About Taste

The Tower and its Memories

"Andra!" call Miss Mirna while holding Andra's shoulder from behind.

"Mama" said Andra, looking at her mother.

"What are you doing here?" asked Miss Mirna, frowning her forehead. He was surprised to see his son standing glued in front of Ella's room.

"I bought this apple for her, I'm looking for Mama, but Mama's not there. And I accidentally saw her crying." replied Andra quietly.

Ms. Mirna let out a long sigh, she looked at Ella who was sitting crying. Then Miss Mirna pulled Andra's hand, and took her away. He invited Andra to sit on the sofa in the middle room.

"Why did you come here, why didn't you come?" andra asked while looking at her mother.

"No Ndra" replied Ms. Mirna, shaking her head.

"Mom knows he's sad, he needs time to be alone. If crying can make her feel relieved, let it go. As long as she doesn't neglect her health, Mama knows it's very hard for her" Ms Mirna said.

"Not just for her Ma, but for all of us. I'm also sad to lose Kairi, and I'm sure Mama feels the same way" Andra said as she stared at her mother.

"You're right, Mama feels the same way. But now is not a good time to mourn the sadness. Don't let Ella know that we're fragile, she needs all of us Ndra's support. Don't let her burden increase, just because we are sad" said Ms Mirna, wiping her tears. Talking about Kairi, it always made her tears drip.

"If there's a way Ma, I'd love to replace Kairi. I'm the one who left, so that Kairi can live happily with Ella." Andra said blankly.

Now there was nothing else on his mind, other than Ella's happiness. It felt like he could not see Ella's tears, which always dripped in silence. And also her mother, Andra, knew that her mother had lost Kairi. Why should Kairi? Why isn't he the one who was taken first. He was sinful, and always disappointed his mother. He should have gone, maybe his mother wouldn't have been this sad.

"What are you talking about Ndra? Watch your words!" snarled Bu Mirna.

"You're Mama's son too. You think Mama is willing to lose you. You and Kairi are both dear Mama, if only you could ask, Mama does not want any of you to leave. You don't talk weird!" keep Miss Mirna still in a slightly high tone.

"I.e." answered Andra nervously. He seemed to wake up from his daydream, whatever he had said, he himself also slightly forgot.

"Do you still love Ella, so can you say that?" asked Miss Mirna in full observation.

"Ti.no Ma."

"Good if not. You remember Ndra, Ella is your sister-in-law. Whatever happens to Kairi, she's still your sister-in-law. You used to give him up for Kairi, so until anytime you can't dream of having him again. You understand!" said Miss Mirna while looking at Andra sharply.

"No Ma, I don't love him anymore" replied Andra.

"It has to be like that. There are still many other women, who are no less good than Ella. You are free to look for it, without having to glance at your sister-in-law" said Ms. Mirna.

"Yes Ma."

"Oh yeah, how's Holy?" ask Miss Mirna.

Andra did not reply, she only let out a long sigh, as her hand rubbed her face violently.

"Andra!"

"I lost her Ma." answered Andra.

"What do you mean?" ask Miss Mirna.

"When Kairi got into an accident, I hurriedly came here, and I forgot my phone. Only tomorrow did Reymond come to deliver it to me. Since then I have been unable to contact Suci, her number is inactive, her social media account has also never been active. When I told someone to look at his house in Indonesia, it was empty a long time ago. I don't know where Ma is" Andra said at length.

"Kok can be like that Ndra, didn't he say anything to you? Then what about the address in Thailand, you have, right?" ask Miss Mirna.

"No Ma." replied Andra while shaking her head.

"I felt that Suci was not in Thailand, but he was in Europe. When we call, there is no time difference between us. So it feels impossible, if he's in Tahiland." Andra continued.

"really?"

"Yes Ma, I feel Holy hiding something from me, but I don't know either. Actually I'm also very sorry, lost the news about him. I almost managed to love her Ma, but now it's like this." Andra said with a bland smile.

"You're patient, son, Mama always wishes you all the best. There must be a bright path after this." said Ms. Mirna as she gently rubbed Andra's shoulder.

"Thank you Ma."

