A Wound

Chapter 39's

Currently Ara and Ibra have arrived at the place of the culinary festival that has been crowded with many visitors.

They entered one by one the food stalls that were there. Try one by one foods that whet their appetite.

"Did you go to a place like this often?" ibra asked when they had sat on one of the benches there, and tried several menus in front of them.

"Yes, Dad used to take me to places where there was a lot of food like this. I like to find cooking ideas in places like this."

"Well! you know a lot about cooking. Are you also a cook?" ask Ibra.

"Emmm.. unfortunately not!" ara smiled shyly.

"Truly very unfortunate yes. I think because you have a chef's father, you will be good at cooking, even without learning" said Ibra chuckling.

Ara laughed at the man before her. "Do you know what Brother Ibra said just now, exactly the same as what you told me this morning."

"really? Well, not wrong anymore. I am really Mama's son. But I'm certainly not as chatty as Mama, am I?"

"So, Ara doesn't know yet." Ara chuckled, while covering her mouth full of food, using the back of her hand.

Ibra laughed, looking at the woman before her. For the first time he saw Ara as happy as that. "You're beautiful when you laugh" he said. Making Ara stop her laughter quickly.

"Why silence? though you're even prettier when you don't express yourself like that" she said.

"Sir Ibra what the hell!" Ara lowered her head, blushing in embarrassment.

Ibra chuckled so crisply, as she felt successful in teasing the woman.

After touring and trying some snacks, Ara and Ibra decided to go home.

"There's a lot to eat, brother." Ara lifted some bags of food that were in her grasp.

"You want to!"

"Kok Ara anyway, this is Kak Ibra who bought all," said Ara rebuffed.

"Yes, but I bought it for you."

"But Ara had eaten a lot earlier." Ara palpated her stomach that was slightly bulging due to mostly eating. "It doesn't fit anymore."

"Yes already eaten later. Watch out, you can't waste food" Ibra laughed.

"Take home for people at home" said Ara.

"Mom doesn't like to eat snacks like that, you spend it yourself" Ibra replied lying.

Ara sneered, "yes, but help me later?" her door.

"Yes yes." replied Ibra laughing.

"Oh yes, Brother. Before going home, we can not go to Ara's house first. Ara wanted to tell Bi Ratih that Ara would stay at Brother's house."

"Yes, I can!"

Ibra was driving her car at a speed towards Ara's house. Enjoyed his journey with that woman. And the chatter that was going on in the car, got the two a little closer.

"Assalamu'alaikum, Bi!" said Ara greeting when entering his house.

And Bi Ratih who saw the arrival of Ara quickly approached the son of his master. "Wa'alaikumsalam, Neng!"

"Miya's gone, Bi?" ask Ara.

"Yes already. It was picked up by Neng Arumi," replied bi Ratih.

"Miya's stuff was taken away all right, Bi?"

"Yes, he said he had told Neng Ara that Neng Miya would return to the boarding house."

"Yes, Bi. Miya said yesterday.... Oh yes, Bi. There's something Ara wants to tell Auntie. Sit down, Bi." Ara pulled Bi Ratih's hand, and led her to sit on the living room sofa. Not to forget, he also allowed Ibra to sit down.

"What's up, Neng?" asked Bi Ratih curious.

"Look, Bi. Maybe Ara will stay at Ibra's house."

"Well, that's good, Neng. So, Neng Ara was not lonely anymore."

"But what about, Auntie?" ask Ara.

"Maybe Auntie will just go home, Neng. Auntie also misses Auntie's grandchildren. Aunty has not been home for a long time." Bi Ratih replied with a forced smile.

Ara could clearly see the glint of tears in both of Bi Ratih's eyeballs, leaving him full, and unwilling to part with the middle-aged woman.

Ara grabbed Bi Ratih's two hands and grasped them. "Can't Aunt stay here?" the question, which then got a rejection from Bi Ratih.

"How about Bi Ratih just come with Ara to our house?" pinta Ibra, who did understand the meaning of his wife's gaze.

Ara smiled, quickly nodded her head, and again persuaded Bi Ratih.

"Thank you, Den. But it looks like Auntie's just going home." Bi Ratih let go of Ara's hand, and changed to stroke Ara's hand. "Maybe your aunt won't be working anymore. Auntie wants to rest. Aunty will only look after Aunt's granddaughter.... After all, Bibi's son opened a small cake shop, maybe Bibi will help him," explained Bi Ratih.

