Love Because ...

DISILLUSIONED

“Ti, we buy eat yes. If cooking already can not market at the close,” said Rara. They had just arrived home after a day around Bandung.

“Iya Ra gak pa, anyways if cooking is tired. I rest first yes, mo tiduran bentar, body ringsek all day on jalan”. Rara nodded.

Tia went straight into her room, Rara went to the restaurant close to the compound back to the Ashar pass. Rara immediately took ablution to perform Ashar prayers. After that Rara went to the upper room into the bathroom. She turned on the shower letting the water run down her clothes seeping into her body still wearing full clothes.

Rara dropped herself sitting on the bathroom floor. She cried feeling very sinful remembering the words of her friends she met today. Rara was disappointed, feeling disbelief if she used to be someone who was not commendable. He cried even more, beaten. Disgusted with himself.

Dirty.

Abject.

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Tia who was asleep woke up at five in the afternoon.

‘Astagfirullah,’ his murmur aware yet salat Ashar.

He immediately got up to take the ablution water to the bathroom, after praying Tia looking for the figure of Rara.

“Ra? Rara?” she screamed out of the room looking for the kitchen.

Tia just saw the dining table was already full of food. Tia continued looking for Rara to the backyard and to the corner of the room, but still did not find Rara.

Tia went back to the room to pick up her car, immediately called Rara. There was a ring tone sound on Rara's dresser. Rara left without her phone, Tia grew worried.

“What he did to the shop the next time, I wait aja mpe magrib,” he said trying positive thingking.

Half-seven nights, Rara never came home. Tia became very anxious. He decides to go to the security compound, asking if they saw Rara. And no one saw him.

‘Astagfirullah, when did he run away because of the talk of the child earlier?’ muttered Tia while returning home about to go find Rara with her car. Tia went into the room to get the car keys. He was surprised and breathed a sigh of relief to find Rara was in remembrance wearing a mukena.

“Rara?” tia said quickly approaching. Diliat Rara's eyes were careless, Tia touched both of Rara's cheeks, felt her cheeks so cold.

“Elo out of where?” tanyanya.

“Gak from everywhere, from home kok,” said Rara smiled thinly.

“Gue shouted nyari elo from earlier. Elo no, elo abis from where?”

“Gue shower on top.”

“Elo long shower really Ra?”

Rara silently dropped her gaze looking at her shrunken little fingers. Tia understood and could guess Rara was crying because of Winni and Erin's talk. Tia felt pity, she embraced Rara not knowing what to say. Tia could only let Rara cry in her arms.

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The next day, Rara became a more reserved figure. He who could usually be invited to joke or fight, this time he only returned a short smile. Tia did not force her to serve him, only she did not want Rara to be too washed away by what she felt. Come on, he needs time.

Think Tia.

“Ra?” Tia walked into Rara's office which was busy with her files.

“Ya?”

“Ayo to leave?” take unfinished Tia around Bandung, for regular SPG placement.

“Ti, what if I go alone, if not the same Dini?”

Tia frowned in surprise hearing Rara's chatter. He immediately sat down in front of the table staring at Rara.

“Why?”

“Yes, I mean Loe Owner. I think this is the work of a supervisor or I, I can also do it myself. Kasian loe lah, tired of knowing about Bandung from yesterday.”

“Kalo Dini follow, who takes care of whose office work, I?” ask Tia back.

“Yes I've been alone, loe here the same Early!”

“Gue it's the same loe, I never let you out of the house or out of the office yourself, except only to the complex stalls deh?” Rara nodded slowly.

“Loe already know the reason why? and This is our family rule, I will not break the rules even though there are no mamih here,” explained Tia firmly who already considers Rara as sodara.

“Tia this professional problem is not a family problem,” timpal Rara.

“No, it's a loe problem, right?” Rara silently heard Tia's question.

“Why Ra, my same story?” Rara silently threw away her gaze, her neutrality seemed to start to glaze over.

“Gue Shy Ti!” rara said with trembling lips. A single tear she was unable to hold.

“Then why?”

“Gue is ashamed of loe,” he said softly made Tia wonder. Rara took a deep breath while planning.

“Gue was embarrassed when I met people who knew me, continued..” Rara sobbed she wiped her tears.

“Keep him stories of my past that..” Rara closed her mouth sobbing again, unable to continue her sentence.

Tia got up from her chair towards Rara who was sitting in her chair, rubbing Rara's shoulders and arms.

“Ra, you don't believe it so dong with them,” obviously Tia trying to calm down.

“Too many Ti,” cut Rara standing away from Tia.

“Tia I am not a child who can be calm elo so with that much data and elo know it.”

