Be aground

First Exam

The sound of knocking on the door stopped my movements that were feeding on mother. It must be Beni's brother who came. Fifteen minutes ago he reported that he was on his way to the hospital. Maktuo opened the door before I could put down the plate I was holding.

"Eh, Beni. Want to pick up Runa again?" say hello when Beni's face appears in the doorway.

"Yes Aunt. Vienna said he was still in Bintaro" Beni said in a voice that sounded very confident.

"Do you want to, all over Vienna?" search the maktuo when Beni maktuo.

I held amusedly looking at the maktuo style that looked like interrogating the eagle-eyed tall guy. Impressed judes, but Beni seemed undisturbed by such a motto. He still looks relaxed in response. Maybe you understand the nature of Maktuo. My mother's brother was indeed his first impression of Judes, when in fact the person was good.

"Not told, Auntie. Ask for help," said Brother Beni maktuo.

"Yes, that thin difference," said maktuo. "Have you eaten, not yet?" ask Maktuo after shifting the chair towards Beni's brother, let him sit.

"Aunty," said Beni politely and then sat awkwardly as our eyes rubbed.

"Then you bring this rendang home. Aunt bring a lot." Maktuo thrust a box containing rendang on Beni's brother. "But, later return Tupperware aunt, yes," he continued.

"Ha-ha, yes Tan. Mama also rampaged if Tupperware to why. Mending his son did not come home from his Tupperware did not turn back," joked brother Beni, taking the box that was proffered by the motto.

"Well! Understand also you," kekeh maktuo.

My mother and I laughed when I heard Beni's joke. He also liquefied the atmosphere. Not everyone knows the character of Maktuo. Usually when others see the makto with the face of the judges, immediately receding guts.

"Thank you for the rendang, Auntie," said the man who had been sitting casually then.

"Yes. Thank you for being repotted, yes," replied Maktuo.

"Go home Run, rest. Scared on the road jammed, can night really until home." Maktuo turned to look at me.

"Yes, Maktuo" I said, rising from my mother's side.

Then move to finish the novel and some of my stuff that was scattered on the empty bed mattress next to the mother, into the bag. There's no point in negotiating with the motto about my desire to accompany mom tonight. You will never win, just waste energy.

"Runa go home first, Mom," I said to Mom. Hugged mom tight.

This time the mother's body wasn't as flavorful of medicine as the first time I met. I breathed in the fruity aroma of the shampoo he was wearing. So soothing to be able to hug mom like this. His embrace was like the antidote to all the bumps that clumped in the heart. Dissipate all anxiety.

I really miss those times when I could sleep all night hugging my mom, after we spent the night telling stories. I miss the vanilla scent of the perfume I wear. Missing the warmth of my mother's body who hugged me back when I slept.

***

Out of the room where Mom was being treated, I went back to silence. I'm not an expert at starting conversations. It seems that Beni's brother is also engrossed in his thoughts. Usually if the two are like this, Beni brother who starts to open his voice. But this time, not a word came out of his lips.

A speck of condolence quietly infiltrated. In awkwardness, I tried to find the opening word to remove the silence between us.

"Sir .. sorry yes, so ngerepotin." Finally that word came out of my lips. Too pleasant-nonsense, but I'm starting to catch my breath with this silence.

"No need to say that. I'm the maksa, he-he." Beni looks clumsy. Yesterday, he looked relaxed when he talked to me.

Running out of ideas to find conversation material. I finally let the silence between us. No need to force yourself to talk to each other.

Beni opened the car door for me. Closed it after I sat perfectly on the passenger seat. I pulled the seat belt right away before Beni got in the car. There is a sense of hesitation if later he helps me again pair it as before. This time it was like siding with me, he managed to pull in one push.

"Eh, can you cast the seatbelt?" reprimand brother Beni when he saw the seat belt has been installed perfectly slung on my body.

"Already, it seems like he has started making friends with me," I chanted with a wide grin. This time I tried to melt the atmosphere.

"That means you've been well received by my car," kekehnya featuring a row of neat teeth that look faint behind the dim lights of the parking lot.

