183 Days of Being a Lover
23. Question Mr. Ferdi

After dinner they sat in the living room. Rahma made tea for Mr. Ferdi and Rendi. And serve it on the table along with the cake.

“Drink the tea, Ren!” said Arini's mother.

“Thank you, Aunt.” Mr. Ferdi and Rendi drank the tea that had been served.

“Where do you work?” ask Mr. Ferdi while putting a cup on the table.

“I work in a company owned by my grandfather,” replied Rendi.

“Oh, are you self-employed? Auntie thinks you're ASN just like Rahma,” said Ms. Arini.

“Iya, Aunt,” replied Rendi.

“Your grandfather's company is engaged in what field?” ask Mr. Ferdi.

“In hospitality field. My grandfather's company has several hotels,” replied Rendi.

“How about your parents? From earlier I heard only your grandfather continued,” said Mr. Ferdi.

“My father died when I was five years old. I was raised by my grandfather and mother,” replied Rendi.

“Mama you don't work?” ask Mr. Ferdi.

“No. My mother is a regular housewife,” replied Rendi.

Mr. Ferdi drinks his tea back. Rendi felt tense facing Mr. Ferdi.

“You met where?” asked Mr. Ferdi after drinking tea.

“I know Rahma from my grandfather. It was my grandfather who introduced me to Rahma,” replied Rendi.

Mr. Ferdi turned to Rahma.

“How did you get to know his grandfather Rendi?” ask Mr. Ferdi.

“Begini, Pa.” Rahma recounts the beginning of the meeting with Pak Sultan.

Mr. Ferdi and Ms. Arini listen to Rahma's story from start to finish.

“So the story,” Rahma said after she finished telling the story.

“What's your relationship now?” Mr. Ferdi stared intently at Rahma and Rendi.

“Papa. Don't be!” whispered Mother Arini. He reminded Mr. Ferdi not to be harsh on every male guest who came to see their daughter.

Rendi and Rahma looked at each other. Rahma felt bad for Rendi with her papa question. Rendi smiled at Rahma. Quietly said,”It's okay.”

Rendi turned back to face Mr. Ferdi. Mr. Ferdi was still staring intently at Rendi.

“We are just friends, Om,” replied Rendi.

Mr. Ferdi looked towards Rahma. “It is so, Rahma?” ask Mr. Ferdi.

“Iya, Pa,” replied Rahma.

“You're not lying to Papa, are you?” ask Mr. Ferdi with full of prints.

“No, Pa.” Rahma shook her head.

“Rahma doesn't want to date, Sir,” says Rendi.

Mr. Ferdi looked back at Rendi.

“Then how did you?” ask Mr. Ferdi with full of prints.

“I want to know Rahma closer. If we were to mate, we would be into a more serious relationship. If not, we become ordinary friends. To maintain Rahma's good relationship with grandfather,” replied Rendi.

Hearing Rendi's answer Pak Ferdi's face began to soften. Rendi breathed a sigh of relief.

“Taste the cake first.” Arini's mother thrust the cake plate towards Rendi.

“Thank you.” Rendi took a piece of cake and ate the cake.

“Tok you home with Rendi?” ask Mr. Ferdi to Rahma.

“Ia, Pa,” replied Rahma.

“What time?” ask Mr. Ferdi.

Rahma turned to Rendi.

“Pak Rendi's. What time do we leave tomorrow?” ask Rahma.

Rendi chewed the cake until the cake in her empty mouth just spoke.

“Terasu. What time do you want to go home?” answer Rendi.

“How, anyway? Asked instead asked back,” said Rahma with annoyance.

“Ya. It's up to you to leave at what time,” said Ibu Arini.

“Ma, if the gift shop is open at what time?” ask Rahma.

“Why? Would you like to buy souvenirs?” ask Arini's mother.

“Iya. Rahma wants to buy souvenirs for Aunt Claudia, Grandpa, friends at the office and children boarding,” replied Rahma.

“Normally nine o'clock is open,” said Ibu Arini.

“Ya already, we leave at nine,” Rahma told Rendi.

“Siap,” Reply Rendi.

At half-nine, Rendi went back to the hotel.

“Be careful, don't get rough again!” message Rahma when Rendi is about to get in the car.

“Hopefully not stray. If you go back here again. Who knows can stay here,” said Rendi.

“Papa definitely forbid Pak Rendi to stay here,” Rahma said.

“If you can't stay here, sleep in the car only,” said Rendi.

Rendi got into the car and opened the car glass. He started his car engine.

“See you tomorrow. Assalamualaikum.” Rendi runs her car while waving to Rahma.

“Waalaikumsalam,” replied Rahma.

***

The next day at half-nine in the morning Rendi had reached Rahma's house. When Rendi comes Rahma is ready to go. The travel bag has been placed in the living room.

“That's your bag?” Rendi pointed to the travel bag placed in the living room.

“Iya,” replied Rahma.

“I put it to the car, yes?” ask Rendi.

“Iya, may,” replied Rahma.

When Rendi was about to bring Rahma's bag suddenly Ibu Arini came.

“Rendi, breakfast first! Aunty has prepared her breakfast,” said Ibu Arini.

“Thank you, Auntie. Had breakfast at the hotel,” replied Rendi.

Rendi carries Rahma's bag to the car. Not long after that, Randy came.

“Depart now?” ask Rendi.

“Iya,” replied Rahma.

Rahma heads to the living room to call her parents. Not long after, Rahma's parents came to the living room.

“You leaving now?” ask Mr. Ferdi.

“Iya, Om. Rahma wants to shop for souvenirs first,” replied Rendi.

“Be careful driving it!” mr. Ferdi's message.

“Good, Om,” replied Rendi.

Rendi greeted Mr. Ferdi and Ms. Arini.

“Assalamualaikum,” says Rendi and Rahma.

“Waalaikumsalam,” replied Mr. Ferdi and Ms. Rahma.

Rahma and Rendi get out of the house and walk to Rendi's car. Rendi unlocks the car with the remote then Rendi and Rahma get into the car. Rendi starts the car engine. Before the car drove Rahma waved her hand to her parents. The car left Rahma's parents' house.

Before Rendi and Rahma left Kuningan, they stopped by the gift shop first. As usual Rahma bought quite a lot of souvenirs and bought snacks for the road. Rendi follows Rahma while carrying a shopping cart. When Rahma was about to pay for her groceries as usual Rendi offered with a magic card to the cashier.

Rahma sighed as Rendi thrust out her magic card.

“Once in a while I pay,” whispered Rahma so that her voice would not be heard by others.

“Let your salary money run out to buy souvenirs continuously,” replied Rendi while whispering.

Rendi's words were right. The nominal expenditure is more than one hundred and fifty thousand. Although Rahma has a decent salary and benefits but still he must be smart to manage expenses. Moreover, he often went out of town so he had to buy souvenirs often.

Finished shopping for souvenirs they immediately left Kuningan city to Cipali toll road.

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