THERE'S ALWAYS A LEANING PLACE

Meet the Wanted

Azka told Meli to put on her seat belt. Slowly, Azka began to drive a car owned by her mother.

As a Jogja who from birth to finish S-1 in Jogja, spend some time in Jogja, of course Azka is very familiar with the streets of Jogja. He also knows small streets that can be used to avoid congestion without the help of Mbah Gugel. Only fifteen minutes of travel they had arrived. Azka parked her car.

“This is really my friend's place, Mas?” ask Meli not to be happy.

“If you don't believe me, just go in there! Find the chatty Ratna!” command Azka while advancing the lever to position P.

Meli down slowly. Doubt still enveloped his mind. He had only come to this place for the first time.  His steps looked rather heavy, his eyes revolved checking one by one the objects present.

Suddenly, Meli was surprised by the man she was with. Azka quickly entered into the shophouse that looked lonely.

“Assalamaicum, Ratna! Ni your friend is coming!” shout Azka.

Meli gawked at the cry of Azka. He did not expect Azka to know Ratna.

Ratna appeared before them. He wore a pink floral pattern.

“Waalaikumsalam. How come Azka is here? Doesn't Mas Azka have to clean up the reception venue?” ratna.

“About me cleaning service? Udah, welcome your friend who almost lost, tuh!” said Azka while pointing her chin at Meli.

“Meli, you finally arrived. Why don't you ask for a pick-up, anyway? Why not Anjani?”

“Anjaani again has business. Ask to pick up how? Freeze low bat. After the full carge, replace your low batt. Good thing to see Mas Azka.”

Ratna invited Meli to sit in the bangu near the cashier's desk. While Azka was still standing by putting both hands into the bag of pants while circulating the view throughout the room.

“Now who's the same, Rat? How deserted? Salsa and others where?”

“Ke campus, Mas,” replied Ratna.

“Indeed Saturday no lecture?” Azka.

“Not for college, but there are activities. Kangen Salsa, Mas?” jay Ratna with a smile.

“Ngak. If there is no one, I go upstairs. Want to sleep on the sofa while looking at the news.”

Without waiting for Ratna's reply, Azka had already swung her long steps towards the 2nd floor. He threw himself on the sofa . His thumb began to dance pressing the remote buttons.

Meanwhile, the two girls that Azka left behind were having a chat.

“You know Mas Azka for a long time?”

“Already. He was my homeroom son in High School. She is also Via's sister-in-law,” explains Ratna.

“Oh, Via who got married two years ago? I came with Anjani?” Meli asked for clarification.

“Iya. Actually, Via married since just finished his 2nd semester. All you attend is a reception, the ijab is already a year.”

“Oh, so Via married is still very young. If Anjani had been married, he would have been Via.”

“How can you meet Mas Azka? How's story?” continued Ratna.

Meli tells of her journey from getting off the bus, lost wallet to meet Azka and stay at the hotel.

“Wait, wait! So you ate at the wedding reception last night? Then you went to that hotel?” Ratna surprised.

“Iya, why?” ask Meli wonder.

“I was there last night too. The married one is Mama Mira, my coworker and Via here, my cousin. Ah, you know it's just me and Via. How did we not meet there last night, huh?”

“Oh. We besides meet because I like shopping in Azrina, right also because we are both economic people, so connect.”

Ratna chuckles. He felt so familiar with Meli who had only met twice. Starting from online shopping, they chat together, until they are quite familiar.

“Try if last night we met at the reception place Mbak Mira, we can already chat from late night,” lamented Ratna.

“But I have no regrets. If I met Ratna last night, I didn't stay free at the hotel, nor did I know the future mother-in-law. Haish...began to digress deh.”

Ratna looked at Meli in wonder. The girl in front of him was still silent with an indistinct smile.

“Mel, why are you smiling? Anything funny?” exciting Ratna.

Meli flinched then replied a little nervously, “Eh, not a—ada anything, really. It's just funny to be in the same room but never met.” Meli could still hide her thoughts tightly.

“Iya, that's the name of a soul mate. We were not a match last night,” commented Ratna.

“Dan, I'm dating Mas Azka.”

Ratna closed the shophouse and took Meli to the 2nd floor. Apparently, Azka had fallen asleep in front of the television that was still on.

“Well, this is the makah molor guy here. What bed in the hotel less comfortable until sleeping on the sofa?” chirps Ratna.

He doesn't care about guys who are fast asleep. Ratna headed for the mini kitchen to prepare drinks and snacks. After that, he invited Meli to chat on another sofa that Azka did not use.

