The Nurse's Choice of Man

Call Mama

As in previous days, this morning Amara woke up early and went to work in the kitchen with Eli. Nothing has changed in any way, even though he is now the wife and daughter-in-law of this family.

"What's the cook today?"

Amara and Eli turned their heads together when they heard a woman's voice coming from behind. Both of them spontaneously stopped the activity, then smiled as soon as they found Amel who was standing at the door, then walked closer.

"Beat rendang soup, chicken rica-rica, sweet sour gurame same vegetable soup, ma'am. Amara also just finished making sambal." Eli replied by mentioning the menus they had just prepared. He also glanced at Amara at a glance when he mentioned his name.

"Hemm, it looks good. I haven't eaten Bi Eli's food in a long time. So kangen, nih." Amel said as he smiled at Eli.

"If it's breakfast, ma'am. Still angets."

"Attent, Bi. Waiting for Dimas' father to take a bath." Silent for a moment, Amel turned his gaze to Amara who had been silent since. He observed the stiffly bowed girl from toe to head before raising a question.

"Where is the romance?"

Amara gasped as Amel suddenly asked her. The girl raised her eyes, then answered half nervously.

"From this morning Mas Dimas was gone, Madam. But I do not know where it went, because Mas Dimas did not say goodbye to me."

"No farewell?" repeated Amel with an expression of disbelief.

"Yes, Madam. Maybe Mas Dimas did not have time to say goodbye because of the rush, while I was in the kitchen."

"Your lady, anyway? Call me Mama, dong."

"Oh, ma–maaf, Mistress. Eh, sorry. Mama means me." Amara silenced her mouth that had just been mispronounced using her palm. Noticed by her in-laws, she could only smile wryly, while Amel sighed while shaking slowly.

"Mara ... Amara. You are already a daughter-in-law in this house. So get used to it from now on, yeah."

"Good, Ma." Amara nodded obediently.

"Follow Mama to the dining table. Someone wants to talk to you."

"I?" Nervous, Amara gasped in disbelief with her hands pointing at herself. His eyes looked at Amel who was walking away and Eli who was smiling alternately to make sure.

"Yes, obviously you are, Ndo', who else? Auntie's yes," Eli said with a grumpy smile. "That's there. Follow your in-laws. Who knows who will be given a sage." Eli turned his chin towards the door, gesturing for Amara to let the girl pass.

"But ... Amara kok deg-degan yes, Bik. Fear ...." Amara bit her lower lip.

"Whoa. What to fear. Madam is not eating people. Uda, manhunt."

Finally, despite heavy steps, Amara reached the family dining room and walked over. He stared timidly at his two in-laws occupying two of the ten seats on the large dining table with close proximity.

"Here, Amara .. don't be afraid of it." Amel spoke with great emphasis. He could feel Amara's presence without seeing her. The woman was busy moving rice and side dishes to the husband's plate.

"Yes, Ma."

"Sit down" said Amel when Amara was near.

The girl nodded obediently, then sat down to occupy the seat opposite Amel, according to what the woman ordered.

Without much to say, Amel snickered the rice and put it on an empty plate in front of Amara. Amara felt bad. Where there are in-laws who are so against his son-in-law.

"What do you want to wear, Mar?" amel asked kindly because he saw Amara who seemed uncomfortable.

"No, Ma. Let Amara take it for herself."

"No pa-pa. Mama took it as a welcome. Why are you still so scared, anyway?" Amel thumped his lips because Amara still looked stiff even though he had been friendly and approach. "Take us like our own parents. Don't your biological parents have been dead since you were little?"

Amara smiled bitterly, then nodded her head in response to Amel's question.

"Not scared, Ma. Just not used to it" explained Amara later.

"Well, from now on try to get used to it, yeah. Consider it your own home. Regardless of whether you two love each other or not, your marriage and Dimas directly bind us into a family. So, either way you're our son, aren't you, Pa." Amel glanced at her husband and smiled spoiledly to ask for his approval. Because they both like Amara, just touch the man's beard while pointing his thumb.

