RUSTING BOAT
Chapters. 25

One thing that I miss most from my birth village is the sound of birds chirping in the morning that welcome the presence of the sun and deliver people to move to seek sustenance.

The warmth and friendliness of its residents always succeed in making me feel bad.

I fixed my sleeping position, still with my eyes closed. Feeling reluctant to wake up. My body feels sore because all night I sleep on a narrow sofa.

I glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. Five o'clock, less a quarter. The sound of the holy verse of the Quran has not been heard from the surau, but I know it is now at dawn.

The cry of Adit's older brother, and and the boisterous crowing of the rooster, strengthened my confidence. However, to open my eyes, it was very difficult for me to do. Yesterday, I was a little late in my sleep. Last night, after giving Syafrie a slap, I decided to sleep on the sofa, without pillows and blankets.

I ask for help from all the inhabitants of this house. To me they are nothing more than my current enemies. Since I knew they were defending the traitor Syafrie more, I have flown the flag of hostility against them ever since.

I don't want to complain. The life I had while escaping was much harsher. But I can survive. So sleeping without pillows and blankets is still a trivial thing. The night wind that blows through the walls of my mother's house, also piercing my skin still makes me flinch.

What does it mean to be cold tonight compared to the heat of the lava of anger that has spilled in my heart when it is close to Syafrie and our past memories.

When I first opened my eyes, my vision swept the ceiling of the house in white paint. My eyes narrowed, glare by the white light of the ceiling exposed by the sparkle of neon lights installed in the middle of the living room. I was so sleepy last night I forgot to turn off the lights.

I closed my eyes. One second... two seconds... three seconds......

" Are you awake? " I almost suffocated. Not playing surprised me. As fast as lightning, I looked towards the sound.

In front of me, about thirty centimeters away, Syafrie sat with her hands resting on her chin on the sofa, side by side with my arms. The shameless man threw an indecipherable smile.

My consciousness has not fully recovered. My body is still gathering energy, after the rest of the anger last night was wasted during sleep. Where else might I let out the rest of the anger at the look on this sickening man's face.

" Be beautiful as before" she said.

Jesus... turns out.

in front of me.....

I immediately got up and sat down while clutching my chest, protecting myself.

" Calm down, nothing happened yet. You're up there, I'm down here." He pointed to his bed, just below me. " Mistake position, Asthma. I should be on top, you're on the bottom. As before, the position you like the most." he said with a strange eye.

I'm quiet not shaking.

" I'm sorry, I didn't give you a blanket, because as long as I was in this village, you always felt hot when you were near me. " He said while stretching out both arms.

I am still struggling to gather my consciousness. The pain that struck my head, made me unable to directly digest well what had just happened.

The first thing I did once my consciousness recovered was to look for my hijab and put it on.

" No need to cover it. Nothing in this house is illegal for you. Everything is halal. "he said while holding the tip of my hijab.

Her hand had already moved to reopen my veil, as my consciousness immediately worked.

"Keep your filthy hands away from me! " I violently jerked his arm to nudge the ashtray lying on the table. The ashtray fell to the floor. Fortunately it did not break because it fell right on the blanket he wore last night.

" Don't make a fuss if you don't want to embarrass yourself later!"

he said he made me tick with eyes as big as a ball.

" Shut your mouth! " I don't know what demons are coming, so early I have to fight with his father Fadil.

" Hmm, if you behave like this, later the house people think you are selling expensive to me. "he said.

" Shut your mouth, Syafrie? " snaps me while holding back growling. It's really like I'm strangling the owner of those dimples.

" Hmm, this attitude of yours is like a less rationed wife... "

Bruk! a pillow floated right on his face. Feel it. It's a gift from me over his presumptuous mouth that doesn't use a sieve.

" It's so polite to my wife. Is this what you got after escaping ten years from me? " he said with a dismissive smile.

" If so, is it a problem for you? " reply with a mocking smile. " Don't throw me a pillow, I can still throw you a chair, Syafrie! " roughly what I said to him.

" Hmm, if I sighed, what would people think? " he asked himself, but was more insinuating to me.

" Maybe my brother-in-law no one would dare to go out of the room because they think we must be skipping our hot dawn."

" Don't provoke my emotions, Syafrie! Who knows I'm reckless." I said with a piercing sharp look

" What a big shot, anyway? " he asked with a mocking face. " Is this fast? " he came forward and brought his face close to mine. Without asking for permission, he immediately kissed my lips briefly.

Again, the man humbled me again. Shamelessly he kissed me. Instead of showing an angry attitude, which would even make him bigger head, I showed more arrogance and dominance. " grim... Unsullied. You know, after this I'll wash my lips with water seven times, then rub it with the ground." I said, rubbing my lips repeatedly with my sleeves.

He seemed to relax in response to my words. Still with the usual humbling smile at the corner of her lips.

Upset, I chose to leave him. However, just now I was about to leave his arm back to block my arm.

" What..?! " ketusku's. My eyes glanced sharply into his eyes.

" I won't apologize."

" Whatever..! "

" Astma, I won't apologize. "

" T. e. r. s. e. r. a. h. bodo. None of my business..! " I'm throwing my eyes away, indifferent. I don't want to look at this shameless man.

" I won't apologize, to you" Upset I turned to look at him. Gave her my angry and hateful look. " I swear, I don't need your forgiveness..! " i answered ketus.

If the last thing I received was a quick kiss, then now all I get is ******* his lips. A long and rough kiss. Like a kiss filled with a deep feeling of longing.

