TIME (For A Taste )
THE CHAPTER 96

Happy reading....

***

“Why does Big Brother seem so curious about my life now?” ask Malia who is curious.

“Because I feel that you are unhappy with your marriage, Lia ..” Irsyad replied. Am I right?.”

“Do I need to answer?”

“Need.”

“Why?”

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

And a spoon of rice and meat and vegetables that Malia was holding, hanging in the air.

With Malia's eyes that became focused looking at Irsyad who was looking seriously at him. “I don't understand Brother.”

Then Malia put back her spoon filled with rice and two kinds of side dishes on an empty plate in front of her.  After that, Malia took her drink which she then sipped through a straw.

“I'm sure you understand.”

Irsyad. But Malia was silent, only moving her eyeballs to see Irsyad's face.

Irsyad folded his lips briefly.

“Engga Kak I do not understand. I don't understand why the new Brother offered to give me happiness, when I was already someone's wife ..”

Malia then spoke.

Malia showed her smile. “Yuk keep eating it, Kak.” Malia said again.

Who then lowered his head, staring at his food, to hide his already teary eyes.

“This time I immediately go home huh? Rei there's a flight today because, and I have to prepare the needs ...”

***

MALIA

I'm sorry to see Irsyad today.

Because instead of wanting to relax myself a little after arguing with Reiji, Irsyad instead added to the chaos of my heart with his words.

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

Yes, it was Irsyad's words that made my heart even more unreasonable.

Irsyad's question about whether I'm happy with Reiji, I don't know for sure the answer.

I feel comfortable now living with Reiji, as his wife.

Well, at least before Reiji's past story and his feelings for Shirly I knew. Which finally awakened my memories of Irsyad from his grave, and truly rose after his people also came back into my life.

Perhaps, if I had never known about Reiji's past feelings for his best friend, I could have loved Reiji now, just like Reiji had admitted himself if he loved me.

And when Irsyad comes around like it is now, I probably won't be too giddy. Because I'm really learning to love Reiji.

Until the word that came out of Irsyad's mouth that asked me to give him a chance to make me happy if I wasn't happy with Reiji, it didn't affect me too much.

But unfortunately Irsyad about coming at the right time now.

While I was having a shaky faith in Reiji, and my resentment and prejudice continued to be allowed to rule.

Since I was thinking of asking Reiji to leave Shirly-sever her friendly relationship with Shirly.

But is it possible that Reiji would do it?.

I don't know.

And unfortunately, until Irsyad came, I had not yet made my request to Reiji.

And now, it feels like I'm not going to ask Reiji for that or just ask him if he wants to stay away from Shirly for me.

Especially if it is not because of the presence of Irsyad back when I am unstable is becoming more unstable?.

Until the consideration of asking Reiji to stay away from Shirly became a benchmark for me.

The benchmark, where if Reiji finally agreed to my request to stay away from Shirly even to break off the relationship with her best friend, when Irsyad is present again, means I have to do the same.

Breaking up my friendship with Irsyad.

Which, on one side of my heart, feels hard to do.

Then the words of Irsyad about ‘happy ku’ increasingly make heavy.

---

“Engga Kak I do not understand. I don't understand why the new Brother offered to give me happiness, when I was already someone's wife ..”

In the end I said that to Irsyad which made him then speechless. I didn't give Irsyad a chance to comment.

Because not how long I've been saying,

“Yuk keep eating it, Brother. I'm going straight home, aren't I? Rei there's a flight today because, and I have to prepare the needs ...”

Yeah, I somehow suddenly remembered Reiji. The perception of whether I was happy with Reiji for four months, maybe I should look for the answer.

Clearly, I remembered Reiji, recalling his embrace before I left earlier.

A reassuring hug, even if only for a moment before the hug I clapped.

Then Reiji I just left, to meet Irsyad.

Where I caught a glimpse of before I came out of our apartment unit, Reiji was staring at me with a faint gaze.

There was an uncomfortable feeling at the time, but I cleared it.

But I'd better just go home now, because as I recall Reiji has a flight schedule this afternoon.

As a wife, at least, I still have to do my duty to take care of it. After these few days, when my annoyance whack, I ignore preparing Reiji's needs.

I even left it without thinking about the Reiji lunch I should have prepared before leaving.

Now, I'm thinking. At least I have to go home to take care of Reiji who's going to work.

Is this because there is already ‘rasa’ in my heart for Reiji?. Or is it just a reflection of my guilt on my husband, because in fact, I have slowly reneged on my promise?.

Oh Irsyad, why do you have to come back in my life again anyway?.

---

The afternoon had passed as I said goodbye to Irsyad who then drove me to the restaurant car park where I and Irsyad met at this time.

This time I kept to my own words, who immediately went to finish my lunch with Irsyad, shortly after I finished my food that I had not tasted.

“Li, about what I said earlier, I'm serious. So please think carefully. Good about what I said, also about whether you are happy with her .... And you don't need to be in too much of a hurry to give your answer to me ...”

Irsyad spoke as I was about to get in my car.

I'm nodding.

“OK ...”

Then that was the only word I said to Irsyad, apart from saying goodbye before I got in the car and drove it to immediately return to my apartment and Reiji.

---

‘I leave first Yang. Three or four days later I was back in Jakarta. After that I hope we can talk from heart to heart.’

I just opened my phone when I got to the apartment.

‘Sorry I Just gave you info via chat. I wanted to call the truth, but given the word you were on your own, so I stopped to call you who might still be reluctant to talk to me.’

And those two chat messages from Reiji I just read after I found out that Reiji was no longer in our apartment. And those two messages, Reiji sent them about an hour ago. About that time, I was saying goodbye to Irsyad in the parking lot of the restaurant where she and I had an appointment.

I let out my breath.

I felt a little guilty for not helping to pack Reiji's clothes that I was about to go to Paris on this assignment.

But not to deny, that I feel a little relieved now.

Maybe three or four days, I can use to think.

Thinking of two men who made my mind and heart go wrong.

Reiji and Irsyad.

My husband and my past.

Where one of them, it should be set as an option.

After I found the answer.

Am I happy with Reiji?.

Or am I going to give Irsyad the chance he asked me to have today?.

***

Connect ....