Marriage Proposal: Ben & Bima
32 - Seven Times

(Five)

Again, Ben put me in a hotel with his mom to taste all the food. We've decided on a hotel for the wedding. We also use catering services in the hotel until we are required to taste all the menus we will choose later.

“Ben should come here for a while. Eat here. So the moment you go home do not need to cook again.” mama Ben chirped. There's a point too.

“Can we pack some of this menu, Auntie?” my whiskey. I was chewing on a choipan full of ebi.

Mama Ben laughed.

“Later Aunt asked yah. Should have been.”

“Then pay?”

“Yes it's okay to pay. You pick what Ben likes. Aunty has not lived with him for a long time, who knows his favorite food changed.” Mama Ben plucks siomay into her mouth. “This is delicious.” I admire all the menus in this hotel. “It looks like the food menu here is better than the one at the hotel earlier yes?” whispered.

This is our second hotel. It feels like my stomach is going to explode eating all the food. But my mouth won't stop and neither will Mama Ben. We admit that the food here is really good. After some time, we had a chat with the hotel marketing a man who was very beautiful, fragrant, and flexible. I also lost as a woman.

“Ya?” I picked up the phone from a number I didn't know.

“Yayai?”

“Not.” answer. I know it's his voice.

He was silent.

“Yayai don't be kidding.” said flat.

“Iya why?”

“You finished or still long?” tanyakanya.

“I have Gatot Subroto not in Kuningan.”

“Why get there?”

“This second hotel.”

“Oh... so how?”

“What?”

“There is an option?”

“But.” I replied briefly.

I really want to puke.

“Bim, that's Ben?” Mama Ben distracts me.

“Iya Aunt.”

“Tell Ben to pick up now.” command. I think his voice was heard by Ben.

“I'm picking up now?”

“Iya.”

“A little bit long huh? Because it's jam.” he said not sure.

“Then let me go home alone. I can take the train. I just wait at home.” I said slowly. I shut my mouth so as not to sound with Mama Ben.

“Yayai..”.

“Ya?”

“Is there no other solution?”

“Oke okay.. I'll just go to Mas Ben's office. From here it is rather close.”

“So much better. See ya. Careful.”

I hung up on her. Take a deep breath and exhale it. The smell of this marketing guy's stinging perfume really bothers my nose. I don't like sweet perfume. My perfume is a man's perfume.

Mama Ben agreed to take me to Ben's office. That's okay, because he was driven by his driver. So I thought, I didn't bother him either. I love and respect Mama Ben. She was so nice to me. Had several times called my Papa to report the progress of my wedding preparations. While Papaku is busy looking for uniforms in Yogyakarta to be sent to Jakarta.

Arriving at Ben's office was a bit crowded, because there were several women and men coming in and out of the building.

“Mee?” Ben was shocked to see his mother appear in his office. He was standing saluting some beautiful women in front of him and smiling towards them. I don't seem to like it he smiled at those women. Only I remember, his job was to be engaged in media and television. Yaudah.

“Ben.. It's Mee bring food, for your dinner.” Mama Ben pointed at the paper bag I was holding.

“Khob khun mak na krab, Mee.”*  Mas Ben cupped his hands together for his mother.

After Mee's death who drove me to Ben, I was waiting for Ben to finish work. I was left alone in his not-so-wide, but elongated study. Behind her work chair I could see a busy and somewhat jammed street. At this hour it is a rush hour. People are competing to quickly go home. My stomach is too full. So I do activities that repel my drowsiness.

I opened the wrapped food. Then I sent Ben a quick message for dinner before the wrapped food went cold. Not long after, Ben appears with his glasses perched on his nose. I haven't seen him in glasses in a long time. I was looking for my own answers to my curiosity, when he was wearing his glasses. Maybe when his eyes are tired. I think so too. In ordinary days, he never wears his glasses. So even with me, when I had to work, staring at my laptop and writing, I guess I had to wear glasses to help me see the writing clearly. Seems like.

“What's up?” ask her while chewing, because I look at her glasses.

