Romance In Makara Orange

Barking up to the Wrong Tree

^ Wreaks of anger

The orange spray fades the blue sky of Jakarta City. The frenzied atmosphere was seen along the streets of Jakarta City as the office clock ticked home. Along with Vira's hasty footsteps, white-collar workers from Jakarta crowded the pedestrian line leading to the train station.

Vira forced her body into the fully loaded carriage. Looking for a little gap to be able to stand upright in the crush of the bodies even without a grip. We can be sure the train will still be crowded until the next few hours especially tomorrow holiday. Riding the train now or later will be just as full, so forcing entry even though full is the only strategy used to quickly get to the destination. After changing trains at Manggarai Station, the train to Depok Bogor is not too crowded even though later at the station after the addition of passengers is quite significant.

Kosa with her old ash vespa waited faithfully in front of the China Cottage Station. The corner of her lips expanded as the figure of the beloved woman approached with a sparkling face and a glittering smile.

“Capek?” ask Kosa while handing over the light blue helmet.

Vira nodded. “Abang want to eat? To Margo City yuk!” invite Vira then immediately sit on the boncery and hug the waist of Kosa.

The Margonda Raya road to Marcy was very crowded. Although riding a motorbike, but still faltered and tried to find an empty gap between the meeting of four-wheeled vehicles. Also crowded felt in the largest Mall in Depok with visitors dominated by young people.

“Besok Papah eat together. Papah wants to introduce the children of his second wife,” said Vira slowly while waiting for the order.

“Vira want to come? Same with his wives Papah too?” ask Kosa.

“Ish Brother, yes! Could be a third world war if his wives come along,” Vira snorted.

“So not coming?” ask Kosa back.

“Had promised Natha to come together. Mirna doesn't know, there's no answer. I don't know what to see either. Marriage time secretly, the fit is already big new met. Can it be directly become brothers, consider each other brother sister fitting met once?”

“Yes at least Papah you have good intentions let you brothers know each other.”

“Abang is that too? Know the children of Papa Mama Abang from a new family all?” vira asked because she remembered that Kosa's parents had been divorced since she was a young man.

“Not all the shit! Most often the same mother's child from her current marriage. Rosmah. Do you remember Vir? When we meet at Pejaten Village when you eat with Mas Une and Mas Doddy? That's the first Mamah child because the distance is about 5 years. Her second daughter is also a girl, her name is Diani. It's just still Junior High. Brother Mas Andri is not too close at most Rosma aja anyway!”

Vira looked back when the order dimsum and their drinks had come before the main course. “Thank you,” Vira told waitresses.

“Abang, this is every portion of it three, so two for Vira and one for Brother huh?” rayu Vira while cengengesan.

Sin laughs and flicks Vira's nose. “Iya dear, from the first time it was always so.”

“If from the new family Papa Abang knows all?” ask Vira again while dipping her dimesum into chili oil that has been poured into a small plate.

“One time I met but only a minute. Forgot where that is. Papa has two sons from his current marriage. Uh, Vir, remember? Yesterday at the airport, there were women who talked to Brother when we want to go home? Well, that's Mamah's only son now. His name is Mba Shanti. He lectures S1 and S2 in Law UI loh Vir!”

“Eh, that was yesterday? So that's Brother's half-sister?”

“Yes, Mba Shanti is a lawyer, same as Papa Stepbrother.”

“Abang close not to Mba Shanti? Vira tuh is actually not too excited to know the children of Papah. I think how it is, want to talk what is also confused. The question is how does it feel to be an actor? You guys are denied the same Papah you are the cheating man?” vira said with sarcasm.

“Vir, don't do that ah, sometimes there are things that we as children don't need to interfere too deeply. I mean Brother, it was Mamah Vira who was injured but Papah you never neglected his role as a parent.”

Vira sighed and then exhaled with her eyes closed. “Yeah, you’re right [Yes, Brother is right].”

“Besok want to take you to Bekasi? All weekly Vir nights! Where the hell is the restaurant? In Metmall?”

“True Abang want to go between Vira?”

“How many hours Vir show same Papah? Morning, afternoon or evening? As long as you eat, you'll go to the bookstore and then we'll watch it together. How?” the Proposition of enthusiastic Sin

“It looks like noon. Watch what movie? Anyway do not horror, Vira does not like.”

“Just if dating is the most exciting yes watch horror Vir!”

“Vira knows exactly what it means. You pervert!"

“Loh koq perverted. It is precisely this strategy to see whether women make men as a place to lean and ask for protection when he is in a state of fear or need,” elak Kosa.

