Best Mate [English Version]

Bab 15

    Still remember clearly, that day, during mango season, the Little Ant Gang gathered at Fara's home while eating arumanis mangoes. Fara's father who is a lecturer in Japanese Literature at a state university in Jakarta, received a shipment of mangoes from his student.

    "Studying Japanese Literature, ended up becoming a mango boss. You should major in business management," said Eri, peeling a mango.

    "Sometimes our work doesn't match our college major," continued Fara peeling a mango.

    "My two older brothers work according to their college majors." Rheya has finished peeling the mango, now she is slicing the fruit.

    "Of course, Kak Arya studied medicine, then suddenly worked at *BMKG. Yes, that's impossible."
(*Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Council).

    "Eh, who knows. BMKG employees also need a doctor, right, if they are sick. Kak Arya can become a doctor there."

    "It could be." Eri nodded, her words were refuted. Then she turned to another topic, something she remembered on the way to Fara's home. "Did you know? I was riding a Gojek earlier. When I got to the red light, there were two guys on the motorbike next to me. The guy riding behind hugged him really tightly. Yuck." She made a goosebumps motion.

    "It's his brother," said Rheya casually, feeding a slice of mango.

    "His brother isn't like that either. Then they held hands like that. Oh, my gosh!" Eri gave a disgusted reaction.

    "Hm." Rheya and Fara only gave flat, normal and disinterested reactions.

    "Why are you just normal?" Confused Eri.

    "That's their business." Rheya doesn't care.

    "But they're boy and boy."

    "So what?"

    "Not appropriate, Rhe."

    Fara's eyes looked alternately at Eri, then Rheya, while her mouth was busy chewing a mango. Sometimes they have different thoughts as is happening now.

    "Eri, listen to me." Rheya's voice turned firm. "That's their life. Those who live it. Those who are happy. Those who feel. I'm nobody and I don't know anything about them. I have no right to comment on their lives. Even my life is not necessarily right."

    The chewing in Fara's mouth slowed. Eri was silent, more out of fear, because Rheya was pointing a knife at her when she spoke.

    "So you will accept it?" Eri slowly took the knife from Rheya's hand. It's also scary if the conversation turns tense and they talk while holding a knife like this.

    "You?" Rheya asked Eri again.

    "I can't accept it!"

    The conversation had passed, but Rheya still clearly remembered that Eri couldn't accept that. Moreover, the reality is happening before Eri's eyes right now. Eri is like a human who was bewitched into a statue. Stiff and in deep shock.

    As if she had an inner connection, Fara took quick steps to block Eri who was about to leave, while Rheya held Eri's elbow. Eri's tears fell, she was not ready to accept the reality in front of her.