Thorny Love

*Bab 70

"Don't you already know what my status is Zein. I don't want your parents to be against our relationship because of my status" Zia said, bowing her head sadly.

"Zijah. Hey ... Don't think about that first. The most important thing is whether you accept me or not. Restu business later," Zein said convincingly.

"Can't be Zein. You and I were born of parents. We can't run a relationship if parents don't approve. If I have accepted you as my priest, automatically, this heart hopes a lot with you. What if your parents disagree with this relationship? I can't afford to lose it again, Zein."

"Realestu is right. You are the one who always thinks about all the possibilities that you will take forward."

"What's? Restu?" zia asked while raising one eyebrow.

"Well, Restu. But, you don't blame him for everything I know about you from him. Because I forced Restu to tell me everything about you. Hmm ... not everything, just part of it," Zein said as he continued to stare at Zia with his position earlier.

"Zia, forget all that. Now, I need you to answer my question. Will you marry me Ziana?" asked Zein again to repeat the question.

"If you want to know the answer to that question, then you ask your parents first, whether he is willing to have a widow's daughter-in-law or not" Zia said in a steady reply.

"What if they're willing, Ziana? Would you accept my proposal if my parents were willing to have a widow's daughter-in-law?"

"I .. I'll think about it later. After you asked that question to your parents."

"What if after I ask, and they are willing, but you are not willing? Zia, come on, answer my question now. Don't make me wait long. Sorry if I was impressed. Just like you, I need clarity, too."

"I'm afraid of Zein."

"Fear what Zia is? Tell me what makes you feel scared!"

"I'm afraid of heartbreak and disappointment again."

"Zia, I can't guarantee any of that. But, I tried my hardest, if I wouldn't let you down. At any rate," said Zein steadily.

"Can I believe what you're saying, Zein?"

"You can trust him. If I promise I will always make you happy. I also promise I won't let you down today, tomorrow, and as long as I breathe."

"alright. I believe what you say."

"So .. do you want to marry me?" asked Zein repeating once more his question.

"Yes." Yeah." Zia replied while nodding her head.

"Re-really?" asked Zein to convince himself again.

This time, Zia simply nodded her head. Zein who saw that, immediately got up from kneeling, then directly hugged Zia tightly.

Zia responded to what Zein said with a sweet smile. Although Zein did not see that smile of hers, but still, Zia felt very happy with what she was going through at the moment.

They hugged for a while. The hug ended after Zein remembered that the ring had not been inserted into Zia's finger. The flowers he had held since he first entered this restaurant, were also still in his hands.

"This ring fits perfectly on your ring finger Zia. It looks very fitting, like it was made for you," Zein said after attaching the ring to Zia's finger.

"You can just. Know where you measure up to be my sweet?" tanya Zia put on a face pretending to be annoyed.

"Oh it's a secret. Here," Zein said as he handed flowers to Zia.

"Thank you," Zia said as she received the flower.

"We're getting married next week, but before that, I'm going to go back abroad first."

"What! Next sunday? You're the one who really talked about Zein. Don't play me. What if your parents don't agree with your idea of marrying me."

"Zijah. You just calm down okay. Mom and Dad gave their blessing to me. You don't have to worry anymore."

"You mean?"

"I've asked them what they think if I marry you. At first, I didn't say you were a widow. But, papa knows who you are, he also knows what your status is. I don't need to reveal any more what your status is because my parents already know. And the good news is, papa and mama don't mind status. The most important thing for them is that I am happy. Whoever's going to be my wife, it's up to me."

"Is that really what I heard? Aren't you joking with what you told me this is Zein?" tanya Zia glazed over.

"Why did I lie to Zia? It's a matter of the future. There are no lies that can be said to set the future," Zein said with a serious face without a single smile.

"Zit." Zia looked at Zein with teary eyes. Then, the tears were no longer able to be shed. With a happy cry, Zia rushed into Zein's arms. Zein greeted Zia affectionately. They felt warm for a while.

______

Today, Zein is back from abroad with her parents. As he promised a few days ago, before he left the country, he would come with his mother and father to Zia's parents' house to discuss the marriage between Zia and Zein. Now, Zein actually came to Zia's parents' house.

After they reached the airport, Zein immediately asked them to go to Zia's parents' house without rest first. Zein says he'll rest at Zia's parents' house.

Seeing Zein so excited, his mom and dad couldn't resist what Zein said. They went straight to Zia's parents' house after reaching the homeland.

Both of Zia's parents, it turns out, were also impatiently waiting for the presence of their prospective besan. Seen from the preparations they made, also their uneasiness in waiting for the arrival of Zein's parents.

Papa Zia did not calmly sit down. He kept pacing back and forth in the living room while occasionally looking at the door of his house. When he heard the sound of the car stopping in front of the house, Papa Zia immediately rushed to open the door without caring about their home habits anymore. Usually, if a guest comes, the aunt will open the door. But not this time. Papa himself intervened.

Papa immediately greeted Zein's parents. Invite them inside very kindly. The response from Zein's parents was also no less heartwarming. The two old men Zein and Zia were like people who had known for a long time. In reality, they had only met for the first time.