TWENTY
The Heart of Rendi

My heart stopped beating when I saw his body go limp. Infusion hose stuck in his left arm. His body was not as red as it was, although there was still a residual rash there. And he can still smile when his condition is like that.

How can my guilt evaporate like this?

I even cried sobbing. Even before he reached his bed, he was still standing in the doorway. My body just resigned when Salma held me tight. Then lead me closer to Alif.

"I'm sorry." Only one word can be said between my sobs.

I heard a creaking chair, it turned out that Salma was preparing a chair for me to sit on.

"It has. Don't cry!"

"Sorry!"

"Yes. Excused. You were also unintentionally" the words from him made my cries begin to subside. The burden that was squeezing my heart slowly began to disappear.

"I'm happy you know Na" huh? This is Alif's brain not hurting, is it?

"Can't you?"

"Happy, it turns out that the corn parchment cook is you. At least I know that your cooking is delicious!"

The blush!

My cheeks immediately blushed. He still praises my food. Though the food was the reason why he was lying here.

"Thank you" I said shyly.

"Ekhm! Feels like a mosquito repellent" rich in Nopal's voice.

Uh. Just jerk!

I didn't go in alone? Means behind me...

Quickly I looked back. And sure enough, Ucup, Nopal, also Salma stood behind me. Duh. The shame!

"It's wrong of you to stand behind it" I asked.

"It's not funny if we stand there too, will ruin the atmosphere of the drama" he said again.

But it is also similar to the scenes of melow dramas that my mother often watched.

The three of them walked towards us, while making small talk to ask Alif for sure.

"Well, is it?"

"Yes Sal, maybe tomorrow afternoon you can go home" thank God.

"Wuihh is delicious!" Ucup's hand took over the fruit I brought. Just cut my hand rough.

"God! It's good, it's for Alif to know!" my ketus.

"A little Na, besides Alif also does not mind! Yeah, no Lif?" The Ucup seeks a defense from Alif.

"Obligations" and Alif's answer made us all laugh. Laughing at Ucup more precisely.

"Na, please peel! I think it's an apple" This isn't wrong? Alif asked me to peel the fruit!

Uh, Salma's jealous, isn't she?

"Salma, please" I refused with a heavy heart.

"They are you Na? Salma's men have come out of it"

"Well? When's Cup? How I don't know"

"Bucin is not conscious around" said Nopal.

"Eh no, yeah!" My elak. It could be his business if Alif knew I liked him.

"Udah, peel the fruit. Make my dear Brother Alif!" Nopal latah.

Feeling cornered, I relented. Peeling apples for Alif. Salma's still out, so she won't be hurt, will she?

After peeling and cutting it small, I handed it to Alif. And unexpectedly, Alif just casually eat apples with his own hands. I wish he had asked to be bribed, too.

"Not all of you bribed that Na" he wants it Cup anyway. But jeez, the man did not ask for help. If I maksa nyuapin even mistaken for a detar.

"No need. You can eat by yourself" I replied.

Then Salma returned to the room.

"Where is Sal?"

"To the toilet" ooohh.

Ekhm, by the way is this thirsty huh? From earlier weeping can continue to make the throat dry as well.

"Oh yeah I'm out right away, going to the cafeteria. Is there anything nitip?" My bargain.

"I'm nitip iced tea Na"

"Nopal's cup isn't a nitip, either?" My bargain once again.

"No, I'm going home" said Nopal while peeling my apple.

"Okay if so" I got out of place.

In the cafeteria I could see the existence of two beings named Rendi and Fahmi. One is focused on the same phone and the other is focused on the same laptop. I intend to work on Rendi who seems to be playing a game. As much as possible I walked slowly like a step to avoid being caught.

"Not to get excited about it!"

"Yeahhh! I know first Ren! No exclamation" I stomped my feet and sat down next to him.

"Udah caught from the smell of your ketek that nyemperin I used to" eh ngajak fightem nih people.

"Have a son! Ketekku scented ya" I asked while pinching his arm.

"Yes-yes, believe me" he finally relented.

"Sane people always give up"

Whoa! take the third world war son!

"So I've been crazy all this time?"

"That's the one who talked" has never tried nyium sandals nih kanya.

"Aw! Sick Na! Woy! Whoa!" Sore scourge with Rendi I hit it all out boy. Let it be pain, the ER is near the cafeteria.

"You can be quiet?" Oh yeah forget, there's still Fahmi here.

I stopped my brutal actions as well. It seems like Fahmi is seriously working on something.

"Hehehe. Sorry, Fahmi!" He was silent and did not answer. Well stirred!

"Again what the hell Mi?"

"Try to learn to take care of the hospital papa, must learn from now he said"

"Yushhh! Fahmi is great! Very different from the same ones who continue to debate" I quipped.

And what I'm saying is that the guy's still just a henchman! It even looks really good to eat fried rice with iced tea. Twice the coy! Ngenec.

Since my throat was dry, I immediately ordered my favorite drink. Orange ice of course. Same chicken noodles for lunch menu. Ten minutes, the order has arrived. I'll eat soon to get back to Alif's room.

"Rendy, Fahmi. You guys didn't go to Alif's room?" I asked after spending a bowl of those delicious chicken noodles.

"The others are out?"

"From that time, Rendi! You are a resident of the canteen"

"His name also doesn't know Na" he asked again.

"Judah, let's go there!" I cleaned my clothes and took the Salma-order iced tea.

Arriving in the room there was a stifling view of the chest. Salma and Alif are talking to a middle-aged woman on Salma's cell phone screen. I'm guessing it was Alif's mother.

Then they pant! Rich in-laws who again miss the same son and daughter-in-law.

