Beautiful In Dark

19. Original Story

In fact this is a thousand times more bitter than a million tons of papaya sap

I need a drop of honey, my dear

---

“I Sifa, her sister Darka.”

Lita looked at Siska—more precisely Sifa in surprise. “You're kok—”

“I actually want to talk directly to brother, but I'm afraid brother is afraid.” Sifa's voice swallowed. “Means I entered this body. All right so I can talk to you directly brother.”

Lita took a slow breath, starting to vent closer to Sifa.

“Actually, I am also waiting for moments like this to come.”

“You mean?” sifa asked not understanding.

“Darka once told me that she feels guilty about you. Because of him, you become like this,” said Lita. “I'm not sure the same everything he said, because you've been a few times I've seen him go everywhere.”

“Including the first time we met. Surprisingly, I can't know who you really are.”

Sifa's shoulder went limp, then she let out a long sigh. “Everything I'm determined to possess this body. I want to straighten out all the mistakes on my brother.”

“Everything?”

“Actually I want everything. And you tell him. But—” Sifa was silent for a moment, then continued. “My time is not much.”

“You explained quickly, let me tell Darka later. How?”

Sifa nodded. Without hesitation, he explained everything to Darka.

“So Darka doesn't need to feel guilty about my death. Everything is God's destiny. Nothing to do with him. I'm sad he blames himself constantly.”

Siska's eyes which Sifa directed to look at Lita, had a serious look that was hopeful. "Please tell Brother Darka, he must ask father for an explanation, yes, brother. I—"

"Lho, huh? How come?" Siska is confused. Now Lita believes Sifa has come out because her time is up. "Gue what's going on here?"

Lita laughed, closing Siska's suspicions. "Lo fell asleep earlier."

****

Lita walked towards her favorite chair in this minimarket in a doldrums. In both hands there is a cup of pop noodles that have been brewed and also cold mineral water, daily food.

The night is getting late. The moonlight also began to dim. Only the stars in the sky were so many nights this seemed to show off its light. Accompanying everyone who is still passing by, including Lita.

“Sto really your face. Any more problems huh?”

It seemed like it had not heard the voice of this ghost for a long time. Lita looked up, now found the ghost sitting in front of her. Holds his chin up while waving his hand towards him. Don't forget to put on a friendly smile as usual.

“Where is it? I have not been seen for a long time,” said Lita who never saw the ghost again.

“You think you're the only one who can date? I can too,” replied the ghost confidently. He then observed Lita's face. “Why the hell? His face is so.”

Lita shook her head, “Gue is just a sauce,” said Lita while stirring her noodles without interest. “My waist which some days often hurts.”

“You must be mostly working huh?”

“My work was Saturday Sunday doang.” Lita put her noodles in her mouth and then chewed them.

The ghost sneered, “You do not realize that this is not the first time you complain about your waist?”

Lita remembered that this was not the first time she had complained about her waist. Several times the girl often felt her waist hurt.

“Gue seems to be drinking less times, yes.”

The ghost nodded a few times. “Kalo that you think is not a waist problem, means there is another problem dong?” ask the ghost. “Definitely related to guys who yesterday.”

Lita nodded resignedly, confirming the ghost's speech. Without him telling, the ghost was very sensitive to Lita.

From the very first time we knew it, only ghosts could know what Lita was feeling and thinking.

Lita also ventured to tell a story. Starting from his meeting with Sifa, the reason Sifa wanted to talk to him, and also the message from Sifa that he had to convey to Darka, his brother.

“So he didn't explain everything? Play go all in?” asked the ghost after hearing all the stories from Lita.

“Not want, but the time is very short,” said Lita. “Darka is guilty and sorry for ngajakin Sifa see him how driving the car. He assumed from there Sifa died when not.”

“That's it?”

“Completed,” said Lita quickly. “Gue goru. Sifa time is really short. I was just told to tell Darka to ask his father for an explanation. Because, his father knows more about this problem all.”

“Sappret yes. Clear until hanging gituh.”

Lita nodded in agreement, “How else. It's happened so.”

