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All Stories About Arez

Renjana Kanya's

We decided to stay one more night at Arez's parents' house. Mother forbade us to return to Jakarta on the same day. Mother said, tomorrow morning, Mr. Dadung - the driver of their family - will take us home.

I don't mind your request. I want to know more about Arez. Not for nothing, I just want to heal the longing that is still shackling. And, there's something I want to know more than anything. About Araz's meeting with Arez until it ends in a no-nonsense agreement.

"Arez can only let me fall in love with you. He asks you to keep your heart from getting hurt. Like he's always been keeping his feelings for you."

Araz said that as we walked back to where mom and dad were waiting. I stopped and looked at the back of the man in front of me. So all this time, all he's done is for Arez's sake? It's not a thing in really liking me or...

Hah, just remembering it has made my chest tight. That guy is totally unpredictable. Sometimes he suddenly said love, sometimes also said let's get married, but never seriously asked. And now I know that there was a deal he had agreed with Arez before my friend came back to the bosom of the earth. How does Araz really feel?

"So, eat a lot of kiddo. Look at that your body is so skinny."

Mother's voice broke my daydream about two men who now became one body. How not, Araz has a healthy body, but his heart does not support the man to move as he wishes. Arez has a healthy heart, but his body rejects all activity due to brain injury. Until they are met by fate into a unity. Araz's healthy body and normal-beating heart belong to Arez.

"Don't hesitate Kanya, just assume she's at home. You ate it a little mellow from yesterday." Dad commented when he saw my plate which only contained a little rice and fried chicken. I lost my appetite after learning the painful facts about Arez today.

"This is the soup. It's Arez's favorite thing to do when he comes home. Vegetable soup plus slices of meat that still have fat using coconut milk. Though he had to diet and reduce fat, but still stubborn and ask mother masakin if going home. She once told Mother, if she comes home with you, Mother must cook this dish for you," said Mother while pouring vegetables to my plate.

Seeing the expectant face of the middle-aged woman, made me feed a spoonful of rice with vegetables that had just poured mother. Although it looks a little pale from the coconut milk sauce, but the taste is undeniable if it is really delicious. The aroma of onion and white stir-fry, combined with pepper and cayenne pepper left intact. While the typical coconut milk seems to give a sensation of rupture in the mouth. The texture of the meat is also soft. Perfect plus vegetables such as carrots, chickpeas, cauliflower, mustard white, and so forth.

"Where does your tongue match, right?"

"Mother's son, I prefer spicy food."

"Thank God if it matches your tongue. Mommy deliberately cooks a bit spicy because Arez says you don't like sweet."

The warm atmosphere at the dining table makes me awkward. Hearing my mother's story, it was as if Arez had told so many things about me to his parents. Is that how close he is to his family? Suddenly my heart was overcast. I haven't felt the warmth of a mother for a long time.

Hufft... Unknowingly I breathed. Making Araz who was sitting next to me squeeze my left hand under the table. Although surprised, his touch made me feel calmer.

"Sorry Mother, who did not immediately look for you once Arez's situation worsened. Though Arez really wants to meet you, but Mother also does not know where to find you."

"It's okay, Mother, Kanya should apologize for not being able to be next to Arez when she needs to." My voice stuck in the esophagus. Guilt still lingers in my heart.

"Mother is always grateful to meet the same, Kanya. Arez always told me that he had a really beautiful friend. It is also kind because you have stayed together with a rental that is cheaper than the cost. Especially the apartment rental. Mommy should have met you directly Dad huh. Let's talk more." Mother's face turned sad when she spoke to me. I know, there is still sorrow behind the sincere attitude of the middle-aged woman.

"We can still talk often, Bun, from now on. Araz promised that he would often bring Kanya here if there was free time. Yeah, right, Him?" ask Araz for my approval.

"Yes, Mommy knows that you will definitely do anything for the sake of this old woman, but you also cannot force your health, Araz. You must take good care to always be healthy. Don't let yesterday's incident happen again," added the middle-aged woman while holding cloudy on her face so as not to become rain. However, I am sure you must miss the presence of the baby in the midst of their family.

