Short Story (Cerpen)

Sleeping Beauty (Part 1)

Category: Romantic Love Short stories

Title: Sleeping Beauty (Part 1)

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“Aira... wake up” exclaimed Poppy my best friend with her crisp voice and with English-speaking pretentiousness, even though the report card value is sometimes red. He was trying to wake me up from my deep sleep and break all my dreams.

“Hmmm... Poppy why did you come to my house so early in the morning? Not knowing what, I again sleepy heavy nih” nyelku with eyes still closed and the mouth continues kamit grumbling. Exactly the shaman who again read the mantra.

To be honest, I still find it difficult to open my eyes due to the drowsiness that hit. But it seems Poppy doesn't care about it, she pulls my hand to get me out of my soft bed.

“Colah Ra, wake up. There is a business that I want to finish with you” his force with a serious face, even too serious in my opinion.

“What? What other important business do you want to finish with me? Your Indra's girlfriend doesn't text you anymore? Not calling you again? And where would I go with him? As if I was his grandson, Laurent, who could predict where he was”, my scolding was long, and with a super-fungal conjecture. But it's only natural that I guessed that way, because last week Poppy also woke me up forcibly just because of such a trivial matter. I was annoyed but I realized one thing, maybe disturbing my sleep has become a hobby of my best friend this one. So from then on I started getting used to it.

“Not that” he replied insistent

“Trus what? What else can make you disturb my sleep early in the morning like this other than your problem with Indra?” ketus.

“What morning?, Woah it turns out you are still not fully aware. Need me to flush you with a bunch of water?” the question that actually makes me confused frown, but still with my eyes, because it is still sleepy heavy.

Poppy set her foot against the window and opened the white curtains with black dots around them. I was shocked when I looked out the window.

“Aira. Just last month I said hello to us, this is what you call still morning? Sun has already parted from last time” he said while closing the curtains.

Seeing the night sky decorated with a crescent moon just made me realize, if I like not to remember the time when I was asleep. I was sleeping from last afternoon just woke up at 7 pm now. Luckily Poppy woke me up, otherwise my sleep would continue until tomorrow.

“Pelor. ***** aja, Ra. But don't forget the same time also kali” this time behind him who nagged me.

Yach... ***** aka nempel molor” that's the nickname everyone gave me, and I think it's appropriate, if I've started to sleepy, wherever and whenever and no matter ama sikon I can fall asleep fast. The habit of my pelor has been around since Junior High, even so my sagging diet became irregular, I also became late to eat, finally getting a mouthful' nagging from mother. Understandably because of that habit, I became suffering from acute ulcer, so do not be surprised if mother sometimes nag me all-out because I was more concerned with my sleep than others. Although I said ****, and was afflicted with acute ulcers, I felt much luckier than Poppy who actually suffered from insomnia more often. So... I'm luckier, right?.

“Come.. Ra.. hunt wake up. Trus shower gih sana” Poppy command while continuing to pull my wrist.

“I'm still sleepy Poppy”

“Bodo very, anyway you have to wake up now”

“Before more dech. If you want to talk, by the way. I must have been horrified by Kok”, I tried to persuade him to let me stay in bed and go back to sleep.

But, just now that I wanted to get my body back into the bed, he pulled my arm back, trying to prevent my intentions.

“No way, your bundle asked me to build you up. You have to wake up now. Come on Ra... cooperate a little bit” The force goes on and on.

“Hehehe. The mother from last afternoon went to the aunt Dewi's house, and may have just returned home in an hour”

“I didn't lie. Your mother came home from your house 15 minutes ago”

“Ngawur..”

TOK. TOK…

The door to my room was knocked by someone. The beats are slow and the effect sounds soft. And I can guess who's behind that door, Mother.

“Poppy…!! Water is awake?”

“Bel...” I smothered Poppy's mouth with my hand before she reported to Mommy.

“Ssssttt...” I put my index finger right in front of my lips, asked him to be quiet, Poppy said but it was clear he was forced to do so.

I grabbed my towel hanging near my closet. And rushed into the bathroom, before Mother decided to go into my room and saw me still in a tangled state because she just woke up.

“If you're awake, Pop?” Ask Mother when she is in my room.

“Udah aunt, now her Aira again in bathroom”

“Oh. When you're done going down to the dining room. We eat malem with”

“Iya aunt, thanks”

That was the little talk I heard between Poppy and Mommy.

