"With whom?" Abra placed the bowls of hot porridge on the table. The sweet aroma of the peanut mixture combined with coconut milk tantalized the senses. "Here, Pa. Angga." Maureen pulled out one of the chairs from under the table for Angga to sit on, but he fell to the floor because he was too nervous. Maureen had to cover her mouth with both hands, holding back the laughter that might be heard until Angga actually sat in the chair. Where was Angga's optimistic attitude in front of the house? "Angga, whos for Maureen?" asked Aya, who took off her apron after making sure the tray containing the arrangement of layer cake pieces was safe on the table. "Mama, I see. I just met you and I'm already being interrogated." Maureen sounded pretentious, but she was relieved to find that her mother's anger was no longer audible. It was as if nothing big had happened before. "Have you eaten?" Aya moved one of Abra's bowls in front of Angga. "It's still afternoon, Aunty." Almost refusing, Angg
"Is it too soon?" Angga walked backwards to face Maureen who kept waving a smile for him along the pedestrian area after they finished dinner at one of the fringe stalls near Maureen's house.Maureen wouldn't have known about the fried rice cart vendor that stopped by the roadside if Angga hadn't told her. The queue was great, as was the taste they got when they ate together amidst the noisy vehicles passing by.Angga did not promise luxury, but rather the togetherness they could live together."You said that you wanted to give me a normal dating style." Maureen chewed on the crackers she took from the plastic bag Angga had bought for them separately from their fried rice. "They even asked for an engagement as soon as possible to cover up the issue."She just didn't expect the avoided relationship concept to come sooner through a man she had just met. For Maureen, Angga is an unpredictable variable in data statistics, a possibility that appears without knowing whether it brings profit
"Congrats, Bro!" An unexpected reaction from Ben. His calmness was sometimes frightening and unpredictable, but this time Angga's best friend just finished his drink and looked at the drab crowd.Angga, who had put on a serious face, chuckled at the direction of Ben's gaze. "I thought you would be jealous."Somehow they always got stuck liking the same woman even though they thought she wasn't on their bucket list at all."Not yet." Ben looked down, eyeing the full glass the bartender had just slid in front of him. He took a sip of soda and lime-flavored syrup in between conversations. "I can't help it, I have no feelings for her other than sympathy. It's like seeing Dera, but she's not Dera.""I can understand. Dera was quite aggressive back then too." Angga's glass was empty, but the empty space inside seemed to highlight old memories. Hearts that were never spoken to.He had known Dera longer, being her shield whenever she was unable to face the bullies in junior high school. The D
"Still not done yet?" Maureen continued to complain about Angga's activities, who still felt comfortable moving from one equipment to another in the gym they visited. She herself just stuck to the treadmill, ran a little on the track, and then followed Angga's choices with a limp.Taking too long off from physical exercise had an effect on her breath and belly. Maureen felt insecure next to Angga who seemed to be deliberately wearing a sleeveless T-shirt, especially when pulling down the handle of one of the tools, the man's shoulders formed impressive bulges."Just a light workout."Light? Maureen snorted in annoyance. She could see how the amount of weight Angga used exceeded Maureen's body weight."Tired, you know." Maureen sat on the back support for sit-ups while resting her hands on her chin, watching every bead of sweat forming on the man's temples.Angga looked so wet and focused, just as he reached the end of the struggle and spilled the entire warmth on Maureen's deepest poi
"Where?" Maureen looked around in various directions, then Angga laughed.Angga did see the man who seemed to be interested in Maureen a few times, but it was impossible to bring two people together who were not supposed to be together. Maureen had promised to try to be with him and Angga would not waste the opportunity."Miss him?" Angga wiped the sweat from his forehead, pretending to go to the men's locker room.Obviously Maureen couldn't possibly catch up with him in the crowd. She could only try to keep calling Angga's name despite the embarrassment of being heard by many people who might be in there."I can't possibly think of another guy, Angga!" Maureen became annoyed with herself, wondering why she would embarrass herself by explaining. The problem was, time could not be turned back. "Please, don't be such a girl!"Usually, it was men who would plead with her. Normally, Maureen would choose to leave rather than beg, but why with Angga was she doing the unnecessary?"What the
"I'll be right there!" said Serena as Maureen waited for the bag she had requested from the shop assistant to be prepared. Maureen nodded quickly and then opened the screen of the phone in her hand to update her social media accounts. She occasionally took photos and even did live broadcasts to promote the brands of the stores she visited. When the camera panned to someone in the background, Maureen immediately ended the live broadcast and observed the figure she recognized as the wife of Darren Pratama. At first, Maureen smiled sarcastically at the elegant style that she thought was too haughty for a woman smaller than her. "Hi, Aunty!" Maureen greeted first when Iqlima turned her head. Disguising her cynicism, Maureen smiled kindly as she realized she was in a public place. Iqlima smiled briefly without answering. Her haughty behavior was apparent as she passed Maureen and grabbed a silver chrome-plated gray handbag from the display case while calling out to another shop assista
