TIME (For A Taste )
THE CHAPTER 95

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***

MALIA

“By the way about your husband who loves your permission to meet me who incidentally met your guy, indeed you have told us about our friendship on campus first? ..”

Irsyad's question left me flabbergasted in silence. Whether Irsyad noticed the change in my face water or not, I was clearly confused as to how to answer it.

Well, that question should be easy to answer if based on reality. I just answered ‘not’.

Because that's the truth.

Reiji never knew about Irsyad.

I left no trace of my past and Irsyad as did Reiji.

Well, at least I didn't take it to my new place of life after I had a husband.

Like Reiji who has a secret box, I am the same. It's just that I kept it neatly in my room that was in my parents' house.

In a hidden place, which does not allow it to be seen easily.

And even though Reiji and I were staying at my parents' house, Reiji wasn't ‘gratak’ like me.

So until this second, Reiji never knew, if there was such a man in my heart.

“Li? ..”

I gasped when I heard Irsyad's voice calling out to me, who was probably paying attention because I didn't give an answer to her question and then fell silent for a little while.

“Eh Yes Brother? ..”. “Why?”

Irsyad smiled at me. “You daydreaming?” tanyanya.

“Whose word am I daydreaming? ..”

I'm trying to dodge.

At once I raised my hand to call waitress to order. I don't want Irsyad to ask any further about why I daydream. What is hurting me right now.

Irsyad smiled back.

“I think I've only known you for a day, Li.”

I heard the faint sound of Irsyad.

“Formerly, if you often daydream, it's if you're nervous about facing a quiz or when you want to test on campus.”

“Still aja.” I snorted amusedly then.

Then I heard Irsyad talking. Mumbling exactly. It was as if he wanted me not to hear his slow words.

But I think I heard Irsyad say, “Ga there's something I forgot, Li..” In that murmur.

And I feel like I'd like to say, really,

‘Masa?. No news all this time? ..’

But that question I didn't voice. Well, at that time Irsyad said he was super busy there because the competition in the world of work in London was very tight.

So yes, I don't need to talk about the taste anymore. We're just friends, right?. Familiar!. Well, never familiar.

“By the way, Li ..”

Irsyad asked me to talk again.

“Ya?” sahutku.

“When you tell me about your husband, how did he react to knowing that his wife had a close friend who was a boy?.”

Hh... why waitress restaurant where I and Irsyad are located this catapult once anyway?. Because I really don't have an answer for that.

***

“Li ..”

Irsyad called back Malia, after one of the waitresses recorded her second order.

“Ya?” malia Response.

“You haven't answered my question.”

“Which one?..”

“About your husband's reaction tent-”

“He is ordinary nanggepinnya ..”

Malia cuts Irsyad's question quickly with the answer just like that.

“Oh.” Respond Irsyad, then the man looked at Malia with a gaze that made Malia wonder.

“Why?” malia asked to remove her discomfort with Irsyad's gaze that Malia could not find the meaning.

“What's the reason? ..”

“As anyone would like Brother ask me?”

Irsyad cleared his throat slowly after Malia asked him.

“Your wedding went well?”

“Currently in the sense? ..” Malia.

“Are you happy?” irsyad's question surprised Malia enough, until Malia was silent for a moment.

“But kepo.” Malia tried to act ordinary, although Irsyad's question just now surprised her a little.

“Because if I notice, every time I ask about your marriage, your husband, you seem a little tense. A--”

“Excuse ..”

Irsyad's speech was interrupted by a waitress who delivered her ordered drinks and Malia.

‘Why are such questions constantly coming out of the mouth of Brother Irsyad anyway?!’ inner Malia protesting.

Malia and Irsyad then both turned to waitress who brought her a second-order drink - before serving the food, thanking her.

‘Hopefully Irsyad ga continue what he said before waitress nganter this drink.’

Malia hoped in her heart.

“You had a chance to date? ..”

Malia's hopes are granted.

Irsyad no longer discussed Malia who was tense in her views when discussing her marriage and Reiji.

But Irsyad's next question, still not far from it.

“I and Rei are purely betrothed without any courtship process,” Malia replied. “Only approach before wedding.”

“Hmm ..”

Irsyad.

“Then your matchmaking and the brother of your best friend since childhood, did you accept it with pleasure or for something?”

Where Irsyad's question just now really made Malia surprised, until she was stunned, even a small choking.

“Are you okay, Li?”

Irsyad leaned her body.

“I’m okay ..”

Malia showed her palm to Irsyad while smiling forcefully.

