TIME (For A Taste )
CHAPTRE 86

Happy reading....

***

“Sorry rather long Brother..”.

Malia has arrived at a Kedai Kopi Kekinian in a Big Mall in the Jakarta area.

The mall where Malia and Irsyad met was indeed a proposal from Malia.

But the Coffee Shop that now Malia sambangi is the idea of Irsyad.

Irsyad who saw Malia coming, stood up and threw her smile at Malia. “I also haven't been there long, kok.”

Malia smiled back at Irsyad, “I pesen first ----“

“Let me order, Li.” Irsyad cut Malia's speech and immediately volunteered to order what Malia wanted to order.

“Ga nothing, Sister. Let me alone pesen drink for me.”

Malia refused subtly, with a small smile.

“Oh yes already...”.

“Kak Irsyad want more pesenan?” Malia made small talk, as she had seen one plastic glass on the table where Irsyad was sitting.

“Engga, Li. This is enough.”

Irsyad pointed at her plastic cup.

“Ya udah.”

Malia then stepped onto the reservation counter in the Coffee Shop, while Irsyad sat back in his chair.

*

MALIA

I've got my drink in hand.

A glass of contemporary coffee variants that are actually quite often I enjoy coffee.

The name of the place I never revolve, because what I am looking for is a variant of the drink in a coffee shop today.

But when Irsyad triggered this place as our ‘chat’ place, the name of this coffee outlet, as if he was insinuating me. Especially this variant of my coffee order.

The coffee variant in the booth is due to the balance of Espresso and milk, resulting in a strong taste. I think my personal opinion.

But the name of the previous variant meant mediocrity to me, not even I indicated. But since I was with Irsyad, the name of my ordered coffee menu made me feel like cursing.

‘Popies Memories Former’.

Goddamnit!.

Even though this man in front of me is not an ex-boyfriend or anything like that, but still, it is,

Goddamnit!.

The name of the coffee menu, I mean. Menu name, my purse purpose.

And damn why I ordered this variant, so I became upset not clear on my own.

---

Forget my order coffee variant that sucks for me now. That shitty coffee tastes good.

I've been sitting opposite Irsyad.

Sipping coffee that feels refreshing in my throat, other than Irsyad in front of my eyes. What I think is his good looks in my eyes is still the same as before.

Oh my God Malia!

“So, who's the lucky guy?”

Irsyad asked me a sentence of questions while I was sipping coffee on my former memories.

Shouldn't Irsyad be making small talk before he asks that?....

“Reiji Shakeel...” replied. “The brother Avi.”

“Avi, your friend from small it?....”

And I nodded. Turns out, he also remembered about me having Avi as the only friend in my life.

Apparently, there's a story I still remember.

I fell silent later while twirling my wedding ring. Irsyad was silent too.

“How long has it been?” Irsyad asked again, after a while we were silent.

“Three months or less...” I replied.  “Me and Rei are betrothed by our parents who have been friends for a long time..”.

And I saw Irsyad smiling after I said that. His smile.... Ah, nevermind.

But why should I tell Irsyad if my marriage is an arranged marriage?.

Well, regardless of me having special feelings for Irsyad, we are indeed good friends. We were good friends until we shared stories, like Avi and I, but with different language.

But that was before.

Before, before I became Reiji's wife.

In the past, before Irsyad who first away, no longer reply to E-mail and messages in my Messenger.

And I, decided not to contact him again first.

**

“So, who's the lucky guy?” Irsyad's question made Malia smile bitterly in her heart.

But Malia answered Irsyad's question by showing an attitude that is not how.

“Reiji Shakeel's.... Her brother Avi.” Malia replied.

“Avi, your friend from small it?....”

And the question that was the guess from Irsyad just now, Malia answered with a nod.

For a moment, both of them were silent.

“How long has it been?” Irsyad asked again, after a while he and Malia both fell silent in awkwardness.

“Three months or less...” replied Malia.  “Me and Rei are betrothed by our parents who have been friends for a long time..”.

Malia tells Irsyad why she got married.

The man smiled, then turned his head to the left. Malia noticed Irsyad's movements.

“Three months..” Irsyad.

Smiling, however Irsyad's smile looked like a bitter smile in Malia's gaze.

And muttered Irsyad, Malia seemed to hear a tone of regret in the murmur of Irsyad. ‘Why is Irsyad's expression so?’ inner Malia. And Malia's getting a little misbehaved right now.

Then again, the silence between Malia and Irsyad was again created. Malia's eyes continued to watch Irsyad's movements, as she occasionally sipped her drink.

Being astonished by himself, while trying to find the answer in his heart about Irsyad's current attitude.

Irsyad who was speechless and lowered his head looked like someone who was feeling a great disappointment in his heart.

