The Foreign Taste

Introductions

Time shows at half-hour one in the afternoon, when the bell home from school rings. Mr. Gono, Ranum's history teacher, closed the class meeting that day after giving PR assignments for next week.

After Pak Gono got out of the classroom, Ranum and Tika walked to the gate. Outside the classroom, there are already many other students who walk in groups or alone to go home.

Arriving at the field park, Ranum and Tika split up. With Tika coming home first. While Ranum sat on a park bench made of thigh-high stone buildings, which were on the edge of the field. Ranum promises to go home with Kania that day.

While waiting, Ranum watched the students who went home. He looked at them, without really noticing what he was seeing. He did not even realize when Adnan suddenly stood in front of him.

Ranum only realized Adnan's presence, when he slowly raised his eyes until he caught the image of a smile with a tooth that belonged to Adnan. For two-three times Ranum blinked his eyes. Until finally Ranum realized that he had been caught red-handed while daydreaming, earlier.

"Wake up, Nope?"

Ranum snorted while looking to the right. In his heart, he grumbled. 'this is the guy why the hell? Kayaking in the stalking just like him, huh.'

"Hello. are you here, girl?" Adnan greeted Ranum.

"What the hell?" Omel Ranum's.

"Remain here? Not back?" Adnan asked in a soft voice.

"Later home too. What's up?" Answer Ranum, ketus.

"It's okay. You're afraid you forgot to go home."

"..."

Realizing that his joke did not work, Adnan then sat on a stone bench that was located quite close to where Ranum was sitting.

"Sit's sitting here?" Ranum half asked, half grumbling.

"Wait for Agus."

Ranum looked at Adnan in astonishment. 'there really is no other seat, what?' Ranum.

"It's customary to wait here. Agus again to TU." Adnan said suddenly, as if answering a question in Ranum's mind.

"...."

"Sus's bokap is TU staff here. So he's taking the keys to the house every day in his bokapnya." Adnan said, again.

"...."

"Look, he's dead."

"...."

"Motor accident. Ten years ago."

"...."

"Together with my mother."

"Huh?"

"The accident was with my mother as well."

"...."

"...."

Ranum suddenly felt his heart tight. Somehow he could not take his eyes off the figure of Adnan who was bowing his face at that time. I don't know what to see. A moment of hesitation, Ranum finally asked what he suddenly wanted to know.

"Keep, how's your mom?"

Adnan did not answer Ranum's question directly. For a few seconds the silence between the two. This made Ranum feel sorry for having spoken that question.

When Ranum was about to ask Adnan not to answer his question, suddenly Adnan turned to him. And Ranum's heart suddenly seemed to be overwritten by an invisible burden. He seemed to know the answer that would come out of Adnan's mouth. But then Adnan's answer surprised him.

"There's.... My mom's still there."

"There? But..."

'...why are you that sad?' ranum asked in his mind. His mouth seemed locked to ask again about Mama Adnan.

Time stopped in that second, too. There was a wound that Ranum caught in the man's eyes. There was sadness that he felt after seeing the shoulder of his classmate seemed to wavy. There was a whisper in

the last place in his heart for him to entertain a new friend at his High School. But...

"Sister?"

Kania's call broke the heart connection that had been established between Ranum and Adnan. Instantly the two turned to Kania who had stood right in front of Ranum.

"Miss?" Ranum said slowly.

"Sorry, old, brother. Nia to WC first." Clear, Kania.

"Yes. It's okay."

"This..who, Brother?" Kania asked while glancing at Adnan.

"Mm. temen Class Brother."

"...."

"...."

"Nan, this is my sister, Kania.. Nia, this is my classmate, Adnan."

"Hi, I'm Kania. Call me Nia. I'm in X.6."

"Adnan." Adnan replied, nodding briefly.

"...."

"...."

Feeling a bit awkward atmosphere, Ranum rushed to grab Kania's arm and say goodbye to Adnan.

"Mh.. Nan, we go home first. Bye."

"OKAY. Take care of ya." Adnan replied slowly.

"We go back first, Adnan. See you"

****

"What the hell are you, Dek? Shame on Brother." Gerrutu Ranum, when they were already beyond Adnan's listening range.

"What's the shame, brother?" Kania.

"Yes that was. Why try to worry about Adnan not flickering. I'm sure you like him." Ranum explained.

"Eh?? A timing? But Adnan is cute, brother. Is it really Kak Anum doang's class?"

"meaning?"

"Maybe that big brother?"

"What the hell's up, Dek?. The one you have, make a gab. Brother's not good with Adnan."

"Don't understand. Not good how is it, brother? Ah but don't have to be explained. Often Nia does not understand the mind path of Brother."

"...."

"Eh, but really, Brother Adnan is nothing?"

" What the hell, Dek?" Sergeh Ranum dodged.

"So it's okay if Nia sneak peeketin him?" Kania Permit.

Hearing Kania's request, Ranum's steps came to a sudden halt. Enclosed Kania's arm and looked at seriously his beloved sister.

"Dek.you're going to promise to Brother, you won't think about dating first. Focus on learning first."

"Ih, Brother. Just knowing Deket doang is okay," Sergey Kania while continuing his steps. Ranum chased after Kania in front of him.

"It's okay to know Doang. But--"

"OKAY. Thats enough. That's the only answer Nia needs." Saying Kania suddenly. And then he ran small.

"Cania! Wait Brother!"

And Ranum also ran after his beloved sister.

About 20 meters away, a man stood silently watching the two sisters chasing each other. His eyes focused on Ranum.

There was a longing held in the eyes of the man. There was a soul desire that undermined him to present himself before Ranum, right then and there.

But the desire suddenly went out. When he remembered the incident on the sidelines earlier.

Watched Ranum talking to another man. His heart instantly warmed.

Want to feel he invited the duel of the boy who had had gotten a sad look Ranum. I want it to feel like he landed a fist on the face of the boy who he thinks is still the snot boy. It was like he was yelling at the boy to stay away from Ranum.

Because Ranum is his. Her love. Heart lover.

Deg.

The man was stunned.

'Ranum's hers? Since when? He never even said anything to Ranum about his true feelings for the girl. A feeling that had long grown in his heart since they were little and lived together in city X first. So, what right does she have to recognize Ranum as her own? She was nothing to the angelic hearted girl.'

The man also broke his daydream. He then stepped away from where he was standing. Slowly dragged his soul back along with his footsteps.

There are things he must do first before he is ready to deal with Ranum. Seiyanya, he must be a worthy and capable person to be able to provide happiness for his lover.

"Wait for me, Num!" Slow whisper of the man, carried away by the wind.

***