JEALOUS

"Hmm… well I'll try. But I will also provide the terms and conditions in this relationship!" Do you still want to continue this relationship?" asked Gita who originally answered.

Zaki who was surprised immediately turned to Gita and asked again, "Do you really want to try dating me, Gita? Then what are the conditions?"

Gita immediately answered according to what she thought.

"One, don't call me 'darling' or something because I don't like it!"

"Two, don't hold hands or kiss me. I can beat you! I don't want anything like that!"

"Three, never complain if I have problems or fight with other people. I have my own principles."

"That's all you can't do, we can talk about the rest!"

Gita finished with the conditions until Zaki objected to the conditions that Gita proposed.

What's the point of dating if all the fun things turn into taboos?

However, Zaki chooses to accept Gita's terms and hopes that Gita will turn out to be sweet like the relationship that Zaki wants someday. Love comes from getting used to it, that's what Zaki hopes for.

***

Barra and Mr. Hasan had just finished lunch. Mr. Hasan spoke briefly with his adopted son, Barra, before returning to the office because his break was almost over.

Mr. Hasan works as an executive officer at a State-Owned Enterprise which happens to be not far from his house, so Mr. Hasan can rest and have lunch at home.

"Assalamu'alaikum?" said greetings Gita at the door of the house while sitting open his shoes.

"Wa'alaikumsalam. Just arrived, Gita? Have you prayed Zuhur or not?" replied Mr. Hasan and asked his only daughter.

"Yes, I prayed at the school prayer room, Dad. Are you going to leave again?" asked Gita and the father nodded his head "I'll go inside, okay, Dad? I want to find something cool," said Gita while shaking her father who was about to leave again.

"Bro Barra, please get some ice water, okay! I want to change my clothes first!" Gita exclaimed to Barra, who was still in the kitchen washing the dishes from his lunch earlier.

"Tired, walking, aren't you,? I was waiting for you, but you chose to walk instead! Feel it for yourself!" Barra sneered while laughing.

"Keep mocking me!" Gita shouted from the bathroom which made Barra laugh even more.

After lunch, Gita took her school bag to the living room to do her homework. Barra also sat there and was reading the news in the paper that day. Barra was immediately shocked and turned around when she heard Gita's question.

"Bro, what's it like to be in a relationship?" asked Gita.

"I've never been in a relationship so I don't know what it's like to be dating!" Barra replied annoyed because Barra had already guessed where this topic of conversation would go.

With her innocent attitude, Gita told every detail of the discussion with Zaki earlier. Barra just listened indifferently as if lazy.

"Maybe it'll be fun, huh? Well, I'll take it slow. Besides, if I don't try, who knows what it's like to date someone?" continued Gita which made Barra's eyebrows rise.

"You're still too young, Gita… It's not good to start dating!" Barra replied annoyed.

"I didn't do anything stupid, Bro! It'd be good for me anyway because there wouldn't be any other men who would want to flirt with me if you had a partner, would they?"

"Oh, you've gone too far in your daydreams, haven't you! I've only ever let you walk with other boys and yet you've gone rogue like this!" Barra replied angrily while pulling Gita's earlobe slightly up and bringing his lips closer and whispering, "I'm going to complain to mom and dad, how about that?" Barra threatened.

"No no no, Bro! Brother, please don't tell mom and dad!" Gita persuaded Barra, "Your right, my handsome and kind Brother Barra, please don't mention this, please!" Gita continued to persuade Barra while holding Barra's hand.

Thump…

Barra's heart beat faster and strangely Barra felt it when Gita touched him. The strange feeling was like a subtle electric shock being sent straight to the heart, like a cramp but softer in taste.

Barra pulled his hand from Gita's grip which made his sister startled.

"Are you mad, Bro?" asked Gita.

"No… I'm just a little annoyed that you decided to go out!" Barra replied hiding his strange feeling.

There was silence for a moment until Barra spoke again.

"Gita, shouldn't you think about your decision again? You should focus on your education!" Barra asked.