“Now, I've taken a shower, it's fragrant, even more fragrant than you. Cepetan says now” My love after dressing up neatly while sitting cross-legged on the mattress. Right in front of Poppy who was busy reading a magazine.

“Iya. yes... I am talking now” He chose to close his magazine and keep it on his lap. “Kan.. gini Ra, hold promnite. I just want it. Have you found a couple to leave yet?” Poppy asked who suddenly made my blood boil.

How not, just because of that silly question, he steadfastly disturbed my sleep and broke my beautiful dream. Plus the new promnite is going to take place next week, and he's been asking about it now. “Poppy.. erghhh” Pekikku inwardly held back my annoyance at this curly haired friend of mine. My face may have been flushed red as a boiled crab because it held back the anger from exploding and startling Poppy.

“How do you do in Ra? Trus, 'that's why it's so rich' that boiled crab?”

“So, that's all you want to ask, that's just the question you want to solve with me?” I tried to hide my anger that was about to explode like an atomic bomb.

“Iya” Reply with naivety.

Looking at her innocent face. Makes my anger more provoked and I can't hide it anymore.

“Erghhh... Poppy....!!” I'm annoyed. “Basic kupret lice!! You realize, what have you done?!” I hit him with a pillow that was near me many times.

“Auww... Ra, what the hell are you doing? What is wrong with me?” He asked me while grimacing in pain.

I stopped hitting him and started to calm my mind.

“For the sake of that silly question, you steadfastly disturbed my sleep, and broke my sweet dream. Do you know how much sleep is worth to me?”

“If I don't wake up, what time do you want to wake up? It is your mother who asked for my help to build you. She's worried about your health, Aira. At this hour no food has entered your stomach since school. Ntar there maagmu relapse again”

Honestly, what Poppy said has a point as well. My anger at him began to recede.

“So what's your answer?” His request once again, demanded that I give an answer.

“before I answer, I want the name first. Why are you asking about that now? Promnite is still a week away. Why not just a mobile phone? Why bother coming here and disturb my sleep?”

“Yes sorry, Ra. I'm really curious. You don't have a boyfriend yet. Who do you want to talk to? Sodara's only guy aka kak Raka again lectures outside the city”

Poppy's words made me think for a moment. Yeah, well, who do I take to prom? Boyfriend does not have, the only brother is not home. Cousin boy on a small, still smelly. Who do I want to take with me?

My mind suddenly floated far away, a handsome guy with his fair complexion and with his sweet smile was present in my shadow, someone I expected to be my partner with, someone I've liked since 1st grade, someone named…

“Alfi....!!” I haven't had a chance to say that name in my mind, Poppy grabbed him first, as if she knew what I was thinking.

“Why don't you take Alfie?”

“What? You're crazy, Pop?”

“Kok crazy anyway? I'm just giving advice, and I think it's worth trying”

“Your suggestions are not logical so” Protestsku.

“Hello... Poppy darling!!” I'm a little upset. “Not so easy as that. You know, I'm just a secret admirer. He probably never knew who I was, what my name was, and he probably never realized that I was in that school. You want to make me embarrassed if suddenly I make sure he goes to prom, while he feels he never knows me” Omelku all out so upset with Poppy's crazy idea. But there was a bit of a feeling in my heart when I said it all. I'm a secret admirer who never realized his presence. What a fate of my love…

Alfi is a smart and nice guy, maybe he never knows who I am. Yeah, like I said earlier, I was just his secret admirer from long ago until now. At first I thought it was just a feeling of liking that would disappear over time. But after 3 years passed I realized more and more, if there is a feeling created from the bottom of my heart for him. Unusual feelings, feelings that I had difficulty grasping at his presence, feelings that made me miss and think about him all the time, feelings that my heart was pounding when I met him, special feelings that were named. Yeah, I'm starting to love her. Alfie my first love.

“Aira... Aira...!!” Call Poppy to break my daydream

“What?!”

“You daydreamed ya?”

“No kok” Kilahku covered everything I thought just now from Poppy.

“Trus how?”

“What's the way?” I'm a little confused.

“You want to take Alfi to prom?”

“Once no, still not” My answer is firm because Poppy questions that seem to force me to answer “Ya”.

“Lagian.. must have been a lot of ngantri girls who want to make sure he. And I don't want to be considered an installment girl because follow ngantri”

“Emang you think Alfi sells tickets to watch, until many who ngantri” Seloroh Poppy is not clear. “But... You have a point too, Ra. Surely there are many girls who want to make him. And maybe of all, one of the candidates who is likely to be accepted by Alfi, it's Chika” said Poppy, who made my feelings appear to the surface when he heard the name Chika.

