The Lives of Five Hundred Thousand
Cut the ribbon and tumpeng

Raihan came down the stage and walked straight towards our table. His arrival was greeted with smiles by Bu Haji, Nura and Andre while I just lowered my face.

The MC said back to tell the guests to follow the next event, namely cutting the ribbon and cutting the tumpeng. He asked Raihan and his entire family to come forward where a long ribbon and a large tumpeng were available.

Raihan stood up, Andre while holding Zain also stood up, as well as the Hajj ma'am. Not with me and Nura. I know myself that I am someone else not part of the Raihan family while Nura I don't know what the reason is that she didn't come along and Raihan himself looks indifferent to her.

Andre looks back at our table and I wonderingly ask, "why come back Dre?"

"Some are left behind."

I scrunched my forehead but before I asked back Raihan hurriedly grabbed my hand and pulled forcibly me to come with him.

"Dre, why the hell. freelance, I'm not Raihan's family." I protested in between her and she pulled my hand.

Andre did not heed my babble but just continued to pull my hand until approaching Raihan and Bu Haji who had already stood behind a long ribbon that was ready to be cut. I'm really nervous about being a spectacle of people because of Andre. I was also ashamed of the Hajj Maam and Raihan who were looking at me.

"It's okay Nuri, you are also part of our family," said Bu Haji as if to calm me who was anxious. I nodded small.

Coinciding with Haji Ma'am speaking, Andre's phone rang. Andre gave up on me because Zain was about to pick up the phone first, which was probably important, so Andre walked out of the venue.

"How did Mr Raihan get started?" ask someone who knows who. Raihan's view leads to where Andre came out earlier as well as the Hajj ma'am.

"Wait two more minutes sir!" hail Raihan and the man nodded.

It had been two minutes but Andre had not yet shown the trunk of his nose. Sounded Raihan sighed annoyed because Andre who had not just returned to us.

"What to start without waiting for Andre Rai? afraid the guests waited too long." Bu Haji suggested and it turned out that the suggestion of Bu Haji got a nod from Raihan. Finally it was just me, Zain and Bu Haji who accompanied Raihan to cut the ribbon.

I was holding Zain standing to the right of Raihan while Bu Haji was standing to the left. After getting an aba from the MC and by saying bismillah Raihan cut the ribbon. The festive applause echoed, a fluffy smile etched on Raihan's face. I smiled because I was proud of him even though I was not Raihan.

Haji ma'am hugged Raihan while crying and saying, "good luck, I'm proud of you. Keep being a good person, simple and sholeh yes son."

"Thank you mother, this is all thanks to mother's prayer, without mother I wouldn't be anything." then Raihan kissed her mother's face. Their embrace moved me and shed tears.

Then Raihan let go of his embrace and looked at me. I immediately wiped my tears even though Raihan had a chance to see it. Then I stretched out my hand and Raihan returned my hand.

"Congratulations Rai, hopefully your company will continue and always move forward" I said with my eyes submissive because I could not look into the look in his eyes.

Raihan did not respond to my words but rather brought himself closer to me. Raihan who has a higher posture than me aligns his height with me and Zain who I am carrying. My face and Zain were close together and I thought Raihan would only kiss Zain but I didn't think he kissed me on the cheek at a glance and then continued to kiss Zain with anxiety. I was astonished to get a brief kiss from Raihan, I began to worry, I was afraid his actions were seen by people and Nura who was looking at us. However it seems that no one realized that because I saw the expression of Nura who looks smiling just looking at us. I honestly say that I feel guilty for her because I think she is more entitled to accompany Raihan not me because she is Raihan's lover.

After the ribbon cutting event finished andre just came back to us then said silly" The door cutting event is finished huh? why don't you wait for me."

After that, the next event is to cut the tumpeng. A large and beautiful mask was available in front of us. After getting an aba from the MC and saying the bismilah Raihan began to cut the tumpeng slowly. The first bribe he gave to Bu Haji then his gaze was directed at Andre who was holding Zain because Andre had previously taken over Zain from my hand. With his pedal Andre opened his mouth wide when half a spoon of tumpeng pointed at his face. But it turns out that spoon Raihan turned right and stopped right in Zain's mouth. Zain who saw there was food in front of him immediately opened his mouth and Raihan bribed him. It suddenly made laughter echo at the venue, laughing at Andre and raihan, I could not help but laugh. Andre put a face of annoyance at Raihan because it was in his work and made people laugh at him.

After the ribbon cutting and tumpeng cutting event was over, we returned to the original table where Nura was waiting faithfully.

"Ehm, Rai, Auntie, looks like Nura's ready to go home now?" Suddenly Nura permission wants to go home and Rai looks very thin smile so that it can not be seen by a glance.

"Lho, how come you hunt Nura so much? kan has not tasted the dish," said Bu Haji.

"Iya Aunty, sorry instead Nura did not want to accompany Raihan until the event was over but it looks like papa has returned from Singapore."

"Oh, yes already then, what's the matter between Raihan?"

"Nura brought her own car, Mom, and here there are still many guests, Raihan is not good if you leave Raihan's guest guests" said Raihan, said, either just an excuse or something but I feel Raihan looks reluctant to take Nura.

"What Raihan said was true Auntie, I brought a car. Raihan's still busy here anyway."

"Yes already then the heart of nak Nuri.eh sorry I mean Nura," said Bu Haji while smiling awkwardly maybe he felt bad for mispronouncing the name.

"Yes Aunt."

Then Nura stood up and turned to me and said, "it's great to know Mba Nuri, hopefully at another time we can still meet ya mba? and I hope this first meeting is the beginning of our friendship."

I stood up and smiled at him, then he hugged me and I returned his embrace. I feel like what he's doing is sincere to me and I also feel like I'm so close to him. After that he let go of his embrace and walked around approaching Andre who was holding Zain.

"Buck...!"

"I'm not a Javanese lady but a minang." Andre protested with a flat face.

"But I called you, it didn't protest."

"My name is Andre not there." Andre protested again. Nura looks annoyed at him.

"There is no need to respond to people like Andre nak Nura, he is so sometimes straight sometimes tilted." Said Bu Haji.his words invited laughter that I hold, as well as Raihan.

"I'll take Nura to the front first Mom!" raihan said while standing up. Then they left and walked out of the building.

"Nuri, we better eat yuk, I'm already hungry, you know," asked Andre, I was watching Raihan's back and Nura glanced at Andre.

"I'm not hungry, Dre, you eat." Actually my stomach is hungry but I saw Raihan dropping off Nura at once my mood changed to no appetite. Again I was jealous to see their closeness.