Just a Bond

Be optimistic, Najwa

“Mas ngusir me?”

Mas Reza clamped my nose again. Worse, this time it was firmer than before, so I had trouble breathing. Suddenly, I hit the back of his hand until the clasp of his finger came off. Regretting my brother, he even laughed out loud.

"It's very nice to ngusilin his sister, Mas," I complained as I rubbed the nose that had been pinned down.

“Lagian, you're recalcitrant, anyway. It's not like I'm gonna push you, Dek. But it's already night. It's nine o'clock. Farhan is waiting for you for sure.”

I shook firmly. "Usually we also get to watch late at night together, play together."

"So Mas Reza said what, hem? You're already married. We're different, Dek. There are things that need to be limited. You said you were relieved, right?"

I'm blinking lips. "I still miss Mas Reza."

My brother chuckled for a while, making the gerrymandering again fill the heart. I was already a little relieved, but I was lazy to be in one room with Mas Farhan.

"Tomorrow again, huh?"

Again, I shook my head firmly in response to Mas Reza's question.

“Oke, what do you want?”

“Sleep here.”

Mas Reza suddenly got up from his bed, grabbed my arm, then pulled it slightly. Understand what Mas Reza will do, deliberately I make this body like a stone, so as not to be able to move.

“Mas Reza, please?”

My brother's grinding his teeth. “Why are you so spoiled now, anyway, Dek? Come back.”

"No, Mas. Please, huh?"

Mas Reza seemed to take a deep breath. Maybe he was very upset times, yes, with my attitude now. A long time passed with silence. Mas Reza remained silent without a single voice being spoken. He then took his cellphone lying on the bedside nightstand, then focused on looking at the rectangular object for a long time. His fingers were also busy typing, no matter what he typed, and no idea who he was contacting.

“Yes, I'll be back, but we'll see, yuk. Ten minutes aja.”

"Five minutes."

Alright. Rather than not being allowed, it is better. Besides, I have a good plan to sleep in this room.

...***...

Sayup-sayup I heard qir’oah ahead of dawn reverberating from the musala near the house. I opened my eyes slowly, then tried to get up. However, my movements felt difficult, like something was wrapped around my waist. I turned my head to the side, how surprised I was when I saw Mas Farhan falling asleep beside me. Fortunately, I immediately used this hand to smother my mouth so as not to scream. Otherwise, pity Mas Farhan if he is shocked. I looked at the entire side of the room, and I was already in my own room.

“Who brought me here?” I started monologuing. Though what I remember last night I was still watching with Mas Reza. Ah, I really overslept, but why is it still being moved here anyway?

However, behind the frustration there is one more happiness that slowly infiltrates the heart. True said Mas Reza, why am I insecure just because of one thing, while there are still more things I can be grateful for the presence of Mas Farhan? At times when others can't sleep one room with him, I can, even one bed. Looking at his face, too.

Slowly, my lips moved with a smile. "Alhamdulillah. I'm happy to see you from this close, Mas."

More viewed, Mas Farhan's face was not boring. In fact, even in his sleep, he still looks handsome.

"May this be a good start to our relationship, Mas. I love you so much."

I don't know where the idea and the courage came from, I lifted up one of his hands, which was around my waist, and then kissed it for so long. "I'm sure one day you'll be able to accept me, Mom. And I won't stop fighting until I get to that point."

Slowly, I moved Mas Farhan's hand to the side of the bed, then got up. I'll wake him up after I'm holy.

“You're up?” Footsteps that were about to move from the side of the bed, immediately stopped. I then turned to look at Mas Farhan who also began to rise, then squirm for a while, then yawn. “Why not wake me?” ask again with a voice that is still typical people wake up—serak.

“This is me also just waking up, Mas. Just went to the bathroom.”

“Ikut.”

I'm nodding. Immediately I got him a towel and a change of clothes, then went out of the room in step.

"Why is it that the dawns are so cold, anyway." Mas Farhan crossed his chest while standing in front of the bathroom, waiting for the person inside to come out. "This is who's inside, anyway? Long time. Not cold what's long in the bathroom?"

I chuckled at the expression that Mas Farhan had shown. It turns out he can grumble too. Funnier.

"Don't say that. Who knows in that, Dad. What will I do if I hear it later? That's usually it, Mom." He just looked around without making any sound. Occasionally he took off the two hands that were clutched in front of his chest, then rubbed his face.

I approached her who was still standing without leaning against the wall, because she said leaning against the wall instead added to the cold. "Wear this, Mas, let's not get cold."

I saw her eyeballs slightly bought as I put the towel I was holding on to her.

"Thank you, please."

"Together, Mas. It's not cold, is it?"

He nodded slowly. In this heart it feels like there are flowers that continue to bloom along with the outbreak of happiness there. Thank God, yes, Allah.

Optimist, Najwa. May this really be the beginning of all your happiness with your husband. So says one side of me.

“Duh, newlyweds to any sideways, yes. To the bathroom must be together.”

My God, I almost hung up when Weny suddenly appeared in front of me. I clucked in annoyance as my sister this one started being nosy. What the fuck try?

“Iya, dong, Wen. You used to be the same Wildan, too, right, pas is still newly married?” sahut Mas Farhan suddenly. I turned to look towards him. Even more surprising, when Mas Farhan even serve the nosy behavior of Weny.

“Not just yet, Mas. Until now it is still the same, anyway.”

"Well, right. The glue of the husband and wife relationship is, yes, little things like this. Like last night too, Wen. Your mom's sleeping in Mas Reza's room again. Code to carry."

Oh my God, my dear Farhan. I could only pretend to turn my face away and secretly smile shyly. Even though after that I was again made dongkol because Weny started to harass me again.

...***...

Hi, I'm updating again. Hope someone is happy. Ha-has.

Don't forget to leave a trail of your appreciation. But I don't mean it, lo, yeah. Which is pleasing, really. Oh, aye. If you are interested, you can recommend my novel to friends, neighbors, family or anyone else. More people are reading my novels.

Thank you to those of you who have accompanied Mas Farhan and Najwa so far. Your contribution to this work means so much to me. Don't get tired of waiting, yeah. Thank you to all of you anyway. May the Lord repay you all with the best of kindness. Aamiins.

Sweet greetings from me.💙

Sumenep, Madura, East Java

Thursday, 5 August 2021