Lightly Longing
Five plus five
Mr. Arbi's gentle attitude is able to melt my heart. No matter the scorn of people out there about me who are too quick to make the decision to marry again.
"So, what if you teach here?" it's her who put her chin on my shoulder.
"That means I live here?" Mr. Arbi nodded, his hands wrapped around my waist. "How are you?"
"I went back to the field first. Finish the transfer letter and we both teach here, how?"
"I'm still not comfortable staying here. Especially without you, not ah."
"Say you can't stay away from me."
"Yes, God. About the idol teacher, many of his fans continue to over pede."
Mr. Arbi twisted my little body to face him. He looked straight into my eyeball.
"Yes, you will get used to it. Want, yeah. Than there dumb."
"Cock-awkwardly? I'm gonna be your wife."
"Yes, anyway."
"When do we go back to the field?"
"I took three days off. There's one more day left, Ta. Tomorrow play in town, yuk."
Right, we're a long way from the bustle of the city. The village that passes through oil palm plantations covering hectares.
"Ta, will you?"
"Actually, don't want to. I just want to talk to you a lot about everything from the beginning to the end."
"If you don't want to be forced, Ta. Now, we eat yuk. Dad's the other one's been waiting like that, but you're wearing a hijab first, yeah." Mr. Arbi took the veil I threw away earlier, he put it on my head.
"Now wear hijab again?"
"Shame, Ta. My bite is still there. If only Aisyah looks okay, if Dad, I'm embarrassed."
"Ck! You're ashamed as well as it turns out," my lips returned with a smile.
I walked towards the nightstand, picked up my bag which I had been missing for a few days. The flat object that died yesterday, I turned it back on.
A lot of messages came in and a few calls I was reluctant to answer. Tama has not stopped contacting me.
"Who, Honey?" Mr. Arbi approached and looked at the screen of the phone I was holding. Tama's name is listed there, Mr. Arbi immediately seized it.
"Here, Ta!"
"I don't want any more contact with him, Mom."
"What's? You-you call me, Mom?" His face turned out to be friendly and full of smiles even though the phone was still in his grasp.
"Balikin," asked me who stepped in to try to take my salary.
"Call, Mum again. Come, Ta. I want to hear it again and again."
"Balikin. If not, don't expect it!"
"Okay, here." Mr. Arbi handed me the phone, I haven't taken it yet, he pulled back my flat object. I frowned.
"Tok taken again?"
"But, remember. You already have a husband. Don't be flirtatious about that Tama-Tama."
"Yes, Mas. Satisfied?"
"Eh, you.... "
I pulled the phone out of his hand. The incoming call from Ms. Afifah made me stare intently at Mr. Arbi. Arbi looked towards my flat object screen.
"Look, Ta." I swept the green button.
"Bu Ananta, how long hasn't the phone been active? I called Mom many times."
"Oh, yeah. Sorry, Madam. I'm out of town."
"Just like Mr. Arbi, right?"
I kept the phone away for a while, trying to confirm Ms. Afifah's intentions.
"Mom Afifah, how do we know we're going together?" Mr. Arbi replied by sniffing his shoulder. I put the phone back into the earlobe.
"Kok you think so, Mom?"
"Bu Ananta, I know you're married to Mr. Arbi." I put the two eyebrows together, confused. Then press the loudspeaker button, so that Mr. Arbi can hear it all.
"Sorry, Ms. Afifah. Do you know where the news came from?"
"I accidentally saw a photo uploaded in the story of Mr. Arbi some time ago. Isn't Miss Ananta married to Mr Arbi?"
I glanced angrily at Mr. Arbi, he was just grinning while scratching his head that did not look itchy.
"Right, Mom. But, please keep this a secret for me, yes."
"Well, I'm using a secret, anyway, ma'am. Good news should be spread. Later, me and the other teachers will come after Mother and Mr. Arbi come back here, yes. Enjoy your second honeymoon, Mom. I was the first not yet, Mom twice. Hihi," he sneered and ended the call.
I asked Mr. Arbi for an explanation which he himself confused to answer.
"I just wanted to talk to you, Ta. If we come back later, invite fellow teachers. Sorry, yes. I'm euphoric because, so do not realize directly uploading our wedding photos. But, when I realized it, I deleted it, Ta. Really. The oath!" he said he raised his fingers. I looked away, my stomach was also rumbling. I want to swallow him alive.
I slammed the door a little, came out staring at the whitewashed door leaf.
"Ananta?" greet my mother-in-law who rubbed my shoulders.
"Yes, Mom." He was seen carrying a bowl of vegetables.
"Eat yuk, son."
"Eh, yes, Mom."
"Call Arbi."
"Yes, Mom." I haven't called him yet, Mr. Arbi is standing next to us.
"Happeningly. Yuk, eat."
We followed my mother-in-law who walked to the buffet table that had been plastered with various dishes. Aisha was already sitting in her position. We sat in front of Aisyah, in the middle of Kiyai Samad's table.
"Kak Ananta wears a hijab that is more beautiful, loh Kak," praised Aisyah who made me wrong.
"Yes, Ta. You don't want to go in a hijab?" ask my in-laws who all eyes are on me. I close my lips, afraid of mispronouncing.
"Each or not there is a hadith. Many scholars have different opinions about wearing the hijab."
"So, isn't it a problem Ananta hasn't used a hijab?" Mr. Arbi raised his voice about this. I look forward to Kiyai Samad's reply with a heart-throb.
"Yes, it's okay. Allah does not judge to be five plus five is ten. But God asked ten how much more. There are three plus seven and another number to reach that ten. The point is, God's directional door is open from anywhere, not just one door" explained Kiyai Samad who made me breathe a sigh of relief.
"In Islam, the dress code already has a hadith, which is important to dress politely and do good," continued Kiyai Samad who in front of him already has a plate containing rice.
"Udah, let's eat. Lead the prayer, Bi."
"Yes, Mom."
Mr. Arbi said a prayer, we listened to him. When we finished, we ate together. Not quiet, not angry.
"When are you going back to the field?"
"God willing, Mom. Tomorrow still want to take Ananta around town first."
"Yes, I'm happy to play here, yeah, Ta."
