34 Talk

As the night progresses, the streets of Surabaya are not getting quieter, but instead they are getting busier and funnier. The two of us headed to my rented house which was not far from the main busy street of Surabaya City, still with Ayu who was behind my motorbike, different from the expression when I left earlier, she was very enthusiastic and always invited me to chat while continuing to chuckle in amazement at the beauty of the city of Surabaya. which she had never set foot in this city. Now she seems more silent and doesn't express anything,

Maybe because she's stuck because she already knows I have a lover or because she's tired all day, considering that Ayu had a lot of activities, from cleaning my place, washing my clothes without being asked, obviously must wash her own clothes as well as her father, right? Not to mention shopping and cooking, of course the energy is getting drained. Whereas I've been normal with Ayu, I was invited to chat, I answered, if there was no conversation, I was silent. I remembered Inez's message not to get too close and intimate with other women, apart from her. Take care not to give her hope.

Seen from my view a hundred meters ahead is the alley where my rented is located, the two of us are getting closer and are about to get to their home.

When I entered my rented yard, Ayu was sitting on Ayu's father's porch while smoking and spitting out cigarette smoke. Ayu's father was already waiting.

"Father hasn't slept yet?" After getting off my motorbike, she went straight to her father.

"No, not sleepy yet and just want to wait for you guys," puffs of cigarette smoke scattered in the air which was greeted by the cold night.

"How is Arman? isn't it far?" asked the father.

"Uhm, not really sir" I replied.

"Here, let's sit down first, I want to chat, emh Ayu .. Ayu .." while inviting me to chat with her, he called Ayu who had gone to the room, put her jacket and maybe her bag.

"Yes Father," she answered from inside.

"Please make me *Wedang Jahe anget*, make two, yes, Mas Arman." Dad ordered Ayu.

"Arman has been wandering in Surabaya for a long time?"

I answered according to the facts, starting from the initial internship at a well-known Design and Printing Company in Surabaya when I was still a STM, also until I was recruited here with several contemporaries from different schools, until I was willing to wander and survive these five years, I also told how my company moves and advances its field as a printer supplier throughout Indonesia, and is accompanied by a competent maintenance team, one of which is the Ardy Department, who is ready to fix the tools they have marketed to all customers, they are ready to be flown if needed.

"Arman's job is very interesting, no plans to work in Yogyakarta yet?"

"No sir, I really feel at home here" I answered brightly, which is one of the reasons I feel at home is none other than because I found my love here, my Inez.

Ayu's father, oh yes. I haven't told his name, have I? Mr. Syamsudin his name. He took turns taking the topic of Ayu, but before that, as a courtesy, Pak Syamsudin asked how my father was. Riswanto Wijaya's my father, because of his out-of-town work, which causes Father and I to rarely see each other even though we are neighbors, of course good news and always in his protection for my father, even though he rarely comes home, but I always give news to my father. After I mastered the topic of conversation earlier, regarding my work from the beginning until now, now Mr. Syams tells about the profile of his daughter Ayu, Ehm ... maybe a little ad __aish ...

He admitted that he was very happy when his daughter got a call to work in Surabaya, initially objected, but Ayu's wishes were not able to be intercepted by Ayu's parents and Ayu's older brother. Finally they granted Ayu's request to work outside the city far from her hometown. Moreover, Mr. Syams and her family feel calm because I am also in the city of Surabaya, so there is no need to be anxious and can ask for my help to at least give news about Ayu who can meet once a week or two, and can update each other via cell phone at any time. thought Ayu's father. hummm ... what do you think I'm security guard Ayu? I think sir, if you give assignments to other people, I also have my own tasks and activities.

But without thinking about how hard it is for me to feel in the care of a woman who is not my sister or brother and not even my brother, how could such a heavy burden be carried on me? Especially when a single girl lives in a boarding house, it's definitely not possible for me to always know her condition, Humm.. Mr. Syamsudin is a bit of a jerk! The distance between us can't be said to be close, surely I can't monitor Ayu's condition 24 hours?, because my time is getting less and less because I am being pressed for time, it will decrease and be divided between my time with Inez and Ayu.

"Uhm.... but I am best I can, sir, let me know about Ayu, because I am works in marketing, i will often works out of town, sometimes for a week, sometimes just a few days.

Sir, it depends on Arman's working conditions."

"Oh that's right, Yes ... later I can also call Ayu myself, but also while watching Arman, yes, if you have time Ayu will be seen" Asked Mr. Syams with a laugh.

Not long after, the two cups of ginger wedang that her father asked for came. She handed one for her father and one for me.

"Come sit here too Ayu here for a moment"

"Ayu has talked a lot with Arman Well, so Ayu goes in first, right? Because tomorrow Ayu wants to get up early Well, walking around the alley while running is an exciting sport, I think, while in Surabaya" Ayu's smile was real on her face, huh? Morning exercise?.. Pfiiuuuhhh!! I've never exercised in the morning in this complex, mostly just warming up or jogging in the front yard.

Mr. Syams, who heard Ayu's reasoning, immediately agreed and Ayu rushed to my room, indeed I let my room go for Ayu to sleep, while Dad was planning on the sofa, then I used the floor roll mattress.

"Hahaa ... this is Ayu, always perfect for dividing time, she is a girl who pleases us as her parents, never disappoints us"

I who was spoken to just nodded. According to her father's confession, Ayu is an innocent and obedient girl who never argues with her parents, her vocational school that took Catering made her more perfect as a girl who would later become a perfect woman with the life skills she carried. He told me that Ayu was very quiet since school and at home, so she went to school to study seriously and did not know dating until now. According to Mr. Syams' confession, Ayu was not allowed to date until she was just the right age to work and was an adult as she is now twenty years old.