Dusk (And Taste)
Chapter 95

A full moon passed so quickly. He and Reyhan passed by happily. Sometimes a small pebble comes close to both. Light debates filled their households.

"You're really going to college now, Al ?" ask Reyhan who's tidying up his shirt.

"Yes, Brother. I want to quickly complete all my tasks. So that I don't feel burdened anymore."

"But, you should pay attention to your content as well, dear."

"Yes. Brother take it easy."

She stood up and helped put a tie on the collar of her husband's shirt. "Sister should also pay attention to health. Look now. Brother's body is getting thinner."

Reyhan smiled and stroked the top of his head. "If I get thinner. Don't you love me anymore, Al ?"

"Of course it won't affect how I feel about you. In fact, when we first met. Brother is so ugly and pathetic. Like it's not taken care of," he mocked Reyhan with a wide laugh.

Reyhan flicked his forehead slowly. "Basic wife of durhaka. You could have mocked me like that, yeah."

"I just want to be honest, honey."

"Thankfully you are my wife. So you're in a safe position. Otherwise, I'll make sure my hands touch your cheeks violently and mercilessly."

He scrunched his forehead. His hand stopped instantly pairing the tie. "Does big brother include a rough guy who likes to play physical like that ?" he asked innocently and shuddered in horror.

Reyhan laughed loudly. "So you consider my words to be the truth, Al ?" Reyhan's laughter exploded. "Of course not. In fact, I've never fought with anyone in my entire life. Except, Farhan. And it was just a little quarrel as I scrambled for toys with him."

Reyhan cupped his face that had been smeared with a little makeup with both hands. "I don't like fights of any kind, Al. I just want to live in peace. Even if it's impossible for no one to hate me. Especially with my position in the company. But it's up to me that people hate me. I'm not the one who hates them. Because I'm not like them.

He smiles. "My husband is this wise, yes," he said, kissing a glimpse of Reyhan's lips. "Morning kiss, Babe," she whispered later in Reyhan's ear.

"You've always been great at cheating, Little Girl," said Reyhan anxiously and pinched his cheek.

"Hey, Mr. Oktara! I'm not a little girl like you said, yes, sir. Lookyah!" He pointed towards his stomach. "In fact, I'm pregnant now. How can you say I'm a little girl ?" he continued to pretend to be angry.

"Whatever! I don't even care at all. Because, you are still a spoiled little girl to me. But, I like it."

She blushed. Fizzy cheeks.

Reyhan was standing before him. Smells and kisses his stomach which is beginning to appear. "Son, remember always Papa's message, yes, dear. Don't bother Mama. Stay healthy and well always in your stomach. And always take care of Mama when you're not with Papa, yeah, kid.

She gently stroked Reyhan's well-combed hair.

"Mom and Dad are always waiting for you to come into the world. And we'll get together. Enjoy every moment together."

"Yes, Pa. Wait for me in the midst of our little family. And Papa take it easy, I will always take care of Mama and will not trouble Mama," he said mimicking the voice of a child.

Reyhan laughed amusedly at the typical babble made by his wife. He stood up and pinched slowly on Nadhira's cheek which was beginning to look fat. "You're so adorable, honey."

"Are you ready to go, Mr Oktara ?"

"Of course, Mrs Oktara."

"alright. Let's go."

He held Reyhan's hand with one hand. And the other hand tote Reyhan's briefcase. Also his tote bag for the campus.

_____

Reyhan's car drove out through the iron fence that stuck high. Split the city streets that began on two-wheeled vehicles and four wheels.

He looked out the window as usual. Enjoy the flow of streets and tall buildings that reach the horizon. Do not forget the smoke that is billowing from vehicles passing by.

His gaze stopped right at a little girl with one-sided braided hair peddling her wares. He saw the girl wiping away the sweat that he started pouring out this early.

"So, stop right there!" he said while pointing at the one-armed little girl.

"What's up, Al ?"

"I want to buy a snack that the little girl sold. Can you, yeah ?"

"But, Al..."

"This time." He cupped his hands in front of his chest. "I feel sorry for seeing the little girl" he continued in a pity tone.

"Alright," Reyhan said after looking in the direction his wife pointed. He pulled over the car right in front of the little girl sitting on the sidewalk.

He went down immediately and approached the one-armed little girl. The little girl stood up and greeted him. "You want to buy my banana cake, sister ?"

"really ?" ask the girl with a glittering look.

"of course. Can you pack it all up for brother ?"

The little girl quickly wrapped up all the banana cakes she would buy with a black plastic bag. "This, Brother." The girl thrust a plastic bag at Nadhira.

"So, what's the total, Dik ?"

"One hundred and twenty thousand rupiahs only, Brother."

He grabbed his tote bag. Take out a wallet and take out four pieces of money hundreds of thousands. Give it to the little girl.

"More money, Brother."

"No why. Just take it all."

"But, Brother..."

The little girl had not yet continued her sentence. He cut first. "Silent brother, Sister. It's your recipe that was deposited through brother. Take it."

The little girl's eyes sparkled. "Thank you very much, Brother." He kissed Nadhira's hand with respect.

Reyhan who saw that felt proud of his wife.

"Together, my dear." He gently stroked the top of the little girl's head. "What's your name ?"

"My name is Medina, Brother."

"Are you not in school, Medina ?"

He saw Medina's eyes that had been sparkling turned softly. There's a puddle on his eyelids.

"I used to go to school, brother. But, it's not anymore."

"Why ?"

"My parents couldn't afford the tuition. So I had to stop. And I want to help my parents to make ends meet every day by selling this banana cake."

Pity and pride ambushed him at the same time. "Sister is proud of you, Medina. May God make provision for you and your family, yes, Sister."

"Thank you, Brother. May God repay this brother's kindness."

He smiles. Feel the middle shoulder embraced by a familiar heavy hand. He looked up and saw Reyhan smiling at him.

"That's my husband's brother ?"

"Yes, Brother."

"Handsome. And very compatible with big sister," praised Medina innocently.

He and Reyhan chuckled together.

"Sister was lucky to get a wife as good as this beautiful sister," said Medina with a hand that pulled Reyhan's coat arm.

"Yes. You are right, Sister. I'm so lucky to have a wife as beautiful as her."

"That's it. Stop praising me like that."

He crouched down and aligned himself with Medina. "Now go home, Medina. Give the sustenance you get today to your parents. May it be a blessing, yes, dear."

"Yes, Brother."

"Sister go first. Be careful on your way home."

Medina nodded. Gaze at her hands and Reyhan. And then passed from before him.

"It's a pity that a girl as small as Medina has to struggle to help her parents. Should have been at his age now he was busy attending school and playing. But, he's different. He was willing to stop going to school just to make ends meet and both his parents."

He took a long breath.

"Therefore, we should be much grateful, dear. We can have a whole family. A good life."

She nodded and hugged her husband.