“Why be the same as my wedding anyway Brother Irsyad nih?” malia said, while grunting amusedly, trying to sway, to cover up her anxiety.

“Sorry Li, I have no intention of being too curious about the state of your household ..”

“Casual sis, very serious face.” Again Malia tried to look relaxed and fine in front of Irsyad.

Irsyad smiled faintly. The man was about to ask again, but a waitress came to bring him their food.

“Eat first.”

“Ya.” Irsyad.

*****

MALIA

For a moment, at least when our ordered food came.

Me and Irsyad were more silent.

I dissolved into my own daydream, and it seemed that Irsyad was the same.

“Still love to do a staycation with your best friend since childhood, Li?.” that question was thrown from Irsyad's mouth after we kept quiet for a while.

And when the chat was created later, I felt relieved, because Irsyad did not start a discussion about ‘aku and my marriage’. Yet....

“Means she double status dong huh?. Not only your best friend, but also your sister-in-law.”

Ah, why is Irsyad talking again to the discussion that led to the topic?.

‘Me and My Wedding.’

“Ya so ....”.

I answered flatly.

Irsyad smiled faintly.

“Can you please answer my previous question, Lia? ..”

Then Irsyad leaned his body, after putting his spoon and fork on his food plate.

“Which one? ...” also relax, while the pretentious busy with food that has been lazy I eat this actually.

“Marriage - the matchmaking of you and your best friend's sister since childhood. Did you accept it with pleasure or for something?”

“Why does Brother Irsyad want to know?” my many. Still trying to relax, I also put my food on the spoon I was holding. Just put it in my mouth.

“Because I feel, you are shackled by your marriage-“

Where the phrase Irsyad made me limp in my sitting, until the food that was going to enter my mouth so I did not bribe and spoon I returned it to the top of my plate.

“It turns out my guess is right huh? You are not really ready for your marriage and your husband based on this matchmaking, but you accept it because of something. Your parents will?”

I'm no longer limb.

But I'm sculpting.

Irsyad's guess, why is it true?.

“Lia, you can share the burden of your heart with me if you want.”

Irsyad's voice was heard worrying about me who was sculpting this.

“Kak –“

“Do not save your load alone—“

And I felt Irsyad's hand on the back of one of my hands on the table.

“Sorry ...”

Irsyad immediately spoke with a face that seemed to feel guilty, as I pulled my hand which was embedded in my wedding ring on his ring finger.

“Ga what ..”

“I just .. worry about you ..”

I chuckled small.

“I'm already big Brother, no need to worry.”

I'm clawing.

“Do you love him?”

Irsyad asked, making my head and face face directly facing Irsyad.

“Sorry, i-who again entered into your personal realm.” Said Irsyad, as I stared at him in silence.

“Ya indeed, Big brother kepo really.”

I flat-footed. Irsyad looked clumsy, and I showed a faint smile.

Then I snorted, and somehow I didn't know why.

Just feel .. I don't know.

Right now why Irsyad is so eager to pry into my married life with Reiji.

“Kak,” call me to Irsyad who instantly responds to me. “I want to ask something—“

“Please.”

“Why does Big Brother seem so curious about my life now?”

“Because I feel that you are unhappy with your marriage, Lia ..”

Irsyad looked at me concerned.

I was still silent, still staring at him. Don't know what to say.

Should I tell Irsyad about everything?.

About how I've been feeling since I was betrothed to Reiji?.

Did you know that I loved her once? ...

It doesn't seem like it ever was. I .. still keep that flavor for Irsyad.

Never put hope to him, that he who is in the position of Reiji now.

Then my hope was that I had to really bury it, when Reiji recited the word ijab which stuck my name when he shook hands with Papa in front of the ruler in one breath. And I'm done with Irsyad's story.

Ought to.

If I never see him again.

Or if he comes later, when I love Reiji, then I won't be this mess.

My liver.

And when the question from Irsyad about whether I love Reiji was raised, I could answer out loud,

“Yes, I do love him. I love Reiji, my husband.”

And obviously, I wouldn't feel this way.

If..

If Irsyad doesn't come, when it's only a few months I really ‘burying’ all about it.

If Irsyad doesn't come, Reiji and I are in a fight because of their friendship with Shirly.

“Am I right?.”

Irsyad's voice again asking by continuing the previous question, drew my consciousness.

Then I chuckled just like that, and Irsyad looked at me more and more concerned.

“Do I need to answer?”

I asked Irsyad.

“Need.”

“Why?”

“Because if it's true that you're not happy with him, give me a chance to make you happy, Lia ...”

Like there's something wrong with my hearing.

*****

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