Tidying Up Asa, Inviting Hidayah

5. Sister, the Best Partner of my life.

...🌸Boleh love, but just fine. So that when injured, not too sore.🌸...

Stringing

I am still in Jakarta, precisely at my sister's house. Besides the holidays, I wanted to calm down. Away from the hustle and bustle of college or home. Not because you want to avoid, just pull over for a moment to find a way out of a problem that is actually simple.

My encounter with Ghufron kang yesterday seemed to be the exit that Allah showed me. So that I have a reason to reject every man who wants to approach me.

If previously my communication with kang Ghufron was only limited to college assignments or organizational interests, since yesterday there has been progress. There was another subject and he began to dare to show his attention to me.

Like this morning after dawn he sent me a whatsapp chat that made me smile embarrassed.

[Have you been praying at dawn yet?]

Since I didn't reply right away, he sent me a few more chats.

[Don't be late for morning prayers, because dawn is the beginning of the day. If you are late, you will not get morning blessing.]

[I like the same woman who prays dawn on time, because she can definitely take care of her heart and love. Pray, let alone guard the heart. Aye, right?]

[Yes, finish praying don't forget to do’akan me, yes! Let me be able to draft a thesis smoothly and immediately apply for you.]

I read the chat with my heart pounding and lips unceasingly smiling. Maybe this is called falling in love,

I don't know. Just reading the chat from him alone can make my heart flowery. Especially when the phone screen shows a call and its name is listed there.

Swab the green button on the screen, having previously taken a deep breath. I picked up a call from someone who in two days was able to make me not sleep well. Until the typical baritone voice was heard.

“Assalamu’alaikum, Nduk?”

I held my chest, for I felt the unrhythmic thump of my heart. Just this time there is a foreign man who calls me with a special affectionate call for the Javanese woman. ‘Nduk’ it call dear commonly used to call beloved women.

“Wa’alaikum salam ..” I replied wirih. Because I don't want the shakes in my voice to be heard.

“What's first? Why don't you reply to my chat?”

I smiled, though I knew Ghufron couldn't possibly see my smile.

“This is again to be replied, Mas. Uh! Kang, eh? I have to call sampeyan (you are in Javanese) what yes?” I bit my index finger nails because I felt clumsy not knowing to call him Mas or Kang like my other friends.

The sound of laughter rang out and it made my heartbeat even more irregular. But the answer I heard, made my heart feel a little calm.

“Call as comfortable as you are, Nduk. Mas, kang, kak, or just call the name can also be.”

“Eh! Where can I just call a name. Not polite. Mas, right, older than me.”

“Ha ha ha .. don't say older, dong, Nduk! More mature, let it be nice to hear. The effect, really, I've been grandparents if you say old.”

“Oh! Yes already. Mas more mature than I was a teenager.”

“Ha ha ha. You here, make gemes only.”

Luckily we only made phone calls, not video calls. Because I'm sure my cheeks are now red like ripe tomatoes. Shame when Ghufron saw my blushing face.

Ghufron's laughter and his heavy but soothing tone made anyone comfortable talking to him for a long time. From the first time I knew him, I felt comfortable talking to him.

Now that our relationship has gone up a level, I feel more comfortable. The little attention he gave me made me feel appreciated and loved.

Ghufron did not directly express love, but the intention he expressed to my brother was enough to make me believe. That the feeling we feel is the same, our hope is in line. Ghufron was able to make me think, maybe I should have goals from today.

My mood was so good all day. After spending yesterday in a bookstore with Ghufron and Nalini. Then this morning was greeted by chatting even though only by telephone. This afternoon Ghufron sent another chat, saying goodbye to go home to Jogja. His holiday in Jakarta is over.

True as the saying goes, if our mood in the morning is good, then the whole day will be good. Conversely, if our mood in the morning is bad, then the whole day will be difficult to improve. Thank God my mood was good from morning until afternoon was still good. My heart is covered with flowers that are blooming.

This afternoon I was accompanying my sister in the living room, with snacks and fruits on the table. When my brother-in-law came home, but I saw his face water murky. I don't know what happened, Reyfan didn't greet me. Even ignoring Aneeshang's brother wanted to kiss the back of his hand.