Beautiful and popular in school. Girls are smart and always look attractive and elegant. Contrary to my usual appearance, my brain is also not as smart as him, and the word elegant, never in my dictionary.

This girl who is currently rumored to be close to Alfi, always irritated me when she heard his name. Don't ask me again on what basis, it's because I'm jealous.

“Udah ah, do not discuss it again” Tuturku began to be rather lazy to discuss prom issues. “Mending now you send me to the bookstore” Invite me.

“Why go to bookstore?”

“Eat chicken noodles” I replied ngasal. “Ya. want to open Poppy”

“What book?”

“Udah deh do not ask much, yuk buruan go” Invite me while pulling Poppy's wrist, and move out of the room.

“But Ra, last night your mother told me dinner first”

“Evening later if you have returned from the bookstore”

“But..”.

“Mother.. I went to the bookstore. Mother ate first. Bye... Bunda” Said me while kissing Mother's right cheek. “Assalammualaikum” Pamitku again while kissing his hand.

“Cautious” Order Mother

“Tante, we go first ya” Poppy said.

In the bookstore, Poppy's language was not much different at home. Still on the issue of Prom. I'd rather be busy looking for the book I want to buy, than I have to listen to her prank about promnite.

“Aira... You heard I didn't?” Ask Poppy who started to feel cut out from earlier.

“Nggak” I replied casually and continued to walk slowly down the bookshelves.

“Erghhh..Aira nybebelin very sih” Poppy looks start to get upset.

“I'm also like you, from earlier the language is no laen. The promnite mulu. Bosen tau nak”

“Ya...your also the hell, my question is not answered-answer”

“Which question Poppy?” I asked while taking the title of a novel that interested me.

“Who would you like to go to prom later?”

“Kaya I will go alone aja deh”, I replied.

“Ya.. don't fun you, Ra. What's so good about going alone?”

“I don't care. You want me to go to prom alone or not go at all?” Threaten me, 'cause I'm sure Poppy would be disappointed if I didn't show up at prom.

Poppy was silent for a moment. It seems he was thinking something. Maybe think of an idea.

I waited, exactly waiting for strange advice what else he would throw. While waiting for something strange to feel in my stomach, it hurts so much.

“Aira... I have an idea!” He flicked his fingers and smiled broadly.

“What idea?” I tried to endure the pain. Kaya'nya maagku relapse again.

“Ra... You why, how did his face hurt?” Ask with a worried tone. “Maagmu relapsed again?”

“Udah I'm fine. Just do what you want to say was” My answer is trying to calm my friend who easily panicked this.

“You sure it's okay?”

“Iya” I take the ulcer medicine that is always available in my bag in times of emergency like this. I immediately swallowed the Pill without any help from water.

Even though I had swallowed my stomach ulcer medicine, Poppy's face still looked worried.

“Ra.. Are you really okay? You are also ngeyel spelled out, make your bundle tell eat first”

“I'm okay Pop. If we had dinner last night, the bookstore was closed. You calm down, I'm fine. Believe me within 5 or 10 minutes the medicine must have started to react and the pain in my stomach will be gone” My words calm him down. In fact, the pain is becoming. It seems like the medicine that Mang Ujang bought in the stall, will not react to acute ulcers like I experienced.

“Buruan said what was your idea?”

“But you're really okay? We go home to Yuk”

“Tell me first what your idea is, just we go home”

“Gimana, if you take Joko. His son Mbo' Na”

“What?” I was shocked without caring about the pain I was experiencing.

I understand very well, that poppy always has crazy and silly ideas, but this one is too crazy and very silly in my opinion.

The face of Joko, the son of Mbo' Na the housekeeper in my house crossed my mind. Physically Joko does have a high posture, even higher than me. His bulging body did not make him look like a 14-year-old boy.

Yeah, Joko we're talking about is a Junior High, who I can't possibly take to prom, never crossed my mind to take her to prom. Only Poppy's brain just sparked that crazy idea.

What does the world say? If I take a partner to prom, a 14-year-old boy. Crazy one!!! I could have been diagnosed with pedophilia by my friends.

My conversation ended there, precisely with the word “What” from me. I don't know what happened next, I don't know. I just felt suddenly my gaze was dark, strangely at that moment I felt the face of Alfi present in my shadow. And mention my name. Until the longer his voice was inaudible and disappeared altogether.

to be continue…