Clandestine

Orphanage

“Terms

want to go home?” I told Reinard when he had cleaned up the equipment

the bath. “No longer want to do anything? His face is not healed.” I

pointing at his face that still had a little leftover bruise.

“You

again tease me huh?” he grabbed my finger and pulled my body inside

her hug. “Nginep last night baby…. We are getting better.”

I

sniffling while releasing his embrace. Since when did Reinard have a habit

spoiled like this. Last night he really didn't want to stay away from me, as a result

this narrow hospital bed should be for both of us. Himpit-himpitan, man,

but it still feels comfortable.

“Continues

today we want to do?” I'm keeping Reinard who's now entering

his phone into a jeans pocket.

“You

not busy today?” he asked back.

I

shake. “For you, I won't be busy.” My laugh.

Men

it pinched my nose gently.

“Mau

I'm taking you somewhere?” tanyanya.

“Where?”

“Emm.

know now?” the god who immediately got an upset pelotototan

from me.

“Love

tau doong....!” I tugged at the end of his shirt.

Reinards

shake. “Surprize aja aja dear.” he embrace me and one of

his hand grabbed the tote bag that contained the toiletries earlier. “I like to make

you are surprised kok.” He pulled my body out of this room.

*****

I

it was silent for a while when Reinard stopped his car in a courtyard.

A few meters in front of us, we see a board that says ‘Antirement

Kasih’'s. I took a slow breath, I thought Reinard would never take me

come here and introduce him to the children and the mother of the home. Or I guess

he'll never take me this fast.

“Jul,

how to talk?” reinard's voice broke my daydream.

I

look over. “Emm...I just...surprised aja.” Honest husband.

My husband

smiling and stroking my hair slowly. “I want you to meet mom

Ayu.”

“Mother

Ayu?” my many.

Reinards

nods. “A woman who found me on the doorstep of this orphanage

when I was a baby, who took care of me and took care of me until I grew up.”

I

not answering. Her feelings suddenly surrounded my heart. Understand me why

Reinard didn't tell me his past. I know it's heavy, when we

we have to open up our painful past in front of others. Anyways now

Reinard looks fine, I'm sure it took him a very long time to

accustoming.

“Ayo

down....” he squeezed my hand. From inside the orphanage I saw a

woman in her sixty walked towards us. “that's my mom already

welcome us.”

I

nods. Following him down from the car. At first I hesitated

greeting Ayu's mother with what the opening sentence is like. But the woman seemed

knowing what I was thinking, he immediately hugged me and kissed me.

“Pasti

Julia right?” Ayu's mother rubbed my arm. “Finally Reinard brought you here

son...”.

I

I was stunned and found Reinard standing beside me. It just stuck me

with smile. Apparently, he had told Ayu's mother, a

the woman Reinard must have thought of as his own real mother.

Woman

named Ayu it looks simple. Her gray hair was carried to

back with neat. Although the wrinkle on her face could not lie to her age,

but the beautiful murat was still clearly visible on her face

“Pardon

I came late yes ma'am..” Sahutku.

Moms

Ayu nodded while stroking the back of my hand.

“Iya.

understand. Reinard once said to his mother that he married a woman

that's so pretty.” Ayu's mother smiled. “And he promised to bring his wife

come here.”

“Dan

mother's request materialized isn't it?” timpal Reinard's.

“Iya.

know that you will keep your promise son..” Ayu's mother patted Reinard's shoulder

slowly.

I

smiling at the interaction between my husband and Ayu's mother. Even though they don't

they have a blood relationship, but they seem to love each other so much

others.

“Mas

Reinard....!” A boisterous voice suddenly resounded from within the parlour. A child

a man about six years old ran to greet us, followed by a lot

the other kid behind them.

“Mas

Reinard is coming again!” a little girl with bangs tugging at the end of a shirt

my husband's. “Bring what mas?”

Reinards

crouched. “There is a car.” he puts his eyes on the car.

“Eh.

their attention to me. The children followed the direction of Ayu's mother's eye movements.

“Tau who is Julia?”

Childrens

it was silent and looked at each other.

I

little laugh. “Known, my name is Julia. Wife of Reinard.” I thrust

my hand. At first they didn't seem to believe I was Reinard's wife.

But when the bangs girl welcomed my hand, her other friends

follow and follow one by one. Back they squeaked not to stop.

Ask me everything, even where I live.

Reinards

brought them lots of snacks. I don't know when it was

set it all up in the trunk of his car. If only I knew if we would

come here, I will definitely ask Reinard to stop the car in

pizza parlour and bought a few boxes. I'm sure they must have liked it a lot

food like that.

Girl

bangs named Nana was immediately invited me to go into his room and

playing doll. Some of our friends followed us, so be us

play houses and dolls in an empty room with lots of mattresses. I

it felt a little sad to see how simple this place of their residence was.

But I saw them so happy and grateful for what they were

have now. They seem happy, enjoying their lives to the fullest

simplicities.

Slowly

I rubbed the corner of my eyes that were getting wet. The shadow will live Reinard

not much different as they were years ago made my heart hurt.

Subsequent to

I went into the room, I saw Reinard taking the boys

to play ball in the backyard. From Nana's bedroom window, I can see

my husband was so happy with those little kids. He laughed, rolled over

together and of course holding the children running around the yard.

A sight I haven't seen in a while together

Reinards.

“Mari

ngeteh was Julia..” Ayu's mother appeared in front of the door with her distinctive smile.

I

pausing my activities with the children and getting out of my seat after

he asked Nana and her friends for permission that I would

out briefly.

Two

warm tea cups billowed on the table on the porch of the parlour.  Accompanied by some traditional cakes

placed in a small plate. I sat in one of those rattan chairs

empty, across from Ayu's mother.

“Mother

happy to see Reinard married a woman as good and beautiful as you

Julia.” Mayu's mother gave me an old photo album.

I

smile and accept the album. “That's small time Reinard photos.” Continue ma'am

Ayu when I just cradle the thing.

I

not saying, now my eyes focus on opening the first page of the photo album.

Showing a baby boy with clean skin and very handsome. Who

again, he is my husband.

“Mother

sure if you've never seen her childhood photos, right?”

I

back smile. “ not yet bu.” Sahutku. “turns out he is very handsome.” I

staring fixedly at a photograph of Reinard wearing a TK uniform. I took that photo

the picture starts to fade. In the photo, Reinard is smiling

a chalice.

“Itu

cup when he wins the race.” Ayu's mother muttered softly. “But mom forgot what race.”

Stiffness.

I

laugh, then re-open the next album. This time when

Reinard was taking a walk in the mini-park. With a girl his age

looking a few years younger than him. From some photos, I saw

that Reinard was always with that little girl. They seem so close.

“Dia

have a difficult life Julia...” Ayu's mother muttered then while laying down

his cup. I raised my chin, I don't know when Ayu's mother took the cup

and sip.

Moms

ayu looks at me. “She's not told me about her past?”

I

nodding. “ I only knew a few days ago bu.”

“Mother

sure she loves you very much Julia.”

I

unseemly. Many have said that to me. Even Marina has

saying it.

“Former

she's someone very cold Julia. But I see, after marriage

she smiles often.”

I

unable to answer anything but staring at Reinard who was still chatting

with kids. Deep down in my heart, I feel proud of

myself.

“Thank God

if now she's happier ma'am..” I said later.

Moms

Ayu looked at me.

“Julia,

you know what Reinard wants now?”

I

look over.

“What

bu?” my many.

“Dia

want to have a child from you.”

******