THE MENTARI FOR ESTUARY SEASON 2

CHAPTER 23, SOULMATE (FOR OVERNIGHT ONLY)

Riana gabut. It's his second day in Jakarta, and his friends on go all. Some go to college, some go to school. Today he just rolls around in his room. Last morning just joined Bu Dian briefly to the market, but the cooking is not yet. Bu Dian still had to take care of the store before executing the food ingredients he had bought.

“Ri, ngopo je get want to roll thok nang mattress ki?” asked Bu Dian while putting the motor key on the table.

“Gabut e bu, no cement, do kabeh activities, lehku holidays at dewe je..” Riana grimaced.

“La come on, let's cook meat soto. I just boiled his meat. The most tender, it was left long ago. Come on, to the parent house..” take Bu Dian.

“Lho, come, ready!” riana exclaimed as she hurriedly got up from her position. Then with a slow step he followed Bu Dian walking towards the mother house.

***

“Morning, son girl..” greet Mr. Fakhry while turning on his motor machine.

“Morning sir... Where to?” ask Riana.

“Ke shop, replace my beautiful wife who wants to give the best dishes for this afternoon he said.” Goda Pak Fakhry while rolling his eyes towards Bu Dian.

“Pak, ojok violation, ngggombal nang ngarepan anak i piye karepmu..” sulkan Bu Dian. But all know, now the middle-aged woman's face was reddened.

“Halah ibuk ki isok blushed as well apparently. Yes, go to the store first. The spirit of cooking is yes dear,” seductive Pak Fakhry once again. And Bu Dian's face was getting red.

“Iyo pak iyo, later at 12 o'clock God willing the food is ready..” said Bu Dian slowly while hastily entering the mother house, followed by Riana who frowned along the way.

“Kowe ki ngopo nduk?” ask Bu Dian while preparing spices for their cooking activities today.

“Ngak papaaaa, funny how he likes. Very romantic,” praise Riana sincerely.

“Yes, we are lonely without children nduk, so we make ourselves happy by kayaking it..” said Bu Dian slowly.

“Mother mah, kok sad again anyway, he said Riri and the other son mother. How about tho?” riana asked as she puffed her cheeks.

“Halah-huh, even cranky. Yowes, let's start cooking.” said Bu Dian.

“Yo come..” Riana nodded in agreement. Thankfully, her confusion today was slightly treated with her cooking activities with Bu Dian.

***

Rose Cafe, night. It feels like Riana hasn't been here in a long time. And the welcome was received from all Rose Cafe employees who knew him very well.

“Mbak, piye kabare?” alit asked, as soon as Riana opened the cafe door and raised a little face.

“Lho, as light as I know Mas Alit? Thank God I am good, how are you?” riana asked as she shook Alit's hand and patted him on the shoulder.

“Yes yes, cook no inget. Bendino Hanum majang your photos anyway, how would you like not to inget..”.

“Hah? Undeterred. A hanum? You know Hanum?” Riana wonder.

“That's my sister mbak..” Alit answered slowly.

“Welokkk... How come you never told me that?” Riana surprised.

“Lali...”.

“Lali or shy to admit?” Jreeengg... Riana's question was very fitting, right punching, piercing directly into Alit's heart, so he was surprised by his reddened face.

“Having family members with different conditions is okay, Alit, don't you consider calamity. You don't have to hide it from the world, what else if it's so bright and shining, and for me, it doesn't matter if the whole world can finally enjoy the sparkle...” says Riana at length.

“Did you also have a sister with different conditions?” alit asked carefully.

“Iya Lit, she is also visually impaired like your sister, and they are dating..”.

“What?” Alit shocked. But Riana simply nodded with a very calm expression.

“Never keep Hanum out of the world, he is smart, and his many achievements. Sin if you stop him from flying with his little wings. She was already full of limitations, Lit, so please, don't limit her anymore out of embarrassment and don't accept you.” Riana said slowly. Alit. Suddenly, he felt that he was the worst man in the world, because of the neglect that he often did to his blind sister “sadar”. Why is it said consciously? You see, even though Hanum continues to grow and develop, during this – throughout his life, Alit still thinks of him as a small baby, weak and troublesome, although he also still sees all the struggles of Hanum, even though he also still sees all the struggles of Hanum, also about the many dreams that began to try to be realized one by one. And now, he did not know for sure, was his regret still meaningful?

“I evil tenan yo mbak all this time..” Og Alit.

“Not bad, Lit, you just don't understand how to treat Hanum like, Ho-oh tho? Gini, other than her eyes, she was a perfectly normal girl; her brain, others. Help him when he needs to, but the rest, please let him move on his own, let him be comfortable with his life. I used to be like my sister, but once I started to understand her wishes, yeah, I tried to do it. And as a result, he is now growing into a confident and happy child.” explained Riana.

“Hanum it if again broadcast, again fawning, again so the speaker where it is, it seems open, cheerful, like his life is fine. But if in front of his family, he kayak more diem mbak, including to me, the person he considers most can protect him after our mother is not there.” Riana jerked. Hanum had never told her about this, but perhaps Ganesh already knew.

“Basically everyone will be able to be himself only when he feels comfortable, with his people, with his surroundings. If there is no feeling, yes, you can not expect anything.” said Riana slowly. Alit nodded. Actually secretly, he always felt proud of the achievements of his sister who had even completely surpassed him. Financially alone, Hanum was more than enough of him. And now, the boy had almost perfectly disappeared from her, going to a distant place for the sake of his ideals.

“I still have a chance to fix everything mbak?” ask Alit.

“Insya ALLAH is still, as long as it is not delayed..” replied Riana. A moment after his remark, the door bells of the cafe clinked pleasantly, then opened. Automatically, Riana and Alit turned their heads together. But Riana froze, while Alit went back to the kitchen to finish her task, Riana continued and continued to stare towards the door. His gaze was perfectly locked onto that figure that had just come. The figure also looked back at him with a gaze that – seemed to be – full of longing.

