Like a Former Nail
Episodes 5.1
The strands of smiles that were still clearly visible on the face of Gebri. Once his fingers swept the strands of hair from a toddler boy on his lap. When the boy asked, Gebri always answered enthusiastically, showing how much he enjoyed their time together. Even when the toddler wanted to pee, Gebri unhesitatingly drove her to the bathroom and did some simple activities that mothers often do with vigor, she said, from releasing to re-wearing the toddler's pants.
“You like little kids, Geb?”
Gebri–, who was carrying the four-year-old toddler, also occasionally invited joking–just nodded his head, with a smile that was still developing on his lips. Even though a few hours ago, he had refused to come to this house, accompanying Koning to meet his uncle and aunt as well as the parents of the slightly shaggy-haired man who was in front of him now. Actually Gebri was lazy out of boarding since the conversation with Rion on the porch of Koning's house, but he had to show his gratitude for the girl's spontaneous actions yesterday. Because of Koning who suddenly came out of the house with her innocent expression, she did not need to explain and answer any of Rion's questions.
“I haven't played with a kid Rudi's age for a long time, sister. My family and cousins no longer had toddlers, they were average my age or my sister. So when I met Rudi, I felt very happy,” said Gebri who again stroked the boy's head held affectionately.
Kharisma's forehead frowned slightly. A few questions tickled his mind. But the narrow-eyed man tried to hold back, not as fast as the words of curiosity came out of his mouth. That's Gebri's privacy. It could be said that privacy is currently not necessary to know, considering their relationship can not be said to be close. Just an older brother who greeted him, also occasionally send messages via Line or WhatsApp to ask for news.
“It will be you, Mbul. Always dear beautiful girls,” exclaims Kharisma by pinching small cheeks figure called the puffer.
“My name is not Mbul Om, but Ludi Anggala Putla,” denies the child with the typical style of his children.
“Rudi Anggara Putra's. Not Ludi Anggala Putla. Basic lisp!” tukas Kharisma who was about to pinch again, but immediately brushed off Rudi.
“You're mengombalin again the same baby face, Geb?” koning's chirps were suddenly already in front of them.
“Do not know!”
“I do know, not pretentious. I know that Kharisma really likes Gebri, right? And every day always chat him, right?” said Koning with a grin, who immediately got a reply to grunts and glances, while Gebri behaved as if he did not listen to him.
During this time Gebri not not ignorant, Kharisma so clearly showed his feelings. But he never thought more, if Kharisma sent him a message, Gebri would answer as briefly as possible. Or when men bring him home together, Gebri as much as possible refused for various reasons. Let it be considered expensive selling or said to be less sensitive. Let it be, he doesn't care. His priority right now is not taking care of the love affair.
Kharisma still glared at Koning, but the girl in the plaid shirt did not budge, felt no effect with the attitude of Kharisma, just now turned her head towards Rudi, piercing gently the cheeks of her bully. “You're such a chubby, Rud. Like mangroves. It feels like Aunt wants to eat your cheek,” she continued without caring about the sudden awkward atmosphere between Gebri and Kharisma.
“Do not, Nte! I'll turn my cheeks. Better to eat donuts. Lacanya is better than my cheeks,” said Rudi while holding both cheeks.
“You want a donut, Honey?”
Rudi enthusiastically nodded his head with small rascals.
“Let’s go to Dunkin’ Donuts!” exclaim Koning while taking Rudi from Gebri's sling, then move away. He suddenly turned his head, fixed on the pair of humans who were still busy in silence and in each other's thoughts. “Geb, are you coming?” tanyanya who immediately got the nod of the head from Gebri.
¬^_^
“I'll buy it, Kon. You and Rudi are there.” Gebri showed a table and several stainless chairs arranged in a circle in the corner of the room, right near the window glass which showed the frenzied view of Kaliurang street.
“Buy two dozen, yes! Add chocolate, such as choco marble. The rest is up to you, but don't icy cool blueberries.”
“Gebri?” A bespectacled man without a frame looked surprised by the female figure standing in front of him. They haven't seen each other for a long time, maybe five years. “How are you?”
As with the man, Gebri also could not hide his shocked look. His eyebrows rose, his mouth reflexively opened, his eyes widened and opened wider when he saw the figure of a middle-aged woman behind the figure of a tall man. For years Gebri had not seen them and their figures still looked the same, still looking haughty with eyes as sharp as an eagle jutting inward which became the hallmark of the Fernandez family.
“Ba-well, Brother,” replied Gebri who was a little stammered.
“Geb!” exclaiming Koning while approaching and instantly make Gebri climb up the gratitude.
Koning was indeed his hero, even though he was unaware. Dara toothed gussul it can always help him at the right time. Now Gebri has a reason to avoid, like the times when Rion demanded with questions about the pregnancy and her child yesterday.
“Sorry, Brother. I've been waiting for my friend,” beramit Gebri who is ready to move. “Secretary, Aunty Raya.” Finally Gebri's feet really stepped. Unknowingly, his mouth sighed. So relieved.
“Can we talk for a minute?”
The sudden ejection stopped Gebri's footsteps. At once Gebri's mind began to wonder. What was? Did the dashed-haired lady want to remind her of the promise five years ago, the promise not to concern-hail Rion's name? Or are there things that have not been discussed about the past? Or is it because of something else? And there are still many questions that keep spinning in Gebri's head. Without a clear answer.
^_^
Almost ten minutes of this silence occurred. The middle-aged woman continued to look on with a judging gaze, while the man with a thin sideburn on his face who was Rion's older brother looked busy with a cell phone in his hand. After telling Koning and Rudi to go home first, Gebri decided to accept the invitation from the woman named Raya Fernandez. This is where they are now, sitting in a circle filling the chairs reserved exclusively for Dunkin’ Donuts customers with a box of dozen-sized doughnuts already open.
“Now you live in Yogya, yes?”
Gebri slightly raised his head, looking at Riyan who had just asked a question. “Ya, Brother,” replied Gebri followed by a nod of the head.
“Lecture or work?”
“Lecture, Brother.”
“Where? It's fifth semester, right?”
“Di UY's. The University of Yogyakarta, brother. I just got into college two months ago.”
“What are you majoring in? Rion is also at UY. Have you met him?” Now the consecutive question was not from Riyan, but from Raya who still showed a probing gaze.
“I'm an accounting major, Tan.” Gebri was silent for a moment before answering. He seemed hesitant. Afraid the woman showed a sharp look that was more than this. “Me and Rion have met. We are one faculty, Tan.”
The silence struck again. Gebri immediately lowered his head, suddenly feeling intimidated. The gaze of the middle-aged woman grew sharper. Raya doesn't seem to like it. He should have lied a little. Saying that they never met even though they were on one campus, considering that the campus centered on Kaliurang street 14.5 km is very large.