ARSHAKA
Grannies

"that's called Bianca..."

"oh that's yeah..."

"that's really the girl in Arshaka's Instagram photo, the hell time?"

"ah, she's not very pretty..."

"yes, he doesn't look attractive."

"yes. How come Arshaka wants to be with him?"

"he's older than Arshaka,"

"why would Arshaka want the same as the student's sister?"

The tweet of some Cafe visitors who incidentally is a girl smelling fast who is still sitting on the High School bench makes my ears feel hot. With their delicacies judging me from head to toe. 

I felt like striking their eyes and replying to them.

But can't, my angry words can only revolve in my head, until my head is dizzy.

This is all because Arshaka has uploaded a photo of me smiling in the middle of the pool on her Instagram, until I arrived at the cafe until now I felt my activities were being watched as I was again taking the national exam.

I thought it was just my feeling, until I started hearing whispers from some visitors and then they started talking openly about me and being associated with Arshaka.

This was also thanks to Mela, my coworker as the Cashier Cafe who told me about a photo of myself has been uploaded to Arshaka Instagram.

Inevitably I could only refrain from venting my frustration when I saw them so coolly looking at me with a cynical look.

Chest elus is not enough.

"don't think about it."

I covered my face behind my arms on the table and gave a tired snort after hearing Karin ask me not to think about it.

How can I not think about it? Though they themselves are openly talking about me while glancing at me with a glance.

Until now.

I was sitting lethargic in front of Karin in the corner of the Cafe. I had alternated shifts with new part time colleagues and I immediately came to Karin's sitting position where she accidentally came to visit me.

Of course I know for sure Karin has another reason why she would come to the cafe on Sunday, where she would rather stay at home than go out. 

"so tell me. What was your swimming event yesterday? It must be really exciting, until Arshaka uploads your photo using caption love."

That's my guess.

This is also because Arshaka uploaded a photo of me using emoticons love.

What do you try to mean?

"so your relationship can be said to be growing?"

I looked up annoyed to see Karin putting on a smile at me. Tease me.

That lips really want to be pulled so it is not shaped anymore.

"don't let me be cynical. It doesn't hurt if you both have feelings for each other. The world won't end if you're dating,"

I still don't respond to Karin's words. My gaze now turned to look towards the glass wall of the Cafe, overriding a black Xpander sport car parked in the parking lot.

And Arshaka got out of the car. Wearing a plain white shirt wrapped in a blue denim jacket, also with blue ripped jeans.

I quickly got out of my chair and wanted to go back to the Barista's table. But I hit someone and spilled the drink, hit the shirt to his jeans.

"sorry.."

I gasped and was stunned, apparently I accidentally bumped into Erick and spilled the drink he had just picked up at the pick up place.

"nothing Bi. Woles," Erick replied immediately with a knotty smile. Many times I apologized, then I asked Tio to give me a clean cloth so that I could clean the drinks spilled on his clothes.

"sorry Erick. I didn't mean it, "please ask me again with a bent face. I'm ready if Erick asks me for compensation: change his coffee again, or have to wash his dirty clothes.

"nothing Bi. Just a coffee spill,"

"i'll make you some more coffee, yeah," I bargained straight away and immediately returned to the Barista's table, but Erick pulled my hand while shaking his head.

"don't be Bi. thank you,"

Soon I chimed in, "nothing Rick. It's my recklessness and I have to take responsibility,"

My intention is to step back, Arshaka comes blocking my way.

"what's Bee?" asked Arshaka to look at me, then moved to look at Erick who was holding his wet shirt.

I explained to Arshaka that I accidentally bumped into Erick and spilled his drink onto Erick's clothes. So I want to make him some more coffee.

"don't go Bi. Really," Erick replied again after I explained my carelessness.

"but I'd like to take you for a walk after you get home from work. Can it be Bi?"

I stared at Erick who had just taken me on the road after work. So did Karin, alternately staring at me, then at Erick and Arshaka. In contrast to Arshaka, his cynical gaze stared at Erick. 

"cannot. Bianca wants to go with me" Arshaka said.

"don't you want to go with Audrey to get her to her cousin's birthday party?"

Spontaneously I turned towards Arshaka who was still silent.

"Audrey, who is he?" ask with a questionable look at Arshaka.

"Audrey was one of our friends at Bi's society. They often go together, too,"

Hearing that my chest felt tight. It was as if something was stuck and it felt really bad.

"oh that."

I thought about weighing Erick's invitation while looking at Arshaka who was endlessly staring at Erick meaningfully.

Hearing Arshaka who was about to leave with someone named Audrey, my head immediately nodded to accept her invitation.

It shouldn't be a problem if I walk with Erick. Arshaka is also nobody to me.

