Dusk (And Taste)
Chapter 3

Three months passed after the incident in which Reyhan and Nadhira were hospitalized. Now they come back with their own activities. Nadhira was busy with his studies. And Reyhan is busy with the company he runs with the Papa.

“Where to ?” tanyakanya.

“...”

“Oke-okay. I went there. Mumpung selanggang.”

“...”

“Ready, commander. Hahaha.”

“Ma! Reyhan go first, yes.” Reyhan approached Mama to say goodbye.

“Where ? It's a holiday, sis.”

“Mau to Bara place, Ma. I haven't been there for a long time. Later when his sister in Reyhan hospital had not been able to go to jail. Though one hospital.”

“Iya. Careful, Son. Don't take soy sauce.”

“Iya, Mother. Very worried. Reyhan is not a child anymore right.”

“Iya yes. There gih.”

Reyhan left Mama who was embroidering.

___

Reyhan drove his car into a large house with dominant blue paint. He parked his car.

Reyhan knocked on the door repeatedly. However, nil. The door is not open yet. A few minutes later, Reyhan knocked on the door again. And this time don't wait long for the door to open. He found a middle-aged woman his mother's age. She's Mother. Bara and Nadhira. But Reyhan doesn't want to meet Nadhira, huh. Because Reyhan doesn't know it's Aleea's house. Uh Nadhira.

“Assalamu’alaikum, Aunt,” greet Reyhan while reaching for Mother's hand and kissing her as she often does to Mama.

“Wa’alaikumussalam. Son Reyhan, yes ?”

“Iya, Aunt.”

“Subhanallah. More handsome, yes.”

“Tante could have. Bara there, Aunt ?”

“There's a room, son. Comein. Aunt call first.”

“Iya, aunt. Thanks.”

Reyhan followed the steps of the woman in front of him. Until finally they arrived at a large living room complete with various beautiful paintings.

“Sit down first, Son. Aunt call Bara for a minute.”

“Iya, Aunt.”

Reyhan circulated a glance throughout the space he occupied at that moment. Awe and amazement were present in him. But a second later his activities enjoyed the paintings displayed around him froze disturbed by the sound of knocking and not long entered a girl with a dress and instant hijab in color as well as walking gontai while holding his chest. Abraham watched the girl who looked weaker and weaker from the living room.

“Delay. Brother.” called him in a weak voice almost inaudible.

“Bang.” Increasingly smirk.

Reyhan got up and walked over to the girl. Getting close. Close-up. And he came in front of the girl. Reyhan was shocked and there was a sense of disbelief on him.

“Aleea ?”

Nadhira tried to raise his head slightly while holding back the tightness that was very sad. He looked at the two eyes that were looking at him in disbelief.

“Aleea, you why ?”

“Reyhan ?”

“Iya I'm Reyhan. Reyhan Akbar Oktara's. What's the matter, Aleea ? What's your chest ? You're so pale?” Reyhan asked questions.

Nadhira. Almost fell. And Reyhan swiftly held it. Nadhira clutched her chest and Reyhan's arms due to perceived tightness.

“Bang.. Bang Bara.. ma..where ?” tanyanya.

“Agghhh.” Nadhira pouted and increasingly firmly clutching his chest. Reyhan who was not strong to see the girl whose name he still kept neatly was like he wanted to shed tears. However, he was resistant.

“Let me help. Let's sit down first. You can do it, Aleea ?”

Nadhira just nodded and followed Reyhan. The chest increasingly attacked his chest. Nadhira gripped Reyhan's arm.

“Sit first.”

“Which mother ? Call me a minute. I'm not strong.” His ink was weak with increasingly inaudible voices.

“Iya, Alee. yes.”

Just now Reyhan flipped over to call the owner of the house. Suddenly...

“Adik! ” he shouted and ran down the stairs as quickly as possible. Leaving Mother who was also shocked to see her daughter sitting weakly holding and still gripping Reyhan's arm.

“Why can this be again, Dik ? Which medicine are you on?”

“Yes Allah, Dik. Why you, son ?”

Reyhan only kept silent to watch the panic as well as the form of attention of a Mother and Sister to her girl.

“Di..dika..mar, Bang.”

“Wait for Abang takein first. The strong, yes, Dik.”

Bara ran towards Nadhira's room.

“Mother, sister is not strong. So tight.” Nadhira whimpered and cried.

