The Lives of Five Hundred Thousand
Arrival of Andre

Next day. The sun had already appeared to rise and the light was already hot. I began to bring one by one the crackers that want to be dried on the flower fence. Having just finished dragging a wet cracker-filled winnow over the flower of the fence, the voice of a very foreign man greeted from behind.

I turned around and I found a tall and handsome man who I often see his face on social media now standing tall in front of me. I rubbed my eyes repeatedly so that I would wake up from my dream but the handsome figure was still in front of me while smiling sweetly at me.

The instant my eyeballs rounded after what I saw was not a dream but reality."A...Andre..!" I said nervously. It felt like I was dreaming of seeing her in the real world. The handsome guy I used to really hope for his arrival and hope to marry as he said when we were in elementary school.

Her eyes looked at my appearance, but her lips smiled. I looked down embarrassed because my appearance contrasted with her who looked fashionable. Long negligee clothes whose color has faded and there are some tears but I have sewed and home hijab.

"Nuri...kamu Nuri right?" ask him to make sure. Maybe he was confused to see my appearance is different from the three photos I uploaded on Facebook, photos five years ago when I had not worn the hijab.

I used to miss this guy in front of me so much, I miss him so much. But after learning that he was married, he, the longing began to fade in addition to the presence of Raihan who often accompanied my day even though we were only friends but Raihan was able to eliminate my feelings of love for this man.

I looked up trying to shake off the shame. I am ashamed not because I still have feelings for him but it does not feel appropriate to receive guests in clothes like I am wearing today.

I smiled at him too." Yes, I'm Nuri. Nuri the poor schoolgirl selling ice candles."

Andre laughed crisply maybe he considered my speech a joke. Then he said, "You haven't changed Nuri, keep it simple and what it is."

"Yes you're right, Dre, maybe my way of life should be like this to remain a simple ordinary human being."

Andre smiled then glanced at the row of winnows above the flower fence.My face followed the direction of his view.

"That'S.....!" pointing with his finger.

"That's my effort, Dre." I told her before she asked.

"Oh," he said as a small mangosteen.

"But..what is Nuri?"

"Crackers!" answer's short.

"Crackers!" said repeat.

I nodded and lowered my face a little. Andre smiled then turned his gaze towards my house and said, "This is your house Nuri? your house is no longer like...!"

"As it used to be a small, walled room!" my timpal.

"Oh, ma'am, I don't mean it like Nuri," said Andre, he seemed to feel bad for me.

"It's okay, Dre, I understand that maybe you're surprised to see my house that has turned into a wall is no longer a room that has many holes. You used to get bitten by ants when you stopped by after driving me home from school."

Andre laughs broadly I remind about the many times he was bitten by ants when playing at my house after school.

"You still remember Nuri" he said later.

I smiled then asked, "why are you here Dre? since when? and what's up here? how could I not have seen you just now? why do you still have my house? the situation has changed!" I asked Andre the question in a row, it turns out that my question made Andre frown and then said, "his question one dong Nuri, I was so confused to answer which one used to be!"

I smiled and said, "sorry, Dre, because I feel like I could just meet my best friend again in SD."

"Friend?" said Andre with a swinging tone.

"Yes, buddy. We're in a position, right?"

"Yes...ki..kita.sa..habat," he said reluctantly, then smiled with a smile like forced.

Long enough I chatted while standing with Andre until I realized that Andre I had not allowed to enter my house. In addition, I was also afraid that someone would see us chatting on the home page and spread negative rumors about us. But before I invited him to enter my house he offered himself, maybe his legs already felt sore had stood up for quite a long time.

After entering the house, his gaze turned in all directions and then turned to me and asked, "where are your mother, husband and son Nuri? it's so quiet."

"My mother has been outside the area for three months now, my husband is working in Jakarta and here I live alone with my son."

"Your husband works in Jakarta? ask her with a serious face.

Andre seemed silent, like he was thinking about something but I didn't know what he was thinking. Then I told her to sit on the living room couch and my word was enough to make her a little flabbergasted.

I allowed him to go to the kitchen for a while to make coffee for him and Andre invited him. After I finished making my coffee, I immediately returned to the living room. Andre smiled at my arrival with two hands holding a tray. Then I put coffee and two jars of snacks in the form of bread and crackers made by me.

"Thank you, Nuri!" said Andre with a smile that could not be separated from his lips.

"You're welcome, please drink Dre, sorry, I don't have a fancy snack" I said as I landed my hips on the sofa.

"What kind of fancy snack is Nuri like?"

"Yes the food you eat abroad."

Andre laughed crisply as if my answer was funny and comforted him then he said, "you know, even though I go abroad often but my tongue is still Indonesian, so if you are abroad what I am looking for is an Indonesian restaurant but if there is no minimum Asian restaurant," explained Andre.

"Couldn't you?"

"I'm serious Nuri, so you don't have to think that I don't like Indonesian snacks like these crackers" holding a jar of crackers. I smiled just to hear his confession.

"Well, didn't you just ask me why I was at your house?"ask Andre.

I nodded confirming his question. The question was delayed half an hour ago and it turns out Andre still remembers it.

"I have an aunt sister of my late father who lives in this village and I've been staying at her house since yesterday. I walked here because your house is not too far from my aunt's."

"Oh, I see, it's worth it. Who is your brother in this village Dre?" ask me curious.

"Mr...!" Zain called out at the doorway of the room. Maybe he was tired of playing in the room.

I turned my attention to Zain who was calling."For a moment, Dre, I'll take my son first" I give Andre my permission and he nods.

After that, I carried Zain and brought him to the living room. Andre noticed my arrival who was carrying Zain.

"Is he your son Nuri?" ask Andre.

"Yes Dre, this is my son, his name is Zain. ayok son, love Salim to om Andre!" tell Zain and he complies. Zain walked towards Andre then extended his hand and Andre grabbed his hand.

"You're smart and adorable baby!" said Andre then pinched Zain's cheek. Zain just smiled grinningly and then Zain came back to me and sat on my lap.

"It's very unlucky that I went to your house and there was no husband, but I wanted to meet him" said Andre later.

"Maybe next time Dre, I'll get to know you" I said as I tidied up Zain's hair.

Andre smiled faintly and said, "maybe. But I have to go back to Jakarta this afternoon."

"You live in Jakarta Dre?"

"Betul Nuri, but I will often play in this village. This village leaves a lot of sweet memories between you and me, but unfortunately my arrival to this village is far too late, if only time could be turned back I would not waste it but unfortunately the rice has become porridge.and do I still have that chance?

"What are you talking about, Dre? I honestly don't understand he he!" I tried to digest the ambiguous sentence that the handsome man in front of me had uttered but not yet connected.

"Owh, it's nothing but a delusion" replied Andre.

"Fantasy!" I said repeat.

Andre nodded." Don't think about it, you'll have a headache thinking about it."Then we laughed together.

Long enough I chatted with Andre but I was more silent and allowed Andre to continue chattering about how Andre lived his life so far including telling his household that was only a corn until finally, Andre decided to return to Jakarta.

I stared at Andre's departure from my house with a casual feeling but just didn't expect to see my past again.