Not Just Love
Chapters 17. A fella??

Buses run at normal speeds, sometimes stopping to drop off passengers, making the journey longer and longer. Maya left at about ten in the morning, now almost 12 in the afternoon and she has not arrived.

But this long journey, does not make him bored or tired. There are many beautiful views that they pass. Green and cool mountains, yellowing rice fields, and also small river flows, along the way. Up from a distance, it looks blue sea.

As the eyes cooled, Maya inhaled a deep breath of air, which she did not enjoy for two days.

The atmosphere of the beach is still the same, quiet, only fishermen who look to pull the boat. There were some visitors, who could still be counted in numbers, running around on the white sand.

"Just arrived, May?"

"Yes, Mom."

Without resting, Maya cleanses the house and the tavern from dust and fine sand, which enters due to the wind. He took note of the depleted materials, to buy this afternoon. As Ansel said, he had to concern himself. Work, reading and writing, are the little things that can make him forget about the problems that whack.

"Mr, Ma'am," call someone outside.

"Oh, Father. Why?"

"It's a pufferfish, it's new. Wanna buy?" The father showed a cork containing a pufferfish whose tail was still swaying.

"You, will. How many?"

"50thousand."

Incidentally, Maya wants to add a menu in her shop. Since the hospital his hands and mind did not stop, to apply the ideas that stuck out suddenly.

Grilled fish with sambal dabu-dabu plus lalapan. Maya will introduce her new menu on the weekend. Where are the many visitors coming.

Maya puts the fish in a basin, then continues her work. Clean up, while rearranging, home and shop. He needs a new atmosphere, like his heart and mind are already open, to accept fate.

Having not had time to cook, Maya buys food at the shop next door. Chicken rice geprek, with his favorite sauce. Eat with passion, unlike days ago. He impatiently wanted to spend and immediately went shopping. His mind is now filled with new things and new things.

Half-time in the afternoon. Maya is ready with a basket in her hand. Market distance is not far, it can walk along the beach. But there, God helped him.

"You going to the market?"

"Yes, Mom."

"Follow mom alone."

Ride the motorbike with the wind, plus a view that is directly visible. Maya likes it the most, this vehicle. Like when in the city, online motorcycle taxi always deliver it.

"What are you shopping for?"

"Vegetables, Mom."

"Mom's going there, then it's parked."

The mother and Maya separate, to buy each other's needs. Various types of fish, shellfish, crabs and shrimp and squid, all are still new. Maya buys a kilo of virgin shells, because it's been two days, her little angel whines to eat.

He moved, bought vegetables. Vegetables are more expensive than fish. Vegetables are brought in from out of town. There are more people here who are fishermen than farmers.

Maya's basket, it's full. He also had to carry shellfish and shrimp in a plastic bag. Shrimp given free by the seller. She said pregnant women bring a lot of fortune.

Maya did not cover up her situation. The stomach cannot be hidden. So where's her husband? Maya replies, her husband remarries a young girl. He was pitted, because he did not accept he asked for a divorce and then, moved to this place.

Do they believe? Maya doesn't care, she doesn't want to waste energy, to make them believe her. Just like Zamar, he was tired of asking, even if there was little trust.

As long as they accepted it with open arms, for Maya, it was no longer important. All reasons are the same, just to cover the situation and be used as justification.

Maya stopped by to buy a kilo of eggs, before arriving at the parking lot. Two hands full, sometimes Maya paused for a moment, because of the cramps.

Two burly hands, grabbing a basket and a plastic bag in his hand. Maya has not yet answered, the man has moved.

"Why are you here?"

Ansel did not answer. He. put Maya's groceries in the car. Open the door and let Maya sit in the front seat.

"You're pregnant, you can't carry a lot of stuff."

Ansel was already sitting in the steering wheel. Install a seatbelt for Maya, before driving.

"You're busy, El. I don't want to disturb. Anyway, we better not get too close."

The creaking of the sound of the brakes and asphalt clashing on the street. Ansel stopped without pulling over his vehicle.

"Why?" The tone of the voice that sounded did not Accept, with Maya's speech.

"I'm pregnant, everyone knows my status. What they say, if you know my situation and you are with me. We're just friends, but there's no friendship between a man and a woman."

"You know, May. Sometimes the words of others, which make a relationship broken, family relationships. Not listening, it's hard. But, we can ignore it by pretending, what they say has nothing to do with us." Ansel is driving back. Continuing his words. "There is no friendship between a man and a woman. But, such a relationship, can make us know each other and know each other's shortcomings. I think times have changed. Befriend a boy, maybe take care of you, like he's looking after his little sister."

"I just don't want to involve you in my runaway life."

"I was involved from the beginning, May. So, don't ever kick me out, 'cause I'm not leaving."

Ansel opens the car door for Maya. Then, take down the groceries from the trunk.

"You're shopping a lot, what for?"

"I want to make a new menu. So, stay to taste."

"Okay, chef."

The groceries are already inside the house. Ansel helps put in the refrigerator, while Maya cleans fish, shrimp and shellfish.

"I help you." Ansel took the pufferfish to clean. "Well old people first, pregnant women are prohibited from cleaning fish. Especially if you're alive" he continued.

"really?" Maya's already put the knife down.

"I don't know, right or not. I heard that, my grandmother told my little aunt when I was pregnant."

"So, what should I do?"

"Sit. You prepare the seasoning, I'll work this out for you."

"You can do it?"

"You underestimated me, May. I'm an expert at holding a knife," Ansel chuckled, as both of Maya's eyes narrowed at him.

Finally, they split the task. When they see it, they are like a couple, who help each other in the kitchen, to prepare dinner.

Ansel stood on the sink, with his hands smelling fishy and filled with fish blood. Maya sits on a dining chair, with a sharp knife to peel the onions.

Maybe, a friendship like this, which many people say. There is no friendship between a man and a woman. Such a relationship, will foster feelings, because it knows the nature and shortcomings of each.

And relationships like this, should not happen. Sometimes, friends can be girlfriends, but differently, when girlfriends become friends. It's not going to be the same, as it used to be.

🍋 Connect