"Where have you been, Zulfa? Why did you only come home at this hour? You even told Ijah to go home alone and take a taxi."
Zulfa put the paper bag containing the three clothes she ordered at Amira's boutique that she had just picked up, the baritone voice did not welcome her home friendly but seemed to intimidate her. She walked to the fridge, then looked for the small bottle of isotonic drink she always had.
"I went to get the clothes I ordered. Is there a problem with that?" Zulfa answered briefly, she didn't even explain at length about her departure. She sat on the dining chair, then began to drink the drink she took from the refrigerator.
Zulfa can see Farel walking towards her with a suspicious look? Is Zulfa not wrong to see the man's expression at this time?
"I can't believe it, if you go to a boutique, why does it take so long? If you talk to the owner, it's impossible because the shop's opening hours will keep you busy." Farel said while sitting in front of Zulfa, he was very attentive to the woman.
"And I also can't believe Rani threw away all my cooking, you can never appreciate my struggles as a wife like me."
Sad to remember how she struggled to cook all the dishes, and ya suddenly ended up in the trash for the umpteenth time. Since four o'clock in the morning, she has prepared everything just for Farel's breakfast menu, but her struggles are repeatedly considered trivial by the man.
"It was just an accident, Fa. I ate your cooking, believe me. Rani came here early and was mad at me."
Zulfa raised an eyebrow as she closed her drink bottle. "Farel, accident or not, you should be able to prevent it. I know for sure you'd rather let Rani throw my food away than keep the girl from wasting all the food I made just for me, right?"
Whatever the condition, it is still Rani who always wins in Farel's eyes. Zulfa is only as big as dust, is not considered, and cannot be seen.
Farel swallowed. He still can't leave his love for Rani. He didn't even know who he wanted to choose in his life, it felt like he was in a big dilemma. Supposedly, the man had to choose firmly but he was too afraid of the consequences of the choice he made later.
"If you are still in doubt, don't drag me into the deepest pain, right, Farel? Isn't it enough that I've struggled to be the best all this time, but all of that seems to be trash in your eyes, I'm tired." Zulfa said with a smile. With a choked tone, all her husband's behavior seemed to be a burden for her.
"I still choose Rani, I'm sorry. But I will try to respect you slowly..."
"There's no need to apologize, after all, from the start it was my fault that I entered your life which was completely controlled by Rani. So yeah, maybe it's my destiny to have an unhealthy marriage."
"I am not controlled by anyone, Fa. I do what I want, however, Rani loves me and vice versa."
Zulfa smiled sweetly, she tried to strengthen her heart so as not to get carried away. Isn't crying tiring? although she knew that she would end up crying again but at least she had tried to be strong.
"Farel, please listen to my explanation. If she loves you, she must understand what is best for you. She will let you go because she knows that I am a legal partner for you. She will let you go even if it hurts her heart, not the other way around."
Zulfa got up from her seat, then took the paper bag that she had put down. "Sorry Farel, hopefully after this you can think clearly." She said as she walked towards the stairs and up to them one by one. She was tired, at least maybe the drowsiness would make her forget about this matter. Yes, although only temporarily, but at least it helps to rest her brain.
The clock on the wall showed ten in the morning. She quickly straightened her new clothes, then went to bed to close her eyes. This is the best thing she should do.
Sleep is the single most powerful way to hide all the problems that befall, presenting dreams that may be more beautiful than reality.
Throwback
"If one day I get a husband who loves me so much--"
Zulfa's words were cut off when Rania, who was moving quickly, gently covered her little daughter's mouth. "You're still a kid, honey. Why do you think that far? If later the man who loves you is sincere, you don't need hope."
Zulfa chuckled, then she hugged Rania's body from the side, resting her head on the shoulder of the woman who had taken care of her long before she was born into this world. "Even Zulfa is seventeen years old, ma'am. It's not uncommon to talk about romance anymore. After all, it's just to strengthen your heart,"
Rania shook her head, after all, Zulfa was still an innocent little girl and easily drifted away in the sweetness of love that didn't even fall into the true sense of the word. "What do you know about the true meaning of love?" She asked in a soft voice while stroking the top of the princess's head.
Zulfa seemed to be supporting her face with both hands as if racking her brain. "As far as I know, love is a feeling where both opposite sexes like each other and start giving little attention that is very heartwarming, right? Oh plus another romantic sentence, ah I melt, Mom! there's a man who treats me like a queen."
"Love isn't like that, honey. You're still a kid, so it's still just the basics."
"Then?" Now Zulfa raised an eyebrow as a sign that she did not understand what her mother was saying. "Don't I understand enough about love, Mom?" She asked.
"You're just not quite right, but it's true even if it's only twenty-five percent of one hundred percent."