“Gue has sent Darka chat as well as voice note from Whatsupp. Hopefully he opens.” Lita opens her chat application, intending to check if Darka has read it or not.

As the girl sighed softly, her shoulders came down weakly. The message he sent was not read.

Is Darka asleep?

****

Darka opened his eyes slowly, rubbing as he fumbled around his bed looking for a hape and then pressed the power button. The young man frowned, looking at the clock on his hape.

05.30

Next, the young man opened his eyes wide. Got a couple of missed calls on the screen.

Lita called him fifteen times.

“Wow.” Darka chuckled in amazement, still staring at his hape. “So the same kangen prince arrived at miscall several times gini.”

Darka changed positions to sit cross-legged on his bed. The mood this morning is really good, especially in the Gebetan misscall up to several times. Makes Darka so great not careless.

The young man looked for Lita's contact, then contacted her.

“Halo, eneng happy pa—”

“Ngapain calls clock this?”

The young man was grinning. “You did say miscall I was a lot. Kangen yes?” darka asked teasing the girl.

There was a rough snort of Lita there. “Bonded even nanya back.”

Darka laughed softly. “There's what? It's important huh?”

“Lo have read my message?”

Darka frowned. “What message?” ask while scratching the scalp.

“Cek WA's. Now.”

“Entaran aja. I want to take a shower,” said Darka. “Mumpung I wake up fast, you want me to pick it up?”

“Daddy. I am not in school.”

“Yaa...kok rowdy?” asked Darka. “Padalahan want to leave with.”

“Gue no longer feeling well.” Lita sounded cough for a while, then continued. “Just read now my message. Sorry can't nyampein directly.”

Lita then turned off the phone unilaterally.

Darka's eyebrows raised next door. The young man kept the eaves from his ears. His hands were busy looking for his chat room with Lita. More precisely, there is no need to search because Lita's message is at the top now.

Unyu jelly jelly (10)

Do not get emo…..

“Crazy this Jeli ngapa ngespam I yak,” muttered then opened a chat from Lita.

Unyu jelly jelly (10)

P

P

Woy

I want to do something similar

I met you earlier

(0:45)

In essence, ask your friend about this problem.

He doesn't explain everything.

Woy

Darkas

Anyway, do not let the emotions fit again talking the same bokap lo.

Darka looked puzzled, his forehead shrinking deeper. He only read the message, but did not listen to the voice note sent by Lita.

The young man taped his hape to the ear, pressing the microphone icon so that he could hear Lita's voice.

“She said you don't have to feel guilty about her death. It's not your fault. It is destiny. This is your chance to make it to the bokap, because he knows everything better. He can't clear my way through because it's a personal family matter. There's not much time to explain anyway. The time he made possessing the human body was very short, moreover he possessed it forcibly.”

By hearing Lita's voice, Darka could only quietly run out of words. Hurry up from his bed.

***

“Where's dad?”

Mother pursed her lips, jumped in shock for a moment to see her only son suddenly looking for his father.

“Where's dad?”

“Ngapain you find dad early in the morning?”

Shortly after, the father came out of his room. The middle-aged young man rolled up the sleeves of his old blue shirt, looking at his son with no interest.

“I want to talk to Daddy.”

“You said what you?” ask Daddy ketus. Stepping haughtily towards the dining table, passing Darka just like that. Implied with the annoyance of her son, remembering how stubborn Darka was.

“Soal Sifa.”

Mom looked quickly at Darka. The eyes of the woman who was aged but still beautiful widened instantly. The movement of Dad who was about to sit in his chair so stopped, hearing Darka's words that offended about his sister.

“Ngapain you name Sifa.” Dad tried to be calm, even though he did not like to mention Sifa.

“There must be something Dad hid from me about Sifa.” Darka looked at his father full of sharp glare, as if he wanted to penetrate his father's two eyeballs covered by the clear glasses.

“Hide things about Sifa?” daddy sneer. “Not you know everything?” ask Dad again with a satirical quip.

“Not yet conscious apparently?” Darka asked back, looking at his father who still maintained his haughty attitude.

