Alinea: Ideas, Love, and Stories

CELEBRATIONS

 

“Alin sits just sweet, let Papa and Mas Nara who put the balloon.”

Papa asked me to sit on the living room couch. I nodded and sat down, while he continued to put a balloon on the corner of the wall.

“Nara, the, please get it.”

Mas Nara who had been holding several balloons near Papa immediately rushed to pick up the rope on the table. I was a submissive kid and really\-sit was sweet to see Papa and Mas Nara preparing a\-balloon for Mama's birthday surprise.

“Pa, just wait for five, let's buaruan.” Mas Nara looked at the clock on the wall. I watched even though I couldn't read time.

Papa and Mas Nara accelerated their movements. Papa who had originally climbed up the wooden chair immediately turned to the other corner, Mas Nara put away the wooden chair. Then again carrying a birthday wish kit, he attached the paper to the wall that was opposite the entrance, so that who opened the door could directly read the writing.

“Pa, Alin help take the cake from the refrigerator yes, can you?”

“Iya dear, be careful\-care yes!” Papa looked, smiling. I rushed to the kitchen.

“Mas Nara! The cake is heavy!” I screamed from the kitchen. Unexpectedly, it seemed that the birthday cake Papa bought was quite heavy after I tried to pick it up, making me afraid of carrying it forward.

Half-run Mas Nara came over, “Dih, this one little princess wants to support the cake, but timid, wek!” Mas Nara clocked slowly at my head, making me grimace spoiled. We laughed together. It was Mas Nara who finally brought the cake forward.

“You please bring it\-tu,” With her lips Mas Nara pointed at the two unfamiliar toys lying on the living room table, I nodded and picked them up.

As soon as we got to the front room, Papa was done decorating the room. He smiled, “Now we wait for Mama to come home.”

Five minutes later the sound of a car entering the yard. The three of us smiled. Papa immediately picked up the birthday cake that was placed on the table. He stood at the door. Prepare to welcome Mama who appears behind the door. Mas Nara stood to the left of Papa, holding the toy I had brought, like a spray device. I stood to the right of Papa, holding the same toy, just a moment ago Mas Nara had taught me how to use the toy.

I heard footsteps. I don't know why my heart beats faster. Then the sound of door algae was played. And ... “surprise!” Papa cheered first as soon as the door was pushed, mama emerged from the door ballik.

Mama's eyes widened, Mama's smile was wide too. Mama looked at us one by one, her eyes began to water but her smile did not fade. I was too late to pump out the toy in my hand. Mas Nara is pumping first, producing powder\-pollinated in the air, making the atmosphere more vibrant.

“Happy birthday, Honey!”

“Happy Birthday, Ma!”

“Ye! Happy birthday, Mama!” I cheered cheerfully.

I'm 4 years old. Mas Nara's age is 9 years. Mama's that day was the\-37th birthday. And I didn't expect that it was our last celebration in a complete family formation.

*Pa, Mas Nara, I miss you more than I hate you, really*!

 

***

 

“*Yeay*! Congratulations to your great daughter for being the first champion and getting into IPA! *Yeay*!”

Mama raised her right hand into the air, she was very carefree. This is the reason why I have to go to IPA. This is the reason why I have to be diligent in studying and getting a class champion. Because then, I could see Mama smiling very wide. Because then, Mama is happy.

To be honest, every celebration like this, I always remember the celebration of Mama's \-37 birthday at that time. If Papa and Mas Nara had not chosen to leave, maybe this dinner table would have been more crowded. Maybe the four of us will share a laugh and most importantly, I will probably not only see the proud smile of Mama, but also Papa.

“If you continue this way until graduation day, Mama is sure you can enter the Faculty of Medicine at the best University. And Mama is sure you can be a better doctor than Mama.”

“Amin!” I smiled no less widely. The second semester in the gray-white period was just passed. Like my prediction, I became champion one like last semester, and also entered the IPA major of course.

“Oh yes, Mama there is good news.” Mama's eyes sparkled\-shine, she looked excited and made me wonder what news she was trying to convey.

“This semester break Jihan hasn't gone anywhere, and she's agreed to teach you. So starting next monday you can already split with Jihan to master the eleventh class material.”

I was silent for a moment. Then I had to make a smile so that my mom would be happy.

*Ssemester holidays filled with private courses*? It was called Mama as good news. Oh, my God, I should have guessed. Last semester I was sent to Pare for an English course just because Jihan, my private tutor, couldn't teach on the semester break.

*Oh come on, why don't you take me on vacation as a gift? Haven't I learned enough so far*? I really feel like I need a vacation, I need to stop studying. However, I was also self-conscious, you know, this is a big secret that my friends and teachers at school do not know. I ... not smart.

I'm not like Andin, Lea's one gang who occupies the 2nd champion when I see him often have a lot of fun. Without paying attention to the teacher in the classroom, Andin can answer the problem correctly. He was like a child born smart. Unlike me, when I was in elementary school, I was never a class champion. Eleven most ranked. And Mama knows that, so Mama said, “Smart is not just a talent, Lin. You can be smart and even beat people\-people who are born smart, the key is only you need to learn harder. If the\-smart people out there learn 1 hour, you should catch up by learning 10 hours. You definitely can. From now on Mama will increase your learning hours and find the best teacher for you.”