"What's this about?" asked Maureen after braving the security guards using the excuse of still being related to Darren and not needing an appointment. Besides, she doubted he'd be that busy when it came to the end of work.Even a meeting that is usually arranged based on priorities can still be punctuated by the fulfillment of desires like when the man locked her up, let alone just a momentary meeting. That's why Maureen gets so angry when Darren breaks his promise and seems happy with a family he doesn't have.She is shown Matthew's notification that sends a snippet of Darren's message along with all kinds of expletives written there without bothering to delete it. Darren must know that his decision to pursue Maureen is too late.Darren eased his back against the back of the bench, resting his forefinger on his chin as he laughed lightly. "I'll take the challenge from your future fiancé.""Uncle!" To Maureen, Darren's decision was the craziest thing she had ever heard. "Do you realiz
"Who is this?"Maureen barely recognized the beautiful figure that greeted her. Unlike the photo Angga showed her, Resti's curly hair looked straight and smooth. Without her glasses, Angga's sister could have charmed any man."Is there a fencing?" asked Maureen. She regretted that she hadn't had time to groom herself or brush her hair. However, it seemed like Angga's sister didn't really care."Maybe, wait a minute, he is back home." Resti glanced at the analog watch on her left hand. The woman's stature did not suggest any resemblance to Angga who looked tall and large. Maybe as tall as Iqlima."Oh, I see." Maureen thought, when Angga's shift was over, she could meet the man right away. It turned out that she had to swallow bitterness for a while. There were too many loose ends that needed to be clarified."Want to wait inside?" asked Resti as she moved the door, making room to walk through.It's true, Maureen needs to take a break. After shopping and meeting Darren, she hadn't had a
"Did you choose to settle here?" This was Maureen's question. I've gotten to know her better since moving to this country. Maybe a few blocks apart, but close enough to do our weekly shopping together."Ben said he had some business, so I guess his offer for me to stay here until graduation wasn't a bad choice," I explained as I pushed our shopping trolley into the trunk of the car, while Maureen looked tired from pushing the babies' stroller."Yeah..., I think your choice isn't bad. I can have someone to talk to too while you guys aren't back yet." Her intonation was clearly hopeful.For me who barely had any friends, moving around more than expressing what I felt, being friends with Maureen was a luxury. She was quite chatty, and I barely had anything to talk about other than responding to her."The twins really enjoy sleeping ...." I glance at the presence of Maureen's babies. Boys.I thought Maureen had a special relationship with Ben, but she ended up marrying Angga. I guess I wa
"Are we really moving there together?" Rena questioned after seeing the e-ticket I had on my phone screen. Well, that was a bit of a surprise. "It depends on how long you want to stay there." Since the visa Rena applied for was also for non-immigrants, it was valid only during the student exchange. If she wanted to extend it as a tourist or even stay, I wouldn't mind. In fact, for the time being, it might be better for Rena to take a vacation or find something that isn't tiring. The previous incident that took away our future child sometimes made Rena shed tears. "How are you doing?" Rena asked again. She continued to fix the toga I was wearing. Even though there was no departmental photo session and it was okay to take off all the graduation gear attached to my body. The weather lately has been in favor of taking off my clothes. "Which job is it?" I moved closer to Rena's side, looking at the photos of the camera she had just taken from the tripod, used earlier to capture moments
"Any hurt?" I asked after finding Rena pinched between the passenger bench and the protective airbag. At least I could still breathe a sigh of relief knowing Rena could still walk out after the collision just now.I saw Satya still on the driver's seat, pressed against the door next to him that was wrenched in. He was unconscious.Maybe someone could say that I was really reckless in crashing the motorcycle into the car carrying Rena, and the four-wheeled vehicle swerved to avoid me. It was partially destroyed by the road divider.Me? Well, I'm fine with a little friction on the skin of my arm from being dragged on the asphalt when I let go of the motorcycle I was riding earlier. After all, the injuries I got before were much more. All of this... is nothing."Ben? How could you...," Rena was holding my waist, more like she was pulling my arm to rest on her shoulder, "you still have to need rest?""Think of yourself, Rena!" I refused, feeling that she was much more in need of help."Me?
