Becoming a Mother at Age 20

Chapter 4 of Wati

For almost a week I locked myself in a narrow boarding house owned by Brother, Brother Monic did not force me to go to college. Anyway, this week is the week to change semesters. I'll be on leave soon.

Sinta's still blocking my number, I don't know why. My classmates were not looking or asking questions via WhatsApp either. Only my lecturer sent me a chat asking why I didn't get in.

I know, really, said the older brother before he left the house.

"Sir, you are a child, your friends are many, don't believe too much in each of them. Friends are forever just friends" said Monic Kak while eating fried rice made by Mother.

Ah, at that time Mother still wanted to cook food for us, but since Sister left let alone cooking, providing vegetables in the kitchen was not.

"Why did you, brother?"

"So you don't have friends who are really friends, there must be a price and a reward for every friendship. You can give anything to him, and vice versa. If there's none of that, no friendship."

At that time I just nodded yes, because on that day I felt I still had many good friends with me. For a moment, if remembered they always ask to be paid a few times and like to cheat my duties.

Is that what you call a price and a reward for a friendship?

Maybe for the umpteenth time Brother was right, I still believe in sincere friendship. Maybe I'm not lucky enough to have it, maybe.

Brother is away at work, now I know what he does. A receptionist at one of the hotels in Jakarta, my sister is very beautiful indeed. Suitable for him even though I want Big Brother to get the job he wants. She wanted to work for one of the textile companies, but she didn't have any degree to work there.

Brother might be able to go to college for that, but he chose the steering wheel to support me. Until anytime, he will always be the only person I go to when I succeed later.

"Sir, later you buy the same breakfast lunch at the front stall, huh? Here's the money, brother did not cook this morning," said Monic Kak while wearing his flat shoes.

I nodded while driving her to the front of the boarding house, as soon as she left I immediately cleared this room. It didn't take long because it was small.

Here I am now, front stall kosan brother. A lot of kids my age are sniffing here. The boarding position here is like the letter U, the right side of the male-only boarding, the left side of the female-only boarding house. While in the middle there is a kindergarten school.

"Now are you here, Neng?"

I woke up from my daydream, "uh yes Ma'am, I'm Kak Monic's sister in room 4B," I replied with a friendly smile.

"Oh Adek Neng Monic huh? Well, pantesan looks like her face, equally beautiful," said the shop mother to me.

I just nodded in agreement, it's true, my sister is very beautiful. Besides being beautiful, it turns out she is also friendly, the proof is that she is familiar with this shop mother.

"What do you want to eat Neng?" Ask again.

"Em.. want instant noodles only Mom,"

"Eh morning - morning would you like some noodles?"

"It's okay, what, fried noodles, Mom?"

"Here is Neng?"

"Yes ma'am here."

The stall mother nodded, while preparing my order.

"Eh Neng, your brother is good to be helped. Each salary absis must always buyin Martabak mother who is in front of the alley into the area here, or sometimes buyin mother clothes,"

"Every mother asks why, she says she misses her mother. Sorry Neng, where is your mother? I don't want this to go to Neng Monic."

Ah Brother, as far as anything Big Brother goes it turns out Mother remains Mother in Brother's heart huh?

The shop mother nodded. "Yes, too, Neng, uh whose name is Neng?"

"Viola ma'am, call me Vio... If you name me?"

"Fatmawati, call me Wati."

Ms. Wati gave me the fried noodles I ordered with one egg. "Do you have any eggs, ma'am?"

"Neverything Neng, eating noodles early in the morning is not good, eating them in peppers so there is protein."

I laughed a little and finished my meal quickly. Oh, so this is how you feel for five years. Alone, eat noodles in the morning.

"Mom, if this is where most of them are doing Ma'am? Work or college?"

"There are those who have worked like your brother, mostly college Neng."

Kasian Brother, must swallow the bitter reality every day. I know very well he really wanted to go to college, but because of me he chose not to go to college. She was very smart, beautiful, nothing less than her. One of the shortcomings of Brother Monic is having me as his sister.

"So I want to be able to go to high school, so as to be a successful person," said Monic Kak to Dad who was reading a newspaper in the backyard of the house.

"Yes, Monic can ko Nak," said Dad while stroking the top of Brother's head.

"Well, will you?" Ask Brother Monic to me who is coloring the picture book.

"Certainly, must, you must go to college to be successful?" Dad refuted the question Monic asked to me.

I didn't understand what they were talking about, but it seemed like a good thing so I just smiled in response.

"Udah finished?"

I woke up from my daydream when Bu Wati asked me. "Oh, ma'am, how much is it?"

"Ah dengga neng, it's okay, Mom just wanted to take the dishes to wash."

"Loh, don't do that, ma'am, how bad am I, how much is it?"

Ms. Wati just smiled while taking the plate that was in front of me.

"Mom, pay time? Where was it with the eggs again."

Bu Wati chuckled. "It's okay Neng, it's a gift from Mom for our introduction."

I nodded, "Yes, ma'am, thank you so much? Vio wants to go around the area here is okay, Mom?"

Ms. Wati nodded, I immediately stood up and stepped my foot out of the stall of the kind-hearted Mother.

I walked out of this area, towards the highway. I haven't been out of Monic since I came here, it turns out the neighborhood is very crowded.

There is even a volleyball room made of sand in this area, until I was at the end of the kosan Kakar alley. I found the highway, I looked around.

"Him?" My murmuring, I narrowed my eyes trying to see that person clearly. No mistake, that's it!

to be continued....