Finally, we said goodbye and left Mrs. Tutik's family house. I couldn't believe that someone would be so kind as to lend a motorcycle to someone they didn't even know. Ali drove the motorbike, and he was going unhurriedly. I sat awkwardly behind Ali and kept my distance, so my body didn't touch his back.
The masculine scent that had been faintly wafting through my nose since we left Mak Ijah's house is now becoming clearer in my sense of smell, making my heart beat faster. I like Ali's attitude, which is usually cold and indifferent because it will make me not feel awkward when I am with him.
Although the road we took was only a path as wide as a rice field bund, fortunately, Ali was quite good at driving his vehicle. The roadside we were on was gentle enough that I didn't have to struggle so that my body wouldn't be pushed forward so that it touched his body. There was no conversation on this trip because we were both lost in our thoughts. Ali seemed to concentrate on the sideroad we were taking.
Actually, if we went back through the steep road from Mrs. Tutik's house to Mrs. Ijah's house, it might take about thirty to forty-five minutes on foot but if we go this way it only takes about twenty minutes but by motorbike, if walking the legs need a lot more time. Incidentally, people near Mrs. Tutik's house have motorbikes, making it easier for them to pass this road even though they have to make a long detour.
Along the way, I tried to muffle the sound of my heart beating faster than usual by taking deep breaths and exhaling very slowly. I hope Ali doesn't hear my racing heartbeat, and luckily he's not as chatty as he usually is when he's teasing me.
We heard the faint sound of the call to prayer after we left Mrs. Tutik's house. Ali stopped the motorbike we were riding when he saw a little shack, a farmer's resting place not far from the road we were passing. There is a space wide enough for Ali to park his motorbike around the area not to disturb other motorists who might pass by.
Ali immediately went down and headed for a small shower. Not far from there, I thought he was going to pee. That's why I turned my eyes to the beautiful panorama that stretches along this road. I can see the horizon is so beautiful, take some photos while taking selfies.
"Zie," he called after a moment.
I turned my head. Maybe Ali was done with his intentions. I turned around and saw him walking towards shack. Drops of water dripping from his face exude his charm.
I stared at him in awe.
"Don't you pray?" he asked, walking up the stairs. Ali smiled when our eyes met. At the top of the little pavilion, he pulled out something from his backpack, a prayer rug! I don't think he always carries that stuff with him wherever he goes.
"I'm unable to pray,"
"Okay, you wait a minute, I pray first," Ali smiled and began to roll out his prayer rug.
I was transfixed watching when he started doing the Asr prayer, even though he often heard it. Seeing him doing pray made my feelings tremble.
Suddenly my cell phone rang, making me turn my gaze to the figure of Ali, who was prostrating. I smiled when I found Harsya's name on my cellphone screen and immediately picked it up.
"Hello....,"
(Hello, honey... What are you doing?) Harsya's sweet voice filled my eardrums.
"Haha.."
(Why are you laughing?)
"Nothing, I just finished collecting data, It's on the way home."
(Who with?)
"Ali."
(He's not making a fuss, is he?)
I laughed. Harsya must have memorized that Ali and I were always fighting because I always told him what happen between Ali and me.
"Don't worry! He's already tame, really."
(Hey, what are you doing to him?)
"I'll tie a rope!" I laughed at the thought of it. "Uh, no, please! We can't want to fight in front of the village community, and it's not good. It's finished, really."
Harsha laughed.
(Where's Ali? How come I can't hear his voice?)
"He is praying."
(Wow, I haven't even done this yet. Okay, Zie, cheer up. I'm still on this road. It's been a while, huh
Bye, honey..)
"Bye..."
I looked at Ali, who was praying solemnly. I pointed my camera's phone at the shack, taking several photos of it in various motions. My chest feels gurgling.
While waiting for Ali to finish his prayer, I opened a group chat that had piled up. The village group has started discussing the problem of data tabulation, while the hamlet group has asked about my whereabouts with Ali.
(On a date, don't bother!) someone wrote that in the group. I don't know who because I saved the number.
I immediately looked at the lake when I realized that the only phone number I didn't save was Ali's. I saw him smiling at his phone.
***