Possibly Back?
Chapter 47 Rejection

The sound of knocking on the door accompanied by someone telling from the front door of his house, woke Rena from her sleep. The voice sounded familiar to Rena's ears. He quickly got out of his bed and out of his room. Rena intended to open the door that had been knocked earlier. However, the mother had first arrived at the door of the house and opened it.

From behind the door, Rayhan was standing straight. He dressed so neatly with cream cotton pants and brown batik. Of course it makes Rena and Mama Rena very surprised made.

“Rayhan? Come in,” Mama Rena said by showing off a friendly smile on her face.

“Sorry, Aunt, no need, here only. I didn't take long. Coincidentally, I just attended the wedding reception of my friend who was around here,” said Rayhan with a somewhat raucous voice and eyes that began to glaze over.

Well, why him? Did she just cry? Did he read the message? Is there something wrong here ? (deeply Rena in heart)

“I just want to say my apologies to Auntie and Om for my sassiness to come here the other day, and maybe from today I will not come to this house again,” said Rayhan while staring at Rena who was standing beside her mother with glazed eyes.

Hearing Rayhan's words that were quite surprising, made the Mama look at Rena with a sharp gaze, as if demanding an explanation from her daughter for everything said by Rayhan.

“Sorry, Rayhan, Aunt still do not understand what you just said? Why why anyway? Is there a problem between you and Rena?” ask Mama Rena.

“Sorry, Auntie, maybe Auntie's daughter has not told Auntie that she has rejected me,” Rayhan said while looking at Rena and made Mama Rena surprised by her words.

Refuse Rayhan? What's wrong with this kid? Does he really need a diruqyah? Why does he always behave like this to all the men who come to him ? Does she really want to be a spinster? What is the lack of a Rayhan ? He was handsome, friendly, polite, and had an education on par with him. (Mama's Speech in heart )

Mama continued to look at Rena with very sharp eyes, as if she wanted to eat her daughter. Seeing the eyes of her mother filled with anger and disappointment made Rena feel guilty and the guilt was growing, more, when he saw Rayhan's eyes getting reddened like holding back his tears and disappointment to Rena.

“Sorry, Auntie, excuse me. Assalamualaikum,” sahut Rayhan as he passed away leaving Rena's house.

“Waalaikumsalam,” replied Rena and Mama simultaneously.

After Rayhan left and Mama Rena closed the front door of her house. He then brought himself closer to Rena as if asking for an explanation of what he heard from Rayhan.

“Rena, please explain to Mama, is it true what Rayhan said? Did you really reject it? Why?” ask Mama Rena.

“Yes, Mah. Rena rejected Rayhan. It was because Rayhan wanted to propose to Rena,” replied Rena.

“What's applying? You mean Rayhan wants you to be his wife?” asked Mama Rena who was surprised to hear the story of her daughter.

Previously Mama Rena did not to think that the word ‘deny’ here means ‘deny proposal’. He thought Rayhan had just invited Rena to relate as a young-young relationship in general. Moreover, Mama Rena knows Rayhan and Rena have not known each other for long.

“Iya, Mah, Rayhan wants to invite Rena to get married and the day after Rayhan will come with his family,” explained Rena.

“What?? The day after?” mama Rena asked in shock.

Mama Rena also quite understand the reason for Rena's rejection. However, for him, Rena still made the wrong decision because it was contrary to the customs and traditions in their family.

“But Rena, you will know the customs and traditions in our family that pamali if women reject the proposal that comes to him because later his soul mate will be far away,” said Mama Rena.

True, Rena is well aware of the ancient customs and thought. Customs and thoughts that are still embraced by the family and the community around it. It is customary to think that women will long get their soul mate, if they ever refuse a proposal from a man.

“Then what should Rena do, Mah?” ask Rena.

“Now call Rayhan, apologize to him, and say that you are ready to accept his proposal?” sahut Mama Rena who immediately made Renata round her eyes because she was surprised to hear the words of the Mama.

“What?!!” rena was shocked.

"Yes, didn't you not want to date this whole time either? Maybe he is the soul mate God sent for you" replied Mama Rena.

Again his mother said things that could not be denied by Rena, although his understanding of religion is still very shallow, he said, but she did not want to be in a relationship with any man for her first and last love only for the man who would later become her husband.

***

Perhaps, that is called the destiny of God. Things planned by humans sometimes do not fit the plan outlined by God for them. Although doubts still had time to sneak in Rena's heart, but when the two big families have made a mutually agreed decision, then Rena must strengthen her heart, but when the two big families have made a decision, throw away any feelings of doubt that will make his steps harder to organize the life in front of him.

Now Rena's wedding is just counting the days, exactly one more week. The wedding ring and wedding dress were ordered a few days in advance. Likewise, the invitation card in Rayhan's hand is now ready to be distributed to teachers and parents of students.

“About when Rayhan will hand out that invitation card, huh? Then how will the children react when they receive an invitation card entrusted to their parents? It would have been horrendous, ” muttered Rena in front of a mirror, as she prepared to leave for school.

Rena's thinking is not wrong because since the marriage was decided, Rayhan asked Rena to keep their wedding plans secret to the students and teachers at the school. Rayhan wanted to surprise them. In fact, to support the surprise, during the meeting at school, both Rayhan and Rena were just mediocre. There are no signs or behaviors of them that indicate that they are both brides-to-be who will be united in a sacred bond of marriage.

The ridiculous thing was even Rayhan doing, as he wanted to order a wedding ring for them. Unlike most couples, who walk together to choose their wedding ring, Rayhan actually asked Rena to go to the office and use the sewing thread she kept on Rena's desk. Then Rena was asked to wrap the sewing thread on her ring finger and after that tied to form a ring of yarn which was then released and put back on Rena's table which would later be taken back by Rayhan. This Rayhan did to find out the size of Rena's ring finger so that the ring that will be ordered is not too big or small.

Not only that, Rayhan also entrusted the concept of the location plan he made to be included in the invitation card in a textbook entrusted to his students to be given to Rena. That's how Rayhan gets around everything to cover the secrets of the wedding they will hold.

***

Seriate

Still in Renata's past...

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