“Halah, what strategy? That mode is his name,” levitate Vira.

Kosa laughed seeing Vira pouting. They were then silent for a moment when their main order came. Two servings of Hainan chicken rice, which is their favorite, are still warm and ready to eat.

“What hours to Jogja Vir? Tuesday right?” ask Kosa with her mouth half full.

“Iya, Tuesday to Friday. But invited to take a walk with Mr. Herman to Surabaya until Sunday. Brother went research too?”

“There is no event anyway if next week at most scription only. The election research of Mr. Irsyam is still two weeks away. The matter of recruitment of local staff is all settled. Matsuoka Sensei asked for more help for batch 2 research about 10 days to Banyuwangi but the time is still tentative. Maybe licensing and funds issues.”

“Eh, invited again to Banyuwangi? Kereen. Don't be given a scholarship to Japan again.”

Kosa smiled. There was a sense of pride shown in front of this lover.

“Hopefully yes Vir. Profs. Ibrahim and Mas Hamid from Untirta also said that yesterday.”

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With his old ash vespa, Kosa drove Vira to Bekasi and arrived at eight in the morning. Natha with her shorts and spandex shirt was watering ornamental plants. Natha's face with a strong character looked a little pale with no makeup at all. His net narrowed slightly as Kosa parked her motorbike in the rest of the open garage space of her veranda.

“Wiiii, finally go home Vir! Still the same old one?” said Natha while continuing to direct the water hose towards the plants.

“What the hell is Nath? It's early morning too!” sahut Vira plan.

“Morning Nath, sorry to arrive early in the morning. Yes, Vira is still at home the same old one,” greet Kosa while grinning the horse without putting into the heart the subtle innuendo of Natha.

“Masuk. There's Mama inside. You guys have breakfast yet? Mamah cook rice uduk many.”

“Nath, Papah same Mirna is at home?” ask Vira

“Myrna came home from last night. If Papah is ordinary, same is his new family. You'll be with Mirna in my car. His children who are there follow Papah.” car

“It looks like two dozen hours through that is.”

Vira nodded then stepped inside the house followed by Kosa. There was no one, it seemed like Mamah and Mirna were in their respective rooms. Vira climbed the stairs to her room while Kosa threw herself on the green sofa in front of the television and let out a sigh of relief. For a long time he had not set the body in his lover's house. It was like coming back home by yourself.

After breakfast, Vira immediately follows Natha towards the room, leaving Kosa alone. Natha's eyes gave the code that there was a private conversation between the two sisters.

“Really Vir? You still the same Kosa?” natha asked in a pretty quiet voice as she realized her room was not soundproofed.

Vira fell silent.

“Kosa know not everything you experienced yesterday? I mean, aren't you angry with Kosa? You don't tell me?”

“Nath, I haven't told you yet but because of that I broke up with Kosa. He asked for a return and I evilly felt I was not ready to lose Kosa,” replied Vira quietly and there was a tone of contempt in his speech.

“Crazy yesterday, not his son did not his mother come to the house. Thankfully I found it. Koq can be Vir, until his mother knows our address?”

Vira took a long breath. “This week is like my life like a roller coaster, already like what you know!”

“Gue just ingetin lo aja Vir, never play the feelings of people. I don't like Kosa very much but that doesn't mean you can treat people like that. I mean, don't let your heart double and take advantage of your vulnerable position. Vir, you're my brother and I love you so much. You must know what I mean.”

Vira turned her face and her eyes blinked as there began to be a fog of water.

“Tuh, right, you are indeed crybaby, bring a great feeling. I think you are the type of girls who are vulnerable and make men approach because they feel you need to get protection from them. So demen deh guy same modelan like you Vir,” accused Natha who ignited the emotions Vira.

“Iih Nath, I don't do that ah! Don't judge me. Please put yourself in my shoes! You don't know what it's like to be me.”

“Vir, sorry.. I’m truly sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you. Natha clasped Vira, feeling guilty for her words labelling Vira without a solid foundation. Sorry for me Vir!”

Vira simply fell silent and tried to hold back the pool of water that had gathered at the corner of her eyes.

“Gue will go to Metmall with Kosa aja Nath. All nights weekly because tuesday to Friday I have to come to the Dapilnya Pak Herman in Jogja. So you're the same Mirna is the way. I also went back to Depok to not go back and forth.”

“Vir, I think you're mad at me? Vir, don't go into my heart dong words. I'm sorry. I’m sorry!”

Vira doesn't want to prolong the problem despite the annoyance of sneaking up which then makes her leave Natha's room. Either because of accusations or because he feels that he is weak in dealing with this problem.

