The Lives of Five Hundred Thousand
The only woman (POV Raihan )

"Rai, where are you going tomorrow? amir's old family will come to our house." Mom told me and prevented me until I coughed at hearing it. I know what Risa's family's intention is to come to my house later. They need answers from me, willing or not to be engaged to her son, Risa. If you think it's funny, I should have asked Risa instead of Risa who asked me.

Risa was my little sister in high school, I know she liked me a long time ago. We are also one campus but different levels and different faculties. She often sought attention from me but I never glanced at her. Although Risa was quite beautiful in terms of face but to me her beauty was not comparable to the beauty that Nuri had.

I myself only found out if Risa is one village with me when I drove Mba Nuri to the house of one of her customers who is none other than her mother. Even her mother had offered me to be close to Risa. Honestly, at that time I did not like the attitude of her mother and to reject her offer I was forced to say that Risa is beautiful and prima donna on campus and many fans. I can't like a woman who has a lot of male fans. Not without reason I say so. For if I refuse in person I am afraid to make the mother and the child hurt by my rejection. Though actually I myself do not know how Risa's daily life on campus because I never pay attention to it.

I was silent for a moment thinking about what answer I should say so that my mother does not get angry or not upset with me because I was actually lazy to meet them. After a few seconds I answered him with just one word, "inshaallah," in a slow tone. Then focus on my laptop screen.

Mom closed the book and then opened her reading glasses and put them on the table. Mom and I are sitting together in the family room. Mother who was reading a book while I was controlling my efforts.

"Ray !"call mother.

I looked up and answered, "why Mom?"

"Are you still close to Nuri?" ask the mother with her serious face.

I'm quiet for a moment." Why is it, Mom, that I'm friends with Mba Nuri?" I answered later, but I asked him back.

"Rai, you will know that Nuri already has a husband, mother does not want you to be called annoying people's wives. What if Ustad Amir finds out you're close to someone's wife?"

"I know Ma'am, but my relationship and Mba Nuri just limited friends no more. Besides why do you think about ustad Amir? what does this have to do with him?"I became annoyed at my mother, carrying someone else's name in my affairs.

"Ustad Amir is a prominent person in this village Rai, so if you do something that is not unnamed will be smeared."

"Well, what does this have to do with her, ma'am? why do I have to smear?" ask me in a slightly high tone because I'm getting upset.

"Because he's your future father-in-law Rai !"

I took a deep breath and took it out. I held back my emotions from hurting my mother even though I was actually really upset at the pressure.

"Mom, how many times have I told my mother that I don't love Risa. How could I possibly be engaged to her!"

"Oh, don't you still expect Nuri to be Rai's wife?" ask your mother with the words pressed.

"Please don't take Nuri in my business, ma'am, it has nothing to do with her. It's a matter of my feelings not having any feelings for Risa. After all, I'm too young to marry Mom, there's still a lot of minds I haven't reached."

After saying that I stood up straight while carrying my laptop. But before I left my mother who was still sitting and silenced I said, "Even though I am not in destiny to be with Mba Nuri, it does not mean I have the desire to marry Risa Bu. In this world there are still many women who are much better than Risa and her family."

The change in mother's attitude made me even more dislike Risa and her parents because their arrival some time ago had an influence on my mother. The mother who used to always be gentle, wise and always supported whatever was my decision or my wish, now turned into a coercive and suppressive mother.

Mother was still sitting and her eyes were sharp. I know he's sad because I refused his wish. Really not meant to hurt her heart but because of the problem of women let alone my future soul mate, I am more sensitive and selective. It is impossible for me to marry Risa, not only because I do not love her but I do not like her nature and attitude that is far from the criteria of women that I want.

I put my laptop on my desk and my desk. After that, I crumpled my body on a soft bed. Crossing my hands as a pillow, my mind looked where. I thought about Mba Nuri, thought about mother and thought about Risa's proposal. I was confused as to how to deal with those who were still expecting me to be engaged to Risa. If only mom hadn't supported her, maybe I'd have turned her down raw.

The next day, when the sun was a little high, I went outside and took one of my sports bikes in the garage. By the time I got her out, she was standing in front of the garage and asked in a probing tone, "where are you Rai going, still early in the morning? isn't it today you're off college?"

The existence of the mother who arrived made me a little surprised but I responded with as much calm as possible and then answered," my lecture was indeed a holiday but my efforts are not off, Mom! I'm gonna check into the showroom."

"But Rai, I told you last night that today Risa and her family would come."

"But it's not certain what time they're coming, ma'am?"

Mum tight-lipped.

"My business is much more important than just waiting for those who are not sure yet. If my business goes bankrupt because of lack of control it will be difficult to build again because it requires large funds. But, if the meeting with the family of Ustad Amir failed no problem, anyway there are still many women out there who are more beautiful and different backgrounds are queuing up want me to date. Moreover, Risa was nothing compared to them."

