The Love Competition

74 . Wither Before Growing

Anto was still glued without thinking anything 'cause he did not recognize the face despite trying to remember it .

" Piye kabare ? " The greeting of the man who was now taking his seat in front of him only he replied with a warm smile .

" i am Bejo mas, Bejo mas "the whispered man of about 35 years old .

" What are you doing here ? " Task the man half-whispered .

"Oh.mas Bejo....

" Yes I've heard from the Sewage of your condition, I heard you wander here , happened to meet" said the man .

" A few days ago someone greeted me at work, I know you well but I don't listen to "bejo mas story while smoking a cigarette inside .

Anto fell silent while staring at the face of Bejo mas who was removing cigarette smoke from both nostrils, like the chimney of a railway locomotive . React the surrounding air in the white smoke smell of tobacco .

" There continue to be more people ask questions also in the clinic around , where my wife opened the practice is also visited . Surprisingly they were asked never any soldiers who were injured for help in treating it...." The story of the man with a confused face .

" When did it happen ? " Tanya Anto curious .

" Three weeks ago I think ... I forgot " replied Bejo while taking something from the waist bag attached to his body .

" I forgot to give this to you when I drove you" he said, handing over a silver necklace with a heart-shaped pendant .

" You wear this when I find it first" said mas Bejo who saw Anto's confused facial expression .

" Oh. thanks mas , I also say thank you for helping me first" said Anto sincerely .

" Your father is healthy don't worry, my wife ran out of misery a week ago "blown Bejo stories, while returning to smoke her cigarettes .

They were both cool to chat without realizing in the corner of the shop there was a figure who was still photographing their togetherness with a cellphone camera .

After finishing his tea, Anto said goodbye to go home . Mas Bejo gave him a business card .

" If you want to run away again it's my friend's address in Sulawesi, he has a chicken farm there" he said while patting Anto's shoulder .Anto simply fell silent while smiling wryly .

" Don't play games, his sentence of death or life imprisonment "sobbed Bejo as he patted his back before he stepped out of the shop .

" I say yes first mas " said Anto while stepping away .

The young man immediately headed for his parked car across the street . Then he started driving to the bank where he dropped off Lilis .

As soon as he arrived at the bank's courtyard he saw that Lilis had been waiting on the bank's porch talking to a man in police uniform . Jordi was just stuck in the car not daring to approach Lilis .

Before long Lilis realized her presence immediately ended her conversation with the police and immediately walked towards her, the man was seen following Lilis .

" Mas Anto.kok did not immediately call me " said Lilis while smiling cheerfully .

Inevitably Anto got out of the car so that the officer did not suspect, he tried to be reasonable .

" This is called Anto ? " Ask the man .

" Yes sister Wira.., Mas introduce him to the young man from our village who succeeded in becoming a great policeman..." Lilis spoke with a face full of pride

" Ach.you have Lis.., "The young man smiled shyly at Lilis' praise .

" I heard from people you are so Arjuna that made many girls in our hometown fall in love" said the man with a friendly smile as he extended his hand .

Anto simply smiled as he welcomed the man's helping hand .

"That's the big news" said Anto as calmly as possible even though he was very nervous .

" Where did it come from ? " Task Wira while looking closely at Jordi's face .

" I'm from poor "Anto answered briefly .

" Oh..., I've been on assignment there a year . "the story of the Hero kindly .

" Tea..i want to say goodbye.., There is a task " said the young policeman while smiling at Lilis after seeing her watch .

" Well, we must also quickly go home afraid of the night on the road "answered Lilis .

They say goodbye to each other, then the Hero immediately leaves them both .

After Wira Anto immediately opened the car door for Lilis, both then left the Bank page that was almost closed .

" Where else are you going to stop by Lis ? " Task Anto after a few meters of leaving the bank.

" I want to find a subscription meatball near the school at the end of the road there mas , have long not stopped there usually the same Dila" replied Lilis with enthusiasm .

" Well..." Anto answered while driving his car .

About five minutes later they arrived at the SMU school complex, across the street was a stall selling meatball noodles . Anto parked his vehicle in the kiosk yard .

The two then chose a seat that was near the window . A mother approaches both .

" Eh...si Eneng has not appeared for a long time, where are you ? " Who the mother was friendly .

" Yes Mom.lg busy, so can not often play " replied Lilis with a smile .

" Where is Neng geulis? , busy studying or stop by mountain deui ..? Asked the owner of the stall who was about 45 years old while laughing .

