TIME (For A Taste )
CHAPTRE 176

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Happy reading...

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MALIA

“Lia,”

A voice called out to me, when I recently asked a building security guard to find me a taxi.

“Kak Irsyad?..” I said spontaneously, when the person who called me was in front of me.

Don't be asked how shocked I am when I see the person I call his name in front of me right now.

I don't know if Irsyad realized it or not, but my eyes were wide when I saw him standing near me now.

“How are you Lia?” greet Irsyad to me.

“Good, Brother.”

I tried to master my surprise, and immediately returned Irsyad's greeting.

Irsyad threw her smile at me, who inevitably smiled back at her. But yes the reply smile I gave Irsyad I felt awkward.

Either Irsyad realizes or does not smile back at him that I feel awkward.

***

“Kak Irsyad himself, how are you?” malia responded to Irsyad who greeted her.

Trying to be reasonable in her shock, Malia makes small talk to Irsyad.

“Not so good.”

Irsyad replied with a slightly slow, somewhat slippery speech.

“What is Irsyad Sister unwell?..”

“I want to talk, Lia.”

Irsyad did not comment on Malia's questions about her health.

But Irsyad said to the point about the purpose of his presence in front of Malia at this time.

The real sentence was reluctant for Malia to hear from Irsyad, because it would make her a dilemma.

It's nothing, it's night, but it's not too.

But it seems Malia also feels unethical if she follows Irsyad's wishes which will likely take her somewhere to talk.

And again, Malia already felt if there was nothing important for her to talk to Irsyad, besides maybe if later the situation did not feel awkward and make friends with Irsyad with Reiji's permission.

Where Malia also plans to introduce Reiji and Irsyad, if indeed her friendship with Irsyad continued without frills there are still memories of past loves. But not for now.

***

“Sorry, Brother Irsyad, it's late at night. And I'm also abis overtime, so –“

“You why impressed to avoid me yes, Lia? ...”

Malia looked at Irsyad who seemed to be looking at her full of probing.

“Don't be so prejudiced, Sister –“

“So I don't think so, can we talk? –“

“Eummm ...”

“At least appreciate me who has been waiting for you from earlier, Lia? –“

“Sister Irsyad is deliberately waiting for me?”

“Iya ...” replied Irsyad, nodding.

“But why?” Malia asked.

Irsyad smiled faintly. “Yes because I do want to talk to you personally, Lia –“

“Yes but why did Brother Irsyad not contact me first before?” cut Malia.

“Yes I thought you were avoiding me, so I came unannounced since this afternoon before your office hours finished –“

“Hah? ...” Malia is again surprised by Irsyad. “Kak Irsyad has been here since last afternoon? –“

“Iya .... I've been waiting for you at the coffee shop there ..” Irsyad pointed to the coffee shop in the lobby area of the Malia office building.

And Malia latah looked up following Irsyad's index finger.

“But until the lobby is quiet I don't see you, so I have this lobby receptionist contact your office receptionist, who says that your division and your room are overtime today. And when I called your office receptionist she said you were praying.”

Then Irsyad spoke at length afterwards.

“So I decided I was waiting for you until you finished overtime, Li ..”

“Oh –“

“So, can you take a moment for me?...” Irsyad again asked Malia's willingness to speak privately with him.

Malia took a few seconds to answer.

“Suami you didn't pick up right? –“

“Kak Irsyad kok tau? ..”

Malia frowned while asking.

Irsyad smiled faintly. “I heard you asked to search for a taxi to the security guard earlier –“

“Oh –“

“So I guess, you can go with me right, Lia? –“

Her heart does not want to accept Irsyad's invitation now, but Malia also wants to refuse without blatant that can make Irsyad offended because Malia is still considering her friendship with Irsyad first.

***

MALIA

“Good, Brother.”

I answered the clumsy question of Brother Irsyad who asked me news, after I was surprised by the sudden appearance of Irsyad in front of me.

“Kak Irsyad himself, how are you?”

Where I try to be reasonable in my surprise, and mince words asking also the news of Irsyad.

“Not so good.”

Irsyad answered softly, with a faint smile. And either this is just my feeling - if I don't misjudge, that Irsyad's smile seems a little mysterious to me.

