Tak Semanis Sugarcane Is Not Sepahit Coffee
Chapter 12
Dinner was bland. Fathan is silent with the device, Keisya is quietly enjoying the food. Minutes pass for free. I'm still enjoying the shock of my meeting with Dandi at the hospital this afternoon. After dropping off Keisya at school, I decided to go to the hospital. Yesterday was the third time I had a nosebleed in two weeks. So I decided to get a health check today and didn't expect to see Dandi there.
“So, what are you sick with?” Fathan put down his phone and smiled at me. Keisya waited questioningly which was clearly visible from the look on his face. Withdrawing a smile I replied.
“Not yet, tomorrow the lab results come out.”
“Then, did anything disturb your mind?”
There are. Answer in my heart. The meeting with Dandi earlier this afternoon was very disturbing to me.
“Since when in Jakarta?”my many.
“Two weeks ago. Cafe Coco Bakery is now in five cities. Medan, Aceh, Padang, Palembang, Jakarta and I again take care of building permits to open in Bandung. Tomorrow there is an art exhibition in the cafe, you want to come?”
“Congratulations, yes! Tomorrow then? If I had come.”
“I hope you want to come.”
“Tomorrow I will go and not come back here. My friend did an art exhibition so I'll come.” Kening Fathan wrinkled.
“Where?”
“I don't know, tomorrow he picked up.”
“Who?”
“Dandi.”
“Male?” Fathan is a jealous man, he never likes me to be close to men. He said it in person that day when he met me at lunch with my male co-worker.
“Yes, he already has a wife and twins. I hope the fact that she already has an tail doesn't make you jealous.”
“If I come along there should be no problem.” I knew Fathan would say this. Keisya had already finished his dinner. “Kei, mami and papi will chat. Can Kei go to the room first with Mbak Uti?” without answering Keisya went up the stairs to his room. I looked at Fathan who was peeling an orange.
“Han, I hate to say this so many times. I don't like being restrained, I'm not a pigeon, I'm free-spirited. With you coming where I'm going it means you took my freedom and you don't believe me.”
“I Just want to know your friend. I just want you to introduce to your friend as I introduce you to my friend.”
“Han, you know I have no intention of committing. Our relationship is just about making friends no more. I love Keisya but that doesn't mean we're going to have a serious relationship. I told you to find the woman who will be Keisya's mother.”
“Three years isn't enough for you to want me?”
“Han, even ten years is not necessarily enough.” Fathan got up from his seat and walked up the stairs leaving me.
***
The morning after Keisya school I took all my belongings and took them away to the inn I had booked. Fathan silenced me and I thought it should be. I felt the incident then repeated when with Dandi first. I'm not sure I'll see Keisya again after this.
After dropping off all my belongings to the inn I went to the address that Dandi sent me yesterday. Saras greeted me at the booking desk. Now she's growing up to be a pretty girl. Dandi moved him to Jakarta because Saras was accepted to study at the state campus in the capital.
“Saras never thought I'd see you here. Saras misses a lot!” hug him and cry. “Great! Go do not say.”
“Sorry!”
“Saras thought he would marry bang Dandi. Dandi and Dea, it fits very well the letter D.”
I smiled, rubbing his head. “But Della is also the letter D, they match also.”
“Eh, how did Saras just wake up? Yes yes too. Have you seen the twins?” I shook my head because I had never seen his son Dandi who said he was funny.
“Aduh, very gurgling, mbak. Bang Dandi again to the airport to pick up Della and her son. We'll see how the twins are. What do you want to eat?”
“As it used to be.”
“Oke, wait ya mbak!”
I'm not sure I'm ready to meet Della considering how our conversation ended. Maybe he will be surprised later. He hates me as if I'm going to take Dandi away from him.
It is still four in the afternoon and the new event will start at 8. I asked for permission to go up to the second floor that houses the exhibition. It's been arranged nicely. There are some people who are checking back to make sure everything is ready.
“Aready?” dandi asked the two people who were checking the room. Staring at one painting I let Dandi talk to his partner until I no longer downing any sounds and found Dandi looking at me with a smile.