I grabbed the woman's shoulder. Gave strength that felt so warm in my eyes. I could even feel them giving each other strength through hugs. At least Arez was lucky, he grew up in such a warm family. The warmth I had never felt for a long time.

"Once, continue eating. We shouldn't talk sad at the dinner table, should we?" said Father so Mother looks calmer.

We continued eating in silence. Although my tongue was bitter when I realized that the woman was trying so hard to lose her only child. Could my mom feel the same way?

Heh, I don't know. I have long lost a home that provides love and warmth. For I am an eagle forced to fly from a height by the mother. Forced to learn to survive alone from an increasingly cruel world.

***

Sleep uneasy. It has been since 09:00 last night I say goodbye to mother to sleep early. In fact, until 11:00 pm, my eyes have not been closed. Something is bothering my mind. It's about Arez.

I decided to open my chat room with araz. Determine whether the man is still awake or has been lulled by dreams.

Anya

Mas, have you slept?

There was no reply from the chat I sent. I waited long enough, until I finally decided to send Araz a message. There is no reply either. Up to five minutes later my watch notification light blinked. One message from Araz appeared on the screen of the six-inch device over that.

Alcatraz

No, I just made hot chocolate so I could sleep. Wantsome?

Anya

Alcatraz

Kitchen. Wait in the family room. Or do you want to help me? I'm sure it's not that you're helping the kitchen.

Anya

It's delicious, I can cook it if it's just water.

Alcatraz

That's what a toddler can do, too, Kanya.

Anya

Dih, seriously Mas, I can cook. I'm going to make Mas Araz sometime, but don't be surprised. It's not as good as Mas Araz's cooking.

Alcatraz

Yes indeed. So you want hot chocolate, right? How come there is no one in the family room? Or do I want to take you to the room?

Whahuh? So the guy was serious when he said he was making hot chocolate? I don't know if Araz has a habit of making something filling if he can't sleep. What did he say? Want to take chocolate to the room? Nope, no. Before any unwanted things happened, I got out of bed and got out of Arez's room. The man was already standing behind the bedroom door carrying two glasses of hot chocolate with a mixture of fresh mint scent.

The mint?

God, I just realized that it was the scent of a man standing in front of me.

"Delivery midnight you've come, sir."

"Thank you. I thought Mas Araz was just kidding when he said again to make chocolate," I said as I received a glass of chocolate from Araz. The man just smiled as he rubbed the tip of my head.

"Is the title of liar attached to me now?" ask Araz for a smile.

"Well, not that either. It's just a really late night to enjoy a glass of hot chocolate."

"It's a habit if you can't sleep. You can't drink beer or cigarettes either. Yes, make chocolate ajalah to say tired."

The man walked towards the living room sofa. Let the lights go out. The room was quite dim from the sitting lights placed on the table in the corner of the room. Also highlight lights from the park.

Araz sat down while straightening his legs on the long sofa. I chose to sit a little far away from him. Really, I don't expect past events to happen again if it's close to him. Even though I couldn't resist either. It's just that there's something I have to make sure everything becomes clear.

"There's actually something I want to ask Mas Araz."

"About Arez?" I nodded at the man's question. The smile that left a wrinkle at the end of his eyes was engraved on Araz's lips. "I'll be happy to answer your questions as long as I can, Kanya."

"Ehm, I was actually wondering what Mas Araz meant to say that..." Sentence paused. I stared silently at Araz's face in the dim light of Arez's living room. I don't know, I still can't guess such a complicated fate.

"Yes?"

"...if Mas Araz... Arghh, Mas Araz must know what I mean."

"No way, I can't possibly know what you mean if you don't tell me," Araz replied, obviously, he was teasing me. The man knew exactly what I wanted to ask.

"Mas Araz, plis..."

"Yes I don't know what you're talking about, Him."

"As far as noon, when Mas Araz said Arez... Mas, I'm embarrassed."

Araz laughed softly at my nervousness. I wasn't expressing love, but Araz's eyes made half of my brain unable to think clearly. What's so hard to say, "What does it mean that Arez said that a man can't fall in love with another woman?" Already, finished things. But apparently, that sentence did not come from my lips. My tongue is twisted just by staring at the alluring look in his eyes.

Oh my God, I'm really stuck in that scary prison. Alcatraz.