Reyfan saw me having a serious conversation using a flat object he was holding, stuck to his left ear. It seems like an important conversation, I only caught a little and could not guess what problem Reyfan was talking about until it was serious.

“I don't know yet, I will talk first with Aneesha.” I had heard the sentence uttered by brother Reyfan before he stepped into the workspace.

“Ya, I'll find out first.”

Aneesha and I could only look at each other and shrug their shoulders, not knowing. Brother Aneesha who already understands the nature of her husband, murmured softly, “there may be problems in the office.” Then we went back to talking about something else.

I heard the footsteps coming into the house, approaching us. Then a flat-faced figure expressionlessly appeared, nodding his head past us. I smiled intending to greet him, but the basic man was expressionless. He did not return my smile, just continued to step up, about to catch Reyfan's sister into the study.

Luckily, I remember something I wanted to tell her. I called her name let her stop the steps, before I lost another chance.

“Pak Hara, wait!”

I took the paper bag on the table, which I had prepared since. Because I was waiting for his arrival, after this morning we did not have time to meet. Because Mr. Hara and brother Reyfan are in a hurry to go to work.

He stopped, right in front of Reyfan's office door. Half-running I approached her, giving her a paper bag with a smile. No matter if he returns my smile or not.

“This is for you, thank you yesterday for accompanying me to the bookstore. Sorry, it's been a hassle.”

“This what?” Mr. Hara took out a paperbag strap then peeked at the contents.

“Only a book, Sir. Hopefully useful for you, I'll let you know what the contents of the paper bag are, even though I know he has seen for himself, when peeking earlier.

“Thank you.”

That was all he said while fixing his glasses. No expression or no pleasantries, let alone a smile. Maybe the time allotment of facial expression first, Mr. Hara can queue the very back. Not yet had time to arrive at his queue, he had already been born into the world, so could not ration the division of facial expressions. Therefore, he may have only one facial expression that is flat, nothing else. Or maybe she had plastic surgery. The skin on his face was too stiff to express.

I'm still standing, looking at his back until it disappears behind Reyfan's office door. I imagine the people around Mr. Hara must be bored, because he has no facial expression other than flat. I'm guessing Mr. Hara doesn't have a girlfriend. Uh! Let alone a boyfriend, maybe a friend he doesn't have.

“Dek!” Aneesha's sister called me. I almost jumped in shock, because I was busy daydreaming.

“What are you doing there?”

I haven't been able to answer Aneesha's question, she has already asked the second question.

“What did you give Hara?”

“Book, brother. Ehm .. let Mr. Hara have another facial expression, not just flat.” I end the sentence with a small laugh. Feel funny because most likely my gift is meaningless to Mr. Hara.

“Book? Why give books to Hara? Is it her birthday?” Asked Aneesha the brother I caught there was a suspicious tone in his sentence.

“As a thank you, Brother. Yesterday, right, Mr. Hara sent me to the bookstore. I met Nemenin with Ghufron, waiting until my brother came. It's a boring job, you know. So I'd like to thank you just, Kak.”

“Oh! Actually that includes Hara's job, anyway. Brother can not let you go alone, sir Agus suddenly his son entered the hospital. So sister asked Hara to help you. He doesn't have much work in the office. Nganter you are not a difficult job, kok.”

“Iya, anyway, Brother. But still Jenar should thank him.”

“Alright! Brother is glad you have an empathetic taste towards others.”

I smiled because my sister said that phrase while caressing my head. My sister has always been a comfortable place to share anything. Our closeness since childhood, makes us accustomed to telling each other about anything.

We continued the conversation that was cut. Before Reyfan came, we were talking about the concept of photo studio and photography school for teenagers. My brother is planning to open a photography school in his mansion.

“So what age do you think the target is, yes, Dek?”

“Usia SMP-SMA possible, Brother. They're in the process of searching for the identity, right? The right time to develop such an age talent in my opinion, Kak.”

Aneesha nodded, then I saw her playing fingers on the screen. I don't know what my brother is doing. A moment later I saw him smile. I frowned wanting to know why my brother was smiling meaningfully.

“Then why didn't you tell me about Ghufron? From that brother kept telling the story. Why didn't you tell me he was a literacy community activist and manager of ‘reading angle, heem?’

