
The arrival of Aldi that day made the sizzle rumors that had disappeared again blow. About the age of Ranum who is mature but has not been remarried into the conversation of the neighbors some time ago.
Plus Zaviyar who some time ago attended the closing ceremony of KKN students who had finished with activities in Ranum village made two camps that supported Ranum to choose his partner.
Although Zaviyar and Ranum had tried professionally when they met. However, some pairs of eyes like to catch the closeness between them. Until the wind blows bring news about the relationship of the two. And the news was getting louder after Zaviyar stopped by Ranum's house to meet Ratih Bu.
There are those who support Ranum close to Zaviyar, a young lecturer from the city of Heroes who became KKN's student guide. But, there are also those who say that the sweet girl is back close to Aldi who was once rumored to be marrying Ranum because of a friendship that is so familiar.
At school, some guardians and coworkers did not escape teasing him. Ranum only responded with a smile. Ms. Cici who also heard the rumour, invited Ranum to speak when there was free time.
“Bu, I know there are two?”
Indeed, when both or outside working hours, Bu Cici and Ranum will talk casually like this.
Ranum scrunched his forehead.
"Pak Zaviyar and Aldi" said Bu Cici.
“Bu Cici believe it?” ask Ranum.
“If you see Mr. Ranum and Mr. Zaviyar, it seems impossible. But if you remember Aldi .. friend of the old Bu Ranum right?”
“Yes, where else is Aldi?”
“Can be.”
“Can be? What could be?”
“Could be there are two candidates.”
Ranum just patted his forehead hearing his coworker's answer, then stroked his chest.
“Sabar, Num. Have a friend kayak gini patience," said Ranum to himself.
Ms. Cici who saw that giggled amusedly.
“Yes sorry, Mom. That's why I asked.”
“Sentence, Mom. I don't know about Aldi's feelings. I don't know how people can say that while I don't feel like there's anything with Aldi."
“Then, how about Aldi really like Bu Ranum?”
Ranum was silent, not knowing what to answer to Ms. Cici's question. Until they return with their own activities.
The time to go home from school arrives. Ranum and Bu Ratih walked side by side towards the house. Occasionally greet people who are relaxing in front of their homes. They entered the alley and passed some people who had just returned from the fields. Near her home, the mother and son greeted one of her neighbors who was sitting back with some of her family.
“So when is this, Mom?” say one of his neighbors.
“Do’akan ma'am, hopefully in a movement," replied Bu Ratih calm.
“Which should be the same, huh? Mr lecturer or school friend first?” other sahut.
“May Ranum be given the best, anyone later.”
Bu Ratih and Ranum immediately say goodbye to his neighbors to go home on the grounds of not praying dzuhur. They took the road to the house. Although still heard the whispers of his neighbors. But, they chose not to care and kept going.
When just entering the house, Ranum immediately sat on a chair in the middle room. He rested his body on the chair body by exhaling a rough breath. Ranum tried not to care about the words of people, which he thought of Mrs Ratih, his mother.
In the afternoon, Ranum and his mother gathered with relatives in one of his brother's houses lined with Ranum's house. They were joking along with a cute niece. Until some neighbors from the front of their house joined and started talking about the sharp-eyed girl.
"Mbak Ranum, how is this? Surely seneng ya snatched two handsome guys," chirped one of his neighbors.
No one's saying. Neither Ranum, Mrs Ratih, nor her other brother. Just a faint smile in response to the words of his neighbor.
"Wait what, Ma'am? Age is enough, too."
"Don't be too picky, Ma'am. Later there will be a spinster, you know," said another.
Ranum smiled again, only this time his smile looked different, bitter. Word by word that was thrown from the lips of his neighbor was quite heartbreaking. Although for them it was a joke, but different for Ranum. Those words are so sharp.
Ranum glanced at Bu Ratih, he knew his mother must have felt pain hearing him become the subject of conversation.
"Yes, someone wants to accept it, ma'am. Choose one, all saucy. Rarely you know, Ms Ranum it," other timpal no less painful.
***
When night came, and the two of them were relaxing in the living room. Ranum planned to say about his anxiety over the talk of people going to him on Bu Ratih. But, before his intention was realized, the ringing of the phone made him move from his seat and pick up the phone.
