Dusk (And Taste)
Chapter 57
“Not Prisil his fiancee Brother huh, Al ?” Reyhan opened the conversation on the way home from Mother's house.
“Iya, Brother. Until now you have not been able to open your heart to other women. Because, the shadow of the late Mbak Prisil has not been able to get rid of. Sometimes I feel sorry for my brother. He often shut himself in the room. Then, cry alone.”
Reyhan looked at his wife who was also grieving given the circumstances of his only sibling. “Al, it's hard to forget someone we love so much. In fact, want a thousand other people come approaching would not be able to make tempted.”
“Iya, Brother. I just feel sorry for my brother. When do you want to trap yourself like that ? Mbak Prisil is gone. By remembering it will not make it back.”
“Abang takes time to forget Prisil. Moreover Prisil died before their wedding day, not ?”
She looked at her husband with a frown. “Where did you know ?”
“You forgot, Al. Brother ‘kan my friend also.”
He nodded in understanding.
“Aleea ?”
“Iya ?”
“We go to the lake, yuk! From yesterday ‘kan I have promised to take you there.”
“Bby. But, is it okay if we go home a little night ? We're leaving in the morning, brother. I feel bad for Mama.”
“It's okay, Honey. Mama must understand that we also need time together.”
“Good.”
Reyhan drove his car faster than ever. He did not want to waste the opportunity to enjoy the twilight this afternoon with his beloved wife.
It didn't take long for the car to stop by the lake. The lake bears witness to his old story with Reyhan.
“Nothing has changed with this lake, yes, Sister ?”
“Iya, Al. Which changed only one ?”
“What ?”
“Our status. Now it is no longer a couple without status. But, a couple wife.”
He smiled and hugged Reyhan's body from the side. “Kak ?”
“Iya, Darling.”
“Some day. When we have children. I want to bring her here too. See and witness the beauty of the lake that bears silent witness to the love story of his father and mother.”
“Of course, Honey. We will also tell how our struggle to meet and end at marriage.”
“Kak, I want to be hugged,” he said spoiled.
Without saying anything. Reyhan hugged his wife. Stroked the top of his head so gently.
“Honey, your hair is visible.” Reyhan fixed the location of his wife's hijab which was blown by the lake breeze.
“Honey, look!” Reyhan took off his wife's embrace and twisted his small body. Showing a beautiful scenery that never gets tired of enjoying. Orange color at the sky.
“How ?” reyhan asked and hugged the small body in front of him from behind. So that his beloved wife can enjoy two things at once. The warm embrace of the husband and the beauty of twilight on the lake.
“Do not ask again. Brother already clearly knows very well what my answer is.”
Reyhan laughed and focused his chin on Nadhira's head. “Say ?”
He lifted his head. Her net met Reyhan's black bead. Drowning for a while before the sound of a child resuscitates the two.
“Om. Om,” call a child seems to be not much different from Reyhan's youngest sister, Latisha. The little boy pulled Reyhan's jeans repeatedly.
Reyhan crouched down to adjust his height to the little boy who called out to him. “Hei! What's your name ?” asked Reyhan gently.
She looked at her husband. Behind his stern face. She found a tenderness from her husband when dealing with a small child.
“My name is Kenzo, Om.”
“Oh.. nice name. Kenzo why call Om ? Can anyone help ?”
“Kenzo ball splashed there, Om.” Kenzo pointed towards the lake. Reyhan and Nadhira followed the direction the tiny fingers pointed at. “Can Om help pick it up for Kenzo?”
“Of course, Kenzo. Wait a minute, I'll get you, yeah. Stay here with your beautiful aunt behind this Om.”
Reyhan ran towards the lake where he saw Kenzo's ball floating quietly. She looked at her husband proud.
“Why play alone by the lake, Dear ?” Nadhira gently asked and gently stroked the black hair that belonged to the boy.
“Kenzo is not alone. Kenzo's here with Aunt.”
“Tantenya where, Ken ?” He looked around for a woman around him.
