Behind The Lies
Winning Hearts

Iyash and Aruna are confused to find a place to spend the night. Luckily the hospital staff allowed them to spend the night there and be placed in the hospital mosque. Many times Aruna said thank you because Jakarta is not as bad as he thought.

“If our purpose is good, our intentions are good, God must meet us with good people,” said Iyash.

Aruna just nodded. He looked at Iyash who was already laying down next to him with a jacket and bag as a headboard. While he himself chose to sit down and write a diary about the exhausting journey of the day. He hoped the sun would pick him up with a million hopes and reassurances.

***

At four in the morning Iyash woke up and for the first time he saw Aruna sleeping next to him. Her lips are thin. In her heart she prayed that God would give her everything that Aruna wanted. Slowly Iyash sat down. “Run, wake.”

Aruna had not yet woken up, so Iyash was forced to pat the girl on the cheek. “Aruna, I want to go to the bathroom, someone has to take care of our things,” whispered Iyash.

Slowly Aruna opened her eyes. He stared at Iyash and did not immediately say, he was busy remembering for a few seconds. Then he sat down and sighed. “What time?”

“Jam four. You wait here, I want to go to the bathroom first, just dawn.”

“Hm.”

Iyash quickly left and left Aruna who was still sitting while circulating his gaze and stopped where Iyash's former bed. He daydreamed long enough until Iyash returned.

“Your turn.”

“You didn't shower?” ask Aruna.

“Nevent need to shower, ribet, lazy open shirt.” Iyash even let his face get wet. “Don't be long.”

“Iya.” Aruna goes to the bathroom, while Iyash tidies up all her belongings. He stared at the open Aruna diary, there tucked a picture of a family, Iyash was sure that it was the photo that Aruna showed the nurse last night. Iyash tidied up the diary and put it in Aruna's bag. After all was neat, he then sat down.

“Iyash, I'm menstruating,” said Aruna staggered. Iyash looked up and stared at Aruna for a few seconds, as if he was digesting Aruna's intentions. “I do not pray, I wait outside,” continued Aruna while taking her bag. However, he later returned, but Iyash was still dumbstruck. “I hold your bag too. I wait on the terrace.”

“Oh. Yes-iya.”

The morning prayer rang, after which Iyash performed congregational prayers with several hospital officials and people who look after relatives or families who are sick.

After the prayer, Iyash came out of the mosque and sat down next to Aruna. He looked up at the still dark sky. “Before I never slept with any woman in the world other than you.” Suddenly Iyash said so. “I forgot that we are adults,”.

Aruna didn't respond because she knew that last night they were just desperate.

“Since when did you menstruate?”

“Tadi, fitting me into the bathroom. Last night was not yet.”

“Night I know, you, ‘kan still pray. I mean, what age did you start growing up?” Suddenly Iyash was curious about it.

Aruna herself was embarrassed that she had never talked about this even with her own father.

“Thirteen? Twelve? Or maybe nine years?” guess Iyash.

Aruna clucking. “Thirteen years,” replied Aruna briefly.”

“Hm. Means four years ago.”

Aruna nodded. He seemed to have no objection to talking about this with Iyash, after all they had both learned about the maturity of men and women.

“What do you want breakfast?” ask Iyash.

Suddenly Aruna took out some food from inside her bag. “I still have bread, you want?” tanyanya while advocating bread with sesame sprinkles.

“Bby. I happen to be hungry.” Iyash opened the parcel and gave it to Aruna in half. “You should also eat.”

Aruna nodded and ate the bread. While Iyash chewed while continuing to look at him.

“You know, I was like a dream to be close to you. I thought you were judes.”

“I know,” said Aruna without turning.

“Ya, you are indeed right.”

Iyash nudged Aruna with his elbow. “I'm kidding, Run.”

“Serius is also not a problem, after all the reality is like that,” said the girl while getting up. “I'm sorry for bothering you, because I don't know who to ask for help.”

Iyash smiled, and he stood up and picked up his bag, which was on the floor. “But I like to be repotinated with you. Because you don't know who to ask for help, that means the person on your mind is just me, yes, ‘kan?” Iyash paused while taking a step. “Happy,” he added while staring at the sky.

Aruna stared at the young man's back.  Last night they asked the address of the house that Aruna wanted to go to. It just so happened that the security guard knew the address, so Aruna decided to meet the security guard who was on duty last night.

“Where are you going, Run?” Iyash chased the girl.

“I want to collect an appointment to a security guard who said he wanted to take us there.”

“Ngapain? We can leave now, Run, the address is close, we only need one time to ride angkot.”

Instantly Aruna's footsteps stopped and he turned to look at Iyash. “You sure?”

“Iya. Last night I talked, fitting you again into the toilet you said you were heartburn. I'm chatting with the security guard.”

“Ya we're leaving now.”

Iyash heaved a sigh of relief, again he was proud of having won Aruna's heart. At least Aruna didn't ask the security guard to take them. If it's like that then what's the point of him being here?

Along the way on public transport, Aruna looks anxious and afraid that what he will get is not in accordance with what he wants all along.

Iyash who was sitting in front of Aruna continued to pay attention to the long haired girl. “You are calm, we will get the answer today,” said Iyash.

Aruna took a breath while nodding. It didn't take long for them to finally reach their destination. Aruna went down first and Iyash followed while paying the fare. Aruna sighed, then turned to him. “Yash, really here?”

Actually Iyash did not know, however, he was afraid of disappointing Aruna. “From wrong, mending we ask people here aja.”

Iyash quickly walked over and Aruna followed him. “Bu, Mom,” call Iyash on people who happen to pass by.

“Iya?” The fat woman looked over.

“We are looking for address.” Iyash turned to Aruna and the girl gave him the diary. “This address, Mom, do you know?”

Only about five seconds did the woman nod after reading the address listed on the kerta. “Iya, Deck, it's where it belongs. Who are you looking for?”

Aruna quickly took out a photograph from inside her bag. “Mother knows this guy?”

“This?” The woman stared at Aruna for a long time.

“That's a photo of both my parents,” said Aruna.

“This baby is you?”

Aruna nodded.

“You Aruna her son Gusman the same Goddess?”

“Gusman?” Aruna's forehead frowned, she then she stared for quite a while.

“This man is not Mr Ridwan huh, Bu?” ask Iyash curiously.

“This is my neighbor first, his name is Gusman and this is his wife, Dewi.”

“Oh, so not Mr Ridwan huh, Bu?” Iyash just wanted to make sure and the woman shook her head, she then looked back at Aruna. “Yes, you're already big. After separating from your father, Dewi became a rich man, even he paid off all his debts with me, including money to redeem you from the hospital.”

Aruna's heart stifled, she could only wet her throat without understanding what the woman's words meant.