TWELVE DAYS OF LOVE

A Friend Since Baby?

Scan walk gontai enter the living room. That sweet face looks pale. Remnants of tension are still there.

Immediately I fix the sitting position, hoping he does not suspect if I have eavesdropped on his conversation with Grace earlier.

"Bang, sorry .. It feels like Cindai is tired. Can Scan come in for a break? Later Cindai told Mother to accompany Brother," he told me in a weak voice.

"Ohh .. Do you hurt? Hmm .. It seems like yes, your face is pale. Yes, come in for a rest. Mother asked me to wait, it was bad when I left, "I replied as I watched her pale face.

Cindai nodded and then moved in.

But I again asked, "Then it was Grace ...." I gave a code with my index finger that led out of the house.

Cindai turned her head and said, "He's gone." Then he turned back and walked into the inner room.

I waited in the living room while recalling the conversation between Cindai and Grace earlier. The mystery of their relationship begins to unfold. There is friendship, there is betrayal, and there is love.

But certainly, Grace has already expressed her love for Cindai. In fact, he had intended to marry her.

There is a sense of unease in my heart. Grace is far ahead. He had dared to propose to Cindai, while I .. interpreted the feeling as uncertain.

Soon enough, Ms. Scan came out to me. Disperse seagrass.

"Son Fadil, sorry to wait alone. Scan is tired and seems like she is not feeling well. Mom's been delivering food in her room, so now we're eating alone."

"Yes, Mom. That's okay" I replied.

I followed Cindai's mother's steps towards the dining room, taking a seat at the dining table. Soon enough, Cindai's mother had spooned rice, asem vegetables, tempeh and fried tofu into the plate in front of me.

"Let's try to taste Mom's cooking" he said.

I started to put the food in my mouth. A moment chewed it and permeated its delicious taste.

"Hmm .. Mother's cooking is delicious, no different from Mamak cuisine."

Cindai's mother smiled happily and said, "Scan can cook like this."

"Mom must have taught her."

"Hmm .. no. Scan learn by yourself."

I looked at his face with a slight frown. There is a wonder question there.

Cindai's mother understood my point, then continued with her explanation,

"Since entering Junior High he moved to Durian Village, where his grandmother, mother of Cindai's father. At that time my grandmother was sick, but she did not want to stay with us. Not leaving his village. Then, Cindai decided to move there, take care of her grandmother."

Cindai's mother was silent for a moment as if she was staring at the past, then continued, continuing,

"Cindai is the only child of Mom and Dad. Of course when Cindai decided to move there, there was sadness. Sad that Cindai is no longer living with us, happy that at such a young age she already has a sense of responsibility and care. During her stay with her grandmother Cindai did all the housework herself. Cooking, washing, and other homework have become commonplace for her. School while taking care of her grandmother. He just returned to live with us since becoming a teacher at this village school a few months ago."

Shut up and listen. Observing every mimic created from the face of the middle-aged woman who was telling the story. That's all I do.

And I was fascinated by that story.

"So, Scan there's no sister, ma'am?" my many.

"Yes, that's why he loves children so much. From childhood he wanted to have a brother, but God did not want to give another child to Mother and Father."

I know a lot about the girl who caught my attention now.

Glory in the dress of silliness.

Beauty in a blanket of simplicity.

Toughness in the frame of innocence.

However, there is still something else I want to know. Things that have been running haunting the tranquility of the heart.

About the soul mate that Cindai once said.

"Mr .. hmm anu ... Cindai once said that she already had a soul mate. Hmm... Is that true?" Eventually the question landed smoothly, albeit with bated breath.

"Stupid?" Cindai's mother laughed a little.

While I am still waiting for the continuation of the answer with an irregular heart rhythm. A thread of sweat slowly pours from the temple. Nervous.

"Yes, Cindai has had a soul mate since the baby," he continued with sparkling eyes.

Gluey! The saliva that was stuck in the throat was now swallowed. I wiped the sweat that had stopped on my cheeks.

It feels like this body is slow to hear Ms. Cindai's answer. Like wanting to go home and sleep on Mamak's lap while pouring out the contents of the heart. But I do not know more about Cindai's soul mate.

A soul mate since baby? How did that happen? Who is the man who has been betrothed to Cindai even since that baby?

"Ba ... How can that be, Mom? Does Cindai know who his soul mate is? And ... are they now in a relationship?" I ventured back to ask.

"So, when Mom just gave birth to Cindai, a friend of Mother came to visit. He brought his three-year-old son. At that time I remember, the boy looked very fond of Cindai, he continued to kiss her. Even as he was about to be brought home, the boy cried, not wanting to part from Cindai."

Cindai's mother paused for a moment. The twinkling in his eyes became more and more sparkling when he told a story.

Shortly thereafter, he continued, again,

"Then Mother and Father along with friends Mother and husband agreed to match our children. Since Cindai was seven years old, I always told her about her soul mate. But Cindai never knew who he was. Know you .. When I was a child every Nak Fadil mocked him, Cindai always came home and asked Mom about who his soul mate was. Said he wanted his soul mate to hit you, Fadil. He-he-he ...."

"Mother also know when Fadil childhood like to mock Cindai? Ma ... forgive Fadil, ma'am." I said with a bow. I'm so ashamed of Cindai's mother.

"Heh .. Why apologize? It's just a kid's delinquency."

My face looked back at him with a smile. My heart is a little relieved. Cindai's mother knew that I often abused her daughter as a child, but she interpreted it as a childhood delinquency. It means he doesn't hold me mad, and I can still ask you again, continuing the investigation.

"Thank you if you perceive it as childhood delinquency. Honestly, Fadil was afraid that Mom was angry. Then ... does Cindai now know who his soul mate is?"

"Not .. Until now he didn't know."

"But why didn't you tell me?" my question is getting curious.

"Because Mom and Mom's best friend had agreed, we arranged for them through our prayers. Because we are aware, it is not good to impose the will on children. Hmm .. As happened to Ratna, married to her parents' choice when she loved another man. Poor that girl."

"Ratna's? Who is he, Mom?" as if I had never heard that name. Though it was clearly still warm in my memory about the conversation between Cindai and Grace earlier.

"Ratna is Cindai's best friend, a resident of Durian village. They have been friends since Junior High. Even always together until college, and both become teachers. Ratna used to be Grace's lover, who was their upperclassman at school. Ratna and Rahmat have been in love for so long, until a month ago her parents forced her to marry the man of their choice."

Cindai's mother paused for a moment, and she saw the radiance of sadness from both senses of vision. Shortly thereafter, he continued, again,

"The girl was unable to convince her parents of her own choice. Her mother fell ill when Ratna refused the match. Finally the poor girl had no choice but to marry the man she did not love. Grace who was left married also decided to change schools where teaching to this village, in the same school as Cindai."

Now I understand what Scan and Grace had meant. Betrayal, friendship, love, and escapism are just a few of the relationships between these three people.

The complicated relationship between Cindai and Rahmat at least still holds a gap that can be inserted. And about the man who has been betrothed to Cindai, I don't think it's a barrier because of his figure that has no clarity.

I have to steady my heart. Step forward with certainty. Before the small gap that existed increasingly closed.

However, the togetherness of Scan and Grace is much longer. Friends so love is a very possible thing. Persistent closeness could have made Cindai finally melt and receive the proposal of Grace.

I have to convince myself, look at my conscience. Make sure this is really love. Not just a moment of admiration.

O Lord, give the servant one more chance to know him better.

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