Aksara Taste (For Flavors That Will Not Be Perfect)
Chapter Seventeen

Do all women love flowers?

Dozens of roses adorn the landscape in the backyard. With a variety of different colors and patterns; white, red, purple, yellow, to pink. Some marigolds also filled the land nearby. Clustered, forming dense shrubs. Next to it, the morning glory crept upwards. The leaves of his heart cover the guardrail. Black orchid hanging free. Nearby, there are wooden shelves filled with small pots of cactus plants. Understandably, the cacti do have a special place.

As I irrigated the ground for the red roses, Hanif picked up the dried leaves that were falling. While the Alif collects dry twigs that scatter.

“All plants should be watered yes, Bi?” alif asked with his innocent face.

“Iya.” sahutku potluck.

“Emang if not watered why?” ask Alif for a second time.

“Kalo is not watered, the plants are thirsty.” I am clear short.

“But, I have never smelled a cactus, Bi.” Hanif said as if he did not accept the answer I gave.

“Masa?” I murmured, refusing to believe.

“It should be, doused all.” grumbled Alif while taking a water hose in my hand. He then walked a few steps. Circled the trembesi tree and stopped near a high shelf. The boy irrigated the small cacti that were planted in pots.

“Udah! Don't do much, Lif!” hanif Protest.

“Let's just! Let the cactus get more fertile!” Alif flushes the cactus nonstop. Make that little pot look flooded.

Lazy to ignore the two of them, I again picked up the remaining dry leaves. Collect it in a large barrel that is usually used by Mas Rudi to make compost.

“Hanif!” alif's screams suddenly made my eyes grow wide. The boy looked at his twin brother with an annoyed look. His face was red, almost wanting to cry.

I turned to look at Hanif who was standing by the water faucet.

“You were told you never wanted to be horrified! The cactus will die if you do, tau!” it was cold and left us still in the garden.

I let out a long sigh as soon as Alif's cry broke in the air. I approached the boy, approached him. I put my knee on the green grass. I wiped his falling tears. Kuelus his head is full of love.

“Bi-bi.” crying Alif sobbing. Breath tight. The boy complained to me.

“Udah, udah.” I said while hugging him. Tranquilize. Telling her that Hanif is not seriously snapping at her.

*****

As I thought before, it was hard to believe in the promise that Mas Rudi made.

As soon as I picked up the call last night, I could only give myself up. He will remain in Bali for another three days. Even he had prepared an answer as I questioned the matter of work. Mas Rudi has first asked permission to cut me to Mas Zifran. And he said Mas Zifran doesn't mind.

“You don't want to? Later nyesel, you know.” I said persuaded.

Even though I had placed Ice Cream Chocolate on the table, Hanif and Alif still did not speak. Both are busy with cars they deliberately bring from home.

“Yes already, if so Bi Alya order you guys pudding aja, yes.” said I smiled widely.

Although the holiday has ended, Orion –Cream– Ice Shop is never empty of visitors. Especially in an afternoon like this. In addition to the friendly price, the atmosphere created also makes many people addicted. The walls are clad in bright white bricks. Decorate pretty trinkets vintage style. Black iron chairs and tables crowded around the room. Given a touch of shabby chic through pastel colors of floral patterned curtains. Various quotes and mottos are emblazoned in large frames and wooden pallets next to windows. Gives a charming old-fashioned impression.

While waiting in line, the phone inside my handbag shook. A short message from Arfian made me smile.

“*I've sampe Dubai.”

“Thankful, deh. What have you seen?”

“All the way I overslept*.”

“*Then you see anything, dong? Dad.”

“I saw you.”

“Where? Ngawur.”

“*Contacted, dreadlocks**.”

I can confirm, Arfian must have laughed as soon as he read it.

“*Yes, don't talk about it. You want to drop something?”

“**Arab Prince***.” reply to me without hesitation.

"I am more than enough for you. Thank you that.”

I laughed embarrassedly. My intention was to tell him not to get hurt, because Arfian made me feel happy first.

“Quietly, I will not be injured. You just wait for me to come home, I will bring what you want.”

*****

Have you ever heard of Freezing of Gait?

A Parkinson's sufferer shared a story with me. Once upon a time his footsteps could not move suddenly. His feet seemed to have ferromagnetic power with the floor he stepped on. Makes his brain shake. His body seemed to be pushed forward and pulled backwards at the same time. His mind is messed up, messy not. The analogy is like we want to do something, but our brains and gestures refuse to agree. Although we have worked hard, we can only freeze like a statue that has never been touched.

Even though I don't have Parkinson's, I think I'm having symptoms right now. My legs seem to be dead. My steps suddenly stopped when I found Satya sitting in front of my two nieces. The young man was enjoying the Ice Cream Chocolate that I had left behind. While Hanif and Alif play romp around him. Fighting over a picture I don't know where it came from.

“Please this. Pondering you, nih!” satya exclaimed to get my leg muscles back to work.

I immediately approached the three of them. Stopping Hanif and Alif's infighting by forcibly seizing the photo.

As soon as I saw what kind of photo Hanif and Alif were fighting over, that second I was also gawking in disbelief. My face as I smiled widely was recorded in the traces of color.

“Auntie, that's whose photo? Allif see dong, Bi.” Alif tugging at my cardigan.

I glanced at Hanif with a probing look, but the boy had an innocent face. I looked at Satya who was holding back a laugh. And then I realized, that young man was the culprit.

I hurriedly threw the photo in the trash.

“I should have told you to kill yourself at that time.” ketusku annoyed while staring at a polaroid camera hanging freely on Satya's neck.

The young man did not feel guilty. He even looked at me with a bright smile. “Oh, yes?”

“Bi, brown pudding, right?” Hanif broke the mood. I almost forgot the pudding I brought for them. They, except Satya.

I nodded small. I put a chocolate pudding wrapped in vanilla vla on the table. For Hanif and Alif. Seeing that, the two of them hurriedly sat down. Then immediately eat a piece of strawberry and enjoy the chocolate pudding greedily.

“Ngapain standing there?” satya said as she patted the chair beside her.

Not because he agreed to what he asked, just that I was lazy to stand for too long. With a heavy heart, I was forced to sit beside Satya.

“Om Satya, Hanif can see the photo?” tanya Hanif sounded doubtful.

“Om, if Alif minjam camera can be?” alif's turn to make the request.

“Bby dong. Nih! Here!” sahut Satya enthusiast. The young man gave some photos to Satya and her polaroid camera to Alif.

Kulirik Hanif who laughed saw the results of Satya's shots. Every now and then the boy showed what he saw to Alif. Making his twin brother laugh for the same reason.

While I choose to throw my face away. My bolaamat noticed the visitors passing by. Observe long queues in front of the order table. Faintly listening to the talk of the people sitting around me. Dissolved in the busyness that I created, I did not realize what Alif had done.

“Hah?” Alif sounded confused. A photo came out of the camera he was holding.

I looked over for a moment to see the results of Alif's shots. However, a split second before that, Satya first grabbed his photo paper. Makes me not be able to do anything but let the young man keep it in his shirt pocket.

After that our views met. And in one blink of an eye, I threw my face away again.