Just a Bond
There's Unrelenting Flavor
“How are you, Han?” Mas Gibran, who greeted me kindly and reached out to me, created nervousness. Maybe because I rarely interacted with him since I knew him after that time, I still felt awkward.
My first brother-in-law even smiled quite widely, like he knew nothing about the matter that happened between me and Najwa. Seeing that, I nodded stiffly. “Good, Mas,” answered me, then invited him to sit in the chair across from my desk. The place we agreed to meet was in a cafe not far from the studio.
Mas Gibran called the cafe waiter, then mentioned the drinks to order. He also asked me what message I wanted, and I told him to be equal.
“I think you will be confused looking for Najwa,” said Mas Gibran when the waiter had gone to get our ordered drinks. He turned his head towards me, then stared quite fixedly. “It turns out I was wrong. The proof is that you look very relaxed, there is nothing different.”
Like being struck by lightning in broad daylight, I glared for a moment; my heart beat grew less and less anxious to hear the words; secretly this hand also shook under the table. But immediately tried to neutralize it by taking a slow breath.
“Not to be surprised like that, Han. Just relax kali.” Once again I was made to gulp silently. That's how I behave? Mas Gibran chuckled, and I broke out in a cold sweat.
Oh, my God, it's so relaxing, Mom. How not surprised try? By asking that question, it means that Mas Gibran knew something about Najwa. Ah, yes. Last night when I called her number, Mas Reza picked up, right? Could Mas Reza have told Mas Gibran too? Well, die me if this is the story!
“This is the purpose I invited you to meet, Farhan.” My heart is getting bigger. Seeing the serious look that began to be printed on Mas Gibran's face, making the panic even more so. It turns out this is what it feels like to face a respected person and be in a state of guilt.
“Live it, yes.” There's nothing I can do but nod to Mas Gibran's words. “You yourself know, all this time who was blatantly protective and possessive to Najwa by giving ultimatums-ultimatums was Reza. But ... I'm silent, it doesn't mean I don't know anything.”
The head starts to fall on its own. The feeling of embarrassment to the sister-in-law sitting in front of him began to pervade the heart. A long time passed with silence. I don't know what Mas Gibran did.
“At first I warned Reza not to interfere too much with your affairs, because my brother was quite stubborn when it comes to Najwa. My reason is, Najwa already has a husband. He is also an adult and should not always rely on Reza in certain situations. In addition, I am sure her husband can help her solve the problem.” Mas Gibran continued his explanation, I felt more dwarfed. The fingers began to link to each other. The unrest in the heart, as well as the possibilities about the actions that will be carried out by Najwa's first brother, collaborated to mess with each other's minds.
“But I finally know why Reza is so protective of Najwa. Hearing all the full story that Najwa told last night—tentunya because of coercion from me, Reza and Diva because she still insists on defending her husband who is obviously very outrageous—I follow disappointed with you.”
There's nothing I can do now. I've lost my face in front of Mas Gibran. He paused his sentence for a moment. It was clear that his breathing was hunting. Although his stature looks calm, I actually know that my brother-in-law is holding back anger. After all who wouldn't be mad when he found out one of his family was hurt?
“Don't duck, Farhan. When facing a Najwa alone you can be arrogant, why not with me?” Mas Gibran's voice was heard. This time it also sounded full of emphasis. Inevitably I raised my face and looked at the face of Mas Gibran who was still serious, even very serious. “This is what men say? How dare women only.”
Very jleb! Didn't expect, anyway, a Gibran could behave like this. His voice was slow, but his words seemed to make the body crumble.
“I didn't expect if you would go that far hurting Najwa, and what surprised me and my wife even more was the fact that you had a relationship with Rifka, my sister who is married and has one child.”
“I and Rif—”
“I wonder, what the hell is special about you, until Rifka even Najwa who obviously never expected the same you even fell in love with the same person?”
It turns out that these subtle innuendos are not over either. There was a hint of anger that demanded to rebel in the heart. But I tried to hold him. I'm still a little sane. If the more acting, there is Mas Gibran more and more rampaging.
“Make people close to you comfortable? But Najwa is not at all happy with you. Can you make people close to you happy? In fact Najwa is happier with Reza.” Mas Gibran attached a gaze, like he was judging me. “You are said to be responsible, you are not entrusted with the sacred promise of your marriage. When your wife gets hurt, someone else is on her side. Worse, you hurt even more. In comparison, between you and Reza it's ninety-nine percent and one percent. Know?”
Where is the privilege of a Farhan? There ain't!
“I'm sure you must have thought that I would return your treatment to Najwa through these words. Could be. Let you know it feels like being hurt without physical pain. But it will not be comparable to what Najwa suffered all this time.”
Perhaps already thirsty or just to neutralize emotions, Mas Gibran sipped the canned drink he ordered earlier. He also remained silent for a while.
“I didn't come here to blame you or anyone. All I want is, affirm what you want, Han. Especially me personally, if you intend to improve your relationship, go ahead and prove it. But if you end up hurting Najwa again, by Allah I will not. Divorce her, your marriage also only takes two months, right? Nor would I be willing if Rizqun's life suffered in the future due to the actions of her mother and omnya.”
My body trembled as sentence by sentence from Mas Gibran's speech, as if it contained such a powerful electrical charge.
“I can find a better companion than you for Najwa.”
I don't know what happened, the anger I've been trying to hold back, as if it's back to booming hearing this Mas Gibran sentence. For whatever reason, there is a feeling of unwillingness in the heart if one day Najwa is really with someone else.
No. gabe. Najwa can't marry anyone. Damnit damnit! What is this feeling? Am I really in love with Najwa? But ....
***
Hey, who's waiting for this? Sorry, yes. Just can upload. There was still some busyness. Kuy comment. 😂
Sumenep, Madura, East Java
Tuesday, 21 September 2021
