Unite In Love

Happy Is Simple (Lulu Andriana)

I was still standing staring at the figure I respected so much, whether how much suffering enveloped the depths of his heart to the point that he could not move his burly body. Every now and then I even let out a rough sigh just to express my heart that was upset at her ridiculous behavior.

Ridiculous?

That one word doesn't even deserve to come out of my mouth, when compared to Brother Ibra, I'm a thousand times more ridiculous than him.

If in thought we both have the same problem, both are stuck in the complicated past. The past cannot publish a smile, because in it there is so much bitterness ready to force us to shed tears.

Where should I start this story, and how do I untangle the sadness that is in it? I'm really confused, I don't know where my intelligence goes at a time like this. I can't even think of an idea like I used to, it's really a big deal.

Mm-mm!

I pretended to cleared my throat to melt the atmosphere that felt a little tense. It is true that I feel tense seeing the behavior of Brother Ibra.

"Have you eaten?" I began to open my voice between the silence of the air.

"Yes." Yeah."

"Have it been or haven't it?" I asked again, this time in a slightly loud voice.

"It."

I smiled faintly at Ibra's reply, I knew she was a liar. It's easy to lie to Mama and Papa but not to me. In my hearing, 'Already' means 'Not yet' and he's very hungry.

"Alright, sister can rest for a while. I'll cook for both of us. After that we'll talk.

Don't try to hide anything from me because you know my nose is so sharp, I can smell if something goes wrong just by looking at your facial expression." I wake up from the sofa. Ibra's sister whom I spoke to did not give any response. But I knew he was listening to my words.

A second later I started walking towards the kitchen. For me, cooking is common because since working with Sawn I've decided to get out of the house, live my life without receiving a fraction of the help from Mama and Papa.

"What should I cook? There's not much to get in the fridge. You really suck, Robin. You even forgot to shop." I said as soon as I opened the refrigerator door.

"Five eggs, chicken thighs and a little vegetable. All right, I'll process you into a typical five-star hotel meal.

You gotta help me, I'm gonna bait you and lure my lousy brother to talk. Tonight I need to know how she feels about that woman. I was really upset to the point that I wanted to punch a hole in the woman's head with a shotgun." My bitch while slicing chives.

Being annoyed that my teeth were grinding, there was such a great power flowing within my veins, I called it anger. The anger that stirs. I want to curse, I want to vent anger, I also want to punch that shameless face, but unfortunately I can't do it, not because I can't do it. It's just that, if I do that then Brother Ibra is the most injured.

I think years of separation from that woman will make her forget everything. In fact, I was wrong, first love is not easy to forget, no matter how much effort is done, brother Ibra, and bad I am also the same as him. We can't forget our first love.

Ten minutes later.

"awake. The food is ready."

"really? That's fast."

"Of course it's fast. I'm cooking not laying eggs." I said while putting food on the table by the sofa.

"Are you sure we'll eat here? Don't you hate to see your house fall apart?" Asked Ibra while scooping the rice and putting it on the plate.

"I hate that my house is a mess, but I hate to see my brother look like a frog trapped in a shell. Don't tell me you still love that woman?" Search me while looking at Brother Ibra with a sharp look.

Ibra's sister whom I looked at flinched, a second later she began to show her ignorance, a prank she rarely showed.

Platyakkk!

He crossed my handsome face with a small pillow on his right side. Instead of apologizing he chuckled like a madman.

Hhhhhh!

"What would you do if she wanted to come back? He dared to call brother, it means he has not forgotten his feelings completely for brother.

If it was me? I wouldn't want to see his face. Not only did he dump brother, he humiliated us all." I started grumbling after the food on my plate ran out.

Still with the same facial expression, Ibra did not give any response. And from his face I could guess that he was a little upset, deep down he was still holding the same feeling. I don't know how big the feeling of love that he has to make it look like a poet burned by love.

"You don't have to look at me like that. You're right, I still love that woman. But my love is not as big as it used to be.

You don't have to worry because I won't repeat the same mistake. I'll see him tomorrow, at the hospital. I'll listen to the explanation of what he brought along with his return." Speak brother Ibra after swallowing the food in his mouth.

I think he said the right thing by not accepting the woman back.

That lady? I don't even like to speak her name, how can I accept her as a sister-in-law if I'm so upset with her myself. The old wounds he left behind were deeply imprinted on my heart. Even today Mama and Papa are still angry considering the events of eight years ago.

...***...

Meanwhile, in a different place, Nisa is putting fresh vegetables that she bought from Swalayan into the refrigerator. His lentic finger was so good at arranging all the items he took out of plastic groceries.

"Other times if you go shopping, you should take Lais with you. Why do you shop that much if the edges of your own hassles." I said while turning off the stove.

The Nisa I spoke to did not speak to me, I knew she heard me but she chose not to respond. I feel like I want to touch his head because I'm upset.

"I'm mad at you! Do you know that?" Nisa chirps as soon as she closes the refrigerator door.

"angry? Wh why? What's wrong?"

"Lulu... Since when do you ask like that? Of course your fault is very much. I can't even count the numbers."

"MISSY... Since when did you start counting my mistakes? If you can't count it, it means you know I'm right, and you're wrong." Reply while turning my lips towards Nisa who is currently standing in front of the refrigerator.

"Lu, I'm serious. I'm not kidding right now! Now that Husain is grown up, it's time for you to get married.

What if Husain asked about his father? Up to seven fasts and seven Eid days you will not be able to answer the question. When are you gonna tell him he's not your real son?

And this is what I fear so much. I'm afraid the man who approached you will avoid you because you're a single mother. I know Husayn was not born from your womb, but the man who approached you will still not accept that." Nisa said as she ducked.

I never knew that Nisa had such thoughts about my Husain and thoughts about the complicated future that lay ahead of me.

"You don't have to worry about my future because God has guaranteed everything.

Husayn is my son, and until then it will remain that way. If there is a good young man who comes into my life but concerns the existence of Husain, I will accept his presence only as a guest, stop for a while and then leave.

I promised myself I would not leave my precious son just because of the presence of a man. Doesn't anyone know me better than you?" I asked Nisa with a sad look, almost my tears dripping but with all my might I tried to hold her back.

"My life is for my son! My happiness is in his laughter, and my sadness is far from him. Don't ever talk about this again. I'm afraid Husain will find out and he's feeling sad." I asked Nissa while cupping both hands in front of my chest.

Hhhmmmmm!

There was no reply from Nissa's words other than breath. I could see from her face that she was saddened by everything that happened. I myself do not know how to convince Nissa, years pass but the response is still the same, there is nothing more sad than this.

"alright. I'll never say it again. One thing you should know, I love Husain more than you. He is my precious nephew.

I also promise you, if a man comes to ask you but he rejects our Husain, I will act like a mother-in-law, I will insult the man, or I might break his arm. Are you satisfied...?" Said Nisa while tightly grasping my finger.

My tears immediately dripped hearing Nissa's reassuring speech. I'm happy, very happy. Now I just realized that happiness is simple, and it comes from the heart and mind.

...***...