The Noodle In Love
10. No Greeting

Also like yesterday, say goodbye to Denis who now has Rush next to him. There are no more stale bases between us. Many eyes were silently watching our table.

Simply by nodding and throwing a small smile, the two of them welcomed my retreat from the canteen.

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Although hooded, the procedure of wearing a head cover should still be upheld. Collaborate with face mask white color fabric from the company. Just with the head covering and nose cover and mouth color is the same that is my mandatory protector. Without wearing apron as operator.

Actually also divided and advised, but not required. Miss Yong is quite compassionate if on the back end pitch it is very hot. So it's up to us, to wear it or not. Not wearing at all. Sometimes I also use it if there are visitors or auditors.

I really don't like it if there are auditors or visitors in the field. They like to hinder my work and steps. Alias also audits the QC passing in front of her. If I am in a hurry, I choose to play cat. Avoid the auditor's catch.

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All data records in the field and warning letters from supervisors, I have pulled and are working neatly. Then I researched quickly once again, where I knew there was a bit of a miswrite outside the specification. It will bring my own tempest from miss Yong.

"Ling, how fast are you?" ask mbak Ita. We passed by the door ofice QC. He came in, I waited to get out.

"Yes, I want to soak quickly. It was hot and itchy" I explained. It's seven o'clock in the afternoon and it's been five minutes.

"Reason yes.. Tomorrow's sunday, right?" ask mbak Ita smile. He understands my mind.

"Mean, mbak. Just go home quickly. Tomorrow morning we don't see miss Yong." The door that almost closed.

"You go first, Ling. My record hasn't been re-viewed." Mbak Ita glanced at the stack of record papers that were wedged on the chest board.

"Yes already. I'm first, brother. See yu tomorrow...!" I exclaimed as I let go ofice's door. We have turned our backs on each other with separate glass walls. Ita is a Javanese mixed Malay girl. That is, sometimes I call brother, sometimes I call mbak. But that face will sparkle if I call it mbak.

I force my way to the attendance machine. Not wanting to waste my time in vain. This is saturday night aka malan ahad. Want to go to the mosque following the recitation. Good thing Keke introduced to me. Before we parted from the dorm and stayed outside each one.

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I ate alone this time. As usual, Ms. Yanti was always full because she tasted the results of her homemade cooking. While Rush, Ms. Yanti said, has been gone since last Maghrib with fragrant and neat clothes.

A friend picked up the vehicle and Rush was taken with him. Worth it, because Mr. Harjo's car is still perched safely in the garage. Rush doesn't seem to have its own vehicle.

My old dinner plate was washed and I put it on a wet tool rack. And will be moved by Bu Yanti to the closet when the tool is dry.

"You're coming home tonight, Ling?" ask Ms. Yanti to me while covering the food on the table.

"It's not a good night, ma'am. If the show's over, it'll be home soon" I said as I wiped my hands with a clean cloth.

"Yes, be careful. May you be able to match the man Sholeh," said Ms. Yanti praying for me

"Aamiinu. Thanks, mom..." As it passes I welcome the prayer of Bu Yanti for me. Although the word marriage is not too royal in my heart.

I grabbed my walking bag on the chair and I held it tight to take it to the mosque. My routine schedule since breaking up with Putra, my ex-boyfriend.

"Assalamu'alaikum" I said before passing by the door. Lamat heard that Ms. Yanti welcomed my prayer.

I hurried to the front fence. The taxi driver I booked online, was on standby waiting there.

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The Sunday Night General Studies (PUMA) event, has just begun. I slipped myself among the Muslim women who were sitting in the foyer. Jamaat is very abundant and most are factory children.

The speaker this time is a Kyai who came directly from the city of Rembang. Kyai Haji Sulaiman Al Hafidz. With a personal moderator who brought his own and came from the same city as him.

The study with the duration of the lecture for approximately two hours was interesting and fun. Loaded with the science and noble lessons of life. Kyai is very flexible and good at bringing tausiah material straightforwardly and funny. The audience and attendees are often entertained to laugh happily together.

