Tidying Up Asa, Inviting Hidayah

58. Dighosting (again)

...🍁Do not think that you have become the most competent man, if you have never experienced, what it is like to deal with women.🍁...

Hara's.

Genar slowly began to calm down, his body was no longer shaking violently, although the hand grip still felt cold. A gust of wind stroked the bodies of the two of us, shaking the ends of the wide veil that Jenar was wearing.

He opened his eyes, frowned, when he realized his fingers were holding my hand. Slowly he raised his head, his brownish bead looked at me wistfully. However, just for a moment, Jenar immediately cast a glance in any direction.

“Sorry ...,” watered down while taking off the hand.

I stood up after placing the coffee sachet on the floor, then stepped up, stretching the distance between us. I let Jenar regain consciousness completely, surely she needs time to master herself.

I chose to stand on the edge of the rooftop fence, behind him. Looking up at the blue sky while lighting a cigarette.

“Tadi here same who?” ask me after a few minutes of letting Jenar try to calm herself down.

“Awarded Aina,” replied Genar is short and shrivelled. There was still a slight shiver in his tone.

“How's it going?” ask me again, without turning around. The blue sky is more interesting to see, than the alarming state of Jenar.

“I still have one more class at 14.30 later,” once again I hear the shakes on the tone of the girl's voice.

“You're back on campus?”

I looked, for I had not heard the answer from Jenar. He just nodded weakly. I don't know why, I was bothered by that answer. Is it true that he wants to go back to college ... under these circumstances?

I took a long step, just as Jenar tried to stand staggering while holding her bag. She almost fell, if only I hadn't grabbed her shoulder. Lookie! His body was still very weak, with this condition it was impossible for him to go to the campus by himself, right? How can he learn if his body is not powered.

“Thank you,” said Jenar, as she felt me propping up her back.

I let go of her hand, but keep watch if she staggers again. While Jenar was trying to walk step by step, I followed her from behind.

“I'll take you,” I said. Not an offer, but leaning more towards an order that does not want to get rejected.

“Thank you, but I can go by myself.”

Jenar's answer made me smile wryly, saying in a tone that started to rise, “in this condition you want to go alone? Wanna ride what? A cab? A bus? What if you later pass out on the way, does the taxi driver you don't know want to help?”

“Sorry, but I have a female taxi driver subscription,” Jenar replied while throwing a glance in any direction, but I know what's in her eyes.

I don't know why the sad gaze with the clear glass that is seen in the eye patch it makes me inflamed. Jenar's condition is unstable, but she insists on looking strong. Funny attitude of this girl.

“Wait outside! I took the goods and said goodbye to Akbar first,” I said as I stepped past him, without giving Jenar a chance to answer.

It doesn't take long to clean things up. To Akbar and the others, I said that I should immediately escort Jenar back to campus.

Of course I didn't say anything about the state of Jenar. Even Nalini had protested, saying that the meeting had not finished. However, I leave everything to Akbar, so that we can discuss it another time.

Once back to meet Jenar, she welcomed with a greeting, “Pak Hara does not need re-”

I just trimmed the unfinished sentence of Jenar said, “I'll take you!”

“Ta-pi sa-so,”

“Come in!” my order after opening the car door, “I have changed deodorant, also do not consume alcohol.”

Jenar looks doubtful, but I don't care what she thinks. The reason that comes to mind right now is to make sure the girl is safe and secure. My Sanubariku could not bear to leave it alone, in this kind of weak state.

“Use seatbealtnya!” after driving a car a few meters away from the shophouse.

From the tail of the eye I can see Jenar forced to pull and install seatbealt. He exhaled heavily, leaning his back against the back of the chair, with a glance toward the side window.

Angry him? Let it! I don't give a shit. The important thing is to make sure this girl is okay, that's all I have in mind right now.

For a few minutes, we were silent. I choose to turn on the car audio so that the atmosphere is not too quiet.

Although he turned away, I could see Jenar's face pale at a glance. Maybe it was because her trauma had relapsed, so now her body had not returned to normal. I wanted to continue ignoring her, but the blank stare Jenar saw from the reflection of the rearview mirror inside was quite disturbing.

Until I had to ask him, “We need to go to the hospital or what? You look pale.”

Jenar shook his head weakly, without changing position. He threw his face into the side window. This attitude of hers, made me feel slighted. All righty! I won't ask you again, then.

I'm adding the volume of car audio. It is better to listen to the crisp voice of the radio announcer, than to think of the state of the person who should not be thought of.

Jenar opened the sound, when the car stopped because of the traffic light sign red, although it sounded very soft and hesitant. Makes me reflectively turn down the volume of the car audio in order to hear what he has to say.

“I am worried about missing dzuhur prayer time, Mr Hara mind not taking me to the nearest mosque? After the prayer, I went to college. If Mr. Hara is in a hurry or there is work, it's okay for me to go to the campus by myself,” said Jenar at length, whereas the point is only to ask to be delivered to the mosque. Maybe it has become a characteristic of women, always say desire with convoluted.

