Ash White Romance
Meeting with Old Friends

Three Months Later

Ira was busy arranging flowers at her family's florist shop, assisted by two of her official employees. The flowers just came. There are tulib flowers, roses, orchids, and others. Flowers are one of Ira's favorites. For him, seeing the flowers is always pleasant, cool also seen by the eye. Just look, when her eye flower arrangement looks sparkling. Amazed.

After all, they rearranged the flower arrangement neatly. There is also a collection of works of Ira, namely the clothes of the design at school. There is a Muslim wedding dress, a party dress, a robe for work, until a daily robe. Everything is hung neatly with plastic coated wrapping.

Plus a pretty-beautiful veil, to Muslim equipment, such as socks, hand shock, snails or inside a hood, complete with accessories such as brooches made from patchwork. All of his own work.

So, now the flower shop has grown to also be a simple boutique, as his dream. So, when there are visitors, they also look at the clothes. There are also people interested in buying it. The soul of his art does flow from umminya who is also good at sewing. Since childhood, she has hardly ever bought clothes. Always be cornered by him.

As of today, there was a woman, about her age coming to the store. He seemed interested to see the clothes hanging neatly.

"Ehm, Ma'am, this dress is so pretty. Sold anyway? " praise the woman.

"Oh, yes thank you, Auntie. It's for sale, except for the wedding dress. Please look around first, "Ira replied while pointing at the wedding dress that was hung separately.

Her eyes seemed enthusiastic and interested in seeing the wedding dress. Observed in detail.

"Darling, why not sell it?" ask the woman.

"Yes, Aunt, for a memento because it's my first fashion design, "Ira replied politely.

"Oh so, keep the other clothes of your design as well?" ask again.

"Yes, Auntie, Ira replied.

"Great, very young you, can already design clothes. Where did you go to school?" ask the woman again.

"Emh, at Scholar High School, "Ira replied.

"Oh yeah, same then with Auntie's son. What class are you in?" ask again.

"Ehm, first grade, what's the name of Auntie's son, maybe I know?" ask Ira.

"Aunty's son is your upperclassman, because he's third grade. Her name is Rima Susanti, you know?" light of the woman.

'What is the name of someone I know, huh?' ask in the heart.

"Tante, is Aunt's son active in the Fashion Planning unit?" ask Ira curiously.

"Yes, he was the Chief Coordinator, "the woman replied.

"Well, there's no mistaking it, surely Brother Rima, "he cheered happily.

"It seems I know Auntie's son, deh. Know well. She's my senior in Fashion Planning too. I was pretty close to him. But I didn't know that Auntie was Kak Rima's mother, "excited Ira.

"Oh yeah, what's your name?" ask the woman.

Just as Ira was about to open her mouth to answer the woman's question, suddenly Linda, uminya approached the two.

"Well, it turns out that someone was talking, nih, "reproved Linda, making the two look at her.

For a moment Linda and the woman seemed to be staring, like they knew each other. Then unconsciously pointing at each other,

"Linda...?" guess the woman.

"Here...?" Linda guessed back.

Then the two hugged each other.

"God, long time ago we did not meet, yes. Since graduating high school we became separated and lost contact." asked Linda enthusiastically, after taking off her arms but still staring at each other.

"Oh yeah, this is my second son, his name is Ira. And Ira, this is Aunt Aini, Ummi's best friend from High School, but she's been separated after graduating from High School, " Linda's invited them to meet.

"Greetings, Aunt, "greet Ira politely.

"Together, son," he answered happily as he stroked his cheek.

"It's your house, huh? There's a shop too Just so I passed by, there's a flower shop. So, I stopped by here. Uh, it turns out you're the owner of this house and shop, anyway? I don't know, "ask Aini.

"Yes, let's sit down. Let her talk, "says Linda, and takes her to a seat near the one behind them.

Both of them sat there.

"Oh yes, Ira please make drinks and snacks for Aunt Aini, yes, " said Linda.

"Yes, Mi. Wait a minute, "answer Ira.

Soon Ira makes sweet tea for two people complete with snacks. Soon he returned with the treat, and placed it on the table in front of the chair.

"Please drink, Aunt, Ira want to continue the work first, yes, "Ira welcome while saying goodbye.

"Thank you, baby. You are kind and beautiful, deh," praised Aini, making her blush in embarrassment.

Ira hurried to continue her work of arranging flowers.

"How areyou? Where have you been all this time?" Ira asked to know.

Aini explained,

"After graduation, I chose to study in Yogyakarta. Just returned to this city after graduating from college and immediately got a soul mate You know who my husband is? He's our upperclassman, his name is Kak Ridwan, you remember, right? " obviously.

"Oh God, I can. Didn't you guys once have rich nemesis, fight only? " Linda tried to remember.

They both dissolve in memories of the past. Recall the days of High School.

The Flashback

Linda and Aini have been close friends since they first entered High School. Even sitting is always me. Incidentally from first to third grade both were always in the same class. All of that makes the two closer, as well as their families. Sometimes Linda likes to stay at Aini's house if her parents are out of town to accompany her. Or on the weekend. Or vice versa, Aini also often stay at Linda's house. Aini is an only child.

Their closeness is eventually transmitted to the parents. Linda calls Aini's mother with Mother's call, while Aini calls Linda's mother with Ummi.

Still remembered, since the first grade of High School there was an older brother of their class named Ridwan who always disturbed Aini. Makes Aini often upset, sometimes almost crying because of her ignorance. But Ridwan continued to tease him. There is no kapoknya.

