Constellations of Love

Chapters 10. Statements

The last day of the week at Kindergarten school there was an additional rehearsal for the children's choir. After a sports activity together, they start to practice.

They will perform for the anniversary of the company aka the palm oil processing plant. The event is planned to be held at the meeting hall of the factory complex. The next two weeks.

Last year the Kindergarten children contributed a regional dance, this time the SD children who will dance.

The kids are enthusiastic, because everything is included. They've been training since a week. Two songs have been prepared.

Indonesian song Merdeka and Butet song.

Baras trained them patiently.

" Come, pay attention to the instructions of the teacher well, yes!"

Their loud voice and spirit broke the silence on the fringes of the palm oil plantations that span thousands of hectares.

The break time arrives. Food sharing on weekends. This time it was the turn of Ningrum's mother and Jovan's mother who prepared. Black glutinous green bean porridge contains a delicious slice of kapok banana.

Until school hours end at eleven p.m.

" Remember, the children next Monday all bring gifts for brother Fadli who will celebrate the birthday at school," said Bu Laras teacher.

" Baiiik, Ma'am teacher ....!"

" thank you. Well, now we're getting ready to go home."

" Horeeeee...."

" Come, Sari, ahead lead the prayer. Let's pray also for the healing of our friend, Gaby yes."

Ten minutes later the compulsory song home from school reverberated. Like racing with a class B sister. After greeting the Master, the children rushed home. Pickups, usually their parents, have been waiting outside the school gates. Drizzling during the day does not prevent the joy of children to return to their homes.

After the school was deserted, Laras and Bu Nur returned to the teacher's room. Mr. Yus cleaned the class by sweeping and mopping it. Then he locked all the rooms.

Laras told the condition of the student to his senior. How about Gaby who longs to go to school again. Bu Nur listened to the story while holding haru.

" May little Gaby recover soon after chemotherapy huh, mbak Laras."

" Yes, Miss Nur. We pray that Gaby will always be strong."

At one o'clock, the school is closed. The barrel has driven the motor maticnya towards the house. So did two of his colleagues. The three of them wore raincoats each because it seemed like drizzle turned into an enlarged rinai.

Laras plans to stop by the stationary wholesaler ahead of the market. He prayed that it would not rain more. Grandma left a few lists of shop needs to be purchased.

A dozen notebooks and a half-dozen box books. A small four-box color pencil and a dozen black ballpoints.

Almost an hour's drive. Baras arrived at the house at two in the afternoon.

Suddenly there was a Pandu who stood to greet him in front of the terrace. Grandma stood beside him.

" Mt noon, Laras ....."

"Lho, isn't he going to town for a meeting?"

Inner barrel.

The girl lifted the motor to the side of the terrace. Opening the white helmet. Then he opened the raincoat he was wearing. After that directly spread over the motor saddle. Do not forget to take shopping results wrapped in double red plastic bags.

" If it rains like this, the shopping can be later," exclaimed the grandmother.

" Importance, grandma. The store stock is running low. Tomorrow is not necessarily Laras can go to the market."

The guide helps bring in the shopping bag. Put it on the living room chair.

" A minute, I'll change my clothes. Also eat, hungry," Laras told the doctor casually.

The girl also brought her groceries inside.

Pandu just smiled nodding. He continued chatting with grandma while Laras went inside.

" I'm sorry, palu. Baras likes it so. Straight and a little bit of a bitch."

" It's okay, grandma. Let him rest first. Pity the rain and hunger."

Grandma's story continues about childhood to adolescence Laras. Him, the only child. His father died in a motorcycle accident while he was in elementary school. The mother passed away three years ago due to kidney failure.

The story continues when the girl goes to college.

Laras ngenger in his budenya house in the provincial capital. Laras mother's siblings opened a Padang cuisine stall with her husband there. Baras has two male cousins. All are independent. One became a TNI soldier and the other migrated to Jakarta as a lecturer at a private university.