“Dad don't want to tell me something?” Darka still asked. “Or, I'll find out for myself?” darka asked again, trying to lure her father to be honest.

“Sifa donated her heart to you.”

Darka turned his head, looking at Dad in disbelief. His world seemed to collapse hearing his father's words just now. Mother, who already knew everything, was still flabbergasted to hear that bitter and painful sentence.

“The accident left Sifa severely injured, losing a lot of blood, her failed operation, so she lost hope of surviving.” Dad finally told me. The middle-aged man's eyelids looked cute. A speck of water at the end of his eyes was about to descend down, making the man raise his head for a moment.

“You who at that time already had a weak heart also looks worse. Your body condition is getting worse. You have to have surgery, but there's no donor heart we can find.”

“Until finally Sifa heard it all. He, with all his sincerity, donated his heart to you.”

Darka then sobbed. His eyes were reddened with tears that he could no longer bear. The young man, back fragile. His heart crumpled, poignant, all mixed into one.

He shouldn't have heard this. His sister, whom he loves the most, should not do all this.

He has lived a troubled and miserable life. How bad Darka feels.

“Why haven't you guys ever told me?” darka asked coldly. The young man looked at his parents who were now bowing their heads. Hiding their faces.

“We can't, Son.” The mother who had been silent, finally opened her voice. “Sifa said not to tell you. You will become angry do not accept Sifa who did it.” Mom takes a short breath, then goes back to saying, “Sifa trusts her life with you. He believes you can be happy with the heart he gave you. Don't act weird, don't disappoint your sister, Darka."

Darka wiped away her rough tears. Without speaking, he went back into the room. Leaving both of his parents still stuck in place. Not calling their son. Darka needs time to be quiet.

***

"Sir, look at this, my fish picture, funny right?"

The ten-year-old Darka smiled at his sister who was busy coloring in her homemade aquarium pictures.

"Well, you're good at pictures, yeah, deck! Proud, brother, brother!"

"Oh yes, dong," Sifa replied laughing proudly. "Sifa that's it."

Darka laughed along, he ruffled his sister's hair with anxiety. "Yes, deh. Who was her brother, right?"

"Ish, I'm Dad's son Mom, yeah!" reply Sifa was a bit upset.

"Dih, that. Brother is sad, you love Father and Mother more, yes, than Brother?" ask Darka suddenly. His father and mother were outside and so he dared to ask like that.

Sifa seemed to think for a while, but eventually she became steady. "I love everything!"

"But your dear sister doang," Darka replied seriously. "You're the picture pinter, the nari pinter, the singing pinter, the swimming pinter, the math pinter, the English pinter and the memorizing pinter. Ajarin Brother dong!"

Sifa's face turned sad, she stopped her hand that was coloring the aquarium water and turned to look at Darka wistfully. "Sister don't say that. I'm sad."

"Father, I love you more like you do, Dek." Darka cleared his throat, forcing himself to strongly tell stories. "Every time you want this - it was immediately accrued, uh, when it's Brother's turn, say this Brother's value is still bad, Brother's rank is twenty continues, play a lot, be naughty, be naughty, Brother envies you, deck."

"Ish Brother, don't be," whined Sifa feeling bad. She almost cried.

"Sstt, not your fault, deck. Her brother is the one whose brain is bego, not as sintered as you," Darka replied suddenly worried Sifa would cry. "Sister don't blame you. Precisely Brother loves you more than Father Mother who likes to say Big Brother stupid."

"When Big Brother acts the same singing, yes!" exclaim Sifa spirit. "Sister should be an artist!"

Darka laughs. "Sister also want it that way, but Daddy Mom would not like Big Brother, definitely not ngijinin."

Sifa pouted. "There I am, brother. I'll tell you later."

"So, I'd be sad if Mom's dad wanted to hear you say that."

Darka can only hope that when his Mother's Father comes and Sifa voices his wish, they can grant Darka's wish. Darka really can't learn and his brain refuses unless he plays a role or sings.

However, his mother's father refused, they were angry.