Greetings and greeting each other from the lips of both. Perhaps because the heart is already linked and the frequent communication between the two makes Zaviyar realize the change of Ranum's voice.
"What's wrong with you, Ra?" ask Zaviyar.
"It's okay, Mommy."
"Really?"
"Yes." Yeah."
"Don't lie, Ra. We rarely meet, but I know this time it's different for you."
Silent. Ranum did not chim in on Zaviyar's remarks.
"Ra, story."
Zaviyar remained calm in response to Ranum's story, he was still convinced by the girl's heart. Although there was a worry that he could not avoid.
"What are you, Ra?"
"What, Mas?"
"I'm sure you know what I mean."
I heard a breath from across the phone.
"I'll wait until you're absolutely sure" Zaviyar said.
"Mas .. sorry."
"It's okay. But, when that comes please tell me immediately. Soon I will propose to you," Zaviyar said.
Zaviyar's last words really made Ranum's chest feel tight. He should be happy when a dear man says that sentence. However, at this time it was so painful to find himself who had not yet decided on the beautiful shady-faced man.
Clear threads began to pool at the corners of his eyes, though invisible. But, the man across the phone seemed to understand exactly how Ranum was.
"Maas ...." Ranum's voice choked.
"Don't cry, Ra. I'm okay" said Zaviyar.
The phone connection was finally cut off with Ranum's heart increasingly unsettled. There was guilt lingering in his heart, he realized the sincerity of Zaviyar was so great. But somehow I didn't dare to tell the truth.
Mrs Ratih was still sitting in the living room watching TV as Ranum returned from his room. He approached Bu Ratih with eyes that had been slightly flushed due to his chatter with Zaviyar before. Ranum also revealed everything in his heart.
“Bu, I'm fine Ranum be the talk again?”
“Udah regular, Num. Let it go.”
“Mafin Ranum, Mum.”
“For what?”
“Ranum can not be happy Mother. Ranum usually love the load continues.”
“Life, death, sustenance, and soul mate are God's rules. We can not scale according to our will.”
“Iya, but ..” Ranum looked down lethargic, hiding his eyes that were again filled with clear circles.
“Already, don't think about people talking. Mommy can I ask?”
Bu Ratih gave Ranum a lot of advice before asking what his colleagues had become from the past few days.
“How do you care? Are you sure of Zaviyar?”
Ranum sighed getting a question from Bu Ratih about it. Just now he had a conversation with the man on the phone, which certainly made him even more confused. The affection had already blossomed in his heart, but the fear that was not clear from where it came came was residing there.
“Ranum is indeed comfortable with Mas Zav, Mom and as Ranum once said. If Ranum falls for him.”
"Then?"
Ranum. He did not dare to look into the eyes of Mrs Ratih because again the clear details had filled both eyes.
“Num, don't mess with people's feelings. Not good, Son.”
“Ranum does not intend to playin feelings Mas Zav, Mom. But, precisely because of that Ranum is increasingly afraid to step.”
Mrs Ratih frowned.
“Ranum is afraid in the end ... will only hurt Mas Zav and Ranum loses his figure," Ranum said at the end of his sentence.
“God willing. Precisely if you are like this, that's what makes him sick.”
Mrs Ratih gently rubbed Ranum's head affectionately. He knew the worry of his daughter.
"He's a good man. He's serious about you, Nduk. Don't keep him waiting for long."
Ranum did not answer. He just lowered his head, his logic justifying the words of the Mother. But the fear in the heart of losing Zaviyar, a figure who has now really ensnared his heart actually makes him more worried.
Ranum realized she was just an ordinary village girl, which when compared to Surabaya girls, was clearly nothing.
“Until when will you continue like this, Num?”
“Now Aldi is back and he is expecting you.” Mrs Ratih said.
“No, Ma. He's just kidding.”
“You couldn't see his sincere eyes back then? He keeps watching you, Nduk."
Ranum was stunned to hear his mother's words. The anxiety in his heart grew. Feelings of was was also emerging will figure Aldi who was again present in his life.
Ranum glared back at his memory a few years ago, before Aldi disappeared.
‘Are you really waiting for me because of what I said first, Al?’ Ranum.
“Ah .. impossible, it's been a long time and I wasn't being serious then.”
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