A Dusty Photo's

Chapter 13: The second family

...A Dusty Photo - ...

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I talked to my mom after lunch. Because he forbade us to continue our schoolwork. Silly reason. There was something he wanted to extract from me.

I was peeling the pea skin when Mother came with a tray containing tea in her hand. I nyengir.

"Green tea. You like this the most." Mother lowered one by one glass to the table. Then get rid of the tray under the table. I sipped Mother's tea and without any other stale bases mother began to dig up something about me.

"Abra is your new friend." stop at the second shuffle I turned to mother. Bent, right..

"Yes, Bun."

"Wouldn't you be good?"

"Banget, Bun."

"Mother never met him, once." I who continued with peanuts rather surprised.

"When? Masa, anyway. I think he's only been here once."

"Is. You don't need to know."

Mother, here. Angled. The bait is eaten and not even pulled.

"Mother wants to know a lot about him." Mother looked at me. Then take the jar of beans that I was holding.

"He's kind. I think I'm with Felix. Enough for Han."

"No. That's not. Mommy wants to know a lot about him like you know a lot about you and Felix." Mother continued. I let out a breath.

"Why?"

"Eye eyes, same as the first time you met."

"Mother understand too?"

"So Mother's story, how much do you know of her?"

I don't know much either. That's all I know. Funny thing is, I've clearly told my background to him but he's not or maybe not. You could say I'm stupid, okay. Blame me.

"He rarely tells."

I replied while reclaiming the jar containing peanuts that had been taken by the mother. Then stand up and leave the mother with curiosity. Please tell me that's disrespectful.

I walked to the back of the house. There is a swimming pool and three people who are like children. Patting the surface of the water to create splashes. I don't know what's the point, it's all wet.

I stopped in front of the door. Staring at all three. They're happy. That's what I saw.

They throw smiles at each other. Then I followed up smiling. Sabrang Aditya's. He's sniffled. A different smile when he had a casual chat with Juna the other day. A different smile when he was chatting in class with a beautiful girl yesterday afternoon. He had the same smile when he was playing basketball. I will conclude. That's a real smile. Indeed.

"Moon." My daydream came to a realization when Felix called. Then he waved his hand at me.

I just smiled and shook my head. I don't want to break Abra's smile. At least so.

I finally decided to go back to the middle room. There Mother still sits with her tea glass.

"Why did you come back?"

"Nothing what."

"You don't miss Mother? There is a new story that you tell to Mother."

"There was. But not here. Something pretty heavy."

I looked at Mother inside. It's habitual. I always tell Mother what I am and will experience. Family is what I tell you most often. Because I have no place to cry other than Mother if the story about the family.

My mother took me to the second floor. There is a balcony that is quite comfortable for the story. Also a sofa and a small table suitable for relaxing.

I started telling Mother. About bokap and nyokap new me in Surabaya.

I haven't had much to say about my family, have I. So I'll tell you here.

Graduating Junior High I moved to Surabaya to join bokap. He got married there and had one sabung child whom I now call my sister.

I keep telling you this doesn't like me. That's rude. He always praised me well in front of the bokap then compared with my brother who was only two years away from me. And you'll know how bad you're compared.

Then slowly I began to hate myself. Okay, hate seems like a harsh phrase. He made me decide to return to Jakarta with his money. Funnier. He mentioned nominally when I decided to fly to Jakarta. He'll send me to graduate. Even to the university. And I'm smiling. Is that what I needed all this time?

And, well. I moved. With a smile of victory, I continued.

"Weight?" Mother asked.

"Moon just thought that the Moon had come out of something heavy."

I think like that. My family has not been my source of happiness all this time.

"Your mom?"

She married an Australian man. I met him once when they visited Jakarta. I got married at exactly one year of their divorce. Did it make me happy when I was still hoping my two biological parents would be together again. One day, though I will have to wait a long time.

They smiled happily when they met me. With a smile that makes me sick.

I don't like them.

"You hate Mami?"

"The moon wishes it could be so."

"The old man is a gift from God." Mother made me look at her more enthusiastically. "For their children."

"God usually gives gifts that don't disappoint."

"You're disappointed in your Papi Mami?"

"Little."

"Mother just needs a yes or no answer. But you'll assume your answer is yes."

I want to answer that. But I can't. Or I'm not sure of my answer.

"What is your mother hurting?"

"Why did you ask that?"

"Well, Mother asked about family, right. Mother knows you're shocked." Mother held my shoulder, then looked so deeply. "Mother forgets, when was the last time you cried. Or Mommy can say you haven't cried all this time."

Right too. I never cry. When divorce caught me, I was just angry. Then when they remarry, I don't do it either. I'm just angry.

Am I not sick? Really sick. But the pain was so painful that the crying could not vent it. The tears I had were like it was not worth crying over them.

"Bun, the moon is crying." I returned the gaze of Mother. "The moon was crying a few weeks ago."

Mother smiled. So that's what he wants to dig out of me. Sure. Mommy must have found out through Han.

"Because who?"

"Buddy?"

"The mother knew it from Han. Mommy just wants mastiin and says, your new family is them, the Moon. Tears for Budhe you're faster than Papi and your Mami." Mother said and gie smiled.

"Give me, Mother."

"That's increase. Thanks for telling Mother."

I hugged Mother. I don't know if it's appropriate for me to hug my Mommy warmly like I'm hugging Mommy. My mother can always make me smile.

Right, Mother. I cried for Budhe for something called regret. I've never felt it before. Not at all. And I cried for it then apologized. I promised myself I would never disappoint him again.

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Hi Hello..

Huft.. Very steamy. But the story is not that heavy..