NOT PERPETRATORS
Mr. R

Mother returned with a cup of coffee to be served to Dimas. With an expanding smile, mother placed it on the table.

"Please, Son Dimas," said the mother.

"Thank you, Auntie."

My mother sat next to me. A moment of silence. We look at each other. It feels weird and funny. Mom and Dad looked at each other. We were confused as to what to talk about.

"Sir Dimas, what's up here?" asked Dad to open the conversation after a moment of silence.

Dimas took something from his doctor's pocket. "I want to give this to Nia." I held out a plastic bag with medicine.

I also accept it. "Thank you."

"Shy, are you sick?" ask me to worry.

"Just .. ordinary headache, ma'am," I replied.

"Well, my son Dimas is very considerate," praised the mother.

"It's my job, Auntie," Dimas said with a smile.

Rudi grabbed the coffee I served him. Sip it. "Your homemade coffee is so good, Imania. It's lucky to be made coffee by you" said Rudi.

Dimas took his coffee. "Youth!" Warmed up after sipping it a little.

"It's still hot, son?" mother said reminding.

"It's okay, Auntie. I felt the warmth of a mother's love, which would later also be my mother's, as I sipped this hot coffee, he-he," Dimas said, covering up the shame and heat that had engulfed his tongue.

"Well, that's touching. You really are a dream daughter-in-law" said the mother, smiling happily.

"Imania, your coffee is as sweet as you are" said Rudi.

"Auntie, your coffee is also warm as you love," said Dimas would not lose.

"Imania, there's a love that you're brewing with this sugar and coffee solution." Rudi said again.

"Auntie, there's a taste in-law that you created from this blend of sugar and coffee." Again Dimas commended.

"Eghem! Eghem!"

Deheman's dad made them stop talking. They immediately sip the coffee and put the glass together.

"Imania, Uncle, and Aunt, may come to Rudi's restaurant, free to eat as much. We are ready to serve with all our heart." Rudi started again.

"Nia, Uncle, and Aunt may also contact me if I am sick or need medical attention. Dimas is ready to slide when you need." Dimas started again.

"I happen to not be sick. I'd rather eat, ha-ha!" father said laughing.

"Yes, right, Uncle. Uncle can't be sick. You have to stay healthy, right? To be able to eat without abstinence at Rudi's restaurant," said Rudi.

"But Auntie is not sick, as long as she treats doctors as good as Nak Dimas" said the mother.

"Mother don't say that" my barrel touched his arm.

"Actually, which one is Ima's boyfriend?" ask dad suddenly.

"Me, Uncle." Dimas confidently pointed at himself.

"Oh ...," muttered father flatly.

"Why, Uncle? Isn't it, as long as the yellow janur hasn't curved, Imania can be anyone's soul mate?" rudi said which surprised me.

"What do you mean?" Dimas looked at Rudi sharply.

"Yes, that's right. As long as the yellow janur hasn't arched, anyone can get my daughter's heart!" said father firmly.

Dimas seems to have lost. Rudi smiled broadly as he looked at me. I don't like Rudi though. Is ... Rudi seems to like me?

"I'm going to make the yellow janur curvy soon, Uncle," said Dimas.

I was confused to hear their discussion. I also stood up. "I'm gonna take a shower, okay? My body is so sticky."

"It just so happens, Rudi also has to go back to the restaurant now." Rudi stood up too.

"Dimas too, must return to the hospital." Dimas also stood up.

The two of them immediately said goodbye to my father and mother. I looked at their departure anxiously. Although they came home in their own cars, but I was worried that Dimas would do something to Rudi.

***

Later that night, Arka delivered Bastian mas home. I miss Arka. Likewise Arka, she never stopped hugging me, until she fell asleep. Her hair was thick, the hair was exactly like her father's. Then I kissed her forehead gently, releasing her hands slowly from my body.

