The sun had set on the western horizon, leaving behind a captivating orange sky. The aroma of delicious food filled the room, stimulating the appetite. Sinta carefully set the dining table. Adelia and Akhzam were already sitting sweetly, waiting. Only Naufal was not yet seen. Sinta was still awkward, only a week into being part of this family, but she was trying her best to adapt. She occasionally glanced at the wall clock, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Yang..," Sinta called, her voice soft but slightly nervous. "Ayang.."
She walked into the room, her steps a little hesitant. Naufal was busy on the phone, his shoulders tense, focused on the conversation. Sinta approached slowly, not wanting to disturb him.
"Yang.." Sinta called again, more softly this time.
Naufal, who was on the phone, turned around, "Yes, what is it?"
"Let's eat," Sinta invited, hoping her husband would join soon. She was still adjusting to her new routine as a wife, and missed the romantic atmosphere between them.
"In a minute," Naufal replied, his voice sounding a little rushed. "I'll take this call from Aipda Dimas first."
"Will you come straight to the dining table later?" Sinta asked again, making sure. She tried to remain calm, even though her heart was pounding. The presence of Aipda Dimas in the conversation made her a little worried.
"Yes.." Naufal replied briefly, his voice still sounding busy with the phone. He looked serious, frowning.
Sinta sighed softly. She immediately left the room, walking towards the dining room. Adelia and Akhzam were ready to eat dinner. Akhzam, innocently, asked about his brother's whereabouts.
"Where's Abang Naufal, Ma?" Akhzam asked, his eyes sparkling as he waited for his brother's arrival. He seemed enthusiastic, waiting to tell him about his days at school.
"Your brother is busy, dear," Adelia replied gently, stroking her son's hair. "We'll wait a little longer. After dinner, Abang Naufal will play with you."
Sinta sat next to Adelia, "Go ahead, Ma. If we wait for Naufal to talk to his members, we might not eat at all," Sinta suggested, feeling sorry for her mother and brother-in-law for waiting too long. She tried to be friendly and understanding, wanting to be well-received by this new family.
Adelia smiled, understanding the situation. "We'll wait a little longer," Adelia repeated, "Naufal will definitely come soon. He must be hungry too after a long day at work."
A few minutes passed, and Naufal finally came out of the room. He looked a little tired, but his smile still managed to melt the atmosphere. Sinta felt a little relieved to see her husband.
"Yang.." Naufal called, "I'm going out, okay?"
Sinta looked at Naufal who was reaching for the car keys. Worry resurfaced, only a week after getting married, and her husband already had to leave again. "Where to?" she asked, her voice a little shaky.
"There's work," Naufal replied, "Don't wait up because I don't know what time I'll be home. Going to arrest a target. I'm leaving, Mom?" he said goodbye to his mother.
"Be careful," Adelia and Sinta said almost simultaneously, their voices filled with worry.
Naufal nodded, kissed his wife's forehead briefly before hurrying away. Sinta sat back down, watching her husband leave. She felt a little sad, only a week after getting married, the time together felt so short.
"Ma, does Naufal often do this?" Sinta asked, her voice sounding a little worried. She was beginning to understand the demands of her husband's job.
"Yes, dear," Adelia replied, "Naufal's job requires him to always be on standby. But you don't have to worry, he always comes home safely. He is a responsible and professional policeman."
They had dinner in silence, only occasionally interrupted by Akhzam's cheerful voice telling stories about his school. Sinta occasionally glanced at the wall clock, waiting for Naufal's return. However, time continued to pass. The clock showed ten o'clock at night, Naufal had not yet returned.
Sinta began to feel anxious. She tried to contact Naufal, but her call was not answered. The anxiety grew even more. She was still very new to this, not yet used to Naufal's job. Although she already knew her husband's job, bad thoughts began to appear in her mind.
Adelia saw Sinta's behavior. She stroked her daughter-in-law's hand, trying to calm her down. "Be patient, Sinta. Naufal must be fine. Maybe there are obstacles on the road."
Sinta nodded, trying to calm herself. Adelia smiled, trying to change the subject.
"Oh yeah, you guys saw your house, right? How was it?" she asked, trying to divert Sinta's thoughts.
"Yes, Ma. Actually, it's ready to be occupied. The house is nice, spacious, and comfortable. It's also close to Naufal's office. But later, when Sinta comes back here for the new semester break, we'll live there. Next week Sinta has to go back to Jakarta. There are lectures."
"You guys.. Will you bring Raisa?" Adelia asked.
Sinta turned her head.
"Sorry if the decision Naufal made hurt Mama.."
"It's okay. Raisa is not at fault. And no matter what, she is Naufal's younger sister. She has been living with that doctor for 3 months. It feels like it's been enough trouble for him. He is a stranger."
Sinta pondered.
"That woman.. The doctor who takes care of Raisa, is she beautiful?" Sinta asked.
"Mama has never met her and Raisa even once. Don't know where they live either. Raisa is only connected to Naufal because Naufal's grandfather and uncle don't allow Raisa to enter this family."
"Naufal already told me. That's why Sinta asked us to just get married. So Raisa can live with us."
"Thank you, dear.. You are very kind. It's late, let's rest."
"Yes, Ma.."
At 00:30 in the morning, Naufal stepped slowly into the room, the dim light of the bedside lamp illuminating the room. He saw Sinta sleeping soundly on the bed, her body wrapped in a thin blanket, her hair spread out on the pillow. A faint smile was etched on Naufal's lips, seeing his wife who looked so calm in her sleep. He carefully took off his jacket, trying not to make a sound that could wake Sinta.
He approached the bed, gently lying down next to Sinta. Gently, he stroked Sinta's hair, feeling its softness. His touch was so careful, not wanting to wake his wife who was fast asleep. After making sure Sinta was sleeping soundly, Naufal took his cellphone from his pants pocket. His cellphone screen lit up, showing a message from an unknown number that was still unread. He opened the message, rereading the words that made him a little uneasy:
"Good evening, Ipda. Naufal. Still hunting drug dealers? Come on… If you don't care about your life, think about your wife who has only been enjoying the beauty of marriage for a week. Don't waste the pleasures of the world."
The veiled threat in the message made Naufal sigh deeply. This wasn't just a warning, it felt like a real threat. He glanced at Sinta who was still fast asleep, feeling a great responsibility to protect his family.
Suddenly, Sinta moved and opened her eyes. "Are you home, Yang?" her voice was still hoarse with sleepiness.
Naufal smiled, "Just now. Sorry, did I wake you up?"
Sinta shook her head, "It's okay. I've been waiting for a long time." She wrapped her arms around Naufal's stomach, seeking warmth. "Finally I can sleep soundly," she whispered, resting her head on Naufal's chest.
Naufal returned Sinta's hug, feeling the softness and warmth of his wife's body. He hugged her tightly, trying to calm himself and Sinta. "How was your assignment tonight?" Sinta asked.
Naufal sighed softly, "A long night, dear. The arrest was quite tense, but thank God everything went smoothly." He deliberately didn't tell her the details, not wanting to worry Sinta. He just wanted to give his wife peace.
"I'm worried, Yang," Sinta said softly, "I'm still not used to your job. I mean.. I know your job, but we weren't married before."
Naufal kissed the top of Sinta's head, "I understand, dear. I promise to always be careful. Your safety is my priority." He tried to convince Sinta, giving her a sense of security and protection.
Sinta hugged Naufal tighter, seeking protection in her husband's arms. The warmth of Naufal's body, the distinctive aroma of his calming perfume, made her feel safe and protected.
"Good night, dear.." Naufal whispered in Sinta's ear.