The Heart of Vania
Like a Cheap Woman

Tics. Geck.

I tapped on the table with my index and middle fingers waiting for Nezar's explanation in the campus cafeteria. He looked down, trying to string the word together to make sense.

"Zar, if there's anything you're covering up, stay away from me. I don't like people like that."

Nezar lifted his face, "Are you going to forgive me if I tell you everything?"

"depends."

He sighed, "Compared to Bentala and I'm sure you like him more" he said slowly.

"Huh. Haha ... Realistically, yes."

"Ck."

I chuckled, "There's no comparison because right now I'm trying to forget someone. I don't want to add to the burden of love."

"I sincerely want to be close to you, it has nothing to do with my two social media accounts at all."

"Oh yeah?"

"If I say I like you, can you take it?" tanya looks at.

I propped my face up with the backs of my clasped hands, smiled and said, "What right do I have to tell you not to like me? Go ahead, I accept it but to reciprocate the same feeling I can't force my heart either."

Again he sighed, a little longer than before, "My life is a mess. My father left my mother when I was one year old. Five years later my mother died in an accident between a microlet and a minibus on the way to the market. My sister and I were taken care of by my grandmother from mother to second grade SMK. Fortunately when my grandmother died, my sister was married and she could only help me until I graduated. My dream for college ran aground, let alone going to college to eat and live was not clear. Hitchhiking here and there with a friend."

"Your sister?"

"His husband doesn't like me. He considers me a burden, I understand because to support his wife and two children is also difficult. He's just a freelance day laborer. I try to live independently by working anything. Luckily Babun's online media office needs interns who can do all the work. Sometimes office boys, cameramen, reporters, photographers, editors and even impromptu reporters. My salary depends on what I do, most happy if I was invited to cover because if Babun entered on trending then I splashed a bonus from the boss. I saved those bonuses to sign up for college."

"Your life is no less bitter than my life turns out, drink your iced tea first, Zar, let there be sweetness in your next story"

He smiled, "You look like him."

"Who?"

"Ah no. Shall I continue not?"

"Yup."

"News of catching hands on drug trafficking involving one of the rising soap opera artists at Amore Club & Party with two other people so excited at that time. I was invited to photograph what happened at the police station."

"Yes, I remember," I said indifferently, remembering that event must have hurt Litha.

"Who does not know Mr Pradipta? The number one reliable young businesswoman version of the leading business magazine for Southeast Asia who has never had a scandal. But that night I accidentally saw with my own eyes she was hugging a woman. I don't know who that woman is, who is definitely not his wife because if it's not wrong in the graduation video that had gone viral before, Mrs Pradipta is pregnant."

He paused for a moment, I looked at him, "Then?" my many.

"I think this picture must be a scene. The Babun site will be crowded and I get a bonus, so I take pictures and sell them to the editor. Sure enough, CLBK news news Mr. Pradipta can compensate for the arrest of artists who use drugs. The second ranking of the news was balanced and Babun became number one for two days and the top ten in ten days. Plus I posted it on Instagram via Thanos01 account to herd opinions. Our society now loves the gossip of infidelity."

"What! Apparently you're the person behind Thanos01's account. Jeez ... If my sister-in-law finds out, you're done, Zar."

Her face was wrinkled, scared yet looking extremely adorable.

"I was happy at that time because I got a bonus, I bought Tyok and Firman ate at the farmhouse. Damn my wallet was left behind in Babun's office. After we were angry at Uda Kasir, thought we were on purpose."

"Hahaha ... small recompense from your actions that hurt others," my laughter imagined the three of them being held by Uda Kasir for not being able to pay, "Did you end up washing dishes to pay for the rice you had eaten?"

Nezar shook his head weakly, "Our meal was paid for by someone, which is where I felt so guilty photographing and publishing Mr. Pradipta's embrace with his ex that it disrupted my sleep for days."

My eyes are squeaking and digesting his ambiguous sentences, what does that have to do with the person paying for his food and guilt.

