GALIH AYU (The General)
growing wild in silence

the year had just passed, but the residence of the royal commander of the mahestraja looked very quiet. Almost all the men in the family went to the border for the inspection of the soldiers who were there.

in this condition only lived third brother Aum who was in the royal city.

responsible for the home and all its inhabitants. Argata Edi, who was called mas aga by his little brother, could not leave the house as he pleased as usual.

until when Prince Panji wants to meet him who will come to the residence of the commander.

and during that time the awkwardness and anger of Prince Panji on Aum gradually subsided.

like today, in a small pendopo near a large field.a pair of young people were playing chess seriously.they were Prince Panji and Argata Edi. and on the sidelines was a target board, and a little girl standing on the opposite side stretched out her arrow with certainty.

in a matter of seconds three arrows were stuck in the three target points precisely.

Graha the servant ran around to pluck out the arrows that were there for reuse.

' your little sister can later turn into charcoal arga' said the prince panji casually.

he looked at his friend's sister.

arga who is accustomed to the nature of the prince pennant hate on his sister feels strange.unusually the prince who he knows is very vengeful it can act ordinary on his sister after the incident how many years ago it.

' let it go, so that there is no need to marry people' said arga origin.

prince Panji grinned not understanding.

where there is a sister who is so cruel to let her sister become a spinster.

' you are so hearty?! ' cried the prince panji strangely.

' I can't trust Aum to others, I think it's better that he continues in my supervision' said Arga seriously.

prince Panji could only sigh resignedly, he was used to the hyperprotective nature of the arga brothers on his sister.and he also knew very well that arga was the brother with the most excessive level of brother complex.

' then can you let her be a spinster and live alone her whole life? '

ask prince panji wonder.

' i'd rather she be made a concubine or cheated on by her husband, it's so terrible if it happened to Aum'

Arga shook his head quickly.

'can't imagine' said arga firmly.

Prince Panji could only agree with the argument of his little friend.

and the look in his eyes again caught the small figure who was still struggling with his bow.

she thought that later Galih Aumani would not be an ordinary woman.

the figure who took a bow that was almost as big as his body.The figure of the girl who never feared being stung by the heat of the sun.must in the future become a big man.

~ • ~ • ~~~~ • ~ • ~

after almost a day he practiced archery Aum lay his body on the side of an artificial lake opposite the bamboo forest in the yard of his family home.

the rustling sound of bamboo leaves rubbing carried his sleepiness even heavier.Slowly the slightly pale eyelids closed.

without knowing there was someone else looking from afar.

' Graha? is your master used to being so free? '

ask prince panji wonder.

' answered his highness the prince of panji, my master is indeed a little free from ordinary women' Graha replied definitely.

prince Panji involuntarily smiled, looking at Aum's strange slumbering behavior.

' don't let anyone see him, put the guard up there again so that no one else comes in. You're so lost' said the prince.

Graha could only say yes to the prince who left the place. Graha's heart grumbled.

' trus prince won it is not a person.

and he himself also barged in. where there were others who dared besides him. '

he immediately woke up his master.

'princess, the time is getting darker. You have to go back to the room.

the show will be titled soon'

said Graha, he knew the princess must have listened to him.

'well' replied Aum quickly, as he jumped up and ran into his room.

tonight there will be an art show in the yard, an activity that is always done every early in the year, the grandmother insisted on holding it even though the head of the household was not in place.

' there's arga here, I've also spoken to my son. So stop worrying, prepare all the necessities'

my grandmother said at the time.

Aum had finished bathing and changed clothes, he looked at his reflection in the mirror. he scratched his temple awkwardly. The clothes he wore felt strange in his view. It had been 2 years he did not attend the official event, he did not attend, so this long kebaya is the only new shirt that is covered.

one more thing that Aum dislikes at official banquets is, the bun.

like receiving punishment alone it felt, so right now Aum decided to just tie half of her hair and let the other half fall down on her back.

' wow today you are very other?'

familiar sounds entered Aum's hearing.

aum immediately turned his body.

' what is the Prince doing here?'

ask Aum.

Prince Panji got down from the window and walked towards the long sofa where Aum used to be lazing.

' the show hasn't started yet, while Arga is busy, so I'm seeing you'

answer lightly.

aum's brows furrowed, indicating that he did not like the arrival of the prince.

' you can chat with the horses in the stable' said Aum origin, then turned his body to look at the mirror again.

re-examine his appearance.

' you are very beautiful now' said Prince Panji casually.

Aum blushed, he knew the prince was just saying the truth, but still he felt ashamed of being praised by the opposite sex.

Aum has a graceful face, his sweet smile sometimes makes people melt in his charms, but his arrogant and indifferent attitude makes not everyone realize his beauty.

' Aum has been beautiful since long ago'

aum replied shyly.

the small conversation was frequent, almost every time the pennant prince would come sneaking into Aum's room through the window.

there was nothing they discussed, usually Aum was busy with his activities while the prince just sat watching him.

as now he was sitting lazily on a sofa while eating his favorite snack Aum, spiced potato pieces.

occasionally comment on this, sarcastically.

' you really have no job?

every time you go into the girls' room, do you want to be responsible if something happens'

said Aum did not like, his heart was restless.

the prince of panji looked at Aum straight.

' my reputation as a woman is still very important, but you don't care about going in and out of my room'

reprimand Aum.

' I'll marry you then'

said Prince Panji lightly.