"At first I wanted to be like that too, Bro. But Zaki kept telling me his feelings until I was bored and thought why not just try it first. Who will know if our relationship will bring goodness to both of us? You just have to pray for me to be happy, Bro!" answered Gita honestly.

"If it's just like that, you can date me and I will make you happy!" Shocking words came out of Barra's mouth.

Gita was taken aback for a moment. But after a few seconds, Gita laughed, "Hahaha, what happened to you, Bro? You're talking nonsense like this! You didn't agree with my relationship with Zaki from the start, didn't you?" asked Gita, laughing.

"You're right! I really don't approve of your relationship with Zaki. But I also don't know why I can be so upset to hear your laugh when you talk about him!" Barra answered honestly with eyes that Gita thought were really disappointed.

Gita was pensive at hearing Barra's words, which sounded more like complaints.

"Come on, Bro! Suddenly my head hurts. I'm going to sleep for a bit!" Gita said as she packed her textbooks and went to her room.

Ringing…

"Hello, Assalamu'alaikum?" Barra picked up the ringing house phone.

"Wa'alaikumsalam… is this really Gita's home phone number, sir?" asked Zaki who thought Barra was Gita's father.

"Yes, it's true. And who are you? I'm Gita's brother?" asked Barra furiously.

"I'm Zaki, Gita's friend, Bro. May I talk to Gita?" Zaki asked again.

"Isn't it enough for you to have talked along the way with Gita? Gita is taking a nap, she is tired after walking with you earlier. You can call her later, Assalamu'alaikum!" Barra answered angrily as he hung up.

"Oh my God, what's wrong with me right now? Why can I be so upset?" he muttered to himself.

Barra lay down on the long sofa and thought about what he had just said to Gita and Zaki on the phone.

Barra was annoyed when he heard that Gita was in a relationship with Zaki, but Barra didn't expect himself to be that angry.

Barra continued to daydream about his words until the clock on the wall showed it was time for Barra to go to work. Barra then said goodbye to the back of the house where Mrs. Laila was sewing.

•••

The next day, as usual, Barra took Gita to school. Early in the morning, he arrived at Mr. Hasan's house to take his beloved sister.

The motorbikes drove at a moderate speed until they reached their destination school.

"Bro, I'm going inside, okay! Be careful on the road!" said Gita as she walked and waved her hand.

"Wa'alaikumsalam... Learn what's right, okay! Don't keep fighting!" replied Barra.

Gita just nodded with a smile and then ran over to Anita who just happened to arrive.

"Who is he, Gita? He is very sweet..." Anita asked when she saw Barra who had just left.

"That's Brother Barra, the adopted son of my father and mother… And you? Why are your eyes so quick to see a handsome boy, huh?" Gita complained but still smiled at Anita.

"Foster brother? Are you sure you don't want to be more than just a foster brother? He's so cool, Gita! Aren't you tempted to just date him?" asked Anita teasingly again.

"Oh my God… what has he eaten this morning to make her so ridiculous this early?" Gita grumbled while patting her forehead.

Meanwhile, Barra, who was already riding his motorbike, slowly stopped his motorbike to the left side of the road. Barra held his chest because his heart kept pounding when he remembered Gita.

'Since when have I been like this?' Barra muttered to himself.

And that strange feeling keeps repeating itself when they physically touch intentionally or unintentionally even if it's just a handshake.

And strangely again, every time Gita talks about his relationship with Zaki, which Gita enjoys more and more, Barra feels pain in his chest.

It was a burning and suffocating feeling that prompted anger, but Barra didn't know where to let his anger go.

Barra is not aware that the feeling he is experiencing now is his jealousy of Gita. Barra has not realized that his love for Gita as an older brother to Gita has become love for the opposite sex.

Yes, Barra has fallen in love with Gita, a beautiful, energetic, and intelligent teenager who attracts Barra's sanity to forget their age which is quite far apart.

Love is blind? Yes, it has been proven to Barra who now feels love for Gita without his realizing it.