Until finally Ridwan who has graduated from High School 3rd class, and continued to study in the city of Jakarta, following his two fathers who mutated to the capital. After that, the two separated. Aini also felt safe from Ridwan's disorder.

The two met again while studying at the same place. Coincidentally Ridwan has become an assistant lecturer, often replacing his main lecturer to teach if absent from attending. And Ridwan's ideals do want to be a lecturer. Being a lecturer assistant is a stepping stone before becoming a lecturer.

But Ridwan's attitude is no longer as ignorant as before. He jaims more often in front of his junior sisters, especially in front of Aini. So that his wife does not fall. Aini is safe from interference.

However, on the eve of graduation, Ridwan approaches her, and,

"Here, wait, can I talk to you for a second?" asked Ridwan while adjusting his breath because he ran out chasing Aini who was almost out of the campus gate, intending to go home.

"Oh, may, Brother. There is, huh?" aini replied, looking at her face.

"Ehm, uh, duh that, anu..." Ridwan looked nervous and misbehaved in front of Aini who was looking at him in wonder. For never having seen it so close in front of him. Especially if you remember the prank first. Ridwan's heart so pounding fast not because of.

"What's up, brother? How are you nervous?" ask Aini.

After successfully calming down, Ridwan finally continued his words, although his face still looks red with embarrassment, "Ehm, sorry if this is sudden. But I really want to say it. Um, but I was gonna ask you earlier, do you have a candidate?"

"Candidate? What candidate, huh?" aini asked back, still did not understand the direction of the class sister's conversation.

"May I mean, husband-to-be?" ridwan replied, still looking more nervous and her face reddened, mixed between shame and fear if Aini already had a prospective husband.

"Oh that, Aini hasn't thought of getting married, sister. Candidates do not exist yet" replied Aini.

Ridwan looks mangosteen.

"What's the matter, Kok Kak Ridwan wondered about that?" ask Aini again.

"Ehm, look, I'm sorry if this is too sudden. If Aini has no candidates, I want to propose to you. I'm graduating soon, I'll be graduating next month. After that, I want to apply to be a lecturer at this campus while continuing S2. Thank God you got a scholarship. But before that, I want to marry you first" Ridwan explained.

Aini looked surprised by the impromptu proposal. Not at all expected. Aini was silent for quite a while.

Finally, Aini replied, "I'm asking for time to think first, yes, Brother. Sorry, it's too sudden."

"Alright, please think carefully. I'm waiting for good news from you, " replied Ridwan.

Then the two separated.

Seeing Aini's reaction earlier, Ridwan felt suddenly afraid of being rejected. Especially when remembering his old behavior that often insults him. Though he was like that because he wanted to seek the attention of Aini who had stolen the attention and heart since the first time he saw her. Ridwan has fallen in love for the first time in a woman. Yes, Aini was his first love.

Ever since they were separated, Ridwan had never forgotten Aini. Until fate brings them back to this campus. When I first saw him again, of course Ridwan was happy. But he changed his attitude, not silly, not ignorant anymore. Replaced by being an assistant lecturer who is quite firm, even impressed killer, but still authoritative.

A week later, Ridwan returns to meet Aini to ask for answers. Seeing his efforts, Aini finally challenges Ridwan to meet his father to propose to him directly. Ridwan also met the challenge. The next day she visits Aini's house, meets her parents and proposes to her in person.

Seeing his earnestness, Aini finally accepted it. However, her parents requested that it be postponed first until Aini graduated college, staying two more years. Ridwan also accepted it. Trying to understand the requests of both parents.

During the sermon, the two still maintain the interaction between the two. Because both have understood the limits of interaction between men and women. Although both have promised to get married after Aini graduated from college. They behave as usual like teaching assistants and students. Or a senior with his junior.

Two years later, not long after Aini's graduation, Ridwan and his parents came to propose officially again. They came to visit Aini's parents' house. It was finally decided the next month they were married.

Flashback Off

"Oh, so that's the story. I don't think, yes. You finally married Ridwan. Want to wait until two years, "Linda responded to the story.

"Don't you, I didn't expect that Brother Ridwan would be my husband now either. After marriage, just knew that he used to be ignorant so actually just want to get close, look for attention, have liked it from the past, he said. Hadeuh, there's-there's just, yeah. No one thinks who our soul mate is. If you remember it was funny again. And it turns out who would have thought that your son also knew my son, you know, " said Aini.

"Oh yeah, your son went to school at Scholar High School too?" ask Linda.

"But my son is in third grade now. Had a chat, he said our children know each other equally active in the Fashion Tata unit. Her sewing intelligence must have dropped from you and Umi, huh? The clothes are nice, " said Aini.

"Well, it turns out the world is narrow, yeah. All this time we've been close but we both don't know, " Linda said.

"Oh yeah, how are Umi and Abi?" ask Aini.

Linda sadly told me, "Umi passed away three years ago. If Abi Alhamdulillah is still healthy, fit despite his age is above the head of 7. Still diligent sports, jogging."

"Innailaihi wa innailaihi roji. Oh sorry, I don't know. I made you sad, huh? I was sad, Umi was like my parents too, "Aini looks sad. His eyes looked bright, recalling his memories with Umminya Linda.

Finally, the two exchanged mobile numbers each other, so as not to lose contact again. Since then, the two have come back as close as they used to be.