I'M BETWEEN YOU AND HIM

SOMEONE WHO YOU ARE, RANTI?

Day by day it comes back. I tried to forget everything, especially love. Love doesn't always have to be, right? Enough I keep my love neatly folded in the recesses of the heart. If I miss the past, I'll just open the memory sheet. I'll just look at it and I'll remember the sweet. The bitter, let it be a medicine marker that I have been wrong and caliph. So I'm not gonna eat that life-bitter pill anymore. Stop here I'm playing love and love complicates my life. I believe there is another love that is more precious, the love of the Creator.

I, still trying to develop my efforts to become a seller and dealer of splints. Thank God, behind the pain of my life, God gave me another favor by increasing the coffers of money into my pocket.

Even Mul was more confident in bringing a girl with her contract and introducing me as her brother. I'm happy, he's starting to learn to start planning ahead. Youth today are sometimes more courageous and not piki-piki.

I can only guide Mul and Jabrik in a better direction. Be a good man for your partner later. Through moriil and material. At least don't let them be like me. That's hope.

It's already in the rainy season. Usually this season is a bit vulnerable for small entrepreneurs like us. Because the continuous rain makes people lazy to go out of the house, also because Jakarta is already used to flood subscriptions to make all access closed. Automatically, revenue decreases.

I am still not discouraged because there are other spirits behind me that support me. Mul and Jabrik are still working in screen printing, but there are Mul's sisters and several housewives and young dropouts who depend on their income from my sempolku order. They can take the following merchandise with additional spices and pay later after they are sold out.

There's a call coming into my phone. New number. And I immediately picked it up. Because sustenance is not to be missed.

"Assynolt..."

Walaikumsalam.. mas Dika huh?

"Yes my own. What's wrong, mas?"

I'm Sofyan Ali, mas! Can I talk to Dika? It's up to the time and place. Can mas?

I was silent thinking for a moment.

"I'm sorry, what's the matter with me?"

There is something I want to discuss with Dika. Me, ...His close friend Ranti! Can you please mas?

Deg. Instantly my heartbeat tightened. Ranti's close friend? My ex-wife's best friend? What was? Why would you want to discuss with me? Instantly my mind was empty.

"I tried to find time Sofyan Ali! I will tell you again, will I? Sorry, I'm trading!"

Sorry to bother you! But what if I come to see you? May? I asked for a trade address, right?

I'm taking a breath. Kinda anxious. But I finally sent him the printing address of Akung's boss screen where I traded.

As he promised. That man is in front of me. It looks like she is the age of Ranti. Handsome and clean too. It looks simple but pleasing to the eye. Unknowingly I judged it.

Sofyan Ali shook my hand tightly. Her smile seemed sincere. And I don't want to put more of my pride in front of this guy. Then I immediately closed the tarp on my wagon.

"We're looking for a place around here!" ask me to be polite. And again he just smiled. Mm-h... Looks like that smile that managed to lure my ex-wife, Ranti.

We entered a coffee shop. Ordering two cups of coffee and a plate each of my favorite cheeses.

"I'm sorry, my! I'm disturbing you!" the man opened the conversation after sipping a little coffee in his cup. I know, he's nervous. Because my jet eyes occasionally look at it, paying close attention.

"I've known Ranti for a year. And for a few months I have ventured to be closer. I know I'm sassy! Ranti said, before I ask for a further relationship, I have to introduce myself to the mas. Orange Papa. I respect her and I seriously want to get closer with the intention of proposing her to be my wife!"

I just fell silent. Holding my breath made my chest tighten. Gentle this young man.

"May I ask you before?" my question made Sofyan nod a little long.

"How old is my child? Has he ever been married before?And what's my job?" I asked as if I was the father of a young girl. Hhh...

"My age is 32 years. She is 3 years younger than Ranti. But I was ready for all that, inshaAllah born inner. I'm bujang, mas! Although I am just an ordinary entrepreneur, but I believe.I can make Ranti happy also Orange!"

Whoa..bravo, Dika! A man 10 years younger than you so dashingly asked your ex-wife firmly manly speaking 4 eyes. Whoa, hebaaat!! You're K.O stoned, Dika!....

I was silent for a long time. Only dumbly with hands play the location of the cup left and right. What am I supposed to say, if my ex-wife gets the better of me? Pleased or sad? Doesn't the Qur'an itself describe women as good for good men? Have I not always prayed sincere happiness for Ranti and my son Jingga? But I was sad, I drowned deeper and deeper in the ocean of emptiness. Just empty. Such a suffocating void rules my heart and mind.

"Ranti is a good woman. I've been with him for almost 7 years in the household. I have known Ranti for almost 10 years. And I have failed to keep and love him wholeheartedly. She really is every man's dream wife..."

"I've been watching him for a long time, Mom! Even my parents were so respectful with Ranti and supported me completely. The beginning I knew Ranti was because she was a regular customer of my mamah convection and I was a mamah marketing employee. Over time we met often. Bernego, discuss our efforts. I was amazed by his views and thoughts, Mom! I also respect his way of caring for and educating Orange. I fell in love with her, mom!"

I could feel his feelings through the twinkle of his eyes when telling Ranti. He so glorified Ranti from the way she spoke. I'm shy. I was disappointed once again in this stupid self.

"I'm very happy that Ranti and Jingga are happy. That was my hope and prayer all along. I am only Ranti's ex-wife, although I will never be her ex-father Jingga. I was happy, and came to me manly and maturely. I can't forbid much less hinder Ranti's happiness. I gave it back to him. He has the right to decide everything in his life. I am just the past to him now. But I support Sofyan's goodwill. With a note, mas promised me, will not make Ranti sad let alone suffer. He would never hurt her either physically or her feelings. Do you want to keep my promise?"

"Yes, Dika. I dare to promise! Although I do not dare to promise to give him luxury, but I make sure... Ranti and Orange will always be happy."

We shook hands with each other's hearts and minds. Sofyan Ali with a happy smile while I with a bitter smile. Hhh...

"Thank you, for your kindness. We will meet often later especially after we become a family later."

"Yes." Yeah."

I returned to my trading wagon with a broken heart. Like a mirror that has been broken into pieces. It is very difficult to string it again even though glued glue reinforcement. That's my heart now.

I'm not continuing my trade. I want to go home. Sleep to relieve my fatigue.

My chicken is still a lot. Finally I distributed for free to the employees of Akung boss, the merchants around me and also the children of street buskers who happened to hang out in front of my lap.

I took my motorbike slowly down the Red Bridge road, turning back towards Mount Sahari where I contracted.

I am weakened again. Oh God, please strengthen me! Strengthen my heart. Don't you let me be an unbeliever by berating You for my unfavourable fate. I am tired, God! Please support me with the wings of Your love! Please keep my mind sane. I am only Your weak creation, powerless besides Your strength! I can only pray in my heart.

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