Mom's Not a Prostitute

The young man was named Hasan

Does God always ease His destiny for those in love?

---

This afternoon I don't have to deliver food to the fields. Three rice fields have been planted. The rest of the plot is still in the process of piracy. My mother forbade me from going anywhere, she said she would have guests and I had to prepare something to serve. In order not to bother too much, I will serve fried bananas. I bought it this morning at the market. The banana tree next to the house is indeed fruiting, but not yet ripe.

Mak's guest had arrived, just as my frying banana was over. I now brew tea for them. I peeked for a moment from behind the curtains that line the door of the wall separating the living room and the living room. Mak's guests are well dressed. The man was wearing a long-sleeved batik shirt, while the woman beside him was bright red. I've never seen them before. Looks like they're a couple. Strangely enough, Puang Sudi was also present among them. What exactly are they talking about?

I intended to secretly eavesdrop on their conversation while out delivering drinks and fried bananas earlier. But, until I came back inside, their chatter was just a pleasantries.

After the guest left, Mak invited me to join him and Puang Sudi in the living room. Why did Mak put on a serious look?

"They came all the way from Sidrap to propose. They have a niece who's ready to get married." Mak said casually, while picking up a fried banana from the plate in front of him.

I jerked. The proposal? I'm not ready to get married at all. And ... What about the young man? We didn't know him yet, but I always thought about him. Since his appearance that day, he has never been seen again. Though it has been a week since his simple smile was able to make my sleep unsettled.

"I haven't thought about getting married. I still want to stay with Mak in this house."

"Mak will not force you at all. Just saying. You have the right to decide."

"It's a nice guy, a hard worker anyway. I've known him for a long time." Puang Sudi spoke up.

Hasan? I cringe.

"Remember my rather gondrong friend?"

I try to remember. But as I recall, Puang Sudi's friend nothing is a bit long, except that young man.

"certainly remember. I see you guys had a chance to steal a look at that time. Don't you like it too?" goda Puang Sudi with a jaily smile.

So is he really? "So, Hasan ...?"

"Cieee ...!"

My face suddenly red. Oh my goodness, that young man's name is Hasan. And just now he sent his om and his aunt to propose to me. How'this?

For the sake of knowing the truth, my heart surged. He who first asked my name to Puang Sudi?

"Later tonight I'll bring you here so you can meet. You should know first, at least never talk. Do not immediately refuse," said Puang Sudi, then sip the tea.

Whahuh? She'll be here tonight? Oh my God, what should I behave like?

"Hey, even daydream." Puang Sudi surprised me. "Later the evening and beautiful dance, yes," he added with a typical jail smile. Actually Ambo had many brothers, some migrated to Malaysia. And the one left here, I am indeed the closest to Puang Sudi. Maybe because he is single, so his childish attitude has not disappeared and makes it easy to connect with me. He also helps me and Mak most of the time in various ways.

Puang Sudi said to return to work in the rice field after being satisfied with teasing me. Mak also went into the room to lie down, leaving me still confused by what I heard today. Amidst the uncertainty I wanted the young man to reappear, his family came to propose to me. When I thought hard to find a way to know his name from Puang Sudi, the person in question even mentioned it without asking. Does God always ease His destiny for those in love?

***

The night arrived after being satisfied to see me struggling with an unwelcome mood. There was happiness, curiosity, shame, impatience, and whatever else was twisted into one, making me like a confused person from noon to the present. And now, I need to be able to put all that down so as not to look bego. The young man named Hasan was sitting next to Puang Sudi, facing me and Mak. He wore a blue night shirt and was paired with matching colored jeans. Her hair is neatly combed. Under these circumstances, of course, he looked much more handsome than I had seen in the paddy fields back then. I'm getting nervous about it.

Mak always asks me nothing about him, I just listen. Therefore, he looked more often at Mak than at me. From her heavy but polite voice, I finally knew a lot about her. He lives in Sengkang. Being an orphan after his ambassadors also died not long ago. Her mother has been dead since she was a child. He occupies his parents' house alone because he does not have a brother. He said his ambition was not to marry again until death picked him up. For a moment, I was amazed by her ambient loyalty. May that loyalty decline to him, the young man who seems to be my soul mate.

His tone changed to a little timid when delivering his daily work which was only a building porters. Mak did not mind it at all, considering we are not from among the people. I like it, he is really hardworking as Puang Sudi said.

"Importantly, you really love my son" Mak said to quell the timid mimicry Hasan showed after revealing his work.

"I mean it, Puang*. I promise I won't waste it!" After a smile, it was now his words that made my heart suddenly cool.

After serving all Mak's questions, the initially stiff chatter began to be more fluid when Puang Sudi also spoke and slipped various jokes that were able to invite laughter. Puang Sudi is indeed a master at funnelling. Hasan could not help but look up, revealing a row of white teeth flanked by a pair of deep red lips. Sometimes he asked me something, and I answered him very briefly. Just as necessary.

***

Foot note:

* In addition to calls to om and aunt, 'money' can also be used to greet parents or the elderly.

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