Canticles

66. Sad or Happy ?

The atmosphere around the chicken noodle stall was suddenly in an uproar. The cry for help and the cry of pain melted into one.

Lilian, who was called to help, rushed down from the car. Gamma who saw it was surprised and rushed down from the car to block Lilian.

" Where are you going...?!" asked Gama while stretching out both hands.

" Lo don't see what happened just now?. I'm going over there to help them, get off Lo...!" lillian said loudly.

" Can't, you keep it here...!" said Gama did not lose loudly.

" Don't be selfish Gam. There are people injured and need help but Lo diem is Lo's business. But I can't Gam, I'm a nurse and I'm called to help them. If you don't want to help don't stop me...!" sahut Lilian while trying to push Gama's body to get out of his way.

But Gama did not shift a single inch from his place. He even hugged Lilian tightly to the point of angering the girl.

" Gama, pelein !. Don't go Lo mode...!" lillian screams while trying to escape from Gama's embrace.

Again Gama did not care. He tightened his arms even though Lilian beat him up. Last Lilian bit Gama's shoulder until bleeding so bad.

" Sshhhh.., Sakitt Liaann...!" gama screamed loudly without letting go of his embrace.

Gama's screams surprised Lilian as she heard the man say his name without the usual 'sister' frills. For a moment the two stared at each other with a gaze that was difficult to describe. But a moment later there was an explosion from the burning chicken noodle stall that made everyone scream in panic.

When the second explosion occurred, Lilian reflexively buried her face into the arms of Gama who was still holding her.

" This is what I was worried about. Sorry to make Lo misunderstand me." said Gama while tightening his embrace.

Gama's breath was hunting and his heart was beating fast. On one hand he was happy to save Lilian from danger. But on the other hand Gama's sense of humanity was disturbed because it could not save the victims trapped in the chicken noodle stall.

At the same time Lilian also fell silent because she did not know what to say. At that time Lilian felt confused, should be sad or happy. In front of his eyes he saw the victim in the noodle stall that could still be saved, now it was roasted and certainly died without having been helped. Lilian cried silently in Gama's arms.

Shortly thereafter police car sirens and an Ambulance were heard in the distance. Apparently there was someone else who contacted the authorities shortly after the first explosion.

In an instant the road around the burning stall became busy. Everyone inside the other stall adjacent to the chicken noodle stall was seen scattering out. Some went away and immediately left the place because they did not want to suffer the same fate as the victims. Others chose to stay because they wanted to know what was really going on there.

The busyness that happened around him did not make Gama and Lilian disturbed. Somehow the world seemed to stop spinning for Gama and Lilian who were still standing while embracing each other.

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Lilian arrives home to Rex and their parents. Lilian immediately hugged her mother and cried. Gama who drove Lilian to the house seemed wrong because of worry Rex and his parents misunderstood him.

" Thank God, you gapapa..," said Lanni with a trembling voice.

" Thank you for bringing Lian home safely Bro." Rex said, patting Gama on the shoulder.

" Let's go. It's me being slow or something has happened. What the hell is Rex...?" asked Gama while scratching his non-itchy head.

" We'll sit down and have a good conversation. Come on kids.," said Ramon.

Ramon was sitting on the living room sofa followed by his family and Gama. Then Ramon, Lanni and Rex explain what happened to make Gama understand.

" We just saw the news in tivi about the burning chicken noodle stall. We know that it's Lian's chicken noodle merchant kiosk. We became anxious because Lian did not come home when it should have been at home. We tried to contact Lian but her phone wasn't active. We also telephoned the hospital and his friend said Lian had come home from the hospital. That's why we panicked" Ramon said.

" We're worried that Lian stopped by the chicken noodle shop and fell victim to it." Lanni interrupted, rubbing Lilian's back, who was still holding her.

" I used to pick up Edi and Nanyain Lo. Edi actually said that Lo nganterin Kak Lian came home two hours ago. I came home two hours ago should have been there, but not yet. That's why I'm ready to dance Kak Lian earlier..," said Rex added.

" Lo mean, Lo same brother Lian ate chicken noodles at the stall earlier...?" ask Rex in disbelief.

" Yes..," said Gama while nodding his head.

" Oh my God, thankfully you are not hurt. But how could you survive the explosion without the slightest injury...?" lanni asked as she watched Lilian and Gama take turns.

" Gama took off before the stall exploded, ma'am" Lilian said, breaking her arms.

" Yes, but Lo sped up the rampage as well earlier..," interrupted Gama annoyed.

" That's because I don't know if the place is going to explode Gam...!" lillian said in self-defense.

" I also don't know if the stall is going to explode. I just follow the instructions that Rex once gave to me." said Gama.

" What clue...?" ramon asked as he looked at Rex and Gama alternately.

" Gama's invisible humming voice hints Well..," said Gama quickly.

" Lo heard that voice again Gam...?" ask Rex in disbelief.

" yes. At first I thought it was the sound of the buskers singing again, but it didn't. Especially at that time everyone seemed to be watching or ehang ga denger that voice including Brother Lo this..," said Gama while glancing at Lilian.

Ramon, Lanni and Rex turned to Lilian who looked very tangled at the time.

" So on...?" ask Rex impatiently.

" I directly maksa Kaksa Lo to unplug it. Because in a hurry, I almost hit the road barrier earlier..," said Gama.

" It hit Gam, not nearly." Lilian said.

" Yes yes. Abis I panicked, so naturally dong..," said Gama.

" Truuss...?" rex asked as he stared intently at Gama and Lilian.

" Staying at a distance of about fifty meters from the stall, I was shocked by the sudden loud explosion. Pas noleh to the back I saw the chicken noodle stall was on fire..," said Lilian while linking her fingers nervously.

" And Brother Lo is almost a victim also because he wants to help the victims trapped in the burning stall.", said Gama to the surprise of everyone.

Ramon, Lanni and Rex looked back at the battered Lilian.

" That's because I feel called to help them. I'm a nurse, so don't be surprised if I act like that before" Lilian said in self-defense.

Ramon and Lanni stared at each other while nodding their heads in understanding Lilian's feelings back then.

" But Gama stopped me. Sampe finally happened a second explosion which instantly made the wall of the stall crumble. At that time I realized that the stall and everyone in it could not be saved.", Lilian said.

" Inna Lillahi wainna ilaihi rojiuun., "said Ramon, Lanni and Rex together.

For a moment the atmosphere in the living room of Ramon's house became silent. They are busy with their own thoughts. Lanni hugged Lilian tightly again because she could not imagine her beloved daughter being the victim in the explosion.

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