He also has an appointment with another woman, why should I bother thinking about it?

"i came back for a little change of clothes, I'll come back here to pick you up."

Erick breezed away and I wanted to step up to enter the room.

But Arshaka got in my way again.

"why did you go with Erick?"

"why? There's nothing wrong with me going with Erick?" reply quickly and then step back.

"i told you we're leaving" he said again.

I immediately entered the staff room regardless of Arshaka's call.

I better prepare myself so that Erick doesn't wait too long for me later.

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

Summarecon Mall Bekasi is so crowded filled with visitors. Every outlet and restaurant outlet looks busy and crowded, plus live music genre 90's fill in the Mall's open courtyard.

Seeing density like a traditional market makes me dizzy. Then we sat down in a chair not far from live music, and Erick went away for a while and soon returned with a large bag of green and blue gulali candy.

Of course I'm amused by the gulali candy Erick bought me.

Yeah, don't be surprised if I'm so into gulali candy. A 5-year-old boy's henchman.

But seeing this gulali candy I even remembered by Arshaka who also bought this candy to me.

Precisely a few weeks ago, where he also directly asked me as his girlfriend.

If you remember, Arshaka used to easily ask me as his girlfriend, but lately he does not look excited after me anymore.

But considering that his chest is throbbing pain. Especially when I found out that Arshaka was walking with another woman tonight.

Maybe he just realized and was tired of chasing me that I had never responded to all this time. 

"Bi, are you daydreaming?"

I suddenly woke up and looked at Erick.

"why Rick?" ask me and Erick breathes.

"you don't hear me anymore, so I'm telling you the same story, huh?"

Uh...

"my God, sorry Rick. I didn't mean to"

"again think of Arshaka?"

Suddenly Erick's expression turned cold after he mentioned Arshaka's name. I also turned clumsy and lowered my head.

Oh, my God, why does it feel like this? I used to be happy when I walked alone with Erick. But now, when I go back to the road with him that there I even think of someone else who is on the road with another woman.

"may I tell you something?"

I raised my gaze, looking at Erick's expression which turned serious.

"you know Bi. Arshaka isn't the man you've been thinking about."

"what do you mean?"

Erick added, "he's not worth thinking about. Iota. Because Arshaka never really thought of you either. Iota. I hope you don't expect more from him,"

My brain is trying so hard to digest all Erick's words. But there's not a single word Erick I understand.

Then I stood up and started walking leaving Erick confused with my sudden attitude.

I don't know. I think I'm upset if Erick talks about Arshaka like that. Just because I was daydreaming suddenly Erick cornered Arshaka just like that.

Even though Erick was telling the truth if I daydreamed of him.

But I still feel annoyed and dislike. And I chose to go home without him and booked a taxi online to my house.

All Erick's messages and phone calls were completely unresponsive on the way. Back I daydreamed, thinking what Arshaka was doing right now.

Is he thinking of me like I'm thinking about him now?

No. gabe. She was with someone named Audrey. Surely his attention was on the figure of the girl. A girl who might be a lot more attractive than me.

Arriving in front of the house, I immediately got out of the car and my steps stopped when I found Arshaka who was standing leaning in her car. Her face looked tired but I could still see her curved lip line forming a smile when she saw me standing not far from her face.

From then on my feelings kept getting mixed up: annoyed, angry, irritated, and now something of relief was creeping into my heart when I saw it here.

"i'm glad you're home" he said with a smile.

"why are you here?" ask me.

"i'm waiting for you,"

"for what?"

Before replying, I noticed Arshaka who had been silent for a moment. At first glance he sighed.

"i thought of you. I was coming here,"

At first glance I raised my eyebrows.

"why? Who else are you on the same path? Audrey, if not wrong,"

I think Arshaka will smile again and throw up his flagship dime.

As he usually does.

But I was wrong. He walked up to me with his feet on.

"promise me that you will no longer walk alone with Erick, nor with any other Erick. Whoever they take you away, you have to tell me. Even though he's Karin,"

Not long ago I was caught off guard by Erick, now Arshaka also makes me careless. Set me up as if I were a child who still needed special attention.

"want me to go with Karin or anyone else, it's up to me. That's my right and you can't set me up like that."

"can." timpal Arshaka direct.

"you belong to me Bianca."

"don't fuck Arsha! I'm tired of your rumat-nanganin"

"i don't want to joke around with Bianca anymore."

For a moment I was surprised by his tone of emphasis. But I am still trying to repay him.

Arshaka can't treat me like that.

But before I interjected again, Arshaka stepped closer to me then, Arshaka,

"Bianca Delvin. This time I won't play games with you."

One hand cupped my neck along with his face that approached my face.

I suddenly froze unable to move.

When Arshaka's lips successfully kissed and******* my lips inside.

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