TWELVE DAYS OF LOVE

About Grace

"Assalamualaik." A voice broke the silence between me and Cindai.

"Getishalight." We returned the greeting simultaneously and compactly turned to the direction of the voice earlier.

"Bang Mercy?" hiss Cindai.

God, why is that guy here? I stared at him unblinkingly until he stepped in and sat down on the chair beside Cindai.

"So I called Bang Yono who has my motorcycle workshop subscription. He came with replacement tires, so no wait long, my bike could be used again." The grace of telling without anyone asking.

"Then, what do you need to come here?" ask Cindai on Grace.

"Why didn't you call me? I'm worried so stop by here to make sure you're there, "replying Grace.

Honestly I feel nauseous hearing the words Rahmat, but trying to hold it even though my throat feels itchy.

"Cindai is not a child, Bang," Cindai muttered.

"Can we talk on the porch for a second?" ask Grace to Scan again.

"Speak what, Bang? Why not just here?"

Grace paused for a moment, then turned to look at me as if to convey to Cindai that their chatter could be heard by me when done in the living room.

"Outside." Grace stood up while pulling Cindai's hand. The girl also stood up and followed Grace out of the house.

Alamak .. it was unacceptable to see him pull Cindai's hand like that. But I stayed there.

My body was silent, but my hearing radar was tight. As much as possible, they should be able to listen to their conversation.

"Why is he here?" hiss Grace after they were on the terrace.

"I offered to drop by. Indeed why?"

"Why did you offer him to stop by?"

"He was kind enough to take me home."

"What are you guys so close to?"

"We've been friends since we were kids."

"It's not like Fadil used to make fun of you as a kid. You used to tell me about him a lot, right? You just passed through childhood until the end of SD in this village. After that you lived in Durian village, and I was your close friend until now. Fadil's just a childhood friend that doesn't matter to you."

My heart was beating hard at the words Grace. Apparently she knows my childhood story and Cindai's. Is it true that Cindai was so close to him that he told about his childhood after he moved to Durian village and lived there with his grandmother? Living with Grace.

"My closest friend is Ratna. Bang Rahmat is only the lover of my close friend" Cindai muttered.

"Don't say that name again!" Grace looked furious.

"I can't stop calling it. Ratna is my best friend at all times."

I started to get confused by their conversation. Ratna's? Cindai's friend? Grace Lover? Then why does Grace not like to hear the name called by Cindai?

"Scan, I'll propose to you." Grace said as she held both of Cindai's shoulders.

As soon as the look on Cindai's face stiffened, so did I. It feels like this tension is excruciating. Tension awaits the answer that Scan will give Grace.

"Scan has repeatedly said, our relationship is only limited to friends, until anytime. Bang Grace does not love me. In my brother's heart there's still Ratna, approaching me just to treat brother's heartache." Cindai said while removing both hands Grace from her shoulder.

"That's just your feeling, Cindai. I really want to marry you." Grace tries to convince Cindai.

"Bang Rahmat and Ratna have been dating since Junior High until a month ago. Ratna is my best friend, of course everything about you I know. A very long relationship makes the feeling of love both of you very deep. We became friends because of Ratna. Bang Mercy is just heartbroken, angry and hateful. Wanting to marry me not out of love but outbursts, as an escape."

"Ewlamp? What's for?"

"To avenge Ratna, made Ratna feel the pain that you felt. Marrying me as his best friend would be painful for him."

"That traitor even deserves to be hurt more than that, but I can't possibly use you as a means to repay him."

"Ratna is not a traitor. He had to, you know that."

"I don't care about him anymore. Now I only care about you, Cindai. Marry me ...." Compassionate grace.

"No, Bang!"

"Is it because of that man?" Grace said as she pointed towards the inside of the house.

Of course what he meant was me. And I'm waiting for a response from Cindai.

"Bang Fadil has nothing to do with my refusal."

"Since you came from the city the other day, your attitude has changed somewhat. You've been seeing her since then, haven't you?"

"I told you Bang Fadil had nothing to do with this!" exclaim Cindai lantang.

"You're hiding something. Honestly, are you starting to like it?"

Scan silent. He stared intently at Grace, his breathing irregular. I can feel Scan wrath at Grace. Grace pressed him too much, as if Cindai was under his control.

Or rather, Grace is being envy .. to me.

"About my feelings, to anyone, it's none of my brother's business. Don't hold me back like I belong to you. I still belong to my parents."

"I'm sorry. I intend well on you. I really like you. The desire to marry you is from my heart. If I don't answer now, I'll wait. But please, don't be mad at me. I hope our relationship will remain as usual. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, we'll go to school as usual."

Cindai just silently glued on her footing. The grace that saw the residence of Cindai did not say much more.

"I'll go home first." That was the last sentence he said before he left Cindai's house.

It seemed that the man's face had become tangled, as if he had no passion for life.

Apparently he just had a broken heart, just like me. And Cindai became a healer of his heart.

But ... Cindai does not want to be a liver medicine. He thought he was just being runaway.

Yes, God .. I got scared. What if I can't stand this feeling anymore? What if I reveal it, but he rejects me for the same reason?

He knows I just got heartbroken. I'm afraid Cindai's away. I'm afraid of losing him ....

Cindai is not an escape for me. She's special. He's different. I don't want him as a substitute for Naura. But I really want it as the filler of my heart's niche, as my soul mate.

Yes, Lord .. Have I really fallen in love with her?

***