Guardians of the Heart #2
Chapter 18
On Saturday after work the Lieutenant picked me up and took me directly to Sukajadi, he said he was waiting for Mamah and it turns out that Mamah asked to accompany him to find a gift for his friend Papah's son who will get married tomorrow. As a result, all day I accompanied Mamah looking for gifts around several places.
We just came home after the magrib, I immediately looked for the Lieutenant who turned out to be in the rear gazebo again chatting with Arga.
“Hey, don't say anything?”
I asked while sitting down to join them.
“Engga, again noisily.”
I raised an eyebrow hearing Arga's words.
“Ribut why?”
Arga breathed heavily while staring at the koi Papah fish pond which is now celebrated with garden lights.
“Well that's it I also don't know what makes us take.”
“Kok can?”
I'm not sure how he didn't know what made them fight.
“Truly do not know, suddenly he did not say anything silent, I was in cuekin he chatted with his friends, rather than being asked to mending home.”
“Nanya why ramble?” ask the Lieutenant.
“Already, he instead answered think alone.”
Me and the Lieutenant were both surprised to hear Arga.
“Irene really said that?”
“Iya.”
“Try to remember again, maybe you are wrong to say or accidentally make him offended.”
I nodded in approval to the Lieutenant's words, Arga seemed to think for a moment then shook his head.
“Nih, last I WA-an same she is still mediocre.”
Arga showed me his cell phone that they've been fine all along.
“You forgot your birthday didn't?” ask the Lieutenant.
“December date, still old.”
“Current date?”
“After passing, Key.”
“His cat's birthday?”
I nudged the Lieutenant for asking a no-no but instead made Arga laugh.
“Sigana (his power), Nan.”
“Against the times, Ga,” my words made Arga and the Lieutenant look at me.
“Well it could be tuh, Ga, if girls tuh sometimes like to be angry is not clear that once a month.”
“I lgga!”
“That's wrong or unconscious? hahaha.”
“Hahaha.”
“Iya yes, it could be,” said Arga while laughing.
“Had just said it first, Ga, let him calm down first later if you have just pondered why.” Arga nodded in understanding.
“But he's new ya angry rich gini?” I asked curiously because since Irene's relationship was the first time I've seen Arga like this because they had a fight, it seems like this fight is quite serious.
“Ever now also marahan, but usually I know the reason so can immediately apologize if for example wrong.”
“Ya already, later tonight try WA or call if not picked up or not reply WA tomorrow just come to his house to be clear, do not let drag on later even so add complicated problem.”
Arga nodded in understanding then he went back silent and I told him about my activities with Mamah today, as usual the Lieutenant would listen and respond to my story but then he looked at Arga with probing eyes.
“So what makes him angry? Are there any other girls?”
I was shocked to hear the Lieutenant's question which made Arga look at him then throw a heavy breath.
“There really are other girls?” I just can't believe it.
“I don't know..” Arga looks confused himself.
“You story? Maybe we can help.”
Unlike me who was surprised, the Lieutenant looks calmer and relaxed making Arga look at him then start telling stories.
I could see the admiration in the look in his eyes when he told about the family he had just met.
“But they ran out of fees when the youngest came to college even though among his brothers he was the one they thought was the smartest. Not to lose the spirit of the youngest daughter is looking for a scholarship in order to go to college and finally get accepted in ITB with a scholarship although not full but at least it can ease their burden a little.”
“Why not ask for help his brothers to charge his college?” I asked him, isn't his brother successful? Why don't they help his youngest brother?
“They're married, so they can only help the most for his snacks not to mention not all his sister-in-law can understand the condition of their family makes it have to slam bones between college and part-time work to finance his life, he said, while his parents' rice fields have been sold out to finance his brothers' college, what is left is now only a few plots of rice fields that are only enough to eat.”
I was saddened to imagine a pair of parents who had lost a lot of their possessions for the future of their children, but when they were successful it seemed like they forgot to return the favor.
