Behind The Lies
Courting

At night before going to sleep, Aruna suddenly heard Iyash's voice calling out his name in a thin voice. “Aruna.” 

Aruna got up and opened the window. Sure enough the young man was standing in front of the window of his room. 

Aruna raised her chin. Suddenly Iyash throws a book at him. In the book it is written. “Borrow Sociology books. I can't sleep, rather than keep thinking about you, I better write the lesson.”

Aruna smiled. He quickly picked up his Sociology book at the table, then wrote a message on the book Iyash threw. “I guess Hallucination.” He throws the book and Iyash catches it. 

The wooden house that Aruna lived in, had a higher building with a plank floor, so Iyash could not see Aruna any closer, he even had to keep looking up just to be able to see the girl. 

After reading a message from Aruna through his book, Iyash wrote again. “Haha, don't think too much of me. So, it can't be different which one is real which one isn't."

Iyash threw the book back. 

Aruna laughs. However, his loud laughter made the father curious and quickly knocked on the door, then opened it. 

“Run, not sleeping?” asked Gusman in front of the door of Aruna's room, immediately Aruna's eyes faded and slowly she turned to her father. 

"Runa's reading a book, Dad." 

“Why has the window not closed?” Gusman walked to the front of the window. 

“No need, Dad, let Aruna close,” the girl immediately beckoned Iyash to leave before her father found out. "There's a Dad," he whispered. 

“Why you?” ask Gusman. 

“Nothing, Yah.” 

“Quick closed many mosquitoes.”

“Iya, Yah.” Slowly Aruna closed the window of her room and ended her meeting with Iyash that night. While Iyash returned to his room and started taking notes of the material this afternoon . 

***

Since dating, Iyash and Aruna have been spending more and more time together. School activities and outside of school they spend together. Aruna shows who she is when she is with Iyash. He felt free and found himself with the young man. 

“Iyash,” call Aruna in front of Iyash room window. Instantly the young man who was lying down while reading the book smiled at his voice. He got up and opened the window. “I made mango pudding,” Aruna said as she showed her lunchbox up. 

Iyash smile. “Make me?” 

“Iya.” 

“Awas-awas.” Iyash moved his hand to the side. Aruna understood that she was shifting and Iyash jumped out of the window. 

“Aahh!” Aruna squealed a little when Iyash almost lost his balance. 

“Gugup,” said Iyash as he chuckled. “This is the mango I bought for you?” 

“Iya, I made pudding,” said Aruna while sitting on a rock near the pole of Juragan Hartanto's house. The light of the lamp is not so bright considering Iyash's room which is slightly indented to the edge. 

Iyash smiled as he sat next to the girl of his heart. 

“Cobain,” said Aruna while sneaking a teaspoon and feeding Iyash. “Nak no?” 

Iyash was chewing, his lips back on their sides. “Enak, sweet.” 

“Hhhh.” Aruna took a breath. “Sgratitude.” Iyash did not need to know his struggle to make the pudding. This is indeed the first time Aruna made it, capitalized from the internet when she used a school computer. “Spend,” pinta the girl while giving the lunchbox to Iyash. 

“No longer bribed?” 

“No need, you can do it yourself.” 

Iyash just smiled, he thought Aruna would treat him like a child and continue to feed him to the end. 

“Dad was there, am I dating you?” 

Iyash stopped chewing. “What do you answer?” 

“While you lied to me, I can't lie to you."

“Good. Keep Daddy saying what?” 

“Daddy didn't say anything.” 

Both Aruna eyes were round looking at Iyash. “Keep Grandma said what?”

“Grandmother simply advised, ‘dating can, as long as not to overdo it, do positive things lest your relationship damage your ideals and academic values in school’. Udah.” 

“Sometimes I feel like Dad's not paying attention, he doesn't care about me.” 

“Peduli, just a different way. My grandfather is also not like Grandma, my Papa is also not like Mama, but I am sure they also still care.” 

“The problem is I only have Daddy.” 

“Now you have me,” said Iyash as he looked at the girl. At once Aruna's heart was beating. “I've told you, ‘kan, if you need a story friend, say aja.” Iyash then laughed a little. 

“If you need pocket money, ask your father, I am not stingy, but ashamed because my money results–” Iyash open wide palm. 

Aruna nudged Iyash's shoulder while laughing. "Look for."

Iyash laughed too. It seems that the two are not ashamed if heard by others and found alone in a dark place. 

"Sstt." Aruna smothered Iyash's mouth with her palm. "You if you laugh can not slow down," kekeh Aruna restrained. 

"You're also noisy." Iyash tucked his shoulder to Aruna.

 “Your father is not nyariin, because it is already nine hours?” 

“Iya. I go home,” said Aruna while rising up. 

“Still, Run, I like.” 

Aruna nodded, then she waltzed away towards her room. While Iyash himself was flabbergasted, how did he bring the lunchbox, while he had to climb up the window?

Finally Iyash went to the back of the house and chose to enter through the back door, there was still Mbok Murti who just finished his work and was about to go home. 

“Den iyash? Where from, Den?” 

“Former wind,” replied Iyash while entering the house. 

“Smoking?” 

Iyash looked up while smiling. “Mbok smelled cigarette?” 

“Ndak.” 

“I really don't smoke, Mbok. ” Iyash back to resume step. He then stored the lunch box containing mango pudding into the refrigerator. Then went to the bathroom to wash his hands and feet, after which he went to the room and ended his night with sleep.

***

For several days Aruna deliberately did not bring a bicycle and chose to ride in the Iyash bell. He stood on the bike step, his hands stretched out while Iyash tried to stay balanced. Iyash felt his life was lucky. His love for Aruna goes according to his wishes.

“Yash,” cried Aruna as she held onto both of Iyash's shoulders and slightly bowed her body to the man's back. “Still,” whispered. 

Iyash just smiled. Indeed, so far Iyash has always tried to grant all Aruna wishes. The series on Aruna's face is getting more sparkling and it makes her friends realize that Aruna can only be happy with Iyash. 

Arriving at the school Aruna received an apology from Naya. 

“Run, I'm sorry,” the sentence was thrown directly. 

“I'm also sorry,” said Aruna. 

“You are not wrong. I realized, I should have stayed by your side, not just stayed away because I wanted to continue to gather with Iyash, even though Iyash chose you, maybe that time Iyash just did not get a chance, he said, that's why he's like there's no feeling of anything like you.” 

Aruna smiled. 

Seeing Naya apologizing to Aruna, Umam approached. “I'm also sorry to you guys.” 

Dennis and Bagas did too. “We also apologize.” 

Aruna smiled, even with Iyash. “I've sorryin,” said Aruna and Iyash together. Then they smiled and looked at each other, then looked back at the four best friends. While Naya, Umam, Bagas and Dennis look awkward. They had never seen Aruna's face that bright. They even forgot when was the last time Aruna smiled with them.