" Other busy college buk.., "Answer Lilis with a smile .

" Lha eta' Saha' tea' ? " The woman glanced at Lilis .

" Cabogoh ? (Lover ) "the mother's temptation .

" Other ..." Lilis replied with a blushing face .

" Pisan neng casep ? " ...

" Eh..giman the mother is even cool to chat...want to eat what? ? , Meatballs ? Chicken noodles ? " Just ask later .

" I used to buk.., emh mas Anto want to eat what ? " Many .

" I'm chicken noodles only "Anto replied with a smile hearing Lilis' conversation which she can understand means, Lilos and the shop owner's mother look familiar .

" What's the drink ? " Ask the mother while smiling at Anto .

" Just bottle tea..." Answer Anto .

" The Eneng as usual ? " Ask the shop owner on Lilis .

" Yes buk.., I iced coffee only "answer Lilis .

The shop owner's mother immediately left both . The two were silent while occasionally staring at the not so crowded streets .

" I'm sorry, my...Missye ma'am was so the person rame " said Lilis while looking at Anto's face .

" It's okay "Anto replied while leaning her body against the seat back .

" Come here often ? " Just ask later .

" It used to be often ...almost every weekend , while picking up Dila , it has been almost a year not here" replied Lilis while tidying up her hair .

" Yes.., He likes to eat meatballs here, it used to be SMU in front school it was "Lilis story .

" You're one school ? " Ask Anto .

Lilis shook her head then shifted her gaze elsewhere .

" I just graduated Junior High, then married young, but then failed in my marriage" said Lilis with a stiff smile .

" Why ? " Tanya Anto while staring at Lilis inside .

In the field of Anto in such a close distance made the Heart of Lilis stop beating for a while .

" sorry.." Anto broke the silence .

" It's okay .." replied Lilis nervously .

Anto smiled flatly, and It made her charms multiply in Lilis' eyes .

" Mas Anto Already Has a lover in Malang "The question just slid from Lilis' lips makes him curse in the heart .

Anto only silently looked at the woman with mature brown skin in front of her for a moment and stared far away to another place .

" I didn't have time to think of such a thing "he answered later because Lilis kept paying attention to her movements ,

" Mas Anto is sick? , I saw the medicine that was brought earlier "Say Lilis arrived .

" why not go to the doctor ? " ask again .

" As there is no charge "Anto replied with Relax .

" Nah....Here's the order .." The voice of Bu Misye the Warung owner interrupted their conversation while carrying two bowls of order, and the drink they requested .

" happy enjoy ..." Say it after serving makannan .

" Thank you, Mom..." Lilis said with a happy smile, while Anto just nodded politely .

Bu misye just passed by while smiling amah because there were other customers coming to his stall .the two started enjoying the food they ordered without much talking .

after finishing eating and paying for food to Bu misye the two immediately left Warung .they returned to the car and started the journey home .

" What pain ? " Tanya Lilis broke the silence after the two had only been silent for a long time .

" I was in an accident "Anto answered briefly, out of nowhere he got the idea to answer Lilis' question with such a lie .

" O....., does he still have to take medicine until now ? " asked Lilis while occasionally turning towards her . Anto simply answered him with a light nod .

" it is better to immediately go to the doctor , If the problem is the cost of mas Anto can apply for employee loans, traditional medicine is good but is not better to make sure the situation by checking with a doctor " lilis said after a moment of silence .

" thank you, but I don't think it's necessary, I'm fine "Anto answered while focusing on driving .

Lilis was just speechless hearing Anto's reply .the atmosphere went back to silence . Lilis then played Radio Broadcast which played Nostalgic songs .their return journey was accompanied by a song from the golden voice of the late singer Nike ardila . occasionally Lilis muttered to hear the Golden voice of the Singer .

" Nike's song is indeed the best "Lilis said with a smile looking at Anto who occasionally glanced at her .

" Like old songs? " Tanya Anto while laughing lightly .

" i actually prefer poppy but the song was Mama Dila's favorite song, Dila's name was actually taken from her name "Answer Lilis answered with a light laugh .

inexplicably Lilis' answer makes a flash of events cross Anto's mind, making his head suddenly sick .they almost collided with a pick-up car transporting vegetables from the opposite direction , The man slammed the steering wheel to the left making the car they were riding drove into the chili garden that was on the side of the road . luckily there was no one until they didn't hit anyone .

