A Handful of Love for You
43. Finally

Atep POV

I saw that face. A face that has been disrupting my sleep lately.

Alena

Stalled steps.

I saw him sitting in the garden chair with 2 other women I did not know.

“Aras, Aris... why pull his hand Mang Atep?” tea from a distance.

“Aris want to recognize Mang Atep with Aunt Lena,” replied Aris shouted.

“Iiiih, it's Mom who wants to recognize Mang Atep to your aunt. Why are you guys first. The fellow buses of the city must not precede each other. There go!” Iyah tea came in waves and immediately drove Aras and Aris.

“Aris also want to recognize Mang Atep with Aunt Lena,” protest Aris who was expelled by her mother.

“Same mother Aris knows it just as well. Why make a fuss?” cedar Protest.

“Ah... already do not argue Mother.you are called the same Father. There!” teh Iyah's orders to her twins.

Aras and Aris immediately ran into the house after hearing their father call when I knew that Kagendra had not called his children. I saw that he was chatting with his brothers.

“Tep...sini Tep!” Teh Iyah gave the order for me to come closer.

I'm approaching Teh Iyah.

“Sini, Len!” Teh Iyah also told the woman to come closer.

I saw him standing up from his seat and walking closer.

“Atep, Teteh knows this Alena her sister A Endra. Full Name Alena Damayanti Nataprawira, commonly called Lena.”

I looked at his face a little embarrassed.

“Lena, this is Atep, her sister Teteh. His full name is Atep Dananjaya, commonly called Atep.”

I saw him raise his face and look back at me.

“Nah has introduced you both. Next up is up to you. You need to know that your family has agreed that you want to continue in a further direction.”

“Haah.” I was shocked to hear what Teh Iyah just said.

I did find out that Teh Iyah was planning to betroth me to her sister-in-law. But I didn't expect our extended family to know about this plan and even agree to it.

I see that he is just as surprised as I am.

“What is Tea Means?” ask Alena.

I also looked at the face of Teh Iyah to get the answer.

“That same mother has agreed that you will be paired and married,” Teh Iyah replied in a happy tone.

“Mak Isah also knows and agrees that you will propose to Lena,” Teh Iyah replied to me while winking one eye.

“But we just introduced,” protest Alena.

I also made the same protest but I did not reveal it.

Uh, we weren't just introduced. We have known him for a long time. He is also good at drama.

“Although newly introduced does not mean it does not fit too,” said Teh Iyah ceria.

“Sya, Len. Aa saw that Atep was a kind and loving man. What's wrong if you try,” said Kagendra who suddenly stood next to his wife.

Looks like the husband and wife was indeed compact to match me with Alena.

“Eh, Aa why come here?” hardikTeh Iyah who seems not to like if her husband interfered in trying to match me with his sister-in-law.

“So Aras and Aris came and got angry with Aa. They said that Aa had disrupted their plans to introduce their aunt and favorite mama.” explained Kagendra.

Teh Iyah chuckled at the explanation from her husband.

“You said the same Aras and Aris that Aa called them?”

“Iya,” Teh Iyah replied without feeling guilty.

Tuk…

Kagendra pinched gently on the forehead of Teh Iyah.

“Aw..sick Aa.” Iyah tea rubbed his forehead that was previously Kagendra dysentile. I'm sure the jostle doesn't hurt. Teh Iyah behaved like that to spoil her husband.

“Measuring him don't like lying to his own child. Bad habits.”

Cup

Then Kagendra kissed the forehead of Teh Iyah.

“Let's not hurt anymore.” said Kagendra laughably.

The words of the male pussy made my ears ticklish.

I saw Alena also scrunched her forehead.

Teh Iyah and Kagendra stopped their public display affection after hearing Alena's protest.

A middle-aged woman who still looked beautiful arrived and put her arm around Alena's shoulder. It seemed that the middle-aged woman was Alena's mother and the man who came with her was Lena's father whose face I had seen when she used to come waving Iyah Tea for her son.

“Abah and I also feel that Atep is a good man after hearing stories from Aa and Iyah.” said Alena's mother.

“Ibuuu....” her spoiled protest voice Alena sounds wonderful in my ears.

“I'm Yusuf, Abah Lena. You can call me Abah like Endra, Iyah, and Lena call me.” Mr. Yusuf reached out to shake hands with me.

I welcomed Mr. Joseph's hand and kissed the back of his hand.

“I have met with the Father when you first came to the house of Teh Iyah,” I said.

“Oh yes? I used to not see you. Maybe you were a teenager then?” ask Mr. Yusuf.

“New pass SMA, Sir,” I replied.

“Call Abah, like the others,” pinta Pak Yusuf.

I'm nodding.

“This is Indriani's mother, Alena's mother. You can also call him Mother,” added Mr. Yusuf.

I kissed the back of Indriani's sweet smiling hand.

“Usia you already want a head of three. I don't want you to be a single woman and later even more busy with your career.” Ms. Indriani quipped her daughter.

“Lena new 28 years, Mom,” Alena said.

“Iya two more years you are 30 years,” reply Bu Indriani does not want to lose.

“Current age, 30 years old it's still young, Bu.” Alena tried to defend herself.

Ms. Indriani ignored the protests from her daughter.

“Nak Atep, if I may know, how old are you? Do you want to accept an older wife. Said you just graduated college. What age are you? 24 years? Or 25 years?” ask Bu Indriani.

“My age is now 27 years, Mom,” I replied. “I am indeed very late to finish college because busy looking for tuition by myself.”

“Oh, great if you're paying for your own college. That means you're a hardworking man. You work while in college?”

“Rubber, Mom."

“Atep help-help Iyah take care of boutiques and cafes. He has also started his own business,” Teh Iyah said.

“Good! The man in charge,” praise Mr. Yusuf.

“I was very late to finish college because busy looking for fees to pay for college.” said quickly to answer the astonishment of Bu Indriani.

"It's okay to be late for college. For Mother and Abah, the most important requirement for Lena's soul mate is not the title or wealth but her religion" said Bu Indriani.

I smiled proudly at the compliments from Alena's parents. Looks like my move to be able to match up with Alena will be easy. The difficult thing is to conquer the cold heart of the woman.

“Abah agrees,” whispered Mr. Yusuf who I can still hear.

“Mother also agrees,” said Bu Indriani while winking at Alena.

“Change...Mother..” Alena's timid voice fascinated me even more.

“You two just chat to get to know each other better.” Mr. Yusuf patted my shoulder as he passed to enter the house.

“Change and Mother into first,” Bu Indriani also patted me on the shoulder.

I nodded as a sign of respect.

“Jaga son Mother is well.” whispered Bu Indriani near my ear.

I smiled hearing it.

“Tep, I'm the same Iyah also enter first yes. You two have a chat first.” A Endra pulled the hand of Teh Iyah to follow him into the house.

“Teteh is sure you two will match,” cried Iyah Tea which may be heard by everyone who is in the backyard.

“K….Prita..Teteh has a new game and bag for you. Here come follow Teteh.” Iyah Tea again shouted to the two friends of Alena who had been sitting together in the garden chair.

I'm sure Teh Iyah deliberately called them to give me and Alena a time and place to chat to each other.

“Len, we go in first yes. Teh Iyah call tuh,” said one of Alena's friends who I do not know his name.

“Eh, no. Uh, just here,” I see Alena looking nervous after the two friends left.

“Hai.” I waved my hand in front of Alena's face.

I saw the annoyed look on his face but strangely I liked it.

Alena took her face off and chose to sit back in the garden chair.

I also sat in the garden chair. We both sat facing each other. I like this position because I can see Alena's face clearly.

********

to be continued....