Chapter 4 - 4 Following You

Tuesday morning,

"Assalamualaikum."

"Tok ... Tok ... Tok ...."

There was the sound of footsteps rushing towards the door where previously a voice had answered my greeting, the door slowly opened,

"Krieeeek...."

"Astaghfirullah, Inez? You ... you ... you got here at this hour? With who Nez? What ride? Mom and Dad ..." He asked a confused question to me.

Arman was surprised with a thousand questions falling from his lips when he saw my figure suddenly stand in front of his eyes, in front of his wooden door, in the house where he lived.

I just kept silent a thousand languages, stood still, didn't move, only tears were flowing and my lips just trembled and didn't say a word.

Yogyakarta, yes, the twinkling lights that appear on the city streets that I passed and stared at earlier were inversely proportional to the dimness of my heart.

"Come on in, come in first Nez, sit down you must be tired." He took me into his beautiful house, while he invited me into the front room and sat on the sofa with the floral motifs typical of Jogja.

"Icha! Echa! There's Sis Inez, make hot tea and dishes here, wake up Mom too." Arman called out to his twin sister who was still in first grade in high school.

The two of them immediately came to hug me while calling my name and then rushed in to prepare what his sisters had asked for earlier.

I told him how I got here. Liza, who since Saturday afternoon without knowing how I was, questioned everything that was on her mind. My and Arman's cell phone numbers, which I couldn't contact because I had turned them off on purpose, made Ardy worried, too.

Therefore Monday morning he was waiting for me, and with my arrival as fast as lightning he grabbed me,

"Inez, why can't you and Arman be contacted since yesterday? What happened after you told me you wanted to apply and now suddenly Arman put a permit. He couldn't come to work for a few days for reasons of family interests? He went home to Jogja Nez, suddenly really, why?" Liza was speechless at length, unfinished I've cut her off,

"It's all over Liz. Arman and I were forced to break up because my father rejected Arman," I cut in tears again. Yesterday's bitter incident I will tell you in detail, hoping that there will be a solution from them as well as reducing the burden on my chest. Liza hugged me tightly accompanied by her tears that also melted, while Ardy stroked my head as a sign of strengthening my heart.

There was a moment of silence, only the sound of sobs pierced the eardrums of the three of us. I immediately wiped my tears and had to stop this drama, before other co-workers came to check it. I don't want to make today a commotion, let it be along the way will know my own story.

Work time is not over. I was allowed to go home early on the grounds that I wasn't feeling well, but I quickly caught up with time. Yes, I don't care anymore, I rushed off to follow my Arman to Yogyakarta, the city where Arman lives, don't let me stay late. I was also worried on the way because it was the first time I went there alone without anyone accompanying me. I want to tell him something, if not now when?, there will be no more chance for me.

"Why are you this stubborn? What if something happened to you? Inez, I'm glad you're here but I'm worried about you," he advised as he rubbed my cheek.

"Hey what's wrong it's midnight I heard a cry, who is this coming? Inez... my daughter?" Arman's mother came closer to me

"Mooooommmm...." I turned my arms to Arman's mother and cried uncontrollably.

"That's right, dear, we can't fight the blessing. It will cause havoc in the future. Rest assured, we are praying for HIS guidance," explained Mother, kissing my forehead and stroking my hair. Yes, everywhere Mother is full of warmth just like my mother. I love my future mother-in-law. What's the in-laws over there like who will be my candidate?" I don't know.

"Inez, your father will be very angry if he finds out about all this." I just shook my head, and Mother advised me that I should rest here. There were Icha and Echa who accompanied me, the next day I was asked to go home. Yes I went without saying goodbye to my parents, for what? They don't want to understand and they certainly will never understand, and it won't be possible to allow it if I say goodbye to Arman's house.

[Mom... Inez is here, at Arman's house, just arrived, but don't worry she's fine with Arman's two sisters ma'am]

Apparently Arman sent a WhatsApp message to my mother without my knowledge so as not to worry, because I was talking to Arman's sisters in the other room.

"Tiiiiitt... Tilililittt... Tiiiit tiiii"

The phone rang on Arman's cellphone after a few seconds Arman's message was sent on my mother's cellphone.

"Assalamu'alaikum ... Son ... Arman, please send Inez home, son. Don't let anything happen to her. I believe in you, son. I'm really confused about what to say to Dad, the friends who contacted also didn't know where Inez was, apparently Arman's house? Please send her home. Son, don't let her linger there, I beg you." From the small smart cellular microphone in Arman's hand, came the voice of a middle-aged woman who was heavy in pronunciation, namely my mother,

"Believe in Arman, ma'am, therefore Arman immediately informs you, so you don't worry, Mom and Dad don't worry, tomorrow after dawn, I will take Inez home, Mom," continued Arman from there.

"Really, son? I believe that Arman is a good man, so now you are no longer worried about my daughter, I'm sorry to bother you, Arman," said the last word before saying goodbye and closing their cellphones.

*****

Dawn has come after everyone rested the night. I'm getting closer to my return time. Actually I don't want to. I woke up and opened my eyes. We all rushed to perform the dawn prayer together with Arman as the Imam (leader), because all the residents of the house were women. Arman's father still works outside the city. His father was always on duty out of town and rarely spent time with his family, but once a month he would come home.

After the dawn prayer, all family members carry out their respective workflows. Mother and Icha go to the market to shop, while Echa cleans up in the kitchen, washing dishes and washing clothes. Arman is in his room, while I'm in Arman's sister's room because last night I slept there.

I stripped off all my clothes with nothing left now. I grabbed the blanket and then I used it to wrap my body, didn't wait long I immediately sneaked into Arman's room. He didn't notice my arrival. He was standing with his back to me folding and tidying his bedroom. I found his broad back in front of me, making me want to hug him in this cold atmosphere, very slowly I lifted my fingers to cover Arman's eyes with my hands from behind him. I pressed my body which was still wrapped in a blanket to his body, Arman felt my presence. Because of that he immediately grabbed my hand, opened it and turned to me.

Now we face each other, eye to eye. I dropped the cloth covering my body, so that his eyes could see, my body was plain without a piece of cloth attached. I took a step closer to him. I whispered in his ear,

"Please impregnate me, Arman. Then we will definitely get the blessing."