BECAUSE I LOVE YOU
“Elena! Didn’t think we could meet here!” said Dinda with a big smile.
Elena just smiled wryly as she looked at a beautiful girl wearing a batik uniform bearing the words of her uncle’s Alfarizi foundation. So Dinda’s daughter goes to school there? In accordance with the principles of politeness, Elena stood up to greet her rival in winning Devan’s love. Citra and Melodi also stood up to greet Dinda. They thought that the woman and her daughter were Elena’s distant relatives.
“Okay, you can continue, I’ll go first,” said Dinda when the girl beside her sulked and tugged at her hand.
“Yes, Auntie,” Elena replied briefly then sat back down.
Elena hurriedly took a sip of her cold drink to reduce the heat inside her that was present just because she met her rival. In fact, Dinda didn’t go with Devan but her own daughter. But Elena still felt disgusted seeing Dinda’s face, which she thought was kind and elegant.
“Your brother was really beautiful just now, El!” Praise Melodi as she fed food into it again.
“Good afternoon!” said Elena in a loud voice.
“Afternoon,” said someone from inside. Elena immediately stepped towards the source of the sound.NôvelDrama.Org owns this text.
“Elena, are you alone?” said the beautiful woman named Aisya.
“Hehehe… Sis Kia is there Bude?” Elena asked straight to the point to avoid any more questions from Aisyah.
“He’s in his room, he’s just come home from college,” Aisya answered while pinching Elena’s cheek in exasperation.
“El went straight up, didn’t he? There’s important business between teenagers,” chuckled Elena, deliberately whispering.
“Yeah, just go up there! Anyway, if you want to eat, take it yourself, okay?” said Aisya with a gentle smile.
For Elena, this middle-aged woman is a perfect mother figure. In her entire life, Elena had never seen her aunt angry with her two cousins, Azka and Kia. But that doesn’t mean Mommy isn’t a good mother. For Elena, Mommy is everything even though she is sometimes fussy. So among all the cogan club wives, only Aisya and Nidya have a gentle nature in every word and deed.
Knock… Knock… Knock…
Three times Elena knocked on Kia’s door. Hearing a reply from inside, Elena immediately pressed the doorknob. While saying hello, Elena pushed the door wide open. Kia, who was seen relaxing on the bed with a book in her hand, then invited her younger cousin to come in. Kia changed the position from lying on her stomach to sitting.
“Have you prayed yet?” Kia asked when she saw Elena who was still wearing her school uniform.
“Not yet Sis,” replied Elena briefly as she smiled broadly, showing off her white teeth.
“Pray first!” Kia’s order was serious, which Elena immediately complied with.
Since childhood, Kia has been taught by her parents to perform the five daily prayers on time. Kia shook her head when she saw the clock on the wall in her room which was showing almost two o’clock. The limit for performing midday prayers has reached the threshold. Kia always remembers the message from her father. “Improve your prayers and God will improve your life.”
Knowing Elena’s habit of often being late for prayers when outside the house made Kia feel disappointed. This is because Elena’s parents, who are also her uncle and aunt, have provided their children with religious knowledge. Yes, even though Kia and Elena’s parents did not demand that the two girls wear the hijab. But they always aim to live a good life according to Islamic law. Kia herself already has the intention to wear the hijab. But for now Kia really isn’t ready to cover her hair.
While waiting for Elena to pray, Kia continued reading the book about business in her hand. Kia has always been interested in the business world like her father. Unlike his older brother, Azka, who actually wants to become a doctor.
Not wanting to linger, Elena immediately folded Kia’s mukena and prayer mat neatly then put them back in their place. Elena climbed onto the bed and lay down next to Kia who was lying on her stomach.
“Sis, can I ask you something?” Elena asked while looking at the ceiling of the room.
“Hmmm…,” Kia muttered while remaining focused on the book in her hand.
“What does falling in love feel like?” Elena innocently asked. Suddenly Kia looked at Elena with unreadable eyes. Even Elena didn’t catch the slightest emotion on her older cousin’s beautiful face.
“Who do you like?” push Kia to the point. Get straight to the heart of the matter.
This was the first time his younger cousin asked him about love. This is normal considering that Elena has now grown up. Falling in love is something normal. In fact, he thinks Elena is too childish. Of course, falling out of friends the same age has become a common thing, it is even common for high school level teenagers to change boyfriends.
Elena’s eyes conveyed a meaning. However, his tongue felt numb just saying Devan’s name in front of Kia. Elena is not ready to accept all the risks. Elena’s heart was arguing again. Give each other the right arguments. Either tell the truth to Kia or it’s better to keep it a secret before her goal is achieved.
“Just be honest. Your secret is safe with me,” said Kia, starting to feel curious. Who is the lucky man who managed to become Elena’s first love? Then Kia put a bookmark to mark the page she was reading so she wouldn’t lose it. Then follow Elena’s position. Facing the ceiling of his room.
“There’s nothing wrong with falling in love, El. It’s natural for us servants of God to love each other. What’s not allowed is if we fall in love too much. The term is blind love,” said Kia, starting their serious conversation.
“If you fall in love with a man who is older?” Elena said as she turned her head, looking at Kia who was also looking at her.
“Yes, that’s okay. We never know who we will fall in love with. The heart will choose who is worthy of love or not based on logic. But when you have blind love, usually logic doesn’t work,” Kia explained and ended with a small chuckle from her.
To be honest, Kia was also falling in love with a friend of her organization. But Kia preferred to keep quiet and keep her feelings to herself before the man realized it himself. As a woman, Kia maintains her self-respect as much as possible. Kia wants to be like her parents who dated after marriage. A romantic and harmonious couple who is his role model. Therefore, Kia fought her own feelings as much as possible so as not to love this man deeply.
“Are you serious, Sis?” said Elena with a big smile. Kia’s support has certainly revived her enthusiasm, which had sagged, to pursue Devan’s love.
“Be serious, but my advice is to just be honest with Uncle and Aunt.” Kia’s answer succeeded in destroying his newly built self-confidence. How can Elena be honest with her parents who always limit her social interactions, especially her father. For now, Elena doesn’t dare to take risks before Devan knows how she feels.
“Sis Kia isn’t fun! El came here to confide. If you confide in Daddy, you can get free tausiah for 7 days and 7 nights!” Elena replied irritably.
“Hus… You can’t talk like that El!” warned Kia with a chuckle. Everyone also knows how Jeremy treats Elena, who is like guarding a diamond. Never mind being touched by other people, just looking at it, the possessive man will definitely be angry.
“Sis Kia doesn’t even know Daddy!” Honestly, Elena is full of resignation.
“That’s a sign that Daddy loves you, El,” consoled Kia and then changed her position again. Kia looked closely at El’s face, someone who looked unenthusiastic.
Kia was silent for a moment, looking deeply at Elena to find honesty there. Even with Elena. The girl was only able to speak silently. Give Kia time to understand the contents of her heart which is currently in turmoil.
“Do you really love him?” Kia asked seriously.
Elena did not immediately answer this sacred question because she was still unsure about her current position. For him, falling in love is so abstract and gray. What he only understands now is that he wants to have Devan.
“Maybe…” Elena answered briefly. “I love her.”