Marrying a Friend

Returnees

Jakarta, Indonesia

Today, after five months have passed from that incident. The events that have almost consumed my life and made me almost crazy. It was not easy to run that day. However, slowly, it was Firhan who again took care of me patiently and lovingly, trying to make me understand and strong for what had happened. Yeah, my son died and I'm getting better from that post-surgery. Although sometimes, there are times where I am sad to remember that, losing my flesh and blood.

She recovered from her coma a month ago. Firhan said Daniel will be referred to a hospital in Jakarta today. The poor man will be moved there. Yes, Daniel is still in a coma until now and Firhan who at all times visited him, invited him to chat so that he quickly realized from a coma, even reciting the holy verses of the Qur'an. As for me, I was mostly even at home and allowed Firhan to visit alone there, although I occasionally came along because my husband could not bear to persuade me to continue. I don't know what the man thought, he's even getting closer to Daniel's family.

Sometimes my mother or wife who visited the house accompanied me. We have returned home, back to Jakarta.

 

"Hey, keep daydreaming! Don't think too much of me, honey, I'm fine, anyway, not going anywhere."

I just chuckled at his joke, while greeting me in the garden behind the house.

"Again what?"

"Breathe."

Firhan looked at me mischievously and then pulled me in his arms. "I have something for you!"

"What?"

My husband then reached into my pants pocket and brandished two lollypop candies that made me smile. Only half of my mouth was open to say thank you, he made my countenance frown.

"Not for you, you know!" sambarnya while keeping the lollypop away from my face when I want to take it from his hand.

Then, a split second later, he chuckled triumphantly while brandishing the two candies again in front of me, the tub giving flowers, as I turned my face to ignore them with pursed lips.

"For someone so sweet to fill my life,"

My eyes turned around looking at him questioningly. It might just be her speculation, not for me and just pranking.

Firhan's widened smile touched his eyes when he saw the look on his face and this response.

"For you, dear," the look on her face immediately shone and a smile bursting at her lips, as soon as the two sweets were given to me.

It was easy to make me smile and happy, simple as that. And Firhan knows this.

"Trim’s." My ripples so gripped the lollypop.

"Thank you back. Unhappy childhood, pity ckck." timpal Firhan then muttered that almost whispered at the end of the sentence to make the activity— opened my candy stopped and sidetracked instantly, as my head lifted looking at him with a sharp gaze.

He smiled broadly.

"What?"

"There's nothing."

"Scoffs me, huh?"

He's holding a smile. "Who? I'm not mocking."

"Then?"

He chuckles. "Your noses go off like that, baby!"

His laughter exploded which made me chase after him and could not help but smile.

* * *

"How's it?" I asked for his opinion as usual while stretching out my hands to assess my appearance that afternoon, after tidying up his shirt.

This afternoon, he was wearing a plain white couple shirt, with his khaki jeans, he said, and I wore a white turtleneck couple t-shirt with a pair of jeans and balloon pants a few inches from dark peach knees. We'll have dinner at Firhan's parents' house, they'll invite us.

"As usual, very pretty," Firhan commented after a moment of observing, then pulled me closer on her body and hugged my waist.

"You don't have to make too much makeup, it makes you beautiful. It's simple, honey! I prefer my old wife, simple and what she is," admitted Firhan at the end of a sentence that almost whispered while looking into my eyes, then gently rubbed my lips that made me blush. She thinned the pink lipstick on my lips.

"Okay, Mr. surprise giver, you flatter me again!" I chimed in while pushing him which made his eyebrows frown, then took a piece of tissue on the dressing table and put his hand that was rubbed earlier on my lips.

"Cape?"

"Yes, both flattered and moved! You love me so much that you don't want to share my admiration and charm with others!"

To be honest, I am am amused myself to hear this phrase. But it just teases him.

He chuckles. Then, "Just as my dear Miss! Well, let's go!" invite him to exclaim, then drag me in his arms while stepping away.

It didn't take long, we got to the big house. There's been some change. Houses in paint with peach colors, and some in polishes with modern motifs, also in front of the porch was changed with an elegant design. The yard is also increasingly crowded with plants that are in abundance to decorate. To the east, there is a fish pond decorated with wooden bridges painted in brown color, in the middle of the garden of increasingly beautiful flowers are seen.

As soon as I walked into the house, they greeted us, and Isti enthusiastically dragged me into the kitchen.

Ah, God, it feels like I'm happy my family is fused like this. The happy smiles I always miss from the faces of the people I love.

"Oh yeah, brother, when do I have another niece?"

I smiled at my sister-in-law's question, while she was cutting vegetables, and she was washing vegetables. We did split the task to finish quickly.

"Why ask your sister that? Not good, Son! The child's sustenance is by God's will, we just live it," the mother interrupts between us and makes Isti embrace her from behind while cooking the fish.

"Yes, dear Mother. I'm just kidding." Elak Isti smiled cheerfully.

"Yes, now continue your work. Stop scooping your sister-in-law, take pity on her." Her mouth beamed at the youngest girl while rubbing my loving cheeks in her wide smile.

My smile was wide. "It's okay, Mother. I'm glad to joke like this with him."

"No, Mom. I said what too! Brother Nesya is engrossed in chatting, just like me, he also likes to chat. Especially with this sweet sister. Yeah, right, Brother? Oh yeah, well, sister, married young?" sela Isti was enthusiastic with a radiant face on Mom, then turned to look at me which made me smile again.

"Astagfirullah, this kid, really. Better now meet your Father and Brother in the back garden, tell them to start preparing everything in the Backyard!

"Yes, dear Mother. Bye, Sister Nesya!" jolly Isti then kissed Mom's cheek, then I until chuckles sounded from me.

After cooking food for dinner, we then went to the backyard and dinner there, precisely in the saung. It was fun and comfortable, dinner with the family surrounded by trees and flowers under a bright night sky full of stars.

Tonight, we eat tuna grilled Oyster Sauce, Salted Fish Jambal—favorite Firhan, Petis Sambal Balado, Chiken Sambal Terasi, Cah Kangkung and Spicy Sweet Spinach Soto.

Chatting while joking, it feels good to eat voraciously.

* * *