"The one who paid for my food was Mrs Pradipta. When her heart was hurt during the gossip of her unfaithful husband, she could still smile and help us. He paid for our food because he remembered his younger sister who was our age."

I smiled hearing that, my brother is indeed kind-hearted, and affectionate.

"I'm getting more agitated, Nia. I've hurt the angel-hearted woman, I shouldn't have photographed that moment. I finally decided to confess everything in front of Madam Pradipta. I confessed wrongly and apologized at his feet. She was pregnant, her prayer was the mother's prayer that pierced through the heavens. What if he prays bad luck on my life?"

I don't know why in this section Nezar tells it emotionally.

"I accept whatever punishment will be given to me, the important thing is that I get his forgiveness" he continued, shrinking the corner of his right eye. Hey ... is she crying?

"He must have forgiven you. My sister was very easy to apologize, her husband was sometimes irritated by her, hehehe ...."

"Yes. Madam Pradipta forgave me and asked me why I took pictures of her husband hugging another woman. After I gave her the reason, she asked for my account number instead. As soon as I return to the hostel, the notification comes in with the amount of yang–"

Nezar sobbed, covering his eyes like a crying child, "The amount I can use until I graduate from college."

I pegged, stunned to hear his words, wondering how much nominal Kak Litha transferred for him even though Nezar was no one even who had hurt him.

"The lady even had me write an apology to Mr. Pradipta that would be conveyed by her without revealing my identity. She guaranteed me an apology from her husband and encouraged me to continue my dream of going to college ... Right now I can become a student here thanks to Madame Pradipta, Nia." Nezar sobbed on his stool, attracting the attention of other students who were in the cafeteria. Did he not realize that he was being noticed by many people?

"Zar," call me so he stops his sobbing.

Instead of being silent, it roared even louder. Oh my goodness ... I'm ashamed of it, they think I made this guy cry.

"Nia, I was abandoned by my mother when I was a child. Looking at the sincere Madame Pradipta, I remembered my mother. I idolized her until on my own initiative to create a fanbase of Mrs Pradipta without any purpose. I admire his kindness."

"Zar, can you stop first. Everyone will think I'm cruel for making you cry in the cafeteria."

Her eyes were stretched between her curls, for some reason my hands reflexively wiped away the tears on her cheeks. Others may see me as a mother persuading her child to cry.

"You'd have the heart to kill my character, Nia!"

"Relope ...."

"Let's get out of here! My wibawak is already free-falling," her scolding pulled my hand up.

I followed her to stand up but not to walk, "Zar, I'm disappointed you weren't so straightforward from the start when it was so nice to be friends with you. You're a complete package, funny, adorable, smart, loyal listener and I'm going to make a whole mess of it. So in order to make up for all the things that the Pradipta Family does not allow you have to go to my brother and sister-in-law."

"What! You're crazy, Nia. It's called you really want to kill me!"

I raised the corner of my lips, "Loser!"

"What if you're in my position? Do you dare? Your sister-in-law is terrible."

She's speechless. I'm sure he had no intention of hiding anything from me. This brat's man is just too scared of Brother-in-law, besides I don't want to lose my near-perfect best friend.

"Alright then, please miss me for all courses today huh. I'm tired, want to go home and will tell you when Brother-in-law's schedule is empty. Get ready for the Pradipta Lion."

I patted her on the shoulder once and immediately passed leaving her in shock with my words.

"Saucer! You will feel anxious until you meet Brother-in-law. Haha ... He's so funny!"

I laughed in the parking lot. My mind raged over meeting Tala plus a surprise from Nezar. Ah ... My head, better go home to play with my cute niece, but there is no father.

When I opened the car door, I caught the figure I had seen before with Kak Tala Although at a glance from behind, I knew who the owner of the wide strapping back was, but why is he spying on me?

.

.

.

The Pradipta House

I entered through the kitchen door, the entrance I most often passed to enter the main house because it was closer to my room. I can't believe that Assistant Yan was there with a cup of coffee on the kitchen table with Mr. Is.

