By the end of the following last semester, I had no longer alibi to avoid Ghina Rahman, Cut Tania, and Feera Medina Said; NoNa Squad members; the group of friendship with seven members which is existed since I was in the kindergarten.
Recently, the other two members, they aren't in Indonesia; Vanny Ariska is currently studying at Australian National University and Aliya Putri Harun is pursuing a medical degree at Seoul National University. There was an ex member, the late Syarifah Riana Putri (Peace be Upon Her) who went away about 15 years ago.
Even though they are my best friends, lately, I just want to stay away and avoid them as they are in the same boat with my family, especially my mother. I am too tired to be fed up with all stupid plans and questions they always asked me; love, ideal type, random man, and blind date.
But all the justifications for my actions to avoid them had vanished; I had no longer class schedules, assignments or hectic laboratory activities. All cliché reasons I had used are expired.
Today, they did the same thing, NoNa Squad members made Reza Pratama joining our reunited meeting. I bet my mom was involved in this sickening plan.
I left them after finishing a glass of mango juice and returned to the laboratory to turn off the furnace apparatus. This time, it was not only an alibi, but my honesty that was not made up.
They didn't believe and follow me to the research lab. Their action was not surprising and it was often happening. They were so persistent that never gave up trying to trap me in various classic matchmaking plans.
Both of my parents were not infrequently involved. The sentence like "he is a good man", "he comes from a good family", "he is well-established, handsome and well-educated" is sound like a bomb exploded right on my ears.
Ghina, Feera and Tania, they followed and waited me faithfully in the rest-room of laboratory until my work finished just to grumble. There was no way to avoid them, if I could teleport and disappear.
Reluctantly, I went to them to hear a little enlightenment and a long lecture. I hadn't already yet sat comfortably, the tantrum had pierced my ears; bombarded me with various statements and questions. As expected, the same opening sentence repeated from Ghina's mouth.
"What is the reason this time?" Ghina began.
"This time is not a random man, but Reza Pratama, the ideal type of many women and the most wanted son-in-law of all parents," Tania spoken up.
"Reza has had a crush on you since the first time he met you," Feera said.
"We know Reza so well, your family is close to his. He is also Aliya's cousin, our best friend," Ghina continued.
"For a modern man who has lived in America, he is quite religious," continued Feera.
"Tell me where is the religious men who don't mind eating together with girls who are not their mahram?", I replied.
"He isn't a cleric, you're not too. We're only ordinary people who aren't perfect", stated Ghina who deliberately cornered me.
"Now let's be logic, is there another better choice than Reza or is there someone else whom you love ? If yes, we will stop interfering your private life", Tania continued.
I kept silent for a moment because of Tania's statements, her words approaching the reality and facts which I didn't want to admit. Someone whom I love, I don't want to talk about him because it's too embarrassing.
"Try to open your heart and learn to love him. Anyways, your parents had approved this relationship. We only suggest you to be more approachable, we never force you to marry him", she continued.
"At least, try! Relationships must be endeavored by two people who involve in it. If you never try, then you'll never know," Feera continued.
Ghina just stared at me in silence, maybe she getting tired of repeating the same words for the umpteenth times. It's just that I still don't understand why my solitude is becoming something to worry about. I'm still young, it's normal if I still want to be alone.
I began silence and listened to Tania and Feera's nagging that flowed smoothly like a car that drove on the highway.