In the living room, Vira finds Kosa being flanked by Mirna and Mamah. I don't know what's being said but Kosa's romance looks radiantly happy. Vira returned a smile when she found Kosa looking at her with eyes full of twinkle. Vira then walked into the kitchen and made him a cup of his favorite palm sugar milk coffee.

“Mir, there it sits. Far away is okay too. I'm talking to you Brother!” pinta Vira in a commanding tone while cramming herself filled the empty space between Kosa and Mirna.

“Apaan sih Kak Vira's. You have often chatted on campus, one major anyway, where your boarding is also close, still want to chat together here. Mirna also wants to talk to Kak Kosa. Mirna wants to tell a lot. Mirna wants to understand all the ugliness of Kak Vira, let Kak Kosa know everything,” threatened Mirna.

“Isssh, sana. Find your own girlfriend to be satisfied. Bodo very, Abang already know all my ugliness, ask yourself,” said Vira.

“Vir, take kosa to the back garden only, baby. Mamah same Mirna here, want to watch yesterday's unfinished drama,” said Mamah sage mediate a small quarrel between her two girls.

“Eh yes Mah, replied Vira whinyesan and then pulled Kosa's hand. Yuk Bang, let's go back! Uh briefly. Brother first, Vira wants to bring your coffee all the same snack.”

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The area of the back garden is not too broad, only about fifteen square meters. Unlike the front garden that tends to be filled with ornamental plants and flowers like Mamah, the back garden is actually planted with vegetables, fruit plants in pots, and live pharmacies. There are several red and yellow cherry tomato trees hanging and also cayenne pepper trees that are still yellowish white. There are pots with long purple eggplant and also round green eggplant. In the shelves hanging on the walls of the garden there are basil plants, leeks, pakcoy, and other spice plants.

“It seems more fertile just aja Vir since last here.”

“Natha who helped. Diligent fertilizer!”

“Natha still fighting thesis? When's trial?” ask Kosa streak.

“It looks like soon to finish the script, so at home continue. Most to campus just meet the supervisor to take care of the revision before the hearing.”

“Why is Natha late one semester Vir? Like Natha diligently, should be able to pass the semester yesterday, right?” ask Kosa again.

“Semester seven years ago Natha was able to work an internship of fourteen weeks at UNICEF Sweden, all taking non-sks courses at Lund University, so college here left one semester.”

“Oh, nice dong, experience is the teacher of all things [experience is the teacher of all things]. Not everyone can get such an opportunity,” praise Kosa for Natha that makes Vira a little careless.

Vira was silent for a moment. I hesitated to start this conversation. Because Vira really wants to forget the past things that hurt but there is a part of her that also wants the truth about Natha's accusation to her earlier.

“Abang, hhmm.. Vira want to ask. Hhmm, so look…. Hhmm...”.

Sin fell silent and looked at him with soft eyes. Waiting for Vira who seemed to have trouble deciphering the words.

“Abang, that.. why the hell, hhmm... why do you want to not break up from Vira? I mean, Vira, why did you ask for a return? I mean Vira, that's why, uh I mean Vira, there are many things you see and actually you understand that Vira is evil with you, you have hurt your heart. Why hhmm...”.

“Ssttt... already yes dear, do not discuss again. Dear brother with Vira. No need to bring up hurtful things,” said Kosa cut off Vira's speech

“But Vira really wants to know why Brother is so good with Vira!”

“Abang can't see sad Vira. Brother just wants Vira happy.” Highlight Kosa's eyes trying to convince Vira

“Eh, means Brother?” suddenly Vira's gaze instantly turned sharp.

“What does that mean? Brother so do not understand,” said Kosa a little confused.

“Abang definitely sees Vira as a woman who is easily sad and prone to be hurt. So you feel like you want to protect Vira right? Brother wants to be present as a superior party and become a hero for weak women. That's what you mean by brother?”

“Vir, koq so this is it? Brother didn't say that,” said Kosa defended herself. Kosa was shocked by Vira's tendentious reaction, beyond belief,

“The men are all the same. Happy with a woman who looks weak, as if she wants to be a protector. Being a man who wipes away the tears of women. Didn't they? That's what you mean, right?” ask Vira with a fiery.

Kosa sighed while closing her eyes for a while. His hands were held gently. “Darling, Brother never thought like that. Vira why come to a conclusion like gini?”

Regardless of what possessed Vira, she suddenly became confused and felt guilty about what she said to Kosa. Vira pulls her hand from Kosa's grasp then stands up, leaving Kosa alone in silence.