Chapter 5 One tough day came when Aulia was on campus

Aulia's pregnancy has now entered its third month, and she is starting to feel symptoms of cravings that cannot be controlled. Like many other pregnant women, Aulia experiences strong desires for certain foods that come suddenly, without being able to be predicted. However, for Aulia, these cravings bring their own challenges because she has to keep her pregnancy a secret, including from the people around her who might be suspicious if she starts to show signs of cravings.

One tough day came when Aulia was on campus, finishing her thesis revision in the library. At that time, she suddenly felt a strong urge to eat a sour young mango. The urge was so strong that it made it difficult for her to concentrate on anything other than imagining the taste of the young mango on her tongue.

Aulia bit her lip, trying to distract herself from the urge. However, the more she tried to ignore it, the stronger the urge became. She looked at her watch and realized that her thesis guidance with Mr. Bima was still a few hours away. She felt trapped, not knowing what to do to calm the burning urge.

With a feeling of restlessness, Aulia finally decided to leave the library early. She quickly tidied up her books, then walked out quickly towards the campus cafeteria, hoping to find young mangoes there. However, when she arrived at the cafeteria, she only found a few types of ordinary snacks. There were no young mangoes, nothing that could reduce the growing desire.

"Why doesn't anyone sell young mangoes here?" Aulia muttered in annoyance.

In a confused state, Aulia then remembered a small stall near the campus that sometimes sold fresh fruits. She immediately decided to go there, even though it was quite far from the campus. With quick steps, Aulia left the campus and walked towards the stall, praying in her heart that she could find what she wanted there.

Chasing Desire

Upon arriving at the small stall, Aulia immediately felt relieved when she saw the pile of young mangoes displayed in front. Without thinking, she immediately bought one, feeling as if she had just found a treasure. The mango was so fresh, with bright green skin and an appetizing aroma.

"Sister, how much is this?" asked Aulia while pointing to the mangoes.

"Ten thousand per kilo, Dek," answered the seller kindly.

Aulia nodded, then immediately paid for several kilos of young mangoes. After getting the fruit she had been dreaming of, Aulia felt very relieved and couldn't wait to go home and enjoy the mangoes with salt and chili. She walked home feeling happy, feeling that the world had suddenly become a better place just because she could get what she wanted.

Upon arriving at the apartment, Aulia immediately washed the mangoes and cut them into small pieces. She prepared salt and chili powder on a separate plate, then sat down at the dining table enthusiastically. As she began to enjoy the first piece, the sour taste of the young mango spread across her tongue, mixed with the spiciness of the chili and the saltiness of the salt. It felt so satisfying, as if all her desires and anxieties over the past few days had been instantly erased.

However, this small happiness did not last long. While enjoying the third piece of mango, the apartment door opened and Mr. Bima came in. Aulia was shocked and almost dropped the mango she was holding. Mr. Bima, who did not expect to see such a sight, looked at Aulia in confusion.

"Are you eating young mango?" asked Mr. Bima as he took off his shoes and put his bag near the door.

Aulia nodded a little embarrassedly, feeling like a child caught doing something she shouldn't have done.

"I... have a craving, Mas," Aulia answered softly.

Mr. Bima approached, seeing a plate full of young mango slices in front of his wife. He nodded in understanding, then smiled thinly.

"Cravings are like that. You know, my mother used to tell me that when she was pregnant with me, she craved eating young mangoes too," said Mr. Bima as he sat next to Aulia.

Aulia smiled at the story, feeling a little calmer. "I couldn't stop thinking about this young mango all day. I felt like I had to get it, or I'd go crazy."

Mr. Bima chuckled, then reached for one of the mango slices and tasted it. "It's fresh. How many have you eaten?"

"Just started," Aulia replied while chewing another piece of mango.

Mr. Bima nodded. "You have to be careful. Don't eat too many young mangoes, or your stomach will hurt."

Aulia nodded while still enjoying her mangoes. She knew Mr. Bima was right, but she felt that right now nothing could beat the pleasure of the young mango she was eating.

Increasingly Strange Desires

Days passed, and Aulia's cravings became more frequent with strange desires. One night, when they were relaxing in the apartment after a day of activities on campus, Aulia suddenly felt a strong urge to eat sweet martabak with an unusual topping-she wanted martabak with a combination of cheese, chocolate, and durian.

Mr. Bima, who heard Aulia's wish, could only frown, confused by the combination that he thought didn't make sense. "Are you serious about eating martabak with cheese, chocolate, and durian? That taste is so mixed up, Lia."

Aulia nodded earnestly. "I don't know why, but I really want to eat that right now."

Mr. Bima took a deep breath, but he knew how cravings could make someone do unexpected things. "Okay, I'll look for a martabak that can make toppings like that. You wait here, okay?"

That night, Mr. Bima had to go around looking for a martabak seller who could fulfill Aulia's wishes. After stopping at several martabak stalls, he finally found one that was willing to make the strange topping combination that his wife requested. When he returned to the apartment with the martabak in his hands, Mr. Bima couldn't hide his amused smile seeing how excited Aulia was to welcome the martabak.

Aulia immediately opened the martabak box and smelled the pungent aroma of durian, mixed with the sweetness of chocolate and the savory taste of cheese. Without hesitation, she immediately took a piece and bit into it with great pleasure.

"This is really delicious, bro," said Aulia with her mouth full.

Mr. Bima could only smile while shaking his head. "If you say so, I believe you. But I'm not sure I want to try it myself."

Aulia laughed, feeling lighter after getting what she wanted. Her cravings might be strange, but Mr. Bima was always by her side to fulfill them, no matter how strange they were.

Concerns That Arise

Although Mr. Bima patiently and lovingly always fulfills Aulia's desires during her cravings, he also begins to feel increasingly worried. Aulia's desires, which are sometimes strange and difficult to fulfill, make Mr. Bima worried that it could raise suspicion in the surrounding environment. Moreover, if Aulia suddenly wants something that is difficult to find near campus, they might have to look for a place further away, and that could raise questions from people who know them.

In addition, Mr. Bima is also worried about Aulia's health. Although cravings are normal, he does not want his wife to consume something that could endanger the pregnancy, especially with unusual food combinations. Every time Aulia wants something too strange, Mr. Bima always tries to provide a healthier alternative, even though he knows it cannot always satisfy Aulia's desires completely.

One night, as they were getting ready for bed, Mr. Bima decided to talk about his worries with Aulia.

"Lia, I know cravings are normal, but we have to be careful. I'm worried that if you eat strange foods too often, it could affect your health and our baby's," Mr. Bima said gently.

Aulia looked at her husband with a serious expression, then nodded slowly. "I understand too, Mas. But sometimes the desire appears suddenly, and it feels really hard to hold back. I promise I will be more careful."

Mr. Bima sighed in relief, then reached for Aulia's hand and held it tightly. "Thank you, Lia. I only want the best for you and our child."

Aulia smiled, feeling calm with her husband's support and attention. Although her cravings still often appear, she tries to be more selective and maintain balance in fulfilling those desires.

However, challenges still lie ahead. Aulia's growing pregnancy means they must be more vigilant in keeping their secret, and they know that big decisions await them as time goes on.