Pandu heard the full story of Laras from the grandmother who still looks healthy at the age of seventy years.

" I'm sorry, wait a long time, yes" said Laras after returning to the living room.

The girl was wearing a blue box skirt and a light purple t-shirt. Her hair was a little wet, stroked.

Excuse me to go back to the store, because Bik Jum will be home soon.

" Grandma is still energetic and healthy, yes."

Pandu opens talks with Laras.

" Yes, um what's the granny story about?"

" There's, a lot."

Laras glanced at the guest table. Looks like the cup of coffee served has been empty.

" Want to make you drink again? Looks like the cup needs replacing....."

" That's enough, thank you."

" Oh yes, if you don't want to. Uh yeah, thanks for - by the dragon."

" Yes ....."

" How's Gaby doing?"

" It's still the same. But he's very happy to receive your tithe. Eyes sparkling. He sends his greetings to his kind-hearted teacher, ' he said."

" Thank God Gaby likes it. I hope it'll be a little fun."

" Am, can this paper tear also comfort you?"

The guide took something from the wallet. Then he handed it to Laras.

The girl accepted it while laughing.

" Okay, ha ha ha ..die me!"

" Well, who's L and J. That?"

" Eits, the doctor wants to know. "

" It must have been you, Larasati. And J...is?'

Pandu pounding, will the girl answer that J....is Jamil???

" J ..ehm that, Johnny Depp ..."

"Huh...what.?"

Pandu can't believe it.

" That's our memory, me and my best friend in college, named Lilisiana. We are all fans of the Pirates of Carribean movie. We both love watching that movie in the movies. Jack Sparrow's role is so seductive, cool and macho."

"Oh, so. "

Pandu was a little relieved. May what Baras says be the truth.

"Why, doc, do you look serious?"

" What do you like about the movie, the story or the actors?"

"Yes, both dong."

"So Laras likes to watch mystery movies like that?"

"Yes.also action hero. If doctors like what genre?"

"Sama, action is also drama.

Pandu continued to ask," Then who is your favorite actor, um besides Johnny Depp. "

" If in Indonesia certainly Nicholas Saputra. That's the outside actor, um Chris Evan, the Captain America."

It turns out that Laras has good taste, whispered Pandu in heart.

"Doctors have a favorite actor or actress?"

"Eh there, Sophaan Sopian and Widyawati."

He laughed incessantly, "Our doctor sir, his taste is an old actor. Yadul. Sorry about that."

" The present, dong."

"I love Gal Gadot and Scarlet Johansen."

" Whoa, great. Likes tough women mean, yeah."

Pandu batin," Yes like you, Laras. Tough but gentle woman."

The rain is getting bigger outside.

" The rain is growing. The address of the ball field tomorrow will be muddy and muddy" murmured Laras.

"Tomorrow for more training?"

" yes. The training portion was originally Wednesday and Friday afternoon, because there will be an event added to Sunday morning."

" What event?"

"Late next month, there is a competition between sub-districts in the district city. Because last year we were champions of two districts, so also included in the event."

" How does your story go about being a football coach?"

"Last year, Kang Jamil's assistant suddenly resigned due to moving duties elsewhere. He's a young soldier. Because kang Jamil knew I was an athlete, he offered me. Of course I'm happy

once ...."

Pandu could feel enthusiasm in the tone of his voice. But as soon as he mentioned Jamil's name, his heart sighed.

"Ehm, it looks like you have a passion for the ball, yeah."

" Our college girls futsal team once made it to the top three in the province for a student-level competition, first."

"Lumayan. Great."

"Our futsal coach first, entered the football branch PON coaching team for this province."

" Oya?"

"Kang Jamil is one of his students."

Again the name is called Laras. Looks like the girl is proud of her Kang Jamil. Pandu.

The young doctor suddenly wanted to convey a heartfelt feeling to the girl before him.

"Well, how about doc? Remember the patient at the puskesmas? Or miss someone?"

