Alaska looked at the girl in front of him in amazement.
Why does she look prettier than usual? A warm feeling spread in the man's chest, even continuing to rise to his face.
Oh My God, this is the first time I can admire the beauty of your creation.
Usually, Alaska doesn't really care about the faces of the girls he's dating. Body shape and how to dress attract more attention. The face of the business to so much. After all, just polish it with make-up, okay? What can't be polished is the body shape.
A reckless decision he had made to become Embun's boyfriend, even though the girl didn't have a crush on him at all. However, this is the first time for Alaska feels so sure, as well as determined, to be in a relationship with a girl. So far, there has never been a belief. He just goes about it as it is and most of the time, it's not him who says he likes it. It was the girls who came, approached, and fired. He just said yes.
Embun and Al were sitting alone in a bamboo stall on a floor, which this time seemed quieter than usual. Maybe because it's a weekday, so few visitors or travelers travel to the area. Because the concept of this place is semi-outdoor, so you can still enjoy the beautiful natural scenery around it. Clusters of hills, clear rivers, can still be enjoyed from this hut.
Just to the right, Embun can see a wide expanse of rice fields, as well as a river that is quite wide, splitting in the middle. The gurgling of the water could even be heard as far as the shop. Far away from the view, you can see a row of hills lined up randomly, but still look charming. The result of the Creator, who may want to create a work of art with an abstract flow.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Out of the corner of her eye, Embun knew Alaska was watching her. The girl was indeed staring at the rice fields, enjoying the beautiful scenery, which is certainly difficult for her to meet in a metropolitan city like Jakarta.
"You're beautiful," said Al briefly. Al's mouth felt stiff. Those were the only three words he could say.
"From the beginning, time. You just realized now. Where have you been all this time?" Embun laughed, teasing Al.
The young man looked clumsy, and his face turned red. Embun looked back at Alaska. The man immediately lowered his head. He couldn't bear to look back at the girl he loved.
"Ha ha ha. Gosh, why are you like this, Al?" Embun was really surprised by the drastic change in the young man she had known for almost two years.
"Do not know. I need time to adjust, Mbun. I've never felt embarrassed, clumsy, and stiff like this with a girl," complained Al, still lowering his head.
Embun smiled. Warmly, she stroked the hair above Al's forehead and said, "Thanks, Al. You are ready to change for me. We can both try to change, really. We have to be better people than we used to be if we want this relationship to work. Come on, let's be the best version of ourselves. I also need to change a lot, not only you."
Al looked up and smiled back.
"I am very grateful to you, Mbun. You accept a bad boy like me. I will change for the better," he said calmly.
"From now on I don't use my lo again. After all, you are my future wife." Al tried to fight the shame.
Their order came. Spicy rica-rica sticks, tempe penyet. There are also grilled ribs whose smell has made the worms in the stomach squirm impatiently to dine with their whole family.
Typical Sundanese, fresh vegetables with several types of vegetables. There is eggplant, cabbage, lettuce, basil, long beans, cucumber, and tomato. Wow, makes saliva struggle to drip. Luckily, Embun and Al can still control their lips.
"Thanks, yes, Teh," said Embun to the stall server.
"Yes, you're welcome. Please," replied the carefree server.
"Very well, yes. It's cold, eat spicy. It's so good!" Al immediately took the rice and side dishes, hastily filled his stomach.
"Ugh, that's fantastic. Suer," Al said with his mouth still full of food.
"Eat slowly." Embun reminds. The girl smiled at Al's behavior, which was often like a child. It's just a matter of pent-up desire. He's much more mature than Embun.
Hmmm, it turns out that the food is really delicious, said Embun in her heart.
"You're great, Al. This place is really cool. The view is good, the food is also great," said Embun.
"Yes, please, Alaska Abithama. Uh, if we get married later, your name will be Embun Swastika Abhitama, you know. Cool, eh." Al laughed to himself.
"Duh, the distance is crazy," said Embun, laughing too.
"Why? Really, you don't want to marry me, Mbun? So, now who likes to play with people's hearts? You're just playing around, aren't you?" Alaska immediately pouted.
"Gosh, you brat. I'm not kidding, but I'm still a long way from thinking about getting married. I want to solve all the problems first, go to college first, save a lot, okay? It's not just marriage." Embun shook her head. Alaska is still too indulgent with lust and desire. He did not want to think long and far ahead.
"This year, I want to register for college," said Al.
Embun coughed and immediately grabbed a drink glass.
"What's wrong with you? I was told to pick. In fact, you are the one coughing." Al looked at Embun in surprise. It was unusual for this girl to be so reckless that she choked.
"I was choking from the shock of hearing what you said, Al. Seriously, you want to go to college? On what occasion?" Of course, Embun was surprised. The man who had been playing around and just wanted to be happy suddenly said he wanted to go to college.
"In order to... string together a happy future with you. Ha ha ha," said Al. Apparently, this young man has recurred again.
"I'm serious, Al." Embun glared resentfully.
"I'm serious too, dear Embun. I want to go to college and start saving, also planning for our future. Time is running fast. In the blink of an eye, suddenly it's been a year, two years. If we don't think about it from now on, we will be left behind and eroded by the cycle of time. We will be knocked out by the currents of the times." The man was babbling in the style of someone reciting poetry.
"You got hit by a genie in the white crater earlier, didn't you?" Embun chuckled at Al's naughty style.
"I'm serious, Mbun. It is my determination that I don't want to disappoint you. I want to go to college, deepen my cooking skills. I want to be a reliable chef, then we will open a guesthouse and cafe later. We manage alone, both of us. I want us to be happy, even though we may not be full of wealth. But we will not lack." This time, Al said it all with a serious face and style.
"Amen. I hope the good genie that possessed you today doesn't go away, okay?" replied Embun.
Al smiled and continued eating. Embun gazed at the figure of Al in front of her. The handsome young man who used to be very naughty now seems to have become a grown man. Apparently, love can mature a person.
Your perfection as a man is complete. Not only handsome but also serious about managing the future, said Embun in his heart.
This is what it feels like to be with a lover. The chilly wind that bit the whole skin could not get rid of the warm feeling inside. The warmth of love that is now hugging them both.
~
Hold me forever, in your arms, love. If you really have to fall in love, let me fall as far as I can, to love you deeply.
I'm no longer afraid of getting hurt. Hurt by loving and being loved. I'll take that risk, as long as I'm with you, while I can be with you. Because letting you go will not only hurt me, but melt me. Destroyed no longer left.
~
Why can't I feel any love for this young man yet? He's too perfect for a girl like me. God, let me love him. Give me that taste. I beg you, this time give me that taste. Doesn't a mate come by asking and being asked? Now, I ask You, O my Lord. Because he asked me too.