“Lin, this is your math score how only seven five?? You know that smart child the mathematical value must be above eighty.” Mama used to nag so when my math scores were low, my tomorrow\-tomorrow grade was never under eighty. Not because I was suddenly smart. Of course I have to study longer.

“Hey, are you dumb? Don't you want to go private with Jihan?”

“You know, Ma. Want. But, how about the first week of our vacation to Grandma's house? It's been a long time since I went to Grandma's house, Ma, miss.” I tried to bargain, putting on a hardened face while my hands were still holding onto the spoon and fork.

“Sorry, Dear. Not on this semester break. Maybe Ramadan or Lebaran later we go to Grandma's house. Mama can't take a leave of absence.”

“I'm on vacation at grandma's place too no what, Ma. Let me study there myself. How?”

“*No*, Alin, Mama knows you. You can't learn by yourself baby, what else the subject matter you haven't learned in school, later if you are confused by yourself how?”

I involuntarily exhaled, as frustrating as it was, raising my eyebrows.

“You don't like it with Jihan's sister? Or would you like to find a new teacher?”

I hurried to refuse. Then put on a happy smile. In the end, again\-again I have to give up and obey your will.

We continued with dinner. It's dinner at the restaurant Mama chose, actually as a form of celebration, but somehow my mood is difficult to be good after getting good news from Mama. I repeatedly tried to swallow food with difficulty, and put on a smile to look happy. Pretending\-pretending is hard, enjoying the unappealing is just as difficult.

“Ma, tomorrow is the week, I permit a way out to buy a book\-textbook class XI yes?”

“*It’s okay*, great idea. Uh but alone is it okay? Mama tomorrow there's a watch schedule.”

“Nga what's up, Ma.” I smiled, this time a real smile, not a fake\-pretend. I don't know, I like to be happy if I get time to walk\-walk alone. Freer.

 

***

 

The bookstore is my favorite place. Although I sometimes get saturated in the word ‘learn’, but not in the word ‘buku’. I love the library, I love the bookstore. To be precise, I like to see a\-rack shelf with a neat arrangement of books. The smell of the book is like the smell of the soil after the rain, soothing, making longing.

My feet stopped at the\-book textbook bookshelf, I wanted to finish the obligation to buy the\-book XI class as I promised Mama. After that, I went to the novel rack. It was fun to see a\-novel novel with a variety of covers and titles, lingering\-long reading the writing on the back cover of the book to then choose which one is the most interesting. Only when I go alone can I be like this.

If my stomach hadn't been holding a concert, I might still be standing on a novel rack. The embarrassing stomach noise made me hurry. The clock on my right wrist showed at 12 pm, without realizing it had been 4 hours apparently I spent in the bookstore.Just it if my stomach had started the concert.

Immediately I headed to the cashier to pay for the books\-books that were already in the basket, full and heavy. It's like buying monthly shopping.

I wanted to eat in a Japanese restaurant because I wanted to eat ramen, but my footsteps stopped in front of a cafe that served coffee. Not without reason, I heard there was a pleasant sound of music. Not music with happy songs or fast rhythms, the rhythm is slow and mendayu\-dayu, soothing like a drizzling sound.

I entered the cafe, there appears an *indie* band that is playing. My head nodded\-nod, following the rhythm of their peaceful music. Unknowingly I was silent watching the male\male singer who was sitting while strumming the guitar. The bamboo is long enough for a male\-male size, but not as long as a female hair. *Jeez*! I haven't had time to pay attention properly, suddenly our eyes meet, making me spontaneously immediately take a look. And stupidly, it turns out that the queue in front is no longer there, the cashier has also called me.

“Mbak?”

“Ah Yes, Mas. I order ...” I saw the menu plastered at the top, choosing what menu can be filling. Thankfully in addition to providing coffee and bread, the cafe also provides pasta.

“*Beef sausage spaghetti* one, keep *Latte Macchiato* one.”

“OK, on behalf?”

“Alinea.”

“OK, total ninety-six thousand, want cash or..”.

The cashier on his left chest *name tag* with the inscription Kai did not finish speaking, but I immediately cut by saying, “ovo aja, Mas.”

“Siap.”

After the payment process, then I glanced at the vocalist again, he was looking at another visitor. He smiled in the other direction, and I don't understand why suddenly\ suddenly unconsciously my lips felt like smiling too. Then it could be\-may the vocalist suddenly\-look towards me who was smiling towards him. Really am! I immediately panicked, hurriedly turned my eyes and looked for a seat.

Damn, sangking only pay attention to *indie* band, I do not realize if the cafe is very crowded. There is no empty table. My eyes continue to melt. Ah, meet an empty table, but the position. *again*! Forced, inevitably I set foot towards the empty table before anyone occupied it. The empty table is right in front of the stage, right in front of that vocalist guy! May my face not look like a boiled crab!