ARSHAKA
Asin

The roar of the car engine stopped in my yard, both Arshaka and I were still sitting quietly in their respective positions, not leaving the car. We just kept quiet and ran with our thoughts.

During the trip to the house, our chat was just common things.

But neither I nor Arshaka have started talking about meeting Jeanne at the Cafe. I don't know why I feel like asking questions but I also refrain from knowing or listening to the reasons further.

The last time Arshaka found me saw her with Jeanne. Immediately I gave Tio a seat and was about to leave.

But my steps stopped because Arshaka managed to pull my hand until we faced each other, he did not give any explanation, immediately took me to my car and drove me home.

And here we are.

The various questions gathered into one and disturbed my mind; why did they meet at the Cafe, did they have any special relationship, and why also Jeanne had to touch Arshaka's hand with a gesture that made me goosebumps amused.

"i met Jeanne because she was my go-to friend, I had business with her" Arshaka said to answer the question that kept popping up in my head. As if Arshaka could pierce my head and read all the questions in it.

I looked up, looking at his face. His calm face and eyes, not only that but his hoarse voice also sounded relaxed without any burden. 

It seems like I'm the only one who looks awkward after seeing their meeting. 

I snorted cynically, cursing at my stupid-looking self. 

"oh that,"

Immediately I thanked him as he drove me home, then I started to get out of the car and step towards the door with a sullen face. 

"Bee, man,"

Arshaka call is not I gubris, my mood is lazy to see his calm face so that my heart will soon subside will the heat that was bursting from earlier.

Until I wanted to push the door into the house, it opened on its own and Dad appeared on the doorstep.

"Dad," called me with a surprised face. Seeing the presence of Father reflex I glanced at the watch that showed the time at 4 pm.

"Bian, I'm home, son."

"kok Dad's home? Dad sick?" ask me while making sure Dad's. It is rare for you to arrive home in the afternoon. Unless he's allowed to go home because he's sick.

"no. Dad was meeting with a client outside the office, because Dad's work was done so Dad just went home,"

"are you your friend?" father asked as he looked at the position of Arshaka who was still standing next to my car. Before I explained it, Dad had already called him until Arshaka came to us. 

"you were the one who took Bianca down that street, weren't you? leo's schoolmate too?" father asked Arshaka, Arshaka immediately nodded with a smile.

"yes Om,"

"what's your name? I'm sorry Om's getting senile," Dad hinted at Arshaka.

"Arshaka, Om." she replied with a smile.

I just need to understand.

"let's go in, son. We'll have dinner together, shall we?"

Arshaka and I were shocked at the same time. I was suddenly clumsy and not happy while Arshaka was the opposite.

"by Om," said Arshaka with a sparkling smile. 

"incidentally Om buy a lot of food before going home, then let Bian who is hot food first. Come on in," 

Dad immediately embraced Arshaka's shoulder without hesitation as if they had known for a long time and they stepped into the house.

Letting me fall alone at the door.

***********************************

Kalasan Roast Chicken, Sweet Asam Saos Squid and Kangkung vegetables became our dinner menu. 

I sat down next to Leo, Dad sat down at the end of the table while Arshaka sat down in front of Leo. 

Our eating activities are quite wise, occasionally there are casual chatter interludes. The topic of conversation is more directed towards the figure of Arshaka.

"sorry son Shaka, Om really does not know that you are the grandson of Reymond Prabusudibyo; the owner of Prabu Coal Corp." explained Father after he wiped his lips with a tissue after finishing food in the mouth. 

Arshaka smile.

"nothing Om,"

"sir Reymond rarely introduced his family to the general public" Dad added later.

"yes. This is my own will. I'm lazy in the media,"

"why? would it be nice to be famous? There is no harm if everyone knows that you are his grandson Reymond, a businessman conglomerate in Southeast Asia," now Leo gives a question to Arshaka. It seems Leo is interested in knowing the reason for Arshaka after he just listened.

Arshaka cleared a short throat.

"if I were famous, my scope wouldn't be this free. I don't like to be regulated and don't want to be constrained by people's comments, pretending to be nice in front of people isn't me." she explained to Dad and Leo.

They were back chatting about Arshaka again. Here I just listen, choosing to finish the squid until it's not left.

The squid that Dad bought was delicious.

But my chewing activity faltered, when Leo asked Arshaka something.

"sorry to say Arsha if I just take this to lo. From the words of some people I heard, is it true that your parents died by suicide?"

Both me and Dad immediately focused on Arshaka who was still silent in his chair. His reaction began to turn pale, his eyes turned cold to look at Dad, then moved to Leo, and finally turned to look at me.

It's not just me who's surprised to hear Leo's question. My reaction looks the same as mine.

Hearing Leo's question, I suddenly realized. From the birthday of Reymond Prabusudibyo, then when I stopped at his luxurious house, I never met the figure of Father and Mother Arshaka.

