Rinai Longs from the Sky
About the Heart that Cannot Lie
"The benchmark of success is not only about results, but rather the sense of happiness that inhabits the heart permanently."
---
Throughout the rest of the journey, Rana is preoccupied by a monologue in her head. About Bara's unreasonable confession, about his happy expression now. Bara still occasionally sings the song Saving Taste popularized by Devano Narendra, with an increasingly chaotic tone. This time Rana had no interest in reprimanding him.
Upon arrival at the boarding house, Rana immediately got off the motorbike and walked towards the door of his unit. There were no pleasantries or just gratitude like usual.
"You're kebellet, huh?" Bara's question successfully stopped Rana's move. "Hurrying too soon."
Rana looked at him while smiling weakly. He rested his back on the door that had not been opened. I don't know, why should he be impressed to avoid like this? Why just now? Though all this time the name Luna is always there almost in all Bara sayings. Maybe because Rana feels Bara has gone too far. Between jealousy and worry his best friend was experiencing a psychiatric disorder mixed into one.
"You're not curious where I met Luna?"
Well, that's what makes Rana suddenly quiet this afternoon. Hearing that name again, Rana could only sigh resignedly. But this time he couldn't bear to not comment.
"You fell asleep on campus, and then you dreamed of Luna again, right?"
Feeling the need to be more serious in explaining the meaning, Bara lowered the standard beside the bike, then docked to the side of the shutter.
"There will be no history of a Bara sleeping on campus. I'm an exemplary student, even though the grades are always mediocre."
"Whatever, man!" Rana shook her hand. "Continue?" continued with both eyebrows raised.
"So morning I ran out of gas, kept-"
"Geez!" Rana directly cut off Bara's speech. "Kok, can it be that reckless? Kan-"
"Ssthtt ..." Embers stick their index finger in front of the lips. "This is not the time for lectures" he said. And Rana just want to obey by directly swallowing the rest of her sentence, allowing the man in front of her to continue the story.
"The bottom line is, the girl who nolongin I look very much like Luna."
Rana cringing. "Did you remember Luna's face?"
Bara nodded steadily. But the next second he raised his hand with the palm facing Rana, a gesture that would clarify something.
"I don't mean physical, anyway. But more to ..." They seem to think. His eyes turned for a moment. "... the protective attitude that I also felt when I was with Luna first."
"Luna also often gives you gasoline?" In addition to pretending to bego, Rana does not know what to respond.
Bara sighed while holding onto both of Rana's shoulders, making sure their gazes met.
"A lot of people on that street, they see me, but nobody cares. Only the girl who moved to reprimand, then would bother looking for gasoline until reckless opposite direction all."
Rana was confused, why did it feel to be this unpleasant? The earnestness that Bara was listening to delivered a disrelief that bounced brutally in her heart. Why should that girl? What has Rana done so far is absolutely nothing compared to a bottle of gasoline?
"Then you guys got acquainted? Or maybe it's been a WA number exchange?" guess Rana, instead of wanting the chat to end quickly. He wanted to rush into his unit, then enjoy the pain that was gilding his heart back slowly.
Bara took off Rana's shoulder when she realized one thing. "Geez!" He patted the jidat. "I forgot to ask her name. More precisely not able to. He seemed to be in a hurry."
Rana just shook her head while forcing a smile. "No need to think too much. If indeed according to God the girl is the most appropriate to replace Luna, you will definitely be reunited." Rana patted slowly Bara's shoulder. "I went in, yeah," she said later.
Bara nodded.
***
Bian found his mother looking serious about doing something in the living room.
"What's the other day, Ma?" tanyanya while helping herself on the long sofa occupied by Darma, her mother.
"This, again, re-check the list of orphanages that Mama will invite at our wedding anniversary celebration next week. If the food is less, right, shame."
Bian just o-o without a sound.
"How do you think?" Darma stopped his busy life, turning his body a little against his son.
"Alhamdulillah, fluent. So far there's no problem that's too hampering."
"Thank God. Mama is proud at once. You can prove that your choice is not wrong."