As soon as I found the typical minaret of Islamic worship, I immediately turned the wheel to enter the courtyard of the mosque.

The strings immediately went down, as the car stopped in the parking area. He thanked me and didn't mind if I left him. However, somehow instinct says I have to wait until he finishes praying. It was heartless to leave him alone, in a place that was to me foreign. Whether Jenar ever prayed in the mosque located not far from Malioboro street or also this is his first time here.

I waited long enough to get bored. I don't know how many times I've scrolled social media accounts and changed radio channels. There are also not many cigarettes that have been burned, while waiting. However, Jenar did not return.

When the cigarette I had was just the wrapper left and I was tired of the window glass, the girl was just seen from a distance. The light brown color gamis he wore, waving in the wind. A large hijab that matches the color of the dress also flutters to the right-left.

The genar walks with one hand holding the hijab to the chest, while the other hand holds the strap of the bag hanging on his shoulder. Actually nothing special, but I don't know why my eyes don't seem to want to escape from seeing every step.

Including when he stopped right in front of the car, then spoke to a mother who was holding a child. I noticed how Jenar's hand pointed in a direction, then rubbed the head of the child in a sling. The dimples on both of her cheeks formed, as she developed a smile. Sweet. At least that's the picture I catch every time Jenar smiles.

My attention has not been distracted, until the mother carrying the little boy leaves. My gaze was still on Jenar who was walking around the car, then knocked on the glass next to me. The smell of jasmine flowers greeted my sense of smell, as I lowered the window.

“Pak Hara is still here? I think it's gone,” said Jenar while fixing the bag strap that sagged from his shoulder.

The dimples on both cheeks were again visible, as he smiled.

Not only the first time, I saw Jenar smile, but this time somehow my throat became dry. Either because it had been watching the motion of Jenar or the smell of perfume she was wearing, making me difficult just to swallow.

“Pak Hara?” Jenar asked while narrowing her eyes.

I immediately looked away. Throwing away the view in any direction, then thumping so that the sound is not hoarse, because the throat really feels dry.

“I-,” I paused a speech that was like stuck in the esophagus. Damnit damnit! Just want to answer one question, why should it be laid out like this?

“Pak Hara why?” ask Jenar again.

I had to hold my breath, so that the smell of the jasmine flowers would not be smelled. However, a gust of wind blowing a little hard actually delivers the pleasant aroma. Along with the big hijab of Jenar who continues to wave because of the wind, the smell of jasmine was tempting nose.

Immediately I hit it, so as not to make me want to continue to breathe it.

“Of course I'm waiting for you! Why are you so long, anyway, praying? I'm bored waiting here. I think the dzuhur prayer has not increased the amount of raka'atnya, deh. still 4 times, right?" ketusku without looking at Jenar.

“Not that I told you that Pak Hara can go?” Jenar's answer that sounded more like a question, made me cluck in annoyance.

With a puffed-up look, I asked her, “If I go, who takes you to campus?”

“I can ride-”

I trimmed Jenar's answer, before she could finish the sentence, “You want to take the bus? If the passengers on the bus are wearing perfume or drinking alcohol, then your trauma will recur again, how?”

“I bi-,” Jenar did not continue saying, he was like he was remembering something, I don't know what.

“Yakin still want to ride the bus with pale face so?” I asked still with a tinge.

Jenar still looks pale, although not as pale as before, before she prays. I don't think with this girl, I can act like nothing ever happened. A few hours ago, I saw the weakest side of him.

“Do you enter or stay there? I've been waiting for you too long, you know. Still want to waste my time again?” a series of questions I asked, because Jenar did not immediately get into the car. He was standing on the spot, probably thinking.

I let out a rough breath, it seems like my patience is being tested. With a high tone, I called, “True?”

The girl gasped, like she had just regained consciousness. Without answering, he walked around, then opened the car door. All the movements of Jenar did not escape my sight. Even until he sat down, I still noticed him.

“Live to campus?” my many. Jenar. Making my forehead wrinkle, a sign of not understanding.

“Not so to campus?” ask again.

Jenar shook her head again, then replied, “Tadi Aina sent a message, he said the lecturer who filled the course today could not come. The meeting schedule was cancelled. That's why I waited for ashar time, let all pray here. I think Mr. Hara is not waiting.”

Jenar's long explanation, makes me feel even more careless. Are all women always like this? Summing up something without asking the question. Or just Jenar who always makes me as if being bullied by a snot girl.

“Continue now you want me to drop off where?”

“I should go straight home, but-”

“But why?”

I haven't started the car engine yet. Even the side window glass had not closed, waiting for Jenar to answer my question.

However, the answer that awaited actually made me who was about to get angry, so want to laugh. Let alone looking at the look of a face that looks without guilt, when Jenar said, “Actually I want to go home, but I am hungry..”.

Yes, God ... basic woman! Can the attitude of all women change like this?

What dream was I last night, to be able to deal with this strange woman?