I looked back and saw Grandma just back in the living room.

“Where are you, Yash?”

“Grandma, Icha–”

“Let's go out for a minute,” replied Brother Iyash.

Arriving outside the house, he let go of his hand. My little hand was a little hot, probably due to his hard grip.

“You said that I kicked you out of the hospital?” ask the man.

“Iya, ‘kan?” I was silent for a few seconds to trace the man's thoughts through his eyes. However, he avoided me and instead left. “Sister Iyash asked me to go.” My husband.

Brother Iyash kept walking and even left me. I called him and asked him to wait for me. However, it seems that he doesn't care, so I can only grumble.

I think all the roads here are good, but it's not, it's possible to still preserve the atmosphere of the village, so residents here prefer to use the river stones as a foothold. But, I'm not used to walking fast on these slippery rocks.

I see Brother Iyash has gone too far, I think he wants to make me lose my way. However, both of my legs were suddenly heavy to keep going. It felt like the world had just come to me and I no longer needed to chase after it. Edgars. I just saw him and he also saw me it's just that maybe Brother Edgar didn't see Brother Iyash so he just passed through it.

Without a smile, without a word Brother Edgar approached and immediately hugged me. My ears can hear the rumbling behind his chest. His chin was stuck above the top of my head. I'm happy that God didn't let me linger with Brother Iyash, my goal has been achieved, I just have to convince Brother Edgar that he wants to come home with me.