Owner of Heart #1
Chapter 26
I sat on the bus with a pissed-off feeling, I didn't know Leona was going to be that cute. Aarrggh!! I regretted praising him so well when he told Arga, but it turned out to be a mere mask.
I put up earphones playing songs from the MP3 collection inside my phone, sat next to me Brother Yoan, and behind me heard men laughing telling typical male jokes, including the Lieutenant and some friends from the TNI who served in Kodam Srivijaya and they decided to come with us to return to Palembang.
At first the Lieutenant wanted to sit next to me but I immediately put the bag next to me while looking at him sharply, making him waste his breath after seeing me who was angry again. Don't expect him to come near me if the problem with Leona isn't over yet!
We just walked a few kilo meters and the new clock was 10:30 but I was very sleepy, maybe because last night I just slept over at 12 because chatting alone with the Lieutenant and dawn was up to get ready to leave the Kubu settlement. Finally I gave up on closing my eyes after looking for the most comfortable sitting position by using a jacket as a pillow so that my head does not stumble on the bus window.
I think I'm just getting tired now it's been proven a few times that I feel like my head is stumbling but I can't even open my eyes, I only returned to my original position with my eyes closed until I finally felt Brother Yoan lay my head on his shoulder and held my head with one hand so as not to stumble. I smiled before finally falling back to sleep comfortably.
I don't know how long I slept and I don't know where but I feel the bus has stopped making me slowly open my eyes and stretch my body that feels sore.
“Udah until yes, Brother?” I asked while looking out the window.
“Not yet, we rest first.”
As I looked to the side when I heard the heavy voice of the Lieutenant who was now looking at me behind his sunglasses, his hand folded over his chest looked intimidating but also looked really cool!
“Down yuk, pray dzuhur first.” The Lieutenant stood up while opening his glasses, while I still sat down and looked at him with a gaping mouth.
“From when did Mas Yudha sit here?” ask me while standing.
“From start you sleep.”
The answer it made me gap and peck for a while. “So not Kak Yoan,” I whispered while tailing out of the bus.
We rested in a restaurant where there was a mushola next to it. I saw Agus, Rendy and the others were smoking accompanied by a black coffee, Kak Yoan and Teh Vita joined to sit on the chairs provided on the terrace of the restaurant.
Me and the Lieutenant continued walking towards the ablution, then went inside where Yuni and Veny had just finished praying. Using the mukena I borrowed from Yuni I prepared to pray when I saw the Lieutenant enter the mosque. And it looks 2x better! Astagfirullahadzim, I shook my head while taking my eyes off the man who had really made my heart pound every time I saw him, and I forgot that now I was angry with him.
“Congratulations, Za,” said the Lieutenant while fixing his pants that had been rolled after ablution. I looked around the mushala and there were only the two of us making me nod in approval.
Believe me just as I will give more value when I see men who wear uniforms, especially soldiers, then I will also give more value to men who are diligent in praying, he said, and somehow every time I see a person after ablution or prayer his face will be more radiant than before.
Nah! Now you can imagine..the man who wears army uniform, continues to pray diligently then what value in my eyes? Definitely plus-plus-plus, and now he's praying for me! It was dech, MashaAllah.
After the prayer we joined the others who were laughing whether to talk about what.
“You on a meal first don't?” teh Vita asked after I joined them while the Lieutenant joined his fellow soldiers sitting at the next table.
“Have eaten pop noodles,” replied Kang Pajar and I could see there were some empty noodle pop spots on the table.
“The girls on want to eat first not nih?”
“No need to time well, we buy snacks just make on the road.”
“Well yes, we just buy food to make on the road.”
“But, Kekey grab wallet first.”
“Yuni, also.”
“Veny, also.”
“Pake this money only, there is still operating money..just consider the cost of our lunch,” said Teh Vita makes us all cheer. Teh Vita was indeed in charge of finance during this trip, and since this is a project from Kemensos, then we have sufficient funds for all our needs while here, he said, which of course will be accounted for later, even we-we got pocket money to buy souvenirs later, hehehe.
The five of us returned to the bus with a full plastic bag in each hand containing a wide variety of snacks, considering not only we were on the bus but also some friends from the TNI, and more fun is that TNI friends also bought a variety of drinks for all of us during the trip to Palembang.
The trip back to Palembang was faster than when we left a few days ago, without feeling we had reached the office of Dinsos Sumsel when the clock hit 2:30, fadhil said an hour faster probably because the road was smooth there was almost no traffic at that time. Oh right, I sat back down with Brother Yoan who was just smiling seductively looking at me as he sat next to me.
We shake hands to part with TNI friends, the distance from Dinsos to Kodam Sriwijaya is very close only takes approximately five minutes.