“How are you?” BYURR! Like having just been doused in a bucket of ice water, the coldness ran through Riana's entire body. It seems like this is not a natural feeling, what else if considering this is his first meeting with someone who has not been seen and even greeted for a long time.

“Ni... Nico... I-I'm good... You... ba-ba-how?” although difficult, Riana tried to still respond and reply to Nico's question. Yeah, that's Nicolas Fernandes, someone who months ago said goodbye to him. He said he wanted to leave Indonesia, return to his country. And after months of disappearing with no news, they are now reunited.

“I'm good too.. Come to my room, I miss... Sorry yes, make the owner of Riana..” said Nico cheerfully while holding Riana's hand and taking her to the third floor, private room where Nico watched her cafe first.

***

“How does college feel?” ask Nico, once they're in the private room.

“Yeah, tired, a lot of tasks..” replied Riana slowly. Although he was shocked, he got his voice back so he could answer Nico's questions well enough.

“Surabaya is beautiful?” ask Nico again.

“Lumayan, but hot, same as Jakarta.”.

“But it seems that now you are happy huh? Is that right, right?” ask Niko slowly. And Riana nodded, then smiled. Nico smiled as well. This time, his smile was sincere until it reached his eyes.

“Thank God.. I hope he's the last and forever. I'm sure he'll take good care of you.”.

“Thanks, Nicos. By the way, when are you in Indonesia again? How are you not in the news?” ask Riana to change the topic.

“Not too long ago, and not too long here, just want to move the ownership of the cafe aja..”.

“Hah? What do you mean?” Riana did not understand.

“I want to give up ownership of this cafe as my confidant who is here..” explained Nico.

“Who?” Riana curious.

“Alit...” answer Nico slowly. Riana. He looked at Nico from top to bottom, questioning his seriousness.

“I'm serious,” replied Nico, as if understanding the contents of Riana's head.

“Alit is an honest man. From the beginning he worked here, I know he is polite and not impetuous, always good with everyone, in his hands, he is, this cafe will be much bigger than it is now, and I am so sure of it.” replied Nico steadily.

“But then, it means you will never return to this country again dong? Your reason for staying here does not exist. This cafe will be held by Alit.” said Riana slowly.

“Hahaha, not so is the concept..” Nico laughed softly, shuffling Riana's hair.

“I still have more reasons to be here, besides my job and business... BTW, play the piano, Ri, I miss.” pinta Nico. Riana nodded. He walked towards the graceful white piano, which was still closed. It seems like the piano is well maintained, although it is rarely used.

“What song do you want?” riana asked as she sat on the throne of the piano chair.

“Mmm... What yes? What's good dong?” tanya Nico, who is now also walking slowly towards the sofa – national throne while monitoring the cafe. It was the main throne, in addition to the computer chair and table, as well as the piano that was now being played by Riana.

“Sak senengku wae yo... What are you playing while singing?” ask Riana again.

“Yo while singing ta, must totality dong, it has become a musical child..” kelakar Nico. Riana stuck out her tongue, but she kept playing, as her eyes watched Nico who started to take the position “santui” ; fell asleep on the long sofa. The intro starts, and Riana's soft voice starts to act out the gloomy night.

“When you came

Why in my time

Can't reach you”

“Although you celebrate love

Behind the beautiful smile

You make it real

Like you're a soul mate

Although it is no longer possible

Tuk became my partner

But I believe in love

You're an unexpected lover.”, Nico continues the song, singing along with him. Riana smiled, continuing her song.

“Oh

Sometimes it's so hard (so hard)

To understand (to understand)

All this we're late (all)

Even though you're promoting love

Behind the beautiful smile

You make it real

Like you're a soul mate

Although it is no longer possible

Tuk became my partner

But I believe your love is a lover of hearts

Oh

Although it is no longer possible

Tuk became my partner

But I believe in love

You're a lover of hearts

Behind the beautiful smile

You make it real

Like you're a soul mate

Although it is no longer possible

Tuk being my partner (my partner)

But I believe your love is a lover of hearts

Although it is no longer possible

Tuk became my partner

But I believe love you lover of the heart.” (Kahitna – Soulmate). Riana finished her game, and instantly let herself sink into Nico's embrace. Hugs so tight, warm, and... I don't know, it feels like there's something different about their hug tonight.

“You’re my soulmate, Riana, forever.” whispered Nico with a trembling body. Riana was helpless. He could not resist Nico's embrace. He felt the dennyar again, which made his chest pound. In any case, Nico was once an important part – is not – is very important in his life. So, the feeling may still be there, but a little in number.

“Be mine, please..” Pinta Nico suddenly. Riana. Spontaneously, he outlined their embrace.

“Not have we ever talked about this since before-before and before?” ask Riana slowly.

“Only for tonnage, Ri. After this, I won't bother you anymore.”.

“Us-You mean?”

“Please... I promise, after this, it'll all be over. I will not disturb your life again. But, be mine for tonight only.” the door. Riana confused. I don't know what he's gonna do now. Maybe the only way is for him to try to obey first.

“Ba-All right, I want to. But, how is it going? What should I do to let you know that you are... Mine?” Riana felt her heart crackle, break, then hurt. Indeed, long ago, he could have done this with Nico, but, yes it was, there were too many differences between them. But the main and foremost thing is about faith.

“Hug me till morning..” said Nico.

“Ha-Only that?” ask Riana.

“Only that, and this is the last one. Please..” Without waiting for Nico's more heartfelt plea, Riana immediately complied with the request. He thought, this will definitely be nothing. She would just hug him, and nothing more.

(BBC).