***

The next day, the hour hand shows at 08:00 am Paris time. Miss Mirna, and Andra is ready to go. They will go to the airport together. Miss Halimah, and Ella led him to the doorstep.

"Be careful, Ma, Andra" Ella said with a smile.

"Yes El, you take good care of yourself, yes, Mama will come again" replied Ms. Mirna while hugging Ella.

"Yes Ma."

"Be careful, ma'am, hopefully the journey will be smooth until home" said Ms. Halimah as she looked at Ms. Mirna.

"Yes Ma'am thank you, I tipped Ella yes, for a while I can not take care of her." replied Ms Mirna while releasing Ella, and hugged Bu Halimah at a glance.

"Yes, Mom."

"El, I'm going first. The next day I'll be here again." Andra said with a smile.

"Yes Ndra, don't hurry, get your job done" Ella replied.

"Budhe I go first huh" Andra said as she greeted Ms. Halimah.

"Yes, be careful son." replied Ms. Halimah.

"Assalamu'alaikum."

"Getishalight."

Ms. Halimah invites Ella into the living room, after Miss Mirna and Andra step away. They sat next to each other on the sofa. Ella picked up the apple slices placed on the table. He bit her, and chewed her slowly.

"Mom!" call Ella.

"Yes, why son?"

"Mother wasn't like this when Dad left?" asked Ella while looking at her mother closely.

Ms. Halimah let out a long sigh, she was silent for a few seconds to organize her heart, and chose the right word to answer it.

"Mom is very lost. I feel sad, and also down. But it wasn't long for Ella, because slowly I began to realize, if Mom's life didn't stop there. There are so many things you have to do, there are so many things you have to fight for. One of them, and the most important is the child" said Ms. Halimah. He paused his sentence, and saw Ella's reaction. Ella just kept quiet and looked down.

"Mom is trying her hardest to stay strong, because I realize you need Mama the most. Your happiness was a priority for Mom at the time. You're sad to lose Dad. So how could I let you all be sadder, because you see a mother who is down." continued Ms. Halimah. He embraced Ella who was still down at the time.

"Mom sure you can also El, stay strong for the sake of your child. He needs you, soon he will be born, he will be sad if he sees you like this." said Ms. Halimah as she hugged her embrace.

"I'll try Mom." replied Ella quietly. Her voice was slightly stifled, Miss Halimah knew that by then Ella began to cry.

"Cry as much as you, if it can make your heart relieved. Then promise not to cry anymore. You are the proud child of my mother. All this time I can do it, so I'm sure you can too. I'll always be there for you" said Ms. Halimah, wiping Ella's hair. Occasionally his hand wiped away his dripping tears without excuse.

After she was satisfied crying, Ella let go of her mother's embrace. He got up from his seat, and decided to go to his room. Not to forget he also brought pieces of apples, which were placed in a bowl.

Arriving at her room, Ella sat by the window. He looked out, staring at the iron tower that was still towering. His eyes were glazed back, in fact he could not keep his promise not to cry anymore.

"Our son is almost born Kai. And I don't know where you are yet, and how you're doing. But I obviously miss you a lot. Even though it's a little impossible, but my heart still expects you to return Kai. I want us to take care of our baby together, I want to stay with you Kai." Ella said, wiping her stomach.

***

One afternoon, one week after Ms Mirna returned to Indonesia. Andra, who had returned to Paris, stared at her reflection in the mirror. The trousers were combined with short white t-shirts, her hair stood up, and were left to love the sky. Andra rubbed her face violently, hesitating a little to step her legs out. Just now Ella asked herself to accompany him for a walk.

"Walk together, if I can't control how I feel. But willing to refuse is also impossible, he must feel at home continues. Letting him walk around alone, it was more impossible. Ahh dilemma right." grumbled Andra while mamayinkan perfume bottle to be used.

And before long, her phone was shaking, there was one message from Ella.

He was waiting for her outside the apartment. Andra quickly sprayed her perfume, and hurriedly stepped out of her room. Andra opened the door of her apartment, and sure enough, there was Ella standing there waiting for her. With a loose dress wrapped in light blue color, and hair that was left unraveled, Ella looks very beautiful in the eyes of Andra.