After that, I suddenly remembered Fania. What the hell is he doing? Is she okay? Because I'm sick, so I can't visit him on the lawn. Oh, I better call Secretary Ve. I got up and took my phone on the nightstand. I made a call.

"Hello." The voice across the phone.

"Hello, Brother Ve."

"Yes, Imania. What's up?"

"What about Fania? Dimas said you visited him after driving me to the hospital?"

"Oh, that. You just calm down. I've hired a lawyer, my own best friend, Elza Syarief. Everything will be sorted out soon. Tomorrow, I'll take you to visit Fania. Just so you're really healthy."

"I'm healthy, Brother Ve? Pick me up tomorrow. But ...."

"But why, Imania?"

"What about work? I've been skipping a day."

There was the sound of a shrill laughter from the secretary Ve. And it makes me wonder. Is there something wrong with my question?

"Sir Ve?"

"Yes, ha-ha!"

"Is there something wrong with my question?"

"But Brother."

"Calm down. Your work problem is calm. Want you to skip a month, you won't get fired. My position may be higher than yours in the office. But the fact is, you are my duty now. Everything about you in the office is my business. So ... The truth is you're my master, ha-ha!"

"Don't say that, Brother Ve. You're still my boss."

"Yes, it's up to your perception. Oh, yeah, Fania's fine. You can sleep well now. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning."

"Good, Brother."

The call ended. I can be a little relieved after hearing the information from Brother Ve. When I was about to put the phone to the nightstand, suddenly a message came in.

[Hi, good night?]

Number I don't know. I don't have his contacts. And there's no profile picture either. So, I didn't mean to pay it back.

[Kok, not dibales?] One more message came in.

[Imania.]

Does he know my name?

[You can't see my profile picture, if you don't save my contacts.]

It makes me curious. But I don't like to keep unclear contacts.

[Save my contacts first. Then you'll recognize me.]

I let out a rough breath. I kept it by the name of 'Mr. X'S'. I don't know if she's a woman or a man, but I keep her by that name.

After the number has been saved. A photo also appeared. I laughed to see it. Oh, that was you.

I'll take a message. [How did you get my number?]

[God sent it through my dreams,] he replied.

I smiled reading it. [Seriously?] reply again.

[Yes, I'm serious.]

I remember the incident back at noon. Don't-don't ..he took my number when my phone was left in his car.

[You stole my number?]

[Yes. I'm sorry I was so sassy.] Emot is begging.

[Hm .. yes.]

[Are you not angry?] Emot was surprised.

[No.]

[Thank you ..] With emot smile.

[For what?]

[Because you're not angry.]

[Yes,] reply.

[So, what kind of name do you keep my contacts?] tanyakanya.

[Mrs. X,] reply.

[Change Mr. R, huh?]

[Yes, later.]

[Later you forget and do not reply to my message.] Accompanied by a pouty emot.

[(Emot laughing)]

[Why laugh?]

[It's okay, Rud.]

[What are you doing?]

[I'm going to sleep, Rud.]

[Yes, already. Go sleep. Thanks for the coffee this afternoon, huh?]

[No need to thank you, Rud. Guests who came to my house, I definitely made coffee.] I followed emot's smile.

[In that case, I will go to your house often, so you can make coffee.]

[In your restaurant it's better to have coffee.]

[Your son, Imania.]

I smiled back at him. Finally, the chat ended with a good night. And I changed the contact's name to Mr. R.

I know Rudi likes me. But I just consider him a friend. In my heart there is only 'Dimas', the man I love besides my father and son—Arka. I hope, I can limit Rudi's feelings well. Because I know, Rudi is only interested in me, not in love with me.

*You know what love is? Love and attraction are different. The flow, interested first new arising love. The difference is that being interested starts with curiosity. Love begins with a desire to have.

— Thamie AK* —

- CONNECTED --

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Have a nice dream, Readers teased ...! So, tomorrow again, huh? We'll pick up Fania on the lawn. You're missing, aren't you, Fania? Same, Author too. So, stay on!

Thank you ...!