Aum looked at the prince panji in disbelief.

for some reason there was a hint of hope appearing in the depths of his heart, but, but,

' come out prince, I'll go first' said Aum quickly.

he rushed out of the room and shouted to his loyal servant, Graha.

he was aware of his status, he realized that the conversation was just nonsense, but the hope in his heart grew without him noticing.

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

the entire main courtyard of the commander's residence looks lively, every corner looks brightly lit. There are no rules so strict, making this banquet feel more alive. what's more with the status of the neutral commander's family in the King's court, there are no camps that attack each other or even in groups. Female and male guests sit opposite, opposite each other, and the stage of the show was in the middle.

the banquet this time was as lively as before.

since then Aum has been sitting by the side of larasaty's mother and her mother on the side of one another.

enjoying the show and occasionally chiming in questions from other guests.

the clear eyes of Aum were cluttering with Prince Panji who was staring at him.

Aum without fear of looking back, he was quite upset with a close friend of mas arga, although arguably familiar with it as well.

' Aum, lower your eyes' orders larasaty's mother.

the mother's clasped hands pressed her head gently, making Aum bow.

'mother?! ' Aum sulks.

' you must not carelessly look at people so blatantly'

' anything else is prince nak'

advice of the mother and expressed by her birth mother.

Aum obeyed the mother's explanation, after all, he had no intention whatsoever on Prince Panji.just annoyed with his arrogant powerhouse attitude.

and also his habit of sneaking into Aum's room, it's taboo.but what's the power of Aum is only a concubine's son who was appointed a legitimate child, while he was the second Prince in the kingdom of the maestra.

The king and queen's favorite prince, and also the crown prince.

' the prince who mocked Aum mother first'

said Aum lirih.

sandrani's mother stroked her daughter's hair slowly,

' keep the attitude son, he is the son of the king'

mother's advice.with reluctance Aum obey the mother and try to enjoy the show.

the night is getting late, Aum who is still underage is allowed to return to the room.

with sleepiness drowsiness aum accompanied Graha back to his room.

' mady rest immediately' said Graha after arriving at her room.

only a murmur that the house heard, then the princess staggered towards the door of her room. After being helped by two beloved servants changed clothes and washed Aum's face lay down in the bed.

the footsteps sounded,

' you didn't return to the palace, what are you here for!?'

aum asked annoyedly, without fear.

the pennant who felt caught off guard just laughed softly, and sat down casually on the sofa.

' let me rest for a while, I'll be gone for another 2 hours' without sin he spoke, how stupid this man is.

the guest room in the courtyard is no less when used by all guests, and with no sin Prince Panji sleeps on the sofa of his room.

but Aum can only complain in his heart. arguing that he will lose, better he sleeps and lowers his sleep sheath more.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

togetherness that continues to occur, make them accustomed to each other. time passes like flowing water, year after year passed.The feeling that initially only sprouts have become a vast wilderness. complicated story slowly entered in their story series with their age increasing especially Prince Panji who had stepped on the age of 17 years. while Aum was 12. many choices sometimes do not give us a way out. But whatever they are still together, although sometimes without talking. busyness does not make the Prince stop infiltrating Aum's room. when the time is loose he will appear on the shutters, and infiltrate without being discovered.when in fact the servants and occupants of the residence of the commander also already know, but they pretend not to know. after all they only chatted lightly at all times.like tonight as well,

' war breaks out again in the east, while your father and brothers are in the north and west.the king is racking his brains'

prince Panji confided he attended the court early in the morning and just came home tonight.

Aum served him a snack and a glass of warm tea, after which he was again busy with a war strategy book that he borrowed from his father's library.

' can I go down to the battlefield? ' he asked doubtfully, either to Aum or to himself.

Aum took down the book he read, staring back at Prince Panji.

' it's better that way, second brother is on his way to the east right? '

prince Panji nodded his head,

' he barely came home these 3 years, he's spinning around the border. With his experience you must have helped'

' after all I will also go west after my father, he needs advisors and strategists like me' said Aum.

the prince looked at him in disbelief.

' You're going to war? did your mother and grandmother allow it? '

asked the prince wonder.

'since when can they fight my argument? '

Aum answered with a cry.

' and dad had no other choice, last year's imperial exam in the military I was the first champion, for what champion if I didn't use it. The king could only agree'

Aum answered lazily.

' you're not afraid of me entangling another woman on the eastern border?' god the Prince.

Aum raised his face quickly, the look on his face became gloomy.

' if you dare? just do it, after all you will also marry another woman not me'

said Aum a little upset.

their conversation will be sensitive if they start this conversation again.The engagement that was naturally not a problem is now a big stone that blocks their story.

' this is the engagement that the King's father gave me, where can I refuse. instead I have explained' the voice of the Prince of Panji slightly rose. he was also agitated, but could not do anything.

Aum can only be silent, that's reality and it's inevitable.

Prince Panji has been stalling for marriage and can no longer. In his heart the crumble is dim, this undue feeling makes Aum helpless.

his love is reciprocated, all so beautiful in 5 years. initially they only think today, but it turns out this is inevitable. several times they quarreled about the match but reconcile as usual and again maybe they re-enacted.

and now it's time to accept the reality,

'i know' replied Aum briefly.

and silence silenced them all night, and Prince Panji did not leave his room until the morning. He realizes Aum is running away from him on the grounds of his father, but he can choose not to go.

then I'll go east too.

disconnections.

tbc....