"Come, have you gone home, miss?"

"Yes, I'm tired Mr. Is, want to rest. How lonely?" my many.

"Mr and Madam this morning took Little Young Master to the hospital for control and immunization."

"Well, I want to play with Zean. Keep Aunt Lidya?"

"Mrs told him to come with them."

"Oh."

"Is there anything Miss needs? I'm going to the back kitchen to briefly control the supply of groceries that have just been purchased."

"No. Nothing," I answered briefly glancing at the person dressed the same as the figure caught sight on campus.

I was caught off guard and wanted to pass to my room after Mr. Is came out of the main house kitchen.

"Did a hug make you tired? Or are your hands tired from rubbing your kribom friend's face?"

HUH! Whatdoes thatmean?

"I just found out you're a stalker."

I challenged her by putting my face straight with hers - though I looked up a little at her - this time she managed to provoke me.

"..."

"What do you do with who I hug and I wipe his face with?" my ketus is very irritated.

"You forgot your sister-in-law's warning? Or did you deliberately challenge him?"

Jesus .... This old man why is he suddenly angry with me?I should have been the one who was angry at him for secretly stalking me.

"I'm not sure that Brother-in-law told you to spy on me. Heh! Whatever the reason you have no right to rule me!"

I'm really angry right now. Hugging my own cousin and comforting his sad friend I don't think it's an exaggeration.

Yan's assistant gripped my wrist and charged at me, "You're like a cheap woman with all sorts of men near you. Remember you brought Pradipta's name!"

I took off his grip violently, my blood boiling hearing him call me cheap. I can't stand it anymore.

PLAQUE.

"AT LEAST THEY STILL HAVE SOME RESPECT, UNLIKE YOUR BRASH SELF KISSING ME WITHOUT PERMISSION!" I shouted in front of his face, holding back the cries of the soaring heart.

I'm so sick of him always calling me bad for me. Is he so hateful to me just because I've expressed my feelings?

"More."

Brother Litha's voice from the middle room called out my name. Me and the old man looked at me at the same time. Brother Litha, Sister-in-law and Aunt Lidya who was holding Baby Zean were staring at us. Since when did they stand there?

For a moment we drowned in silence. Finally Brother-in-law opened her voice, "Have my ears misheard that you were kissed by Abyan, Nia?" the tan is cold.freeze anything around it.

Quiescent. All silent, no one dared to answer because Brother-in-law's gaze was pressing on us both.

"Bi, take Zean to the room now. Don't come out before I or Litha go to the room" he said, with a nod and footsteps to the main room.

After Aunt Lidya disappeared from sight, motionless from where she stood, Sister-in-law repeated her question again, "Nia, have you kissed Abyan? Kissed where?"

I was still silent, afraid to see the anger on Big Brother-in-law's face and disappointed in Brother Litha's eyes.

"ANSWER!" brother-in-law shouted loudly to surprise all of us who were there.

"Ray–"

"You kissed my sister, Yan? Where do you kiss?"

"Ray listen to me first–"

"Fuck your explanation, Abyan. Just answer my question!" his sis Brother-in-law sharply clenched both of her palms. Seemed Kak Litha clasping one of her husband's fists, hinting him to hold back.

"He kissed me when we learned to drive a car. He suddenly kissed me on the lips. I was angry and deliberately stepped on the brakes until it hit the aviary" I replied slowly.

"AARRRGGGHHH!"

The arch of Brother-in-law was so loud that Mr. Is was moved back from the back kitchen. He was flabbergasted to see Brother-in-law so angry. I know why he's angry, let alone this involving two of his closest people.

But the rice has become porridge, like it or not, the porridge should still be eaten, so that it might be delicious plus soy sauce, chicken treats, chunks of cakwe and kedele sprinkles. Hayooo ... Who here likes chicken porridge? Brother Readers the porridge team stirred or not stirred? If the Author team is not stirred. Hehehe ... don't be too tense huh, Kak & 3.

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