“Nothing.”

He eats with gourmand.

“Enak?” I switched the conversation.

“Enak. It's tasty. Is it because I'm hungry?”

“Neg. It's delicious.”

“Buy where?”

“It's food tester hotel.” I replied innocent.

“Pfft... food tester?” He laughed while smiling. “Continue? You and Mee chose at this hotel that the food is good?”

I was quiet.

“It looks like yes.”

“Where is the mood? Good?”

“I think all hotels are the same.” I shrugged my shoulders. I don't know the difference between the first hotel and the second hotel. Luckily Mama Ben had already made her choice at the second hotel. If not, tomorrow we will go to the third hotel.

“I think so too.” Ben agrees with my opinion. “What if you don't have to go to the hotel? But the caterer from that hotel?” He brought out an idea

“So not in hotel?”

“Loh? Where do you want to be? All hotels are the same?”

“If I... it is better not to get married.”

“Yayai..” Ben stop eating. He put the plastic plates. Stared at.

“Even if we don't love each other, can we get married next year?” I offered.

“Don't lose my appetite.”

I held her hand, because she was wearing glasses that made my heart “agak” beat fast even though a little – I relented. Accepting the fate that I cannot escape from it.

“Please, I won't run away.”

Whaaat! I really want to jump out of this office.

“Spend food. Continue.. do not forget to deposit the names of his colleagues Mas who want to be invited.” I smiled at him. Forced.

“What do you call me?” His feelings turned cheerful again.

“Mas Ben. You have a hundred people.”

“Seratus? That's few! How many guests will be invited?”

“Mas Ben can take my quot. I'm not so much a colleague. I have fifty.” left

He pulled my waist so I could sit close to him.

“Do not go far to sit.”

Then he ate back. My stomach is so big.

(Ben)

“Yooo, Chai Prasert Ratanarak Nopadon!!” greet Levi at the end of his phone.

“How long have you lived with me and you still can not say my name well?” sindirku. “What's up?”

“Report, your future wife emblazoned her First Love novel.”

“Why?”

“Ask him.”

I'm silent.

“Well, so he published a new novel. The storyline is good and..” Levi stopped.

“And what?”

“Don't be disappointed ya?”

“Why? What's the same story?”

“Sama is not a story about elo.” Levi chuckled.

“Send the link. I want to read.”

“Wooohoo, boss ready!”

After talking for a while with Levi, I saw Yayai from the windshield. We got home, only he fell asleep. I didn't dare to pick her up because I wanted her to change her clothes before going to bed. So I waited for him to get up in the yard with the car door open.

His hand moved on its own and hit the arm next to it. It turns out the mosquito is stuck in his arm. Then he opened his eyes.

“Jeez I overslept?”

“Do you think?” I shook my head.

“Why wasn't I built?”

This is the second time he has fallen asleep on his way home. He got out of the car and closed the door slowly. Yayai looked at his watch.

“Half twelve?” bemused.

He immediately ran into the house. The door's open. So he just went straight into the house. I followed him quickly while locking the car.

“Why didn't Prof wake me up!!?” as it were. He ran to get a towel in the yard. Almost stepped on Chloe. He took off the scarf and threw it on the sofa.

I watched his behavior. One.

“What's wrong?”

“I have a zoom meeting with fans.”

“Nights like this?”

“Iya.”

He went into the bathroom and closed the door.

I had time to turn on the TV and look for the channel I was referring to and monitor the broadcast program.

“Proooofffffff. Can you please get it in the room?” his yell. Two.

I went into his dark room and looked for his pyjamas towel. Then I gave it to Yayai.

“Trims Prof!”

Three.

Not long after she came out of the bathroom. Hair rolled. Show her neck and run lightning-fast into the room. Then go out and heat the water in the kettles while playing the phone.

“Prof want tea?” hail it from the kitchen.

“Bby.”

Four.

Not long after, Yayai put down a glass of tea for me.

“Why online night-night?” I'm still curious.

“Because tomorrow Saturday.”

I'm nodding.