"You're accompanying me to a meal first, Run?" ask when the car comes out of the hospital parking area.

"Yee, he said he had eaten" I protested.

"Shy dong. I said no, then the aunt I'll eat."

"Why don't you want to?"

"Fear my appetite a lot, ha-ha," her arms, make her eagle eyes look like curved lines.

"But isn't my last night coming home?" I reasoned.

"We're looking for a place to eat near Vienna's house. There are a lot of good places to eat," he said this time looking at me for a long time.

Sungkan refused, also hesitated to say yes. I just kept quiet. Somehow Brother Beni interpreted my silence. Amidst the confusion of looking for an excuse, my phone shook a few times. My hand moved pulling the thing from inside the bag, peeking at the lit screen. There's Arjun's contact there.

"Oh, from her boyfriend?" shoot brother Beni.

"No, someone ordered a cake" I told a lie, then later regretted why I had to lie.

"Are you selling cookies?" He asked back.

"Yes, good enough for extra pocket money," I explained, glancing at him and then looking back at the phone screen.

[For a long time Monday, I can't wait to see you.] I read a message from Arjun.

I refrained from smiling. These two days Arjun is like a romantic demon. Usually he's also careless when I meet my mother. He already knew that I didn't want to be bullied when I was with mom, but somehow these days he's been sending me messages like this every day.

[Once in a while, let's not see me continue] I sent him a reply.

[Lo's like a opium, Run. Make sakau.] Shortly his reply came in.

God, don't let me laugh at reading it.

[Widiih, meaning I'm not good dong for your health] I reply still with a smile held back.

[Gue willingly sick due to lo addiction, Run 😂😂😂]

[Wkwkwk ... What else do you think? So it's not clear gini?] amused, but happy also occasionally combed. Because I know, Arjun is not the type of guy who likes to be a tombal.

[Seriously, this time I miss you very much]

Stunned reading Arjun's message. I don't really understand the ins and outs of feeling. Until now my feelings for the guy still can't be revealed like he expressed his feelings for me in every message he sent. Either because I'm too stiff, or I can't express it clearly yet.

[Can I call, can't I?] The message came back in.

[Gue's on the road again, not good for calling. If you are at home, ] I will reply.

[Where did he come from?]

I realized, from yesterday I had not told Arjun about mother entering the hospital. It's not right to talk about this to Arjun over the phone.

[Custom, Vienna makes me make way. Now on my way home,] I lie back.

Why are there so many lies today. I patted the jidat.

"Why, Run?" asked Brother Beni astonished to see me who subconsciously patted the eel.

"Eh .. ha-ha, this ordinary order person likes to ask for the strange," I said.

"Oh, why kirain." Beni's eyes refocused on the streets.

Luckily tonight was not too jammed, so within forty-five minutes, we had entered the area where the maktuo lived.

"So, shall we eat first?" ask Beni for my approval.

"Uhm, no kemaleman?" I glanced at the clock on my phone. The number listed there already shows at 20:45.

"Still this afternoon. Yes, yes" he asked half forcefully.

I don't know what was on my mind when I just agreed to Brother Beni's invitation to accompany him to dinner. Perhaps a sense of condolence or perhaps too lazy to find a reason to refuse. What is clear, now I bowed awkwardly staring at the row of menus provided by the restaurants we visited.

My phone is back vibrating. Scroll back the message on the screen,

[Have fun's. Can't wait to see you]

[Don't wait too much, make it feel like a long time] I replied, imagining Arjun like a cat waiting for his master to come home.

"From that smile to myself." The bass sound of Brother Beni rippling my daydream.

"Ah, sorry brother. Like it so deh if the order ngeladenin people who like strange," kekehku trying to find an excuse, then refocus on the figure of a sturdy man who sits dashing in front of me.

"What does the order ask?" His macho face looked full of interest.

"Begging him, good, big keeps cheap." I'm back to making up stories.

"Ah, a typical human ogah losers," he chuckles casually.

A few minutes later, I had dissolved into a casual chat with Brother Beni. The guy has also returned joking dimeh jokes that melt the atmosphere. Makes me pull back for a moment all the overlapping problems in my mind.