As Strong as the Mentari, as Soft as the Moon

Episodes 10. Cupcake.(.1)

Six o'clock in thirty minutes. Two hundred cookies are neatly arranged on my scooter. Then I immediately put forward the scooter at medium speed through the city street crowd that still looks wet because it has just been in the rain. The first delivery is the Koh Ahong store. "Morning, Koh. Sorry late. Rained out. Cupcake as usual, a hundred Koh" I said with a smile and put two boxes containing cupcakes. "Yes Fara. Uh, don't forget tomorrow's hundred boxes, fill two cookies huh. Send an hour like this to papa. You also keep filling the store, Fara. I have a lot to look for. This was the sale money yesterday. You bring it.." said Koh Ahong with a smile. "Thank you Koh." I said as I passed. My steps ran slightly as the raindrops started to greet the earth again.

A little run while carrying a box of cookies, I entered the store Cih Amel. "One hundred, Cih.." I said with a smile and placed the box on the display. "thank you. This is the money from the sale yesterday" said Cih Amel with a smile. "Fara, if the cake is added again, can't you? For example onde onde, lemper, brownies or others. Amel is convinced Fara can. Fara's cake is delicious. Much liked" said Cih Amel again with a smile. Although he is not native, but his accent does not characterize his ethnicity anymore. It's been very mixed. Even a little difficult to distinguish. "Yes, Cih. Fara try it later. Fara make the tester first, later Cih Amel who decides how" said sumringah. "Tomorrow or the day after, there is a tester yes, Fara" said Cih Amel again. "Okeh, Cih.." I said as I passed.

Turning my steps towards the Cih Amih cake shop which is only a few shops away. Half-running me down a crowded street under a speck of rain that fell one-on-one to the earth. "Fara.don't forget tomorrow" said Cih Amih when I just arrived. "Yes, Cih. This is going to buy materials" I said and mentioned some of the necessary ingredients. Once complete I immediately took him. I was a little stuck in my steps when I left the store because of the amount of my groceries. That's half of it, the rest I still leave to Cih Amih. "I help.." said a voice. I haven't recognized him yet he's already grabbed my groceries. I was surprised, both because of the treatment as well because of knowing the owner of the voice. "Sister Mirza...!" say half a scream. He just smiled and immediately brought my groceries up to my scooter. Not forgetting that he arranged it neatly. "Where are you..?" ask when I step back. "Take the groceries again." I said. "Let me. That shop, right? Wait here." he said as he walked by. I looked at his burly-looking back with a smile. If you notice his good looks eleven twelve with bang David. Mirza's sister is less because of two holes that adorn both cheeks if she smiles or laughs. "Hey.." said brother Mirza who managed to disperse my wild daydream. Moreover, the clap of his sturdy hand on my shoulder. He laughed when he saw my face. A laugh I have rarely seen since his arrival. "It looks like this one is on my bike, yes" he said, putting my groceries on a hanger on his bike. "Damn nieh guy just hang up all the groceries. I haven't said anything" I grumbled in my heart.

Eight o'clock is thirty minutes. I parked my scooter in the yard right next to Mirza's bike. There were many pairs of eyes staring at our arrival simultaneously and bringing some groceries into the house. "Assalamu'alaikum.." I said. "Wa'alaikumussalam.." replied Mr. Arum, brother Amara and several other students almost simultaneously. "Sorry Fara, the house is so crowded" said brother Arum while glancing at sister Mirza. "Ah, it's okay brother. Fara is happy. So many.." I said with a smile sumringah. "The opening ceremony isn't yet, is it?" my many. "Awhile more. Wait commando. Uh, the commander just came home" said brother Amara while pointing to brother Mirza who just entered the room after coming from the bathroom. After a short conversation, I went to the kitchen. Take a glass of water and swallow it until it runs out.

Nine o'clock. Shortly after the students left my house for the district hall, I cooked for my lunch later. Although only alone, but I still cook like when there is still a grandmother with fewer portions. Soon after, I switched to cupcakes. I mixed the ingredients step by step for one hundred and eighty pieces of cupcakes. And the rest I will do after Maghrib later. Hope everything is good.

Twelve o'clock, thirty minutes. I immediately ablute and perform dzuhur prayer. Asking for forgiveness for my caliphate all this time. Do not forget as a prayer I also intended for grandmother, amah and papa who now knows where. I could not feel my tears coming back, in each of my long prayers. Feeling a great sense of heartache as I looked ahead to the kick of my life and livelihood.

