Black Blue

Episode 8

I'm walking through the stone mama's house. Knocked on the door of the house, and before long she came out with a face.

I kissed Mom's hands and cheeks as soon as she opened the door. I tightly hug mom's tiny body. I want to feel how much I miss him.

The house looks lonely, the twins are still in school and the father is still in his post. So this is how mom's been at home for years? Alone, quiet and silent. But I never get bored.

As for me, just a day at stay is bored not because. Mother is indeed a patient and strong woman, even I rarely see mother sitting and chatting with neighbors.

"Sir, a week does not look you are more beautiful?"

"Yes dong, I'm Mom's son." I'm laughing a little.

"Let's go in here." Mom pulled my hand and we sat in the front room.

"Sir," call Mother softly.

"Yes, ma'am," I replied no less gently.

"Mom's gonna ask you something, but you're gonna be honest." Mother asked doubtfully.

"What do you want to ask, Mom?" manya curious.

"Your husband, good to you, isn't he, Nduk?" ask mom scared.

"Yes, Leon's very nice, Mom. Why?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Thank God, I'm just worried about you." mom's tone sounded relieved

"Mas Leon isn't just good, ma'am. His attitude was gentle to me too."

"Thank God, Nduk. I'm glad to hear it."

"What a quiet house, Buk?"

"Yes, your sister is still at school. That's why you play here so often, so I have friends."

"Yes." Yeah." I smile.

After a long chat, I helped Mom cook lunch. Things I almost never did when I was a girl. Because I rarely take off work, so I rarely help Mom at home.

I also asked Mom to teach me some cooking, I was afraid if this morning happened again. The time we spent together was so happy. Where have I been, why haven't I felt this before?

I hugged Mom and cried. Mom just hugged me and stroked my head. Letting me cry for a while, then Mom broke out my arms and wiped away my tears.

"What's up, Nduk?"

"I'm just sad, Mom."

"Sad, piye anyway? Story to Mom."

"I'm sad, why can't I spend this time with Mom?"

"Oh, I think why."

"If I could enjoy my time like this."

"If you used to be like this, you would be sprained by Mom, anyway."

"Eh .. Where is it possible, ma'am."

"Maybe, like Shima now. I know she's been sprained a lot when told to help cook."

"That's Shima, Mom. I'm different."

"You, because you're married now and split the house anyway, Nduk. If not, yes sprain too."

"Not really, Mom. I'm different from Shima."

"Now you can say that, because now you have felt like a wife and split the same family. If you're still with Mom, then another story."

"I want to join Mom." I hugged Mom again.

"Eh .. You are married and still spoiled."

"Assalmualaikum, Mother." The sound of twins entering the house.

"Wa'alaikum salam. You've come home" I replied cheerfully.

"Eh .. There's Shena." Shima walked over to kiss and hug me.

While Shine casually kissed my forehead. Just like her, my sister, but she is my sister. It was me and Shine who were pretty close, because Shine always picked me up when I came home at night. Shine told me a lot about Randy. I also confided in him a lot, he's more mature than Shima.

That's why I like to confide in him, because that's also Shine so often kiss my forehead when I cry. He treats me like I'm a little brother to protect. Maybe it's because he's a boy, so he's trying to protect.

Not bad to be told they immediately change clothes and sit at the dining table. With Shima's help we prepared lunch. Shortly after, the food was on the dinner table. We ate together, occasionally joking. I shed tears because of the day I felt.

I rarely enjoy time like this. Although there is no Father at this time, but still the atmosphere feels warm.

Since marriage, I have felt every moment of time with my family is more meaningful. Where was I when I was a girl, why didn't I try to enjoy this time?

I don't feel like time goes fast, when I'm here, it just feels like I came, now it's almost dusk.

I'm not happy playing with my two sisters. Although Shine is often where I tell stories, I don't pay much attention to them either. Especially Shima, I rarely get to talk to her.

It did not feel like this clear circle dripped just like that, remembering that I had wasted a lot of time without memories with them.

I always wanted them not to experience a life like mine, but I also let them lose their big brother figure all along.

They must be tired, they need a place for stories, but I never listen to them. I always ignore them for tired reasons.

I'm sorry I let you grow without my attention.

"Sir." I wiped my eyes.

"Yes, Mom. What's up, anyway?"

"Eat first, Shima has cooked your favorite meal."

"No need, Mom. It's gonna be night, I'm afraid Leon's looking for me later."

"You asked for permission, right?"

"Well, Mom."

"Just tell me you're still Mom's place."

"No need, Mom. He'll be hungry when he gets home. I'll just go home."

There was a ringing from my phone, I saw the phone screen with the name Leon. I quickly lifted her up.

"Assalamualaikum, Mas" I said as I picked up the phone.

"Wa'alaikum salam. You still at Father's house, Shen?"

"Yes, Mum."

"All right." Leon hung up the phone.

I kissed Mom's cheeks, then turned to her hands. Bidding to go home soon.

In this house I grew up, but now there is another house where I go home.

"Bak, where are you going?" shima asked me as I wanted to walk out.

"Home home, Shima," I answered briefly.

"Eat first, I've cooked a lot, Ma'am," he asked, persuading me to stay.

