(Tak) Bile Sepahit Bile
Section 43
Cempaka woke up from his sleep, the pain in the stomach also woke up, pulling him from the dream realm. He stared at the clock on the wall, not feeling like the day had changed. Night comes enveloping the earth, giving space for everyone to pause from activity.
"I'm hungry" muttered Cempaka as she rubbed her stomach.
Wh-tok-tok!
"Miss, it's dinner time." Lucy's voice formed a smile on Cempaka's lips.
"I'm catching up!" stand up and go to the bathroom, wash your face before going out.
Cempaka's forehead frowned at the sight of someone sitting at the dining table. He walked around to make sure he didn't see wrong.
"Sir, why are you here?" ask Cempaka astonished.
"Sit, Son. Father will stay here for the next few days," replied Mr. Arya without hesitation.
Cempaka's memory spun back in time this afternoon, where lord Arya opened up one big secret of hers.
"So that wasn't a dream?" lirih Cempaka to himself.
"Of course not. Sit down, we eat together," said the lord Arya invited Cempaka to sit in his chair.
"Ah. I-yes." Cempaka pulled the chair and sat on it.
It felt awkward, but it seemed like he had to get used to the old man's presence. Unserved, Cempaka took his own food.
"You want to move to a better house? I'll prepare it" asked Mr. Arya.
"Mmm .. no, I'm just here" replied Cempaka, bowing her head.
Mr. Arya manggut-mangut understand, he will not force Cempaka to obey his wishes. At first they ate fine, until mid-meal Cempaka slammed a spoon onto the table. The other two were shocked instantly.
Cempaka turned his head at the old man, looking at him sharply and suspiciously.
"What's up, son?" asked Mr. Arya confused.
"Tell me, what are you staying here for?! Did they tell you to spy on me?" jakak Cempaka could not stand the rules and oversight by Caesar.
Master Arya's forehead frowned inexplicably. He looked at Lucy who was also surprised like him. Then, it turned back to Cempaka who continued to look at him suspiciously. Mr. Arya smiled, putting the spoon gently on the plate.
"You misunderstood me, son. I'm no one's man, let alone them. I came here purely out of my own will. For days living in Caesar's house, I investigated who you were. Until I finally figured out what secret the house was hiding." Mr. Arya was very calm, he did not look panicked let alone agitated.
"Then, the day you went. I'm looking for you, but what they say is that you were taken by Arjuna because he's your husband. They think I just believe? In fact, I never trusted them. So, I decided to find out where you live until now I'm here." Mr. Arya looks serious.
From the look on his face, the look on his eyes, and his body language, there were no lies he hid. In fact, he looks very calm.
Cempaka took a peek, slowly lowering his emotions. I don't know why he was so afraid Caesar was monitoring his life.
"Sorry." Cempaka said softly, his head lowered deeply.
Mr. Arya understood why he was acting this way.
Cempaka raised his face, looking at the father-in-law with teary eyes. He did want to leave, if he could then leave all his life behind in that damned city.
"Why are you so good to me?" ask Cempaka melancholy.
Mr. Arya smiled, raised his hand and clasped Cempaka's fingers.
"Because you look so much like my late wife. Your attitude, your behavior, everything you have reminds me of him. I've lost him, I don't want to lose you anymore" said Mr. Arya earnestly.
His eyes glazed over emitting a deep sadness. There is a hidden longing, also an incredible love.
Cempaka did not know what to answer, he smiled with tears. That's how it feels to be recognized. Baron had never appreciated her as a child. Since childhood, Cempaka has received rough treatment from the man.
"Please, call me dad!" pinta mister Arya tightened his grip on Cempaka's fingers.
The woman nodded her head, "Dad!"
Tearing down the tears of Caesar's master, he went up to the champaka and hugged him.
"My son."
Cempaka dissolved in the warm embrace of the man who had the soul of a perfect father. From him, he knew what a father's embrace felt like. From him he knew what it was like to be noticed by a man who was supposed to be the first love for a girl.
All that he never got from Baron, a gambler and likes to play women. Spending money at night clubs, also 'jokan' places'.
"It has. In front of him live well. Don't be easily taken advantage of by others." Mr. Arya advised his daughter-in-law.
Cempaka nodded his head. Lucy smiled when she saw the scene before her eyes. Hope Cempaka will keep smiling until anytime.
****
"Hows it? Have you been able to meet Cempaka?" ask a woman who is none other than the wife of the Baron.
The lazy man clucked, he did not want to go out too often because it was the same as giving himself up to the authorities.
"There are a lot of guards around his house. They are always on standby and never forget their duty of guarding their master. Tell me if you have any ideas" replied the fierce Baron.
He who is used to being lazy and never looking for money, is so upset when the wife talks about the economy, especially to the point of cornering her.
"That's not what you're avoiding, it's the cops on the street. What have you done that the cops will always find you!" cecar Baron's wife with a wide glaring look.
"I don't know why they keep chasing me. Never mind, don't ask too many questions. It's like an apparatus. I will try again to come to Cempaka, after all all my money I gave you." The baron got up from the chair, slammed the door of the room in annoyance.
Baron's wife clucked, regretting she was married to the unemployed man was also the slacker. It was usually just troublesome, not once making her happy.
"You are a very troublesome man, Baron. I regret tempted your appeal first. If you know this, I won't accept your proposal let alone marry you." He took a rough breath, recalling the advice of his parents first before he forced them to marry him to the Baron.
"Ah, I'm a fool. My parents used to forbid me, but I forced them to accept the man. It's all my fault." He cursed himself.
