Deck Mirna

Chapter XXI: Memories of Mirna (part 3: Family Union)

With his annoyed face still filled with anger, Zuko took his big black car somewhere. More precisely, he was heading to someone's house. Apparently, he was heading to Aki Albi's house. In the car, Zuko calls Aki Albi. To tell him that he wants to stay at his house for a while.

Aki Albi received the call. He asked why Zuko wanted to go to his house. Zuko replied briefly, that he would later tell her when he arrived. Aki Albi is waiting. And after contacting Aki Albi, Zuko turned off his phone.

The highway is getting quieter and quieter because of the darkening of the late night. Now time has shown at half 9 p.m. Zuko sped up his car a little. Until he arrived at Aki Albi's house.

Aki Albi welcomed Zuko's arrival with pleasure. Zuko's car is parked next to his house. Soon Zuko got out of the car after parking his car. He took out a bag containing one of his clothes for tomorrow. Zuko had intended to stay one to two nights in the house.

Aki Albi let Zuko in. In that house, Aki Albi lives alone. He has been a widower since Rizki was in law school to become a police officer like his grandfather (and as we know, Javabirna's police chief). She also has two daughters, her mother Rizki and her aunt Rizki who live abroad with her husband.

"Please sit! I prepared the tea first" he said then left.

Zuko sat in the living room. Seen by Aki Albi's house, there is a statue of a tiger that gaping his mouth. Hinted the tiger roared. The rest are photographs and paintings. Until Aki Albi came along with a tray carrying two cups of warm tea and setoples of pastries.

"Please, it's still warm!" he said while keeping the three objects on the guest table carefully so as not to fall.

Zuko's permission to drink his tea. Then eat one piece of the cake. Aki Albi sat down on the guest sofa next to the sofa where Zuko was sitting. He also asked why Zuko was staying at his house.

While eating the cookies, Zuko told him what had happened at his house just now. After listening carefully, Aki Albi nodded in understanding. He also gave instructions to Zuko.

"Anything busy when called, you say! Whoever it is, who called you."

"But I'm really busy, Ki. Aki's gonna know, the rape case of a college woman was just a little more finished. So it's a responsibility if I'm bullied while investigating, instead of being bullied" Zuko replied with a slight hardening of the voice.

"Whatever it is, first make an important call to your family! If the call is from someone who asks for your services as a detective, do you want to ignore it too? I don't want to, do."

"But Ki..."

"Udahlah. That's Aki's advice for you, yeah. But you better do what Aki said just now."

Zuko. He also drank his tea again. While Aki Albi went inside to save the tray to its original place in the kitchen.

Zuko slept in the room next to Aki Albi's. He opened his jacket and hung it on the back of the door. Aki Albi allowed Zuko to rest and stay at his house, as long as Zuko wanted.

"Thank you, Ki!" zuko said after opening his jacket.

"Either. Now mending you go straight to sleep, yes! For the case of the perpetrator, we do it early tomorrow after dawn" Aki Albi replied.

"Yes, Ki."

"Oh yes! If you have not prayed Isya', pray first, yes!"

"Well at home, Ki."

"Yes already. Good night, I hope you're comfortable here!"

"Yes. Thanks again, Ki!"

Aki Albi nodded with a smile. Zuko closed the door. He threw his body into the bed. He thought about Aki Albi's suggestion earlier. For a moment he saw his reflection in the big mirror that was on the closet door next to the mattress.

In the mirror's reflection, Zuko sighed. He closed both eyes for a moment, and realized that now both eyes had been attacked by drowsiness. Zuko decided to sleep. Tomorrow, the case of treatment of the college woman must be resolved immediately, after being the conversation in Javabirna for two days.

...***...

The next day after dawn prayers, Zuko and Aki Albi had breakfast and a bath. They must immediately go to a luxury apartment that is said to be the residence of the perpetrator of the rape. Everything is clear through his men Aki Albi who investigated through Zuko's sophisticated tools and information from the residents who became his neighbors in the apartment. Some even say, the culprit is a drug addict.