Not without reason Darma said that. As the sole heir to the family company, Bian just choose to fill what position to be involved in developing a dealer business as well as an official workshop under the auspices of one of the leading automotive manufacturers from Japan owned by his father. But after the lecture was finished, Bian instead chose another path. He does not want to be called rich with his parents. He wants to be independent, pioneering his own success really from the bottom.
When Bian expressed his desire to open a flower shop, his parents were hesitant. Who would have thought their only son had an interest in something so synonymous with women? This is also the basis for which they do not directly agree. They worry Bian will reap scorn related to his choice. As parents, they just want the best.
Bian's determination is not something that appears suddenly, especially talkative because it is in season. The idea came up since he was in college. Starting from the dissatisfaction when he was shopping for a bouquet of flowers for his lecturer who was sick at that time in a flower shop. From there he thought, one day will open a flower shop that not only prioritizes product quality, but also service. Nowadays the events that need flowers are increasingly diverse, while florists in Makassar are still very limited. Not to mention some seem lethargic and have absolutely no intention of making a breakthrough to be glimpsed by prospective customers. From here Bian saw an opportunity.
"As long as I'm blessed, I will fight hard to prove it to Papa-Mama."
"Your proof is more than enough. For Mama, the benchmark of success is not from the results, but from here." Darma placed her index finger on her son's chest. "If your heart is calm, happy, feeling enough, you are embracing that success."
Bian grabbed the hand that was pointing at his chest, then grasped it gently. "Thank you, Ma .." he said.
Darma's maternal smile airs, warms, calms.
"But ... may, dong, Mama ask something else from you?"
Bian cringing. It felt like he knew where his mother's ulterior intentions would lead.
"When did you bring your future daughter-in-law to Mama?"
Bian took a long breath. Allegedly right. "For this one business of course not as easy as opening a store, Ma. Because of all the preparations from here." It was Bian's turn to put an index finger on his chest.
"When the children of Mama's friends are many beautiful, educated, good careers, less what else try? You just choose which one, Mama will recognize."
Bian again grabbed his mother's hand, grasping it as before. "Ma, the woman who will be Mama's daughter-in-law, is the woman who will accompany my life in times of joy and sorrow. So it's not enough if only Mama likes."
"Yes, when is there a woman you like to be known to Mama?"
"There, really."
"Really?" Enthusiastic smile instantly flashed on Darma's face. "Who?" his insistence. "Your staff?"
Bian nodded slowly while smiling shyly.
"Mama's mom stopped by the store and you happened to be out at the time, she said. Child's polite. I like it too, Mom."
"That means you don't mind, right?"
"Why do you think Mama would mind? Because he's just your employee?"
Bian hesitated to answer.
"Just like a hard-working woman like her."
A moment of relief radiated from Bian's eyes.
"Mama won't mind whomever woman you choose. The important thing is to be religious and ready to accept you as you are, and to stand by you in the way of God."
The novelty rippled in Bian's heart. The lining of her eyeballs. She is so grateful to have a mother like Darma, who has always given her full support in any form.
"If you're sure, let's move fast. Meet his family. Don't let you go first with someone else."
Bian's face changed drastically.
"Why? Does he have a candidate?" guess Darma seemed to be able to read his son's mind.
Bian was confused to answer his mother's question. Bara and Rana are indeed only friends, but anyone who sees their interaction, will definitely think they are dating. This makes Bian hesitant to take a step further than just admiring secretly and reciting the name of Rana in prayer.
"According to Mama, I'm handsome, aren't I?"
The question succeeded in making Darma chuckle. "Why don't you care?"
"Javab aja, Ma," urged Bian.
"Which mother would say that her son is ugly?"
"If you answer me as a woman, not as a mother."
Darma cupped his son's face. "Great-looking. Much more handsome than your father was when you were younger."
Praised as such, Bian smiled widely. She hugged her mother.
"Fastly you should take him to this house, know Mama as your candidate, not as your employee." Darma patted his son's back.
"Ready."
***
[Connected]