Reyhan who witnessed the incident felt his chest tight at once. He could not see Nadhira in such a condition. And without hesitation he sat down beside Nadhira. Grasping Nadhira's hand like Bara did to her sister.

“Aleea, you are strong, yes. There's Mommy, Dad, Brother and I for you.” Reyhan tries to strengthen Nadhira. Sandra Bunda was shocked to see Reyhan acting like a person who was very close to her son. But Mother thinks this is not the right time to ask that.

Bara who from a distance saw Reyhan's treatment on Nadhira smiled.

“This is the cure, Dik. Drink first.”

“Let me help, Al.” Tawar Reyhan's. Mother still silently saw Reyhan's attention to Nadhira. Nadhira follows Reyhan's direction. What about Bara ? He only acted as a loyal audience how the attention of his friend was to his sister.

“Al, rest, yes. Let's lighten little.” Reyhan pulled his lips in a smile. Nadhira nodded and returned the smile she missed so much.

“Adik wants to rest. Mother make a drink first yes, Bang. Keep sister.”

“Iya, Mother.”

Mother left the living room leaving Nadhira who was still trying to close her eyes behind the tightness she felt, Bara and Reyhan. The living room is empty. No one opens their voice. Reyhan is busy with his mind that still does not fully believe that he is currently with the girl who has been inhabiting his heart. Likewise with Bara who looked at his sister pity. The only brother he has. He gently stroked his sister's hair that was covered in hijab. Peeling the darling of his sister's forehead which is now starting to fall asleep.

“Rest, Dik. Don't be sick anymore. Brother can't see you like this.” Bara speaks for himself. Grasping his sister's hand.

Reyhan smiled at the sweet attention Bara gave her sister. Bara who is aware is being noticed and then grinned.

“Happy ya lo same Aleea. Uh Nadhira I mean.” Reyhan scratched his nape that was not itchy due to misbehavior. Nadhira is called Aleea. A call he made to Nadhira himself.

“Aleea ? Oh Nadhira Aleeana Prayudha huh ? hahaha”

“What the hell is lo, Bar?”

“Gue knows everything, Han. Nadhira told me. He told me a few hours before he went to the hospital. Same with lo.”

“What story, Bar ?” Reyhan was so enthusiastic to know what Nadhira told him about it.

“You were honest or lied to ? hahaha”

“Start deh. Any bego’ person would want to be lied to, Stupid.”

“Hahaha yes. But wait a minute. I'll take the drink Mother made. Kasian back and forth kitchen. Anyway cook.” Without waiting Bara left Reyhan alone with Nadhira in the guest room.

“Awas not anything my sister!” he screamed while laughing. Reyhan did not respond to the silly behavior of his friend that one.

“Al, long time no see, yes. Turn to meet, you're sick. I miss you, Al. So missed. If only I knew you were here. Maybe I have been here since I found you. Honey, new time is on my side.” Reyhan spoke for himself.

Bara returned with a tray containing two glasses of juice and several small jars containing snacks made by Mother.

“This Mother makes strawberry juice equal orange. What is strawberry ? Hahaha”

“Lo want to see me die faster ? Lo base yes same temen own it amet.” Reyhan showed a pouting face.

“Iya deh brother yes. Haha. Gini-gini I wasn't that bad a time, Han. I know so much about the most anti strawberry. Haram is very much alive lo.” Bara knows a lot about Reyhan because they are very close friends. Starting from Reyhan who is allergic to strawberries. Even his hobby that likes to organize the park like mothers. But one thing he doesn't know. Is Reyhan reciprocating the feelings that his sister is fond of him.

“Uunnncchh really understanding. Hahaha” Reyhan stroking Bara's arm.

“Ih disgust me.” Bara brushed off Reyhan's hand which stroked him like a sissy.

“Lah let's tell me Aleea uh Nadhira said anything same lo.”

“He told me. Everything was. From the beginning you met and in the end you split up. Choose life and bring feelings to each. Walk alone. Until he struggled alone too with the same strong feelings elo. Until this moment. He endured and closed his heart to others. Hopefully one day you will come back with the same feeling as him. I want it to be the same. But I have to be honest with you. I'm not Nanya as Nadhira's brother. But as a friend who has long known elo.”

Reyhan only replied with a nod.

“Lo still have the same feeling as Nadhira?”