Why am I just waking up now? So stupid!

Looking at the atmosphere that was beginning to turn awkward, I immediately nudged Leo's leg and blinked my eyes a few times as Leo turned his head. Show my protest reaction so Leo doesn't talk about it anymore and diverts the conversation.

Leo cleared his throat briefly, "Well, tomorrow we're going, right?" Leo switched the subject, asking Dad about our plan.

Dad nodded, "yes, so it's okay."

Now Arshaka asks Leo, "where are you going?"

"tomorrow to swim in Waterboom,"

"Waterboom at PIK?"

"no," Leo shook his head, "at Lippo Cikarang,"

Arshaka mustered understood.

"want to go with Ar?"

Back I turned back to hear Leo offer Arshaka to swim, my activities that had switched in the kitchen stopped for a moment until I had to turn my body. 

I watched Arshaka, waiting for Arshaka's reply to Leo.

"yes, Shaka's coming. Biar rame's. Tomorrow we leave in the afternoon after picking up Bian to work at the cafe," Dad added.

Arshaka turned to me, looking at me who was also looking at him Arshaka smiled. Then his gaze turned back to Leo and Dad.

"if I'm invited, I'm coming, anyway,"

Leo and Dad smiled as Arshaka encouraged Father and Leo. 

"yes already. Tomorrow you go home. We'll take Bian to the cafe first, then we leave." explained Dad, but Arshaka chimed in on Dad. 

"later let me pick up Bian at the cafe. Same with Leo first,"

"oh that,"

"iya Om. I'm used to taking Bian, too,"

Dad came back to understand. Then he turned his head and looked at me as I sat back at the dining table with a meaningful smile.

"yes if you want Shaka so. Tomorrow you and Bian are just gonna have some news,"

Arshaka nodded, "yes Om."

The atmosphere warmed up again with small talk and tickling.

I just went back into silence while listening to their chatter, once in a while I looked at Arshaka, his wide smile endlessly adorning his face as Dad told me about the joke.

It's getting dark. Finally Arshaka came home. Then Dad went straight to his room while I approached Leo to reconfirm the conversation at the dinner table.

"where do you know about Arshaka's parents, Yo?" my delicacy looked at Leo who was sitting on the sofa watching tv. One hand he moved to press the remote button to change the broadcast.

"since my sister near Arsha. I'm starting to find out about him,"

"why-why?" ask me clumsy. Then Leo looked at me with a meaningful look.

"i've told you that you have to find out about him. Not only brother, but I also have to intervene to find out about him. I've told my sister that she's not a normal high school kid. Moreover, he is the grandson of the conglomerate, anyone knows and knows Reymond Prabusudibyo,"

"i've known about him lately, too. At school Arshaka once said if his parents settled in New York, rarely return to Indonesia. But I had heard some common secrets from some people, one of them about this: Arshaka's parents had died when Arshaka was a child."

I turned my back on hearing additional new information about Arshaka.

I think Arshaka's life is filled with abundance of happiness.

Actually, he is lonely.

"here I caught something strange, where Reymond almost never published his family figure. All he introduced was his achievements in the business world. But both the figure of the old man and the figure of Arshaka himself did not show to the public at all. Just talking about it is not. Surely Reymond is trying hard to cover the circumstances that actually happened to his family. But it's humane, I understand, if Arshaka didn't tell the truth just now while eating that's his right. We also don't deserve to demand that Arshaka tell us about his family's life."

I was pensive to hear Leo's speech which was quite reasonable.

"and once again I emphasize the same brother. Before you fall in love with him, know Arshaka well. Don't let your sister regret it later."

"but-how?"

Leo immediately changed his sitting position to face me. His face looked so serious, ready to give a condolence to me.

"yes, inevitably, try to open up to him. If the brother is like that, of course Arshaka will open himself also to brother. Keep acting normal, plus to pay a little attention to it. If indeed he was serious as big brother, without being forced, surely Arshaka would introduce his world to big brother."

"yes. But how is it going?"

"as usual, brother, the difference is that brother began to get used to receiving him" Leo's timpal opened my mind.

"make it slow. No need to rush. Just walk it, I'm sure you can."

I nodded in understanding as I continued to digest Leo's every word, learned what Leo was directing at me, and thought about how I would behave towards Arshaka.

Before long Leo stood up, saying goodbye to me to go to his room. I just nodded and still sat quietly thinking about all this.

Funnier. Remember where I've never been like this, especially when I like Erick. Erick is humble, nobody knows it and talks about it often. So I don't have to bother to find out how Erick is.

Without having to guess like I'm putting together a puzzle piece.

But Arshaka is different.

The man I always wanted to avoid had a life filled with big question marks.

Now, I'm going to spend a lot of time giving all my attention to her.

***********************************