Dusk (And Taste)
Chapter 75

His gaze took a look with the focus of Reyhan's serious face who was driving the car. The sunglasses perched on Reyhan's pointed nose made his good looks a few percent higher. It made him even more fixated on the sight before him.

"What's up, Al ? Why are you looking at me like that ?" reyhan asked without looking at him.

"There's nothing. I'm just enjoying the beauty of God's hand."

Reyhan looked at him confused. "What do you mean ?"

"I want to enjoy the good looks of my wonderful husband. Before being savored by the eyes of the students who shamelessly praised the big brother before me."

Reyhan chuckled. "Finally, you admit also my good looks, yes, dear," said Reyhan as he stroked the top of his head that had been neatly covered with his hijab.

"Sister, I want to talk to you about something. May ?" tanyanya doubt.

"Can, Honey. Ask what ?"

"Don't do that to Papa. I feel bad for her."

"I hope you don't forget what I said at the Hospital that day, Al."

"Yes. I-i understand. But, Papa just asked and wanted to know the development. Besides, there's nothing wrong with Papa's question."

"I'm just not interested in discussing donor issues, surgeries and stuff like that. With whoever it is."

"Sister ?"

"My hope is starting to grow now, Al. Don't remind me of the past with this problem. Please."

"All right," he said, giving in.

"And may my hope this time bear fruit as I expected. I'm tired of hoping and then breaking."

"Berdo'alah. May everything go as expected. I will always accompany you."

Reyhan smiled.

"I love you, Reyhan Akbar Oktara."

Reyhan landed a short kiss on his forehead.

_____

"Finza!" call him in a loud voice that is able to grab the attention of many people who are standing in the campus parking lot. His nature that did not care about the comments and gazes of people made him more and more loudly shout the name of one of his friends. "Finza!"

The owner of the name turned his head quickly and walked towards him with a fluffy smile. He waved nonstop until Finza was two meters away.

"Darling, don't scream like that. Shame on the crowd" Reyhan advised him.

"They're not watching me. But, pay attention to my handsome husband," he said resentfully.

Reyhan wanted to laugh it off. However, he was afraid to see his little wife wrath in public.

"I often wonder to myself. Why did my husband have to be born this handsome ? Mama used to be pregnant sister cravings to eat what kind of food ?"

I could no longer bear his laughter. Reyhan finally released the free-laughter that was on the air. "Aleea. Aleuaea. Your question is why is it so funny ?"

"Assalamualaikum, newlyweds," said Finza who was in front of him.

Reyhan's laughter stopped. "Wa'alaikumussalam," he answered simultaneously.

"The newlywed couple is very happy. What's laughing ?"

"I'm laughing at your best friend, Finza. He's so funny with all his questions and ridiculous mannerisms." Reyhan laughed again.

"Why, Ra ?"

"I'm just upset. Every time Reyhan's taking me to college. The eyes of the students were always not blinking staring at my husband. Have they never seen a human as handsome as Reyhan's sister ?" he said with a higher level of regret.

Finza who initially just threw a question now also inevitably had to join in laughing at him. The question he asked really brought out the laughter of anyone who heard it.

"Lho, why are you laughing at me too, Finza ?"

"really. Your question is really funny, Ra. Gosh."

"Ah... You're the same," he said and stomped his feet.

"That's Kayla," he cried again amid the annoyance.

Reyhan pulled it so tightly that his face hit the chest of the field covered in a pale blue shirt and a pitch-black suit. "Sister, sick," he said annoyed.

"I told you not to scream, Aleea."

"sorry. I was too excited to meet my two best friends."

"Nadhira! I miss."

Kayla's loud voice echoed in her ears. He breaks free from Reyhan's hand and hugs Kayla happily.

"How are you, newlyweds ?"

"Certainly fine. As you can see now."

"Thank God, it's getting better" Reyhan replied with a smile.

"Honey, Kayla and Finza have arrived. I'm going to the office right now, yeah."

He nodded.

"When you want to go home. Kabari me. Let me pick you up."

"Yes, Honey. Be careful on the road."

He grabs Reyhan's right hand and kisses her, which Reyhn replies by kissing her forehead.

"Please, newlyweds. Don't make me envious of the way you guys are" said Kayla who managed to invite laughter all.

"That's why you get married. So as not to envy seeing us like this," she replied as she hugged Reyhan's body.

"How can I get married if I don't have a partner."

"With Bang Bara you don't want to, Kay ?" she said teasing Kayla with her eyes blinked sideways.

Kayla's cheeks instantly flushed like a boiled crab. "That's it. Don't tease me like that."

"Yes I'm leaving now, Al. Assalamualaikum everything."

"Wa'alaikumussalam" he answered with his two companions.

He looked at Reyhan's back which was getting further away.

"Darling!" he called out suddenly and ran towards Reyhan. "Don't forget to take your medicine on time. I don't want to see you like yesterday anymore."

"Yes, Honey. Of course I'll always be fine. Thanks for reminding me."

She nodded and hugged her husband. Kissing Reyhan's two cheeks in turn.

"I'm leaving, yeah. You're good with Kayla and Finza."

He waved to Reyhan.

After the car lit up that Reyhan was driving no longer visible in his view. He turned around and stepped back towards Kayla and Finza who were still waiting for him.

"Where are we after this ?" tanyanya girang's.

"To the usual place. Meet Mamang with all the delicacy of fried noodles and mixed ice," Kayla replied with her loud and thunderous golden voice.

"alright. Wait, what else ?"

He laughed with his two friends.

_____

"Gee... Tumben I saw Neng Nadhira come here," said the forty-year-old man with his thick mustache commonly called Mamang.

"Yes, Mang. Nadhira 'kan rarely go to campus, '" he replied politely.

"Lho, why, Neng ? Neng Finza and Neng Kayla even come here almost every day."

"The mama doesn't know, does she ? Nadhira's getting married, Mang, '" Kayla said.

"Right, Neng ?"

"Alhamdulillah, Mang," she smiled back.

"Yes Allah Gusti. Congratulations on the wedding, yes, Neng. May the family be happy and always in the pleasure of Allah."

"Aamiinu. Thank you, Mang."

"Ra, how ? Pregnant, not yet ?"

"Yet, Za."

"Lho, wasn't yesterday already no sign ?"

"Yes. But, when I testpack the result is negative. Perhaps not yet sustenance," he replied with a faint smile.

"Patience, yes. Hopefully soon you can get a deposit."

He nodded and smiled.

"Make me a big niece, Al" Kayla teased him.

"What message do you want, Kay ?"

"Huh ? You think it's like ordering Mamang's fried noodles ?"

"That knows for itself."

Finza just laughed at the useless debate between his two best friends.