Made Malia wonder for herself in her heart, looking for answers she could understand later.

**

MALIA

I, my heart, began to look a little further at the current Irsyad based on his current expression.

And why is my heart disturbed by it?....

Really, I don't understand what I'm feeling in my heart right now.

There are questions in my heart about Irsyad's attitude.

A difficult question for me to find the answer that would make me stop wondering myself in my heart like this.

“I never thought we could see you again after so long, Sister..” I finally broke the silence between me and Irsyad.

To be exact, both of them were sitting like this. Although facing each other. Not like before, where I and Irsyad always sat next to each other, every time we ate at a place to eat, or sitting casually in a coffee shop like this.

“Iya.” Irsyad replied in a flat voice. “I also did not expect that you were married..”.

Then Irsyad's flat tone of voice, why did it sound so soft in my ears?.

**

The awkwardness between Malia and Irsyad again enveloped the two. Malia often turned her gaze toward other than Irsyad, as well as Irsyad, as the man occasionally bit his own lower lip.

But a moment later Malia sighed. “Kak...”.

A voice called out to Irsyad, breaking the silence they both made.

Makes Irsyad focus his eyes on Malia. “Ya?..” respond Irsyad.

“So where are you?.... Where have you been until you stop replying E-mail me and also never reply to messages on Messenger?” ask Malia.

Malia asked like that, as she began to be unable to hold back due to her curiosity.

“Sorry, Lia...”

Irsyad answered slowly.

“I don't think I need a reason. I'm just.... very busy!”

The connection of Irsyad's answer made Malia cackle bitterly in her heart.

“Trus suddenly Brother came to my office, and invited me to meet like this?...”

Malia asked back.

“What because we did not accidentally meet a few days ago in Groove?...”

“......”

“I mean, Brother's arrival in Jakarta is not likely to intentionally make me meet right?”

Malia was outspoken.

“And because we did not accidentally meet in Groove that day, Big Brother so the same bad taste with me, until belain came to my office to make up for the bad taste?”

“Ga, Lia.” Sergey Irsyad.

The man nodded slowly.

“Sorry for me who did not have time to reply to E-mail – E-mail you.”

The corner of Irsyad's lips slightly tilted.

“I understand...” Further Irsyad. “Maybe you are angry..”.

Malia again chuckled bitterly in her heart. ‘Anged? Do I need to be angry?..’

“Think I've been busy all this time. But...”

“Ya already Brother. Sorry about my attitude. I'm just curious.”

“Ga what, Li.... I understand that you act like that..”.

Irsyad smiled, no longer tilting.

“I just thought maybe you don't want to meet me again-----”

“Yes, Lia.”

Irsyad recited Malia's words.

“Ga maybe I cut off our friendship..”.

Then Irsyad continued his sentence.

“Let me tell you this (Let me tell you this )...” Irsyad then straightened his body, and stared intensely at Malia.

And Malia positioned herself to listen to what Irsyad wanted to tell her that. Irsyad seemed to sigh first, before he continued what he wanted to tell Malia.

“From the last time you sent a message on Messenger, on that day I decided something...” said Irsyad. “I did deliberately not reply to your message, because there is something I am preparing.” Connect Irsyad.

“What—“ by Malia. He would spontaneously ask Irsyad in regards to the man's words just now.

“Can I finish my words first?..”

And Irsyad immediately cut off Malia's jam.

“Sorry...” says Malia. Malia then closed her mouth again.

“But on the sidelines of me who was preparing something, I was faced with an important job before me...”.

Irsyad hung his words.

“Well, I was faced with a job that was quite time consuming after which I realized that I had delayed too much what I had prepared for you. A surprise.”

‘He prepares a surprise for me?’

Malia asked in her heart.

“Surprise?..” But finally the question came from Malia's mouth.

Irsyad also nodded.

“Surprise.... what?”

Malia asked back.

Irsyad only smiled faintly while curtly tilting his head.

“But be done... “ said Irsyad later. “It is precisely I who got a surprise from you.” Connect Irsyad who then looks to pull the corner of his lips and bitter smile that read by Malia. Malia was speculating in her heart.

‘What did Irsyad mean?..’

Malia's heart was wondering.

‘No, Lia! Do not think that the surprise that Irsyad said was his declaration of love to elo!’

Malia dismissed her naive notion.

‘So now he is disappointed to know the fact that you are already married ..’ But Malia's heart was still guessing. ‘No, Lia! Get rid of that naive lo thought!’

Malia cried out to her own heart.

‘Remember Lia, lo it's already someone's wife!’

Malia reminded herself aloud.

Malia sighed slowly then.

‘Why don't we match ya, Irsyad?’

Then Malia shrieked in her heart.

**

Seriate....