Be aground

Try to Choose

The clock was showing at eight o'clock when Runa told me to go home. Actually I still want to stay longer. But the girl didn't want to be a neighbor's gossip if she let me stay in her house too long, let alone until night.

Runa is indeed a unique girl, nowadays I rarely meet girls who are able to maintain the trust given by their parents. Mostly, they like to take advantage of the opportunity to be free when no parent is watching. Not infrequently also they take advantage of the opportunity to be alone when the condition of the house is quiet. The nature of Runa who is able to take care of herself is what makes me even more unable to divert my heart from her.

"Until tomorrow, yes" I said, scrambling his thick hair.

"He-he, yes ... Be careful," he said while tidying up his hair that became messy because of me.

The streets of Sadang Serang were still crowded when I left Runa's house. Entering the way Tubagus Ismail, I occasionally cross paths with angkot who raise or lower passengers on the side of the road. Some street vendors who set up tents on the side of the road also appear crowded buyers. The road is always crowded even though it is night. Most of what makes a lot of students are looking for dinner around his boarding house located around the Tubagus Ismail road.

This area is indeed a lot of houses that rent boarding rooms for students, because the location is close to several universities in the city of Bandung.

I slowed down the speed of the car when it was about to turn into my housing complex. Instantly quiet ambushed, inversely proportional to the situation on the main streets that are still crowded.

As usual, Mr. Karsa greeted me as he opened the gate.

"Good night, Den. Tumben two days to go home the night continues," said Mr. Karsa.

"Night, Sir. There's a college assignment to do, sir" I told a lie.

The house was completely deserted when I stepped in. When conditions like this, I really miss the time when mom and dad still have a lot of time at home. The house feels more alive even though there are only three of us.

When I started entering the end of High School, papa was busy taking care of his property business. Frequently traveling out of town to build some housing in various cities that are considered potential. While mama, began to seriously pursue the boutique business of batik clothes, not infrequently also mama often out of town to look for batik craftsmen who considered selling batik motifs that did not market.

Mama and papa still keep communication with me while traveling, but their presence is still needed.

After picking up a few snacks in the kitchen, I went upstairs to the room. There was only a squeaking sound of my bedroom sandal sole tracing the granite floor was heard splitting the silence of the house.

Just shaking my body in bed, my phone rang, a picture of my mom appeared on the screen. Indeed, the inner contact of the child to the mother is strong, yes, I just remembered my mother, she immediately called me.

"Hello, Ma. I was in Solo, right?" my broom.

"Dear, this afternoon. Sorry mom just got to tell me. Have you eaten?" sahut mama across the line.

"Already, last night dinner at Runa's place." Suddenly I patted my forehead, why should I flirt with my mom.

"Well, someone's out on a date, nih," mama's tease.

It will be the material of the mama. I still kind of talk about heart issues with my mom.

"Not really, Ma. I helped Runa create a blog for the promotion of her cakes. Because the preoccupation is forgetting time," I said in self-defense.

"Ooh ... But you have to know the limits, don't macem. Mama and her mother Runa did not see you guys do anything, but God must have seen, remember that yes, son," advised mama.

"Ha-ha, mama just reminded me. Mama believes you can take care of yourself. What time is school tomorrow?"

"Thank You Ma. Tomorrow's school at nine."

"Yes, you rest. Don't stay up again. Soon old, mama's children become no longer handsome," kekeh mama.

"Ha-ha, yes Ma." Mama always thought I was the most handsome boy from the time my face was still cute, mama still considers me handsome. The average mother always does.

As soon as my mom hung up, my phone rang again. Papa's face appeared on that tiny screen. I should have been happy, my parents could still feel my longing for them, despite being hundreds of kilometers apart.

"Hello, Pa," I replied excitedly. For almost two weeks, Dad didn't call me. Several times I sent a short message, only reply ala gratuitous by him.

"Hi my lil Bro.." - Papa.

Papa is happy to call me 'lil bro' because for him I am not just a child who must be concerned with parents, but a boy who can also be a partner for his parents. Actually I feel, papa just does not want to feel older because his son has grown into a mature man with a height that has exceeded his height, ha-ha.

"Hi, Pa. When is Papa coming home?"

"Uhm, I don't know when exactly. There is still a bit of a problem with the contractor. Any news from the past two weeks?" ask her with a curious tone.

"Many, but later I will tell you that Papa is already at home," I said in a half-tempting tone.

"Well! It seems that papa should go home quickly then, yes," he chuckled at my answer.

"Should. A lonely house if there's no Papa."

"For sure, ha-ha," my dad heard my answer.

Papa ended the conversation after promising to go home next week. Back to deserted master when the phone connection from papa ended.

Two weeks without communication with papa there feels a distance created. The empty space in the heart of the presence of the figure of papa still echoes longing echoes.

Runa's face suddenly thrust into my mind. Recollecting a conversation with him earlier this afternoon about his father's longing. His face looked sad when he said that he could only say through prayer if he missed his father.

I can't imagine how that girl survived the days after her father's death. During this time he seemed always rigid and cheerful, rarely any complaints coming out of his lips recognize the longing for his father figure.

Rarely did she show a sad face, I could easily remember how many times she looked sad. The Runa I have known all this time is always cheerful. After I remembered, as long as we were friends, Runa rarely talked about her feelings. All this time, I have often complained to him. He was always a good listener.

I realized, maybe with the busyness of my parents at this time I became more able to feel what Runa felt. Surviving the day without a father figure and forced to split the city with his mother.

Aruna the morning sun, you really gave light to my life. Not only the way you treated me all this time, but your toughness to live a life without complaining really became a lamp for me. Keep shining in my heart, illuminating my once dark life.