Mother was silent at my speech and I smiled at her dumb expression. Just found out that this handsome boy has a lot of fans out there. Not a lie. What I said is true. It's not just Risa who's after my love but there's still a lot out there that I can't tell you about.

"So many women who pursue my love but only one woman who I pursue love is you mba Nuri...The only woman who occupies the space of my heart."

In the midst of silence, I drove my motor out the gate and I pointed it towards the house mba Nuri. But before I arrived at his house, I put my motorcycle first in a small workshop. Not without reason I left the motorbike and walked to the house mba Nuri.

I walked towards the kitchen because I was sure that Nuri must be busy there. After arriving in the kitchen, it was true that Nuri was standing in front of the stove and was busy frying crackers. I pat her on the shoulder and my actions are enough to surprise her a little.

"Rai.habit deh, play nyelonong enter continue ngagetin." Mba Nuri nagged without looking at me. His gaze could not be separated from the pan containing oil in front of him.

"Ha.ha, how do you know that I'm coming?" ask me curious.

It looks mba Nuri turned off the stove first then turned to me and answered, "how not to know Rai, from the smell of your perfume can be guessed."

Honestly, I'm happy to hear Nuri's confession that he smelled with perfume that I wear every day. Then I teased him," Well, if you've already smelled the same perfume, my perfume, means you've been watching me all this time, haven't you?"

Mba Nuri looks wrong. And I felt that what I said was true that all this time he had been watching me.But unfortunately, Mba Nuri did not admit it but denied it with shame.

"It's very much your confidence, Rai" he said, lifting a large jar containing crackers he had just fried.

I laughed crisply as my hands stretched out to grab the big jar he was holding and said, "here I am the only one who brought me!" volunteered.

"No need Rai, this is very easy!" she refused.

"But this is a big jar."I still force.

"Don't this jar that weighs nothing, gallons I often lift Rai,"

"Great dong mba, if lift me strong no yes?"I teased him again.

"Whether I lift you up, you're a child to.....!" mba Nuri immediately smothered my mouth as if she was afraid of falling. However, even though he did not continue his words, I knew that he wanted to call me a child.

"One more time you call me a kid, I kiss you!" threaten me. I'm a little upset with him. I also put my face on the bend. But when Nuri ignored my expression, she just smiled and sat on the floor. I noticed the agile movement of his hand entering the crackers into a small plastic.

"Mba is so painstaking!" praise me. he smiled and replied, "it's my job for three years Rai." His confession left me a little dumbfounded and I asked back to make sure."Mba seriously three years working on making crackers?"

"If you don't make crackers from where I can eat Rai, while I just don't work outside." Little by little and unknowingly he opened his privacy to me.

I looked at Mba Nuri with a serious face."But I have a husband. Why does he not meet the needs of mba and let mba work hard? isn't he working and paying a fortune?"

Instantly he was silent and confused to answer my question and it was like something was covered.

"Mba, just say it frankly with me! mba believe me, right?" ask me again."

However, Mba Nuri switched the conversation. I let out a heavy sigh because I was a little disappointed in him for not being forthright with me. Though we are very close and the meeting this time is not the first time but for a number of times. But there are still people covered up.

Then I tasted the crackers in the jar. The crackers we made together yesterday for Nuri's own ideas and recipes while I was just helping her out. After the crackers are in my mouth, I honestly say that the crackers taste really good. I didn't expect mba Nuri to be able to create a very good flavor of crackers. Praise was not stopping I stopped throwing and it was enough to make Mba Nuri look happy.

I stretched out my hand, then rubbed her head wrapped in a hijab and said, "Stay strong, yes mba, nothing is impossible as long as we are willing to try and work hard inshaallah what our desires will be accomplished. The important thing is to continue to strive and pray with the giver of sustenance. Get him involved in every business." I gave her support and advice so that she remained eager to run her business.

Whether conscious or unconscious, Mba Nuri grabbed my hand that was rubbing his head and placed my palm on his cheek. Tilted his head slightly and one of his hands remained holding the back of my hand until the palm of my hand remained on his cheek. He closed his eyes with a smile on his thin lips like he was feeling the touch of my warm palm.

A smile on my thin lips saw his unusual behavior towards me. Because usually I was the one who first behaved like he was hugging and kissing her who suddenly arrived. She rubbed her back and wiped her tears as she cried.

I fussed at her nose and made her open her eyes and then take my hand off her cheek. He was ashamed of me for his own behavior.

"I'm sorry I fussed at your nose mba, let me not let go of my hand."

He looked down more and more at his embarrassed face. Then I grabbed him until we looked at each other.

"I know you have feelings for me, right?" ask me seriously.

However, mba Nuri denied her feelings for me. He said he was just moved to have my support for his efforts. Honestly, I was disappointed in him, but I just wanted to know his feelings. But, maybe she was confused because of her current status was still a wife.