Kutikung With Bismillah

Chapter 22. Feeling Appreciated.

Hanna immediately prepared food for Zafran with vigor. He arranged all the food brought earlier to the table, not forgetting the plate and spoon that had been prepared.

"The food is ready, Tu-eh Zaf," Hanna said stuttering. He still felt awkward calling the man by name alone, it felt very inappropriate.

Zafran nodded his head and immediately headed towards the kitchen. A faint smile rose when she saw the food on the table, just like a wife serving her husband.

"Come, you should eat too! We eat together" said Zafran.

Hanna nodded her head and sat right in front of Zafran. He swiftly took food for the man, making Zafran look at him with sparkling eyes.

They then enjoyed the meal while talking about the painting. It seems that Hanna was very enthusiastic about explaining the techniques used in painting, really looking different as usual.

When they finished, Hanna and Zafran both cleaned up their food marks.

"Let me wash it, you can go back to your apartment. Thank you for the good food, Hanna," said Zafran, he then brought the dirty plate and put it in the sink.

Again Zafran's speech made Hanna's heart rustle violently. From the time he cooked and served food, no one ever thanked him. Never mind thanking, praising the food was delicious never.

"Why dream?"

Hanna gasped when she heard Zafran's words, and suddenly tears dripped from her eyes made Zafran stare in confusion.

"Why are you crying?" asked Zafran sharply, making Hanna immediately wipe the tears on her face.

Hanna herself was shocked that her tears had suddenly come out, but her heart was feeling sad right now.

"Thank you for making me happy, um ... Mas," said Hanna hesitantly, it is better to call Zafran with a polite call than to directly call his name.

Zafran frowned in wonder. "Thank you for what?" He felt confused, especially when he heard the call of the woman for him.

"Thank you for making me feel appreciated. Maybe for others it's all normal, but all the compliments that Mas gave me made me feel happy and moved" Hanna replied softly.

Zafran was silent when he heard Hanna's words. Both of his hands clenched tightly as he held the turmoil of feeling that was seeping within his chest, wanting him to wipe away the tears that were on his face at the moment.

"If you will excuse me first. Have a good rest, Mas. Assalamu'alaikum," said Hanna. He turned around and left that place.

Zafran let out a heavy sigh as Hanna had already exited her apartment unit, she then sat her body on the chair while rubbing her face violently.

"Did Hanna not think at all about separating from her husband?" Zafran Mummings. He then shook his head so that the strange thoughts lodged within the mind could disappear.

Hanna herself walked towards her apartment unit with a big smile. Her heart felt flowery with what was being felt at this moment, until she did not see if her husband was walking towards her with a confused look.

"Why are you smiling like that?"

Hanna jumped in shock when she heard someone say, she turned her head back and was shocked when she saw Leo.

"You're home yet?" hanna asked stammeredly. He immediately picked up the bag that Leo had in hand.

Leo nodded his head as he entered the apartment. "Have you prepared dinner for Mr Zafran?" He stopped his steps and looked at Hanna sharply.

Leo immediately smiled widely when he heard it. "That's my wife's new." He rubbed the top of Hanna's head gently, making the woman shrivel in fear. "Come, bathe me! I'm so tired today." He stepped back in and immediately walked into the room, of course, followed by Hanna who must always provide the best service for him.

***

At exactly 8 p.m., Zafran left the apartment for one of the restaurants that his father had told him about. He deliberately arrived late so as not to spend too long with someone he was about to meet.

Not long ago, until Zafran also to the destination. He immediately parked his car and passed out to get inside the restaurant.

Zafran stepped his foot towards the number 3 private room, he immediately opened the door of the room and entered into it.

"I'm sorry I came late" Zafran said as he entered the room, his parents and others looking at him.

"You've come? Please sit down" said the middle-aged man named Samuel with a big smile, inviting Zafran to join them.

Zafran nodded his head at Samuel as well as the middle-aged man's family, then he slapped his parents' hands and sat down where available.

"Why is it too late, Zaf? We've been waiting for you for almost an hour" Vano said in a stifled voice, knowing that his son must have been late on purpose.

"Sorry, Pa. Last afternoon I ate until I was full, so I went straight to bed and woke up too long" Zafran replied. He did not lie about the food satiety, also had time to sleep in the apartment.

"It's okay, sir. All that is common, let alone your son living alone in the apartment" exclaimed Samuel who felt no problem about Zafran's delay.

Zafran again nodded his head at Samuel while glancing at the woman before him, then frowned at the feeling of recognizing the woman.

"We meet again, Zafran. I didn't expect that you were Mr. Vano's son" said Bella, one of the women Zafran met at Leo's apartment.

Samuel immediately nudged Bella's arm as her daughter spoke disrespectfully to Zafran, while Vano and Via frowned because the woman had recognized their son.

"It's okay, sir. I've met your daughter" Zafran said, but she doesn't remember her name.

Samual nodded his head with a wide smile that almost reached the ears. "Well, I don't think Bella and you know each other, sir. It doesn't seem like it's going to be hard anymore if you want to get close to him, or maybe you guys are just being a match?" He chuckled at what he had just said.

Vano and Via immediately glanced towards Zafran when they heard the man's ravings, they already felt uneasy when they saw their son's reddened face.

"Stupid or not it's in God's hands, sir. Maybe they can make friends first" Vano said, trying to divert the conversation.

"Maybe they are a match, sir. Look, they're very compatible" added Luna, Bella's mother.

Zafran smiled sinisterly upon hearing their words. "I also met a woman before she worked as a maid in my mother's house. Does that mean that he and I are partners?"

•

•

•

Tbc.