“Iya, Bar. I'm just like Aleea. Stay alone and do not open your heart to other women. Make me enough Aleea. Since that day. The day we chose our own path. I promise to myself that one day I will come to Maira to keep my promise to her. Being her moaning place, giving her shoulder to lean on. Happy him. If only I had known he was lo. Maybe I come here every day to find him. Or at least go to Elo to make her well without me. I love Aleea, Bar. Only him. There's nothing else. Do you believe me, right ? But so far I have never seen the same girls. No, it's ?”

“Iya I believe. I've known you for a long time. Almost all about elo I know.”

The living room is back. Bara and Reyhan looked at the pale face of the sleeping girl in the sofa opposite them.

“Han ?” Bara opened the voice.

“Hmmm?”

“Nadhira is my only sibling. I love her so much. And you know how I am if I love that person how ? Nadhira is the second most valuable woman in my life after Mother. I would do anything for him. Give my life only I would, Han. Do you know ? Worrying that he is helpless like this I cannot. Especially every time he screamed and clutched his chest like that. Wiggling him in pain. I'd like to change the position, Han.” Clear details without permission escaped past his cheeks. I cried seeing my sister in pain.

“Sorry, Bar. I watched Aleea kayak gini. If I could know. Aleea pain what?”

“Since childhood Nadhira often complains of chest tightness. After seeing the doctor, he had asthma. Since then he has been sick a lot. But he always tried hard. Do not want to make people around him worry and feel bothered.”

Without Bara and Reyhan knowing. A pair of middle ears were busy listening to their conversation. It is Yuda. Nadhira's father came home from the office. Dad didn't want to interrupt the conversation the two young men he saw were talking soulfully and even saw his son crying just because his sister was sick.

“Yes Allah, thank you for giving dear Bara to her family.” Lirih the Father.

“Assalamu’alaikum,” Father said his greetings and approached the living room. Bara and Reyhan answered the greetings in unison.

“Eh, Reyba . Haven't been here in a long time?”

“Hee Yes, Om. Just got.”

“Sick sister again, Bang ?”

“Iya, Dad. I don't know why the house is like that. Fortunately, Reyhan was there to help. Brother same Mother above.”

“Ya. Let's rest. I'll clean up first. Reyhan, stay, yes.”

“Iya, Om.”

Bara and Reyhan resumed their conversation. Joking about school days. Sharing work experience.

“Bang, I want to drink.” Nadhira called Bara without opening his eyes.

Bara and Reyhan looked at the girl who spoke earlier.

“Build first, Dik. Drink it not while sleeping.”

“I can't get up, Bang. My chest is still tight.” Nadhira spoke in a weak voice.

Just wanted to give her sister a drink. Bara's hand was intercepted by the burly hand of the man sitting next to him. Reyhan.

“Let me alone, Bar.” Bara did not refuse.

Reyhan approached the sofa Nadhira occupied. Take a glass of water on the table.

“Al, want to drink, right ? Here's water. But get up first, yeah. It is not good to drink while sleeping. Later your chest hurts more,” Reyhan said gently, attentively.

“This voice ? Like I know him. This call ? The one who called me with that call was just him. Reyhan Octara.” Nadhira.

“Aleea ? Wake up yuk!”

Nadhira opened his eyes slowly and the first thing he saw was the face he always missed without knowing the time.

"It turns out that earlier wasn't a dream, her inner”.

“Kak Reyhan ?” said weak. Tears began to pool in her eyes.

“Iya. Its me. Wake up, huh ? Can thirst.” Reyhan smiled at Nadhira.

Nadhira tried to wake up even though he was still very weak. He tried hard. Doesn't want to look fragile and known by Reyhan's disease.

“Aaaggh.” This time Nadhira felt a tightness in his chest.

“Do not be forced, Dik. Sleep aja.”

“Nothing, Bang.”

“Abang help here.”

“Nevent gone, Bar. Let me just.”

“Ya. It's okay, isn't it, Dik ? There is Reyhan.”

Bara leaves Reyhan and Nadhira together. Give their wkatu to let go of longing that has long ensnared both.

“Finally, Dik. Happiness is coming. Today is the beginning for you to start a new thing with him that you have long wanted. Always happy, Nadhira Aleeana Prayudha. Because of your happiness the thing you always prioritize.” The coals sat and returned to shed tears. I don't know how many times he cried for his sister.

___To Be Continued__