“Let's take a walk?” asked the Lieutenant staring at us all who crowded in front of the luggage of souvenirs from the citizens of Kubu.
“Iyo, ndak culinary wisato first kito.(Yes, we want culinary tourism first)”
The Lieutenant nodded in understanding hearing Veni's words.
“Where are you on?”
“Don't know, it's up to the tour guide aja,” replied Bang Kamal while staring at Veny and Fadhil who laughed to hear it.
“Most area BKB, Mas.”
Mas Yudha again nodded in understanding, “Ya already, we will meet at BKB aja yes..
“Asianiik!” we all cheered happily, knowing we were free lovers hahahaha.
Mas Yudha left and we returned to Fadhil's house to bathe, rest for a while and pray ashar. But fatigue like never in our dictionaries, maybe because our young souls I don't know, so after we were all ready we went hunting for souvenirs.
Fadhil and Kang Pajar used a motorbike and followed us by using Kak Yoan's car. Veny who returned home did not join us to buy souvenirs from Candy and re-joined BKB.
I bought some packets of pempek, dry tekwan and kemplang crackers, which I will give some to the Arga family. Kak Yoan's car has now been filled with all of us, the men can only resignedly see us who are desperate to buy souvenirs.
After returning from Candy we went straight to Fort Kuto Besak or BKB as Fadhil told us earlier. The BKB area is located on the Musi river plateau and ampera bridge. Kuto Besak itself is a palace building which became the center of the Sultanate of Palembang in the 18th century, and stood a fortress that was used for defense in ancient times that still stands strong today and is occupied by the Sriwijaya Kodam in the present.
Upon our arrival in the BKB area we were presented with a beautiful view, a very large courtyard with a palm tree background in the courtyard of Kuto Basak Fort, Basak, the spunky ampera bridge crosses the Musi river where several neatly lined boats are rented out to visitors who want to feel the thrill of crossing the Musi river.
Not only that but there is also the Sultan Mahmud Badarudin 2 Museum in the form of a limas house, but unfortunately when we came the museum was closed so we could not enter it, so we could not enter it, there is also a plaza that sells a variety of appetizing foods.
The afternoon breeze of the Musi river made us really feel relaxed, as well as all the visitors who came to enjoy the atmosphere there, the children could freely run along the courtyard. And young people like us, of course, will not miss the opportunity to take pictures.
We took pictures almost in all corners of the section, including under the monument of the giant Belido fish as it is now. And it was at that time that the Lieutenant came in jeans, a white t-shirt with a blue checkered shirt with no pockets, and a white hat with the Nike logo. As usual she looked cool, making me smile involuntarily.
“Yeah, late Mas, we have photos from earlier,” said Bang Kamal who only responded to a smile from the Lieutenant.
“There is to take care of first.”
“The bridge light is on! Photos there yuk!”
Without the command we immediately walked closer to the direction of the Ampera bridge which looks sparkling when the lights have been turned on. We were pictured crowding in front of the mobile phone of the elongated Tea Vita because of the tongsis, which surprised me was that the Lieutenant was standing beside me with his hands around my shoulders as if he was used to it.
Trying to look calm, even with my crazy heart I smiled towards the camera. Oh yes after the congregational prayer this afternoon my frustration seemed to evaporate just like that, for now I will enjoy my company with the Lieutenant before parting with him because I have to return to Bandung, for now, and the Lieutenant continues his duties here.
Afternoon on the river Musi is really very romantic, before magrib garden lights begin to be lit making the atmosphere of yellow carpet, not to mention the ampera bridge that exudes charm with colorful lights, not far from there is still in the BKB area there is a restaurant with a ship-shaped building that is also decorated with lights, making us never stop capturing it in the camera phone.
After taking pictures in groups, now everyone is seen taking pictures for private collections, some are alone, alone or crowded. I was just about to join the others to take a photo again when the Lieutenant pulled me by embracing my shoulder.
“We take photos together,” take him while continuing to embrace me a little away from the others who are laughing happily with various strange poses.
The lieutenant pulled the phone out of his pocket, set the camera and with his long hands we were ready for the photo.
“Smiling dong, he wants friendly photos together.”
“Iiih... when?” I asked with shame, and God how can I smile, which I felt was only tense because our position was very close to make my heart could not calm down.
“Hahaha. ya already, just smile ya.”
The Lieutenant positioned his body slightly behind me making my body slightly lean on his chest, his left hand embracing the encirclement of my neck.
“Ready!” he said he made me smile looking at the camera, and the first photo we both took on his phone.
“Again!” he yelled while pulling me to find another place.