A few months in a second-floor room in a Somerville neighborhood, about an hour away from campus by public transportation, was not so foreign to me. It was like sharing a house with strangers without interfering in each other's private affairs.Shared common spaces, with private rooms. Don't forget the private bathroom for me. It's a bit more expensive than the rent for other residents' rooms, but it's better than having to wait in line at a crucial time.This morning I was surprised by the arrival of a thousand white roses, the delivery courier said. It's a good thing they weren't real roses, or I would have acted like I had a cold all day.Who knows about my allergy other than close friends? Uncle Darren has 'almost killed me' many times for giving me real flowers.By the way about Uncle Darren, I offered him to redo our relationship completely from scratch. As a good cousin, not based on desire that I know is hard to resist.Who could resist a Maureen?Okay, call me narcissistic. A
"We need to talk, Uncle." Maureen almost pushed the blanket off her legs when Darren nodded. In his opinion, they needed to settle their dangling relationship outside of the decisions of the people around them. They had the freedom to decide their future regardless of the stigma attached to Maureen snatching Darren. "Yeah, we have to," Darren smiled instantly even though the airline's departure announcement seemed to delay them, "but later. See ya." The man signaled his departure by pointing outside. Of course Maureen clearly knew she had to wait for Darren to meet her. However, the flight--which she had read on the internet--lasting for over eight hours until arriving at the transit airport further strengthened her curiosity. "Shit!" There wasn't the slightest hint of enjoyment in any of the amenities that could divert his curiosity. The airline's signature main course reminded her of eating with Angga even though it was served in small portions. The expensive wine offered by th
"Yes, Grandpa gave me a first class ticket. It's really cool, isn't it?" After going through the check-in section, Maureen dragged her suitcase through the corridor directed by the attendant to be placed on the flight baggage entry rail while continuing her phone call to a friend on the other side. "Not really. I've only ever been on private jets."It wasn't just a different island, but also a different continent. Serena's friend had already left for another country."I and Angga just let it flow. We don't have to get married quickly." Maureen's steps quickened as she looked at the white gold band-like watch around her left wrist. Her departure time was just around the corner. She needed time to relax her waist for a moment."Are you sure he can stay with you so far away?" Serena's question had been a long consideration for Maureen to maintain a relationship with Angga until it needed to be discussed.Angga's time-consuming profession sometimes made Maureen doubt if the man was only o
"What, huh?" Angga tapped each of Maureen's fingers that hung in the air as they grasped each other, comparing the same shape that differed in size. "My family is not very close." Every time they met face to face, they would smile at each other, considering the accident as part of fate. "Is that how you get along?" Maureen recalled how Erlan, who was also a doctor under her father's position, could talk as light as a feather when they met. There was indeed a conversation that was avoided, and Maureen's curiosity led to questions until Angga, who was usually to the point, pulled out the trump card he wanted. "Well, just to say hello. Not more." Angga straightened his back, placing it against the glass wall of the room as he looked at the dark sky outside. Clear without clouds. "So, there's not much we can invite from your family?" asked Maureen, looking for ways to pry information using the alibi of their wedding needs. Angga's narrow eyes widened in amazement. "You said you haven
"M.J. Abraham...," said the man who made Angga turn to the clapping hands nearby, "it's Angga's surprise, ihuh?" A couple of people Angga knew greeted him in turn, then Resti joined their small circle. Maureen reflexively followed Angga even though she felt she had never seen that two people before, she was a bit surprised by the title the man had given them as if they had known each other before. "Wow, Uncle Erlan and Aunt Iren came too!" Resti offered two glasses of drinks on trays carried by the waiters and was immediately greeted with a look of friendliness. Perhaps confused, or rather observing, Maureen had to take a quick look at each face near her in turn. There was no falseness that came to her from Angga's life, including the family that came. They were even newly reunited. "Can't word on your candidate, here." The woman called Aunt Iren chimed in. Although the knee-length dress she wore was formal with long sleeves and no special accents, she had her own charisma behind
A dark SUV pulled up in front of a spacious ironwood house, dropping off a pair of people who seemed perfectly matched in both appearance and body language. The sturdy old building in front of them was surrounded by a heavy guard, reinforcing the notion that an important event was taking place inside."Do we have to come like this?" asked the woman, adjusting the skirt of her evening blue satin dress to cover her ankles. A headpiece of similar material was pinned with a simple silver hoop, adding to the expensive nature of the overall look.She regretted the impression of a family that had to look perfect at all events despite the fact that they were going through a long war of contention that had yet to be resolved. From legal settlements regarding the division of joint property during marriage, to custody matters and the accompanying financing.Iqlima could use the alibi of Darren's infidelity if he still insisted on taking their three children from her side. It wasn't just snippets