" you're okay ? " Tanya Anto anxiously found Lilis sitting pale in her place .

lilis simply fell silent in surprise, Withstanding the pain in her head Anto turned the wheel and stopped her car on the side of the road .

he swiftly got down from the car , then opened the car door on the left side , then led Lilis to get off the car , He asked Lilis to sit under a tree while enduring the pain in her head .

" You okay ? " he repeated the same question to Lilis with an anxious face .

lilis shook her head slowly, she looked at the pale face of Anto who looked pain-resistant .

" Mas Anto himself ? " asked Lilis while looking at Anto who was crouched in front of her .

" i'm fine "Jawan Anto while smiling flatly .

both of them were silent while calming down, a while later Anto walked towards the car then returned with two bottles of mineral water .

" sorry yes.." said Anto after 4 both of them calm themselves from the shock .

" It's okay mas "Answer replied Lilis as she stared at Anto's face which still looked pale , the breezy angi made her slightly gondrong hair flutter in the wind , making the man look so masculine .

" Ach..can only I think like this when like this "Lilis curses herself in the heart .

" the owner of the garden is not there, how do we apologize " Murmured Anto while staring at a few rows of chili plants damaged by being run over by their car .

'Do we need to ask the people over there mas "Lilis pointed to a hut that is still inhabited by some people who pay attention to them from afar .

" Let me talk to them "Lilis walks towards the hut without waiting for an answer from Anto .

Anto noticed Lilis' light stamps, while recalling the events that had suddenly crossed his head .

" ach...do I ever experience it "Murmnya while taking a deep breath.The young man reached into his jacket pocket and then took a necklace given by Bejo mas , he stared at the heart-shaped pendant and then his hand with a reflex to push at the pendant, accidentally the pendant opened .

Anto was surprised to find a photo of a beautiful girl, and a middle-aged woman was inside the pendant on the necklace . He fell silent while looking at the face inside the Pendant .

" It's been done mas.ayo we go home "The voice of Lilis makes Anto surprised, he Buru hurriedly closed the Pendant and put it in his jacket pocket .

" We go home now yes.hari already afternoon " Continue to release while walking towards the car . Anto simply remained silent as he followed Lilis small steps towards their vehicle .

they again continued the journey . in the rest of their journey the two were only silent, occasionally Lilis manatap Anto who just fell silent while staring at the winding streets before them .

they arrive at Home ahead of Maghrib , Anto chooses to go straight home even though lilis offers to stay until dinner . lilis just stares at Anto's back who steps quickly away from Home from the direction of the terrace .

His face Lilis looks lethargic, he recalled the incident earlier when he saw Anto was silent for quite a long time while holding a necklace with a heart shape pendant . from the shape he knew it was a necklace belonging to a woman, ' ' '' he said , Could it be that the man has had a mooring of the heart ? . Somehow Remembering that his heart felt sad . What does it feel like to be heartbroken ? ach... they even only talked a few times why he had so much hope for the man as a result now he had broken his heart before he could say anything to the man .

lilis is not a person who easily falls in love, and not a few men who try to approach her, but the failure in the masses and always haunt her, making her so careful on the creature named man . but somehow since meeting with Anto he began to cultivate the hope of a special relationship , fantasizing about Romantic things with Anto as often happens in Korean drama dramas that he watched with Dila , it is obvious that now the feeling in his heart withered even before developing .

*******

Anto took a quick step towards the cottage which was a few hundred meters away from the mansion which was the residence of Lilis .the light of the full moon became the perfect illumination of his journey towards the remote, secluded hut , some distance away from other residents' settlements and no electric lighting . He did stop by the mosque for Maghrib Prayer .

About fifteen minutes later he had arrived at the dark cottage because he did not turn on the lights when he was leaving . the young man immediately punched the porch light switch and the vestibule as soon as he entered the hut .

the young man immediately returned out of the hut after putting down a box of medicine he had bought from the market, then laid his body on a bamboo propeller in the courtyard of the hut . He stared at the Moon reflecting the brightest light in the sky .

" Huh.." a heavy breath came out of his mouth .

Always the same faint face, the same faint voice.since meeting the well-eyed girl the memory in her head seemed to revolve on the events of her being together with a woman .

Anto folded his arms, put one of his arms under his head, the more thoughtful his way of life became more and more awkward.He pinched his heavy forehead and closed his eyes for a moment , trying to lighten his head that arrived felt heavy .

" if only there was a miracle that made him remember everything in an instant, of course his life would not be this complicated "Anto murmured in the heart .