Not noticeably, the two-hour general recitation was completed by closed a joint prayer led by Kyai Haji Sulaiman himself. The pilgrims guaranteed it with a very solemn attitude.

So do I. Guaranteeing the flow of noble prayers from Mr. Kyai with full hope of blessing and intercession. Sure if my craft follows this study will always be full of blessings and benefits. Aamiins.

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Distance Nurul Islam Mosque in Muka Kuning, Batam, not too far from the housing where my boarding house. The distance is the same between my boarding house and the company. Both are equally distant. With my boarding house in the middle. Right to the mosque, left to the factory.

The taxi that drove me had passed by while the rear passengers were out. Out of curiosity, I waited for a moment to see his whole figure.

Uh, Rushqi... The man who just got out of the taxi, wearing the peci and the cocoa was Errushqi.. Where's that guy from?? Rush seemed charismatic and dashing amazingly indisputable.

Because Rush was still chatting with his friend at the car door, I left without giving any greeting. Although he also had a chance to see me, but Rush also did not give him a greeting to know me.

I entered the yard through the fence without feeling disinclined by her. I think it's true what Denis said in the cafeteria this morning to me. Sweet offer to be friends and friends, just a fake Rush promise for me.

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After washing your face and brushing your teeth, it feels very good when boiling. Feeling that this is the peak of my activity today. Which now I'm celebrating with a sense of airy and comfortable.

My body almost sank with my eyes when I suddenly remembered the thing I had bought in the mosque. I bought it before the taxi came to pick me up. Instantly, tired and sleepy feeling drifted changed the spirit to wake up.

This is where I am now, at the dinner table. Pour a pack of baby meatballs and very jumbo. And there's another pack of jumbo next to me. But Miss Yanti is asleep.

I'm not sure myself, whether I can spend it or not.

"Ehem,, man,,!" this sudden dehem sound almost jumped my spoon. My heart was already shocked when I realized that this pendehem is Rush. It feels so bad.

"I ate meatballs" I said, though Rush didn't question me.

"Is it good?" rush asked as he leaned his face and chest into my meatball bowl.

"Looks good" I replied quickly. Holding my saliva that almost dripped. This pungent and delicious aroma really arouses my tongue.

Rush had sat down with an empty bowl complete with spoons and forks. He thrust it at me.

"So where are you?" rush asked as he watched me transfer some meatballs to his bowl. He refused a pack of meatballs I was trying to thrust in front of him.

"Mosque," I replied. Rush I think I understand for myself, which mosque I'm going to.

"Where's Rush from?" I'm not trying to shut down my curiosity.

"Sama" replied Rus short. Kuredam. I can't believe that Rush also attended the Masjid.

The man was still observing these round meatballs. It is possible that his saliva is also flooding in the mouth. I hold my laughter in my heart.

Kusodor's bowl of meatballs with more than me. Sure if Rush was very fond of meatballs. He doesn't hesitate to ask me.

"You bought it at the mosque cafe?" ask Rush while grinding the meatballs in his mouth.

"Yes." I replied.

"Why take it home?" ask Rush to back up the meatball.

"There's a lot of brothers there. I'm alone" I replied as I was. Rush momentarily looked at me and faintly smiled.

"You embarrassed?" ask again while chewing. I threw my face away from him.

"If anywhere else I'm not ashamed. But there, I was disinclined to sit alone" I replied to Rush who then seemed to nod.

"That bet, Ling. I know what you mean" Rush said, looking at me.

"I was there, too, with my friends. Had not expected to see you there, ordered meatballs. Sorry, I don't think so," Rush said, which surprised me enough.

But at once I understood why Rush didn't greet me. It is the place and friends that require him to maintain an attitude. I also nodded in understanding.

"Yes, I get it. If I were with my friends, I would also act as if I didn't see you and know you" I said appreciating Rush's honesty with me.

We looked at each other for a moment. And then both smile. I'm beginning to understand, Rush isn't as bad as I thought.

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