"You're a kid, don't be weird! Focus on learning like Sifa."

"You again, Sifa, don't take care of your brother too much. Just focus on your school, you have your own life. Father and Mother do not want you to be useless people in the future, follow our words and you will be happy later."

"But, Yah—"

"It's hard to learn, Darka? Dad's request was that heavy, huh?"

"Dad, Brother Darka usually acts! He wants to be an artist, Dad!" sifa exclaimed loudly, defending Darka who was only able to be bowed with tears in his eyes.

Darka felt completely useless. He does not master exacta or sport, he just wants to be an actor.

The days continue like that. Scolded the old man, defended his sister and cried. Darka wants to disappear if his presence can not make a single person happy.

"Sister, don't be sad, there will be a scene" said Sifa, hugging Darka, who was crying in her room. "I really want to be a model. Dress well and take beautiful pictures. That was my dream, brother. But I want to be happy first Dad Mom, I know Daddy Mom doesn't agree I'm a model, they want me to be a doctor.

Darka was crying for it. Why is his sister so mature and able to think far away, while he is like this?

Darka loved Sifa more than himself.

Sifa is always there. When he is happy, sad, frustrated, angry and tired. Darka promises success to his sister, but fate says otherwise.

When the incident took her sister's life, Darka's life was colorless. He actually cried for days and only looked down when he was yelled at by Dad for taking Sifa in his delinquency.

Now, the existence of his sister has gone, leaving hopes that are forced to be dashed because of destiny.

And Darka was there to completely erase him, for he was now crushed to the brink when he found out his sister had sacrificed for him.

If he knew that the heart he had did not belong to his sister, Darka would have wasted his empty life. But now that her sister is together, Darka is really depressed.

All this time he had been living a bad life for his sister's sacrifice. Darka did not even dare to visit and stare at his sister's grave anymore.

***

The son took a fry from black plastic, ate it slowly while looking at someone who looked dreamy not far from where he was sitting. Anwar is busy with Sandi with one phone while giggling due to watching funny videos. The son nudged Anwar's arm for a while, making Anwar look up to Putra.

“What the heck you tuh—” Has not had time to gush the Son with his nagging, Putra has pointed towards Darka.

Anwar turned his head, looking at someone there sitting daydreaming like someone who was thinking about debt installments.

“Why else would a child?” anwar whispered to the Son.

The son shrugged his shoulders a sign he didn't know. Sandi stopped laughing because she realized Anwar was already focusing on something else. He lifted his head, followed by also looking at Darka who was still loyal to his position.

“Ngak in school, not here, still so his face,” Sandi commented.

“What because the Jeli does not enter times, yes?”

“Times because Jeli did not enter,” replied Putra. “There is a problem the same time who gituh.”

“Usually if there is a problem cuek-cue aja he,” chirps Anwar take fried foods from plastic, and followed by Sandi.

“Kalo she rowdy so serem know.” Sandi chewed the fried food for a while. “Taste see zombie.” Point it at Darka's pale white face with eye bags printed clearly under his jet eyes.

“We ask for help from Jeli aja for entertainment?” anwar asked for an idea.

“No need, njir. Repot very well to bring a girl,” said Putra.

“But right, guys. A lot of people in class, he doesn't laugh at all. Even he looked straight ahead,” said Sandi who had always noticed Darka's movements during class.

“So Mr. Anto joked he didn't yell. Kan usually he is very excited if the horrors of Mr. Anto talk funny.” Now it's Anwar's turn to give an argument, while mentioning the name of their famous humorous Indonesian teacher as the foundation in his argument.

“Yaudah call the Jeli aja.” said Son final. “Lo no contacts?”

“Yes no,” Anwar replied quickly.

“Moreover me,” connect Son, then glance at the table. There was a Darka hape lying near them.

“Yaudah just take it from there.” Anwar said, as if he knew the meaning of the Son's glance on the Darka hape.

“Entar if he squirms, say just ask for a new girl contact,” replied Sandi ngasal.

In the end, the three boys took Darka's contact secretly from the handsome young man's hape.

We pray that their plan will work.

***