Cidro (Between Love And Wounds)

Chapter 24

Aminah was still silent in her place. The woman was at a loss as to how to answer the question of the beautiful girl in front of her. He wants to be honest. But she was afraid that Anne would stay away from Citra. But....

"Tante, tolong jawab pertanyaan aku. Apa benar Citra itu adalah anak kandung Papa?" Anne mengulangi pertanyaannya lagi. Gadis itu sudah tak sabar lagi mendengar jawaban dari Bu Aminah.

Ms. Aminah increasingly does not know how to answer the question posed by Anne. The woman looked at Anne with a difficult gaze to decipher.

"Em.. in fact... actually that image...."

Anne was already impatient to hear the voice of Bu Aminah who sounded nervous. The girl moved out of the Citra bedroom. He walked quickly out of the room towards the living room.

Ms. Aminah tried to prevent Anne's move. But his attempt failed. The woman did not manage to prevent Anne's rapid steps.

"So this is all true?" said Anne. His eyes looked at his parents who were hugging Citra affectionately.

"So what I heard earlier is true?" his screeches.

Mr. Bayu, Ms. Mirna, and Citra turned at the same time. They were shocked to hear Anne's angry voice.

The image approached Anne. But his steps immediately stopped when suddenly someone hugged him. Anne hit her body and hugged her tightly.

"I've always prayed that I could have a sister. I always pray to God to give me a sister." Anne said on her sobs. Not angry or disappointed. But haru's crying and happy. He then let go of his embrace.

"And now the Lord has answered my prayers. God gave me a good and beautiful sister" she said at last. A happy smile was drawn on her sweet face.

The image came smiling looking at that happy smile. Everyone else there smiled seeing that. Even Ms. Aminah to shed tears seeing how much Anne loved her brother.

"Citra," call Mr. Bayu.

"You want to stay with Papa?"

The image looked at Bu Aminah and Pak Hamzah in turn. As if asking for approval from the two parents who had raised him.

"You want, son? Let Papa can atone for all of Papa's sins with your mother." Mr. Bayu tried to persuade Citra to want to stay with him.

Unexpectedly everyone. The image shook his head. Mr. Bayu frowned looking at the head of his eldest son's arm.

"Thank you for your offer. But sorry. I can't stay with my father. I want to stay with Mr. Hamzah and Bu Aminah only," Citra declined.

"Although they are not my biological parents. But they were the ones who took care of me since my baby. They helped me become what I am today. They were always there for me in the worst moments of my life" he continued.

Ms. Mirna gasped at Citra's reply. The beautiful woman did not expect that Citra would reject her husband's invitation.

"But Papa was eager to make up for all of Papa's past mistakes. Papa wants to take care of you dear," said Mr. Bayu. The man was still trying to persuade Citra to want to stay with him.

The image looked at Mr. Bayu with a gaze full of tenderness. Then he smiled and said, "redeeming the mistakes of the past does not have to be by inviting me to stay together, right? With you all willing to admit and assume I exist, I'm very grateful."

Mr. Bayu could not hold back his tears. The man dropped himself and kowtowed at Citra's feet. The same thing was done by Miss Mirna. The woman also knelt at the feet of Citra.

"I'm sorry, Papa Nak. Forgive Papa's negligence and stupidity so far," said Mr. Bayu.

"I'm sorry, Mom, too, son. Forgive my mother's mistake. I shouldn't have been selfish. Forgive Mama Nak" said Ms. Mirna.

"Don't be like this, Mum. Don't be like this," he said.

Anne who had just been silent seemed powerless to hold back her tears. He could not resist the feeling of haru in his chest.

Mr. Bayu and Ms. Mirna finally want to stand up. The two hugged Citra tightly. Melt tears still dripped from both of his old neutrals.

*****

The day passed so quickly. I don't think the class exam is about to start. All the students and students seemed busy studying and practicing. No exception Anne and Citra. The two are now studying together.

Like this afternoon, they studied together at Citra's house while accompanying Citra to guard the house.

"Eh Image." Anne called Citra while chewing on the cilok she had bought before she went to Citra's house.

"Aren't you really angry or vengeful with Papa? Papa has never taken care of you."

The smiling image heard the silly question from his half-brother.

"What did Anne do? Just a grudge will make our hearts darker and dirty," Citra replied.

"Even if I hold that grudge and anger, will it bring my mother back to life? It's not possible. So yes, I'm sincere. Then with sincerity we can be more calm and serene," he said again.

Anne mangosteen heard the wise answer from Citra. His admiration for Citra never receded even more. Though sometimes envy also attacks his heart.

"If it's Mama?" ask Anne.

"Aren't you angry or vengeful, Mama?"

Imagery shook. "As I said earlier. Why hold grudges and anger? It all happened, right? There's no way we can pull back again, right?"

Anne again could only be bemused to hear Citra's answer. An answer he never expected.

"Now our job is to fix the wrong ones. Straighten the crooked and tidy up the mess," Citra said.

"meaning?" Anne frowned. He didn't understand the meaning of Citra's words just now.

The image only smiled hearing Anne's question. "I mean, now we are trying to improve ourselves and what went wrong in the past. So that in the future we do not repeat the mistake. And so that we can be careful in stepping," explained Citra.

Anne curled her lips. His head understood.

"Udah ah learn again. After this we'll try to practice the matter." Citra said while smiling her sweet smile.

"Every Teacher" he said.

The image smiled at Anne's words. Then they refocused on their learning activities.

Without them noticing three pairs of eyes looking at the two from different places. All three showed awe at the figure of Citra who was so mature faced with problems.

"I'm more and more amazed by you. You are a woman who is so airy to receive all the trials from God" said someone who was not far from where they studied.

"Elo is getting older Citra. I am amazed by your maturity and your way of thinking. I love you more elo." Arga muttered while staring at Citra. A smile could not be separated from his handsome face.

"The more I'm mean to elo. I open my heart to my apologies. The more I try to damage the mood of the elo, the more the heart always gives room to stay calm" Azwan said in his heart. He felt sorry for hurting the image. But he also could not deny that only in this way he could release his love.

"Again learn yea," reprimanded a voice.