That afternoon as the sun began to set adorning the Musi river for the first time we laughed together, I don't know how many photos we took that afternoon as if it was to pay for our two years of delayed togetherness.
Me and the Lieutenant sat face to face joining the others, laughing together laughing at simple things, enjoying our last night together in Palembang and my last night with the Lieutenant.
We often look at each other and then smile for no reason as if it was the habit of the two of us when staring at each other, Kak Yoan even had time to capture when we looked at each other against the background of the magnificent lights of the ampere bridge, making me exclaim, “Keren, Sis, sendin to Kekey, yes.” The Lieutenant did not want to miss him and asked Brother Yoan to send the photo to him.
The night is getting late which means we have to come back soon to rest before tomorrow to take a long trip back to Bandung. The Lieutenant drove me home to Fadhil on a motorbike he borrowed from his friend, all the way we just fell silent trying to enjoy our togetherness which was about to end.
“Contact me when you get to Bandung,” he said when we reached Fadhil's house and wait for others who are still on their way.
“Iya.”
“Don't worry about Leona and Bang Eddy, I'll clear up the problem as soon as.”
“Iya.”
“If I have a holiday I will go back to Bandung.”
“Iya.”
“Let's WA-an till night again like dulukan?”
I smiled and then nodded.
“Lup! I don't have no Mas Yudha.”
“Have I entered your phone earlier.”
“Hah? When?” I took my phone to check it, then laughed when I saw the name of the contact he kept on my phone ‘General of my heart’.
“Why laugh?”
“The name is this.”
“Now not a real general, yes for now enough to be a General in your heart just yet.”
“Iiiiii…. Hahaha! Mas Yudha, really pede.” I shuddered while laughing.
“Let's aja.”
“Partially I told you not yet, so Mas Yudha is not yet General of my heart.”
“Whose word are we not yet? Ud again.”
“Hah? When?”
“Overnight, when you said you like the guy I said that the guy also likes you.”
“Iiih, invalid!”
“Why not legal? Many people witness it, so legitimate dong.”
“Just don't want!”
“Hahaha, yes already... You want me to say first?”
“Yes is the first girl to say.”
“You want me to say now that I love you?”
I was silent looking at him who was looking at me gently and could see the earnestness in his heart, then I shook my head, making him look at me confused.
“Why?”
“As long as the problem with Leona is not finished, then we will also not have any relationship other than friends.”
“Why? I have nothing to do with Leona.”
“But everyone knows that if you guys are dating, later if we continue to date we go both ways everyone will say that Mas Yudha cheated and I grabbed the girlfriend of the person.”
“Do not terrorize people, we know the truth.”
“Sometimes people should also know the truth so as not to be slandered, he said, moreover, Leona is an artist who has a good female image and a lot of her fans who will believe more what she said than what we said, and they end up being our haters. Netizens are now horrified you know, Mas, if you don't like.” I shuddered at the thought of being attacked by Leona's fans, making the Lieutenant nod in understanding.
“I'll fix this problem asap.”
“Appointment?”
“Promise, so you can't run away from me anymore.”
“Hahaha.”
“Za, is the date of creation important to you?”
“It is... if there is one when we become, what would you like to answer try?”
“Tell me only, Yudha and Allah know.”
“Hahaha... continue if for example the rich incident yesterday, which suddenly there is gossip Mas Yudha dating other people how? I can not be angry, do not have any rights, Mas Yudha is also not my girlfriend.”
“You are not angry, but you are guaranteed to continue avoiding, it is even more neremin.”
“Hahahaha.. Mas Yudha also fitting hear from Bang Eddy if I already have a girlfriend is just silent just keep going far, just keep going away, if we are really dating, surely Mas Yudha does not immediately resigned so aja.”
“Hehehe... You are right, Za,” said the Lieutenant while looking at me who was standing in front of him, while Mas Yudha remained sitting on the motor, “But, Za, Za,” The Lieutenant clasped my right hand then looked at me seriously while saying.
“For now we are not officially dating, but you already know my feelings so I hope you will wait faithfully for me and of course trust me.”
Smiling embarrassed I nodded.
“Insyaallah.. Mas Yudha too, yes?”
“I? I what?”
“Yang earlier.”
“What was it?”
“Iih that Mas Yudha said.”
“Say what?”
“Iiih... Anyway Mas Yudha should also be as rich as that.”.
“How rich are you?”
“Know ah!”
“Hahahaha.. You're funny that lagai sambek,” he said while pinching my cheek like a child.
That night we said goodbye for a while, the Lieutenant promised to see me as soon as possible, and as soon as he said it was the next day when we just got out of the Pasteur-Bandung toll road, he said, the Lieutenant had been waiting for me in front of his car with a big smile to pick me up.
*****
