LOVE OF JUITA

Girl's Talk

...“A friend is someone who understands your past, believe in your future, and accept you just the way you are.” – Unknown...

***

The night air in Bukittinggi was so cold it was bone-chilling. The coldness penetrated the walls of the house and filled the room until Julia pulled the blanket to cover the chin. Next to him Mala lay side by side with him. This situation reminded him of Lucy, they used to sleep together. Although they were more often bickering and kicking in bed, still the atmosphere of intimacy like that is difficult to find anywhere.

Mala slept facing him while hugging a bolster pillow, while his fingers were engrossed in moving to play the phone.

"Tomorrow what shall I do, Mala?" Julia asked open the conversation before going to bed.

"Bang Faqih said nothing Jul. If teaching, every class is held the same teacher part time. Maybe later Julia can help if anyone wants a private course." Mala replied while remaining engrossed with her phone.

Julia paused for a moment before asking her next question.

"When did you know Faqih?"

Mala's fingers stopped, she placed her phone next to the pillow, then her round eyes stared straight at Julia.

"Bang Faqih is still my brother Jul. Cousins. He's my oldest son. Do you understand what a mama is?"

"Oh …. " Julia's mouth is round. He did not expect. "That's a miscalculation for an uncle in the Minang tribe right?" Julia again.

"Absolutely. And, in fact, we've been betrothed for a long time. My mom told us to *go back to the bakery." Mala gave a thin smile. He didn't seem to mind the match.

"Wow, God …. " Julie was at a loss for words. Mala's explanation was quite surprising.

"I'm sorry Julia, if I may know exactly what your relationship and Bang Faqih is like? Why did Bang Faqih leave you here?" Mala's round bead glittering implies a great curiosity.

"We're old friends of La. We used to be close, but whatever happened in the past has nothing to do with the present. And also, maybe you don't know yet. I'm married to La. I'm here because I'm hiding from my husband." Julia answered the truth.

"Astaghfirullah, you ran away from home? Sinful Jul!" Mala's voice squeaked high.

"Yes I know, I'm a sinner La. But the matter between me and my husband is too weird for me to recount. Let's just say we're calming each other down right now." Julia lirih.

Mala looked at Julia with a concerned look. But his mouth could not bear to dig the story deeper.

"Jul, I'm not married. But my advice is, go back to your husband. What was your husband's fault until you left? Is he KDRT?"

Julia's lips trembled withstanding the bitter taste that came out from her soul. He shook.

"My husband didn't hurt me physically, but he hurt me with his words and attitude. My whole life, I've never been treated like that."

Mala shifted her sleeping position to get closer to Julia. He was very curious about the story of the woman.

"But are you not afraid that your husband will not be pleased with you?" Ask Mala plain.

"I'm afraid of La. You think I'm happy to run away like this. My heart is worried, my mind is uncertain. I'm confused how. But coming back to her .. is not that easy. My heart hasn't healed properly." Julia's voice vibrates.

"Is marriage that difficult?" Mala muttered as if speaking to herself.

"Let's go, La, who I know everyone's marriage exam is different. Happy and sad always go together. There is no real happiness, nor is there any lasting sadness. This is the world, not heaven. What was I expecting?" Julia smiled cynically, laughing at her fate.

"Then why did you run away from your test Jul? Why don't you face it bravely?" Mala said softly but felt piercing.

Julia flinched with the question.Tears flowed without the power she held, her tongue was unable to answer. His heart was a little offended. Whether Mala seriously wanted to know or just tested it.

"I don't know La." Julia shook her head slowly while rubbing the edge of her eyes.

"Didn't you love her? Is not love able to make us forgive all our mistakes?"

"I love him .. very much. He is someone I respect a lot. But I just found out, sometimes the people you love give you the deepest hurt." Julia no longer held the feeling in the chest. Shoulders shaking. Sobbed.

"Jul sorry, I don't know what your problem is with your husband. Sorry I'm so clueless." Mala rubbed Julia's shoulders gently.

"It's okay. I'm glad to hear your opinion. Sometimes a foreigner's opinion is the most honest. Since I got married, I haven't talked much with a girl of my age. My best friend is married, I can't confide in him much for keeping my husband's pride." Julia forced herself to smile.

"The world of marriage is not as beautiful as the story in romance novels yes Jul." Mala now turned to face down while hugging the bolster. He prepares to listen to Julia's story if she's willing to share it.

"That's fine, I'm just learning to be sincere and taking lessons from my current situation. However, the one I felt from this escape was La. As much as I hate, my dear is still bigger than my hate. My longing for him turned out to be a lot bigger. I'm tormented. Love and longing but I can't say." Julia looked at Mala.

"Oh Allah Jul, if you miss .. go home. Return to him. I pray as sincerely as my heart, there is a way for you to come back. I'm sure your husband feels the same way. But the prestige is the same as yours!" Mala grunted in annoyance.

"Not so easy, sister!" Tukas Julia manyun.

"Hadeeeeh, there are only adult human problems. Want to be a child again just let's not complicated with this life." Mala lay down laying both hands on her head.

"I want that too. But this is my way of life." Julia folded both her hands on her chest.

"You know, I actually like Bang Faqih?" Mala's leg nudged Julia's leg, asking for attention.

"Know. Every time you look at it like there's a love-love out in your eyeballs!"

"ah! Any timing? Looks obvious huh?" Mala cupped her blushing face.

"Ba-get!" Julia recited the word loud and clear.

"But why doesn't Bang Faqih feel? Doesn't she want to be with me because we're still brothers?"

"Not to guess. Faqih is not interested in marriage. His brain is just learning, looking for relationships, experience and money. Love is just a distraction for her." Julia plate.

"Kok like you really understand about Bang Faqih?" Mala raised her eyebrows.

"Understand me, I'm his ex. Oops!" Julia shut her mouth.

Mala's round eyes widened, her mouth gaping. He rose from his sleep and shook his waist.

"Tuuuuh right, I was suspicious. There's no way you're just old friends." Mala poking around Julia's waist fat.

"Hihihihi, tickle Mala. I'm sorry, I wasn't good at being honest at the beginning. Abisnya you seem to love so much with Faqih. I'm afraid you don't think the same as me!" Julia squirms in a convoluted manner avoiding Mala's tickle.

"Ish, I'm not that bad Jul. Let love choose its own path. For sure every night the name Bang Faqih I mentioned in my prayer. Maybe someday he will accept our match. Amend dong Jul!" Forced Mala to shake Julia's arm.

"God!" Julia assures Mala prayers loudly.

Julia and Mala stared for a moment and laughed out loud. Either because laughing at fate, either laugh at the soul of the child who is still attached to the self. There must be something that reads 'click' between them.

***

Note :

*Going to Bako means marrying my niece. This is the ideal type of marriage for the Minangkabau community.

In religion alone marriage with cousins is no prohibition. Because cousin is not mahram. The discussion of the mahram is in the letter of al-Nisa, verse 23.

Therefore, God decided to marry a cousin. As God has said in His word,

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَحْلَلْنَا لَكَ أَزْوَاجَكَ اللَّاتِي آتَيْتَ أُجُورَهُنَّ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ مِمَّا أَفَاءَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمِّكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمَّاتِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالاتِكَ

“O Prophet, We have indeed justified to you your wives whom you have given their dowry and the servants of danger which you have which includes what you have gained in the war that Allah has given you, and (as well) the daughters of your father's brother, the daughters of your father's sister, the daughters of your father's sister, daughters of your mother's brother and daughters of your mother's sister.” (QS. Al-Golden: 50)

Wallahu 'nature bisshawab.