Twelve o'clock past forty-five minutes. I went back with all the equipment in the kitchen. "Ncess.." said a voice in the doorway. I smiled when I heard that voice. Who else if it wasn't Sherlly who had that kind of chirping sound. "What cooking?" ask her while grappling my back. "Look at it yourself. Looks like it was.." I said half a scream. Not to mention I finished saying I saw Sherlly was hanging out enjoying the menu at the table. "Basar kabu semprul...Just play nangkring" I said while shuffling her hair. Sherlly laughed as she avoided my hand. But in the end I also participated in eating the lunch menu that I had cooked. "Em, bang David where's the Fa?I never called him back either. Did he call you?" sherlly said as she fed the rice to her mouth. I shook my head slowly as I finished my lunch "Not at all. Even I asked Dr. Aditya, and he declared his ignorance. But I think there's something he's covering up. I don't know what it is. I don't know" I said as I tidied up my eating marks.

A moment later I was back struggling with the equipment and cake batter that was ready. I also began to put cupcake dough into prints that have been given patterned paper or colorful. "Where are the students?" ask Sherlly with a hand that stays stirring and filling the mold. "To the subdistrict hall" I answered without further ado, but still made Sherlly long. Sixty cupcakes ready to roast. I carefully put the tray containing the first fifteen in the first row of the oven and the next fifteen in the second, third and fourth rows. I set the oven temperature at ninety degrees Celsius and the roasting time at twenty minutes. While waiting for the cupcake in the oven is ready, I prepare topping in the form of cream, cherries and chocolate.

Twenty minutes passed. I immediately opened the oven when I heard a high sound, said the grandmother. Fragrant bushes cupcake aroma tickle olfactory senses. "Hmmm.yummy. said Sherlly as she sniffed and tasted the scent that filled the entire room. I laughed seeing that papah. Then slowly I took one by one a tray of cupcakes from the oven and placed them beside me, as well as inserted sixty second cupcakes that had just been finished in the contents of Sherlly. That's how it is until all the dough is gone. After already for a while our battle with a hundred and eighty cupcakes. And after the Maghrib will be continued again.

"That which goes must go, that which comes cannot be prevented. Rest assured everything must be lived with a consciousness" said Mirza with his distinctive voice. I tried to take every word from her. "Where are Arum's brother and Amara's brother, brother?" tanyaku later. "There are activities with TPQ children in the mosque. Maybe after isya just returned, he said while still standing in the original place. I nodded while tidying up some unused equipment. "Tomorrow his morning cake delivery how?" tanyakanya. "Hire car. Earlier, the info to Pak Dudung" said me while sitting on the dining table chair. "Tonight I'll eat here?" tanyakanya. "Can, sis. Why aren't. It just so happened that afternoon Fara had just cooked again" I said with a smile. I can't deny it, I'm glad to hear it.

Six o'clock past ten minutes. Back I raise both hands, especially with dignity. It starts with takbir and ends with a greeting. May all prayers be answered. Aamiins. I made up the face I just wore. I saw Sherlly sitting in front of the mirror. "Assalamu'alaikum." said a voice at the door. "Wa'alaikumussalam.." I and Sherlly said almost simultaneously. Immediately I opened the door and I saw Brother Mirza standing. "Can I eat now?" he said while holding his stomach. I smiled and took her to the kitchen. "Sherlly, we eat yuk.." take me to Sherlly.

Six o'clock in thirty minutes. I prepared dinner plates for Mirza's sister, me and Sherlly. Sister Mirza raised her plate gesturing for me to help her. "Based on a spoiled child" I said with a smile. "Calculate the practice of serving the husband." he said just relax. But I who heard so awkwardly and finally smiled thinly while looking at him. Before long Sherlly joined the dinner. Even with a simple menu, I see sister Mirza so greedy to enjoy every mouthful of her dinner menu.

At seven past thirty. After the Isya prayer, Sherlly and I again struggled with the dough and ingredients of the cake. Tonight besides cupcake, I'll also make cut fruit pudding. We share the tasks. Mirza's sister, who was willing to help, cut the fruit according to my instructions. Sherlly focused a large pot containing pudding material for one hundred and fifty fruit pudding. It had been almost an hour he stirred it on the burning compost. I focused on the cupcakes. Right now it is sixty second grills. I prepare the last dough and fill it in the cup. Even so I also while giving toppings to make cupcakes more beautiful. Topping this time is cream, small pieces of chocolate and cashews. "Done.." I said sumringah.

Ten o'clock at night. Now my concentration has shifted to the process of making fruit pudding. Tonight was full of struggles until tired managed to ambush every joint of the body. I leaned my head against the wall behind me just to reduce fatigue. My eyes were almost closed when Arum's brother and Amara's brother came. "Sorry we can't help" he said with a face of regret. "It's okay, brother." I said with a smile. Then the two joined in to help. We spent almost three hours making fruit pudding. Alhamdulillah.

"Sleep brothers. Thank you for your help" I said, staring at the three. Especially to Mirza. Eventually, they passed away to rest. Sherlly went to the room. While I was still pensive looking at the cake lined up beautifully in the storefront and tomorrow will be packed in a box. Hopefully smoothly....