Once neat and clean, the two immediately glided there using Zuko's car. This information was obtained from last night. And on the orders of Aki Albi, his men must wait for his and Zuko's arrival in front of the apartment.

...***...

Daytime, at noon, exactly. It's Mirna's time to go home from school after the dzuhur prayer at her school. When he wanted to go home, he suddenly saw his father walking with a herd of police and its leader, Aki Albi.

Without lingering any longer, the girl who was still in the red white uniform ran over quickly while screaming calling out to the father, "PAPAAA!!!"

"Father! When is Papa coming home? Mirna was very hungry," asked her little daughter while crying to release her longing.

Zuko cried too. Can't speak anymore. He hugged his only daughter. She was fondled, elus with sincerity and affection for her head covered by the rope-bound hijab.

For a moment Zuko took off his embrace and replied, "Dear Mirna! Sorry, Papa can't go home yet. Patience, yes! Papa must be home."

"But when, Pa? My grandmother was also missing. Until when did Papa and Mama fight like this? Mirna is sad."

Aki Albi could only be moved to see that moment. She smiled at Mirna's innocence, and held back her tears.

Zuko took off his embrace slowly, and gave his daughter an understanding, "Honey! Papa now has a task. A little more will be caught. God willing, Papa will come home after this task is done. Patience, yes!"

Mirna fell silent, and finally she nodded in understanding. He wiped his tears and smiled at his beloved father. Zuko smiled to see his beloved princess finally understand what he is going through right now. The two embrace again.

Then he hugs each other and Zuko asks Mirna to come home. Mirna complied, then shook hands with her father. Then pay to go home to ride the angkot. Although already have a bike, but Mirna used her bike to school since Junior High.

"Be careful, honey!" zuko's message to Mirna.

"Yes. Papa too, good luck!" reply Mirna innocently.

Zuko simply nodded with a smile then continued walking towards an apartment. Mirna who was looking from a distance could only smile a little.

...***...

Later that night, Mirna watched television to see Javabirna's western league football team, Persib. He is a loyal supporter of this football team. Especially players from the Netherlands and local.

Mirna sat in front of the TV with excitement. When her favorite team put the ball into the goal, Mirna screamed with a bang.

"SNAKE, GOOOL!!!"

The screams of excitement made his mother and grandmother just laugh a little while shaking their heads. To save her voice from running out, Mirna always drank water after screaming.

Soon, the sound of the door being knocked. Mama opened it. When viewed...

"Zu... Zuko?" tanyanya could not believe it.

Yes, he is Zuko. He finally came home. Zuko looked at his mother with a small smile and a sad face of guilt. He knelt to his mother crying. Sorry for leaving the house.

Bu Eka woke up his only son. He said, "Mom has forgiven you. You don't apologize, I always forgive you."

Zuko wiped away his tears, though the tears were dripping down his cheeks again. Until he was seen by Siti who followed. Siti also can't believe her Kanda's coming home. Even saddened again, he hugged Siti as fast as lightning.

His wife was hugged tightly, and with the addition of tears of regret and apology from the husband. Siti petrified, not knowing how to respond. However, he eventually forgives Zuko as well.

Zuko was invited in, until he was seen by Mirna was busy watching football matches on TV. Zuko wanted to surprise his daughter.

"Where's Mark Clok's dude? Win?" ask Zuko with a smile.

From that voice, Mirna could already guess who was coming. He looked back slowly. His guess is not wrong. No stranger to him, it was his real father who finally came home.

Mirna immediately hugged the brush. Her tears of happiness were unstoppable. But Zuko only laughed a little, although his tears also dripped again.

"Finally Papa came home too. Mirna was waiting from earlier," Mirna said in the middle of her crying.

"Yes, Honey! Papa comes home this," Zuko replied sincerely.

Both of them took off hugs, and with a splash Mirna invited the father to watch with the football match. Siti, Zuko and Bu Eka just chuckled to see Mirna smiling again. After a day of confusion and weakness because his father left after a fight with his mother.

...°°°...