I don't feel like time has arrived. Without awakening Ratna or Meli, Azka awakens. He went to the bathroom and left.

“Where to, Mas?” ratna cried when Azka had climbed the stairs.

“Musala,” replied Azka briefly.

“Truly dream guy,” muttered Meli.

“You have a crush?” ask Ratna.

Meli surprised. He didn't expect Ratna to hear his murmur.

“His family is that. The men almost never missed the congregational fardhu prayer. Udah, we also pray,yuk!” bring Ratna.

Meli followed Ratna's steps. After taking the wudu, they congregated in the shophouse.

“Then, we almost always congregated here. Via is the youngest priest among me and Mira. However, his knowledge is the highest compared to ours. Back then, he had almost memorized all the letters in juz 30.” Ratna told me after folding her face.

“Oh, since when did she wear hijab?” ask Meli curious.

“At close to graduating SMA. Previously, prayer was rare. Especially njai. Bu Aisyah who guided him until he emigrated.”

“Who Is Aisyah?” ask Meli again.

“Bundanya Mas Azka. Because of living in a religious environment, Via was carried away. Before graduating High School, he decided to migrate, closing his aura when he left the house. Inside, he still wears a hijab if he wants a man to enter. For example, when he was on the 1st floor of this shop.”

Meli listened to Ratna's story attentively. He followed in Anjani's footsteps.

“Assalamaicum. Ratna, what are you cooking?” azka's voice came from below.

“Waalaikumsalam. Cook water, Mas,” replied Ratna.

“I'm serious, nih. I'm hungry,”rengek Azka.

“Serious, Mas. I'm tired, males cook.”

“Pad, you! We're out for food, yuk!” bring Azka.

Ratna gave Meli the code to follow Azka's invitation. They immediately tidied up the hijab and then went down.

“Where?” ask Meli.

“Mumpung you in Jogja, we eat gudeg only. We go to Malioboro all the way. How?” Azka made an offer.

Meli's eyes seemed sparkling hearing the streets. Without thinking for a long time, he nodded his head repeatedly.

“Iiih, seneng very heard the word streets,” cibir Ratna.

“Biarina. Kan I really want to vacation in Jogja,” said Meli.

“So you didn't come home today?” ask Azka.

“Tomorrow,” replied Ratna briefly and quickly.

Meli turned to Ratna. He looked at his friend in wonder.

“Ni child as good as jidat ngatur people,” Inner Meli.

“Ok. Later that night I take another walk. We're looking for food now. My stomach is already demoed,” Azka said.

They got into Azka's car which took them to Malioboro. The first place to go is a gudeg lesehan seller.

When he had just finished half his meal, the Azka device rang. Azka had ignored. However, having not stopped as well, Azka reached into her pants pocket to pick up the smart thing.

Azka was seen chatting seriously with the person across. Ratna and Meli don't care about it.

“Mel, mother wants to talk,” said Azka while suodrkangawannya.

Meli surprised. He canceled his intention of putting a spoonful of rice in his mouth.

“Mother Mas Azka want to talk to me?” Meli clarified Azka's words.

“Iya, nih,” Azka replied while handing her posel to Meli.

Ratna popped her spoon, looking at Meli in wonder. Meli was impressed by a close conversation with Ms. Aisyah.

Five minutes later, Meli handed her the Azka device shepherd while thanking him.

“Mother by what?” ask Azka.

“Mothers tell me to stay at her house,” repliedMeli. Suddenly he was surprised by his own words.

“Ish, what the hell am I? Why am I following call mom. Waduh, I guess I wish to be her mother's daughter-in-law. Though it is yes.”

“Wah, apparently Meli already know Bu Aisyah,” chirped Ratna.

“Just this morning we were acquaintances, kok,” objected Meli.

“Kok already called mama?” ask Ratna to investigate.

“Can't really? Ms. Aisyah does not seem to mind, tu,” said Meli cuek.

Ratna remained silent. It feels like there is something odd about Meli and Azka's relationship. However, he had no interest in scraping it.

“You want to stay at Mas Azka's house? Not at the shop?" Ratna asked in a disappointed tone.

Azka saw Ratna iba. He could understand that Ratna was lonely.

“Gini. You follow me in my house, Rat! Mother will also like it when in a crowded house. If necessary, Ma'am Via all I tell you to go home,” said Azka.

The disappointment on Ratna's face faded away instantly. The girl's eyes looked cheerful. He hopes to have a good conversation with friends.

***

Seriate

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