Flavour Bias

Dinner

The meeting with Edgar opened my mind. I just realized that he has the same rights as Brother Iyash. Maybe he was fighting for what he should have gotten a long time ago. I still felt that loneliness when he hugged me earlier.

“Why daydream?”

I blinked when Grandma asked that.

“Come to eat. Not good food left over like that.”

I'm nodding. I see everyone is busy collecting food on their plates. There is a mandatory menu of Indonesians, white rice accompanied by pickled goldfish, tempe bacem, sambal terasi, oseng pumpkin siamese and crackers. I think it's really delicious. I immediately dipped the rice, took a piece of goldfish belly up to the tail.

“Loh, why only half? Take it all,” Grandma said.

“She doesn't like fish heads,” says Kak Iyash. I looked at the man beside my right, I knew where he was coming from.

“You are the same Iyash,” Puckle Grandma.

I smiled clumsily.Either what is the same.

“Ya has taken another,” said Grandpa.

I quickly took one piece of tempe bacem and one scoop of squash. Then start eating it. My stomach was hungry, so I ignored everyone including Brother Edgar and Brother Iyash.

“Yash, you don't eat?” ask Grandma Alma.

“Wear left hand hard, Nek.”

Immediately I stopped chewing, while my hand was held in front of my mouth.

“But you have to eat. Here Grandma bribe.”

“No, no need. Grandma eats only,” said Sister Iyash.

I was pensive and ashamed of myself. Moreover, I see that Brother Iyash's plate is still empty.

“Eat with Icha aja,” I said as I shifted the plate closer. “Let Icha the bribe, Nek.”

“You sure?” ask Grandma.

“Iya. Icha wash your hands first. Let me later use spoon.” I got up, but Brother Iyash held me back.

“Why wash your hands? You mind if I eat right out of your hands?” challenge Brother Iyash.

I'm tumbled. “Not a problem.”

“Yes is fast, I am hungry,” said the Bear was flat.

I sit back. “Dasar went,” gumamku while plucking rice along with one pinch tempe bacem.

“What are you doing?” ask the man.

“Ngak. Fast feeding.” I stuffed the rice into his mouth, then I added a pinch of goldfish, and a piece of chayote. “Old chew.”

I took a breath, then filled my stomach. No matter what my hand was just the mouth of Sister Iyash. How about it, I'm hungry. Fortunately, I am not a disgusted person.

My hands took turns feeding Iyash and myself to add three times. Oh my God, so much fun. Until I forgot that I had ignored Brother Edgar who was sitting next to me and subconsciously I turned my back on him.

I realized when he said, “Izin smokes.” Then the man left the dining table after getting a nod from Grandpa.

I pensively stared at his sturdy back which slowly drifted away. While my hand restrained in front of Kak Iyash's face. I didn't realize I was almost feeding her nose. Conscious as his left hand held onto my wrist and aimed at his mouth.

“You don't think about how rice gets into my nostrils?” the man scolded while chewing.

“Sorry.” I went back to my position and continued eating. It was incomprehensible for the first plate and the second plate. The third maybe I'm full, or maybe because I feel guilty for Edgar? Didn't I come for him?

“Marissa,” call Brother Iyash.

I looked up and returned to feed him. “Quick spend. I have to talk to Brother Edgar,” I whispered.

However, I think Brother Iyash does not care, precisely this time he deliberately made it all long. Grandma went to the kitchen with an empty plate. Grandpa left the dining table and went somewhere. It was just the two of us sitting here. While I still have to serve that starving bear. Two last mouthfuls, but I think he chewed it on purpose for longer.

“Quick, Brother,” small-time.

“You yourself said that I had to chew it long.”

“Now accelerated,” I said while taking the last bribe. However, he was still chewing on the mouthful before. I could only sigh waiting for him for a few more seconds.

“Finally the task of feeding the bear is complete,” I said when I managed to give the last steam to his mouth.

I quickly got up and brought my old plate to the kitchen. I just thought that I had just eaten a plate together with that arrogant guy.

“Save aja, let Lastri wash later,” said Grandma who just brewed tea.