"Rubber," said the man steadily.

"Tuh, right," Amel also asserted. The woman reassured Amara.

I don't know what Amara has to say to unravel her feelings. Marry without love, but get in-laws as good as they are. It's really a dilemma.

***

The sun dived down when dusk showed a tinge of orange. Before dark came to embrace the night, Amara locked the open windows and closed them with curtains.

The girl was about to move, but the pull on her wrist managed to make her tiptoe and almost scream. However, when he found out who did it, the girl sighed in relief and growled in annoyance.

"Mas Dimas? Why tug at my hand, anyway?" Amara was surprised to mix in surprise because Dimas took her under cover behind the wall of the living room.

Either the man hid from whom to hint Amara to be quiet by sticking an index finger to his lips. Lightly, Amara who was about to nag was forced to shut up and silence her own mouth.

"Sttts. Don't loud. Later Mama heard," whispered Dimas while looking around.

Amara nodded in understanding, then lowered her hand that was twinkling with her lips.

"Today I am so happy, Mar .. so happy." Dimas said while pinching both cheeks Amara was anxious because so happy. His eyes that seemed sparkling tips strengthened his aura, so inevitably Amara smiled because she was happy for him.

"Guess what I'm happy for?" dimas asked softly still with a fluffy smile.

"Emmm ... win the lottery?"

"Ish, no!" Dimas was furious in response to Amara's guess which he judged his origin.

"Well, what on? To the point, it was Mas. My brain is dizzy enough, don't be dizzy again with guessing."

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you straight away. So gini." Dimas began to explain, while Amara silently listened. "So I dared to ask myself to meet Naura."

"Continuously?" amara asked with an enthusiastic face.

"Gue tell me everything, dong. And you know what Naura's reaction is?"

Amara shakes her head.

"He knows me, Maaarrr .. he's sorry for me." Dimas shook Amara's shoulder because he was so happy. Until the girl for a moment just blinked confused, before then also smiling happily for her husband.

"Good, dong .. congratulations, Mas," said the girl sincerely.

"Thank you," Dimas cheerfully replied. Instantly he again hinted Amara to be silent after for a moment he drifted in the euphoria of happiness. While Amara acted obediently and again silenced her mouth.

Noticing Amara's face which seemed to also look happy, Dimas finally asked the girl something to make sure.

"If you how. Are you talking about Juan?"

Amara was silent. He immediately remembered the day he had spent with Amel as a happy son-in-law and in-law. Although he honestly considers Amel like his biological mother, but still he feels bad for Dimas.

Staring at Dimas with an expression full of guilt, he spoke softly with a face full of regret.

"Not yet." Amara shook her head weakly.

"Well, how not yet? What was going on all day inside the house?" Dimas asked with a disappointed expression, looking at Amara fixedly waiting for the girl to speak.

"Yes, why, please. I don't feel good about saying goodbye to Mama either. Confused how to say."

"Cie cie .. have called my nyokap as mama, too. Cie cie ...," led Dimas while pointing at Amara's face. The mood of the man was very easy to change. Temporarily angry, intermittently disappointed, but also very easy to laugh. Amara lowered her head to hide her timid face.

"Well, what else. He is the one who makes it himself" said Amara while thieving.

"Yes, yes, forced. But you like it, don't you ...?" point at Dimas with eyebrows that are up and down.

"Ihhh Mas Dimas! I'm just–" Amara paused the nagging intention because Dimas suddenly touched the top of her head. At first he thought the man was about to ruffle his headscarf and flirt as usual. But apparently he was wrong. Dimas rubbed gently while smiling sincerely.

"Good to be Mama's daughter-in-law for the next six months, yeah. If we're married, it means he's drowning you too."

Amara could not answer with words. Just an ambiguous smile that he showed. I don't know why Dimas' smile this time looked different than usual. And quietly he felt something warm inside the chest. I don't know what that is.

As the two of them drifted in deeper gazes, a sudden sound came from the direction of the door that instantly ruined their moment.

"Dimas! Where have you been, you?"