-

Irsyad asked me to spend some time talking to him. Which I felt reluctant to accept.

“So I guess, you can go with me right, Lia? –“

But Irsyad seemed to insist on his desire, after a long time he spoke, saying that he had been waiting for me since the afternoon - which surprised me as well.

Where Irsyad's attitude was as mysterious as the two times - where he had also come suddenly before.

First it was lunchtime - where he came along with Rei who visited my office, and the second time Rei and I were staying at my parents' house.

Where tau-tau, Irsyad said it was in the parking lot of the apartment building where I and Rei lived. And now is the third time Irsyad has come without prior notice to me, or at least asked if I had time or not to go with him who he said wanted to talk about what.

I really want to talk to Irsyad. Want to affirm the form of relationship that I want to establish with him now. The friendship!. Like when we were in college.

Well, with mediocre friendship interactions - unlike in college, where we can be said to be two people who fall into the category of Friends But Friendly.

And though not very friendly as well. Only often go together, never a few times walking hand in hand. No more than that.

And my plan to talk to Irsyad about my plan - to make it clear that I just wanted to be friends, was after I talked to Rei about Irsyad.

But even I did not think of it at all, when I actually had a lot of opportunities to talk about Irsyad to Rei, because some time later - since we became more friendly, more friendly, it feels like Rei's mood is pretty good if I talk about Irsyad.

Unfortunately I was in a state of slumber with the sweetness and treatment of my husband, until the matter of Irsyad did not rest in my head at all, until after more than two weeks - without us communicating with each other at all, Irsyad has appeared again in front of me at this time.

Make me a dilemma, to make a decision on the request as well as Irsyad's invitation to talk to each other. And Rei still can't be contacted anyway!.

Because after I asked the security guard to find a taxi for me before Irsyad showed up in front of me - I had a chance to check my and my husband's chat column, which is still a gray checkmark, plus still one.

“But I already asked the security guard to find a taxi.”

I tried to find an excuse, so that I could avoid Irsyad's invitation to go alone at this time.

At least I did not blatantly let alone loudly give rejection to Irsyad, considering that in addition to the frills of Friends But Friendly connected us in college first, my friendship and Irsyad was very good.

“And again, I have to hurry home -“

“It's so we can talk all I anter you go home.”

Irsyad quickly silenced my words that still tried to avoid the invitation.

“But, Brother –“

“Mba, still want to wait for taxi?”

I have not finished answering Irsyad's offer to take me home, the security guard I asked please come to my face who was with Irsyad.

“I –“

“Engga Sir, Mba this same home me.”

Hey, why did Irsyad answer that?

“Oh yes that is, Mas .... You see, the empty taxi is also a bit difficult than I was waiting in front, but there are passengers continue.”

The security guard spoke again to me and Irsyad, where Irsyad seemed to listen with a welcome attitude, while I smiled faintly.

Besides I was begrudging myself - in my heart, who should have ordered a taxi through the app just now. At least, even if I had to accept Irsyad's invitation I don't need to be in a car with him.

Because I don't think I'm ready to go home with Irsyad right now - let alone be alone alone with him in the car because I feel awkward with him, although Rei will most likely return to Jakarta tomorrow.

I was still bothered by Irsyad's words and attitude at the restaurant that afternoon actually, so I was thinking if there was a possibility that Irsyad was talking about it again - where I felt it should not be done, Irsyad did, ask me for certainty.

But I try to think positively. I've reminded Irsyad several times via chat messages, and the last time he called me when I was at my parents' house. So it felt, Irsyad was smart enough to clearly understand every word I said to him, which confirmed that I already loved my husband, he said, and that thing about my arranged marriage to Rei no longer has any sense of compulsion.

So it should be, Irsyad's feelings for me, no need for him to emphasize anymore.

But ....

"I wasn't messing with what I said back then at the restaurant Lia .... I love you, very ...."

Why don't I bring my own car today? ....

"I'm back in Jakarta, it's because of you."

Irsyad held my hand.

"And I can't believe it when you say that you love your husband ...."

What the hell?????!!!!! ....

"Don't lie to your heart. Because from the moment we met again and spent time together, I'm sure that you love me, too, Lia"

Tuhaannn.

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