“Tante is going to buy him ice cream and have Kenzo play alone first.”
“How can the ball splash into the lake ?”
“The naughty brothers there who had thrown a ball belonging to Kenzo until splashed into the lake. After that they went somewhere.”
“Kenzo!”
“Kenzo!”
“Tante Elmeera!”
He looked at a woman with a high posture walking also towards him. “Why is Kenzo here ? Didn't Auntie told you to wait for Auntie and don't go anywhere.”
“Sorry, Aunt. Kenzo's ball splashed into the lake and asked Om for help to help Kenzo take it.” Kenzo pointed towards Reyhan.
“Reyhan ?” elmeera said calling Reyhan's name with a smile.
“Kenzo, this is your ball.”
“Thanks, Om.” Sweetly the boy kissed Reyhan's cheek.
“Wah... Why are you so sweet, Ken ?” Reyhan was so anxious to see Kenzo's behavior. He was not aware of the presence of Elmeera in their midst.
“Darling, I want our son to be as sweet and as funny as Kenzo,” Reyhan said without staring at his wife.
“As far as my husband is concerned,” he replied with a small laugh.
“Rey!”
Reyhan raised his head after hearing another female voice call out his name. He looked up at the woman. “Elmeera ?”
“Thanks for helping to get Kenzo the ball.”
“Same-sama, Meer. What are you doing here ?”
“I'm accompanying Kenzo to play. But I was buying him ice cream for a while.”
“Kenzo ?” reset Reyhan.
“Iya. Kenzo my nephew. The son of Shalu's mother. You remember Shalu's sister, Rey ?”
“Of course. How could I possibly forget Sister Shalu who had been kind to me ? Always leave provisions for me.” Reyhan laughed happily as his conversation with Elmeera talked about Shalu. In fact, he forgot that beside him still stood his wife.
“How's Mbak Shalu doing now ? Long time no see him. Last I met when your dad invited me to dinner.”
“Good. Shalu's mother is now staying with Mami at home. Because, Mas Farkash is on duty outside. If you have free time, come home to meet him. My door will of course be wide open for Mr. Oktara.”
Reyhan laughed loudly. “Stop calling me that, Elmeera. It was very formal for people who are close friends.”
“I just want to honor my friend who is now a young CEO.” Elmeera smile.
Feeling unregarded and not noticed at all. Nadhira resentfully passed without Reyhan's knowledge. He stepped back to where Reyhan parked his car.
Reyhan who had not realized that his wife had left continued to talk with Elmeera. Sometimes they laugh together.
“If you are not busy, occasionally let's enjoy black coffee on the roadside warteg as before. Don't forget to take your annoying boyfriend on that one.”
“Consider you mean ?”
“Whose else is it ? He's the only friend I know so sucks.”
Reyhan just laughed. “Even Bagas sucks. He also helped you when he almost drowned on the beach. You owe him your life,” Reyhan said, reminding Elmeera of past events.
“And he also certainly fell in love with you, Miss Fergaraksa,” Reyhan continued teasing.
“But, I don't love him, Rey!”
“Now you don't love him. Later in the day. Who know’s, Elmeera Sheika Fencingaksa ?”
“Already, Rey. Stop discussing it.”
“Good.”
“Tante, Kenzo wants to go home.”
“Iya, Darling.”
“I'm home first, Rey.”
“Iya, Meer.”
“Ken, say thanks to Om.”
“Om, thank you very much. Give Kenzo's regards to the aunt. Kenzo loves. She's nice, pretty and sweet.”
Reyhan laughed at Kenzo's innocent speech. “Honey, you heard ‘kan what Kenzo said about you ?” reyhan asked without realizing his wife's whereabouts.
Feeling unresponsive, Reyhan turned his head and could not find Nadhira beside him.
“Lho where is Aleea ?” ask him to yourself.
“Tante beautiful it goes there, Om.”
Reyhan followed Kenzo's tiny finger.
“Good. Elmeera I go first. I have to find my wife.”
Without lingering Reyhan ran away leaving Elmeera and Kenzo.