Enmeshed in Love
Chapter 4

Rumbles in the dominant room in white, colorful light bulbs muffled by the strains of Marshmello's 'Alone' song. A couple of women and men, a bunch of women dissolving on the dance floor. Other guests swayed to the corners of the room at the Xnight club, which was deliberately rented from night until morning by the man celebrating his birthday. Attar, the owner of the event, just sat in the minibar accompanied by a woman in a black mini dress.

He gulped down the golden liquid for the second time. Ziko's party is no different from years ago, except for a friend who accompanies her tonight. Attar met him a few days ago at one of the nightclubs in South Jakarta. Name's Karina. Attar did not invite Karina to come tonight, but Ziko, the party host who invited him. He grumbled in his heart because his best friend was aggressively looking for a lover or just a date for him, although it is actually easy for Attar to choose a woman who is after his wishes because he is quite well known in some famous nightclubs in Jakarta.

And, it was supposed to be last night or last day, he mengultimatum Ziko so as not to introduce him to any woman.

"Want to dance with me?" bring Karina.

"Lo, yes," declined Attar subtly.

"Then watch me from here" he whispered in Attar's ear.

Attar smiled knot.

Karina walks towards the dance floor, then blends into the music of the disc jockey. His gaze was fixed on Attar, while Attar brushed him off. He holds the glass that has been refilled.

"Bro, don't you dance with Karina?" Ziko patted his shoulder.

"Kok you didn't tell me if you wanted to invite him?" ask Attar jengah.

"Well, I'll follow the commanding officer's orders. You say free to invite who, how the hell?!" Ziko grabbed Attar's glass and gulped it down the toilet.

"It doesn't have to mean me either" Attar grumbled. Ziko grinned.

"Lo aja memenin him until this event is finished," said Attar.

"I'm sure I don't want to talk to Karina much. That guy's cool, Bro!" Ziko.

"Gue to the balcony first." Attar patted Ziko on the shoulder and then got up from the bar table while walking and left Ziko without an answer.

"Well, Bro!" Karina stared questionnaires at Ziko, while the master of the ceremony simply gave an answer by raising both her shoulders and hands. Samar, a disappointed look was painted on that tyrannical face.

**

Attar puffed out a puff of smoke a split second later carried by the wind. He remembered what Mother said this afternoon. Indeed, after graduating from college with results that were not too bad, he became a lawyer aka unemployment that many events. Not true unemployment, because several times working with a friend who has a wedding organizer business. His income was not great when compared to the monthly rations received from his parents, but what he liked about the job, did not bind him to be constantly in the office every day.

In fact, the father has given a job offer that has a promising career in one of his client's companies, but his desire is still slack to obey the procedures of a company.

"What do you think about?" Karina stood next to Attar.

"I don't think anything" he replied in surprise because the woman was still following him.

Karina smiled wryly. "Do you think?" He then snatched a cigarette from Attar's fingers. Suck it in, then puff it towards Attar.

The wavy long haired woman showed a hint of disappointment at feeling rejected by her presence. Meanwhile, Attar only chuckled at his attitude.

"You're feeling lonely in a crowd, aren't you?" This time Karina shortened the distance with Attar.

"Not really," he said without looking.

"Ziko said something different to me. I think we're the same fate" Karina said again exhaling smoke at Attar. This time it was more relaxed.

"Next time I'll chop his mouth," joked Attar.

“Both of my parents were very busy, not even the birthday of his son could remember. All my parents had in mind was to make as much money for my future" Karina said.

Attar just smiled. At least, the mother still remembers the day of her birth and still cares about her, every day even if only by phone or chat.

"What if we get out of here? Looks like you're really good," asked Karina.

"Gue isn't too bad for this show anyway," she replied subtly.

"You're really weird" he said with a smile.

Suddenly, Karina moved and was right in front of Attar, removing the distance between the two. Karina's fingers rubbed gently on the face of the Javanese-German crossbreed man. The fresh aroma is imbued by Attar.

"Wait, Kar.." said Attar.

**

Before Attar's party.

The smell of meat soto wafted in the kitchen of Attar's apartment. This mandatory food menu is made specifically on Attar's birthday by the mother, since she retired from work. Attar, wearing a plain white t-shirt, light gray jogger pants and unbrushed hair, walked out of the room while inhaling a pleasant aroma from behind the door. He laughed to see the mother wearing a shower cap and a teddy bear patterned apron bought by him as a birthday gift a few months ago.

"Why use a shower cap anyway, Bun?" Attar laughed again as he pulled one of the dining chairs.

"Who is at home, Mother bring it here," he replied presenting meat soto in a white bowl.

"Thank you Mrs Haryo for her special cooking." Attar semringah sniffed the appetizing aroma.

"Where do you have a candidate who wants to be known to Mother?" Attar throws a smile. In fact, he was quite surprised by the question of the Mother because indeed the mother almost never questioned about the woman who was in his life.

"Not yet, Bun," he answered, bribing the food.

"You're not a college kid anymore and you're old enough to be in a serious relationship. There is no harm in thinking about it from now on." Attar just nodded.

"Most importantly you have to take responsibility, love him wholeheartedly and less-than-his party," said the mother, taking one of the dishes on the table.

Attar chuckled, "What kind of candidate do you want?"

Replace the mother chuckles, "Gini day is the most important of the faith, she is ready to marry and ready to be a good mother for your children later, loyal and understanding in any condition. Don't be kayaking in that drama."

"This is Mommy again confiding?" attar Goda.

"Kurhat!" timpale.

Suddenly, the bell rang.

"Who's coming?" ask the Mother.

"Ziko, take the car," he answered, turning his back to his mother.

"Now, Bro." Ziko thrust out the car keys as she emerged from behind the door.

"Thanks!" said it.

“Please meet nyokap.” Attar gives Ziko room to walk.

"Come, Ko. Lunch with yuk!" shouted the Mother friendly.

"Ready, Bun!" the answer hurriedly approached and then regretted it.

"Well, this nutritional improvement is anyway," said Ziko seemed impatient to taste. The mother's laughter in Ziko's divorce had not eaten her mother's cooking for two years. His father was almost the same as Attar's father, busy working and rarely communicate.

"You eat a lot, Ko. It will also be made at home." The mother threw the plate at him.

“Wah, thanks, Bun!” his face was as young as a little boy bought a coveted toy.

"He shouldn't be told to eat banyk, Bun. Less than half an hour also ludes!" joke Attar. Ziko only chuckled as she focused on the scent of soto which provoked a rowdy sound inside her stomach.

After a few minutes, Attar's phone rang. DADDYH.

***