A Handful of Love for You
66. Like It Or Not Like It?

Alena POV's

“You like me?”

“Eh?” I was surprised to hear his question.

“Like or dislike?” his insistence.

“Eeeh...”.

Oh my... What the hell is he asking? I'm confused to answer.

How do I answer that, anyway?

My heart really acted. He seems to be jumping out of his place.

“Like or not?” He asked back.

“Eh, hm... a minute." I was confused how to answer the question.

“Just answer like it or not. Why be confused?”

It seemed like he could read my troubled mind.

He summarized both of my hands with both of his hands that were much larger than mine.

“I like you. The likes have reached the level of love and if it is legitimate, the level will rise to love,” his pledge in front of me.

I was stunned to hear her declaration of love but I was still ashamed to admit that I loved her too.

“Reply reply before those two troublemakers come bothering us.”

“Hm..aku..aku...”.

I looked around me and hoped that Aras and Aris would come to interrupt this awkwardness but it seemed like they had all worked together to not get close.

I saw Aras and Aris chatting with their father. Iyah tea was busy in the kitchen with her household assistants. Then the elders whom I did not know of their whereabouts.

It seems I can't expect anyone to interrupt us.

“Lena.”

“Alena Damayanti Nataprawira.”

He called my full name. Maybe he has memorized kabul ijab with my full name which he will mention in front of my ruler and my brother.

Why did I think that far.

I shook my head many times to cast off the idle imaginary shadow that entered my mind.

“Len, Lena! What the hell are you? Is my question too difficult to answer? If you do not like me and feel bad about rejecting me, do not have such thoughts. If you want to refuse, just refuse. I won't take revenge on you until send santet.”

“Eh, it's not so. Me, me too..”.

“Like me, right?” sambarna.

I felt the heat around my face. I will no longer be able to hide my feelings.

I nodded slowly and after that I lowered my head in hiding my face that might already be as red as a boiled crab.

“Alhamdulillah, so you want to accept my application?”

I'm looking down deeper. I have no power to lift my face back up. I'm so embarrassed.

I felt him grab my hand and pull me to stand up.

I was still hiding my face which was definitely getting red.

He pulled my hand and we walked together towards the back garden.

After reaching the back garden, I ventured to hold my head up and see where all my family was there and looked at the two of us.

I was not fully aware of the situation that was going on. He knelt before me and took out a box that I believed was a ring.

“Will you marry me?”

I look around me. There was aki, abah, mother, A Endra and Teh Iyah who smiled and nodded compactly. Then I saw Aki's face shedding tears. I'm sure it's tears of happiness because the dream of seeing her granddaughter married is about to materialize.

Then I looked at him. My husband-to-be who was still kneeling while holding a ring.

“Alhamdulillah,” I heard the thanksgiving that came from everyone present watching the actual proposal made me ashamed.

Of course I was embarrassed by his act of proposing to me on my knees. I'm not a fan of romantic stories where a potential husband proposes to his future wife in romantic and unusual ways.

He put a ring on my ring finger. Simple but beautiful and elegant ring.

“Mother,” exclaims the man who will be my future priest.

I spread my eyes toward the person he called mother.

******

Atep POV

I put a ring on his ring finger. The simple ring I gave with all my heart.

“Mother.” I was surprised to see Mother suddenly appear from the inside of the house.

I saw my mother coming over hand in hand with Teh Iyah.

I didn't expect you to be on this show because I didn't tell you about this proposal. Actually, I'm gonna tell Mom that Alena's already accepted the proposal because she doesn't want to give me empty hopes.

But Mother's presence is now beyond my plan. I'm sure Teh Iyah told mom. I hope you agree with the woman I chose. Ah, I'm sure you'll agree, because if he doesn't agree it's impossible for him to come today.

We have all sat in a place that has been provided by Teh Iyah which is very detailed. My mother sat beside me and Alena sat between her grandfather and her father. Alena's mother sat down next to her husband. I saw Teh Iyah and Kagendra sitting not far from us. Aras and Aris did not see the trunk of his nose.

My heart cannot be conditioned anymore. Looks like if I put a stethoscope on the left chest it should sound tight. My hand trembled a little and I had to squeeze so that this nervousness was reduced.

I saw my future wife, but I couldn't see her face because she lowered her face deeply. He seems to be just as nervous as me.

“I am the mother of Atep Dananjaya, would like to propose to Neng Alena to be the wife of my son. Hopefully Neng Alena Family can accept the intention of our family.”

Silent...

“Alhamdulillah, as Aki from Alena, I am very happy to hear this exciting news. It's just that there are both parents who are more entitled to accept or reject this proposal. How's Yusuf?”

“God willing, Alena and I received a proposal from Bu Isah. It's just that the final decision is in our son's hands. How's Lena? You want to accept Atep as your future priest?”

I saw Alena not giving any response, neither shaking nor nodding. Not even a word from his mouth.

My heart was pounding more and more waiting for the answer that came out of the mouth of my prospective bidadiku. I felt cold sweat pouring down the nape.

Silent...

“Semale silence when applied means agree.” Aki Musa's words relieved me.

“Alhamdulillah.” Everyone is giving thanks. I glanced at Alena who was still bowing her face.

I saw mom take something out of her bag. A jewelry box.

“I'm sorry if I didn't prepare as well as I should. This is because my recalcitrant son did not inform him of his plans to apply today.”

Then I saw a group of housekeepers, gardeners, and, and the five-man driver came with boxes that I did not know about and put them on a table near the pool that seemed to have been prepared in advance.

“Neng Lena,” call my mom on Alena.

“Iya, Mum.”

“This is the ring given by her father Atep when she proposed to Mom. I hope Neng Lena keeps it as a memento from her father Atep and also as a sign of a tie. Please accept. If Neng Lena does not like the old-fashioned model, Neng Lena can save it or can modify it according to the model that Neng Lena likes.”

I saw Alena receive the ring given by mother. Mother had said that she would give the ring given by the father as an engagement ring for his future daughter-in-law. I gave my sister her wedding ring.

“Thank you, Mom. Lena was very happy to receive this ring. Lena won't use it not because Lena doesn't like it but Lena is afraid of eliminating it. Lena's a teledor, Bu.”

I smiled at the words of my beautiful future wife.

All series of application event processions have been carried out well. The wedding day talks have already had results. We decided to get married in one month.

I can't wait for that day anymore.

30 Days, won't feel long, will it?

***********

to be continued...