Zulfa saw Rania patting her thigh, signaling for her little daughter to sit on her lap. Of course, she obeyed, and always obeyed her mother. "Yes, ma'am." She said while nodding her head and sitting on Rania's lap with her body leaning against the chest of her beloved woman.
Rania put on the best smile, then continued her activity, which was stroking the top of Zulfa's head affectionately.
"Love is a feeling that can make you more mature to face some problems, without you realizing it is the problem that strengthens you. Love does not need flowers and sweet words like what you said earlier. Love only needs sincerity and loyalty. If later your love does not have it, let it go."
"What if I have planted it in my heart to fight for love, do I still have to let it go, Mom?"
"Of course, never instill excessive expectations in a man who doesn't treat you well."
Throwback off
Zulfa massaged her forehead which felt dizzy, when she closed her eyes all the words of her mother and the snippets of the past played clearly in her brain. She doesn't know what she wants to do, it feels like no one knows what it's like to be a Zulfa.
Drtt...
Drtt...
(phone vibration sound)
She picked up her cell phone which was on the nightstand, it vibrated as if someone was calling her. Read the name of the contact visible on the phone screen, then put the flat object to her ear.
"Assalamualaikum, Dea. Why are you calling me?"
"Waalaikumsalam. Where are you, Fa?"
"At home, why?"
"Okay, I'm on my way there, don't go anywhere. Wait for me, just don't fall asleep and don't leave the house, basically... just stay where you are."
"Eh, what are you doing? How come you're suddenly like this? Is there something important that you're in such a hurry?"
"I just want to return your chocolate that I left at my house. Yesterday was a lot, I won't finish eating that much."
"Have you said it? It's been a big fuss even though I just wanted to deliver chocolate,"
"You know, the basic answer is annoying. Well, I just want to go there, bye! Assalamualaikum."
pip
"Waalaikumsalam." Before she could answer the greeting, the phone had been turned off unilaterally by Dea without any approval from her. She stared at the cellphone screen, the phone call only lasted about three minutes because her best friend was talking. She put the phone back in its place.
Zulfa chuckled, Dea likes it like that. Coming uninvited is her hallmark. Girls with single status are often approached by men but are easily rejected. She said he was waiting for the right mate. How do you want to get a mate if she rejects all men like that?
She has not had time to rest, it seems that soon she will have a very chatty guest. She has the intention of making pudding for Dea later, her best friend likes to snack on sweet food.
Zulfa got up, then walked to the bedroom door and opened it slowly.
"Oh my God, Farel!"
Seen right in front of Farel's face, which showed a look that was no less surprised than her, his hands were clenched in the air like he was ready to knock on the bedroom door but his movement was stopped because Zulfa had already opened it.
"Zulfa?" Farel exclaimed with a clumsy face while lowering his fist back to normal, he scratched his neck because he felt the awkward atmosphere.
Zulfa furrowed her brows, feeling confused by Farel's arrival. "What's wrong, Farel? If you want to enter my room, please come in, why do you stop in front of the door like this?" She said with a chuckle. She couldn't help but laugh when she saw Farel's current expression, it was ridiculous.
Farel shook his head, then cleared his throat. "I want to talk to you," he said in a slightly low tone, he was prestigious but did not want to be trapped in a deep abyss. He thought about Zulfa's words a few minutes ago.
Farel seems to be in a mess. Does he want to choose Rani or Zulfa? Especially when he found out that Rani's character was so strong, even though he was with her, the girl remained calm and never showed his excessive nature.
"I don't have much time for you, I want to make pudding for Dea. She wants to play here in a few minutes, so I have to make the pudding immediately." Zulfa smiled, then grabbed Farel's right wrist, stroking it gently. "I'm sorry for being too harsh on you." She continued.
Indeed Zulfa's heart is too soft, she can't bear to see Farel's frustrated face.
Farel gasped, for some reason Zulfa's touch made him unable to move. He didn't know what to say. "Why are you still nice to me, Zulfa? You have to be angry with my character like this.."
"Hm? Why am I mad at you? It would just be a waste of my time." Zulfa's heart still hurts. Yes, she is a woman who is firm with her stance, she will still be fine behind her disappointment.
"You have to go, Fa. It's not like you still accept me being unstable like this."
"Yeah, I feel your change. It was a bit strange when you didn't care about me yesterday, but now it's like this as if you're starting to care about me."
"Sorry, don't stop fighting."
Wait, what did Farel say? The boy just wanted the easy part! sometimes even fought, but he didn't know himself, and when Zulfa had started to show her indifference, Farel even returned to her as if he wanted to get her attention again.
And Zulfa who saw that just smiled, for some reason, she grabbed Farel's hand and stroked it like that. She let go, then left Farel.
"Zulfa!"
Zulfa turned around again because she was called Farel. She turned to the man who was still true to her position, with a face that was somehow difficult to decipher.
"Can I help you make the pudding? I'll use my day off to help you,"
...
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