Between Two Hearts
Action Rania 2

Time has shown at half eleven o'clock in the evening. It's time for the 'angkringan' cafe to close. The workers have cleaned everything up, neat. One by one they go home. Same with Jiho. He's on the parking lot, complete with his jacket and helmet.

"Yahoo...! Wait...!" a woman ran up to him. Yes, it's Rania.

"Jiho, can I come home with you?" ask Rania expectantly.

Jiho just frowned.

"I don't have a motor. Please, take me home. Please.." said Rania again with a pleading tone while cupping her palms.

Jiho looked around, it was true that there was no Rania motorbike in the parking lot.

"You wouldn't let a woman come home alone tonight, would you?" added again.

Jiho still made no sound, he just let out a long sigh. He wanted to go home early to meet Tiara. Why is he always being bullied by this woman. Actually he felt annoyed, but on one hand he also felt sorry for Rania.

"If there's anything with me, you're responsible. Because you let a woman go home by herself!" rania is a bit dirty. He walked away from Jiho. Ah, it's just a trick, because Rania believes Jiho won't have the heart to let her alone.

"Wait, Rania!" sahut Jiho later. Rania paused her steps, she smiled smugly triumphantly. He turned towards Jiho.

"Come, up. For tonight I'll take you home" Jiho said later.

Rania's smile expanded perfectly.

"Please Jiho," he said as he rode his motorbike.

Jiho propelled his bike at a fast speed. Rania hugged Jiho tightly and leaned her head on Jiho's back. Rania smiled, along the way she felt happy when else she could be like this with Jiho. Does it have to be this way so that Jiho will comply with his request?

"Jihos... Jiho stop, Jiho!" rania shouted while patting Jiho on the shoulder. Jiho stopped the speed of the motor.

"What's wrong?" jiho asked while slightly looking back.

"Later stop by first at the front minimarket yes, please..."

"It's late, Rania. I have to go home..."

"This once in a while, please.." Rania sulked in a clear tone.

"Okay, but don't be long" Jiho's back.

Rania smiled with satisfaction. He hugged Jiho back, actually he wanted to linger with the man. He was looking for a reason to stay with her.

Jiho drove the bike again and stopped in front of the minimarket, according to Rania's request.

"Here you go, come down. Please don't wait a long time, I'll wait here" Jiho said with emphasis.

"Yes, okay..."

Rania got down from the motorbike and passed to the minimarket.

Almost twenty minutes Jiho waited for Rania, but she did not return. He's really upset about it.

A glance flashed on Tiara's worried face waiting for her. "Ah, sorry Aa dear... Tonight comes home late" Jiho said in his heart.

Before long Rania came out with some groceries.

"Udah?" ask Jiho.

"Yes, sorry for a while" said Rania.

"Where's your house?"

"Yos Sudarso Street,"

"Now don't stop by again. If not, I'll get you down in the middle of the road" Jiho said in a threatening tone.

"Yes... Yeah, well.." answered Rania a little disappointed.

Jiho turned his bike back on. Basically Jiho had paved his way, he easily found Rania's house.

Jiho stops his bike in front of Rania's house. The girl got off her motorbike.

"Thank you, Jiho." said Rania with a sweet smile.

Without saying anything to Rania, Jiho darted away. He had a glance at the clock that was circular in his hand, the time showing eleven at 23:40 p.m.

***

'I'd better sleep for a while' Tiara said in her heart.

He closed his eyes that felt so heavy, but really the two forgot to set off the alarm on his phone.

***

Jiho arrived home, after twenty-five minutes of travel. The clock in his hand was already pointing at 00.05 minutes.

He breathed a heavy sigh. "Tiara must have slept" he said.

Geck... Geck... Geck...

Jiho knocked on the door, there was no answer.

Geck... Geck... Geck...

He knocked on the door again. "Honey, this is Aa... Please open the door." Jiho said in a half-screaming tone.

Again there is no answer. "Ah, Tiara is asleep" he added in a weak tone.

He sat down at the door. Her body feels so tired. Without feeling his eyes were closed.

***

Tiara opened both eyes. He jumped in shock after seeing the clock on the wall showing at 01:00 in the morning. He looked around and Jiho did not come home yet.

'Ah, or maybe he's in front?' Tiara wondered in her heart.

Tiara flicked the window curtain. And... Right, there's Jiho's motor in front, and he's sitting by the door.

"Oh Allah, I fell asleep until I didn't hear him come home" he said regretfully.

Soon he opened the door. Jiho slept late, still wearing the jacket he wore when leaving.

"A... A.. wake up.." whispered Tiara in her ear. He was flinching, probably still asleep in his dreams. "A... A.. wake up.." he said again, this time with a louder tone. Tiara shook her body which looked tired.

He opened his eyes immediately, and blinked slowly to endure the drowsiness.

"Ah... Aa fell asleep here.." he said later.

"Let's go in A.." he continued.

"Yes dear... Aa enter the bike first," he continued. Tiara nodded. He feels guilty. Jiho fell asleep outside and he didn't know.

"A... Sorry.." said Tiara slowly. She immediately embraced her husband's body. There was a woman's perfume on her jacket. But Tiara still remains positive thinking.

"I overslept A, I'm sorry. I didn't hear Aa knock on the door." Tiara added.

"Dear, it's okay. You must be a soybean, right?" jiho answered while stroking his hair.

"Here you go, let's go to sleep again." she asked again.

Tiara nodded.

***

Early in the morning Tiara woke up and did her usual activities. He's cooking for breakfast. She had prepared coffee for him.

Tiara will wash the clothes. Suddenly...

"The brain." a small object fell out of the husband's jacket pocket.

'Who's lipstick?' Tiara wondered in her heart. Suddenly his heart hesitated. He kissed the jacket, it smelled like a woman's perfume, and there were red lips on it. Same color as the lipstick. I don't know why his heart hurts.

'Where was A Jiho last night?' tiara asked inwardly. I don't know why the clear grain was dripping on his cheek.

"Darling, are you awake?" ask Jiho who followed him to the back. Tiara was still dumbstruck where she sat, still with lipstick and a jacket in her hands. Somehow she suddenly stopped not doing her homework anymore.

Jiho smiled and approached him.

"This is what, A?" tiara asked with a trembling voice. Her tears were no longer stifled. "Where were you last night? Why are there lips on your jacket?" tiara asked again in need of an explanation.

Jiho hugged her tightly. She knew there was lipstick on her jacket. Turns out Rania was being sneaky, she did that on purpose, right?

"Darling, I'm sorry... Aa was wrong, last night Aa came home late because she sent Aa's friend home. Aa was feeling sorry because she didn't have a bike. Name's Rania. Aa has absolutely nothing to do with him. He's just a workmate. Aa also did not know why it could be in Aa's jacket. Aa really doesn't know that Rania did any of that. Please forgive me, baby... I promise you, I won't repeat this. Aa beg you, sorry Aa yes." said Jiho full of regrets. He really did not want to see his wife crying.