“You came faster than I expected.” Dandi stared at the painting I was staring at. “Thank you gift five years ago.” I cringed confused.
“Means?”
“Sulamanmu.”
“Dila gave it as my wedding gift.” I quietly listened. The sound of shoes freezing me. Della steps with the voice of a child.
“Dad!” shouted the two princesses and Dandi.
“Hai! Get to know, this is Aunt Dea, dad's friend. Say hello with aunt.”
I smile at the two twin daughters Dandi's forehead finishing they are touching me. Both of them plagiarized the faces of Dandi and Della. I smiled, extending a hand to Della. Although reluctant he still smiled back at my hand.
That night the Dandi painting exhibition was crowded with visitors. Twins with her nanny, I stood with a glass of orange juice staring at the eye painting in the fallen black rose petals and Della came to accompany.
“I'm confident when I step foot off to the airport. More confident when Saras reported to Dandi and Dandi said he was glad his old friend came to see the exhibition. Wondering who the friend who came to make Dandi feel so happy and immediately tell it without me asking. Dandi left me to go straight to a friend who he said had gone up to the second floor. The surprise! Dea Amanda came, it turns out you are still as special as that yes.” I pulled the corner of my lips to look at Della.
“I think, instead of standing with me here, you would prefer to stand next to Dandi so that he introduces people if you are his wife.”
“Why are you coming again?”
“That must be due to god's destiny.”
“Did you not sell that way until you didn't get married?” I almost choked on a drink if it didn't get in the throat fast. Shit, what kind of question is that?
“Too many wanted me until I was confused which one to choose. And I hope you stay anxious like this when you find out I'm back in Medan.” I stepped up leaving him.
Pamit with Dandi I left the cafe and went back to the inn. I don't think about that woman. What should he be jealous of me. Obviously I'm not interested by Dandi. Dandi already has a child, which is true he is still afraid of Dandi leaving him.
“Sorry, can I borrow your phone?” I turned to the man standing next to me as the elevator took me to the 6th floor.
“My phone is missing, I need to contact someone.” I was still silent until he gave me his card. I extended the device to her, pulled one corner of her lip she pressed a few digits before attaching the flat object to the ear.
Phone connection not answered. He typed out a message and then returned it to me just as the elevator stopped on the 6th floor.
“Thank you.” Say it without me answering.
***
The weather turned cloudy as I was going back to Bandung. The phone call from Fathan is still being ignored. Picking up my bag and cell phone I went to the ground floor looking for the nearest coffee shop.
Fathan stood up with his hand sticking the device in his ear. His gaze was cold and sharp. Walking up to me who had just stepped out of the elevator. How did he know I was here?
Without speaking his hand pulled me out to his parked car. Just throw it away when we're standing in front of the car. “Log in!” his orders.
“Where are we going?”
“Include, De!”
“No way before you tell us where we're going.” Instead of answering, Fathan turned around and pulled the door and pushed me in.
“Han, where are we going?”
“to religious affairs office.”
“Crazy! Han, don't joke!”
The car drove across the road which is now wet with rain. The silence filled this walking box until his car was properly stopped at - I don't know where this is but the building's contents contained tables, chairs, flowers and bookshelves.
“Down!” I followed Fathan who came in and sat on the only sofa in the corner of the room.
“Han!”
“Sit! Wait, behind the bookshelf is a small refrigerator, get us a drink.”
I put two bottles and sat down next to him.
“Mama installs eavesdroppers at home. Mama knows you don't want to marry me.” Fathan looked at me who could not hide the shock.
“Mama betrothed me to her friend's son. We have met often when you are in Bandung, Keisya has also met him often during this year. Mama knew you wouldn't want to marry me because it was a year ago that mom started to match me with her friend's son.”
“And you agree?”
Fathan lowered his head “I tried to make communication with him. Not yet refused or agreed. But yesterday when mom found out you refused tomorrow mama called.”
“Mama say what?”
“Saturday engagement.”
