UNEQUAL
17

. Tio looked uneasy at his sister's current state. In the car, Tio several times turned to Arisa who was leaning limp, only the blink of her eyes seemed to move.

"Sir. isn't sister's appointment Sunday?" Arisa's asking broke the silence.

"Do you think seeing your condition like this, brother isn't worried."

"But I can't bear Sein waiting for me."

"Think of yourself Aris. Don't think of anyone else."

"Thinking about myself would be futile if I died brother. So I want my time not to be wasted before I-"

"Why are you? In your mind you just die. Have you ever thought about healing? How I feel, how Raisa feels, dad, mom, now Rayyan, Sein, and the mama too. They will be sad if they lose you. You said you didn't want any sadness when you left, Aris's bullshit wouldn't have any feelings other than sadness if faced with loss and loss. You already know what it's like to be left behind by someone you love. So you should rethink how sad we are here if you leave."

Arisa was silent considering her brother's words. It's true, it hurts if left by someone we love very much. Nothing hurts more than that.

. "Arisa hurts what Rayyan is." Ask your mother after Seina falls asleep.

"I don't know. But his friend said he had a severe stomach disease." Rayyan replied, glaring at the mobile phone he held. Rayyan frowned when pressing a picture frame printed on one of her contact names.

"One of them has a serious illness. And the other has immunity and good health. So his family considers that a healthy child, his health need not be doubted. So they focus more on treating the sick child. And leave all the necessities and everything to take care of the healthy child to his caretaker." Mother said while recalling the old incident.

"Then, what happened to the child who had the disease? Has he been sick until now?" Rayyan's question was filled with curiosity.

"What Risa? Seeing his condition, Risa could be a child who suffers from the disease. What I was thinking. It is also impossible if Risa still has a severe disease. I hope I guessed wrong." Rayyan muttered roughly his head.

"You why Aray? You think about Arisa? You likey?"

"Ish mother why? After all, if I like him, he doesn't like me." Rayyan leaned her body with her mind still focused on Arisa.

"Raisa is also a pretty and nice girl right?" Ask your mother while taking one orange, then peel it slowly. Occasionally glanced at his eldest son who looked dreamy.

"Yes.. mother asked, but the one who was invited to speak was daydreaming." Said my mother in a complaining tone. Rayyan woke up from her daydream.

"Eh? Bun-mama asked what?" Faintly Rayyan remembered the question that was thrown from the mother, but attached only the name of Risa and the word beautiful.

"I-iya mother was right. Risa is beautiful and kind. No wonder you like it too." Mother frowned, then laughed a little at the answer that missed her question.

"You like Risa, just say it. Before anyone precedes you."

"Huh?" Rayyan felt clueless with my mother's words. Why do you think you like Arisa.

"How long have you been a mother's child? You think it's only been two or three years? You think you can't see your different attitude towards Arisa. Even mother asked Raisa, and your answer was Arisa. Does that not prove enough?" It looks Rayyan misbehaved and nervous to find questions and statements from the mother. Rayyan scratched her head and smiled at her mother without answering and giving an explanation.

"But mother? Am I gonna get laid?"

"Why are you asking like that?"

"Yaaa usually if fellow business partners, to strengthen ties and cooperation, they always make the reason for the matchmaking of his children. Will I experience it too? Are you gonna match me to a girl I don't know?" Mommy just laughed a little at the consecutive questions from Rayyan.

"Your mother's question has not been answered. You've dared to ask back to mom."

"Sorry mother. Aray's already sassy." Mother smiled and then took a long breath.

"When Rahma gave birth to Tio, your father and Yugito talked about the problem. If we had a daughter, we'd have a match with Tio. But for years she waited, and you were born. So, the match changed. You may be dating her daughter who is only a few months old from your age. But you don't think, her daughter is twins. Maybe you'll be betrothed to the first princess. And the mother herself doesn't know who her brother and sister are between Raisa and Arisa." Mother sighed heavily after explaining that. Fear if Rayyan refuses and leaves the house because she does not want to be betrothed.

"If I liked her sister?"

"Hemmm do you like her sister?"

"Mother.this is if." Rayyan snorted in annoyance.

"Yes, well, mom was wrong. It's all right. Mother follow your decision. But you need to talk to your father so there won't be any misunderstandings."

"All right, mother."

"So?" Tempta mother looked hopefully at Rayyan.

"What mother. I'm just asking."

"really? If you like it, you'll respect it."

"Yes, yes, it's up to you."