"So your aunt really wants to go home?" ask Ara to make sure.

"Yes.... After all Bibi had calmed down because Neng Ara had already gotten a good husband. When you left, Bibi made Neng Ara the responsibility of Bibi. Bibi promised herself that she would not leave Neng Ara no matter what, because after all, only Aunt Neng Ara had at that time. But everything is different now, Neng Ara already has a new family now," said Bi Ratih with teary eyes.

"Den Ibra's..." Bi Ratih turned his gaze to Ibra.

"Yes, Bi?"

"Auntie's son's auntie! Neng Ara was already like a child to Auntie. Since childhood Aunt has looked after him with all her heart. Aunty was happy when she laughed happily, Aunt would be sad when she was disappointed, and Auntie would cry when Neng Ara got hurt." Bi Ratih paused his sentence, just to brush off his tears that had fallen, before returning to say, "Auntie hopes Den Ibra will not make him hurt, because there is no place to lean. Take care and pamper him like what Mr. Hartono did, so that he does not feel lost a protective figure in his life...."

"Bi Trainer..." There were no more words that Ara thought of, she could only cry and give the middle-aged woman a hug. I don't know why at a time like this he just realized the magnitude of the woman's affection for him.

The love he always had since childhood. And maybe he will miss it later.

Ibra who saw the two also felt his sadness.

"Neng Ara take good care of yourself, yes" said Bi Ratih crying in Ara's arms.

"Yes, Bi. Auntie also takes care of Auntie's health. Ara promised to visit Bibi later," said Ara who continued to sob.

And after long enough to shed each other's sorrow, and to end each other's cries. They then discussed the return of Bi Ratih. Which will be delivered by Ara to the airport later.

***

Tok.dok...

Hearing the knocking sound of her bedroom door, Ara stood up to open the door of the room that was actually unlocked.

Ara is currently in her room to pack up her belongings that she will bring to her in-laws' house.

"Can I come in?" pinta Ibra is behind the door. And was quickly welcomed by Ara.

"Sir Ibra sat down first. I'll arrange my stuff first, not long!" Ara hurried forward her pack, not wanting to make the man wait for long.

"Yes, don't worry. Just continue with it."

Ibra widened her gaze to investigate Ara's room which seemed so soft and soothing that it might be created from the pastel blue color that coats the walls of the room.

Until his eyes were fixed on a photo that was above the nightstand. He walked over and grabbed the square object, which featured the figure of a small Ara with her parents.

"Your mother is beautiful."

Ara turned her eyes to Ibra and smiled. "really? The word Ara is very similar to mother."

"Yes, it's similar... Didn't you say your mother lives in the same orphanage as your father?" ibra asked, looking at Ara.

Ara nodded and confirmed.

"Have they been in love since childhood?" Ara laughed at Ibra's question, making her remember the love story her father had told her.

"Say Dad, I've loved Mom since I was a kid, but I don't know about Mom. But, because of his nature that Dad so like, because Mother is not easy to approach other men. And even though Dad likes Mom, but Dad never expressed his feelings, because Dad felt he had nothing at that time to give to Mom..."

"Until finally after graduating from High School, Dad came out of the orphanage and tried to find a job. Dad worked at a restaurant, and it just so happened that the restaurant had opened a cooking course. He offered Dad to learn how to cook, so he saw Dad's talent, and helped Dad develop his talent by sending Dad to better courses..."

"And after Dad worked in a better place with a decent salary, Dad went back to the orphanage with the intention of proposing to Mom. Although at first Dad was hesitant, and worried that if only Mom had left the orphanage or might have been married. But fate sided with Dad, the girl of his heart turned out to still be there and became the caretaker of the orphanage. Then Dad conveyed his wish and Mom accepted.... And at that time I knew that all this time his love did not clap one hand, because said the caretaker, since Dad left the home, Mother always looks moody not as usual."

Ara finished her story with a big smile. He always carried away feelings when remembering the love story of his parents. Until he always hopes to get a love story that is no less sweet than the two.

"It turns out their story is so amazing" said Ibra, looking at Ara who continued to smile. "What about our story?" coined. And managed to make the look of Ara's face change instantly.

"Is it done?" Ibra tried to eliminate the awkwardness that was present between them, after his words.

"Ah yes, yes it is, Brother," replied Ara.

Ibra grabs Ara's suitcase, helps her drop her belongings, and puts them in the trunk of the car.

And they went home, after previously saying goodbye to Bi Ratih.

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