But unexpectedly, Ella suddenly closed her mouth while stepping away from Andra.

"What's El?" andra asked a little astonished, he stepped closer to Ella.

"Stop, don't come any closer!" scream Ella.

"Why El?"

"You smell very bad Ndra, I can't stand it, I feel like I want to vomit." replied Ella, keeping her mouth shut, and her nose.

"What! All right, wait here I'll get changed" Andra said as she scratched her non-itchy head. Inevitably, he went back inside his apartment, and changed his clothes.

"Seribet is a pregnant woman, ahh how did the Holy first, live times like this alone. I used to be stupid, but I'm still stupid now. It's so stupid that I've lost any word about him." Andra grumbled as she clasped the clothes she had just taken off.

Andra threw the shirt over the sofa, then sat up while propping up her chin.

"About where Holy is, he's fine. We had a pretty good relationship back then, but why did she suddenly leave me?" andra said alone.

Long enough Andra pondered, and daydreamed Saints. Before long, there was a loud scream that shocked him. A very deafening scream.

"Andra!!" ella shouted while knocking on Andra's room door.

"I.iya for a moment." answered Andra as she moved from her seat.

"Why can I forget Ella anyway." Andra grumbled while wearing the black short shirt she had just taken from the closet.

Then Andra rushed to open the door of her room, she smiled broadly as she looked at Ella who was standing in the doorway with her sweet lips.

"Old" said Ella as she stepped her foot.

"Sorry." said Andra as he followed Ella's steps.

They kept walking out of the apartment, down the still very crowded street. Several vehicles were seen passing here and there. As she continued to move her legs, Ella stared at the atmosphere of the city. Paris is the same as it used to be. As a fashion city Paris is always crowded, crowded, and almost never sleeps. The Eiffel Tower also remained the same, standing firm, towering against the sky. It turned out that only he had changed, the space of his heart now seemed empty, and part of his soul seemed to disappear somewhere.

"You crepes El?" andra asked while looking at Ella.

"No." replied Ella while shaking her head.

"You want something else?"

"No, if you want to buy it, I'll wait for you" Ella replied.

"No need." answered Andra while shaking her head.

Then they continued walking, heading to the park under the Eiffel Tower. Andra asked Ella to sit in a long chair. Ella smiled bitterly, in this chair, she was always joking with Kairi. Then Ella got up from her seat, while Andra, she remained seated while looking at Ella from behind.

"You know Ndra, this is where my love story begins. He proposed to me, and expressed his feelings for me. Romantic, I was so happy back then, with her beside me, I felt like a perfect woman" Ella said, closing her eyes.

"But I never thought, this place is also where my story ends. The day before he went to Reunion Island, he brought me here. We spent quite a long time in this place Ndra. We talk about a lot of things, about feelings, about bonding, about separation, and about death." Connect Ella.

Andra moved from her seat. He stepped up, and stood beside Ella.

"El, I know how you feel. But you're a great woman, no matter what you are, I'm sure you won't give up. God knows what's best for each servant, it's a sentence you used to say to me. It is not wrong if now I say it to you," said Andra.

Ella was silent, she only let out a long sigh, linking her hands together.

"Don't cry anymore El, I'm sick to see you sad. I want you to always be happy" Andra said as she tidied Ella's messy hair in the wind.

"I'm not crying Ndra." Ella said slowly.

"But you're not smiling either." Sahut Andra's.

"It's all hard for me, Ndra." Said Ella while looking down.

"Weight is also for me El, you know who he is for me, and you also know who you are for me. If only it was allowed, I would very much like to replace Kairi, let me go as long as he can return safely. That way you and she will be happy, Mama is happy, and Papa is happy too" Andra said with a flat look. Seeing Ella who continued to grieve, he was no longer able to keep his burden in his heart.

"Andra__" said Ella looking up, she looked at Andra who was still standing next to her. What Andra said left Ella glued to her place.

Ella knows how Andra is in her family. But he did not expect, that Andra's mind would go that far. What made Andra think that, herself or her family?

Seriate...