“Nothing, Grandma. Icha aja, all hand cleaner let not smell.”

“Hasa often stories about you.” Suddenly I felt Grandma stroking the top of my head. I could only smile clumsily feeling her caress.

“Grandmother is happy, finally Iyash can be close again with women,” added Grandma. And of course I was surprised.

“Yes, Grandma has heard everything from Hasa. After the maghrib prayer, he called.”

I wet my throat. Don't Om Hasa tell you that Iyash's sister is like this because of me?

“Iyash will not sacrifice his life, if the woman he protects is not important to him.”

“Grandpa exaggerated,” I said clumsy.

“Ngak. Grandma knows how Iyash,” said Grandma while giving a glass of warm tea.

I took a breath while accepting it.

“This is for Iyash. He doesn't like tea, he only drinks milk. Exactly like a baby.”

I stared at the glass of milk on the table. “Baby bear,” grunts me.

Grandma laughing. “You're right.” Then he patted my shoulder. “Give her milk to the baby bear.”

I smiled sinisterly as I continued to stare at the milk.

“Do not give sleeping pills,” said grandma in front of the kitchen door.

“Grandma,” my whine does not accept. Been tempted to poison him yet.

I quickly brought the milk to Brother Iyash. While Grandma brought tea for Grandpa and also Brother Edgar who is currently gathered on the porch of the house. As for Brother Iyash himself, I searched for him as he was sitting in front of his bedroom window.

“Sorry, go straight in,” I said as I entered the room because it happened that the door of the room was not closed.

Iyash did not turn his head and just stared at the glass of milk I had just placed on the table.

I saw him contemplating under the night sky. “Waw,” comments I'm amazed. “Here can be very clear yes.”

Iyash turned his head, then came down from the window, then walked to the closet. He took the telescope and the pole.

I watched him raise the pole. But only his stomach. It's natural because he's so tall. I was just his chest. Then he looked at me. However, not saying anything, just gesturing with the movement of his head.

I quickly approached him to see the miracle of God more closely. He turned the tip of the telescope and instantly the moon looked bigger.

I smiled to see how powerful God was. “When the moon is the same yes, only maybe the atmosphere is different,” I said without the slightest step away from the telescope.

“Here is quieter,” says Kak Iyash slowly.

“Befit Brother Edgar does not want to go home.” I straightened up and saw Brother Iyash sitting on the edge of the window like before.

“Not that makes him not want to go home.”

“What's it?” I was curious about his head.

“Maybe she is interested in Rania.”

I laughed as I approached her. “Not possible.”

“Why not, Rania is beautiful,” she said without staring at me. I'm speechless. Then he looked. “You like him, ‘kan?” tanyakanya.

I quickly took my eyes off of him and bowed back in front of the telescope. “He is not a month, so it is not difficult for me to reach him.” I just read a dialogue from the book Expectations by Edgar.

“Cha.” At once I heard the voice of Brother Edgar calling me soft. I quickly turned around and I saw him standing at the door.

“Kak.” I then approached. “Icha read the book. Good,” I said enthusiastically.

“Iya?” Brother Edgar smiled faintly.

I'm nodding.

“Still.” He stroked the top of my head. Then he passed me and went into the room. Then walk over to the book and pick up the bag.

My smile faded away. “Where is Edgar going?” manywould be surprised.

“I want to go home tonight,” replied Brother Edgar without lifting his face and even the enthusiasm or enthusiasm that I feel every reading his book has no effect on him.

“Loh, can't wait tomorrow?”

Edgar smiled, but he avoided my gaze.

“Kak,” call me immediately. But Edgar kept going. Suddenly I saw Brother Iyash standing next to me. “He can't go home tonight,” I said to Sister Iyash.

“Indeed why would he come home tonight?” ask Brother Iyash.

“Ngak. Cannot. If he comes home I should go home too.” I immediately took a step. However, Iyash's left hand restrained my right hand.

“You came with me, then went home too,” said Iyash.

“As for who I want to go home with,” I replied annoyed while removing his grip. Then go after Brother Edgar.