Maybe they're aware of me and Rendi. Salma looked a bit awkward and moved away from Alif who was previously nearby.

"This is her friend Salma aunt, her name is Nala" suddenly Salma pointed her phone screen at me while introducing me to her mother Alif.

"Assalamu'alaikum auntie" I said.

"Wa'alaikumsalam's chat. Wahh turns out this is what Nala is called. Beautiful yes!"

"Thank you aunt" I said clumsily. Still not ready if suddenly had to talk to his mother Alif.

Original. My heart is already anchored by the rich war drums. Afraid of saying the wrong word, thinking about how to give a good impression, and others who make more nervous. Luckily the phone has now switched again to the one that has.

"Alif does like to be lazy if you take vitamin Sal, just jewel if you still do not want to take the vitamins" said Aunt Maryam to Salma before finally saying hello and ending the video call.

Duh heart. The patient!.

Mana Alif his face was embarrassed so again.

It does not feel the time has gone by in the afternoon, the sun will return from the contest. We say goodbye to Alif before we go home. Tonight Fahmi will accompany Alif here with Bayu who will follow after Maghrib.

"Na, I want to talk for a minute" Rendi said after we got to the porch. Looks serious.

"Salma, you go in first" I said to Salma.

"What are you talking about?" I asked to the point.

"Yes not here too" don't tell me to come out!

"Where do you want to go?"

"Outside, find a good place"

"If you want to be outside why not just now? Before we get to that house. It doesn't go back and forth. Tired of not walking" wuihh. My talk starts to come out.

"Jaudah, there" he pointed at the mango tree on which there was a swing.

"What the hell are you talking about Ren? Kok kaya seriously so" asked me after sitting on the swing and Rendi that jammed in the grass.

"The problem of the heart"

Whoa! I smell these confounding smells. Soon I will be Mamah Dedeh. But come to think of it, it's rare for me and Rendi to spend time together to just vent together. Especially discussing matters of the heart.

"Emm. gini Na, actually I've liked girls from the past. I just don't dare say"

"Well, your tumben is cemen" I sneered.

"Not Cemen Na. Yes, I am rich self-conscious. What pantes did I make him? While a lot of guys are better than me chasing his love"

"Daunt! It's actually me talking to Rendi, right?"

"Udah. Don't joke Nala!" Lah. Even thought to be joking. Though I really want to make sure this is Rendi what not.

"I seriously know! Who is kidding. Try me a test. What's your father's full name?"

"Mahendra Atmaja" easy question surely he can answer.

"Continue. What's my cat's name?"

"Jimmi" is. He knows too. Try me giving you the hardest last question. If only I was the same way Rendi knew.

Ahah! I knew!

"What disgrace is it that only you and I know that walking in the night market?" I am so happy to ask this.

Because of the disgrace of this one Rendi will make anyone who knows so laugh ngakak. I remember liking to laugh at myself.

"Like bedwetting when riding a prick lala"

"Yes! One hundred percent for you. Hahahhaha" I laughed satisfiedly at his pajamas face. Shame to remember those memories.

"Udah deh Na! This serious. Even tipping back on the past again" the pouting cieee. Hehe.

"Any! My stomachache. Just dickin!" I still manage to stop laughing.

"I seriously know Ren. Convince myself is this guy in front of me Rendi? I know that Rendi is brave. Not giving up before the war"

"That's another story" Rendi ruffled her own hair.

"Who the hell is that girl? Can make my best friend this mess of his own. Which faculty?"

"FKIG"

"Well, one faculty dong equals me. What's-her-name? Maybe I know" I said enthusiastically.

"He is beautiful and also kind. Now he's near me too, and he's...." Joints make the heart of the child so tense. Where by the way rich MC who read the winner nominee again.

"I've actually loved it for a long time...."

Uh! Dumbly.

The girl who had long been assessed by Rendi. I have known dong for a long time.

That girl is FKIP's daughter, beautiful, kind, and she's now near Rendi.

Don't-don't...

"You like me, don't you Ren?! I didn't know you were rich all this time. I think you are sincerely equal to me. So you forgot our promise? Friendship without involving the heart?!" My words are passionate.

The plot!

"Aw! How is my disentile? Worship jenong later!" My misery.

Because, without cue he immediately nyentil my forehead. He's a boy, his fingers are so big. Hard again nyentilnya.

"The end of your talk is slipping! People haven't finished talking, they've been cut, too. Anyway yes, I also think hundreds of times if you want to like the ginian model girl!" He said while pointing at my forehead.

"Yes, the characteristics are similar to me. I've known for a long time, the girl is beautiful, the son of FKIP, is now near you. Who else if not-"

"Salma"

"What!!!" I was shocked to hear the name he called to cut my words.

Crazy one! Rendi likes Salma! Since when did his taste get so high? Choose ukhti-ukhti rather than sexy girls who spread thighs here and there.

"If Salma's a girl obviously heavy in her heart. Especially the rival like.." I shut up. Not going to continue my words.

"Alif" huh? Rendi also thought that Alif and Salma were close?

"We are the same Na. Both got love one hand" he said melas.

"Wait around! How does that mean?" Clarify. Rendi also knew that I liked Alif.

"Not to be smart, don't know that! How long have we been doing this? From kindergarten to this, it's easy to know who you like"

"Yes yes. I like Alif" I finally confessed.

"What a slice are we Ren?" Rendi nodded in agreement.

"What can I do"

"But you have no intention to tell Salma?"

"What do you try?"

"Yes, you don't want to be alone"

"Today, too. But then first. Mentally clumsy first" I can't force Rendi. If his heart is not ready to accept rejection.

Now me and Randy are both silent. At least by telling each other we can feel a little relieved.