LIEGE

ASKING FOR PERMISSIONS

Erin looks agitated. Look back at the gate. His unusual attitude of course made Andrew who was watching TV disturbed.

"Rin, what's wrong with you? Here sit next to daddy."

"What time is dad?"

"It's only 7, baby. Wh why? Are you waiting for Daffa?"

"Yes, he said he was coming at 7."

"Patience to Rin. Probably stuck on the road. Why not just do it this way?" yuna asked who had come to bring a cup of coffee for Andrew.

"So Daffa said he wanted to go home first. That's why he didn't pick up Erin."

"Don't.... " Andrew mocked his only daughter.

"Please dad, don't tease me, okay?"

"Rin recalls, she must have come," Yuna calmed her daughter down. "Honey, don't be so dong."

"Mommy cooks what?" tahya Erina to divert her nervousness.

"So mommy cooked chicken opor. You said Daffa was happy about chicken. Mommy also cooks japchae and shrimp shapo tofu. For dessert mommy make strawberry shorbet."

"Waah mommy's great."

"You don't want to learn to cook, Rin? Indonesian guys love girls who can cook you know."

"Let's go, if you're married, then" Erina replied. "But if you're married to stay here, there's mommy who cooks, right?"

"You forgot, if after you get married we'll move to Texas?"

"HW.how could I forget that. Mom, dad.. can cancel that plan?"

Andrew shakes. Yuna just shrugged her shoulders. His job is to follow where his husband takes him.

"How about Erin? Alone here?"

"May get married quickly so you're not alone. Daddy has already told you about this" Andrew reminded. "Your grandpa needs us."

"Me too."

Suddenly...

"Assalaamu'alaykum."

The three answered his greetings and looked at the door. Daffa was standing at the door. Both hands full. The left hand holds the package in a plastic box, while the right hand holds a very beautiful bouquet of flowers. Erina rushed over to Daffa who immediately handed the parcel in her left hand. Erina received it with a frown.

Daffa approached Andrew and Yuna who were now standing waiting. Daffa handed the bouquet to Yuna. Then kissed Yuna and Andrew's hands in reverence.

"You didn't get it wrong, did you, Daf? This flower is really for aunty?" yuna asked in amazement as she kissed the flowers.

"Truly aunt," Daffa replied with a smile. "I'm sorry, Daffa didn't have time to buy gifts for me."

"No papa Daf. How's your dad doing?" Andrew took Daffa to sit down.

"Thank you good news, om. Even next week I will take part in the 10K race held in Bali. Daffa heard om will come too."

"May you be strong. It's been a long time since training."

"This is what Daf?" erina asked as she lifted the package in her hand.

"That's a brownie made by your mother, all your parents send greetings to om and aunt. That's why I can't pick you up. I have to go home to get the cake."

"Well, your mother looks like a cook, huh?" asked Yuna who had arranged the cake that Daffa had brought.

"Ah, it's usual aunt. It just so happens that you like to cook. But when compared to aunty who graduated from culinary school, definitely lost."

"Well, don't demean people who learn to cook by self-taught. Their taste palette is superior to those of us who are graduates of culinary school. Technically we are superior, but if for taste it may not be much different from the self-taught like your bunda."

"I can't bring you flowers. Because the flowers in front of me tonight are so much prettier than the bouquet" Daffa replied with a smile. The words that sounded cliche were even tombal, but were able to make Erina blush in embarrassment.

"Well, I didn't expect you to look calm but the hero said such a conversation," said Andrew while chuckling to see Erina blush. "You need to know, Daf. Just this time I saw Erina blushing like that."

"Om Andrew is right. Erina did not usually blush just because of such words. Looks like you made a pretty big impact on this tomboyish and spoiled auntie." It was Yuna's turn to comment.

"Mom.. dad. please don't bother," Erina protested between annoyance and shame. He also did not understand why he was acting like this.

Even seeing Daffa's presence made him forget about his meeting with Zafran.