Ouch ...., basic Laras who like blak - blakan. How could I miss a patient, whispered Pandu in his mind.

"I'll make you a drink first. Let the doctor not be absentminded."

The barrel stood up and wanted to go inside. Suddenly Pandu prevented it by pulling Baras' hand reflexively. Of course the girl was surprised. He looked at the man for a moment, fixed on his eyeballs.

Momentary silence.

"Sorry, Baras."

The man removed his hand from the hand of Baras. As much as the energy trying to control themselves.

Pandu is still a little misbehaved, "There's something I want to say."

"What yes?"

The barrel has sat back. He looked at the doctor.

"Ehm, I."

Back silence. They both fell silent. The mood is a little awkward.

Shame on him. Why is he like a teenager who just shot a girl?

Come on, show me your wife. Charm, Pandu....Guide, whisper in the heart.

" thank you. I like you as a new friend."

Baras joked with a smile.

"So, I like you like a grown man who likes a grown woman."

The firm statement from Pandu just now, made Laras distrustful. For him the man was a pretty good new friend.

Still that's it. In less than two months they knew each other. Although in his heart admitted that Pandu is an interesting figure.

"Why Laras? Why just silence?"

" I made warm ginger water first in, yeah."

The barrel diverted the conversation and rushed inside towards the kitchen. This time Pandu did not prevent it.

It seems that long ago Laras did not reappear. More than fifteen minutes passed.

"Well, this is warm ginger water and the cake. Let's have a drink, doc."

Baras looks calm. His smile is still the same. Doesn't seem awkward at all.

Pandu grabbed the drinks served. Warmth soon spread in his throat.

"The cake isn't tasting either?"

The barrel opens the small jar and thrusts towards Pandu. Inevitably the man took a grain and put it in his mouth. The barrel put the jar to the guest table again.

"How, no good? It was my grandmother and I."

"It sure feels good to have you made."

"Honestly, doc? Really delicious?"

"Sure."

"Then, it's tasted again. A lot can also be ..ha ha ha."

The girl again thrust the jar that was still open on Pandu.

The man understood, the way Laras slightly shifted the atmosphere.

"So Laras also likes to make cakes."

Pandu chewed two more nastar grains. Either because it is delicious or to please the barrel.

" Right, we like cakes for just snacks."

" Laras... Can I ask you something?"

"Do you like me too, ehm as a grown woman?"

"Okay, doc.ehm mas Pandu. Let's just talk about something else, yeah."

" I'm sorry Laras, I'm serious."

Back to a moment of silence.

"Look. We just knew each other. The doctor doesn't know what I am, what kind of person I am. I am too. Just walk around casually. Let's nature. We can't force ourselves. Especially the feeling."

Mak. Pandu is embarrassed. The words just now from Laras responded to his statement, really showing that the girl was calm and mature.

For the sake of watching Pandu just silent, Laras continued his words again.

"We need time to believe our own feelings. So that the decision taken will not be regretted later."

" Thank you, Laras. I'm sorry, I forced you."

" It's relaxing, doc ehm ..mas Pandu. Let's eat the cake again." said the girl, back to her style. Straight and outspoken.

Pandu smile. He likes to be called ..."mas Pandu". Not the doctor Pandu.

"Well, can I ask you something more?"

" What?"

"Please from this moment onwards, call me mas Pandu, yes."

" Oh, yes doc. Uh. mas Pandu, mas Pandu. "

Laughter broke back.

Because it was a little afternoon and the rain had subsided, Pandu said goodbye to go home.

Before he went out, he told Laras, that tomorrow morning would come back.

"I'll take you to train the ball. Half-time in the morning, right?"

"Yes..."

"Please tell grandma. I'm home now."

" Wait a minute."

The barrel takes the jar of the nastar cake and hands it to Pandu.

" Make friends Sunday night."

Pandu smile. Want to pinch the girl's cheek because of anxiety.

" Thank you, yeah."

" yes. Heart on the road."