(Not) Layla Majnun
Mosaic 34

"Absolutely, do you want to get married?''

I immediately nodded at his innocence. He asked back. The gaping squash, I pinched his cheek.

"Aw! Sick, Mas!" Whimpering. He held the cheek that I just pinched. It was a bit of a reddish bruise, but it was the pinch I used to do to him. But why, he suddenly shed tears.

"Well, why cry?!"

He still holds her cheek. His crying was notya subsided even more rapidly. Her tears are spilling, completely.

"Sorry, Nduk!!! Not intentionally, Mas, nyubitnya. Besides, it wasn't hard either." My word.

Seeing her tears made my heart wither. I stroked his face, but my hand was thrown.

My concentration broke out instantly. Confused, must look ahead and stare at Layla who is crying to not stop.

"Sick, Mom!!!" The screech. Her voice is raucous. He turned his back to me, facing the window. I could see her tears spilling and not stopping. Was I too hard when I pinched earlier? Until he's in pain like this?

I repeatedly apologized, but she never answered my apologies. Finally, for the rest of our trip, he just stared at the streets. No longer ignoring me.

The car enters the housing gate. I look again, Layla through the reflection of the car window. A while ago he was still awake, but now he was closed.

The car entered the house at exactly one night. I woke up Mom and Dad. Saying, if we're home.

With drowsiness trying to fight. Mom and Dad helped me put our stuff in. It turns out that there are also many gifts given to us.

"Layla's still in the car? In guggah, tho (In bangunin, dong)." Said Mother.

"Kulo gendong and mawon, Buk. Nembe tilem wau (I'm a child, Buk. Just slept earlier)." Reply me.

"Oh, yes wes (Yes already then)."

After everything was put in the house. I'm back, in the car. Want to lift the items left behind one more, if not Layla. He's asleep really fast. Until the car door opened, he didn't wake up. I took off her seatbelt that was still coiled around her body. Then start carrying it. It turned out that he was actually asleep, and it turned out that he was heavy as well.

I forgot when I last held her. It might have been a long time, before he went to the cottage. I used to carry her often. Not only during sleep, when he woke up he often asked for a sling.

Especially when we were in elementary school. After school, he will ask for a sling because he is tired of walking. At that time we did not have a bike, Dad also sometimes late to pick up. So it's not uncommon for us both to walk home from school.

Not a bad thing either. Even happy, because you can stop by to buy sugar cane juice at one of the stalls we usually pass. If picked up, I would forbid to buy the sugarcane juice. Because, sugarcane juice is a lot of preservatives and not good for health. But, the name is also still small, it is even a challenge for us. Prohibited, even challenged.

I smiled to myself remembering our childhood. Looking at Layla's face now, sometimes still not believe it. If we are growing up now.

I put Layla's body slowly on her bed. Remove the shoes that are still attached to his feet. And then, tidying up his sleeping position. Lastly, I covered him.

He moved for a while, but was still closed. The hijab was a mess, I intended to take it off, take the spruce on his chin and let the hijab slip away.

But when I wanted to let go of the spruce, I saw his cheek. Remembering that I hurt her. Until she cried so hard. The red bruise is no longer visible. But the pain I can still feel.

"Sorry, yes Nduk. It's wrong." I said shiver. I don't know why, I'm so happy to see him sleep like this.

"Bie..Albi?!!" Mother's call broke my daydream. I'll go and close Layla's room. Until I forget that I meant to take off his whim. But, never mind, maybe it's okay.

"Wonten, nopo Buk (What's up, Buk)?" ask me.

"Ora (No) My Angget (Kirain) is still outside. I want the key, the door"

"Oh... Shit, Albi just got laid with Layla." Reply me.

"Haha...Nidurin Layla's. Kayak, Layla's just a baby."

I'm laughing too. Unaware of my talk just now.

"Yes wes. You also quickly rest. Surely tired." Said Mother.

"Switch, buk"

***

A few days before Layla returned to the cottage. Every morning I take him for a jog. Girls are not good, if after dawn sleep again, it will make him lazy.

In the book of Madarijus Sholihah also explains, if sleep at dawn the law is makruh. Because at that time, it was time to harvest Ghunimah in the sense of a lot of goodness, one of which was fortune. Either the windfall of a property, or health.

The sun started to rise when we arrived at the park. Many of the neighbors, and some outsiders who also make the residential park as a shelter. Not only strategic, but also many other sports facilities. The place is also very large.

"Hi, Albi! Layla!"

We just sat on one of the park benches. Sipping the mineral water we brought from home. Ma'am Eko, along with several other mothers approached us.

"Jogging too, today?" ask him after he is right in front of us.

"Snack, Mom." Answer me with a smile.

"Every day I see you, Lo...But you never hit us. Yes Ma?" Said Bu Eko, by seeking income from other mothers who were with him.

"Lawong, fun courtship. Cook, yes gatek (observe) us, tho bu!!" Follow one of them.

Layla who had just sipped a drink, immediately sprayed her drink. Choking, probably because of the mother's talk.

I immediately stroked his back to ease his tightness.

"Loh, they're sister, ma'am. Not a couple of lovers!" Denying Miss Eko.

"Kirain, dating. He looks so friendly, really!"

"Yes...Yesterday also seemed to be a tug-of-war going everywhere!" added another mother.

"Husstt, Sorry yo Bi, Layla. My conco-konco iku sengane gossip. Though push ngerti kebenerane (My friends, it likes gossip. I don't know the truth yet)." Pungkas Bu Eko's.

I just nodded and smiled. Don't know how to respond. These mothers, in fact, approached to say hello? Or just gossip?

"But it's natural that Lo, if they say so. Layla's fishing too." Said Bu Eko.

I squinted my eyes, still waiting for Bu Eko to continue his sentence.

"You, at IG posted a friendly photo of your sister, you. Netizen comments, on your soul mates. If people who don't know anything, surely you guys are dating. I think these mothers." Continue Bu Eko.

I breathed deeply. Actually, who is this Miss Eko siding with? Us, or his friends.

"Yes, ma'am. His name is also many. You know, sometimes you do too, right!" Crop me.

Sontak made Bu Eko not say anything. I got up from my seat.

"Come, Nduk... Go home, it's noon." Take me.

Layla was silent. Rise from his seat.

"Excuse me, Mothers. Assalamualaikum..." My greetings to them. Layla also said hello.

"Waaikumsalam," Reply Some of them in an annoyed tone.

Just a few steps away, their mouths were already looking for gossip materials again. It can still be heard clearly. What are they talking about.

"They are, brother and sister. But, not blood." Bu Eko's voice composes.

"Mosok, tho Ma'am? His face is not similar. Wipe that Mom. Lest they have anything. Just one more house! You have to be careful, ma'am. Now right, you're the RT's mom." From another mother.

If it wasn't for their age, I might have rebuked them all. But I chose to shut up and ignore. Better, immediately move away and no longer hear their chatter.

Layla was silent. But, I can make sure if his heart is furious with their words.