TIME (For A Taste )
CHAPTRE 171

Happy reading...

***

MALIA

Even if he's around, get down for a second. I'm in your apartment parking lot. Kangen.

I was at my place when I read the latest chat from Irsyad.

Oh myGod.

What is – what is this Irsyad? ....

Didn't she hear what I said to her yesterday about a heart I'm guarding?.

It even feels like I told her plainly yesterday if I wanted to take care of my husband's heart.

But why would he send a chat like this to me?.

Indeed, the meaning of ‘kangen’ is not only reflected in the longing that is owned between the opposite sex or lovers.

Avi and I also often say to each other ‘kangen’ if we call or chat.

Or if I contact my mama and papa, said ‘kangen’ it will be tucked in our greeting.

Even if I call my mother-in-law.

Word ‘kangen’ will be tucked away if long time we do not meet, or do not talk to each other on the phone.

But this, Irsyad.

‘Kangen’ what does he mean?..

And again, what does it mean that Irsyad is already in the parking lot of the apartment building where I live and Rei?.

What did Irsyad do that for?..

It seems I have to reiterate to Irsyad about my decision to choose Rei according to my heart.

I need to discuss this with Rei no huh?..

Uh!

Haish, is Irsyad on standby with his phone?..

Until now, it was only a moment when I read the chat that he was contacting me.

----

I took a deep breath and slowly swallowed it, then shifted the green button on my phone screen.

Irsyad greeted me first.

“Iya Kak?” I said after Irsyad said my name.

“Lia, are you sick?.” asked Irsyad in a tone of voice that I caught being worried.

Then my conversation with Irsyad lasted for a few minutes.

“Engga Sister, I am in good health.”

“Then why don't you work?.”

“Kok Kak Irsyad know I don't work today?”

I pretended not to know if I had gotten any info from my friend who said about Irsyad's arrival to the office building where I work, this afternoon.

“Eum it, I just happened to have a business in the same direction as your office. Thirteen is the time of the appointment. So I thought I could stop by first take you to lunch, Lia.”

“Oh.”

“Indeed you didn't tell you when you met me in the lobby?” irsyad asked and I lied to him again.

“Engga no sih-“

“Oh.”

For a moment, Irsyad and I were both silent.

“Eng-“

“Oh yes Li, by the way, down for a minute huh? I brought sushi for you-“

“Eum Kak-“

“Why? Is your husband in your arms?-“

Irsyad cut my words again.

“Iya.”

“Oh-“

“Kak-“

“You can go down for a while? Usually you just go easy from him, make me meet, Lia.”

“Kak shits me. Please don't be teased again about it-“

“But it is so, right? If ever since I came back, you'll always be happy to see me-“

“Iya it's true-“

“Ga can Brother. Because I'm not in the apartment,” cut me.

“Oh yes?...”

“Iya,” answer.

“You again where is it?”

“Sedang go with my husband..”.

“Tumben?-“

“Sister, honestly I'm a little uncomfortable with what Brother said just now.”

“Yaa...” I catch if Brother Irsyad gets a little clumsy across there.

“Indeed, as long as Brother appears again I always agree to ask Brother to meet. But that was before I realized something...”.

“What?..”

“If I have loved my husband, Brother.”

***

“So I beg you very much, Brother understands this.... I think I told my sister clearly yesterday about this. So please Brother understand, I can no longer carelessly meet Brother like all this time.“.

There is no word from Irsyad when Malia confirms clearly what Malia wants to say to the man from her past.

Only Irysad's breath was faintly heard in Malia's ears.

“While we only met for lunch and so on, I realized it was wrong.... Wrong because I'm a married woman. And that husband of mine.. I must take care of his heart.”.

“.........”

“Because I've been sure if I love her, Sister...”.

A long, heavy sigh was then heard by Malia from across the phone.

“As I have said, I also do not want to break the relationship between us, because after all our friendship has been good so far, even though Brother has disappeared.”

“.........”

“But still, I have to take care of my husband's heart Brother, by keeping my distance and association, not only with Brother, but also with other men.... And please, don't be like this again, until you come to my apartment..”.

“.........”

“I don't want my husband to misunderstand me, brother. So please Brother understand...”.

“So yes?...”

Irsyad said softly across the phone with Malia.

“Iya. I'm sorry, if you're offended. But I hope, Brother Irsyad understands my position.”

“Lia-“

“And once again sorry, I have to end our phone connection now.”

“Before Lia.”

“Iya Kak, why?-“

“Can we meet once again?”

“I don't know yet, Kak-“

“Please?...”

“I have to ask my husband first.”

****

“Yuk, Brother. Assalamua’laikum..”.

Clik.

Without waiting for Irsyad to return her greetings, Malia immediately cut off her phone call with the man from her past.

‘Kok I even tense talking to Irsyad just now?...’

Malia was inward, after she let out a long sigh. Then hurriedly grabbed Reiji's phone, which he asked Malia to get, and brought it to Reiji who was watching downstairs from Malia's parents' house.

“Whose phone is same?”

“Astagfirullah!”

Malia gasped in shock, knowing that Reiji was in front of her as she turned around, after taking Reiji's cell phone.

“Kok surprised so?.... Is there something?...”

“Engga, there's nothing really, Rei...”

“So you used up the same phone who just now? Like a little long? And seriously, until your face is so tense?-”

“It...”.

*****-

Seriate....