“Miris right? I was surprised when they told me, but they still sincerely lived it all. One day her youngest daughter came home because she was on college break, her name was Reva but people called her Eva… she is very beautiful as her parents often tell her that the youngest beautiful is rich soap opera artist.”
Arga smiled widely with eyes looking up when describing the figure of a woman who met in Sukabumi.
“He was also very smart, majoring in civil engineering like me made us connect when chatting, and sometimes I would ask his advice if there was a problem in the project to make me an intern in the project yesterday… at first our relationship was only really professional work, but I don't know when I started to pay attention to it often.”
Arga breathed a heavy sigh, he looked back to make me feel what he felt.
“Repeatedly I reminded her that Irene was waiting for me here, but every day I saw her I was amazed by her. She was not as beautiful as Irene, but she had beauty radiating from her heart, everyone would love to be around her, she never complained in the least, she said, she is always smiling which will rub off on everyone.”
“Like Kekey?” the Lieutenant asked me surprised to see him.
“I?”
“Yes, you are also ugly but many people like, it is strange.”
“Iiiih!!!”
“Hahaha..engga deh, you are beautiful.” The Lieutenant pinched my pouting cheek.
“Hahaha.. yes, rich Kekey but he is not whiny, spoiled equally stubborn.”
“Keep on!”
“Hahahha... so that's why you like her?”
“I don't know what he likes in what sense? Is it just a wonder to see it or.. really like it? I really don't know.”
We were all silent and I could see Arga was so tormented by his feelings right now.
“And Irene knows about him?” I asked to break the silence.
“It seems.. A week ago I called Reva to ask her back to work as an intern on our new project, but when she picked up the phone I knew something was wrong making me come straight to her boarding house, and it turns out that he was sick enough to make me without a second thought to immediately take him to the hospital fortunately he was just a fever so no need to hospitalize, that's when I met with Irene's friend, Irene, I thought maybe he told her that.”
“Why not explain if you have nothing to do,” said the Lieutenant made Arga look at him.
“I don't know if he's angry about this or not.”
“You better be open with Irene, Ga, maybe she's waiting for you to be honest for a week but it turns out you didn't tell her and it hurt her… if it's true that Irene's friend told her to see you with another woman, I'm sure she's really hurt and sad right now.”
“He was right, Ga, mending you honest with Irene and I think you just feel awe and sympathy just like Reva and her parents are nothing more than that, and remember Irene was also very amazing, too, No, he was with you when you were a wayward student whose hobby is mountain climbing until now he is loyal even though you only come home once a week or two once a week but he never complained he still supports you, all he needs now is honesty from you, that's all.”
Arga was silent for a while then nodded, he looked at his watch which showed at 9.
“Not overnight if now to his house?”
“Try first, tar if it is in front of his house call for a moment to talk to clearin.”
Arga nodded in understanding then prepared to leave.
“You are also ready!” the Lieutenant said while standing.
“Prepared for what?” ask me while tailing behind him go inside.
“Go home, indeed do not want to go home.”
“Go home now? Not playing first?”
“Where are you playing gini night?”
“Circularly just ride the motor..find the wind? Yes... yes... yaaaaa?!”
“Ckk! Wear the jacket!”
“Yaaa??”
“Iyaaa.. cengeng.”.
With a happy big smile I put on my jacket, then say goodbye to the parents of the Lieutenant and finally around riding a motorcycle enjoying the city of Bandung at night and only until the house at 10:30, the lieutenant just greeted my parents and then went straight home after the appointment tomorrow will come again.
And the next day he came when I just woke up napping at about 2, not like before now I'm cute in front of him even though I haven't bathed or woke up with messy hair. Our current relationship has really made me feel comfortable, as if there were no burdens, I have to make a decision about our true status, but maybe later if all my questions have been answered.
*****
Hot sweet tea + fried cassava to accompany Sunday morning while watching Doraemon 😁