"Daf, we just eat yuk. Om Andrew's been starving from earlier for smelling the scent of food that aunty made."

"Well, aunty cook chicken opor? It's my favorite. Daffa believes, chicken opor made by aunt is no less delicious than made by mother," praise Daffa after sitting in a chair. "Aunty can also make Korean cuisine?"

"A little bit. I hope you like it even if the menu doesn't connect like this."

"Daf, let's get your plate," Erina's pinta. Then he brought rice and side dishes for Daffa. Not to forget Erina filled Daffa glass with orange juice.

This time it was Daffa's turn to be stunned by Erina's attitude. Unexpectedly the tomboy girl who used to be famous fierce, it turns out the good at serving at the dining table. Something that is rarely found in the present.

"Thank you, Rin. I think you're ready to be a wife" praised Daffa sincerely. "It looks like I got a durian crumbling if I can get your back."

Everyone laughed at Daffa's words. They do not know if they are serious or joking. Especially Erina who did not dare to expect too high due to being hurt too often.

While they were enjoying dinner, Siti suddenly entered the room, which immediately approached Erina and whispered in her ear.

Erina was shocked when she heard that. How not to be surprised if mbok Siti said that in the living room there is Zafran.

"Why mbok?" yuna asked suspiciously.

"Eeenghh. anu nyah in front of a friend mbak Erin." said mbok Siti hesitated.

"Who?" ask Andrew.

"Den. den Zafran, sir."

"Zafran? Well, it's been a long time, yes, he didn't come here" said Yuna, who did not seem to know her daughter had broken up with Zafran.

"Eh, then mommy will be confused. Jeez all this time my mom forgot that her boyfriend Erin is Zafran. Then why are you on the same path as Daffa now? You even plan to get married. Please explain what this means? Mommy was too happy when she heard you decided to get married until mommy didn't realize we were getting married instead of Zafran."

"Switch honey. I'll explain later. Now we finish our dinner. Mbok, prepare a drink for our guest and have him wait until we finish eating."

Daffa squeezes Erina's fingers. He could see the tension on the girl's face. Erina turned to Daffa and saw him smiling at her. A smile that gives you calm. Without a sound Erina said thank you. Somehow the presence of Daffa can always calm his emotions that are easily stirred.

Regardless of Zafran waiting in the living room, they continued to eat dinner while talking.

"Daf, Erin said you wanted to meet us because you were going to talk about something. What'sthat?" ask Andrew as they enjoy dessert. "You don't want to propose to Erina, do you?"

"Look at me, aunt... " Daffa tried to clear his throat that felt choked. This time replace Erina who squeezed Daffa fingers.

"I'm not here to propose to om's son and aunt. Not at the moment more precisely. Maybe my mom and aunt knew we were just starting this relationship. Even though we were schoolmates, we just met again."

"Our age is no longer young. We do not intend to date for long. We have the same goal of this relationship, which is to get married. But since we haven't seen each other for too long, then we decided to get to know each other further."

"I thought it would take me a long time to believe in this heart and accept Erina's presence in my life. After meeting a few times, I became convinced that the step I took was the right one. So many interesting things in the daughter om and aunt. If I could say my interest is getting bigger. But ...."

"Daf, don't force yourself to accept me" Erina said as she let go. But Daffa did not let go. All of this did not escape Andrew's observation.

"Let me finish my explanation, Rin. As om and aunty know, to continue our relationship in a more serious direction I cannot be selfish and ignore the opinions of the people who are important in my life. For that I want to ask permission om and aunt to invite Erina to meet with my family."

Erina, despite knowing the reason for Daffa's arrival tonight, still did not expect Daffa to reveal his intention to be more serious with him. Suddenly Erina felt like there were hundreds of butterflies flying in her stomach.

"So you mean you want to introduce Erina to your parents?" andrew asked reassuringly.

"Yes, as a sign of seriousness I want to introduce Erina to my family as."

⭐⭐⭐⭐