The reading corner is one of the literacy communities in Jogja whose members are from various parts of Indonesia. Fronted by people who care about books and people's reading interests. Mas Ghufron is one of the organizers of the community. He is also the owner of an instagram account named ‘corner of book’ store. The account contains a review of the books by the author of ‘indie’. At the same time selling books by the nation's children. For the wider community to know, many novice writers whose work is good and worth reading. It also fosters the reading interest of today's dwindling society.

I laughed, it turns out that my brother was looking for Ghufron. I saw Aneesha's cell phone screen showing a picture of a man in the middle of a book bazaar. Mas Ghufron is often plunged directly if ‘reading angle’ is holding a book bazaar. Maybe because our interests and hobbies are the same. It was reading and collecting books, so we felt like we were compatible with each other.

“Ghufron has long joined this community apparently,” murmured Aneesha while sweeping the index finger on the phone screen. He's still finding out about Ghufron's mas apparently.

“Your hobbies are the same, Deck. Whoa! You must be happy to be able to connect directly if you chat with him?”

I smiled as my brother glanced at me. I let my brother sweep his fingers over the screen of the phone, complete his soul curiosity about Ghufron. Maybe you want to make sure that the guy who likes you is a good guy.

“Ehm ...,” I interrupted the preoccupation Aneesha saw the phone screen, “according to sister, Ghufron mas how?”

“How is it?” Aneesha looked at me for a moment through the tail of her eyes, then again looked at the screen of the phone that still displays the Instagram account belonging to Ghufron.

“Ya, first impression when sister chatted with him yesterday. How?”

“Sister's first impression on him?” I nodded my head, confirming my brother's question.

“Ehm .. she is brave. Rarely is there a man who immediately frankly likes, especially Ghufron talking to his brother. Another guy might talk to you first, but he'll talk to you first. It means Ghufron's a man with responsibilities.”

I smiled with relief, for my brother seemed to like the nature of Ghufron. Makes me confident to move on to the next stage, telling my father and mother about Ghufron. Though they may have known of Aneesha's sister.

“But, Dek ...,” I frowned, waiting for Aneesha's sister to continue her hanging sentence.

“Can't you give me advice with you?”

“What, Brother?”

I saw my brother smile, and his right hand extended out to my shoulder. Brother's voice tone softened as he said, “suka may, but naturally, love may also, but do not be too big, baby may, but do not be too deep. So that if you get hurt later, it won't hurt too much.”

“You know, right, Deck? Everything that is excessive is not good, excessive love is definitely not good. You can learn from the history that brother experienced.”

Brother Aneesha smiled, rubbing my upper arm gently. I felt the warmth in his touch and words. Brother Aneesha is right, I should not be too overdone in everything. Including my love for Ghufron.

“Remember, yes, Deck. If we love someone, leave love to ourselves. However self is more entitled to be loved, before loving others.”

That's how my brother has always been the best partner of life for me. I nodded with a smile, even though I didn't know whether or not to do what you said. Because when I already love even someone, it will be difficult to manage my own feelings.

Just as we finished talking, Reyfan's office door opened. My sister-in-law's tired face looks more and more cloudy. He came out of the study with Mr. Hara. Like just finishing talking about something very important or maybe precarious.

“Neesha!”

Brother Aneesha immediately stood up as soon as she heard her husband calling. Aneesha's sister patted me on the shoulder before passing to her husband who had given the code. They both walked up to the stairs. Aneesha turned to me while half-screaming.

“Dek! Please ask aunt Sri or mbak Lia to make coffee for Hara. Brother to top first, yes?”

I couldn't answer, because my brother and sister-in-law had gone first

walk fast away from me. And I had no choice but to go to the kitchen to do what my brother told me to do. Lucky it wasn't me who had to make coffee for that expressionless man. A boring man who can't express himself other than flat.

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Seriate....

*Hi friends. How are you doing? May you always be healthy.

Alhamdulillah, finally able to up also after going through a long struggle. (not to lebay, dehor)😁

*Eh, but really. If yesterday-yesterday wrote 1 part only takes 4-5 hours. Now it takes a week, because I have a new toy. Alhamdulillahot.

Hope you guys are still deigned to wait for this story that .. ah, yes I have accepted if you want to protest😁🙏*.

Just want to tell you, the next chapter will air in a month again😍😍

While waiting for a lot to read first, promoin first. The more you read, the more excited I continue to😁