. On Saturday, at 9am, as usual, Arisa brought a bag of flowers and down every mound of earth that had been attached to a tombstone and lined up neatly in the tomb.

"Ali Ramadhan" the name written clearly on the tombstone that one year ago became a no-man's name.

"After sprinkling water and flowers, Arisa slipped a prayer for the lover who was no longer by her side.

Arisa moved and was about to step.

"Are you always alone?" Ask someone behind her and surprise Arisa.

"Aray?" Arisa's forehead is wrinkled to find the figure who last night came to her dream.

"What meda?" Ask Arisa again.

"Accompanying. Didn't we promise?"

"Ah, forget it. Now I want to take you to my house. Sein' waiting for you." Rayyan grabbed Arisa's hand.

"But Aray, I have an appointment with Tio's brother."

"Just a second. After that, I promise I'll take you to your brother."

"But....."

"Son?" Call an old woman with a teenager aged about 15 years approached the two.

"Mother..." Arisa swiftly kissed the hand that did not become her father-in-law.

"You still here?" Ask mom again.

"Only once a week ma'am. Every holiday." Arisa smiled. Mother glanced at Rayyan who was now exactly a little behind Arisa. Rayyan smiled as she lowered her head politely greeting the mother. In her head was wondering who was the old mother who was very familiar with Arisa? Arisa even called her mother. And who was the teenager who glanced at him cynically, it seemed that he did not like Rayyan.

"This is mbak's girlfriend?" Gilang, Rama's brother. Arisa turned to Rayyan who was staring at her as if talking 'answer yourself' then Arisa looked at Gilang nervously.

"Bu-not. He's a friend of mbak's." Answer Arisa

"Are you nervous? Really yes mbak?" The cynical glance was not usually shown Gilang to Arisa. Arisa realizes that Gilang does not like the man behind her. Butwhy?

"Did you say it's the same? Are you angry with me?"

"Engga. Missed ga angry. It's just..."

"Son.." said the mother grabbed Arisa's misbehaved hand.

"That's it. You no longer need to come here. You should be able to explain Rama. I want to see you happy, son. You must go back to receiving someone who loves you." Arisa was speechless, throwing a clear smile that was a forced smile.

"Mother could be my sister-in-law again. Bang Dimas is still single, handsome again. Plus a personal doctor, right? Why not be mbak?" Cetus Gilang seemed to ignore the existence of Rayyan.

"Disappear.." Mom's lyrics.

"Yes, sorry mom." Delik Gilang then returned a glance at Rayyan.

"Mom... Aris has business. So Aris first. Sorry ma'am." Said Arisa kissing mother's hand while saying goodbye.

Arisa passed after shuffling Gilang's hair which continued to frown. Rayyan aligned her steps with Arisa.

"Who?" Rayyan asked curiously.

"My parents." Arisa answered briefly.

"So you're getting married to that doctor?" Rayyan's question made Arisa laugh.

"No. Me and Dimas are just patients and doctors."

"Then?"

"Hmmm"

In front of the car, the two no longer spoke.

"Array.." Rayyan looked at Arisa who was looking down.

"You sick again?" Rayyan began to worry. Arisa shook her head slowly but reluctantly raised her face.

"What's wrong?"

"Sorry Aray. I have business with Brother Tio in 30 minutes."

"In other words, you can't-"

"I beg your pardon.I don't mean to upset you or make Sein wait for me. I promise you when I get back, I'll go straight to Sein."

"Come home?" Rayyan frowned at the word. Especially when Arisa's sorry face is pulling the end of her hoodie arm.

"All right. I understand. But don't go too long. I'll be worried for sure." Arisa nodded despite not understanding what Rayyan said.

Arisa grew increasingly clueless and her eyes widened when Rayyan suddenly kissed her forehead.

"Wherever you go, don't forget there's someone waiting for you to come home." Rayyan said with a hand rubbing Arisa's cheek that had been wet from tears.

Arisa releases Rayyan's hoodie, then turns around and enters Tio's car with Mang Ujang driving. Arisa's powerless to turn to Rayyan who was watching her pass away.

"Where are you really going?" rayyan asked herself without getting any answers.

. Arisa approaches Tio who is waiting for her at the airport. His steps were heavy when he recalled Rayyan's face as he left, without telling or just saying goodbye. What does that warm kiss mean? What does Rayyan do when she's close to a girl? Maybe he wasn't the only one who got the kiss.

"You daydreaming?" Tio asked when tired of seeing Arisa who kept silent.

"Do mom and dad know?" Arisa asked without an answer from Tio.

- connected.