“It's that close you are with your fans?”

He smiled happily.

“I'll be online.”

Then he walked away leaving me in the TV room. I sipped the tea for half a glass and left the TV on for a quick shower. I still heard Yayai's voice from inside her room.

I opened the door to his room slowly. Wonder what he's talking about.

“Saturday tomorrow? I don't think there is. Maybe I'll sleep all day anyway.”

I appeared behind him. The camera is on. Yayai. His face turned red.

“Prof...ngapain to here?” whispered. But his voice was still clearly heard.

Five.

“Besides sleeping, she has to cook.” I told her fans. I can see the faces of fans of the Yayai novel. There were screams that made me uncomfortable, then I sat on the bedside of Yayai so as not to be seen again.

“Sorry all. There is a disturbance.” said Yayai is not tasty. He glanced at me. Cobalt. His hand, which was not visible to the camera, kicked me out. “OK further. Hmm.. Prof is usually disturbing, I forgot the key to the room. Usually at this hour. oh yes! In the next online meeting I want to take Caterine ya!”

Six.

“Caterine?” my many. “Who?” I pretended not to know. “Oh... Chloe!” chirping. Yayai looked towards me. He kicked me slowly to keep me quiet.

“What if we have arrived here?”

Goody. In my heart. I'll make the calculations.

Yayai turned off her laptop.

“What the hell!” enragedly. Yayai stood up and went to her waist. Like challenging me.

“Wah wow! Great already started forgetting.”

“The forgotten thing! You're a fucking intruder! There out!”

He pulled my hand to throw me out of his room. I just turned back to pulling it. He was thrown in bed. I looked at her lips wearing a thin lipstick.

“You what?!” threaten her.

“You make calculations.”

“Stop bothering me, Prof.”

“Seven.” I said.

“Aaan anyway? Seven what?!”

Suddenly Yayai was silent. His face changed from challenging me to a face full of heartfelt gazes. Bummer. Then he pushed me with all his might and ran away from me. He was even more shocked when he was about to open the door and found that there was no key embedded in the keyhole.

“Gosh. I'm sorry. I was not on purpose.” Yayai cupped his palms together. I walked slowly towards him. He walked back and sat on the sofa because I cornered him.

“Lupa?”

“Iya. Really.” Yayai pointed her index and middle fingers at me.

There was fear on his face.

I had already approached his body and was about to pounce on him.

“Wait..wait.”

“Your consensus is seven times.” I said I was about to kiss her. Yayai directly folded her lips inwards. He pushed my body.

“I said wait.”

Okay. What defense.

“What if I start kissing you, Mas?” bargained for. Yayai's face was a bit pale. I sat on my knees in front of him.

“Sounds good.” I agree with him.

Yayai tilted her head and kissed my left cheek twice, my right cheek twice, my forehead once, and my lips twice.

“Done.” said. He was about to stand up. I just locked his leg.

“This is not what I want.” protest.

Yayai's eyes were clear and somewhat watery.

“I won’t being out of control.” he said slowly. “Just get out.”

I laughed out loud.

“If you lose control because of kissing me isn't that good?” I play her hair that falls down and pin it behind her ears. “I'd rather you lose control like that night.”

“Yes for Christ. Don't be ripped off again. So what do you want? I'm tired.” His voice vibrates. Wanna cry.

That's right Levi said. I have changed since I was with him. This kid is driving me crazy. I can't take it off tonight.

“Sleep.” I'm standing. Freed him. I reached into the keys to her room in my pocket and put them back together.

I could hear Yayai sighing in relief. He walked into the next room. I kept quiet for a while and then walked towards her bed. Yayai.

“What else?” tanyanya slow. The intonation of his voice was deliberately mashed.

“You know not?”

“What?”

“My room light is off. Breaking up. So my room is dark.”

“So?”

“I slept here aja.”

I went straight to her bed. Occupy the usual position. Yayai retreated and shifted.

“Oh Lord..” complaint.

I turned my body towards him.

“Good night.”

****

* Thank you very much\, Ma