“ Elo good girl Ra, do not believe first the same talk of those who think elo. Elo no..,”

“Ccheese girl!?” cut Rara fast.

“Yes right? Cheap girl the right word for me,” she sobbed.

“Ra, okay whatever the name is I don't care! What you used to look like I don't care. If you want to believe it all, it's up to elo.” Tia walked up to Rara slowly taking both of Rara's hands.

“But that should elo know, that should elo understand. Elo it sodara me, and no more need loe worryin again, I'm never ashamed to have sodara like loe Ra,” he said staring in Rara's eyes.

“Ra, however elo, what you used to be like, loe tetep my sodara. That's what you should understand, and please never hide or be ashamed again with me,” he added smiling.

Rara hugged Tia quickly moved by Tia's words. He was grateful when Tia didn't leave him.

“Elo is calm, there is still me, there is God,” said Tia received a warm embrace Rara.

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MIM, Rara and Tia ventured into the east Bandung area until he reached MIM (Metro Indah Mall). The bright sunlight makes them hungry and thirsty. Friday’at atmosphere weekend, the mall has begun to be crowded by visitors in the afternoon.

Rara saw the alroji showing the clock two. They headed to the foodcourt for a late lunch hour due to the long wait for HRD. Tia chose to eat outside in a large paddled round chair near the car stand.

“Rame yes Ra?” tia said as she stirred her drink.

“Huum, I think there is a car event that.” Rara sees the car stand and test drive field that has been arranged.

“Iya like to make a weekend now, do not know Ra?”

“Ya?”

“Gue will have a high, well I was in the past when college was offered SPG Grade A.”

“What's up, elo take?”

“Ya, the money is not good, but look at the mini-mini clothes. If you know, my brother who was dragged back to Semarang.” Tia laughed explaining her past.

“But if SPG-an is delicious now can be hijab. When I used to wear SPG-an hijab it was difficult, now it is free,” continued Tia smile.

“Ti if I think yes, elo it's from a decent family right? I think Mamih can afford to payin elo lecture. How do you want the event?” ask Rara wonder.

“Yes I only spend time Ra, rather than the odd dipake wandering here and there, thinking strangely, yes I joined the event. Yes, that's also I didn't expect, so I'm providing to open a rich agency now. I was picky on the event, if the costum is covered yes I take. I thought it was exciting anyway, than I thought pa....,” Tia forgot almost keceplosan tell papihnya.

“Pa? A boyfriend? broken heart?” terka Rara's.

“Nak! not the team of fierce lecturers,” elak Tia laughed making Rara smile.

“Eh tomorrow mamih come loh,” said Tia switched the conversation not want to discuss the papih.

“Iya aunt Sri yesterday with my Wa,” replied Rara.

“Febby?” greet the man in a white shirt silhouette of ash.

He wore his blue name tag named ‘Trisan’ he carried that read Daihatsu. Apparently he participated in this car event.

“Loe Febby right, wow?” Trisan immediately sat down on the chair next to Rara without hesitation to familiarize himself thrusting a hand at Rara. Rara shook her hand hesitantly trying to smile greeting the man.

“Feb loe changed, I almost did not recognize elo,” said Trisan patted Rara's shoulder. Rara did not like the man touching her body.

“Sorry you think you are wrong,” elak Rara makes Tia surprised to lift both halisnya.

“Ha ha ha elo joking, ah time? you want to know me?” Trisan laughed patting Rara harder.

Ow!

Rara is in pain.

“Eh sorry-sorry accidentally.” Trisan apologized for noticing his clap was too loud.

“I'm serious, I'm Pearl.” Rara immediately reached for her wallet to issue a temporary identity card that Sriyantika's mother made for her. There is a name for Pearl. Trisan took his card and read it.

“And please stop touching my body,” said Rara firmly make Trisan shy.

“Oh sorry I think you are my friend, because it looks so similar,” timpal Trisan with a reddened face, because of embarrassment.

“Kalo me excuse me.” Trisan went away scratching his forehead, in disbelief.

“Ra, why are you not honest?” ask Tia.

Rara silently did not answer, as soon as her face turned moody.

“Ra?” ask Tia again.

“Gue is sick of Ti, I want to live as a Pearl,” replied Rara.

“But Ra, it boong its name.”

“Gue don't care Tia.” cut Rara “Gue to every meet people, I feel disgusted when they treat me as they please, touch my body at will. Keep talking me macem-macem, I don't want to!” rengek Rara makes Tia pitya.

And yet another drop of Rara's tears fell to the base of her cheek. Rara tried hard and wiped her tears. Tia does not want to argue with Rara seeing the condition like this, even though Tia knows what Rara did wrong.