Shima is even smarter in the kitchen than I am. Maybe he's at home more times than I used to. But I know, that's no reason for me to ignore the kitchen.

Moreover, this morning, I realize actually mas Leon lied. But to keep my feelings he ate it. He ate more than his usual portion.

"Tomorrow to come here again. Now Ma'am comes home first," I'm referring to Shima.

"Yes, it's night."

"All you have dinner here, Ma'am."

"It's a pity that Leon's coming home with no mbak, Shine."

"People mas Leon also relax with the Father on the terrace," replied Shine flatly.

"Loh ... since when did he come?"

"From now on" replied Shine cuek

I walked towards the terrace, ascertaining the truth. It's true, Mr. Leon and Mr. were casually chatting on the porch of the house.

"Loh, Mum. How come it's here?" many confused.

"Yes, why are you here? Wong is also his home son Leon also, after all," replied Mr. Ngasal.

"It's not that, sir. I mean Shena since when is Leon here?"

"I've just arrived" replied Leon gently.

"Here you go, let's go in, son. We had dinner together," Mother persuaded Leon.

"Just go, come on," asked the Father.

Leon and Father got up from their seats, walking towards the dining room.

Arriving in front of the dining table, I saw some dishes that were very familiar to me.

There are tempe orek, tempe mendoan and pecel lele. I miss Mother's cooking, during my stay with Mas Leon dishes made always western cuisine. Although it looks luxurious, somehow I don't like it too much.

I immediately pulled out a chair, but Leon was still standing glued to the dishes. It was as if something was being looked at meaningfully.

"Let's sit down, Leon boy. Why stand up?" take the Father when you see Leon who is still standing glued.

"Don't like Mom's cooking, huh? Understand the mother of the village, can only cook this," continued the mother low.

"No, Ma. I just remember the past."

Mas Leon pulled up his chair and sat down next to me, for some reason there was a strange feeling when I saw his face that was currently, like he was hiding something.

"It's been a long time, Mom. I never eat home cooking."

"So what's Leon been eating all this time?" mother asked innocently, making me want to laugh.

"I mean, I haven't eaten a meal like this for a long time."

"It's Leon's custom to cook western food, ma'am." I explained.

"What is that, son?" ask the confused.

"That's a loh, sir. The food was like in that fancy restaurant. Like steak and his friends" Shima explained.

"Well, that's delicious. You must make it for you once."

"Yes, I'll make it, sir," said Leon as if not excited.

"Mom can't cook like that, don't you think Leon likes this?" ask Mom to doubt.

"I love cooking like this, Mom."

"Thank God that Leon likes it."

"Can't I eat here next time, ma'am?"

"When Leon wants to, Leon's son can come here. Mom is even grinning."

"Thank you, Mom. I haven't eaten food like this for a long time."

"Now if Leon wants to eat the village food, Leon's son just says Mother. I'll make it."

"Thank you, Mom."

Mas Leon feeds one by one the food on his plate. He seemed to be enjoying every mouthful of food. It was faint but I could see a clear circle in the corner of his eye.

The voices of Shima and Shine that filled the room made them unconscious of what was happening with Leon.

They are often noisy at the dinner table, maybe because they are twins of different gender, making them often quarrel but also protect each other. Shine does look quiet, but she is also ignorant, likes to disturb Shima.

I continued to watch as Leon was eating by occasionally wiping his cheeks.

I know very well that Leon is not okay at the moment.

Like there was something she missed so much. Maybe he misses his home, or his parents.

How can it be hard to get through the days with solitude. There is no place to tell stories, no place to complain and complain. Kasian you Mas, you've had sad days alone.

But I salute you, in such circumstances you are able to stand on your own feet and be such a gentle man.

You grew up alone, but you were smart to make me comfortable. You can give me a sense of security and make me believe in you.

After eating we went home. On the way home, Leon did not say a word.

Even at home, Leon's attitude is still so foreign. He was so cold, I didn't know the man I married a week ago.

Leon came out of the bathroom with his wet hair. Just like yesterday, he still asked me to help him dry his hair.

He's spoiled once anyway? Who helped her dry her hair?

Sometimes there is a side of him that is so spoiled, like a child who seeks attention. Or have you been lacking attention all this time?

But this time a little different, he used to sit behind me, today he sat opposite me, buried his head on his lap.

What's up with him?

Was his job bad today?

Or is there something else that makes it this way?

I gently stroked his head, his hair had dried up, but he had not yet moved from his seat.

Did he fall asleep?

"Mas, are you sleeping?" soft ask.

He did not flinch at all, nor did any sound come out of his mouth.

"Let's move to the bed." I stroked his shoulder while waking up.

But as he buried his face in his lap, he hugged my legs very tightly.

"Don't .. please let me be like this," said mas Leon hoarse.

"Mas" I called him soft.

"Just a moment .. I beg you for a moment." Mas Leon still buried his face in his lap.

"What's wrong with you, Mom?" manyworry.

"I miss him so much .. miss him so much." His voice is getting hoarse, is he crying?

"Let me be like this, I want to feel it again, I miss it, I miss it so much."

"Hindu? Miss who, Mom?" tanyaku carefully..

"Sera," he answered softly.

"Louissera," he continued.