I muttered to escape but she hugged me tightly in her arms. I was angry, even more so with myself. My brain is not in line with my body that looks so sloppy at the moment.

" Don't look, deck!" adit closed his wife's eyes and led her back into the room. Right in front of the door, he turned around and said, "There is no kamarkah, deck. So you guys have to make out in the living room?" he said with a meaningful view.

" Eh.but by the way, congratulations, Syafrie. Turns out your tiger is a little tame, so you want to also be invited friendly even though while angry, hehehe "cuckles before turning back again to close the door.

My red face holds back anger. Want to put where my face is. A murderous gaze, I sharply thrust upon Syafrie. If my eyes were made of laser, I'm sure his body would have been split into two halves by now.

Syafrie grinned triumphantly.

...-----...

After the congregational morning prayers in the living room that switched functions as an emergency mosque, I helped in the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Time and again my mother rebuked me for mishandling vegetables. I know what he really meant, the purpose of him reprimanding me was not because of the vegetables, but rather he wanted to melt the frozen atmosphere between me and my family.

I know, my family, especially my mom, silenced me. What he did earlier was his attempt to melt the stiffness between us.

It didn't take long, breakfast was ready. Everyone helps in the kitchen. When they were ready, the men sat at the table with breakfast in front of them. They then had breakfast together.

" Asthma, mama will feed the chicken - chicken first.You eat first there!" mom's orders.

" Yes !" I answered while getting up to take a shower.

" Oh, yeah. Is Fadil awake? " he asked me. I shrugged my shoulders at the uninitiated sign. And I really don't want to find out. Mama took a long breath.

" Astma, please tell Syafrie to wake my granddaughter up !"

Huh..! what did mama say? My granddaughter? Mama didn't say wrong. The son of my enemy, he acknowledged as his grandson. I must have heard wrong or been dreaming. Mama's jokes are so funny this early. I want to laugh out loud - Bahak.

Instead of my blood boiling, I'd rather go back into the room.

" Deck, here. Let's have breakfast together! " take Adit with me when I see you walking into the room. There was Syafrie, my nemesis.

" Later, brother. I'm gonna take a shower first.! " After saying so I hurried into the room to pick up new toiletries and clothes.

When I got back, I just passed them and went to the bathroom. However, just as I was about to enter the bathroom, my gaze was diverted to the wife of Kak Adit who was bathing his son in the shower located behind the house.

I took a shower and chose to step foot to the toddler who was seen being engrossed in playing shower water that fell into the basin without being affected by the cold atmosphere of the morning. His laughter was carefree as splashes of water fell on his face.

" It's funny, what's his name, brother? " just ask my sister Adit's wife who is standing not far from her child.

" Renata, aunty, "he answered teaching her son to call me aunty.

" Aih, it's so funny you, Renata." I said as I crouched down near her son Adit's sister.

" Why not in the house, brother? It's cold in here, "I said as my hands splashed water on Renata's body.

" Here is wider, deck. Water from the shower directly from the mountain. Better than the water in there. In there the water from the well. Less good for the baby. " said Adit's sister's wife.

" Is it not cold? " i held Renata's little hand.

" It's common, deck. I learned from your husband, Syafrie. From childhood, Fadil was used to bathing Syafrie in this place. "

" Anything from little Fadil already lives here? many wonder.

" Yes, even before your brother and sister got married, Fadil was already living here. Don't you know? " he asked me.

I shook my head. Really, I don't know. But, is it really that? To be honest, I was a little surprised after discovering this new fact.

" Renata's done showering, aunt. Let's go inside. Aunt first, yeah! You see, I want to hang clothes. " I was sleepy and then went inside. Continuing my shower that was delayed.

I stepped through the dining room, after finishing the shower. I found out that men were talking about something. In front of them, there were still plates - plates of old breakfast that were now empty.

" That's the only way, Shaf! " kak Mansyah told Syafrie.

" But it's wrong, Shah! " answer Syafrie.

" I know, but that's the only way he'll have no reason to leave your side anymore" Kak Mansyah told Syafrie.

"Just do it, we will bear the consequences together. "this time Brother Adit spoke up.

I'm choked. My left brain has started to digest every word I have managed to catch. What exactly are they planning. I hope it's not about me.

I feel uncomfortable stealing their talk. I finally had to cheat so they would realize my situation. They turned to me at once. After that they threw each other a look with strange looks.

" Deck, here! " call Brother Adit.

" I want to have breakfast first, sister. "push me down. Sitting with them, let alone having Syafrie there, I am ogah!

" Here a minute, deck. Brother Mansyah wants to say something." he urged.

Brother Mansyah again. My brother always pisses me off. Whatever it is that comes out of Kak Mansyah's mouth always hurts me.

I dragged my steps, approached.

" Ashma, do you remember our cousin Agus, who was born? " said Brother Mansyah.

I nodded lazily.

" Now, this week she's getting married. My mom is going there. But as you know, you just came home from Sangatta, just finished taking care of the celebration of Sunnat and the aqiqah of Adit's older son. So, can you and Syafrie represent us? "

Well, that's right my guess! I can already smell the gerrymandering scent of them.

My brothers were apparently devising a thousand and one plans to bring me closer to Syafrie again.

I stared at Syafrie sharply. Give her a code through the gaze so she rejects the plan.

However, once again I hate Syafrie. He just shrugged his shoulders. Cursed are you Syafrie, curse me in heart.